07022021 NEWS

WEEKEND FRIDAY

THE

BTS MEAL HIGH 89ºF LOW 80ºF

i’m lovin’ it!

CARS! CARS!

The Tribune

Volume: 118 No.151, July 2, 2021

Established 1903

Biggest And Best!

L AT E S T

N E W S

CLASSIFIEDS TRADER

O N

T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

KANOO CHIEF: IT’S ALL ABOVE BOARD

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN digital payments provider yesterday hit back at mounting attacks on its business by asserting that all contracts were won “above board”, it’s chairman adding: “I have absolutely nothing to hide”.

Nicholas Rees branded the politically-led assault on Kanoo as “inaccurate, reckless and laden with ulterior motives”, and warned they threatened to undermine not just the company but national

“world first” initiatives such as the launch of the Central Bank’s Sand Dollar digital currency (see other article on Page 1B).

Confirming that Kanoo has also won the bid to provide the “multi-signature digital wallets” to all government departments and agencies, so that they can use the Sand Dollar for payment transactions, Mr Rees said the past two weeks have made him question whether “it was really worth” coming home “if this is how the country is going to treat me and my co-founders”.

SEE BUSINESS SECTION

QUARANTINE WORKS

WHILE opening Baha Mar’s luxury water park yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the resort’s investment is a sign “The Bahamas is coming back” and its recovery and revival is imminent.

Dr Minnis and Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar were on hand to

cut the ribbon signifying the opening of Baha Bay, the resort’s water theme park.

The opening of the $200 million luxury water park marks the completion of the next phase of development of Baha Mar and a significant investment in its evolution.

Since opening its doors to the world over four years ago, Baha Mar has continued to expand the resort destination’s offerings for a SEE PAGE TWO

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt has tested positive for COVID-19.

In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, the former Member of Parliament said she suspected she had the virus after experiencing nausea and fatigue a week ago.

SEE PAGE THREE

TRAFFICKERS CONTINUE TO PREY ON THE VULNERABLE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

A NEW US report has noted people with unresolved status in The Bahamas have a heightened risk of human trafficking.

The US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report released yesterday highlighted the issue, adding the country missed the mark on several victim-related priorities.

BAHAMAS BOUNCE BACK HAS BEGUN

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

‘MOTHER’ PRATT IN COVID-19 RECOVERY

SEE PAGE THREE

CURFEW IS REIMPOSED ‘LABOUR RELATIONS HIT ROCK BOTTOM’ ON BIMINI TO find peace during a tumultuous pandemic, Bahamian artist Monika Anna Cunningham painted every single day of lockdown last year and created her ‘Quarantine Works of Expression’ collection. She is now working on a new series which is inspired by Exuma’s beauty and highlights mental health. See Weekend section.

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net UNION executives yesterday expressed disappointment with the state of labour relations in the country which they say are at an all-time low.

At a press conference yesterday, National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas (NCTUB) officials said there is a growing trend of top-ranking executives at government agencies using “union busting” and bullying tactics to

BPL staff walked off the job earlier this week. intimidate workers.

The umbrella union said the situation has affected staff morale and called upon officials to “cease and desist”.

Their comments come as the Minnis administration continues to face union unrest, with several protests seen at several governmental agencies over the last several weeks.

On Monday, dozens of BPL staff walked off the job in a show of solidarity against executive management who they say have disrespected and mistreated staff among other things.

Two weeks earlier, members of the Union of Central Bankers demonstrated outside the building’s parking SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 7PM to 5am curfew has been implemented for North and South Bimini in response to a COVID-19 outbreak on that island.

An amendment to the Emergency Powers Order says funerals can be held at the graveside only but no more than ten people – not including officiants or funeral workers – are allowed to attend the services.

SEE PAGE FOUR

PAGE 2, Friday, July 2, 2021 FROM PAGE ONE destination’s offerings for a new generation of contemporary travellers.

Dr Minnis boasted that many opportunities for Bahamians are on the way.

“The Bahamas is coming back,” said Dr Minnis.

“Scores of jobs and economic opportunities for Bahamians, including new opportunities, are on the way. We are coming back stronger than ever. Indeed, today is yet another wonderful and powerful sign of the recovery and revival of The Bahamas.

“Our major tourism market is the United States of America. They have one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and their economy is growing robustly. After over a year and a half of challenges, Americans are ready to travel.

“The Bahamas is a nearby, well-known destination that managed the pandemic well. The

THE TRIBUNE

BAHAMAS BOUNCE BACK HAS BEGUN sacrifices we made to abide by the public health rules are paying off. We have attractive properties across our spectacular island chain.

We are open for business and ready to warmly welcome guests at hotels and vacation rental properties.”

He also said: “Baha Mar is helping to lead our recovery. It is fitting that we are here on the first day of a new month to inaugurate Baha Bay, Baha Mar’s beachfront water park, which resides on 15 acres near aqua and jade waters. May I congratulate Graeme Davis and his dedicated team for this milestone, which is a $200 million investment.

“Baha Bay expands on the luxury options at the resort, welcoming guests of all ages. I am pleased to note that Baha Bay has

created over 500 direct job opportunities and continues the search for enthusiastic and ambitious associates through the Baha Mar Academy.

“I am equally pleased to note that in this very month, Baha Mar will have over 3,500 associates. Your outlook for the months ahead is very promising. Your pace of bookings exceed those of 2019, which was a banner year with unprecedented numbers. And your occupancy numbers continue to rise.”

Yesterday, Dr Minnis also announced the government’s intention to assist small businesses over the next five years.

“To encourage and further Bahamian creativity and ingenuity, the government of The Bahamas has

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaks at yesterday’s event. BIS Photos/Kemuel Stubbs

pledged the historic sum of $250 million in funding to small businesses over five years through the Small Business Development Centre,” he said.

“This will include capital and mentoring for businesses in the creative economy. It also includes access to capital for those involved in organic farming and food production, including food for the many visitors to our shores.”

He pointed out Baha Mar’s commitment to the celebration and promotion of Bahamian culture and arts which is represented in many areas at the resort. One of those areas is the Current Baha Mar Gallery which, he said, has

produced museum quality exhibitions of Bahamian and Bahamian-based artists.

Artist John Cox leads that collaboration.

Baha Bay will feature Bahamian murals, designed and painted by a pool of artists using Bahamian “imagination and ingenuity.”

Only for its guests, Baha Mar’s Baha Bay introduces impressive beachfront aquatic adventures and an abundance of attractions, including thrilling water slides, a duelling water coaster, group raft rides, an exhilarating wave pool, action river winding through exuberant tropical landscape, a first of its kind Surf Simulator, kids splash

zones and more.

Public access and day passes will be available late summer 2021, Dr Minnis said.

After the ribbon cutting, the press and special guests were taken on a tour to show an expansive selection of al fresco dining with elevated culinary concepts for those who will enjoy Baha Bay. Guests’ choices are The Market, home to Cleo Grill; Sam’s Crispy Chicken, Plant Nation and Chill.

Additional individual restaurants include the famed Sugar Factory, Umami Burger and Barracuda food trucks.

• SEE PAGE EIGHT FOR MORE PHOTOS

BAHA MAR ‘ALREADY EXCEEDED ITS 2019 OCCUPANCY LEVELS’

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright tribunemedia.net

WITH tourists now flocking to the country’s shores in record post-pandemic numbers, President of Baha

Mar Graeme Davis says the resort has already exceeded its 2019 occupancy levels.

Speaking to the press at the opening of the resort’s water theme park, Baha Bay, Mr Davis attributes “pent up demand”, among other things, for Baha Mar’s occupancy bounce back.

“We are very pleased to say that effective in the month of June, going forward for every month until the end of the year we are forecasting to exceed our 2019 occupancy level,” Mr Davis said.

“Certainly the ‘Travel with Confidence’ programme that we put into place earlier this year, our promotion that we are doing and certainly working with our brand teams, we’ve been very fortunate to now see the pent up demand really flourishing today.

“This will be our busiest weekend for all of 2021 – the July 4 weekend. We’re expecting July to again exceed our 2019 occupancies. Our group business is still not returning until late 2023 or 2024, but we are very optimistic about the rest of this year and certainly 2022 looks to be again a record year for us as well.”

Christmas is five months away and already Baha Mar can project record breaking occupancy levels. Mr Davis said the success of occupancy can be projected even into 2022.

“We are looking at the same time in 2019 right now, looking into that December festive period, and we are already ahead of pace compared to the 2019 festive Christmas season,” he said.

“So, yes, we are looking at that and we are seeing our guests already booking in advance to lock in their Christmas vacations and also into 2022.

“We are already starting to see, now that the new calendar is starting to come out for next year, we are already seeing bookings for 2022 as well. Particularly for our group business, that is also exceeding our expectations in prior years going into 2019 and into 2020.”

Baha Mar, along with other resorts around The

Bahamas, had no choice but to furlough staff during lockdowns last year when COVID-19 ran rampant throughout the world and borders were closed.

Mr Davis was happy to announce that staff furloughs are now a thing of the past for Baha Mar. “Right now we (have) over 3,500 here on property,” he said. “We expect as we are opening up our markets that will add almost another 200 jobs. That’s opening up next week. So, as we continue to open up new venues or venues that we had closed down and as we open them up for the winter season we will start adding staff as well.

“We have no more associates on furlough. So all of our associates are back 100 percent.”

Baha Mar has a policy of staff and guests being vaccinated or presenting negative antigen tests to enter the property.

Mr Davis gave the press impressive numbers of staff who are either fully vaccinated or have received first doses.

“Not all of our associates are vaccinated. We certainly encourage all of our associates to be vaccinated,” Mr Davis continued. “We offer an incentive for our associates to be vaccinated. We actually had set up for the last two months vaccinations in the Baha Mar ballroom. Not just for associates but for the community to come to Baha Mar and get vaccinated.

“We had to stop that because of the lack of access to vaccines, but when the next batch comes in we will be reopening Baha Mar ballroom again to ensure vaccines are available not only for our associates but for the entire community.

“Right now we are close to 1,000 associates fully vaccinated. They don’t have to test to come to work anymore and they don’t have to do any temperature checks.

We have well over 1,700 who have taken their first dose. So, we are certainly optimistic.”

Mr Davis encouraged everyone to be vaccinated in order to put The Bahamas back in a competitive place in the Caribbean.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 2, 2021, PAGE 3

CYNTHIA ‘Mother’ Pratt

‘MOTHER’ PRATT IN COVID-19 RECOVERY FROM PAGE ONE Mrs Pratt followed up with a COVID-19 test, which confirmed her suspicions.

“This started about a week now, but I feel a lot stronger,” she said yesterday in a telephone interview from her home.

“This started last week Wednesday, and it started with nausea. I have been careful. I didn’t go out in crowds. I always wore double masks and things. I have always been careful.

“When I started this nausea, I thought maybe it was something I ate that upset my stomach. So, I got some Dica and I took that and it gave me some relief just over a short period of time and then it came back.

“I then started to feel very weak and I was fighting to put one foot before the next one. I said ‘Lord, something isn’t right here’. I am a woman with energy. I could go like the Energiser bunny, and I was walking from the kitchen to the living room and every two minutes I had to sit down.

“So, I decided to call my daughter. I told her I am going to get checked again because I have had five tests for different things, and they were all negative, but I never had any tiredness like this. I knew something didn’t connect.

My daughter took me to get the test and mine came back positive and hers was negative and that’s been a week now.”

The former St Cecilia MP has also experienced loss of taste and smell, tell-tale signs of a coronavirus infection in many cases.

“I noticed I couldn’t smell the food I’m cooking and then I couldn’t taste the food. I had no fever, I had no vomiting, but the diarrhea came later.

“So, all of the signs weren’t really there at first and then, of course, I didn’t have a cold. . . but then I was bringing up a lot of cold, but I always have a problem with sinus on and off so I didn’t pay that much mind.

“The next thing I know I was diagnosed with COVID-19.”

Mrs Pratt, 75, said under the advice of Progressive Liberal Party Senator Dr Michael Darville— who contracted COVID-19 several months ago— and another health professional, she was recommended certain vitamins and medications and is now doing well.

“The vitamin C, B and Zinc I’m taking now with medications and I’m not short of breath or anything like that.

“I am probably just getting old,” she joked, adding she was hopeful to be released from quarantine next week.

“They said my case seemed to be very mild because I don’t have breathing problems. This is a week now and I haven’t had any problems with breathing.”

As for how she contracted the virus, she believes one of her children who works at a government facility may have passed it on.

Mrs Pratt urged Bahamians to take the proper precautions to avoid the disease.

“I want to say you could never be too careful and as much as you try, you don’t know who has it. This thing has no eyes, so some people look healthy, and they don’t even know they have it themselves.

“Do what you are supposed to do to avoid it,” she said.

NATIONAL Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas officials at yesterday’s press conference.

‘Labour relations hit rock bottom’ FROM PAGE ONE lot, citing unresolved grievances with management.

Yesterday, NCTUB president Bernard Evans told reporters the recent demonstrations show there is disharmony and growing unrest in the workplace, saying workers have reached their “boiling point”.

“We have reached a point in our history that these board appointments by way of the government. . . have no respect for law and order meaning our Constitution under the Industrial Relations Act. They either have no knowledge and act in ignorance and believe these boards are their personal arrangement and they can do what they want and talk to us how they wish,” said Mr Evans while insisting union members are not protesting for political or personal gain.

“But we are not asking for anything special. We are asking you to follow the law. We are asking you to respect the tenets of the agreements that you have signed as the employer and we have signed on the behalf of the employees.

That’s what we’re asking for.”

Mr Evans said senior executives have forgotten their roles and duties to the Bahamian people, who, he said, are the ones who put

NCTUB president Bernard Evans. Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff them in their high-ranking positions and also have the power to remove them. “… Mr Prime Minister, I know and I hope and I know it’s not you, but your board appointments and chairmen and whatnot have apparently usurped power to disrespect workers in this country.

“They forgot they work for us and that we put them there, but we have not forgotten that we have the power to remove,” he continued.

He then went on to criticise Central Bank representatives who he claimed “threatened” to sue union president Theresa

Thompson for defamation of character in a letter emailed to her last month.

Ms Thompson had demonstrated along with workers last month due to ongoing concerns with management that included alleged breach of employees’ contracts.

“We have the president of the Central Bank (union) here, Ms Theresa Thompson and this is a young lady who rose up among the ranks and decided to have a press conference in the parking lot and to share some of the concerns her members have been agitating for a while,” Mr Evans said.

“… She made a statement about the governor of Central Bank... they didn’t like it and they got a lawyer - (allegedly) paid out of the monies that we have contributed by taxpayers - to write her a letter in her person, not as president… to say we’re gonna sue you for defamation of character.

“What did she say?

What did she say that is not already public knowledge? Are you hurt that she said that you were building two buildings or projects while benefits are still outstanding? “… If we allow the governor of the Central Bank to attack our dear sister and

say she cannot speak or she will face the consequences.

What manner of man is this that you would challenge a woman who standing up for her people? That is shameful, distasteful and absolutely wrong.”

For her part, Ms Thompson, who was also present at yesterday’s press conference, told reporters she wrote to several government officials, including the Labour Minister on the matter, but has not yet received a response.

“I have even contacted my MP for someone to bring some closure or arbitration to this matter, but I have not heard from anyone and to date, I cannot comment on anything else. The Union of Central Bankers have legal representation and we just want you to know that we are still in negotiations and we still have the issues... that’s where the focus should be and not trying to quiet the president down,” she said.

NTCUB said the members are hoping some of the union’s concerns are addressed as early as next week.

“We’ve had enough,” Mr Evans said. “A message needs to be sent to these persons that the Constitution, the (Industrial Relations Act) itself and the industrial agreement need to be adhered to.”

TRAFFICKERS CONTINUE TO PREY ON THE VULNERABLE FROM PAGE ONE Among the groups most vulnerable are LGBTQI+ people, migrant children and those displaced by Hurricane Dorian, the 2021 report said.

“As reported over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in The Bahamas, and traffickers exploit victims from The Bahamas abroad,” the report noted.

“Traffickers recruit migrant workers, especially those from Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, the Philippines and the United States through false offers of employment, both through advertisements in foreign newspapers and social media; upon arrival, traffickers subject them to sex trafficking and forced labour, including in domestic service and in sectors with low-skilled labour.”

It continued: “The profile of human traffickers prosecuted for human trafficking have been primarily female in the past five years.

Individuals born to a non-Bahamian father in The Bahamas, to a female citizen, or to foreign born parents do not automatically receive Bahamian citizenship or documentation and are at heightened risk of trafficking.

“Unaccompanied migrant children, individuals lured for employment, those involved in commercial sex and exotic dancing, irregular migrants, stateless persons, LGBTQI+ individuals—particularly from poor communities—and migrants

displaced by Hurricane Dorian have been trafficked or are particularly vulnerable to trafficking.

“In particular, irregular migrants living in informal settlements on the Hurricane Dorian-ravaged islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, and those who fled to New Providence after the storm, exist in what observers call ‘dark spaces,’ which deter reporting abuse.

The high unemployment rate— reported to have exceeded 40 percent—resulting from the pandemic may have increased vulnerabilities for potential victims.”

Rating The report also said the country maintained a tier one rating, which means it fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. However, it noted there were fewer trafficking victims identified and a comprehensive victim identification protocol was not implemented.

This held true especially among vulnerable groups, the report said, adding there was not a dedicated shelter for trafficking victims.

The report further noted the government gave less money to NGOs that offered services to trafficking victims.

“Authorities provided care for five victims identified during previous reporting periods, including two victims still receiving support at the end of the reporting period, although efforts to provide care to victims stopped temporarily from

late March to mid-April due to pandemic lockdown restrictions,” the report said.

“The government’s actual spending on trafficking victims’ care and prevention activities apart from the pandemic was $41,351.

“The government also provided $47,651 for four victims for needs resulting from the pandemic, including emergency food assistance, financial assistance for basic needs, and temporary shelter.

“In 2019, the government gave $69,509 to four NGOs that offered services to trafficking victims, among other vulnerable groups, compared to $240,000 in 2018, with the decrease due to emergency costs incurred to address the destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian.”

The report also said the government maintained efforts to protect victims and authorities continued to implement a formal victim-centred protocol to guide front-line responders in identifying both sex and labour trafficking victims and referring them to services.

However, the report said concerns remained on the thoroughness of their application, especially with vulnerable populations such as undocumented migrants and stateless children.

“The government identified two Bahamian child victims during the reporting period, down from five victims in 2019 and the same as in 2018.

“NGOs did not identify any victims, the same as in the previous reporting period. The two

identified victims, both 16-yearsold, returned to their families, and the Department of Social Services provided financial support both to the victims and to their families.”

The report also said: “The government reported it had a formal process to guide officials in transferring victims to institutions that offered short- or long-term care, and it screened all migrants arriving by sea individually upon arrival; normally, migrants apprehended on land were observed for indicators that might warrant further investigation.

Concern “However, experts reported authorities did not use formal protocols to screen all migrants and continued abuse of migrants— particularly those of Haitian descent—by officials was a cause of concern.

“The country has an SOP with a detailed, victim-centred approach to the screening process, including the use of qualified interpreters of the same gender to assure reporting and comprehension of all communication.

“However, reports of inconsistent training of staff on screening for trafficking indicators, and lack of implementation of identification protocols in migrant languages indicated that authorities did not screen all vulnerable individuals, consequently failing to identify and protect any trafficking victims.”

PAGE 4, Friday, July 2, 2021

CURFEW IS REIMPOSED ON BIMINI FROM PAGE ONE Weddings are permitted in a church, facility or outdoors once the number of attendees does not exceed 10, including the officiant, and all attendees wear masks.

Wedding receptions and repasts are prohibited on the island.

Wedding hosts who contravene the rules could be liable upon conviction to a $2,000 fine and, in the case of an attendee, a $300 fine.

Beaches and parks are allowed to open, however, no more than five persons are allowed to congregate in a group at these venues.

Bars, meanwhile, have been ordered closed and people are not allowed to host social gatherings.

Worship services can be conducted between 6am to 6pm.

As for hotels or cruise ships, they can operate so long as the hotel guest or cruise passenger remains on the premises of a hotel or cruise ship during the curfew hours.

Residents yesterday complained of the abrupt curfew announcement.

“We want to cuss,” one woman, who declined to give her name because she works for the government, said. “How can you just push it on us like that and ain’ prepare us? And a bunch of tourists in this town. People are pissed off.

“This is probably one of the busiest weekends for Bimini. July 4 weekend is always busy and people are flocking to this island. Give us a chance to buy food.

All bars (are) closed and Bahamians like to drink.

This cannot be right. He should’ve given us more warning.”

On Tuesday, Health Minister Renward Wells said a team of health officials was being dispatched to Bimini to investigate the outbreak.

Officials said vaccinations were also carried out on Bimini yesterday.

THE TRIBUNE

CHINESE OFFICIALS IN DIALOGUE WITH GOVT OVER COVID VACCINES

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net CHINESE Ambassador to the Bahamas Dai Qingli said Chinese officials are having ongoing dialogue with the Bahamas government regarding cooperation in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, including providing vaccines.

Her comments echoed remarks previously made by the embassy’s counsellor, Haigang Yin who said in May the Embassy was in communication with the Bahamian government. However, at the time the Minnis administration’s level of interest in the vaccines was unclear.

China has been giving free COVID-19 vaccines to other countries after the World Health Organisation (WHO) approved the Chinese vaccines Sinopharm and Sinovac for use.

“So far, we have helped about more than 100 countries in terms of providing free vaccines and exporting vaccines to these countries and so we are continuing to have these communications with the Bahamas government,” the ambassador said.

However, there have reportedly been questions surrounding the effectiveness of the Asian country’s vaccine. According to an

CHINESE Ambassador to the Bahamas Dai Qingli.

PHOTO: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff article published in the New York Times on June 22, four countries mostly using Chinese-made vaccines were ranked among the top 10 countries with the worst COVID-19 outbreaks.

“In the Seychelles, Chile, Bahrain and Mongolia, 50 to

FOOD donated to the Bahamas Feeding Network.

68 percent of the populations have been fully inoculated, outpacing the United States, according to Our World in Data, a data tracking project,” the New York Times reported.

“All four ranked among the top 10 countries with the

worst COVID outbreaks as recently as last week, according to data from The New York Times. And all four are mostly using shots made by two Chinese vaccine makers, Sinopharm and Sinovac Biotech.”

In late June, international news agency Reuters also reported that “there are growing concerns about whether they (Chinese vaccines) provide enough protection against the Delta variant, first identified in India.”

But when the Chinese ambassador to The Bahamas was asked about the efficacy rate, she did not give a figure but added that the Chinese vaccines have been proven effective in different countries.

“Well, there has been efficacy rates as these vaccine companies have shared with the media and with the general public,” she told reporters. “That’s based on their clinical trials and then with so much vaccination of these vaccines they are making new evaluations. So overall, Chinese vaccines have proven effective in different countries, more than 100 countries, and for different age groups. They are proven effective even against the mutated virus, but, of course, you know if you make a different scientific

assessment then maybe you will come up with different figures.

“I think for the general public we don’t need to mind so much about these efficacy rates as long as these vaccines are approved by the WHO and by the governments of different countries... so I think so far Chinese vaccines have been proven both safe and efficacious as we haven’t heard major reports of mishaps or incidents regarding Chinese vaccines.”

According to CNN, the efficacy rates of the Chinese vaccines range from 60 percent to 79 percent.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine available in The Bahamas, is said to have an efficacy rate of 70 to 79 percent.

36 NEW CASES

THE Ministry of Health recorded 36 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Thirty-one of those cases are in New Providence and five are in Grand Bahama.

The country now has 12,735 confirmed coronavirus cases.

At last report, 46 people were in hospital with the virus while there have been 246 confirmed deaths.

CHINESE Ambassador to the Bahamas Dai Qingli, BFN Executive Director Philip Smith and Spouse of the Prime Minister Mrs Patricia Minnis.

PHOTOS: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff

CHINESE EMBASSY, ZONTA CLUB OF NASSAU DONATE TO BAHAMAS FEEDING NETWORK Funeral Service for TAMARA LASHAN FERGUSON, 47 a resident of Lily of the Valley Corner, will be held at Southern Cemetery, Cowpen & Spikenard Roads, on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Apostle Delton D. Fernander.

Tamara was predeceased by her brother Quincy Ferguson.

She is survived by her mother: Dale EllisFerguson; Brothers: Elton Ferguson, Bernard Crawley, Don Kia Martin, Anthony Smith; Sisters: Indira Lockhart, Tina Cooper, Teka Cox, Michelle Turnquest, Indira Smith; Niece & Grand Nephew: Tyreke Shonda Ferguson & Derren V. Woodside Jr.; Aunts & Uncles: G. Michael & Ruth Ellis, Donald & Laurie Ellis, Clement & Yvonne Ellis, Veronica Ellis, Sharon Ellis, Darron Ellis, Caroline Ellis; Nieces & Nephews: Ashley Smith, Roland Maycock Jr., Rolisha Maycock, Rosheka Lockhart, Bernard Crawley Jr., Bernisha Crawley, Valtio Cooper, Patrick Bain, Derren V. Woodside Sr.; Cousins: Dwight Rolle & Family, Stefano Wilkinson & Family, Perez Lightbourne, Ryan Robinson & Family, Chevette Ellis Rolle & Family, Duane Ellis & Family, Lamont Ellis & Family, Godfrey Marco Ellis & Family, Natasha Ellis & Family, Henrico Ellis & Family, Gregory Ellis Jr. & Family, Stephen & Olive Bethel & Family, Deangelo Knowles & Family, Latoya & Laniqua Ellis & Family, Tinia Toote-Parker & Family, Warren Ellis & Family, Tamika Cooper & Shirlea, Donovan Ellis, Dermott Sawyer & Family, Dario Sawyer, Clevonne & Clementia Ellis, Brielle Ellis, Denise Butler & Family, Lanetha Butler & Family, Dorcus Musgrove and Family, Victor Knowles & Family, Hortence Rosario & Family of Miami, Florida. Other Relatives & Friends: Doris Charlton, & Family, Anthony Gardener & Family, Ella Mae Lewis & Family, Deidra Woodside & Family, Delora Moncur & Family, Denise Woodside & Family, Sonia Simpson & Family, Michael Miller & Family, Mavis Adderley & Family, Walt Saunders & The Entire Saunders Family, Naimi Ellis & Family, Marv Humes & Family, Vernita Ellis & Family, Karen & Patrice Delancy & Family, Jackie Wilson & Family, Willie Ray & Family, The Knowles Family, Effie Sawyer & Family, The Entire Baldwin Avenue Family, Bridgette Swann & Family, Terry Hopkins & Family, The Entire Lilly of The Valley Corner Family; Special Friends: Tanya Moncur & Family, Urshula & Family, Tinika, Shane, Darren Woodside, Wade Solomon, Portia McFord & Family, Candy, Oncology Staff of Princess Margaret Hospital, Bishop Delton Fernander and The New Destiny Baptist Church Family. A host of relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 10-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Chinese Embassy and the Zonta Club of Nassau both donated to the Bahamas Feeding Network yesterday.

The embassy donated $10,000 to the network and is in the process of purchasing and shipping over a number of greenhouses to help farmers.

The Zonta Club is providing various food items to help at least 20 families over the next few weeks.

BFN Executive Director Philip Smith thanked the Chinese Embassy for its generosity.

“What I believe is if you could put the right group of people and organisations together there’s nothing we cannot achieve - that is my belief,” Mr Smith said.

“I believe that hunger, if you think about it, a lot of us probably will never experience it but hunger must be so debilitating … and so what I say about donations like this is that it encourages me so much and I believe with all my heart that we could truly, totally eradicate hunger.”

Chinese Ambassador to the Bahamas Dai Qingli said she hoped the “modest contribution” can help a number of individuals and families in putting food on the table.

“I think the Bahamas Feeding Network is not just helping to bring food to the table. I think they are also bringing the message of solidarity, support, love and

BFN Executive Director Philip Smith and Chinese Ambassador to the Bahamas Dai Qingli. spoke about the harsh realities of hunger in the country. He said official figures from the Department of Statistics found that about 12 percent of people were affected by food insecurity or were food insecure prior to the pandemic and Hurricane Dorian. However, he thinks that number could be higher.

“I’m not a statistician, but I always felt that that number was low because they used, I think it was $4 a day for food,” Mr Smith said yesterday. “... $4 for food a day that’s not going to cut it. “... My estimate all along has been anywhere between 15 and 20 percent of the population (suffers PATRICIA Minnis from food insecurity)...” care to all the Bahamian Mr Smith said the people. I think that we very national food task force is much support and identify servicing about 18,000 famiwith the goals and mission lies, which is estimated to of the Bahamas Feeding four people per family.

Network,” she said.

“So, that’s 72,000 indiYesterday Mr Smith viduals. That came down prior to the reduction. We were servicing 220,000 individuals, so it was reduced by two thirds because of the amount of money that was left in the programme.

A number of persons who were taken off we felt were still food insecure,” he explained.

Spouse of the Prime Minister, Mrs Patricia Minnis, was also present and thanked the ambassador for her partnership and donation to the Bahamas

THE TRIBUNE

ARMED MAN SHOT BY POLICE AN armed man was shot by police before 8pm last night.

Details were limited last night however police said the man was taken to hospital. His condition was not known up to press time.

The incident took place at 4th Street, Coconut Grove, according to an initial report from police.

Last week, a bystander was shot by police as they pursued an armed suspect in the area of Amos Ferguson Street. The woman was taken to hospital where she was said to be in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.

Earlier in June, police killed a man after he allegedly assaulted an elderly woman and shot a young man who followed him.

Cell phone video of the incident showed at least three police officers on the roof of a house shooting down at the suspect as bystanders assembled in the area.

At least 19 shots could be heard in the clip.

Friday, July 2, 2021, PAGE 5

Govt specifies scoring criteria for Prospect Ridge selection

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Minnis administration has specified the criteria that will allow people to score highest in the selection process for the Prospect Ridge Community for Young Professionals.

The application process for the programme went live yesterday.

The guidance notes for the project state: “All verified applications are weighted and ranked within their respective categories…”

Accordingly, 15 points will be given to people 25 and under, ten points to people between 26 and 35 and five points to people between ages 36 and 45.

Fifteen points will be given to people who make $80,000 a year or under, ten points to those who

make between $80,000 and $120,000 and five points to those making over $120,000.

Five points will also be awarded to those with no other land ownership; zero points will be given to those who do own other properties.

Lots According to the guidance notes, officials propose that 20 - 25 percent of the lots will be allocated to single men and 20 - 25 percent be allocated to single women. It is similarly proposed that 35 percent to 40 percent of the lots be allocated to married couples while five to ten percent of the lots be allocated to people with disabilities.

“Once the categorising, verification and weighting processes are complete, the

Committee for the Development of Communities for Young Professionals will compile a list of successful candidates based on the criteria above and submit to policy makers for final approval,” the document says. “Once applicants are approved by policy makers and all government regulatory requirements have been met as it relates to the subdivision, they will be contacted by the Office of the Prime Minister for further steps with regards to lot selection, payment and official transfer of ownership. If any applicant is not able to meet the financial obligations or close on the transaction, then the lot will be awarded to the next eligible applicant in the selection process.”

Only first-time homeowners and applicants between 18 and 45 are eligible for a lot. One must

be resident in the Bahamas to apply. Joint ownership involving siblings or other family members is permitted so long as other criteria is met.

Loan Proof of financial suitability is key. The guidance notes state: “The applicant(s) must show proof that he or she can qualify for a loan from a financial institution to purchase and build on their property if chosen; or the applicant(s) must provide a letter from a final institution stating that they currently hold the required cash and have the regular income needed to purchase the property, build and maintain the building.

Government will not be providing (a) guarantee for mortgages.”

Housing costs in New

Providence are high and the programme is the Minnis administration’s attempt to alleviate some of the cost burden for young people.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has said selected applicants will be able to save up to $29,000 by spending $1,000 to purchase one of ten architectural designs the government will make available.

According to the guidance notes, tax concessions will accompany the project, including customs duties and excise tax exemption on imports or domestic purchase of materials needed to construct a home and “furniture and appliances for the said dwelling home provided the dwelling home is completed and furnished within a period of two years from the date of the minister’s approval.”

300 ATTEND SAWYER’S FRESH MARKET JOB FAIR

SAWYERS Fresh Market new location in Lucaya is nearing completion. They are looking to recruit 90 persons to work in all departments. Photo by Denise Maycock.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net MORE than 300 job seekers in Grand Bahama turned out for a job fair held at the new Sawyer’s Fresh Market location in Lucaya.

Despite the bad weather, the turnout on the first day was a huge success, according to Nesha Grant Carr, the store’s director of training and development.

The job fair got underway later than expected after 10am, but the process went smoothly, Ms GrantCarr reported. Tents and seating were

erected in the parking lot area for the job seekers, many of whom came out early.

Sawyer’s newest location at Midshipman and West Beach Roads is expected to be completed by summer’s end. They are seeking 90 people to fill various positions in all departments.

“We are opening a bigger and better location as you can see and so we will need people to staff the establishment; we are looking for persons to work in produce, grocery, deli, meat, and customer service,” said Ms Grant-Carr.

“And so we are looking for…approximately 90 people. We have not yet analysed the data of all the persons we

have seen today,… but we found some good candidates - persons who we will be hiring for sure.”

Ms Grant-Carr was pleased with the turnout. She said the fair will continue on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

“I would say more than 300 persons came out today; it was a successful job fair.”

When asked whether the rainy weather hampered the fair, she said it did because the event got off to a late start.

“We started late and persons were here from early, but they were patient and waited their turn and moved in the

line, and we are able to process everyone that came out today,” she said.

Mrs Grant-Carr said that they adhered to COVID-19 protocols. She noted that social distancing requirements and hand sanitizers were in place.

When asked when the new location would open, she declined to give a definite date, but said sometime before the end of summer.

Unemployment is high in Grand Bahama as a result of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has implemented NIB unemployment benefits, food, and rental assistance to help struggling families in Grand Bahama.

ATTEMPTED MURDER CONVICTION QUASHED, SENTENCE SET ASIDE, NEW TRIAL ORDERED

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal yesterday set aside the 35-year sentence of a man who was convicted of attempting to murder three men at a cemetery in East Grand Bahama over three years ago.

In November 2016, Doyle Mackey was accused of travelling from New Providence to Grand Bahama to lure Carlos and Carlton Hamilton to an isolated area to kill them.

According to court documents, he did this by arranging to meet with the siblings in a cemetery “under the guise that a 600-pound drug shipment was coming by way of East End Grand Bahama from Abaco.”

On the morning of November 3, 2016, Mackey, the Hamilton brothers and Joshua Williams put money together to rent a van to transport the drugs.

Another man, Jermaine Ferguson, was able to secure the van and was the driver of the vehicle on the day in question. The men then followed Mackey, who was driving a white Nissan Sentra, to McClean’s Town cemetery.

“Once the brothers exited the van, they were shot multiple times and died within minutes at the scene,” court documents read.

“The van was shot at from the back, left and right sides.

“The bullets injured both Jermaine and John. The victims tried to flee, however, the appellant shot at Jermaine and Joshua

in the van hitting Joshua in the face. Jermaine and John exited the van and Jermaine was pursued by the appellant who aimed and fired at him. Jermaine heard someone say, ‘Get the Rasta’. John hid in a ditch underwater.

“The appellant and at least one other person left the scene in the car.”

Sometime later, Doyle Mackey was charged with the murders of the Hamilton brothers, and the attempted murder of Jermaine Ferguson aka “Jenkins”, John Edgecombe, aka “Rasta”, and Joshua Williams.

On May 9, 2019, Mackey was convicted on three counts of attempted murder and on November 6, 2019, he was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment minus the time he had already spent on remand.

Two weeks later, Mackey sought to appeal his conviction and sentence on the grounds that the trial judge misdirected the jury on self-defence.

He also argued the learned judge failed to give a “lucas direction and critical warning on lies”.

After reserving their decision in April, Justices Roy Jones, Milton Evans and Carolita Bethell yesterday quashed Mackey’s conviction, set aside his sentence and made an order for a new trial to be held.

In their judgement, delivered by Justice Evans, the panel noted that selfdefence was the “essence” of Mackey’s defence to the attempted murder charges.

“He was entitled to a proper direction on that defence with the proper application of the evidence

to that defence,” Justice Evans stated.

“The trial judge should make it clear to the jury that the test for self-defence is whether the defendant had an honest belief that he or someone else was in immediate danger of unlawful harm.

“The importance of that is that the belief may be mistaken, but yet honest.”

Justice Evans said although the matter of “reasonableness” was “relevant to the determination of whether the belief was honest,” it was not conclusive.

He also said the conclusion of whether excessive force was used by Mackey had to rely on the “danger as the defendant honestly perceived it to be”.

“In her summation the learned judge did not make these points clear to the jury and thus the directions given were not adequate.

In the absence of the jury being made to understand that the test to be applied for self-defence is that a person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances as he honestly believes them to be in

the defence of himself or another their verdict must be considered unsafe. “…The appellant had raised other grounds on which he sought to rely; however, having regard to the finding on this first ground I see no need to deal with those other grounds.

This is particularly so as I am of the view that the convictions should be quashed,

PAGE 6, Friday, July 2, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

US intelligence report on UFOs: No aliens, but government transparency and desire for better data might bring science to the UFO world ON June 25, 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a much-anticipated report on UFOs to Congress. The military has rebranded unidentified flying objects as unidentified aerial phenomena – UAPs – in part to avoid the stigma that has been attached to claims of aliens visiting the Earth since the Roswell incident in 1947. The report presents no convincing evidence that alien spacecraft have been spotted, but some of the data defy easy interpretation.

I’m a professor of astronomy who has written extensively on the search for life in the universe. I also teach a free online class on astrobiology. I do not believe that the new government report or any other sightings of UFOs in the past are proof of aliens visiting Earth.

But the report is important because it opens the door for a serious look at UFOs. Specifically, it encourages the U.S. government to collect better data on UFOs, and I think the release of the report increases the chances that scientists will try to interpret that data.

Historically, UFOs have felt off limits to mainstream science, but perhaps no more.

What’s in the UFO report?

The No. 1 thing the report focuses on is the lack of high-quality data. Here are the highlights from the slender nine-page report, covering a total of 144 UAP sightings from U.S. government sources between 2004 and 2021: • “Limited data and inconsistent reporting are key challenges to evaluating UAP.” • Some observations “could be the result of sensor errors, spoofing, or observer misperception.”

• “UAP clearly pose a safety of flight issue and may pose a challenge to U.S. national security.”

• Of the 144 sightings, the task force was “able to identify one reported UAP with high confidence. In that case, we identified the object as a large, deflating balloon. The others remain unexplained.”

• “Some UAP may be technologies deployed by China, Russia, another nation, or non-governmental entity.”

UFOs are taboo among scientists UFO means unidentified flying object. Nothing more, nothing less.

You’d think scientists would enjoy the challenge of solving this puzzle. Instead, UFOs have been taboo for academic scientists to investigate, and so unexplained reports have not received the scrutiny they deserve.

One reason is that most scientists think there is less to most reports than meets the eye, and the few who have dug deeply have mostly debunked the phenomenon. Over half of sightings can be attributed to meteors, fireballs and the planet Venus.

Another reason for the scientific hesitance is that UFOs have been coopted by popular culture. They are part of a landscape of conspiracy theories that includes accounts of abduction by aliens and crop circles. Scientists worry about their professional reputations, and the association of UFOs with these supernatural stories causes most researchers to avoid the topic.

But some scientists have looked. In 1968, Edward U. Condon at the University of Colorado published the first major academic study of UFO sightings. The Condon Report put a damper on further research when it found that “nothing has come from the study of UFOs in the past 21 years that has added to scientific knowledge.”

However, a review in 1998 by a panel led by Peter Sturrock, a professor of applied physics at Stanford University, concluded that some sightings are accompanied by physical evidence that deserves scientific study. Sturrock also surveyed professional astronomers and

found that nearly half thought UFOs were worthy of scientific study, with higher interest among younger and more well-informed astronomers.

If astronomers are intrigued by UFOs – and believe some cases deserve study with academic rigour – what’s holding them back? A history of mistrust between ufologists and scientists hasn’t helped. And while UFO research has employed some of the tools of the scientific method, it has not had the core of sceptical, evidence-based reasoning that demarcates science from pseudoscience.

A search of 90,000 recent and current grants awarded by the National Science Foundation finds none addressing UFOs or related phenomena. I’ve served on review panels for 35 years, and can imagine the reaction if such a proposal came up for peer review: raised eyebrows and a quick vote not to fund.

A decades-long search for aliens While the scientific community has almost entirely avoided engaging with UFOs, a much more mainstream search for intelligent aliens and their technology has been going on for decades.

The search is motivated by the fact that astronomers have, to date, discovered over 4,400 planets orbiting other stars. Called exoplanets, some are close to the Earth’s mass and at just the right distance from their stars to potentially have water on their surfaces – meaning they might be habitable.

Astronomers estimate that there are 300 million habitable worlds in the Milky Way galaxy alone, and each one is a potential opportunity for life to develop and for intelligence and technology to emerge. Indeed, most astronomers think it very unlikely that humans are the only or the first advanced civilization.

This confidence has fueled an active search for extraterrestrial intelligence, known as SETI. It has been unsuccessful so far. As a result, researchers have recast the question “Are we alone?” to “Where are the aliens?” The absence of evidence for intelligent aliens is called the Fermi paradox. First articulated by the physicist Enrico Fermi, it’s a paradox because advanced civilisations should be spread throughout the galaxy, yet we see no sign of their existence.

The SETI activity has not been immune from scientists’ criticism. It was starved of federal funding for decades and recently has gotten most of its support from private sources. However, in 2020, NASA resumed funding for SETI, and the new NASA administrator wants researchers to pursue the topic of UFOs. In this context, the intelligence report is welcome. The report draws few concrete conclusions about UFOs and avoids any reference to aliens or extraterrestrial spacecraft.

However, it notes the importance of destigmatising UFOs so that more pilots report what they see. It also sets a goal of moving from anecdotal observations to standardised and scientific data collection.

Time will tell if this is enough to draw scientists into the effort, but the transparency to publish the report at all reverses a long history of secrecy surrounding U.S. government reports on UFOs. I don’t see any convincing evidence of alien spacecraft, but as a curious scientist, I hope the subset of UFO sightings that are truly unexplained gets closer study. Scientists are unlikely to weigh in if their scepticism generates attacks from “true believers” or they get ostracized by their colleagues. Meanwhile, the truth is still out there.

- By Chris Impey of the University of Arizona – theconversation.com

A nation in which God is fair game, but the judiciary is a sacred cow EDITOR, The Tribune.

I MUST confess at the outset that I am not an expert on the Bahamian Constitution. Any uninformed foreigner who reads the constitution concerning the protection of freedom of conscience and freedom of expression would automatically assume that the same privileges that Americans have in voicing their disapproval of a magistrate or supreme court ruling would be extended to Bahamians also. Any misconceptions regarding this democratic privilege was quickly erased after Works Minister Desmond Bannister’s scathing remarks concerning a judicial ruling received a backlash from members of the legal fraternity. I will not delve into the particulars of that case.

Suffice to say, it seems as if the judicial fraternity is

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net

treated like scared cows in this country, being legally immune from any kind of criticism. Had a John Q Public said what Bannister said, he would’ve been held in contempt of court. Meanwhile, the system allows Bahamians to revile and blaspheme God, an offense which was punishable by capital punishment in Old Testament times (see Leviticus 24:10-23, Exodus 20:7, Ecclesiastes 10:20). In the New Testament era, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:31-31).

Yet the constitution allows Bahamians to exercise this supposed right to slander God without any legal repercussions. It might be a source of surprise to the

readership of this daily to learn that even speaking disparagingly about our elected leaders is a grave sin.

In Old Testament times, reviling the king was also a capital offence, as the king stood as God’s representative (1 Kings 21:13). I am not calling for the establishment of a theocracy, like what we see happening in Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Sudan and Kuwait.

I am just attempting to make sense of our retarded democracy.

A court ruling is criticised, and prominent Bahamians kick up a fuss.

God is routinely ridiculed and vilified in the media, and no one is troubled by this.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama.

June 30, 2021.

Readers comments on tribune242.com READERS have been posting their comments on the stories making the news on tribune242.com.

• After Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar defended the government’s use of the travel health visa saying it has “worked well” for the country, Birdiestrachan said: “He has no evidence that the travel VISA has had any effect on COVID 19 cases It also has nothing to do with an increase in Tourism. The vaccine has helped. He could easily have placed persons at the airport to check these documents it would have cost less. than 7.4 million dollars.”

Alan1 had this to say: “The bureaucratic Health Visa has been a great detriment to the tourist business. Thousands of visitors could not come because of the rules imposed by The Tourism Minister. They simply could nor comply with all the regulations and be in Nassau by the fifth day after the test. The test result and forms required to be completed .and scanned to get the Visa are too time consuming and expensive. Tourists mostly went elsewhere where it was easier to enter. The easiest way would be for people to show the Covid-19 test result at the airport and then be given a boarding pass. There have been so many complaints from visitors, including

usual winter residents, and travel agents.

However the Minister stubbornly refused any compromise . . . There are too many hassles involved in coming to our country . . . When will common sense prevail?”

• The demonstration by Bahamas Power and Light employees outside the company’s headquarters on Monday prompted Dawes to post this: “Anyone involved with BPL can congratulate themselves on being part of the reason this country is in the situation it is. They have never been able to keep the power on, and charge a fortune for the lousy service they give. I am sure most people would be happy when the day comes and we can be rid of BPL.” And DWW said: “Sounds like spoilt brats to me. Poor babies don’t like their job. At least they have one, and a pretty good one too. What is the average salary at BPL? Faulty payroll system – do they mean not getting paid for days they didn’t go to work like in the old days? And if a generator breaks down due to lack of maintenance is that a staff problem or a management problem? Surely you can’t blame the equipment for not being able to change its own oil.”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 2, 2021, PAGE 7

Man in tears after being found not guilty of sex with boy

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was brought to tears yesterday after a Supreme Court jury found him not guilty of having sex with a threeyear-old boy in November 2019.

After two hours of deliberation, a ninemember jury unanimously acquitted Colyn Algreen of engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor of the same sex.

Algreen was initially accused of committing the act after a woman known to him discovered that her son’s anus was torn and bruised after the young boy had gone out with him to get food.

The prosecution’s case relied on the testimonies

Jury acquits after two hours of deliberation of 14 witnesses, including the victim’s mother and grandmother.

In her evidence, the boy’s mother told the court she was sitting on the couch on the day in question when Algreen decided to go out to get something to eat from a food truck in the Yamacraw area that was about two minutes away.

The woman said as Algreen was about to go to the door, her then three-year-old son cried to go with him, so she allowed him to tag along.

She said at the time, Algreen asked her if she wanted to come also,

but she declined because she was not feeling well.

However, she said when she realised five minutes had gone by, she tried to call Algreen’s phone, but it kept going to voicemail.

The woman said when the accused man arrived home about an hour later, she grabbed her son and carried him inside.

She said when she laid him on a bed and took off his underwear, she saw bruising on his buttocks.

When she took the stand, the three-year-old’s grandmother said when her daughter laid the young boy on her bed that day, she noticed that his

Bahari Bahamas brand pops up in Grand Bahama

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

BAHARI Bahamas has returned to Grand Bahama with a pop-up shop to launch its new independence collection at the Port Lucaya Marketplace.

The Bahamian brand is hosting a limited pop-up event, which started Wednesday, to showcase its new line of independence T-shirts, tunics, body-con dresses, swimsuits, and shorts.

Kerel Pinder, public relations director for Bahari, said the brand is making a comeback to Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian.

She said the location at Port Lucaya Marketplace is ideal for both tourists and locals.

“The local community has always supported Bahari, but this move now introduces the Bahari brand to our tourists.

“And this is an amazing location,” she said.

“This three-day pop-up shop will allow persons to experience the new independence collection and so they can get their summer gear.”

Ms Pinder said that Bahari’s initial brand launch was in 2014. The company opened its first retail store in Grand Bahama in November that same year.

“They have had so many collections since then that has been so amazing,” she said.

There are plans to reestablish a more permanent presence in Grand Bahama, which is tentatively scheduled for the

rectum was red and torn.

She said when she asked Algreen what happened to her grandson he said: “Nothing.”

She added that when she informed Algreen that the boy was bleeding he replied: “You really think I would hurt him?”

The woman said she later overheard Algreen telling her daughter: “I heard him say his rectum was hurting him (but when I) checked it there was no blood.”

She said this confused her and her daughter because they were wondering why Algreen examined the little boy.

She said that that was when he told her daughter that he “put on full stop” and applied brakes which caused the child to fall on his seat belt.

On the advice of his attorney, Algreen chose to remain silent after the close of the prosecution’s case. He also opted not to call on any witnesses to

testify on his behalf.

The defence’s case relied on the lack of DNA evidence, eyewitnesses and CCTV footage linking Algreen to the alleged crime.

During her closing submissions, his attorney Miranda Adderley urged the jury to make their decision based on the facts and not on speculation.

She also argued that there were some inconsistencies in several witnesses’ testimonies and contended that the case was filled with “gaps”.

The attorney said an example of this was seen in both the victim’s mother and grandmother’s testimonies during trial.

“When asked to the (mother) was Colyn ever left at home without you being present with your son, at first she said ‘no’ and then she said ‘oh, sometimes when she goes to work, Colyn would be there with him’. When we

OUTAGE IN ABACO AFTER ‘CONTROL SYSTEM ISSUE’ A “CONTROL system issue” at the Wilson City Power Station in Abaco led to a power outage on the island on Wednesday, Bahamas Power and Light acknowledged in a press release yesterday.

The outage began just before 5pm.

It “was a result of a control system issue at the Wilson City Power Station which caused all engines at the station to shut down, interrupting supply to all customers on mainland Abaco, Matt Lowes Cay, Lubbers Quarters, Tilloo, Channel and Cornish Cays,” BPL said.

BPL said a team was able to restore supply to communities north of Marsh Harbour – with the exception of Green Turtle Cay – using standby generation at the Cooper’s Town site.

THE Bahari brand is making a comeback to Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian.

end of 2021 at Port Lucaya Marketplace.

Ms Pinder stressed that it is important for Bahamians to invest in local businesses.

“It gives encouragement and inspiration to the younger generation.

“And I think Bahari is a brand that brings quality and excellence, so you will want to support and want to wear it.

“It is a company we have seen grow from the beginning to now,” she said.

TROPICAL STORM ELSA THREATENS CARIBBEAN SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Officials in St. Vincent and the Grenadines warned people to plan for possible evacuations as the tiny islands hit recently by massive volcanic eruptions prepared for potential flooding and landslides from Tropical Storm Elsa, which whirled toward the eastern Caribbean on Thursday.

Elsa is the earliest fifth named storm on record, beating out last year’s Eduardo which formed on July 6, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.

Winds The storm was located about 260 miles (420 kilometres) east-southeast of Barbados and is expected to pass near or over portions of the Windward Islands or the southern Leeward Islands on Friday. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 26 mph (43 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the

Grenadines. A tropical storm watch was in effect for Grenada, the southern and western coasts of Haiti, part of the southern coast of the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

The government of Barbados said it was suspending public transportation and closing vaccination sites and businesses including gas stations by Thursday night, while St. Vincent expected to so by Friday morning.

Elsa was expected to strengthen in upcoming days and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea late Friday and Friday night, and pass near the southern coast of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, on Saturday.

The storm was then expected to move near Jamaica and portions of eastern Cuba on Sunday, though the forecast so far calls for it to remain below hurricane force.

The storm was forecast to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches (7 to 15 centimetres) with maximum totals of 8 inches (20 centimetres) inches on Friday across the Windward and southern Leeward Islands, including Barbados. The rain could unleash isolated flash flooding and mudslides.

asked (the grandmother) if Colyn was ever left alone without the mother’s presence, she also said ‘no’ at first and then said ‘yes,’ other persons were home,” she told jurors at the time.

Ms Adderley also explained that officers who testified on the stand confirmed that Algreen cooperated with police and voluntarily assisted with providing DNA samples, which proved he had nothing to hide.

“There were oral swabs collected, rectal swabs, blood samples…over 30 pieces of evidence collected (and) no semen found...If this sexual assault occurred, something should’ve been there. “...The prosecution failed in their duty. There are no eyewitnesses, no CCTV, no evidence, no DNA to back up their allegations.”

“Meanwhile, technicians worked through the evening at the WCPS to resolve the control system issue and return the plant to service.

“At approximately 11.30pm (Wednesday), some communities in the north of Abaco were taken off supply in order to provide power to residents in Marsh Harbour and the cays who had not received supply since the outage began.

“At approximately 3am (Thursday), the issue at the WCPS was resolved, which allowed units at WCPS to be placed online and supplies were restored to all impacted customers.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and thank our customers for their patience,” BPL said.

PAGE 8, Friday, July 2, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

BAHA BAY WATER THEME PARK OFFICIALLY OPENED

THE BAHA MAR resort’s new luxury water park – Baha Bay – was officially opened yesterday. The $200 million park marks the completion of the next phase of development of Baha Mar. BIS Photos/Kemuel Stubbs

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 2, 2021, PAGE 9

What we should learn from the Surfside tragedy F

OR days after a 12-storey luxury high rise in Surfside, Florida crumbled, leaving a scene that looked more like a bombed-out city in Syria than an upscale coastal town in America, we were glued to the screen.

As the hours passed, the horror of what happened hit harder, loss of life climbed, hope of finding survivors waned.

Day One, one death, 99 missing, one 10-yearold boy rescued from the rubble. Day Two Morning, 102 unaccounted for, Day Two Afternoon, probable death toll rising, the number of missing soared past 150, Day Five, still more than 150 unaccounted for and hearts sinking. It would take a miracle to find even one person caught in an air pocket clinging to life.

It is likely to be months before an official report is released, but even before structural and civil engineers, architects and inspectors cull their findings, enough information sifted through the dust and debris for the general public to understand the cause of the collapse was, at least in part, due to a sinking foundation and long overdue structural repairs that had been bypassed.

The pancaking of the building indicated a weakening at the bottom.

News reporters kept talking about the 40-year-old building as if it had built-in obsolescence like a toaster

oven. Buildings aren’t supposed to deflate after 40 years. Look at the castles of old in Europe and the homes up and down the inner cities of the east coast of the United States that pre-date the invention of the automobile or the suburban spread that followed the mass production of the Model-T.

Unthinkable So, we ask ourselves: why? Why did this particular high rise, still a sought-after address right on the beach in the heart of an active community, suddenly do the unthinkable and just fall down?

If it was sinking, if it was a victim of rising sea levels and previously undetected flooding that seeped through the spindly columns of its foundation, what does that mean for other buildings in the area or of the same vintage?

And what can we in The Bahamas learn from the tragedy of Surfside?

First, we need to take inspection seriously.

Champlain Towers South, the building that collapsed on one side, had just undergone its 40-year inspection and reports

emerged that a $15 million assessment was being levied over a multi-year payback period to make the necessary repairs.

At this point, we do not know if correcting what appeared to be a steady sinking over a decade was among those repairs.

What we do know is that we have a lousy inspection process in The Bahamas. Actually, that is a misnomer. We have NO inspection of older buildings and to the best of my knowledge, the only part that gets inspected on an annual basis is the elevator and I can only assume, fire-fighting equipment like fire extinguishers in commercial establishments and resorts.

We only have a handful of our version of high rises on the beach.

Why not require inspection of the foundation, concrete composition, roof, fire escapes, plumbing and common electrical every five years and a deeper dive with more extensive equipment every 20 years?

The condo association would bear the cost as it should but inspections and the recommended repairs should be mandatory.

What would happen to

RESCUE workers at the scene of the collapsed building. (AP photos)

our tourism industry if a major hotel collapsed?

Our hearts break for those who waited as

canine units sniffed for any sign of life and broke even more when they stopped sniffing, but for

God’s sake, let us learn a lesson and make sure what happened in Surfside never happens here.

T-PULSE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS You can’t make this stuff up

If you’ve noticed slight improvements downtown and somehow a few places look fresher, you can thank a group that has been working quietly behind the scenes.

Called T-PULSE (short for Tourism Pulse), they are a diverse group headed by the most unlikely of people, unless you know her personally, a dynamic force of a woman driving a town car delivering instructions while delivering guests to a hotel or the cruise ship embarkation point at the British Colonial Hilton.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

RICHARD BRANSON ANNOUNCES TRIP TO SPACE, AHEAD OF JEFF BEZOS (AP) – VIRGIN Galactic’s Richard Branson is aiming to beat fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos into space by nine days.

Branson’s company announced Thursday evening that its next test flight will be July 11 and that its founder will be among the six people on board, all company employees.

The winged rocket ship will soar from New Mexico — the first carrying a full crew.

Bezos, meanwhile, plans to blast into space from West Texas on July 20, the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

He’ll be on the debut flight of a Blue Origin rocket with people, accompanied by his brother, a female aerospace pioneer and the winner of a $28 million charity auction.

As late as Wednesday, Branson declined to say when he would rocket into space because of restrictions placed on him by his publicly traded company.

But he stressed he was healthy and fit to fly as soon as his engineers give him the go.

He’ll turn 71 a week after the scheduled launch.

Virgin Galactic launches its rocket ship from an aircraft, reaching an altitude of roughly 55 miles (88 kilometres).

Blue Origin launches its New Shepard rocket from the ground, with its capsule soaring to about 66 miles (106 kilometres).

Both those heights are considered the edge of space. By comparison, SpaceX launches its capsules — both crew and cargo — into orbit around the world.

T-PULSE is on a mission and a roll – creating a clean island, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that involves a bit of name and shame.

And it’s about time.

So, congrats to them and to whoever sees them coming and clears a pile of trash, hauls away an abandoned vehicle or works with a neighbourhood or civic organization to make a difference where they are. Email me if you want more info on how to help.

This is a true story.

A man is driving his vehicle down Shirley Street. It’s mid-afternoon on a workday. A single police officer pulls him over.

Officer: Can I see your licence please?

Man: Yes sir, I just have to take my seat belt off to get it. It’s in my wallet.

Man hands officer the licence.

Officer says “Do you know why I pulled you over?’

Man says “No.”

Officer: For not wearing your seat belt.

Hands the man a ticket for $100.

See, you can’t make this stuff up, but guess who lost – good police officers who will no longer benefit from the man’s generosity toward the Police Benevolent Trust Fund or even a local station’s Christmas party.

He will share any spare change where he will not be treated as a fool who is probably too polite to argue with police.

Jeff Bezos picks female aerospace pioneer to launch with him CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Sixty years after acing astronaut tests but barred because she was a woman, Wally Funk will rocket into space alongside Jeff Bezos in just three weeks.

Bezos’ company Blue Origin announced Thursday that the pioneering pilot will be aboard the July 20 launch from West Texas, flying in the capsule as an “honoured guest.”

She’ll join Bezos, his brother and the winner of a $28 million charity auction, as the first people to ride a New Shepard rocket.

At 82, she’ll be the oldest person to launch into space.

Funk was the youngest of the so-called Mercury 13 women who went through astronaut testing in the early 1960s, but never made it to space — or even NASA’s astronaut corps — because they were female.

Back then, all of NASA’s astronauts were male military test pilots.

Funk said she feels “fabulous” about finally getting the chance to go to space.

“I’ll love every second of it.

Whoooo! Ha-ha. I can hardly wait,” Funk said in an Instagram video posted by Bezos.

“Nothing has ever gotten in my way,” she added. “They said, ‘Well, you’re a girl, you can’t do that.’ I said, ‘Guess what, doesn’t matter what you are. You can still do it if you want to do it and I like to do things that nobody has ever done.”

In a cosmic twist, she’ll beat the late John Glenn, who set a record at age 77 when flying aboard space shuttle Discovery in 1998. Glenn pooh-poohed the idea of women flying in space, shortly after he became the first American to orbit the world in 1962.

“No one has waited longer,” Bezos said via Instagram. “It’s time.

Welcome to the crew, Wally.”

The Amazon founder is stepping down as the company’s CEO on Monday.

The upcoming launch — which follows 15 successful test flights

IN this image from video provided by Blue Origin on Thursday, Mercury 13 astronaut trainee Wally Funk, right, meets with Jeff Bezos. On Thursday, Blue Origin announced the early female aerospace pioneer will be aboard the company’s July 20 launch from West Texas, flying as an “honoured guest.” (Blue Origin via AP) — will open the door to paying customers. Blue Origin has yet to announce ticket prices or when the public might strap into the spacious six-seat capsule, which reaches an altitude of about 65 miles, just beyond the edge of space. The upand-down flights last 10 minutes.

The reusable rocket is named for Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and July 20 is the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Funk, who lives near Dallas, was the first female inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration and the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. In the posted video, she said she has 19,600 flying hours and has taught more than 3,000 people to fly.

She was among two dozen female pilots who underwent six days of rigorous physical tests — the same ones administered to the Mercury astronaut candidates — in 1960 and

1961. The doctor who had tested the Mercury 7 men had heard the Soviets planned to send a woman to space and he wanted to see if women could endure the effects of weightlessness.

The candidates had to spend hours in an isolation water tank, swallow rubber hose, and get needles stuck in their heads, among other things.

Thirteen of the women — including Funk — passed. But the programme was abruptly canceled, and the Soviets went on to launch the first woman into space — Valentina Tereshkova — in 1963.

“They told me that I had done better and completed the work faster than any of the guys,” Funk recalled. “So I got hold of NASA four times. I said I want to become an astronaut, but nobody would take me. I didn’t think that I would ever get to go up.”

It wasn’t until 1983 that the first American woman soared into space

— Sally Ride, who died in 2012.

And it wasn’t until 1995 that an American woman piloted a spaceship — Eileen Collins aboard shuttle Discovery. Many of the Mercury 13 women gathered at Cape Canaveral for that launch.

Keen to get to space, Funk reserved a seat years ago on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic rocket ship. She remains on the passenger list; the company plans three more test flights from New Mexico, one of them with Branson on board, before launching customers.

In the video, Bezos describes to Funk how the four Blue Origin passengers will experience zero gravity for a few minutes, then land gently on the desert surface and open the hatch.

“You step outside. What’s the first thing you say?” he asked her.

“I will say, ‘Honey, that was the best thing that ever happened to me!” Funk replied, embracing Bezos in a big bear hug.

PAGE 10, Friday, July 2, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION, CFO INDICTED ON TAX FRAUD CHARGES

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and TOM HAYS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s company and its longtime finance chief were charged Thursday in what prosecutors called a “sweeping and audacious” tax fraud scheme in which the executive collected more than $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation, including apartment rent, car payments and school tuition.

Trump himself was not charged with any wrongdoing, but prosecutors noted he signed some of the checks at the centre of the case.

And one top prosecutor said the 15-year scheme was “orchestrated by the most senior executives” at the Trump Organization.

It is the first criminal case to come out New York authorities’ twoyear investigation into the former president’s business dealings.

According to the indictment, from 2005 through this year, the Trump Organization and Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg cheated tax authorities by conspiring to pay senior executives off the books by way of lucrative fringe benefits and other means.

Weisselberg alone was accused of defrauding the federal government, state and city out of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and undeserved tax refunds.

The most serious charge against Weisselberg, grand larceny, carries five to 15 years in prison.

The tax fraud charges against the company are punishable by a fine of double the amount of unpaid taxes, or $250,000, whichever is larger.

Knowledge The 73-year-old Weisselberg has intimate knowledge of the Trump Organization’s financial dealings from nearly five decades at the company.

The charges against him could enable prosecutors to pressure him to cooperate with the investigation and tell them what he knows.

Both Weisselberg and lawyers for the Trump Organization pleaded not guilty.

Weisselberg was ordered to surrender his passport and was released without bail, leaving the courthouse without comment.

In a statement, Trump condemned the case as a “political Witch Hunt by the Radical Left Democrats.” Weisselberg’s lawyers said he will “fight these charges.”

The case is being led

by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats.

Vance has been investigating a wide range of matters involving Trump and the Trump Organization, such as hush-money payments made to women on Trump’s behalf and whether the company falsified the value of its properties to obtain loans or reduce its tax bills.

The news comes as Trump has been more seriously discussing a possible comeback run for president in 2024. He has ramped up his public appearances, including holding his first rallies since leaving the White House.

In announcing the grand jury indictment, Carey Dunne, the top prosecutor in the district attorney’s office, said: “Politics has no role in the jury chamber, and I can assure you it had no role here.”

PRESIDENT Joe Biden meets with first responders in Miami Beach, Fla., Thursday, who were working on the condo tower that collapsed in Surfside, Fla., last week.

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

‘Waiting is unbearable’: Biden consoles Surfside families

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE and JONATHAN LEMIRE Associated Press SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP) — President Joe Biden drew on his own experiences with grief and loss to comfort families affected by the Florida condo collapse, telling them to “never give up hope” even as the search for survivors paused early Thursday, a week after the building came down.

Addressing some of the families touched by the tragedy, Biden spoke in deeply personal terms as he offered his prayers and support in the private meeting.

“I just wish there was something I could do to ease the pain,” he said in a video posted on Instagram by Jacqueline Patoka, a woman who was close to a couple and their daughter who are still missing.

Few public figures connect as powerfully on grief as Biden, who lost his first wife and baby daughter in a car collision and later an adult son to brain cancer. In the first months of his term, he has drawn on that empathy to console those who have lost loved ones, including the more than 600,000 who have died in the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a quiet voice freighted with emotion, Biden on Thursday described his own despair at having to wait to find out about how family fared after a crisis like the one experienced in Surfside.

He spent more than three hours privately speaking with those grieving, addressing the group first and then moving family to family to listen to their stories. Biden spoke of wanting to switch places with a lost or missing loved one and lamented that “the waiting, the waiting, is unbearable.”

“The people you may have lost — they’re gonna be with you your whole life,” he told the families. “A part of your soul, a part of who you are.”

Biden told the families that it can be “harder to grieve in public than it is in private, so I know there’s an extra burden on you all.”

“But I promise you: I still believe in prayer,” he said.

“You’re in my prayers.”

A COAST Guard boat patrols in front of the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building, ahead of a planned visit to the site by President Joe Biden, on Thursday, in Surfside, Fla. Rescue efforts at the site of the partially collapsed condominium building were halted Thursday out of concern about the stability of the remaining structure, officials said.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The president, whose remarks were translated into Spanish, urged the families to “never give up hope,” even as the search and rescue operation paused early due to structural concerns with the remaining portion of the building.

Attendees could be seen with tears in their eyes as Biden closed out his remarks, and he and wife, Jill, spent the next few hours visiting privately with the families. He later told reporters that he was amazed by the families’ “resilience, their absolute commitment, their willingness to do whatever it took to find an answer” as to what happened.

He said the families asked him the most “gutwrenching” questions, including whether there was any hope of finding survivors or whether they would be able to recover the bodies of loved ones.

Recalling the car accident that killed his wife and daughter and badly injured his two sons, Biden spoke about his boys’ uncertain fate, saying “it’s bad enough to lose somebody but the hard part, the really hard part, is to not know whether they’ll survive or not” Biden, responding to what appeared to be the

deadliest calamity of his young presidency, also met first responders hunting for survivors in the rubble in Surfside before the pause in the search. Later, he and the first lady stopped by a memorial wall covered in flowers and photos of the missing, placing a bouquet next to a crayon drawing that read “I love you.”

The Bidens arrived in Florida a week after the collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South beachfront condominium killed at least 18 people and left 145 missing. Hundreds of first responders and searchand-rescue personnel have been painstakingly searching the pancaked rubble for potential signs of life. No one has been rescued since the first hours after the collapse.

“This is life and death,” Biden said at a briefing from officials about the collapse.

“We can do it, just the simple act of everyone doing what needs to be done, makes a difference.”

The president said he believed the federal government has “the power to pick up 100% of the cost” of the search and cleanup and urged local officials to turn to Washington for assistance.

“You all know it, because a lot of you have been

through it as well,” Biden said. “There’s gonna be a lot of pain and anxiety and suffering and even the need for psychological help in the days and months that follow.

And so, we’re not going anywhere.”

Biden was briefed on the situation with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, as well as the state’s two Republican senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. The mayor, a Democrat, saluted the efforts to cross party lines in an “unprecedented, devastating disaster” and said the unified government and community response “is what gives us hope.”

DeSantis, a rumoured Republican 2024 presidential candidate, told Biden the “cooperation has been great,” declaring that the administration has “not only been supportive at the federal level, but we’ve had no bureaucracy.”

As Biden pledged federal help and pointed to the bipartisan nature of the response, he touched DeSantis’ hand to underscore the point.

“You know what’s good about this?” Biden asked.

“It lets the nation know we can cooperate. That’s really

important.”

Biden then met first responders who worked around the clock on a rescue effort that has stretched into its second week in oppressive heat and humidity and frequent summer storms.

“What you’re doing here is incredible, having to deal with the uncertainty,” said Biden, as he offered profuse thanks to those who have been working at the site.

Biden said the cause of the collapse remained under investigation. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, which sent a team of scientists and engineers to the site, launched an investigation.

And early Thursday, the White House said the Federal Emergency Management Agency deployed 60 staff members and an additional 400 personnel across five search and rescue teams at the request of local officials. FEMA also awarded $20 million to the state’s Division of Emergency Management to help deal with unexpected emergency measures surrounding the collapse.

Biden’s day was spent entirely in a hotel about a mile north of the building site.

The White House emphasised that it was being careful to coordinate with officials on the ground to ensure that Biden’s visit didn’t do anything to distract from the search and rescue effort.

Still, not everyone welcomed Biden’s visit.

“I think it was a terrible idea for Biden to come,” said Soriya Cohen, whose husband, Dr. Brad Cohen, and his brother are missing. “I am sure he wanted to see it firsthand. I am sure he had pure intentions but it’s a very, very congested road.”

Cohen, who said she supported former President Donald Trump in last year’s election, expressed concern that Biden’s visit had “the attention taken away” from those still trapped in the rubble.

Cohen’s daughter has been praying for her missing father’s safety. When Biden heard her story he asked to see the daughter and gave her a hug.

FORMER DEFENCE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD DIES AT 88

By ROBERT BURNS AP National Security Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Rumsfeld, the two-time defence secretary and one-time presidential candidate whose reputation as a skilled bureaucrat and visionary of a modern U.S. military was unraveled by the long and costly Iraq war, died Tuesday. He was 88.

In a statement Wednesday, Rumsfeld’s family said he “was surrounded by family in his beloved Taos, New Mexico.”

President George W. Bush, under whom Rumsfeld served as Pentagon chief, hailed his “steady service as a wartime secretary of defence — a duty he carried out with strength, skill, and honour.”

Regarded by former colleagues as equally smart and combative, patriotic and politically cunning, Rumsfeld had a storied career in government under four presidents and nearly a quarter century in corporate America.

FORMER Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in 2008. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) After retiring in 2008 he headed the Rumsfeld Foundation to promote public service and to work with charities that provide services and support for military families and wounded veterans.

“Rummy,” as he was often called, was ambitious, witty, energetic, engaging and capable of great personal warmth. But he irritated many with his confrontational style. An accomplished wrestler in college, Rumsfeld relished verbal sparring and elevated it to an art form; a biting humour was a favourite weapon.

Still, he built a network of loyalists

who admired his work ethic, intelligence and impatience with all who failed to share his sense of urgency.

Rumsfeld is the only person to serve twice as Pentagon chief. The first time, in 1975-77, he was the youngest ever. The next time, in 200106, he was the oldest.

Current Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin saluted Rumsfeld on Wednesday for his “boundless energy, probing intellect, and abiding commitment to serve his country.”

He made a brief run for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination, a spectacular flop that he once described as humbling for a man used to success at the highest levels of the government, including stints as White House chief of staff, U.S. ambassador and member of Congress.

For all Rumsfeld’s achievements, it was the setbacks in Iraq in the twilight of his career that will likely etch the most vivid features of his legacy.

Nine months into his second tour as defence secretary, on Sept. 11, 2001, suicide hijackers attacked the World

Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, thrusting the nation into wars for which the military was illprepared. Rumsfeld oversaw the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and toppling of the Taliban regime. Frequently presiding at televised briefings on the war, Rumsfeld became something of a TV star, applauded for his blunt talk and uncompromising style.

By 2002 the Bush administration’s attention shifted to Iraq, which played no role in the Sept. 11 attacks.

The war effort in Afghanistan took a back seat to Iraq, opening the way for the Taliban to make a comeback and prevent the U.S. from sealing the success of its initial invasion.

The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was launched in March 2003. Baghdad fell quickly, but U.S. and allied forces soon became consumed with a violent insurgency. Critics faulted Rumsfeld for dismissing the pre-invasion assessment of the Army’s top general, Eric Shinseki, that several hundred thousand allied troops would be needed to stabilise Iraq.