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‘UNIONS ACTING UP OF LITTLE CONCERN’
Labour chief dismisses sabre rattling as part of pre-election season By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government’s top labour official yesterday reassured that workplace unrest “ain’t as serious as it appears”, and added: “This is the culture of trade unions in The Bahamas.” John Pinder, Director of Labour, speaking out after union executives argued that industrial relations are at an all-time low, asserted that it was not unusual for public sector unions in particular “to act up to get matters addressed” when a general election looms large. Noting unions seek to
“burn up the fire” to pressure the sitting government, using members’ votes as leverage, Mr Pinder nevertheless chastised management at some government agencies - especially Bahamas Power & Light - for moving too slowly on his department’s recommendations for solving union grievances. Emphasising he was speaking for himself, Mr Pinder said: “I know this is an election climate, and the season is near for an election, so the unions that have outstanding matters with then Government, they certainly burn up the fire. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
...BPL STAFF ISSUES STILL UNRESOLVED By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
AFTER Bahamas Power and Light employees walked off the job last week in protest, government officials have held conciliatory talks with union officials, however, there is still a level of distrust with the company’s management.
Bahamas Electrical Workers Union President Kyle Wilson said yesterday Minister of Works and Deputy Prime Minister Desmond Bannister held a meeting with the union and executive management in an attempt to resolve the issues that led union members to walk off the job last Monday. SEE PAGE FIVE
PM URGES PUBLIC TO REGISTER FOR VOTES
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has called on people to register to vote in the “shortest possible time”. While he gave no clue as to when an election could be called, Dr Minnis said it is the collective will of the people that decides who should govern the country. He made the remarks yesterday morning during Calvary Deliverance Church’s 39th convention where he referred to the country’s upcoming 48th anniversary of independence on July 10. SEE PAGE THREE
FOUR MORE WOMEN DIE FROM COVID HEALTH officials have reported four new deaths from COVID-19. The deaths of the four women all from New Providence occurred last month. A woman, 51, died on June 26; a 56-year-old died on June 24; a woman, 57, died June 10 and the final fatality was a 78-year-old woman on June 30. These deaths have taken the COVID-19 death toll to 250. SEE PAGE FOUR
HERE WE GO AFTER a year of little to no tourism because of COVID-19, the fireworks over Atlantis for US Independence celebrations have never been so welcome a sight. With the resort boasting occupancy numbers as high as 90 percent over coming weeks too, it is a sign of the start of the resurgence of the Bahamian economy. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
INDEPENDENCE PLAN STRIKES WRONG NOTE By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net SOME Bahamian performers are upset over plans for this year’s Independence Day celebration, which allegedly leaves out a mixture of top local secular acts in favour of a Christian theme. In a letter addressed to Mark Humes, the chairman of the Independence Secretariat, concerns were voiced about the issue.
MARK Humes in the House of Assembly last month. “As you are aware, due to the pandemic, this past year has been challenging for entertainers, and
employment has dropped to an all time low,” the letter said. “We look forward to the festivals and the independence celebrations for regular employment and an opportunity for us to showcase our talent…. “Hence, it has come as a surprise and extremely disconcerting to discover that this year’s celebration will not be using the top secular and gospel performers.” SEE PAGE FIVE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
KANOO EYES CARIBBEAN EXPANSION
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamian digital payments provider at the centre of the health travel visa controversy says it expects to gain permission to launch in two other Caribbean territories within the next six months. Nicholas Rees, Kanoo’s chairman, told Tribune Business that the company presently has two licensing applications underway in other nations, which he declined to name, as part of its drive to “take The Bahamas to the world through technology”. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
PAGE 2, Monday, July 5, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Elsa hits Cuba, but Bahamians cautioned to stay on their guard By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net TROPICAL Storm Elsa upgraded to a hurricane on Friday, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology Basil Dean said. However, as The Tribune went to press last night, it had downgraded to a tropical storm, and its path was projected to pass to the south of The Bahamas, affecting Cuba today before being predicted to move towards Florida. AccuWeather noted this is the first Atlantic hurricane for the year. The system was also the “fifth-named storm of 2021”. At the time, Mr Dean told The Tribune the storm upgraded to a Category One hurricane at around 8am Friday and maximum sustained winds increased to 75mph, but the movement had not changed much. “It’s still moving westnorth-west like 28mph and on that trajectory we’re still keeping the centre circulation just to the south of Hispaniola sometime on Saturday moving well to the south of the southeast Bahamas on Sunday morning and passing over central Cuba and into the Florida Straits sometime by Tuesday morning,” he said. “The rain showers will certainly impact the southeast Bahamas. Some of the outer bands from the system will definitely increase the rain chances over the southeast Bahamas on Sunday.” “That will spread into central Bahamas on Monday and by Tuesday morning the northwest Bahamas which includes New Providence could experience some showers as well as result of the passage
to the west of us.” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center predicted an “above average Atlantic hurricane season”. There was a predicted likely range of 13 to 20 named storms, six to ten will become hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes. This as Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis urged Bahamians to take precautions. He insisted that people should take the needed steps to protect personal properties and the lives of loved ones during the passage of this storm. He said in a statement Friday: “While the current projected path of Elsa takes this storm west of the Bahama Island chain, a gulf stream or pressure system can easily and quickly shift the path of Elsa to the east, placing The Bahamas directly in the storm’s path. We therefore must not let our collective guards down and remain prepared for any unexpected eventuality. “I urge our citizens to pay close attention to and follow all official weather warnings and advisories. As flooding, downed energized power lines and fallen trees are major public safety and health hazards, motorists and pedestrians are advised to traverse the streets only when it is absolutely necessary. Please stay indoors as much as practically.” Additionally he urged the government through its relevant agency to exercise vigilance as a preemptive strike against the potential for predatory business practices by opportunistic and unscrupulous merchants who would seek to use the unfortunate circumstance of a Hurricane to gouge and fleece the Bahamian.
KWASI: MAKE MOST OF VAT HOLIDAY ON SUPPLIES FOR HURRICANES By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net MINISTER of Finance Kwasi Thompson is urging Grand Bahama residents to take advantage of the VAT holiday on hurricane supplies. “We are seeing storms travelling now,” Mr Thompson, who is also minister of state for Grand Bahama, said on Friday. “We encourage people to be mindful of the season we are in.” Forecasters are keeping a close eye on Elsa, the first hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Elsa strengthened to Category One hurricane status on Friday morning when winds neared 75mph. The storm has since weakened back into a tropical storm and is expected to pass over Cuba today before it makes its way towards Florida. Mr Thompson said the government wanted to assist Bahamians in preparation for this year’s hurricane season. “The prime minister during the budget communication announced that the government was creating a special VAT holiday on hurricane supplies. We want to remind the public that
during the period of July 9 to July 31, there is going to be VAT-free on hurricane supplies,” he said. Hurricane supplies purchased locally in Grand Bahama, New Providence and throughout the Family Islands are VAT-free. “We are encouraging persons during this hurricane season and looking at what is happening now – we are seeing storms travelling now. We want to encourage people to take advantage of the VAT holiday.” A list of items that are designated as hurricane supplies has been posted on the Ministry of Finance and Department of Inland Revenue’s websites and the Ministry of Finance’s Facebook page. The VAT holiday was first announced by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in June. He said: “To assist with these preparations, this year, for the first time, we will undertake a VAT holiday for hurricane preparations.” Two years after Hurricane Dorian, Grand Bahamians are still recovering from the devastation of the monster storm that caused $3.4bn damage in The Bahamas.
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, July 5, 2021, PAGE 3
PM announces 33,000 more doses this month By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net AS health officials in the country look towards achieving herd immunity, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced The Bahamas will receive 33,600 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine before the end of this month. He said the government will continue its vaccination campaign for as long as it can until additional supplies are received. He made the statement while officially opening the Briland Club Marina in Harbour Island on Friday. As he maintained The Bahamas is “coming back” as a major tourist destination, he touted the new property as “one of the most beautiful marinas in the Caribbean”. Dr Minnis congratulated residents of Harbour Island and Eleuthera who he said came out in large numbers to take the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the recent rollout in the Family Islands. “We are very pleased
with the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine across the Family Islands,” he said. “It exceeded our expectations. We are expecting a third tranche of 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX Facility before the end of this month. “The Bahamas has been informed that we will receive these vaccines on the 26th of July 2021. We engaged in an exchange with Antigua and Barbuda for an additional 5,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. We have already collected the vaccines. “We will continue to administer the vaccine for as long as we can until we receive additional supplies. We have also received an offer, through the CARICOM health agency (CARPHA), from the United States for additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines.” Dr Minnis said this process is underway, but the government has not yet received a specific timeline for delivery. The vaccines, he said, are the way to end this terrible pandemic. “Vaccines are the way to
ensure we limit future outbreaks,” Dr Minnis said. “They are the way to ensure more visitors come to our shores in order to fully revive our economy. Tourists will increasingly want to visit places that have highly vaccinated populations in order to ensure their safety and that of their children.” Yesterday, the National Vaccine Consultative Committee said as of July 2, there have been 95,992 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine administered locally. An official clarified that while the Bahamas has received 92,200 vaccines, health care professionals have been able to administer 11 or 12 doses per vial, despite manufacturers noting that each vial can only provide 10 doses. Fifty-nine thousand seven hundred and thirtyone people have received at least one dose of the vaccine while 36,261 people have been fully vaccinated with two doses of the vaccine. “The strategy of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee is to distribute all approved vaccines received
as safely, as quickly and as efficiently as possible to all Bahamians and residents throughout The Bahamas, who wish to receive the vaccine,” the committee said. A breakdown of vaccination by island was also provided. In New Providence, 69,642 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, and in Grand Bahama, 13,737 doses have been given out. Both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been successfully rolled out throughout the Family Islands, the committee said, adding that it is encouraged by the uptake of the vaccine in the Family Islands where 12,613 doses of the vaccine have been administered to date. Among those eligible to receive a second dose of the vaccine, 86.1 percent of persons who have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine have shown up to receive their second dose across the country. As a group, 91.2 percent of persons receiving their first dose in the Family Islands have returned for their second dose. In Nassau, 85.5 percent
have returned for their second dose, and in Grand Bahama, 84.5. percent. “Vaccines are distributed in the Bahamas once they meet emergency use approval by the World Health Organization; the country must also be able to secure the prescribed storage facilities, with the recommended transport and administrative measures, inclusive of management of waste,” the committee said. Vaccines will be administered this week at Loyola Hall on Gladstone Road in New Providence and at the Susan J Wallace Community Centre on Grand Bahama today through Wednesday. Vaccinations will pause on Thursday for the Independence Day holiday and resume the following week, starting Wednesday July 14. Health officials are hoping for at least 200,000 Bahamians and residents to receive both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in order for the country to achieve herd immunity. The UN estimates the Bahamas’ population at 396,913 as of July 1, 2021.
MICHAEL Wiener shows Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis construction work at Briland Club at an event on Friday to mark the launch of the marina.
MINNIS HAILS ‘BEAUTIFUL’ MARINA AT OPENING BRILAND Club officially opened its marina on Friday, marking a milestone day in the transformation of the tourism product of Harbour Island. Developer Michael Wiener and his family thanked the government of The Bahamas, the people of The Bahamas and especially Brilanders for their “unwavering” support, saying: “We would not be here were it not for you.” Prime Minister of The Bahamas the Most Honourable Dr Hubert Minnis was present at the launch event and hailed the marina as “one of the most beautiful marinas in the Caribbean”. Mr Wiener praised the dedication of Bahamians for their part in the $100m first phase of the development, with more than 150 Bahamians working on the project. In an emotional speech, Mr Wiener thanked his daughter, Melanie and his friend, Michael Johnson, for all their assistance in bringing the development to fruition. He said: “This project grew from my family’s love for Harbour Island. We visited Briland years before we invested in your beautiful jewel. While spending time here, we dreamed about creating a world-class marina and space that would raise the bar, so to speak, while maintaining and respecting the culture and natural charm of the island.” He said: “I want to start by thanking our friends and family who are here with us. When I use the word we or us, I mean my family, who is here today, as well as my team of architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, lawyers, and real estate professionals. “To our Bahamian family, your support has been unwavering, and
MELANIE WIENER, Mathieu Wiener, Michele Wiener, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Michael Winener planting a ceremonial tree at the marina at Briland Club. we would not be here were it not Mr Wiener said: “The marina Dr Minnis added: “I am pleased for you. That Bahamian family on which you stand will set a new that this major project garnered includes everyday Brilanders, their standard of excellence for marina the strong support of the majority district council, and the office of development in The Bahamas. of Harbour Islanders, who were the Prime Minister. To all of you, From abundant power, the use of widely consulted. words cannot adequately express organic materials – such as IPE “It is the dream of many Bahaour gratitude.” wood and coral stone, thought- mians on Harbour Island, and He said the project only used ful landscaping, and advanced fire Eleuthera, who wanted to see this Bahamian contractors. He added: suppression and wastewater treat- project come to fruition.” “As of June 30th, there were 155 ment, this project has been built to He added: “It is moreover Bahamians working on the site.” be resilient in the face of mother the ambitious dream of Michael The first phase of the project will nature. In addition, we invested in Wiener, his family and his developcost approximately $100m, includ- critical infrastructure – power and ment associates. I note Michael’s ing the marina, power facilities, water – so that we don’t burden the great dedication of time and talent potable water, a wastewater treat- scarce resources of the island.” to this beautiful property.” ment plant, four luxury residential In praising the resurgence of Briland Club is a 27-acre waterunits and the village restaurant and tourism in The Bahamas, Prime front development, featuring bar. Minister Minnis said the Bri- hurricane-rated floating docks, inThe second phase is expected land Club marina is “one of the slip fueling, restaurants, a spa, a to begin construction in the fourth most beautiful marinas in the golf simulator and more, including quarter of 2021. Caribbean”. high-speed internet for guests.
PM URGES PUBLIC TO REGISTER FOR VOTES
from page one
“It is a time to take pride in all we have accomplished as a sovereign nation over the last 48 years,” Dr Minnis told the congregation. “One of the things we should be most proud of is our democracy. In our system the people select their government at the ballot box. We have free and fair elections. “We have an orderly process in how we select those who represent us in Parliament.” He added: “I want to encourage you all who need to register to do so in the shortest possible time. The right to vote was fought for by our founders. We should not take it for granted. “The collective will of the people decides who should govern.” Several voter registration sites opened back in February amid speculation Dr Minnis could call an election soon. Dr Minnis has not done so. Instead, the Killarney MP has several times brushed off talk of an early vote. Back in May, National Security Minister Marvin Dames urged people not “to read too deeply” into a Royal Bahamas Defence Force memo that directed departments to prepare for the possibility of an early election. The memo, signed by Acting Captain Shawn Adderley, was sent in response to a memo from the Parliamentary Registration Department, according to RBDF Commodore Raymond King. While some saw it as evidence that Dr Minnis was gearing up for an early election, Mr Dames said this was not necessarily the case. “Only one person can decide that and that is the prime minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” Mr Dames said at the time. “Now we know that these agencies would often prepare earlier than most. That is not out of the ordinary and so I won’t read too deeply into that. This is a normal occurrence. Only one person could determine the date of the election and he hasn’t yet done so. “Everybody is speculating…(the) Prime Minister makes that decision and when he does, we wanna make certain that these agencies are ready in advance.” The memo, which was signed on April 29, says: “Be advised that in preparation for the possibility of an early general election, you are directed to provide a listing of all personnel in your purview voting in the advanced poll and forward the same to the base executive officer’s office by Thursday, 6 May 2021.” Legislation passed earlier this year has allowed for a permanent voter register to be established for the first time in the country, meaning that people who registered to vote for the 2017 election will not need to register again. However, qualified Bahamians who are not on the 2017 register or who have moved to an address different from the one on their voter’s card will need to visit a Parliamentary Registration Department centre to register or transfer their registration to a new polling division or constituency where they now reside. Some 20,000 first time voters are expected to register this election cycle. Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Lavado Duncanson has said 189,346 people are currently registered for the next election, including 27,997 in the Family Islands and 30,233 in Grand Bahama. Unless called earlier, the next general election is expected in May 2022.
PAGE 4, Monday, July 5, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
‘The nurses are sick’ By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net AS the country battles its third wave of the COVID19 pandemic, the Bahamas Nurses Union is reporting that five nurses are out sick and one recently died from the deadly virus. BNU President Amancha Williams said the nurses are pretty much on their own or the burden is on their families as their insurance is not the best. Last year, a number of nurses died after being exposed to COVID-19. The union had an issue with the length of time the government was taking to compensate the families of the fallen nurses. It is unknown if they were ever paid. “We have five nurses out at PMH with COVID,” Nurse Williams said yesterday. “Two of them are in hospital. They don’t have the best health insurance so their families have to deal with them. The air-conditioner was off down there for four weeks. “I keep saying bacteria, the spread of viruses, everything grows in heat. Body fluids are passing from one person to the next in that kind of environment, especially when you have no windows to open up to allow the air to circulate.” The union president indicated that those nurses recently afflicted with the virus are very ill. It is also unknown how many of the nurses are vaccinated against COVID-19. “The nurses are sick,” she said. “One is really, really not well. She is at Doctors Hospital. She is not well. We had a nurse (from Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre) that died. . .last week Thursday. We are having a memorial service this week. She will also be buried this week. I haven’t heard the minister say anything about that. Why didn’t he talk about that? “These air-condition systems have been out of service for a while, it’s just worse now that the summer
TOTAL CASES
12,625 246 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES SUNDAY
39 CASES
NEW PROVIDENCE 25 BIMINI & CAT CAY 6 GRAND BAHAMA 4 ABACO 4
AMANCHA WILLIAMS has rolled in. I would say the female medical 1 ward, they have been out for which is currently vacant for one month; the anteabout two months.” The union president said natal ward which has the air-conditioning system functioning units that need is unreliable as one day it to be replaced and the male comes on and the next day medical I ward which has a it is off for periods as long partially functioning unit. as three weeks. “Additionally, work will She said it must be continue to repair air-conextremely uncomfortable ditioning in the dialysis unit to work in such an envi- where one of two units is ronment and also to be a functioning. maternity patient who has “To provide clarity foljust had a C-section. lowing statements made by In a statement issued the nursing union president yesterday, hospital officials regarding the issue of nonacknowledged issues with functioning air conditioning the air-conditioning system, in the postnatal, female adding that progress is medical I and male medical underway regarding its I and II, the male medirepair in several wards. The hospital confirmed cal II ward has been closed that the air-conditioning and gutted for approxiunit on female medical mately two years and the ward II was repaired on other areas mentioned have Wednesday, adding that either been repaired or are the air-conditioning for the progressing,” PHA said. Officials said Ms Williams obstetrics and gynaecology wards has been invited to receive and has been receiving have also been repaired. The a/c for the labour updates on the progress of and postnatal wards were repairs. The statement said repaired two weeks ago, efforts are being made to officials said. “The hospital will con- ensure that the institution tinue to repair the air provides the optimal enviconditioning for several ronment for the care and remaining areas including treatment of our patients.
SMITH: KEEP FOOD AID GOING By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net FEEDING 18,000 families on a monthly basis is a job the government should consider on a long-term basis, according to Bahamas Feeding Network Executive Director Philip Smith. Mr Smith made the suggestion yesterday while confirming the National Food Distribution Task Force’s assistance to those who are food insecure will continue through to the end of September. In April it was confirmed the programme would continue through the end of June. Initially it was set to end in August 2020 but was extended several times to assist those
TOTAL DEATHS
PHILIP SMITH, executive director of Bahamas Feeding Network. still largely affected by the pandemic. The many extensions are proof that this issue won’t
simply just fade away, Mr Smith said. “I think it should be extended until next year
TOTAL TESTS
106,793
HOSPITALISED
38
CASES IN ICU
5
RECOVERED
11,559
FOUR MORE WOMEN DIE FROM COVID from page one
Additionally, there have been 146 new COVID-19 cases so far this month. There were 73 cases reported on July 1, while 33 were reported on July 2 and 40 new cases were reported on Saturday, July 3. Overall, the country has recorded 12,881 cases. This includes 953 cases recorded in June, 1,380 in May and 1,177 in April. The numbers come as officials continue to push vaccinations as the path out of the third wave of the
pandemic. At a church service yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said vaccinations are “doubly important” with the emergence of the rapid spread of the Delta variant around the world. The strain is said to be more infectious. “We will only stop this pandemic through vaccinations,” Dr Minnis said. “We need a large number of Bahamians vaccinated. To those of you still considering whether or not you will take the shots, take note of how dangerous the Delta variant is. “It has led to the collapse
of hospital systems in a number of countries. We all saw on television what it did to our fellow Commonwealth country of India, who was so gracious to give us our first vaccines. “I want each of you to be safe from this deadly virus. I strongly recommend that you get vaccinated so that you are protected,” he said. At last report, 57 people were in hospital receiving treatment for the disease. Health officials have continuously urged Bahamians not to let their guards down, but escalating numbers suggest otherwise.
some time,” Mr Smith said yesterday. “I would say until probably June of next year or so. That is my guess. “Even after that there will still be a lot of food insecure persons in the Bahamas as a result of the pandemic.” The Minnis administration has allocated $25,239,375 for the food assistance programme this fiscal year. “On an ongoing basis something that the Bahamas Feeding Network does for quite a number of years is feed people. The Department of Statistics said several years ago that 12 to 15 percent of people were food insecure. I think that was conservative because they used $4 per day as the amount that one had to earn. It was a total of $12 but of that $12 it was $4 on food and that is very difficult to do, to exist on that budget daily for food. Even with
that statistic maybe six years ago I think that was off. “So, I think the population on an ongoing basis you are probably looking at about 20 percent of the population is food insecure and that is about 80,000 individuals and so what we are doing now the task force is feeding 18,000 families. “We estimate four persons per family and so that works out to be 72,000 individuals so you may find that that may be the figure going forward that we will have to look after. In the final phase, officials reduced the eligible number of people by 60 percent or just over 60 percent from when it fed 55,000 families or 220,000 individuals in the first phase. “Phase three was reduced to 18,000 families or 72,000 individuals. So going forward, we believed that number we reduced it to was probably less than it should’ve been.”
Back in January Mr Smith said there have been many instances where those not included on the food distribution list have reached out to the organisation for food help. “Some of the persons we took off the list should’ve probably still been on,” he added. “I was not involved in that process but definitely those on the list are the unemployed… but it is my belief that we would have not captured everyone when we came to that 18,000 so that would’ve been about 20 percent (from the initial number) that we’re now feeding. “Because a lot of persons are still coming but they’re just not on our list… but we still do our best to assist and we have been able to assist quite a bit of them but it’s always a challenge. You know you have to eat to live and there are some people who are truly challenged.”
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, July 5, 2021, PAGE 5
BPL workers staging a protest on Tuesday last week.
BPL staff issues still unresolved from page one
At the time, the union said the company had 14 days to address outstanding issues or face its wrath. However, Mr Wilson said after that meeting on Thursday, a memo was sent to staff by a BPL official which listed 2020/2021 fiscal year promotions. This included Mr Wilson’s promotion to the position of plant mechanic. Mr Wilson feels the memo was intentionally sent with his promotion in order to create dissent in his membership. “Executive management, in my opinion, is still posturing arrogance and I am
offended by their action on Thursday after I would have met with the DPM,” Mr Wilson said. “They would have come out with an ambiguous list of what they claimed to be recent promotions. Some of those promotions would have taken place over three years ago. “They have my name on the promotion list talking about congratulations. They never sent me a letter of congratulations nor has anyone ever reached out to me to congratulate me. So why would you put my name on a list of promotions, the very day we met with the deputy prime minister? It was a nasty move to create division and tension
amongst the membership. “There is no middle ground, the HR Director and (BPL CEO Whitney) Heastie have to go,” he said. Mr Wilson said Mr Bannister has set up a conciliatory process for all sides to hash out their grievances. “The Prime Minister himself would have reached out to me on a conference call and gave me the assurance that he will see that the union concerns are met where they are reasonable,” he added. He also said BPL’s chairman Donavan Moxey has yet to reach out to the union on the matter. “Where is chairman
Moxey in all of this?” he asked. “Why does it take the Deputy Prime Minister to reach out and the chairman has not reached out? The chairman has yet to reach out to the union leader which goes to show they are not serious about fixing the issues. “They really think that the union is joking... the chairman nor any of his board members have yet to reach out to the president. Shame on them! Fourteen days soon up and if nothing happens with them then only Bannister himself can quell the storm to come. “This union is backed by the TUC, the NCTU and CBTUC. That covers every union president in
the country. There is no magic wand to fix it overnight. Some issues will go beyond the 14 days, but we want a commitment. If there is none you will see that from Abaco to Inagua, Mr Heastie and his (colleagues) will feel the wrath of the entire Bahamas Electrical Workers Union.” Still upset over reports of BPL staff assigned to remote islands having to defecate in bushes as there are no facilities provided for them, the union president told of an option that he says was rebuffed by BPL management. “There are no proper facilities on the remote islands,” he said. “We have a very smart foreman on
one of the islands who was paying for staff to eat lunch at restaurants there so they could use the restrooms at those restaurants. “One of the directors at BPL told the foreman of the corporation that BPL is not paying that restaurant bill and he should go pay for it himself. These things need to be reported, how cold, callous and mean they are. You would rather your staff use the bush than to pay for a meal for them to use the restroom?” The union is upset about alleged poor working conditions on the Family Islands and unfair promotions and hiring practices. BPL has denied the claims.
INDEPENDENCE PLAN STRIKES WRONG NOTE from page one
“Adding insult to injury, we are told that the songs being used are not locally written or produced material. Is this saying that our material is not good enough to celebrate our own independence?” When contacted, Mr Humes explained that this
year’s celebration is about a Christian message, particularly where the country is this year after all its citizens have been through. “One aspect of who we are is rooted in our religious belief - we’re a Christian nation. So, this is the aspect, we’re paying homage to that aspect of who we are as Bahamians this year in the celebration,” Mr Humes said.
“We’ve done secular. Had secular - highlighted it for the last four years. I think at least one year we can pay reverence to who we are as a people, Christian people - a Christian nation… I really hope people don’t take offence to the fact that you know we want to be able to do that at a time like this and pay reverence to God…”
SUSPECT IN HOSPITAL AFTER POLICE SHOOTING By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A SUSPECT injured in a police-involved shooting is in stable condition, Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters said Friday. ASP Peters gave the update the day after the incident occurred. According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force shortly after 7pm police received information that two suspects were in possession of firearms. “Two units that were patrolling in the community of Coconut Grove were dispatched to Third Street,” the release said. “When the officers engaged the suspects they ran. One of the suspects made his way through a yard onto Fourth Street. Officers who were on Fourth Street, observed
the suspect running towards the street brandishing a firearm. When alerted by the officers, he pointed the weapon in their direction. “The officers produced their service weapons and discharged them at the suspect, hitting him several times. The suspect dropped the firearm, the officers then secured the weapon and arrested him.” The suspect was taken to the hospital by Emergency Medical Services while the second suspect was also arrested and taken into custody. This incident comes after police accidentally shot a woman on June 26. Precious Curry, 36, was injured outside her home because of a police chase in the residential area. Officers were patrolling the Blue Hill Road and Coconut Grove Avenue areas when they observed the occupant of a
silver coloured vehicle driving in a “reckless manner”. Although beckoned by police, the driver sped off and a chase followed as a result. “The vehicle eventually came to a stop at the intersection of Amos Ferguson Street and Balfour Avenue. A man then got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. He was pursued by the officers,” police reported. “During the pursuit one of the officers observed the suspect remove an object from his waist. The officer being in fear for his life discharged his service weapon in the direction of the suspect. The suspect was caught unharmed, and a pistol was recovered. “Moments later, an adult female who was on the outside of her residence during the incident, complained of receiving injuries consistent with gunshot wounds to her legs.”
BOAT SPOTTED ADRIFT - AND RESCUE TURNS TO DETENTION TWO Bahamians are currently being detained allegedly for customs violations after their disabled vessel was towed into Grand Bahama on Saturday afternoon. On Friday night, the RBDF operations centre was alerted of a distressed vessel approximately 40 nautical miles north of West End, Grand Bahama. The vessel, which was experiencing mechanical problems and was adrift, was initially spotted by the US Coast Guard Cutter Flying Fish, which was in the area. A joint effort by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the United States Coast Guard assisted in towing the 37-ft sport fishing vessel to Grand Bahama. Further investigations revealed that the vessel was not licensed or registered. Both of the occupants were in fair health when they were rescued.
The men were eventually handed over to the relevant
authorities for investigations.
further
Asked if the music will be locally written or produced material, he explained the songs being used are “universal” religious songs with a message. “What we’re doing this year is nothing new (or) unusual. So I hope people don’t try to frame it as something against Bahamian culture…When we look at the songs we sang
before when we go to our churches, these aren’t Bahamian songs either. When you go to the Methodist church, there aren’t many Bahamian songs that we sing but they’re all songs that we embrace.” In the letter to Mr Humes, the artists noted the celebration being God focused but said it could be inclusive of secular artists
as well. “While we support the idea in giving thanks to God for His blessings over the past year, we believe that this could have been accomplished with songs and performances by the top local gospel and secular artists in a very artistic fashion and to the satisfaction of the general Bahamian public,” the letter stated.
PAGE 6, Monday, July 5, 2021
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A familiar sight - but sometimes there are reasons DIRECTOR of Labour John Pinder isn’t wrong when he says that the countdown to election is a time when unions have often flexed their muscles to make their point to governments wanting the votes of union members. But he’s also not right if he thinks that’s the beginning and end of matters and we shouldn’t take recent disputes seriously. Regardless of the timing, there are often genuine concerns that need addressed. Take as an example, the pressure by nurses to secure money that was promised to those working on the frontline against COVID, a matter that took a considerable time to resolve – and whose importance is highlighted by the report in today’s Tribune that five nurses are out sick with COVID-19 and one recently died from the virus. The nurses union president, Amancha Williams, said to The Tribune: “The nurses are sick. One is really, really not well. She is at Doctors Hospital. She is not well. We had a nurse that died in the COVID centre in Freeport last week Thursday. We are having a memorial service this week. She will also be buried this week. “I haven’t heard the minister say anything about that. Why didn’t he talk about that?” Meanwhile, Bahamas Power & Light has been the focus of unrest recently, with workers protesting outside the company headquarters, and complaining about a range of issues. Are their complaints unjustified? Well, Mr Pinder himself criticised BPL management for moving too slowly on his department’s recommendations to resolve grievances. So, while union action might not be unusual in the countdown to elections, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a good reason this time. Mr Pinder himself says that the union “was not being unreasonable” with the matters it had raised. No one wants industrial unrest to disrupt the bounce back from COVID-19 that we are starting to experience – and while there might be a responsibility on workers not to cause disruption unnecessarily, there is also a responsibility of
management to ensure concerns are dealt with. Some of these matters might be easy to solve – one of the complaints about BPL is the lack of toilets at some Family Island facilities, how hard can that be to sort out? Some are deeper entrenched – there seems little love lost between BPL workers and CEO Whitney Heastie, who they have accused of replacing an “environment of merit” with one of “kisses by favour”. If there are issues, and the Director of Labour himself acknowledges the concerns are not unreasonable, sort it out – and let’s avoid a summer of disruption, no matter whether it is election silly season or not.
Four more deaths
Every day, the reports have been coming in. New cases of COVID-19. We hear the numbers, the locations. We see the variations in the totals of those in hospital. It is perhaps easy to become immune to the shock, but we shouldn’t allow ourselves to feel each loss as it happens. Four more women have died of COVID-19. The dates vary across last month, but the confirmation came this weekend. Each of the women was from New Providence. The youngest was 51, the oldest 78. There is much we still do not know about the outbreak in our own country – such as which variants we might be experiencing here, with the fast-spreading Delta variant raising fears around the world. But we do know this – the pandemic is far from over. We are a long way from having enough people vaccinated, and there have been 146 new cases so far this month already. We have to do what we can to stay safe – for the sake of those who look after our health, for the sake of continuing our revival, and for the sake of ourselves. Remember the four women who have died, and do whatever you can to prevent any more deaths.
Black crab syndrome EDITOR, The Tribune. I WAS never so disgusted than I was on Friday when I read The Tribune to learn that the “Black crab syndrome” is still alive and thriving in The Bahamas. No wonder successful Bahamians don’t return home to contribute to their country’s future growth when they have such opportunities of advancement abroad without some jealous citizen sneering about “y’all see, he just showing off!” Or, he “only get the concession ‘cause he got friends in high places” – not because a Bahamian had the genius to create a unique method of payment through the Sand Dollar — and government had the wisdom to see its benefits. I admit that I am too dumb to know what it is all about, other than, as reported in The Tribune, “it is a world first that has never been done before.” Imagine, the Bahamas, a world first, and other shiftless Bahamians, who are probably not smart enough
to have a clue of what it it all about, except that one of the crabs got out of the basket and is doing well in the big wide world! I myself don’t pretend to understand what it is all about, or its benefits, but at least it has put The Bahamas on the map as the first in something that is worthwhile, and I am proud of the creators — although I don’t personally know them — that they can boast that “the issue is bigger than Kanoo, bigger than any political party. The Sand Dollar is a major national initiative we must embrace and coalesce around.” I wish them well. Don’t mind the noise in the marketplace, those are the voices of the black crabs that did not have the wits of how to get out of the basket and create something that today makes headlines. And for those who do not know what the black crab syndrome is, this is the story. There were two barrels, one filled with black crabs,
the other with white crabs. By morning, the barrel with black crabs was still filled with black crabs, not one made its escape. As for the barrel of white crabs? The barrel was empty not one crab could be found. While the black crabs were busy pulling each other down as they tried to escape the barrel, the barrel that once had white crabs was empty because the white crabs were pushing each other to the top to help each other escape. To the three young Bahamians pictured in Friday’s Tribune as the creators of the Sand Dollar that has been accepted by the Central Bank, I wish them all the luck in the world. You do your country proud. Don’t listen to the noise in the market place, they are still in the barrel that by morning hadn’t made it to the top — and, in fact, for lack of ability never, will. A PROUD BAHAMIAN – one who also escaped the barrel! Nassau, July 3, 2021.
China and Hong Kong EDITOR, The Tribune. JULY 1 this year marked the 24th anniversary of China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s handover marked an end to 156 years of colonial rule by the British who seized Hong Kong in 1842 after the Opium War. It also set an ingenious precedent of peaceful resolution of issues left over from colonization, namely, through the “one country, two systems” formula, whereby Hong Kong as a special administrative region (SAR) of China is run by Hong Kong residents themselves and enjoys a high degree of autonomy. While one country, two systems was a globally acclaimed success for Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, many vestiges of colonial rule remained intact in the SAR. Youngsters used different history textbooks. Many of the justices in Hong Kong’s courts are either foreigners or have dual citizenships, and some politicians and civil servants have different political views and beliefs. A gaping hole in the SAR’s governance was, however, the fact that for 23 years, the SAR had been unable to enact a national security legislation as mandated by the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, due to vociferous opposition by anti-China elements. Hong Kong was in practice
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net a totally defenceless city. When again, the SAR government attempted to formulate this legislation in order to handle an extradition case, the situation came to a head in June 2019 when rioting broke out all over the city. Police officers were beaten up and attacked with petrol-bombs. A man in his 70s was killed. The legislative council was stormed and vandalized. Some rioters even clamoured for Hong Kong independence. Hong Kong sank into the worst crisis since the handover. The city was all but unliveable and unrecognizable. Under the pressing situation, the Chinese government had no choice but to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for national security in Hong Kong through a decision by the National People’s Congress, China’s legislature. The enactment of the national security law in June 2020 finally restored order and security to Hong Kong. This law fully protects the lawful rights and freedoms of all Hong Kong residents, including freedom of speech and press freedom. Yet, as in all other countries, press freedom should not be put above
national security and journalists are not beyond the reach of the law. The freezing of Apple Daily owners’ assets alluded to in an Associated Press report carried in this newspaper had nothing to do with press freedom, and everything to do with individuals being punished for breaches of the law, especially for fanning up violence and endangering state security. Unfortunately, this episode has been subjected to a slander campaign by some politicians in western countries. They called the riots in Hong Kong “a beautiful sight” and the storming of their own legislature as attacks on democracy. They didn’t raise an eyebrow when the social media account of a former president was permanently suspended due to the risk of incitement of violence, yet they attack China for what happened to Apple Daily. This is a typical case of double standards. The national security law will help make “one country, two systems” work better and serve as a bedrock for long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and for protecting the rights and interests of international investors. This should be good news to Hong Kong’s friends and partners around the world. CHINESE EMBASSY SPOKESPERSON YIN HAIGANG
The unseen burden of death EDITOR, The Tribune. DEATH, inevitable. Death, sometimes unforeseeable. Death, preventable. All of a sudden, unexpected and unexplained deaths fall under the jurisdiction of the Coroner in The Bahamas. Not only does this burden an already overwhelmed Coroner’s system, but what many fail to realise is that each of these deaths, totalling more than 1000 a year, fall to be dealt with by a single department in the hospitals of The Bahamas – The Morgue. This letter is written to (1) shine a light on the persons who respectfully
perform the duties on all bodies daily, no matter who they are or where they come from and (2) hopefully educate people that the morgue staff are few and specialized. On the back end of Hurricane Dorian and now the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff are tired and exhausted with the morgues being perpetually full with no break in sight. Death is inevitable, but we can all do our part to prevent those preventable deaths that add to the system every day. The job of the morgue is to determine the cause of death and to “speak” for those who cannot speak for themselves. However,
with the rising deaths due to violence, accidents and homicides, human resources are stretched thin. The staff are among our unsung heroes. Please, Bahamas. Please make the right choices. Please don’t drink or text and drive. Please reduce speed. Let’s not solve problems with violence. The consequences are real, on the families and on those who deal with death every day. Preventable death, it is hard on all of us. Just stop, think and take care. Life is precious. So, let’s choose to live. THE WITNESS Nassau, July 3, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Officer tells of finding marijuana in search By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A POLICE officer on Friday testified about finding a quantity of marijuana in a home that he and his team executed a search warrant on last year. Constable Alex Sturrup recalled the events that led to the discovery of two ounces of Indian hemp in a Lady Slipper residence on September 15, 2020. The discovery of the drugs in a couch in the home led to the arrest of Barbara Poitier, Clive Schroeter and a 16-year-old boy. When they first appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney, the trio denied the allegations. During their trial, Constable Sturrup said around 9.45pm that night, officers executed a search warrant at the residence. He said when they arrived at the scene, they met a number of males in front of the home. Constable Sturrup said the officers then searched the men in reference to dangerous drugs and
firearms. He said Poitier later appeared at the front door and was shown the warrant before the inside of the home was searched. During their investigation, officers found the drugs in a concealed area of a silver coloured couch in the front room. Constable Sturrup said the drugs were shown to the accused but none of them admitted ownership of them. He said a “back and forth” followed and during the verbal altercation, Schroeter became “irate” and started arguing with Poitier about having so many different people coming around the house. Constable Sturrup said as none of the accused could agree on who owned the drugs, they were all cautioned, arrested and taken to the East Street South Police Station to be interviewed. He said the drugs were labelled as an exhibit and handed over to the Drug Enforcement Unit for further processing. The case continues on August 11.
WOMAN THREATENED RELATIVE IN TEXTS By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 27-YEAR-OLD woman who threatened to harm a relative in text messages must stay out of trouble for two months to avoid spending a week behind bars. Britney Bethel appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain after she threatened to harm her cousin in a text message on June 21. She admitted the offence during her arraignment. The court was told that Bethel sent her aunt’s son a text message threatening harm. After the man reported the matter to police, Bethel was arrested. When she was questioned in custody, she admitted the offence. During the hearing, Bethel’s attorney told the magistrate she pleaded guilty at her earliest opportunity because she did not want to waste the court’s time. He also said the accused was extremely
remorseful for her actions. Bethel herself said she only committed the act because her cousin was sending her “provoking” text messages. She claimed he was telling her she was a “sad” individual and “rubbing personal issues in her face”. She added she only reacted in anger in the heat of the moment and insisted she was contrite about the way she responded. As a result, Magistrate Swain placed Bethel on probation for two months. She said as part of the agreement, the accused must be of good behaviour during that time frame. If Bethel fails to comply, she could risk spending seven days at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Meanwhile, Trevor Gittens, 55, was accused of threatening his former employer on June 28. He denied the allegation during his hearing before Magistrate Shaka Serville and the case was adjourned to September 6 for trial. Gittens was granted $1,500 bail in the interim.
FIREARMS FOUND IN GB By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
GRAND Bahama Police discovered firearms and ammunition in an abandoned building in the Lucaya area on Friday. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle reported that the discovery was made shortly after 11am by officers of the Flying Squad Unit. According to information
received, officers went to an abandoned building on Albacore Drive where they searched a pile of discarded appliances. ASP Rolle said while checking an old television they found wrapped in a white t-shirt, a black and brown .9mm Berretta pistol, with a magazine containing three live rounds of ammunition. No arrest was made and investigations are continuing into this matter.
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Monday, July 5, 2021, PAGE 7
APP TRAINING FOR YOUNG IN GRAND BAHAMA
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Fulbright App Development Programme was launched in Grand Bahama on Friday, providing app development training for some 60 young people. Senator Kwasi Thompson, State Minister for Grand Bahama, said that the app development course will help in not only building capacity in the technology field in Grand Bahama, but also in creating young entrepreneurs. “It is a skill we believe young people in GB, in particular, should have; and it should assist them when it comes to starting their own businesses and finding employment as well,” he said. The course is free and will run for the next six weeks, starting on Monday, at Orlando House on Queens Highway. Aaron Saunders, a Fulbright Scholar, is facilitating the course. Mr Saunders paid a courtesy call on Minister Thompson at the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday afternoon. “We want to welcome Aaron Saunders… who is in GB over the next few weeks to teach an app development course, Mr Thompson said. In Grand Bahama, as many would know, we are building the capacity in the
SENATOR J Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama. technology field and building human capacity in the tech field.” “We are also focused on building our young people into entrepreneurs, and we are pleased to be partnering with Fulbright Scholars and the US Embassy to provide an app development course in GB that started this morning.” Minister Thompson said that apps on our cellular phones are not just the way of communicating, but also the way of commerce, banking, doing business, and transferring money. He said that the government wanted to ensure that young people here could gain skills in developing their own apps. Mr Thompson explained that apps
developed by Bahamians could be used throughout the island of GB in every business. “Every business and institution could use some form of an app because it is an easy and convenient way of communicating with the public and customers.” Raquel Beneby-Hart, of the OPM, and Lead coordinator for this app development programme, said the 60 programme registrants are between the ages 18 and 30 years. “We officially begin on Monday with two cohorts; we have an advanced and a beginners course, and we are very excited to afford this opportunity for free because this would have usually cost thousands of dollars. We are grateful to Minister Thompson and the OPM in GB, the US embassy in Nassau, and lead sponsors and stakeholders, including Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, and Aliv.” Ms Hart said participants will receive a certificate and will be eligible for seed funding from OPM after completing the course. “This would lead to more entrepreneurship in our community, and also helps to build capacity as it relates to the technology hub here on GB,” she said. Mr Saunders, CEO and founder of Clearly Innovative Inc, said he looks forward to working with young people in The Bahamas by providing them structured guidance on how to build a mobile solution.
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
MONDAY, JULY 5, 2021
Legal letters and libel stir the waters at Central Bank By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net WEEKS after an interview with the press, a banker’s union boss has been told to apologise for remarks she made or face the consequences. On June 15, Union of Central Bankers President Theressa Thompson - while demonstrating with her members in front of the Central Bank - expressed displeasure with the bank’s executive management for ignoring the outstanding needs of her members. During that interview, Ms Thompson said her members were being neglected while the bank was erecting two new buildings. She also alleged members of executive management had signed new contracts with salary increases which she felt was unfair. The Tribune, through a Central Bank source, has learned the Governor of
the Central Bank, John were misleading, grossly Rolle, took issue with Ms inaccurate and fallacious. It Thompson’s statements and is public knowledge that the instructed attorney Ferron two top persons in the Bank Bethell, QC, to write to her are the Governor and the accusing her of defaming Deputy Governor. the characters of himself “The Governor has neiand his deputy. ther sought nor received a The Tribune salary increase has obtained ‘What I said in connecthe letter dated tion with the June 24, which were facts. You renewal of his called Ms are building current conThompson’s tract. Under two buildings! statements Bahamian law, You did get “unjustified, it is unlawful to unsubstantiated new contracts. engage in defaand reckless mation of the So, I don’t actions”. character and The follow- understand why reputation of ing are excerpts he sent his QC an individual or from that company. DefaFerron Bethell letter: “We are mation (slander advised that on behind me.’ and/or libel) 15 June, 2021, can be either you gave a live negligent or interview on Eyewitness intentional. News Bahamas, which was “In light of your unjusvideo streamed on Face- tified, unsubstantiated book, as well as circulated and reckless actions, we via WhatsApp, wherein hereby DEMAND that you made representations you immediately issue a regarding the two top per- written public apology sons in the Bank which and retraction on Eyewitness News and WhatsApp within seven (7) days from the date hereof. In the event you fail to meet this demand, be advised that we will seek instructions to pursue all available legal remedies.” The Tribune also obtained an email sent by Mr Rolle to Ms Thompson on June 29 at 9:53pm in which he tells her he will not withdraw the letter demanding an apology. In that email he insists she made the statements as an individual and not in her role representing the union. The email reads as follows: “Dear Mrs. Thompson, “Please be advised that, upon reflection, the Deputy Governor and I will not
JOHN ROLLE instruct Mr. Bethell, QC, to withdraw his letter demanding an apology from you. It was you, Theressa Thompson, an individual, who defamed me and the Deputy Governor on a national broadcast. You, Theressa Thompson, will either apologise or face the consequences. You have until Friday. The ball is in your court!” The Tribune contacted Ms Thompson about the matter and she defended her statements. “What I said were facts,” she said. “You are building two buildings! You did get new contracts. So, I don’t understand why he sent his QC Ferron Bethell behind me. What really hurt me was that the letter was sent to Theressa Thompson at my street address. It all went downhill from there. “I always protect my family. I asked him to retract his letter and to address it to me, Theressa Thompson, president of the Union of Central Bankers. I wanted him to address the
letter properly so I could address it properly. He said ‘no it was you, Theressa Thompson, who defamed me and the deputy governor’s reputation and you must go on the TV and apologise or face the consequences of your actions.’ “He could not be talking to me. I wrote the Department of Labour and I wrote the Minister of Labour and nobody has answered me. I don’t know what they think or what happened. It’s unfortunate, but I think I kind of settled with him because my attorney, Alfred Sears, would have written to him and basically said the same things I was saying to him, which is I have filed a trade dispute and I was out there as Theressa Thompson, the union president.” The Tribune also gained access to the letter from Ms Thompson’s attorney dated July 1, 2021. Here are excerpts from that letter: “It is our considered view on assessing the Statements made by Ms Thompson, in
her capacity as President of the said Union, and in the circumstance of a Report of a Trade Dispute, filed on 14th June, 2021, relating to unilateral variation of the Industrial Agreement between the Union of Central Bankers and The Central Bank with respect to performance review and wellness bonus, that these Statements do not in any way constitute or amount to defamation, libellous or slander, of the two persons named in your letter as alleged by yourself.” The Tribune tried to contact Governor Rolle and spoke with his personal assistant, Mrs Sands, twice. Two messages were left, but Mr Rolle never returned the call. Ms Thompson said she has received a call from Central Bank with regard to the union’s delayed negotiations, however she wants her matter settled first before going forward. “They called yesterday to say they want to come back with negotiations (union contract), but I told them I cannot come back to negotiations until that letter about defamation is withdrawn,” she said. “So that is where we are at. “No, things are not on the mend because I need to have that letter rescinded. After that we can go on the mend. That is what it was all about from the beginning. Let’s sit and negotiate and then I have two matters at the Labour Board that needs to be dealt with forthwith.” Ms Thompson insisted that she has nothing personal against Mr Rolle and the Deputy Governor, but instead she is only trying to do what is right by her union members.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, JULY 5, 2021 PAGE 9
Economic resurgence or a pandemic plunge hinges on our ability to secure vaccines TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has been one of the most notable public proponents of Bahamians getting vaccinated. That is understandable, as the appraisal of his performance depends greatly on how well his ministry is at getting heads in beds. If I were him, I too would be advocating for widespread vaccinations. Particularly, as we are shattering projections and resorts are experiencing higher occupancy levels than they thought possible just a few months ago. After the backlash of prematurely opening the borders a year ago, the time is ripe for a tourism explosion. Factoring in the pent-up demand from Americans who have been getting vaccinated and are now ready to resume all of the pleasures of pre-pandemic life, we are likewise eager to take advantage to fully revive our economy. But what is the challenge? Just as it was last week and the weeks prior, our challenge is two-fold - our inability to access vaccines, and vaccine hesitancy. How much of a role this hesitancy actually plays is hard to say without sufficient vaccines being made available. Last week, Mr D’Aguilar, again, spoke to the issue. He said: “If you don’t get vaccinated, you run the risk of the number of positive COVID-19 cases increasing and ending up on these lists like the CDC’s,” which have not been shy about placing travel advisories on The Bahamas throughout the pandemic. “By more and more people getting fully vaccinated, it reduces the possibility that you end up on these lists,” he restated. “There’s a lot of hesitancy out there, and a substantial amount of hesitancy increases the risk of cases spiking and increases the possibility that we will end up on these lists, impacting tourism. There are travellers, mostly groups, that look at this sort of thing and make decisions based on it. “I want to mitigate that risk as much as possible of getting on these lists, and the best way to mitigate this risk is through vaccination.” Now, Minister D’Aguilar is a member of Cabinet, and his concerns should be shared by all members, especially the Prime Minister and Minister of Health. It has become increasingly apparent the government, however, is choosing to be less transparent on major details on the state of vaccines in the country. On one hand, the Minister of Health is saying he believes herd immunity would have been achievable this summer. On the other, he is saying that we can potentially have 30 percent of the population vaccinated by September. However, we’re currently sitting at about 11 percent of our citizens being fully vaccinated and operating in a business-as-usual manner that does not reflect the actual state of affairs. The vaccine consultative committee seems more like a public relations buffer and no one wants to answer questions on where we are going to get additional vaccines. Meanwhile, the Delta variant, which has proven to be 60 percent more transmissible than its UK counterpart – the Alpha variant, is seen as the biggest threat in the US to eliminating COVID-19. A prominent professor of molecular medicine, Dr Eric Topol, told the Scientific American publication: “It is the most hyper-transmissible, contagious version
MINISTER of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar speaking to the press outside Cabinet. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff
‘On one hand, the Minister of Health is saying he believes herd immunity would have been achievable this summer. On the other, he is saying that we can potentially have 30 percent of the population vaccinated by September. However, we’re currently sitting at about 11 percent of our citizens being fully vaccinated and operating in a business-as-usual manner that does not reflect the actual state of affairs.’
MINISTER of Health Renward Wells receiving his second shot at Baha Mar Convention Centre last month. of the virus we’ve seen to date, for sure — it’s a super spreader strain if there ever was one.” While some Americans may be a little rattled by hearing these kinds of reports, Pfizer and Moderna, the two most widely distributed vaccines in the US have 88 percent effectiveness against the Delta strain. AstraZeneca,
however, has a slightly reduced efficacy rate of 60 percent after two jabs and drops to 33 percent if you’ve only had a single dose. What is concerning for us is that only 20 percent of our population have received at least one jab. Moreover, all of the doses we have currently and that are on the way are AstraZeneca.
Considering an outbreak just turned back the hands on the clock on Bimini amid another lockdown, we’re still very much in a precarious position without vaccines. The conversation from the government’s end needs to elevate from placing the emphasis solely on vaccine hesitancy to focus heavily on how we’re going to get
FOR SALE
By MALCOLM STRACHAN
additional vaccines. We understand discussions are being had. Likewise, we’ve been hearing for months that coolers are on the way. But it is growing more troubling that tourism’s resurgence is being touted without the proper mechanisms to ensure its sustainability – more vaccines. While it may not be
politically expedient to discuss vaccines in case our inability to acquire them causes widespread fear, avoidance of this discussion does not create comfort either. For the critical thinking minds observing this situation, the Minnis administration is gambling with what can be a cataclysmic fallout if an outbreak happens at one of our major resorts during our bounce back. We’re getting a taste of the long-awaited rebound – one that we hope continues. Let’s not bungle this by not prioritising the need to get vaccines in the country and shots into the arms of Bahamians.
SERENITY SUBDIVISION LOT NO: #6, Block #56
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: Single Family Residential (Vacant Land) PROPERTY SIZE: 6,758 sq. ft LOCATION: Traveling south on Serenity Drive take
the first right turn onto Sunrise Drive. Continue along Sunrise to Herring Drive, then take the first right and proceed to Dove Close. The subject property is the fourth lot on the southern (left) side of Dove Close. APPRAISAL VALUE: $110,000 INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD CONTACT: IAN SYMONETTE 397-6940 OR 376-1343 OR DISTRESSED.PROPERTIES@COMBANKLTD.COM
PAGE 10 MONDAY, JULY 5, 2021
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
The Caribbean should support ecocide as an international crime SMALL island states and countries with low-lying coast are the victims of ecocide. A draft law, unveiled on June 22, defines ecocide as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts”. Getting the law accepted would be a long process. It could take years. And, that is precisely why small islands and lowlying coastal states should embrace and promote it now. Every year that passes brings greater dangers of irreparable damage without compensation. While Climate Change is not specifically mentioned in the draft law, supporting it and eventually joining in its enactment, would send a serious message to states and entities that do little or nothing to stop ecological damage to vulnerable countries. Something has to give in this unlevel playing field in which small island states and low-lying coastal states are made to suffer. Therefore, the initiative for a new international criminal law, called “Ecocide”, by a group of legal experts, cochaired by British Professor Philippe Sands, QC, and Dior Fall Sow, a UN jurist and former prosecutor from Senegal, is heartening news. At least, it would open the door for criminal prosecutions against entities that cause ecological damage. Eventually, it could lead to the inclusion of the harmful effects of Climate Change, which, despite all the efforts of small island states, show no prospect of slowing down, let alone ending. The possibilities for damage to countries that could be classified under ecocide are: transboundary nuclear accidents, major oil spills and Amazon deforestation. The Caribbean has long been exposed to nuclear accidents by the passage through the region of ships carrying nuclear waste from Japan to Europe. Major oil spills have also now become a matter for concern in the area as oil production now extends from Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana and Suriname. Caribbean nations ought
ON FRIDAY, astonishing footage of an underwater fire after a rupture in an undersea gas pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico brought renewed concerns over the environmental impact of spillages, including this tweet from activist Greta Thunberg. No one was said to have been injured in the incident involving Petroleos Mexicanos.
World View
By SIR RONALD SANDERS
not to be pessimistic about the chances of “ecocide” being added to the four international crimes that now exist and are triable by the ICC. It should be recalled that it was a Caribbean man, ANR Robinson, a former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago who,
in 1989, revived the idea of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with jurisdiction over international crimes. He triggered the process that eventually led to the adoption of the Rome Statute – the Court’s founding treaty that came into force in 2002. Large
tasks have been taken on by small countries to success when they act together. Several other small island nations, including Vanuatu, in the Pacific, and the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, called for “serious consideration” of a crime of ecocide at the ICC’s annual assembly of states parties in 2019. Undoubtedly, they had Climate Change in mind. But, even if, at this stage, including climate change in the definition of ecocide is not possible, the opportunity should be grasped to make it attainable in the future. The perpetrators, who are now getting a free pass, should see that the victims are serious about recompense for damage.
The international initiative for a new crimi- lawyer, former Secnal law is a serious one, retary-General of the backed by the ‘Stop Commonwealth and Ecocide Foundation’, a member of the UN World Netherlands-based global Commission on Environcoalition. It is the Founda- ment and Development, tion that gathered a panel whose 1987 report, “Our of 12 leading lawyers, Common Future” awakincluding Sands and Sow, to ened the world to the major work on the draft law. threat to the environment. Professor He said of Sands said this new Something has to it creates “a initiative: give in this unlevel definition “I urge that catches playing field in which serious the most global supsmall island states egregious port for the acts but and low-lying coastal work of the doesn’t states are made to Independcatch the ent Expert suffer. Therefore, kinds of Panel for daily activ- the initiative for a the Legal ity that so new international Definition many of of Ecocide, criminal law, called us, myself included, “Ecocide”, by a group organised by the Stop and regions of legal experts, coEcocide and peoples Foundachaired by British and countion. Their tries are Professor Philippe ‘Commeninvolved in Sands, QC, and Dior tary and which cause Core Text’ Fall Sow, a UN jurist significant of a defiharm to the and former prosecutor nition of environ‘ecocide’ as from Senegal, is ment over an internathe long heartening news. tional crime term”. deserve The other co-chair, Dior humanity’s urgent Fall Sow, said: “The envi- attention”. ronment is threatened Every country in the worldwide by the very seri- Caribbean should embrace ous and persistent damage and promote the draft law caused to it, which endan- to make ecocide an intergers the lives of the people national crime. Doing so who live in it. This defini- would give them the suption helps to emphasise port of a further strand of that the security of our international law which, planet must be guaranteed along with diplomacy, is on an international scale”. a principal tool for the So, while the law, if it is defence of their interests. enacted, will not include • Responses and previclimate change, the panel ous commentaries: www. of lawyers passionately sirronaldsanders.com believe that the proposed definition could provide The writer is Antigua and a basis for the considera- Barbuda’s Ambassador to tion of a new international the United States and the crime. As Sands puts Organization of American it “what is original and States. He is also a Senior innovative, is that the envi- Fellow at the Institute of ronment will be put at the Commonwealth Studies at heart of international law”. the University of London The initiative has and Massey College in the attracted the support of University of Toronto. The the Caribbean’s Sir Shri- views expressed are entirely dath Ramphal, himself an his own.
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INSIGHT
MONDAY, JULY 5, 2021 PAGE 11
300 years ago, science silenced the sceptics by MARK CANADA, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and CHRISTIAN CHAURET, Dean of School of Sciences, Indiana University Kokomo
EXACTLY 300 years ago, in 1721, Benjamin Franklin and his fellow American colonists faced a deadly smallpox outbreak. Their varying responses constitute an eerily prescient object lesson for today’s world, similarly devastated by a virus and divided over vaccination three centuries later. As a microbiologist and a Franklin scholar, we see some parallels between then and now that could help governments, journalists and the rest of us cope with the coronavirus pandemic and future threats.
SMALLPOX STRIKES BOSTON
Smallpox was nothing new in 1721. Known to have affected people for at least 3,000 years, it ran rampant THE SMALLPOX vaccine, above, and, right, a child in Bangladesh with smallpox. in Boston, eventually striking more than half the city’s who contracted smallpox as well. After all, thinking like family members population. The virus killed from nature. The findings seemed and others you identify about one in 13 residents – but the death toll was clear: Inoculation could with is a common human A final lesson from probably more, since the help in the fight against tendency. 1721 has to do with the smallpox. Science won That he was capable of lack of sophisticated epideimportance of a truly scimiology made it impossible out in this clergyman’s overcoming this inclination entific perspective, one that mind. But others were not shows Benjamiin Franklin’s to identify the cause of all convinced. capacity for independent embraces science, facts and deaths. thought, an asset that would objectivity. What was new, at least to Inoculation was a relaserve him well throughout Boston, was a simple protively new procedure for his life as a writer, scientist cedure that could protect and statesman. While stick- Bostonians in 1721, and people from the disease. ing with social expectations this lifesaving method was It was known as “varioA local newspaper editor confers certain advantages not without deadly risks. lation” or “inoculation”, named James Franklin had To address this paradox, and involved deliberately his own affliction – namely in certain settings, being several physicians meticuable to shake off these exposing someone to the an insatiable hunger for lously collected data and smallpox “matter” from a controversy. Franklin, who norms when they are dan- compared the number of gerous is also valuable. victim’s scabs or pus, inject- was no fan of Mather, set those who died because ing the material into the about attacking inoculation We believe the most suc- of natural smallpox with cessful people are the ones skin using a needle. This in his newspaper, The Newwho, like Franklin, have deaths after smallpox approach typically caused a England Courant. Boylston the intellectual flexibility to inoculation. mild disease and induced a One article from August choose between adherence essentially carried out state of “immunity” against 1721 tried to guilt readers what today’s researchers and independence. smallpox. would call a clinical study into resisting inoculation. Even today, on the efficacy of inoculaIf someone gets the exact ‘Citing a rumour inoculated and tion. Knowing he needed to mechanism is demonstrate the usefulness then spreads that Francis had poorly underof inoculation in a diverse the disease to stood and not died because of someone else, What happened next population, he reported in much research inoculation and who in turn dies shows that Franklin, unlike a short book how he inocuon variolation of it, the arti- his brother – and plenty of lated nearly 300 individuals has been done. noting that such cle asked, “at pundits and politicians in and carefully noted their a rumour might whose hands the 21st century – was more symptoms and conditions Inoculation through the skin deter parents shall their Blood interested in discovering over days and weeks. seems to actiThe recent emerbe required?” the truth than in proving he from exposing vate an immune gency-use authorization The same article was right. response that their children to went on to say mRNA-based and Perhaps the inocula- of leads to milder this procedure, that “Epidemeal tion controversy of 1721 viral-vector vaccines for symptoms and Distempers” had helped him to under- COVID-19 has produced a less transmis- Franklin made such as small- stand an unfortunate vast array of hoaxes, false sion, possibly a point of pox come “as phenomenon that continues claim and conspiracy theobecause of the setting the Judgments to plague the US in 2021: ries, especially in various route of infecfrom an angry When people take sides, record straight, tion and the and displeased progress suffers. Tribes, lower dose. explaining that God.” whether long-standing Since it relies the child had In contrast or newly formed around on activating to Mather and an issue, can devote their the immune “receiv’d the Boylston’s energies to demonizing the response with Distemper in research, the other side and rallying their live smallpox Courant’s own. Instead of attacking the common variola virus, articles were the problem, they attack Way of inoculation is designed not to each other. different from Infection”.’ discover, but to Franklin, in fact, became the modern vacsow doubt and convinced that inoculation cination that distrust. The argument that was a sound approach to eradicated smallpox using inoculation might help to preventing smallpox. Years the much less harmful but spread the disease posits later he intended to have related vaccinia virus. something that was theo- his son Francis inoculated The inoculation treat- retically possible – at least after recovering from a ment, which originated in if simple precautions were case of diarrhea. But before Asia and Africa, came to not taken – but it seems inoculation took place, the be known in Boston thanks beside the point. If inocu- 4-year-old boy contracted to a man named Onesi- lation worked, wouldn’t it smallpox and died in 1736. mus. By 1721, Onesimus be worth this small risk, Citing a rumour that Franwas enslaved owned by the especially since wide- cis had died because of most influential man in all spread inoculations would inoculation and noting that of Boston, the Rev. Cotton dramatically decrease the such a rumour might deter Mather. likelihood that one person parents from exposing their Known primarily as a would infect another? children to this procedure, Congregational minister, Franklin, the Courant’s Franklin made a point of Mather was also a scientist editor, had a kid brother setting the record straight, with a special interest in apprenticed to him at the explaining that the child biology. He paid attention time – a teenager by the had “receiv’d the Distemwhen Onesimus told him name of Benjamin. per in the common Way of “he had undergone an operHistorians don’t know Infection”. ation, which had given him which side the younger Writing his autobiogsomething of the smallpox Franklin took in 1721 – or raphy in 1771, Franklin and would forever preserve whether he took a side at reflected on the tragedy him from it; adding that it all – but his subsequent and used it to advocate for was often used” in West approach to inoculation inoculation. He explained Africa, where he was from. years later has lessons for that he “regretted bitterly Inspired by this infor- the world’s current encoun- and still regret” not inocmation from Onesimus, ter with a deadly virus and ulating the boy, adding: Mather teamed up with a divided response to a “This I mention for the a Boston physician, Zab- vaccine. sake of parents who omit diel Boylston, to conduct a that operation, on the supscientific study of inoculaposition that they should tion’s effectiveness worthy never forgive themselves of 21st-century praise. They if a child died under it; my found that of the approxiexample showing that the mately 300 people Boylston You might expect that regret may be the same had inoculated, two percent James’ little brother either way, and that, therehad died, compared with would have been inclined fore, the safer should be almost 15 percent of those to oppose inoculation chosen.”
A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE
STIRRING UP CONTROVERSY
TRUTH, NOT VICTORY
INDEPENDENT THOUGHT
social media. Like 18th-century inoculations, these vaccines represent new scientific approaches to vaccination, but ones that are based on decades of scientific research and clinical studies. We suspect that if he were alive today, Benjamin Franklin would want his example to guide modern scientists, politicians, journalists and everyone else making personal health decisions. Like Mather and
Boylston, Franklin was a scientist with a respect for evidence and ultimately for truth. When it comes to a deadly virus and a divided response to a preventive treatment, Franklin was clear what he would do. It doesn’t take a visionary like Franklin to accept the evidence of medical science today. • Originally published in theconversation.com
PAGE 12, Monday, July 5, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
SPACEWALK FOR CHINESE ASTRONAUTS
TWO astronauts yesterday made the first spacewalk outside China’s new orbital station to set up cameras and other equipment using a 15m-long robotic arm. Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo were shown by state TV climbing out of the airlock as Earth rolled past below them. The third crew member, commander Nie Haisheng, stayed inside. Liu and Tang spent nearly seven hours outside the station, the Chinese space agency said. The astronauts arrived on June 17 for a three-month mission aboard China’s third orbital station, part of an ambitious space program that landed a robot rover on Mars in May. Their mission comes as the ruling Communist Party celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding.
42 KILLED IN MILITARY PLANE CRASH A PHILIPPINE air force C-130 aircraft carrying combat troops assigned to fight Muslim militants crashed and exploded while landing in the south Sunday, killing at least 42 army soldiers on board and three civilians on the ground in one of the worst disasters in the air force’s history. At least 49 other soldiers were rescued with injuries and survived the fiery noontime crash into a coconut grove outside the Jolo airport in Sulu province, including some who managed to jump off the aircraft before it exploded. Three of seven villagers who were hit on the ground died. The aircraft had 96 people on board, including three pilots and five crew while the rest were army personnel, the military said.
ANTONY Exilien secures the roof of his house in response to Tropical Storm Elsa, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Saturday.
Photo: Joseph Odelyn/AP
Cuba evacuates 180,000 from the path of Elsa HAVANA Associated Press CUBA evacuated 180,000 people amid fears yesterday that Tropical Storm Elsa could cause heavy flooding after battering several Caribbean islands, killing at least three people. The Cuban government opened shelters and moved to protect sugarcane and cocoa crops ahead of the storm. Most of those evacuated went to relatives’ homes, while some people sheltered at government facilities. Hundreds living in mountainous areas took refuge in natural caves prepared for the emergency. The storm’s next target was Florida, where Gov Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 15 counties, including in Miami-Dade County, where a high-rise condominium building collapsed last week.
Late yesterday afternoon, Elsa’s center was about 15 miles west of Cabo Cruz, Cuba, and was moving northwest at 14mph. It had maximum sustained winds of about 60 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The center said the storm was expected to gradually weaken while moving across Cuba on Monday. “After Elsa emerges over the Florida Straits and the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, some slight restrengthening is possible,’’ it said. The storm killed one person on St Lucia, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. A 15-year-old boy and a 75-year-old woman died Saturday in separate events in the Dominican Republic after walls collapsed on them, according to a statement from the Emergency Operations Center.
Elsa was a Category 1 hurricane until Saturday morning, causing widespread damage on several eastern Caribbean islands Friday as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. Among the hardest hit was Barbados, where more than 1,100 people reported damaged houses, including 62 homes that completely collapsed. The government promised to find and fund temporary housing to avoid clustering people in shelters amid the pandemic. Downed trees also were reported in Haiti, which is especially vulnerable to floods and landslides because of widespread erosion and deforestation. Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency said Sunday that three people had been injured by downs trees. A tropical storm warning was in effect for much of Cuba, Jamaica and the Florida Keys from Craig
Key westward to the Dry Tortugas. A hurricane watch was issued for the Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas, and Santiago de Cuba. Some of those provinces have reported a high number of coronavirus infections, raising concerns that the storm could force large groups of people to seek shelter together. Elsa is the earliest fifth-named storm on record and also broke the record as the tropic’s fastestmoving hurricane, clocking in at 31 mph Saturday morning, said Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami. Portions of Cuba were forecast to get rainfall of 5 to 10 inches through Monday, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches. Jamaica was expected to get 4 to 8 inches, with maximum totals of 15 inches.