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PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaking in the House yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

PM tries to persuade us he’s right • Caution the key in decision to ban beaches and retain curfew

• But Sands and Symonette raise questions over govt’s reasoning

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he closed parks and beaches for the Independence Day holiday weekend “out of an abundance of caution” and because “prevention is better than cure”. He said the healthcare system could melt down if he does not make such tough decisions, painting a picture of a SEE PAGE THREE

TWO WALK FREE IN 2016 KILLING

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE Court of Appeal yesterday overturned the murder and manslaughter sentences of two men accused of stabbing and killing another man in 2016, after the accused men argued that the trial judge failed to use his discretion when he allowed a statement from a witness who did not appear in court into evidence.

VICTIM: Cyril Cartwright Shawn McPhee another man who charged when he

and was was

a minor were accused of murdering Cyril Cartwright on February 13, 2016.

The men were identified as Cartwright’s killers by Devon Sands, a key witness, who did not appear in court during the trial. On November 2, 2017, McPhee was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 28 years in prison. The other man was found guilty of manslaughter, and was sentenced to

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

Inside J1INDEPENDENCE

PAGE 2, Thursday, July 9, 2020

Happy Independence Day The Tribune wishes all its readers and advertisers an enjoyable holiday - and we’ll see you again on Monday

THE TRIBUNE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Symonette and Sands question approach FORMER Cabinet ministers Dr Duane Sands, left, and Brent Symonette

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net FORMER Minnis administration Cabinet ministers Dr Duane Sands and Brent Symonette appeared unconvinced yesterday by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ decision to close beaches during the upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend.

In a robust defense of his action, Dr Minnis said he is concerned about what potential mass gatherings on beaches could mean for the spread of COVID-19, especially now that international flights to the country have resumed.

But Dr Sands, who resigned as health minister in May, cited a view of some medical experts that the spread of COVID-19 is less likely at beaches than at other activities which are not restricted.

“The Texas Medical Association published a table of risks going from least to most, the lowest being opening the mail or getting restaurant takeout,

to the highest risk being going to a bar,” he said.

“Going to a beach was listed as a moderate risk, with a number of things that we do in the Bahamas like working in an office building, swimming in a public pool, visiting elderly residents or friends at their homes, eating in a restaurant, travelling by plane, playing basketball or working out in a gym, all of these things that are allowed, are higher risk than going to a beach provided that the appropriate social distancing and mask wearing when people are not in the water is maintained.”

Mr Symonette, meanwhile, said the country still needs a better explanation for why the beaches will be closed. He said it is public relations problem for the government to advertise the country to tourists as a safe destination, then close the beaches on New Providence, Paradise Island and Grand Bahama.

“We advertised ourself as a safe environment, to say it is perfectly safe to come to the Bahamas and have a holiday, therefore enticing people to come to our shores,” the St Anne’s MP said. “And then we turn around and say the beaches in Nassau are not safe. That’s a public relations nightmare for me. So the question remains is: have people cancelled at the Ocean Club? Are they going home? Are we going to send a negative public relations message back? These are issues on my mind.

“We have to be consistent. If we’re going to do this again, we have to start to say, there’s going to be restrictions on such and such a day because tourists know they need a COVID test, but when they come to these beaches expecting to get away from whatever and not be able to go to them (that is a problem).

“COVID, if it is such a disease that it will affect your eyes, your liver and whatever we heard this morning, it doesn’t stop working at 10pm, it doesn’t all of a sudden go to sleep at 5am and it doesn’t necessarily not work on a beach in Eleuthera and work on a beach in Nassau. It doesn’t in my humble opinion add up, unless there is some underlying reason that we haven’t heard.”

Mr Symonette added: “…I’m a little nerve edged as to why the virus will not find the beach on Eleuthera or the beach on Acklins but it’ll find the beach in Grand Bahama and Nassau. So tomorrow a pile of people are going to jump on a plane and go to a number of our Family Islands, they’re going to go to a beach, and they’re going to come back to Nassau on Sunday because those beaches are opened.”

Mr Symonette questioned

if the government is concerned that beach activities cannot be policed.

“At some point we have to dive and get to the finish line,” he said. “I see this current regulation as the wind shifted direction quickly and you made an adjustment. I think we need to make sure that we correct the course properly and get back on course…Are we scared to court marshall a few and let the majority of the army suffer? There’s no doubt the majority of citizens have been following the provisions, otherwise we wouldn’t be where we are. They’ve been good citizens and they’ve had a good general in charge in terms of the member for Killarney.

“But we cannot allow a few bad apples to continue to cause damage in our communities. This is where I have some problems with the way we govern in our country, both political parties. We passed the cell phone law. How many people have you seen (driving while using a cell phone)? We haven’t enforced it and that is one of our fundamental problems in our country today. We got police on every corner coming up Bay Street, four and five in every corner.

There are no shops opened, they’re closed. We’ve gone and put red lines in banks where you shouldn’t go across this area so are we saying we cannot police the beaches? Is that what we’re really saying? I hope not.

We have some bad boys.

Then the issue is, bring those people before the court marshall. Deal with them because they are what’s ruining it for the majority of us that are law-abiding,” Mr Symonette said.

Dr Sands also questioned the number of COVID-19 PCR tests the country is performing. Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, coordinator of the COVID-19 response, said last week officials are not doing more tests because there is no more community spread of the virus.

Dr Sands said the average number of tests for countries and territories in the world is 110,000 tests per million.

“The Bahamas to this day has done 6,272 tests per million,” he said. “In comparison, the Cayman Islands has done 383,000 tests per million. Bermuda, 126,000 tests per million.

Barbados, 29,000 tests per million. The United States, 117,000 tests for million.

The greatest of all, Turks & Caicos. In the early part of this pandemic, they couldn’t do their own RT PCR testing and they would send their tests to the Bahamas.

As of today, the Turks & Caicos are testing at a rate of 21,252 tests per million, the Bahamas at 6,272 tests per million.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 9, 2020, PAGE 3

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said no one can say whether he is right or wrong for imposing a 10pm to 5am curfew to prevent spread of COVID-19, admitting in the House of Assembly yesterday that there is no scientific basis for the decision to lockdown the country during those hours.

His comments came days after Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, the coordinator of the government’s COVID-19 response, said he would shortly announce changes to that curfew.

Instead of announcing curfew changes, Dr Minnis defended the measure and did not indicate that any adjustments are on the horizon. National Security Minister Marvin Dames also said recently to expect an announcement from Dr

PM’s boogying history helps dictate curfew Minnis on a curfew change.

Asked yesterday about the matter, Dr Dahl-Regis said she does not discuss her recommendations with anyone but the prime minister.

“We believe that during (10pm to 5am) there are mass gatherings, parties etc, that’s the most active times in our view,” Dr Minnis said. “There’s no scientific evidence at this point in time and nobody would know until five, ten years from today when they look back and they analyse how the Bahamas manage, how

the US manage, how the UK manage, that’s when the results would come out, because today we’re all fluid, we’re changing, we’re getting results.

“What they may find out is that in other countries their mass gathering may be at different times and that would be appropriate for them, but not necessarily for us, but we won’t know that today but I tried to obtain such information from the statistics department, they don’t have information, the police offered some, that’s

not sufficient. But nobody could answer that question until five, ten years from today as we review how the various countries managed COVID-19. But we feel 10 to 5 is the most active period within our setting and that is demonstrated by Waterloo (a local nightclub), that is demonstrated by the restaurants in the east, the restaurants in the west.

“Young people don’t party before 8pm. When I was in university, I would go to bed at 8pm and then I get up at 11.30 because

I’m not going to party until 12. I’m certain the young people do that today. That was my most active time.

So at 12(am) when I’m at the party and boogying they said where he got all this energy from, not knowing that I just woke up. We believe that the 10 to 5 is the most active time, busy time and therefore we warn people about gatherings, gatherings can be dangerous. Nobody can say whether I’m right or wrong, not today, but they can say that ten years from

AN undocumented migrant is among the two new confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health. The two new patients bring the total number of confirmed cases to 106.

Case #105 is a 33-year-old woman of Grand Bahama with no history of travel.

She is in isolation at home.

Case #106 is a 20-yearold undocumented male migrant in Grand Bahama.

This case is also in isolation.

There have been 10 confirmed cases of COVID19 in Grand Bahama, 82 confirmed cases in New Providence, one confirmed case in Cat Cay, and 13 confirmed cases on Bimini.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Health also advised the public that travellers must complete a Bahamas health

TWO NEW PATIENTS BRING TOTAL NUMBER OF VIRUS CASES TO 106

today when everything is reviewed. But what we have done is working so 10 to 5, it’s working, it’s probably the best.”

Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis accused the prime minister of suggesting young Bahamians are irresponsible, telling him: “Have faith in your people.”

Mr Davis said: “Surely the protective and physical distancing measures that are sufficient during the day can also function in the dark?”

Minnis tries to persuade us his policy is right one from page one country where rare diseases like mumps, rubeola and measles could emerge as immunisation levels drop if COVID-19 cases overcome the system.

“I’m only asking you to sacrifice three days for a healthier and better nation,” he said during a communication in the House of Assembly yesterday, before Parliament debated a resolution to extend COVID-19 emergency provisions. “…During holiday weekends there is a natural tendency for people to have mass gatherings on beaches and parks. I would urge my colleagues to review what’s happened around the world with respect to beaches and parks and review the possible outcome of what happened in terms of introduction of virus within those facilities and subsequently through communities. Such mass gatherings are where there can be super spreading of COVID-19.”

Dr Minnis also announced in Parliament that two new cases of COVID-19 were reported yesterday morning in Grand Bahama, the first positive cases in the country since June 14, bringing the nation’s count to 106. He said a third suspected case was being monitored on the island.

“Just because we had not seen any new confirmed cases for a while, it does not mean that COVID has gone away from the Bahamas,” he said. “We had stopped the spread of COVID-19.

But the virus has not been eliminated and may spread widely and free again based on our individual and collective behaviour.”

While acknowledging that the government has put in place measures to prevent the arrival of guests who have COVID-19, Dr Minnis said the visitors still pose a risk. “If one of them becomes infected, they can shed the virus outside of the incubation period, outside of the 14 days,” he said. “We say they show symptoms at the 14th day, but during that time they can shed the virus, (on the) third day, (on the) fifth day and infect all of us yet they’re normal. We cannot take this risk.”

Some have criticised the government for reopening the country’s borders last week as COVID-19

PM Dr Hubert Minnis speaking in Parliament yesterday cases skyrocket in the United States, an action that makes the country vulnerable to a new outbreak of the disease. Dr Minnis connected his decision to reopen the borders to his decision to close parks and beaches, adding that reopening the borders is essential for the economy.

“In order to stay ahead of this deadly virus we are continuing necessary measures,” he said. “Because our borders are now opened, there’s more risk of importing the virus from overseas.

There’s a balance, a balance of economy and a balance of life, we must find that balance, there’ll be screaming on both sides, there’ll be economic screaming and there’ll be life screaming but there must be a balance. The reasons we must take certain preventative measures is we want to avoid problems before they happen, and not just react to them.

“Countries and territories are trying to navigate between opening up to allow people to make a living to take care of themselves while at the same time keeping in place certain restrictions to slow the virus. This is an ongoing balancing act requiring agility and quick action based on the best available information at the time from public health experts. We’re trying to protect lives and livelihoods and we have to do both at the same time.

It is not either or, it is both, that balance of the economy and that balance of life.

“And the members who are familiar with finance will know very well that we import a lot of our food, our oils, which requires foreign reserves and if we’re locked down and nothing is coming in, our foreign reserves would become

compromised at some point in time and our dollar remains on parity with the US based on one component, our foreign reserves, which means if our foreign reserves are knocked down, our foreign reserves continue to deteriorate, our parity is compromised and Bahamians won’t be able to visit the United States or others because the dollar won’t be worth anything so one has to strike that balance. Then if you open too soon, you run into the problem other countries are experiencing now, one must now lockdown.

“When we opened our restaurants we allowed 50 percent occupancy, some other countries started at 75 percent, they’re now reducing to 50, so maybe 50 was the magic word, we didn’t know. Bars and other facilities that are open are being locked down so they are turning back the clock.

The Bahamas has been a model nation so far in our handling of the pandemic because we locked down early and are now trying to gradually reopen.”

Dr Minnis mentioned reports of experts finding that in some COVID-19 cases, complications are persisting well after the virus has been shed.

“Some medical experts are wondering about the long-term affects of this deadly and dangerous virus which is very contagious,” he said. “The virus is spreading at an alarming rate in various parts of our Western hemisphere, including in neighbouring countries, and I again warn Bahamians that the pandemic is not yet over. The global health emergency will likely not end until a vaccine is discovered.”

Editorial View - Page 6

visa application and present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test with a sample taken within 10 days of arrival. “Effective immediately, all travelers will be required to complete an electronic Bahamas health visa application before departure from the place of embarkation,” the ministry said. “This can be found at travel.gov.bs. Travelers are required to upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test and provide contact information.

“The government of The Bahamas will accept the negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (swab) test if the

sample was taken within 10 days of arrival. Tests over 10 days old will not be accepted. An automated response will be provided once the application is completed. The only persons approved to travel are those who have received a green colour-coded response, as proof of approval. This confirmation must be presented upon arrival in The Bahamas. The health visa application process will take 24-48 hours and should be completed with adequate lead time.”

Failure to comply with the stated requirements will result in denied entry.

PAGE 4, Thursday, July 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

UB WILL HAVE AT LEAST 6,000 STUDENTS, SAYS LLOYD

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FITNESS fans were glad to get back to some serious training this week after gyms reopened.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

FIGHTING TO BE FIT

New cases a concern for some in Grand Bahama

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WITH two new COVID19 cases emerging in Grand Bahama, residents on the island have mixed feelings on whether the country should shut its borders to the US, which has emerged as “a global hotspot” for coronavirus infections.

It is believed the island’s proximity to Florida – a hot spot state – makes it vulnerable to a rise of new cases after this nation’s borders reopened to commercial international travel on July 1. Just yesterday, Florida recorded nearly 10,000 new COVID-19 cases.

Before Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ announcement yesterday of the new cases, Grand Bahama had gone two months – more than 60 days – without a new case.

The Tribune asked several residents how they felt concerning these new cases on the island. Rev Glenroy Bethel, an outspoken civic leader, is concerned and believes that reopening the borders to international

travel, particularly to and from the US, was a big mistake. “We are so close to Florida and it is a hotspot.

Why would you open the borders knowing that Bahamians will jump on the boat and head there and visitors would also come in?” asked Rev Bethel.

“At the end of the day, I did not think it was a good idea. I believe it should be shut down now mainly because for 54 days or so we were COVID free, and these (new) cases have just come about now that the borders were opened. So, the question is what are you doing?”

Rev Bethel, of Families for Justice, said that the infections happened so quickly, and fears it could put the island back in lockdown. “We had no incidents (for nearly two months) before this. We need to close the border, shut it down now before the numbers start rising; we need to demand it,” he said.

A police officer, who did not want to be identified, suspects the new cases are the result of the opening of the borders.

“They should leave the border closed until August and we need to do more testing,” the officer said.

However, not everyone wants the borders closed.

Grand Bahama resident Viola Evans does not support closing the borders when the country is dependent on tourism, as well as food imports from outside The Bahamas.

“In a country that is unable to feed itself and which depends on imports, what determines whether some of the boxes or trailers of foodstuffs coming in aren’t affected? None of our reps are there to ensure the proper screening methods are being followed, we have to trust their system.

So, for me, it’s a catch 22.

“Screening tourists or Bahamians coming from abroad is done in the same manner I assume, so it could be a returning citizen that brought it in the country. So, it would be foolish to close the country down because of the two new cases,” said Mrs Evans.

She said people conducting screenings must be thorough. “Unfortunately,

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHEDRAL P. O. Box N-8187 Nassau, Bahamas Telephone: 242-356-3008/9

The Saturday Vigil at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral will resume on Saturday, 11th July, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

The 8:30 a.m. Mass resumes on Sunday, 12th July, 2020.

Our weekday Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 a.m. only Monday through Friday.

The 2020 Catholic Archdiocesan Annual Appeal is in progress. All parishioners are encouraged to give a sacrificial gift. A special “thank you” is extended to those who have already made pledges and payments to the Appeal.

There are still a number of 2020 collection envelopes left.

Parishioners are encouraged to take a set.

The parish office at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral is open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

some of our folk still don’t realise the seriousness of this virus. It is also a shame that our country that God created to be self-sufficient got to the point where we have to depend on the tourism industry to sustain us, but it is what it is.”

Another resident expressed concerns over the “irresponsible” attitude and actions of young people in the country who are not adhering to the COVID19 rules. “I think people need to be responsible, and there are many people in GB following the rules. For the longest period, we had not had a case in GB, and people were going about their business and being responsible adults,” the resident said.

The resident added: “We are a stone’s throw from Florida, and we are opening our borders to a state that had 10,000 cases a day.

Obviously, there is going to be one or two slipping through, and obviously, the PM is well aware of that – that is something beyond our control, but again the Bahamian people should not be punished.”

“I think the message the Prime Minister continues to send is for people to be responsible,” she said, explaining that 24-hour mandatory lockdowns and closing the borders again are not the answers.

The resident stressed that the economy cannot survive with people “locked up in our homes.”

“The economy needs to be flourishing and growing, and I think COVID is something we are going to have to learn to live with for quite some time, maybe years. We must be responsible and follow the guidelines (wearing a mask, sanitising our hands, and social distancing).”

Resident Dave Mackey believes it is important that residents don’t panic.

“Given the global situation, I expected that more cases would emerge especially as more testing takes place.

If the persons who tested positive are those with compromised immune systems, my concern level is all the more heightened. It’s most important that we maintain our composure and not panic, ” he stated.

EDUCATION Minister Jeffrey Lloyd announced in the House of Assembly that University of The Bahamas anticipates the institution’s enrolment will exceed 6,000 students this Fall.

According to Mr Lloyd, Bahamian students seeking to further their education abroad, particularly in the US, are changing their plans due to the pandemic.

“This year (for) the first time in its history, University of The Bahamas because of circumstances that now circulate across the global and particularly the United States of America where a number of our Bahamian students, totaling in the hundreds, would’ve previously gone for the extension of their educational experience and many of whom who are now refusing to go back because of the pandemic circumstances in the United States, it is anticipated, according to the officials of (UB), that the enrolment at the university this Fall will exceed 6,000 students,” Mr Lloyd said.

Foreign students pursuing a degree in America may face deportation as US media reports these students will have to leave the country if their universities transitioned to online-only learning. The news affects Bahamians in the US possibly having to come back home to finish their classes.

Meanwhile, the minister also revealed the university will receive an overall total of some $49.2 million this budget year – highlighting it is some $11 million “higher than its highest peek in its history”.

This includes a total of $18.5 million for its tuition grant support - a $1.5 million increase compared to the 2019-2020 $17 million allocation. Mr Lloyd wanted to clarify the financial status of UB after reports on an alleged reduction in its budget. He said the institution’s overall support has increased by some $10 million since the government came into office and the number of students, mostly full-time, attending the university has increased.

He added: “The budget year 2018-19, UB received a total of $38,559,074.

At that time it (serviced) approximately 4,800 students. In 201920, it received a budget of $30,744,000 for its operation.”

THE TRIBUNE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net FOR the sixth year in a row, The Bahamas has maintained its Tier 1 ranking from the US State Department for its compliance in helping to eliminate human trafficking.

Announcing the news during a press conference yesterday, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames commended the government and its partners for anti-trafficking strategies to protect trafficking victims and convict human traffickers.

He added: “As you know, as each year passes, it certainly gets more and more challenging because it means then the expectations are greater, and people expect more but this committee continues to rise to the challenge.

“The Bahamas’ success is due to the readiness and cooperation of all partners gathered here today, our government and non-government partners alike and I want to thank all of you for your commitment and hard work.”

Tier 1 is the highest ranking possible according to the US State Department.

The prestigious title is given to countries “whose governments strengthen anti-trafficking measures by enabling members of the TIP committee to lead within their respective agencies and organisations.”

Mr Dames said despite the challenges experienced

Thursday, July 9, 2020, PAGE 5

Bahamas keeps its Tier 1 status on human trafficking

by Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, “the work of TIP did not stop.”

He added: “In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian’s landfall in The Bahamas during September last year, while a number of interisland awareness raising activities were postponed, the work of TIP did not stop.

“Specifically, the investigative teams from TIP task force seized the opportunity to screen 151 migrant nationals from Abaco to eliminate the existence of the possibility of trafficking in persons.”

He continued: … (And) given the current climate of COVID-19, the TIP committee has had four meetings virtually and their work continues.”

Also speaking during yesterday’s press conference

was Eucal Bonamy, a representative from the Public Prosecutions Department, who identified Jamaicans, Venezuelans and Colombians as common trafficking victims found in the country.

“Most of our traffickers have been foreigners as well,” he said. “From Jamaica, (we have had cases of) traffickers and the victims. We had a case from Venezuela, where the victim is a Venezuelan and the trafficker is from Dominican Republic. So, most of the victims and traffickers are non-Bahamians.”

Mr Bonamy said victims were being lured into the country with false promises about new working opportunities.

He told reporters yesterday: “They are being told that you’re coming either

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

THE COLUMBUS statue outside Government House considered to be a public place. You cannot trespass in a public place. They have locked him up without basis and it is unlawful.

“The charge is unlawful, first of all. What is happening is that he went to Parliament Square and also in the front of Government House to protest for the statues of Queen Victoria and Columbus to be taken down. They decided to lock him up for trespassing.”

At approximately 3.30 pm, at the time of her interview with The Tribune, Ms Daxon said her client was still in custody without any word of his release from police.

“At this hour my client is still in custody,” she informed. “We are trying to find out why he has not been released. I spoke to the superintendent at the Wulff Road Station and he told me he was going to get back to me from this morning and nothing has happened.

“Several attorneys have contacted me,” she

continued. “I have a team of lawyers ready to help.

They have committed to assisting me. One of these attorneys sent me a video of a white man protesting in front of Parliament and none of the officers said anything to him. He had a sign up and no one locked him up. Do you see what’s going on here? The white man was carrying (on) bad and no one stopped him.”

Ms Daxon, a former police officer, is puzzled about why the other man in her client’s video protest was not arrested along with him.

“Why wasn’t the other man in the video not locked up?” she asked. “Why only my client is locked up? An officer asked me the same question. Shouldn’t the two of them be in custody if they were together and doing the same thing?”

Ms Daxon said she was going to see her client after 5pm yesterday and was hopeful she would have some answers about his release then.

A NEWLY released auditor general’s report is calling for more staff to be hired at the post office in San Salvador to ensure appropriate staff segregation of duties after it was discovered that all postal transactions were being performed by only one staff member.

The audit report, tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday, portrayed the local post office as being riddled with a number of deficiencies, including inadequate staffing. According to the report, this can be seen in the number of duties performed by one employee.

In the report, the district’s postmistress was revealed to be sole performer of all postal transactions, “which includes but not limited to the following: Savings Bank transactions; postal duties; and mail bag inward and outbound services.”

The auditor general said: “We further noted that when the district postmistress is on leave the post office engages the services of a retired officer to manage the postal operations.”

In view of this, the report recommended “that management seek to hire additional staff and properly train them in all areas of postal services.”

He further added: “It is recommended that senior management ensure that proper segregation of duties exist at the post office in an effort that errors or irregularities are prevented or detected on a timely basis in the normal course of postal operations.”

The report said that while conducting their investigations, officials were initially informed that the post office funds were being deposited in the bank three times a week, but instead found that monies were being deposited monthly.

To this, the auditor

AG WANTS INVESTIGATION OVER ‘RUMMAGING’

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel requested a police investigation after he said a stranger is suspected of rummaging through old tabled documents in the Senate.

Speaking in the upper chamber yesterday, Mr Bethel recalled coming into the Senate and

of those matters came to our attention during the last reporting period but the individual was actually arrested during this reporting period.

“That matter is presently at a stage where the prosecution has closed its case and because of the current COVID situation, we were not able to complete that matter. We’re looking to complete that matter very soon.”

He continued: “There’s another matter pending involving three victims and that matter is currently before the Magistrate’s Court. That matter hasn’t started as yet….

So as soon as were able to get those matters started, we should be able to bring it to some conclusion.”

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to its mandate to convict and appropriately punish

human traffickers, Mr Dames noted an increase in overall prevention efforts.

He said: “I am pleased to report that there were increased efforts to prosecute and convict and increase awareness raising through the distribution of translated brochures into four languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Creole and French.

“TIP has also embraced new initiatives for this new reporting period, mainly focus on greater inter island educational campaigns and the training judiciary that is well underway through webinars ... We remain committed through our collaborative efforts of the government and nongovernment entities of eliminating vulnerable situation that cause trafficking in persons to continue. This is our mandate.”

AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT CALLS FOR MORE STAFF IN SAN SALVADOR

ATTORNEY UNHAPPY CLIENT IS HELD AFTER PROTEST AN attorney has decried the arrest of her client who held a two-man protest in Rawson Square and outside Government House, saying his rights are being violated.

Paul Rolle was arrested on Tuesday after video circulated online of him in front of Christopher Columbus’ statue outside Government House. In the video Mr Rolle, who said he is with Coalition to Save The Bahamas, said the group was fighting against “injustice against all people of colour around the world.”

Holding a chain in his hands, Mr Rolle, who was standing next to another man, said tomorrow the group will remove the Columbus statue as well as the statue of Queen Victoria from Rawson Square which they view as symbols of oppression.

On Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle warned Mr Rolle not to go ahead with any action in Rawson Square or in front of Government House in the coming days, adding that his prior request to protest had been denied.

Yesterday, attorney Maria Daxon demanded her client be released from “unlawful custody”. Mr Rolle, she said, is being held for trespassing at the Wulff Road Police Station.

“He has the right to freedom of speech and the freedom of movement,” Ms Daxon said.

“They cannot restrict those points at all, but they decided to lock him up, because he is Black. We are allowed to walk and stand on the sidewalk without interference. That is

as a caretaker or taking care of a baby or some elderly person or work in a restaurant as a barmaid.

And when they come here, (they’re told) ‘well you’re not going to be doing any of those work and here’s what you’re going to do, you’re going to be prostituting.’”

Asked yesterday if officials are seeing an increase or decrease of reported cases, Mr Bonamy replied: “We haven’t had a large amount with any reporting period. Sometimes, we may have one or two (cases) and I think that has a lot to do with our effort.”

He also said officials are currently dealing two active matters. He said: “Currently, we have two matters in the middle of prosecution. I’m talking about recent matters within the reporting period. One

meeting a box of old tabled documents having been rummaged through.

“When we came in this afternoon, we met that box of old tabled documents having been rummaged through … I would request through to you to the clerk, chief clerk. . .I have asked chief clerk that if he and his key persons were rummaging through these files,” he said. “I have photograph

and they were not rummaging through them which it appears to me to indicate that some stranger, I don’t know where or for what reason, has been rummaging through the files of old tabled documents and I would request a police investigation.”

After making a request for the investigation, Mr Bethel asked for the tape of the July 3 proceedings to be

hand delivered to the commissioner of police for safe keeping. He added: “I formally request to you Madam President to order that the tape of the proceedings of the third date of July, which is one tape from morning until the final suspension of the Senate, that the tape be taken and hand delivered to the commissioner of police for safe keeping for a period of six months.”

recommended for public funds to be deposited daily as is the policy.

The report also noted that the office’s safe appeared to be at risk due to its door not being properly secured. “It is recommended that management seek to have the door repaired,” it added.

The report found that the office hours were reduced from 9am to 4pm as a result of the district postmistress not being able to take her lunch break on time.

“It is recommended that postal operations be extended to ensure that services remain relevant to all residents in the district; thus the need to hire additional staff becomes a necessity so that the post office fulfil its mandate,” the report continued.

The report also recommended that postal remittances be forwarded to the General Post Office in Nassau monthly after it found that that the last remittance was sent in August 2019.

The report said this is an effort to ensure “that

accounts can be reconciled, and errors detected before issuing additional saving bank documents.”

The report also noted some inefficiencies with the post office telegraph and domestic money order registers, saying they were not being properly maintained.

“We noted that telegraph and domestic money transactions were not recorded for the period of January 2020. Additionally, it was observed that the connected day sheets were not posted up to date. At the time of the audit, the accounts were updated. It is recommended that transactions relating to telegraph and money orders and their connecting day sheets be maintained on a daily basis.”

The report subsequently said it found accounts of the San Salvador post office not being maintained “at a satisfactory standard in all respects,” and said internal controls needed to be “strengthened to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the financial operations.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, July 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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Beach closure explanation just doesn’t add up AT long last, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis spoke up yesterday to explain why he is closing the beaches for the Independence holiday.

We can’t say it was an especially good explanation – but an explanation it was, even if it should have come at the time he was announcing the closure rather than after being called on to give more answers.

He warned of the possibility of mass gatherings on beaches, and the possibility of the healthcare system melting down in the event of a spike in cases of COVID-19. He pointed to three new cases in Grand Bahama and said: “Just because we had not seen any new confirmed cases for a while, it does not mean that COVID has gone away from The Bahamas.”

It is better to prevent the situation from happening than try to cure it afterwards, he said.

Among those unconvinced by Dr Minnis’ explanation were two of his own FNM colleagues.

His former Health Minister, Dr Duane Sands, pointed out that some experts say that the spread of COVID19 is less likely at beaches than taking part in other activities, including those not restricted here in The Bahamas.

He pointed out the risks of going to the mall, or getting restaurant takeout, or going to a bar – all higher than going to the beach. Other more dangerous activities include working in an office or visiting elderly residents or friends, playing basketball or working out in a gym. It certainly makes no sense that those with enough money can hop on a plane to one of the other islands to go to a gathering on a beach there.

Brent Symonette MP, meanwhile, the former Immigration Minister, questioned the sense in advertising ourselves to the world as a safe environment then telling visitors when they get here that the beaches aren’t safe.

As for the possibility of large gatherings, as Mr Symonette pointed out, why can’t the police take care of that?

“Are we saying we cannot police the beaches?” he asked, “Is that what we’re really saying? I hope not.”

Dr Minnis, for his part, called on

people “to sacrifice three days for a healthier and better nation… three days to save this nation”.

Shutting the beaches for three days to save the nation but not shutting the airports to flights from COVID-19 hotspots for one day seems an unusual balance.

We get it. We get the need to bring money into the country, to get things going again.

We also get that there isn’t enough testing being done. Dr Sands pointed out we are doing a fraction of the number of tests of our neighbours. The Cayman Islands has done 60 times the number of tests we have, Bermuda has done 20 times the amount, Barbados more than four times the amount, and Turks and Caicos more than three times.

The government’s top advisor, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, last week said there aren’t more tests being done because there is no more community spread of the virus – yet here we are shutting beaches to stop the spread of that same virus.

It is important to tell the Bahamian people the full story. It is important to share the reasoning – and the science – behind the measures being put in place.

It is also important to face up to questions, so that we can get better answers over the amount of testing, why the police can’t enforce distancing on the beaches, why some activities get the green light but others are firmly blocked.

Some of these actions don’t add up.

We understand completely the desire to be cautious. Not one of us wants this virus to get another foothold in our country. When Dr Sands and Mr Symonette raise concerns, it is for genuine reasons. We should be doing more testing. We should be able to enforce measures in public. We should be asking what it says to the world when we say our beaches aren’t safe.

We should also be expecting our government to come forward with the reasons for its decisions without having to be pressed into doing so.

We are all on the same side in trying to defeat this virus. Leaving people in the dark only makes them think you are keeping things from them on purpose – and that helps no one in this fight.

When it comes to beaches, I think Caesar had it right EDITOR, The Tribune

LETTERS

DURING my short stint in politics, the party with which I was affiliated, the SDP fought a by-election in South Eleuthera. At the time we found ourselves fighting not only the PLP, but also the BDP/FNM, but that is a story for another day.

One of my colleagues in the Senate was the late venerable Dr Cleveland Eneas, Sr. In his maiden campaign speech in Tarpum Bay, he began with the quotation from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar “Those whom the gods

would destroy, they first make mad.” After seeing the blank faces in the audience the leader, the late Norman Solomon, cautioned the learned doctor to use very simple language and images as he didn’t think the crowd got the message.

Dr Eneas’ quotation seems very apt in today’s Bahamas with the competent authority’s decision

Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and White House health advisor made an ominous prediction. He said the Trump administration would be faced with “a surprise outbreak.” Is COVID-19 the “surprise outbreak?”

Whatever conclusions one arrives at, the COVID19 pandemic was caused by humans and could have been prevented.

If the virus originated at the “wet” market in Wuhan, it is because humans use inhumane and unhygienic methods to capture, transport, confine and slaughter animals. Wet markets, along with China’s annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival where dogs are killed for human consumption, act as incubators for diseases and future outbreaks.

Due to COVID-19, labs around the world are racing to produce a vaccine in

record time. In order to create a vaccine, horrific experiments are performed on animals, and potentially lethal pathogens are manipulated in laboratories, thereby increasing the risk of future outbreaks.

Although we have been programmed to believe that vaccines are effective and safe, Dr. Fauci told Congress in May 2020 that a COVID-19 vaccine may not work and could even make the virus stronger. Vaccines contain ingredients such as: formaldehyde, aluminum, thimerosal, monosodium glutamate (MSG), animal tissue (mouse, monkey, bird and cow) and aborted human fetal tissue.

At the end of the day the pandemic should not have occurred, COVID-19 and mutations of the virus are probably here to stay, and the risk of future outbreaks seems inevitable.

All countries and the WHO should hold China

letters@tribunemedia.net

yesterday to “close the beaches”. We could almost hear Marie Antoinette telling the people to eat cake when they could not afford bread.

After opening the borders and beaches, without any uptick in virus numbers, and no protests from the doctors, I can only perceive this action as “madness.“ What will the tourists do. How will the Bahamians cool temperatures and tempers.

JEANNE THOMPSON Nassau, July 7, 2020.

How we could have prevented pandemic EDITOR, The Tribune SARS-CoV-2 is a new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The virus has destroyed lives and brought the world to a grinding halt.

The original narrative is that the virus was transmitted from an animal to a human at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019.

Although the market may have been a concentrated point of the outbreak, there is a theory that the virus was accidentally or intentionally released from a laboratory near the market.

Located less than nine miles from the Huanan market is the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). It is a Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) facility which is the highest pathogen security level.

The WIV experiments with coronaviruses and other extremely dangerous pathogens. Located

less than 300 meters from the Huanan market is the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (WHCDC) which also studies coronaviruses.

Although the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) dismisses the latter theory, U.S. Embassy officials expressed concern in 2018 about safety risks at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Also, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreaks from labs have been officially documented in the past; including SARS outbreaks from labs in Beijing, China in 2004.

After the first SARS outbreak started in China in 2002, countless warnings of a pandemic have been sounded yet safety measures have not been followed or enforced.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, doctors in Wuhan tried to sound the alarm.

Authorities accused them of spreading rumours, and they were silenced and reprimanded. Doctors, along with their colleagues and patients, died because of COVID-19. Had the doctors been allowed to share their knowledge with the world, lives would have been saved, the outbreak contained, and a global pandemic avoided.

When Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia requested an independent international investigation regarding the origin of COVID-19 and the WHO’s response to the pandemic, China threatened to boycott Australian education, tourism and agriculture. Australia was accused of “making trouble” and referred to “like chewing gum stuck on the sole of China’s shoes.”

When discussing “the issue of pandemic preparedness” at Georgetown University in 2017, Dr.

accountable for this health and economic disaster. And measures must be taken to clamp down on the way lethal pathogens are handled, manipulated and used; as well as the way animals are treated.

We must do our own research, speak truth to power, and demand accountability for the fiasco resulting from COVID-19.

We need treatments that are safe, affordable and accessible for everyone, and we need them now so we can move forward with our lives.

As of July 03, 2020, the WHO website says China has contributed over 25 million US dollars to WHO for COVID-19 appeal. How is The Bahamas going to be compensated for the COVID-19 catastrophe?

FORWARD, UPWARD, ONWARD, TOGETHER Nassau, July 7, 2020

THE TRIBUNE from page one 14 years behind bars. Both men appealed their convictions on the grounds that their sentences were “harsh and excessive” and the verdicts were unsafe.

Yesterday, Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Maureen Crane-Scott and Milton Evans ruled that Mr Sands’ statement should not have been admitted into evidence after concluding that the trial judge was wrong when he decided that the Crown had taken all of the reasonable steps to locate the key witness.

According to a judgment on the court’s website, although Mr Sands did not appear in court, his statement was admitted into evidence by virtue of an application by the Crown.

“In his statement, Sands identified the appellants as the perpetrators who committed the offence alleged,” the judgment read. “In that statement, Devon Sands says McPhee, (the other male) and himself were fighting a person, throwing punches. Sands said he stopped but that McPhee then took out a knife, and that McPhee, then stabbed this person. After that, the person ran, (and) McPhee and (the other accused) ran behind that person. (He said the second man) held the person after McPhee stabbed him again. Other than the evidence of Sands, there was no other evidence capable of connecting the intended appellants to the crime committed.”

During their trial, both men denied being involved in Mr Cartwright’s murder. The intended appellants also chose not to call any witnesses to the stand in their defence.

Thursday, July 9, 2020, PAGE 7

Two walk free after court overturns 2016 killing verdicts Still, in an effort to satisfy the court that all reasonable steps were taken to locate Mr Sands, the prosecution called Corporal Moses Curry and Johnniemae Bethell, from the Office of the Attorney General to the stand to testify.

According to the court documents, on September 28, 2017, Cpl Curry, acting on a tip, proceeded to Mr Sands’ last known address.

However, at the time, he stated that the address given to him was that of a food store. Cpl Curry then said he received additional information which led him to Lee Lane just off Alexander Boulevard.

There, he proceeded to a yellow and white apartment complex where he spoke to Shervanette Minns, Mr Sands’ mother, who told him that Mr Sands no longer lived there. When Cpl Curry asked her for Mr Sands’ phone number, she refused to give it to him.

Still, she did tell him that she believed Mr Sands was living somewhere in Abaco.

“Corp Curry further stated that he contacted

CDU and requested a name check for Devon Sands. He indicated that he obtained an address for a family member as well as a phone contact in the Treasure Cove area of Abaco. He stated that he made several attempts to contact the family member by phone but the two phones were out of service and that as a result he faxed information to the Marsh Harbour Station and the Treasure Cay station requesting assistance in locating Mr Sands, all of which were unsuccessful. He stated that he conducted several additional checks at the residence of Ms Minns, who informed him that the information that he gave her had been passed on to Devon Sands. He stated that Ms Minns informed him that her son had some fears and some concerns.

Ms Bethell, of the Office of the Attorney General, also testified as to her efforts to contact the witness, principally of contacting his mother by telephone, and going, along with Corp Curry, to the

RESTAURANT PAIR ADMIT TRYING TO BRIBE POLICE

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net TWO men were fined a collective $1,500 in Magistrate’s Court yesterday after they admitted to attempting to bribe two police officers to avoid being charged for operating a restaurant past the allotted time.

Dennis Palomino, 51, and Michael Woodside, 34, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes each charged with one count of bribery. Woodside is accused of trying to offer two police officers $40 cash to avoid being arrested after the officers approached him at Tropicana Bar & Restaurant on July 5. Palomino was also accused of attempting to offer the officers $200 to get Woodside released after he was taken into custody that same night.

Both men pleaded

guilty to the charge and Palomino was fined $1,000 or eight months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Woodside, who was also charged with violating the emergency orders for restaurant and food vendors, was fined $500 or six months in prison for bribery. He denied the second charge and the matter was adjourned to December 14 for trial. Woodside was granted $2,000 bail in the interim.

Prosecutor Kendrick Bauld said around 8.18pm on the night in question, two officers, acting on information, proceeded to Tropicana Restaurant & Bar. There, the officers approached the establishment’s manager, Woodside, and informed him that he was in violation of the emergency orders. Sgt McKenzie said it was at that time that

listed residence of the witness, without success.

In their judgment, the justices noted that while it appeared as if Mr Sands was “deliberately avoiding appearing in court to testify,” the Crown still had a duty to ensure that they made all of the reasonable steps to locate him.

“The fact that a witness is clearly avoiding being located imposes on the Crown the responsibility to take appropriate steps to counter as best as possible his efforts to avoid detection,” the panel noted. “It follows that in those cases the normal steps like putting notices on the radio and in newspapers would not be as effective. The Crown, however, has the same resources available to them which they normally utilise to locate criminals and suspects who are wanted by the police.

At the end of the day, the Crown has the onus of satisfying the court that all reasonable steps were taken to find the witness.”

The justices said that while they have no issue

A 48-YEAR-OLD man was ordered to pay back a sum of money he stole from a bar earlier this year after he admitted to stealing the funds while he was under the influence of alcohol.

Joseph Rolle appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis charged with stealing a $350 cash box and $62 in cash from Game X Sporting Lounge on February 27.

Rolle was also accused of assaulting Alton Brennen that same day.

Prosecutor Lakesia Moss said Mr Brennen hired Rolle to clean the establishment from time to time. She said on the day of the incident, the two men were at the sporting lounge when Mr Brennen gave Rolle certain instructions in regards to cleaning. Inspector Moss

said that was when Rolle grabbed Mr Brennen’s belt and dragged him in the pool room, causing the complainant to fall and injure his chest and knees.

After the ordeal, Mr Brennen left Rolle to secure the premises. When he returned a short time later, he discovered the cashbox had been tampered with and $50 cash and $12 worth of coins were missing. Mr Brennen then noticed Rolle running from the establishment. When he reviewed the security footage, he saw Rolle stealing the cash box. As a result, Rolle was arrested.

During the hearing, Rolle told the magistrate that he did not recall the incident at all because he had been drinking that day. Still, he said he didn’t believe the complainant would lie on him so he believed the allegations brought against him.

evidence and as expressed to the jury by the trial judge during his summation, in the absence of the evidence of Devon Sands, there was no evidence connecting the appellants to the crime. The Crown had the opportunity to either bring him as a witness or failing that provide the court with proof that notwithstanding have taken all reasonable steps to locate him, they were not able to do so. In our view, the Crown failed in this obligation.

“This was significant as the statement itself shows that Sands was also involved in the attack on the deceased. It follows that he clearly had an interest to serve and the inability of the appellants to be able to confront him was highly prejudicial in the circumstances of this case. We do not see that the interest of justice would be served by giving the Crown a second chance to make right their evidential deficiencies. We therefore decline to order a new trial. The appellants are therefore acquitted.”

23-YEAR-OLD ON MURDER CHARGE

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net MICHAEL WOODSIDE, above, and Dennis Palomino, left, yesterday.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

Woodside attempted to give the officers $40. He was subsequently arrested for bribery. Sgt McKenzie said when Palomino, the owner of the restaurant, arrived at the station that night, he handed the officers $200 in an attempt to get Woodside released. He was also arrested and charged with bribery. The money from both men was marked and handed to the Financial Crimes Unit.

During the hearing, both men were represented by attorney Roger Gomez.

He told the magistrate that Woodside was closing up the establishment when he was approached by the officers who accused him of violating the emergency orders. He also said the last set of patrons had left at 7.30pm and Woodside was only there cleaning.

Still, Mr Gomez admitted that Woodside did give the

police $40 in an attempt to bribe them.

He also said the officers “pulled a trick” on Palomino by telling him that they were offended that Woodside would only offer them $40. Mr Gomez said when Palomino came to the station that night, the officers took him to the back to negotiate and he agreed to pay $200. He said that was when the officers arrested Palomino for bribery as well. Insisting that Palomino only offered the $200 because the officers “enticed him to bring more money,” Mr Gomez said it was unfortunate that the country did not have a law for entrapment. Nevertheless, he admitted that Palomino should not have accepted the officers’ invitation in the first place and noted that both of his clients were remorseful for their actions.

TOO DRUNK TO REMEMBER FINED AFTER ADMITTING STEALING CASH FROM BAR MARIJUANA POSSESSION

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

with the evidence that detailed the steps taken to locate Mr Sands in Nassau, they were not satisfied with the efforts made to locate the key witness in Abaco.

“It is not clear what if any efforts were made by the police in Abaco,” they said. “Corporal Curry does not say whether he faxed a photo of Sands to assist the police in Abaco in their search. However, even more telling is that there is no information provided by the officers at the Marsh Harbour Station nor the Treasure Cay Station as to what steps, if any, they took on receiving the requests. In these circumstances, it is difficult to see how a proper finding can be made that those efforts were reasonable.”

In their judgment, the justices concluded: “In the circumstances as we have found them, we accede to the applications by both intended appellants for leave to appeal and proceed to allow the appeals and quash the convictions and sentences of both men. “...As was clear from the

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 20-YEAR-OLD man was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine after he pleaded guilty to marijuana possession with the intent to supply in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Jacobee Black appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence RolleDavis after officers seized six pounds of Indian hemp from him on July 6. He pleaded guilty and was fined $2,500 or one year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The court heard that officers went to Black’s home on the day in question armed with a search warrant. While searching Black’s home, they found five clear plastic bags containing a quantity of suspected marijuana on top of the defendant’s washing machine. The officers also discovered a green reusable

bag containing 14 plastic wraps filled with suspected marijuana on Black’s kitchen floor.

In an interview with police, Black said he bought the drugs from someone at Fish Fry on Arawak Cay for $2,500 and had intended to sell the contraband to make money.

However during yesterday’s hearing, Black denied telling the officers that he had plans to sell the marijuana. His attorney also told the magistrate that Black had the drugs for his personal use and claimed he had an addiction.

In response, Magistrate Rolle-Davis said he would accept Black’s guilty plea.

Still, he said he would not order the defendant to attend drug counseling classes, but instead, give him the opportunity to make a “conscious decision” on whether to seek professional help on his own.

A 23-YEAR-OLD man was charged with murder in Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Shanfano Dean appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence RolleDavis charged with the murder of Jerone Thompson on March 28.

According to initial police reports, shortly before 10pm on the night in question, two men were at a home on Albury Street, Chippingham, when they got into an altercation. The

argument escalated and one man was shot. He was taken to hospital where he was listed in critical condition. He later died from his injuries.

During the hearing, Dean was not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to August 11 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Bail was denied and the defendant was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

12 FISHERMEN APPREHENDED

TWELVE fishermen were apprehended in the central Bahamas for fisheries violations on Tuesday by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

While on routine patrol, patrol craft HMBS Lignum Vitae under the command of Senior Lieutenant Ricardo McQueen boarded a Bahamian registered vessel, “Miracle Worker,” along with two skiffs. The crew, consisting of Bahamian nationals, were taken

into custody after being found in possession of illegal fishing apparatus, namely diving compressors, along with fishery products. The vessels and crew are being escorted into the capital, where they will be turned over to the relevant authorities,.

On June 11, a total of 15 Bahamian fishermen were apprehended for fishing violations. The crew has since been charged before the courts.

PAGE 8, Thursday, July 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

FRONT PORCH

BY SIMON IN AN impassioned communication in the House of Assembly yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis pleaded with Bahamians and residents to better appreciate and to take more seriously the current and potential long-term health consequences of COVID-19.

Dr Minnis spent a part of his remarks outlining why the government decided to close beaches and parks on Grand Bahama, New Providence, Athol Island, Rose Island, Paradise Island and other cays surrounding New Providence, for the July 10 holiday weekend.

He assured the country that the decision was based on advice from health officials. He was also was responding in part to what I consider irresponsible commentary and reporting by some on the closure of various parks and beaches.

Some of the commentary was profoundly disappointing, especially by those who have a responsibility to better serve the public good.

Various presenters and personalities in tabloidlike news outlets such as the Fox News Channel in the United States routinely and irresponsibly parrot and provide a megaphone for the cacophony of false assertions, hyperbole and self-serving rhetoric of Donald Trump and some in his administration during the pandemic.

It is yet another reminder of the role journalists and the media play in offering judicious and balanced reporting as opposed to in my view - jaundiced and poor coverage of one of the biggest stories in the lifetime of most reporters.

The coverage by the UKbased The Economist has been exceptional. The magazine has dutifully covered the far-reaching and varied aspects of the pandemic.

Its editorials have been incisive, informative and balanced, observing the successes and innovations and critiquing the failures of governments, business, the media, civil society and international health organizations.

The announcement that there are two and potentially three new COVID-19 positive cases in Grand Bahama was a sober rejoinder to those still playing trivial political and other games during the pandemic here in The Bahamas.

The news also showed that without aggressive measures, which may be unpopular at the time, there can be rapid community spread and the collapse of a country’s health infrastructure.

GAMES The comments by St. Anne’s MP Brent Symonette in one of the dailies querying the rationale for closures was curious. Some wonder whether Symonette, who resigned from the cabinet is playing certain political games.

Dr Minnis, a medical doctor, noted that global health experts are still studying the effects of the virus on the human body. He noted a number of potential health consequences which may emerge in the future, including for young people.

There are also immediate health effects which are worrying the medical

community. A recent report from Reuters noted: “Scientists warned on Wednesday of a potential wave of coronavirus-related brain damage as new evidence suggested COVID-19 can lead to severe neurological complications, including inflammation, psychosis and delirium.

“A study by researchers at University College London (UCL) described 43 cases of patients with COVID-19 who suffered either temporary brain dysfunction, strokes, nerve damage or other serious brain effects.”

Michael Zandi, from UCL’s Institute of Neurology, who is studying the effects of the virus observed: “Whether we will see an epidemic on a large scale of brain damage linked to the pandemic – perhaps similar to the encephalitis lethargica outbreak in the 1920s and 1930s after the 1918 influenza pandemic – remains to be seen.”

A friend who has relatives with asthmatic conditions detailed how careful he has been during the pandemic. He has vigorously observed health protocols and avoided

PM has our safety at heart nothing more sinister than that

larger gatherings and social outings and occasions to minimize his risk of potentially catching the virus and passing it on to family members.

He is typical of others who have been diligent and careful to limit their exposure to COVID-19. But there are many others who have responded in a premodern and pre-scientific manner to the virus, seemingly unaware of basic science.

Many still do not appreciate what exponential growth means and how quickly a virus can spread, including from super spreaders. The pandemic has revealed the lack of basic scientific knowledge within countries including The Bahamas.

AWARENESS In assessing how to communicate public health messages during the pandemic, health and communications officials at home and abroad have had to simplify communicating concepts such as “contagious”, “community spread”, “asymptomatic”, “virus” and other basic terms.

Many people do not understand how something invisible to the eye, like a virus, can be transmitted do so much damage to the human body, and often so rapidly. Such lack of basic awareness is more prevalent in some countries but is also resident in The Bahamas.

The story of Mary Mallon is instructive. Nicknamed “Typhoid Mary” a century ago by the press of the day, Mallon was an asymptomatic typhoid carrier who infected between 51 to 122 people while working as a cook. In the summer of 1906 at their countryside retreat a wealthy family was hit by typhoid fever. Mostly spread through contaminated water or food, the disease was generally associated with the poor and inner-city neighborhoods.

George Soper investigated the outbreak within the family and discovered that the source was a 37-year-old Irish cook, Mary Mallon.

He discovered that of the eight families who subsequently hired her, seven contracted typhoid fever. They all feasted on a number of her “salmonellafriendly” meals. Authorities eventually tracked her down.

As Discover magazine reported: “Mallon was also reluctant to accept medical advice, and initially chased Soper out of her Park Avenue workplace with a carving fork when he asked for blood, urine and feces samples.

“When Soper notified the New York Public Health Department, Mallon evaded arrest for five hours until she was caught, and physician Sara Josephine Baker eventually had to sit on her in the ambulance to prevent her escape.”

In 1907 Mallon tested positive for the typhoid bacteria and was moved to a quarantine facility.

The story continued: “A new city health commissioner helped to release

her in 1910 on the condition that she never work as a cook again, but Mallon didn’t keep her promise.

Baker tracked her down five years later, working under an alias in the kitchen of Sloane Maternity Hospital, which was in the midst of a typhoid outbreak.”

Medical professionals advised Mallon to remove her gallbladder, which was the infection center in her body. Such a surgery was potentially life-threatening at the time.

Mallon could not understand how her gallbladder could be a danger to her or anyone else as she herself was asymptomatic and not visibly ill. She refused the surgery and spent the next 23 years of her life on North Brother Island, New York, where she was quarantined.

While some have prescientific understandings about the world and health matters, there are many acting in an anti-scientific manner during the pandemic, despite the clear and dramatic evidence of the effects of the COVID-19 virus.

What makes this even more worrying is the accompanying dismissal of the science of climate change, which continues to be dismissed with anti-scientific ferocity, typically by the same people who have downplayed or dismissed COVID-19.

Given the more gradual effects of climate change, many of which are clearly evident, the pandemic reminds us of the hard and difficult work ahead to educate and to explain to general populations the global climate emergency, which may help to spawn and to worsen coming pandemics and other global health problems.

But even as the world faces these multiple threats, there are some, whose game-playing distracts from more essential and urgent national and global challenges.

Happy Independence to Readers.

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THE TRIBUNE

T

HE other day someone wrote “Trump 2020” in big yellow chalk letters in the middle of a street in an upscale New York neighbourhood.

Within an hour, that slogan had been erased and BLM (Black Lives Matter) had replaced it, also written in chalk.

That pretty much epitomises where the US is these days. Those who support President Donald Trump defiantly proclaim their continuing allegiance to him even as he appears to spin ominously out of control and gives little indication that he cares whether he leads the country into the dark vortex he is creating for himself and his floundering re-election campaign.

But in erasing Trump 2020 from the street, his foes demonstrated the means to which they are increasingly inclined to resort to get him out of the White House. A durable tenet of liberalism in America has long been advocacy of the nation’s First Amendment right to free speech.

While erasing Trump and his crooked cronies, incompetent administration and fractious policies may be a laudable objective for many, denying the President and his supporters their due free speech is hypocritical.

Most observers have thought for years that no matter whom the Democrats nominated in 2020, this would be a dirty, mean, nasty campaign. On the evidence so far, it looks like they were right.

Trump’s early ineptitude is a surprise, though. He has not done well in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic or the related economic recession. He has responded poorly to the outrage over George Floyd’s needless death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. It is difficult to award even passing marks to the President on these major public policy issues. He has failed miserably at dealing with each of them.

But in his obdurate adherence to a game plan that well suited his 2016 status as a political outsider who could hardly be blamed for the situation then prevailing in the US, he ignores the reality that the Washington swamp he still proposes to drain has been enlarged and made much more fetid under his administration.

He has become the reality he railed against so effectively four years ago.

It’s not a good look, and Trump’s falling poll numbers should shake him out of his complacency. But this has not yet happened.

Also, Trump is not running against an African American man or a white woman, as he was basically doing from 2008-16 during the pioneering presidency of Barack Obama and the subsequent candidacy of Hillary Clinton. Trump’s suspiciously racist, nativist, isolationist, autocratic and

Thursday, July 9, 2020, PAGE 9

Trump has become the reality he railed against four years ago

PRESIDENT Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump

STATESIDE with Charlie Harper misogynistic tendencies are considerably less applicable when his current opponent is another septuagenarian white man whose outlook is at its core probably not so very dramatically more liberal than Trump’s own world view.

The result so far is a presidential re-election campaign that may go down in the history books as one of the most incompetent, clueless efforts in modern American electoral annals.

The Trump campaign, led by this mercurial President, has been firing pollsters after discouraging internal polls were leaked. These polls showed Trump trailing Biden in several swing states, just as everyone else’s polls are showing.

Trump has also expressed displeasure with Fox News numerous times in recent months. A couple of months ago, he complained the network was not doing enough to “help me, and other Republicans, get re-elected.” Now there are reports the President is “cutting ties” with Fox.

While such stories may make headlines and stimulate internet watches, a Trump-Fox divorce seems pretty unlikely. These two really need each other.

Back in 2015, as Trump began to gather steam in his long-shot bid for the presidency, there were many reports that if he were somehow to succeed, he would hate the job. Trump is obviously a man who lives to do and say exactly what he wishes and never mind the consequences. Many observers five years ago concluded he would, therefore, hate being President. The American presidency is a position that, perhaps more than any other, circumscribes the incumbent’s ability to either do or say much beyond scripted limits.

Trump obviously hasn’t received that memo.

Not that he’s the only one: President Bill Clinton’s dalliance with intern Monica Lewinsky gave pretty clear evidence that he didn’t feel too many behavioural constraints either.

Popular MSNBC morning

WANT TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE THINK? IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS WASHINGTON and New York are full of “think tanks.” In theory, these collections of academics and out-of-favour politicians can provide unadulterated policy research and guidance for overworked government executives, including the president, who have neither the time nor resources to concentrate on the vaunted “big picture”.

In reality, most think tanks skew liberal or conservative depending on their founding principles and funding sources. The American Enterprise Institute is no exception.

Founded in 1938, AEI’s stated mission is “to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism, limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and responsibility, vigilant and effective defence and foreign policies.” Officially non-partisan, AEI

is a conservative, GOPaligned organisation. All of which makes the following discouraging AEI compilation of Americans’ current attitudes much more credible, since it all reflects badly on the current Republican administration in Washington.

US is on the wrong track now: 67 percent. (In 1973, at the nadir of the Vietnam War and in the midst of Watergate, the figure was only seven percent higher.)

Happiness index: 14 percent of Americans say they are “very happy”. This is the lowest figure ever recorded in the surveys.

Race in the US: 35 percent think American race relations are good. 66 percent thought so during the Obama presidency.

US Economy: Three months ago, the respected Index of Consumer Sentiment at the University of Michigan registered the largest decline in American consumer confidence in the history of the poll.

Patriotism: 63 percent of Americans are very proud of their citizenship. Just 20 years ago, the percentage who felt proud to be an American was registering over 90 percent.

These attitudes can of course change fairly quickly, and many observers believe they will change for Americans as soon as the current administration leaves office.

Maybe that will happen.

But the economic, public health and societal ills that have been exposed and exacerbated in recent months are unlikely to disappear even if president Trump fails in his reelection bid. Inevitably, his supporters will blame others for their part in the current American decline. And none of these central issues will find easy solutions under any administration or political party.

The US is likely in for an extended slump. And few nations around the world will be immune from its effects.

talker Joe Scarborough, a former GOP congressman from Pensacola, Florida, is taking credit for a new theory that is gaining a bit of currency these days.

“Morning Joe” says maybe Trump will just bow out of the race and his presidency after Labour Day if he judges his loss to Biden has become inevitable.

Scarborough’s idea is Trump hates to lose much more than he enjoys winning, so he will do anything to avoid losing to Biden. Trump’s message as he walked out the White House door would be something like “I’ve given the country its best economy ever (blah, blah) and this is the thanks I get!

I’m too good for this job.”

It says here that such a theory is nonsense. It ignores competitiveness, which might just be Trump’s defining characteristic.

Apart from all the noise, divisiveness and rancour that fills the airwaves during this American election season of stay at home orders and COVID carelessness, there is one reality that is emerging. That reality is that almost no matter what

issue most engages or vexes a particular voter or region, Donald Trump has provided ample evidence that he neither represents a solution for that particular issue, nor has he any serious interest in working toward a solution.

Most Americans seem to

recognise that. The result is seen in dramatically sagging poll numbers that appear to presage a resounding defeat for this beleaguered President, notwithstanding all the advantages US Presidents seeking re-election always enjoy.

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PAGE 10, Thursday, July 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

I’M SERIOUS, SAYS KANYE NEW YORK Associated Press

KANYE West says he is no longer a Trump supporter. The rapper, who once praised President Donald Trump and said the two share “dragon energy,” tells Forbes that he is “taking the red hat off” — a reference to Trump’s trademark red “Make America Great Again” cap.

West yesterdsay also insisted his weekend announcement that he’s running for President was not a stunt to drum up interest in an upcoming album.

Forbes spoke to West from his ranch near Cody, Wyoming, in what the magazine

called “four rambling hours of interviews.”

West, who says he’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, often referred to himself in the third person and claimed he was “one of the most powerful humans” although acknowledged there were “a lot of alien level superpowers.”

He said if he won the presidency, he would model his White House on the fictional land in “Black Panther,” saying “Let’s get back to Wakanda.”

West has already missed the deadline to qualify for the ballot in several states, and it’s unclear if he has the ability or willingness to collect the signatures required to qualify in others.

Fears as US passes 3m virus cases

COVID-19 testing in New Orleans yesterday LOS ANGELES Associated Press MORE than three million people in the US have tested positive for Covid19. More than 131,000 deaths have been reported, and, on Tuesday, more than 60,000 new cases were reported, shattering the previous highest tally of 55,220.

Americans confronted with a resurgence of the scourge are facing long lines at testing sites in the summer heat or are getting turned away. Others are going a week or more without receiving a diagnosis.

Some sites are running out of kits, while labs are reporting shortages of materials and workers to process the swabs.

Some frustrated Americans are left to wonder why the US can’t seem to get its act together, especially after it was given fair warning as the virus wreaked havoc in China and then Italy,

Spain and New York. “It’s a hot mess,” said 47-yearold Jennifer Hudson of Tucson, Arizona. “The fact that we’re relying on companies and we don’t have a national response to this, it’s ridiculous. … It’s keeping people who need tests from getting tests.”

Testing has been ramped up nationwide, reaching about 640,000 tests per day on average, up from around 518,000 two weeks ago, according to an Associated Press analysis. Newly confirmed infections per day in the US are running at over 50,000, breaking records at practically every turn.

More testing tends to lead to more cases found.

But in an alarming indicator, the percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus is on the rise across nearly the entire country, hitting almost 27% in Arizona, 19% in Florida and 17% in South Carolina.

While the US has conducted more tests than

any other nation, it ranks in the middle of the pack in testing per capita, behind Russia, Spain and Australia, according to Johns Hopkins University. “I am stunned that as a nation, six months into this pandemic, we still can’t figure out how to deliver testing to the American people when they need it,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard’s Global Health Institute. “It is an abject failure of leadership and shows that the federal government has not prioritized testing in a way that will allow us to get through this pandemic.”

Testing alone without adequate contact tracing and quarantine measures won’t control the spread of the scourge, according to health experts. But they say delays in testing can lead to more infections by leaving people in the dark as to whether they need to isolate themselves.

THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS STATUE GOES VIRGINIA Associated Press

WORK crews have taken down the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors statue, the sixth Confederate monument to be removed in Richmond amid national protests against police brutality and symbols many see as racist icons.

Crews arrived early yesterday in the city’s Libby Hill neighbourhood to take down the monument, which towers 100 feet high and was installed in 1894. It depicts a Confederate soldier standing atop a pillar.

The phrases “BLM” and “TAKE IT DOWN” were recently painted on the pavement that surrounds it.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, citing his emergency powers on July 1, ordered the removal of all city-owned Confederate statues. A statue of Gen. JEB Stuart was taken down by crews on Tuesday and four other monuments were removed last week.

CREWS remove the Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Richmond, Virginia yesterday Richmond’s largest statue left standing is on state land — the massive monument to Confederate Gen Robert E Lee. Its removal, under the orders of Gov. Ralph Northam, has been blocked at least temporarily by a court injunction.

These Confederate statues were erected decades after the Civil War, during an era when Southern states were crushing attempts to achieve equality for Black people, and the “Lost Cause” movement was

promoting the inaccurate idea that the South’s rebellion was a fight solely for states rights and not slavery.

In Richmond, the first major monument — the Lee statue — was erected in 1890.

After years of little change, a growing number of these Confederate symbols are being removed, prompted by nationwide protests against police brutality and racism that appear to have inspired a profound shift in American thinking.

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020

NFL, PAGE 14

Miller-Uibo in 150m clash

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

S

haunae Miller-Uibo and American Allyson Felix will add another chapter to their rivalry today when they face off in a new initiative for World Athletics - the ‘Weltklasse Zurich Inspiration Games.

The reigning Olympic 400m champion and Diamond League 200m champion will compete against Felix and Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland in the 150m from their respective locations.

“We’re just very excited that we are able to put on a meet, to be able to compete and just put on a show for everyone that’s watching.

It’s been a weird and tough year but I think that we are all going to have some fun with it and put on great performances,” MillerUibo said in the pre-meeting press conference.

“It’ll be tough doing a time trial by ourselves, and that’s exactly how I’m looking at it going into it.

With me I’m usually training with the guys and I’m always trailing someone and always running with someone so I think it’s going to be a different feel but I’m really excited for it and hoping for the best.”

The meeting is being staged using seven different venues around the world and involves 28 athletes in eight events.

Miller-Uibo will race out of Clermont, Florida, while Felix - the six-time Olympic champion - will race from Walnut, California and Kambundji competes in Zurich, Switzerland.

According to World Athletics, a software system will be built around the start guns, which will be synchronised and operated centrally from Zurich. The race will start at the same global time in the three venues - a first in athletics.

“I did have a few questions on how it was going to be set up but I was also very thrilled. Obviously it was the first notice of a track meet for us. I thought it was going to be exciting and fun and we get to put on a performance for a crowd and the spectators,” Miller-Uibo said.

“I’m one that feeds off of the crowd big time so it is going to be a little bit difficult. Like I said I’m taking it in as a time trial so I’m just going to go in there, be focused, locked in, and just trying to give a good 150….I’m not one that really gets nervous, especially for one offs. I get nervous in practice, but it’s when we have

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO, of the Bahamas, competes in the 400m semis at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, on October 1, 2019. Today, MillerUibo - competing in Florida - is expected to line up in the 150 metres against Olympic sprint champion Allyson Felix at the “Inspiration Games”. (AP) continuous sets so it’s going to be interesting. I love one off runs and I’ll see how it goes.”

Viewers will watch them race in a synced-up three-way split-screen.

“The thing I’m going to be worried about is not knowing where your competitors are at. We’re so used to being in the same race with each other and feed off of one another so it’s going to be just hitting the gas until you hit the finish line and see exactly where you place,” she said.

“I’m glad that they were able to put on the meet for us to be able to compete and bring inspiration to all those during this pandemic.

I’m just really excited with it, have fun with the rest of the season and refocus for next year,” she said.

Miller-Uibo comes off a July 4 performance at the Showdown in Otown Meet at the Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida where she won both the 400m (50.52 seconds) and 200m (22.61).

“Im very pleased with it. We were happy that our coaches were able to come together and put on

a meet for us in the Clermont area and so we were able to get one in and see where we are at and I think [my coach and I] were very happy with it,” she said.

“I’m just really happy to be back, competing and being able to let loose. I think that’s going to be the main thing. I’m hoping that the weather holds up, it’s been raining occasionally here in Florida. I’m hoping the sun is out and we can put on a great performance.”

It was her first meet since October’s World Championships and like all athletes, she noted her struggles adjusting to the “new normal” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m as sharp as I would be around this time, right before the pandemic we were gearing up to being in the best shape of our lives. After the pandemic things happened to slow back down, we’ve been working on a few different things, strengths being one of them but even with that things are not where they were so I guess we will have to see

exactly what type of shape we are in,” she said.

In addition to her signature events, Miller-Uibo has been a world leader in the 150m in recent years at the Adidas Boston Games.

She won the event in 2018 in a time of 16.23, a record time performance on a straight track. And she repeated as the 150m champion at the 2019 event in 16.37.

Following the disappointment of the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021, Miller-Uibo said the recent developments with competition gave athletes a goal to train toward when motivation could have been lacking.

“I guess it could go both ways.

On one hand, I guess it was really good that we got a chance to get a little bit better at certain things.

But on the other hand, everyone was really prepared for this year, we were putting in so much work and to see it all kind of just crumble away, it was a little bit devastating.

We are just going to get ourselves back up and get ready to compete next year. As far as the plans, that’s all up to coach, we will sit down and talk about it and we’ll see how things go,” she said.

“There was a bit of dip as far as the motivation goes. After the Olympics had been postponed I think everyone kind of took a little drop. For us it’s just working on different things, there are so many different things we have to work on, we’re not perfect, so we’re working on those things and trying to get as great as we can at them. The motivation is still there for me, just taking it one step at a time.

The Inspiration Games are a part of the Wanda Diamond League. The format is a partnership between World Athletics, the Wanda Diamond League, Swiss Timing and broadcaster SRG SSR. “I loved the idea right away, I’ve just been training and training and training so anything to break it up.

Out here in California there is no real race possibility so this seems like something great, I just loved the concept, it’s different, it’s creative and you just have to figure out how to get it done,” Felix said.

“I’m not really sure what to expect, I think it’s the first time we’ve done anything like this. So I’m just approaching it to have fun and hopefully give people something to watch and be entertained by. I think we’ve all missed sports so much and I think this just reinforces the importance of sport and what it does to bring people together.”

TEST CRICKET RETURNS AS RAIN AFFECTS ENGLAND VS WEST INDIES SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — International cricket returned yesterday after a four-month absence with England and the West Indies managing just 82 minutes of play in a rainhit opening day of the first test that started with players taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

England was 35-1 at stumps having faced only 17.4 overs because of light but intermittent rain at Southampton’s Rose Bowl, where there were no spectators for a match being played in an isolated environment because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rory Burns was 20 not out and Joe Denly was unbeaten on 14, with Dom Sibley the man out bowled

by Shannon Gabriel off the 10th delivery of the day.

Moments before the first ball was bowled, West Indies’ fielding players knelt in the outfield while their England counterparts did the same around the boundary edge in support a movement that has grown since the killing of George Floyd in the United States in May. A Black Lives Matter logo also was on the collar of the test shirts worn by players from both teams.

The kneeling gesture has been made before Premier League matches since the resumption of soccer in England last month.

“It was a great moment,” Gabriel said, “showing something we stand for and that racism has no part in cricket.”

England assistant coach Graham Thorpe said the team felt it was important to show solidarity with the West Indies players.

“We don’t want racism in our game and we want a fair and equal society for our children,” Thorpe said.

“It was absolutely right to do it. You felt a part of

SEE PAGE 12

RAW TALENT: JOHNSON TO JOIN PRO BASKETBALL ACADEMY IN FRANCE

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Raw Talent organisation continues to provide an alternative path for young Bahamian athletes to professional basketball.

Adam Johnson is the latest addition to the programme and will join the For-Sur-Mer Provence Byers Academy in France.

The 6’6 player will join the Byers NM3 team in the upcoming season. The former Jordan Prince William Falcon has spent the last few seasons playing in the New Providence Basketball Association while awaiting his opportunity to continue his career overseas. “Honestly I’m ecstatic, honestly didn’t think it was going to happen, but I’m happy it’s finally happening,” Johnson said.

“Hopefully I can go out and show what I can do.”

Former national team player and current member of Byers A-team in the French Pro B League, Jaraun “Kino” Burrows, began Raw Talent as a means of assisting developing players during the summer months.

“The objective with Raw Talent started with my own personal workout sessions and I noticed a lot of the top prospects and

student athletes abroad were having trouble in the summer coming home and getting in the gym and getting quality work. My gym time was sanctioned through the national team so I was just inviting these young players into the gym. A lot of the guys were going back to school but then there were also a lot of guys having trouble with the visas so I just decided to use my platform and my contacts in Europe for Bahamian kids, Caribbean kids to come to Europe to develop their skills and also for an education. The hope is just continue to use the platform to do what I can to create opportunities for young Bahamians.”

Through Raw Talent, Burrows facilitated Dominick Bridgewater’s signing to the Byers Academy in March 2019.

Bridgewater made history when he became the first Bahamian player to make the jump straight from high school to the professional basketball ranks when he signed a junior pro contract with the Byers.

He spent his first season as a member of the club’s Epoirs (Junior League – U21). In 28 games, he averaged 15.7 points, 4.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. He competed in the NM3 League last season

ADAM JOHNSON, of the Bahamas, is expected to join the ForSur-Mer Provence Byers Academy in France. and was recently placed on loan to Sapela Basket 13 of France’s Nationale Masculine 2 (NM2) League.

Wilkenson “Kenny” Isnord also made the move to Europe in Europe through Raw Talent. The

Abaco native joined the Get Better Academy (GBA) in Prague, Czech Republic as he looks to make his transition from the prep ranks.

“Kino Burrows reached out to me and spoke about an opportunity in France at an academy, a place where the main focus would be on the development of my skills. I saw what he did with Dominick Bridgewater and all the success he achieved all in just a year so I trusted him and went with it,” Isnord said. “I went to France in September of 2019 with nothing and

by God’s grace came back with a few options on the table. We chose the GBA in Prague, Czech Republic because it’s the best fitting situation for me, the development of my skills and the future of my career.”

Burrows said the organisation continues to grow each year with more prospects in the pipeline.

“Things are growing so quickly, the family is getting bigger year by year, now we’re not only in France, but we’re in the Czech Republic and now we have Adam coming over this year and there are some legit under-15 prospects in the pipeline that I think have NBA potential,” Burrows said. “Over the next five years I just want to

continue my effort in development, in exposure and in mentorship. We know the level of talent, the world knows the talent level we have in The Bahamas and when we get the right development and coaching, the possibilities and opportunities are endless. I just want to do my part. I love home, come home every summer to scout fresh talent and to give back. We will keep growing through the principles that put Raw Talent on the map.”

With even more attention drawn by the Bahamian players to the European market, Burrows said more initiatives need to be in place to develop the game at a younger level and to create more opportunities for young Bahamian players.

“There needs to be more common goals among the youth coaches, night league coaches, so on and so forth.

There needs to be better partnerships with other federations to create the best opportunities for Bahamian kids,” he said.

“Basketball programmes that we used to have growing up like mini, super mini, The Bahamas Games and so much good basketball has been taken away. All of these help the growth of the game and that’s what we miss in development.”

PAGE 12, Thursday, July 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Track and field adapts for storied meet held in seven venues

TEST CRICKET RETURNS AS RAIN AFFECTS ENGLAND VS WEST INDIES SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — In a track and field season almost entirely wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic, athletes and organisers are setting new marks in creativity.

Today, the storied Weltklasse meet will broadcast near-live from Zurich in an ambitious mix of social distancing and technological innovation.

Only a few of the 30 athletes that will share the $200,000 prize fund on an eight-event programme will actually be in the city’s Letzigrund Stadium.

Others will start and compete simultaneously, three athletes or teams per event, in one of six empty stadiums scattered across Europe and the United States.

Olympic sprint champion Allyson Felix will race in California, while world 200-metre champion Noah Lyles and Olympic triple jump gold medallist Christian Taylor will be in Florida.

The highest pressure race at the “Inspiration Games” is perhaps for the staff at Switzerland’s public broadcaster and timing officials.

Technicians in Zurich will receive images transmitted on a slight delay from the US, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden that must be synchronised within two minutes for broadcast during the 90-minute show.

“This is something that has never been done before,” Swiss Timing

ALLYSON Felix runs at the start of the women’s 400-metre dash final at the US Championships athletics meet in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday, July 27, 2019. (AP) executive Alain Zobrist said.

Zobrist’s team will monitor false starts — from “pressure curves” on the starting blocks relayed to Zurich — and photo finishes. “I was totally on board with the concept,” said Felix, who will line up in the 150 metres against Olympic 400-metre champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo in Florida and Mujinga Kambundji in Zurich.

“Thought it was super creative just adapting to what’s going on in the world right now.”

Taylor was equally enthusiastic during a news conference held online from the athletes’ homes

and training bases. “If this is what the new normal is for this period then let’s attack it full on,” the reigning Olympic and world champion said.

Simply running on an actual track surface — Felix in California, Taylor in Florida — will be different with training facilities closed during the pandemic. “In California, pretty much everything is locked down,” Felix said.

“You can’t get on a track without jumping a fence.”

Olympic pole vault champion Kat Stefanidi is now back in the United States after an unscheduled long stay in her native Greece.

She had returned for an Olympic torch event in March. “After six cancelled flights, six failed attempts, we were able to get back to the US,” Stefanidi said, describing eight weeks of uncertainty as “super stressed.”

Stefanidi, like Felix, will compete in California against Sandi Morris in Florida and Angelica Bengtsson in Sweden.

The men’s sprinters will mostly congregate in Florida, with Lyles lining up there in the 200 against Christophe Lemaitre in Zurich and Churandy Martina in the Netherlands.

Bradenton also hosts the only event with all three

athletes at the same site: a 100-yard dash that includes 2019 world championship medallist Andre De Grasse.

The winner of each event gets $10,000, second place is worth $6,000, and third gets $4,000.

Four months in the planning, the most complete track meet of the outdoor season is not expected to be a template for the near future. “I don’t think the model or the format we are executing now ... will be a serious format,” Weltklasse director Andreas Hediger said, adding it is the “only possibility we have now to bring the best athletes together.”

FROM PAGE 11

something which was very important.”

There was a minute’s silence in honor of those who died in the coronavirus pandemic and also West Indies great Everton Weekes, who died last week.

Play started after a threehour delay because of light rain and a wet outfield, and only lasted for three overs before the teams had to go back inside because of another shower. By then, Sibley had seen his off stump knocked back following a poorly judged leave of a ball that angled in.

After that, the players went off for rain three times, and there was no play possible after 4:28 p.m. local time (1528 GMT).

“It’s been a bit tough, coming off and on,” said Gabriel, who had figures of 1-19 off five overs. “We just have to keep switched on when we come back on. It’s been a tough day but we’ve been doing well so far.”

Ben Stokes, England’s stand-in captain because Joe Root was absent because of the birth of his second child, won the toss and opted to bat under overcast skies. Captain for the first time, Stokes made a big call in leaving out fast bowler Stuart Broad — a long-time regular in the team.

Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and James Anderson will make up England’s pace attack along with Stokes.

After the toss was made, Stokes briefly forget about social distancing when he went to shake the hand of Holder. Holder move his hand away and both allrounders laughed.

RYDER CUP POSTPONED UNTIL 2021, PRESIDENTS CUP PUSHED BACK

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer SETH Waugh knows how a Ryder Cup is supposed to look and how it should sound.

In his first week as CEO at the PGA of America, Waugh was in the 72-foot high grandstand behind the first tee at Le Golf National outside Paris. Flags were waving. Fans were singing. Players were trying to conceal their nerves. That’s what he expects for the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

Next year.

The inevitable became reality yesterday when Ryder Cup officials postponed the September matches until next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic that made it increasingly unlikely the loudest event in golf could have spectators.

“A Ryder Cup with no fans is not a Ryder Cup,” Waugh said.

The Ryder Cup was scheduled for September 25-27 at Whistling Straits along the Lake Michigan shore. Because of a reconfigured schedule created by golf being shut down for three months, the matches would have been held one week after the US Open.

Now, the Ryder Cup will move to September 24-26, 2021, the second time in the last two decades it was postponed. The September 11 terrorist attacks led the 2001 matches to be postponed two weeks before they were set to be played.

Waugh, the former CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, called it “the most complicated deal of my career” because of so many moving parts.

The decision means Europe’s next home Ryder Cup set for Italy has been pushed back until 2023. The European Tour thrives on Ryder Cup revenue.

And it affects the PGA Tour, which already has lost millions this year while trying to keep cancelled tournaments solvent.

The Presidents Cup in 2021 at Quail Hollow in North Carolina was a sellout in corporate hospitality, and it now gets pushed back a year.

Quail Hollow instead will host the Wells Fargo Championship next spring, and that event will move to the TPC Potomac in 2022 during the Presidents Cup year.

“It was very clear that once we reset the schedule, there were challenges,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. “They did absolutely everything they could to play the Ryder Cup and play it with fans. When it was clear that was something they were unable to do, we came to the table and were about to reach the right outcome for players and fans.”

Franco Chimenti, president of the Italian Golf Federation, told The Associated Press the postponement gives Rome more time to prepare the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

“We would have been ready (by 2022), and now we’ll be ready by 2023,” Chimenti said. “We’re about to inaugurate the course. We don’t have problems.”

Among the issues caused by the pandemic was travel

by European fans, who would have had to spend a month in quarantine — two weeks both coming and going — for three days of matches. The environment at the Ryder Cup is unlike any other in golf, with distinctive tones of cheering from Europeans and Americans, hour-by-hour tension over 28 matches from the opening tee shot Friday morning until the final putt Sunday afternoon.

“The Ryder Cup is uniquely about the fans,” Waugh said. “We didn’t want to build Lambeau Field, get hopes up and then have to cancel.”

There is no guarantee moving it back a year will change anything.

The PGA Tour resumed its schedule a month ago and has not allowed spectators for at least seven events. The PGA Championship on August 6-9 in San Francisco will be the first major without fans.

Waugh raised the notion of cancelling the Ryder Cup if the coronavirus situation hasn’t changed by next September, though he was “betting on science.”

The Americans, who won the last Ryder Cup on home soil in 2016, changed their qualifying because of the three-month shutdown that allowed Steve Stricker six captain’s picks.

With the postponement, the US and European teams are reviewing their criteria. Europe said its Ryder Cup points earned since last September have been frozen until next year.

Players had urged all along for the Ryder Cup to be postponed if fans couldn’t be there.

“The decision to reschedule is the right thing to do under the circumstances,” Stricker said. “At the end of the day, we want to stage a Ryder Cup that will rival all other Ryder Cups in my home state of Wisconsin, and now we have the opportunity to showcase the event as it was meant to be seen.”

The move does nothing to ease a crowded golf schedule for 2021. The Summer Olympics already were postponed with hopes Tokyo can host them next summer. Golf also has three other cups on the calendar — the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup for amateurs, and the Solheim Cup on the LPGA Tour, which is scheduled to finish on Labour Day next summer at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.

When the Ryder Cup was postponed because of 9/11, that led to the Solheim Cup in Minnesota and the Ryder Cup in England being played in consecutive weeks in 2002. The Solheim Cup then moved to oddnumbered years.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 9, 2020, PAGE 13

Games are restarting, but few reporters will be there

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer MANY familiar pregame sights won’t be back when baseball and the NBA return later this month.

Managers won’t exchange lineup cards at home plate and basketball lineup introductions won’t feature special high fives.

There also won’t be the ritual of a gaggle of reporters crowding around a manager before the game or waiting for LeBron James or Brad Stevens to emerge for interviews after an NBA game.

As US team sports prepare to resume, journalists are facing the same reckoning that their colleagues who cover politics and entertainment have encountered — coming up with new approaches despite reduced access.

“I consider this the most challenging year ever in terms of sports writer coverage,” said Bob Glauber, the NFL writer for Newsday and president of the Pro Football Writers Association.

Professional leagues closed media access to locker rooms and clubhouses in early March. Even when the games restart, that access is not going to return immediately.

The NBA is the only league that will allow reporters to ask players questions in the same room, and that will be a very limited group.

The league will allow no more than 10 media members to live full-time in the Walt Disney World bubble where all the NBA players will also live and play. The reporters must quarantine for seven days after arriving. Besides covering games, the reporters will be allowed access to the postgame media room and practices. They won’t be able to leave the resort or have visitors for as long as they stay, and the rest of the season should last about 72 days.

Reporters covering games in Orlando but not residing in the bubble can watch from the stands and will only be allowed to interview players on Zoom. The NBA’s credential advisory states no more than 12 media members will be allowed in this group, which will not attend any news conferences or practices.

NBA basketball player Jeremy Lin of the Charlotte Hornets talks to media after a training session for the 2015 NBA Global Games in Shenzhen, China, on October 10, 2015. As sports prepare to resume, journalists are facing the same reckoning that their colleagues who cover politics, education and entertainment have encountered — coming up with new approaches to coverage with reduced access and resources. Professional leagues closed media access to locker rooms and clubhouses in early March. (AP) Manager, coach and player interviews in baseball and the NHL will happen via Zoom, not in casual conversations in the clubhouse or the rink.

The NFL is not allowing any face-to-face interviews with players during training camp. Coaches will be available, socially distanced, depending on the team.

Journalists have seen access declining in recent years, especially as leagues and college athletic programmes have taken more control of team’s messaging through their team sites and channels.

Many journalists worry that less access can mean less oversight, especially with players sometimes feuding with teams and leagues about safety issues and making political statements.

“The best, most compelling stories require personal interaction and opportunities to see how the people we cover handle themselves on the job, how they act in the clubhouse or locker room and what they say when the recorder turns off,” said Kerry Crowley, who covers the San Francisco Giants for the Bay Area News Group. “I’m not confident leagues are going to restore writers’ access

to the level it was at before the coronavirus pandemic and I think publications, individual writers and the athletes we will all suffer because of that.”

Many organisations are assessing whether it is worth it to send reporters to games if locker rooms remain closed.

“Sure, we’ve all got phone numbers and can text players and coaches all we want, but it’s tough to replicate the one-on-one interactions in open locker rooms or on the road,” said Abbey Mastracco, who covered the New Jersey Devils for Gannett’s New Jersey papers.

Mastracco was hoping to chronicle the NHL’s return next month, but she was a part of a wave of layoffs that hit the news industry over the past three months.

The declining access also comes at a time when the most compelling stories aren’t confined to just the field.

“It would be disingenuous for coverage to ignore issues of health and race moving forward,” Crowley said “I think we’ll find stories will become more authentic if we as writers acknowledge that sports doesn’t exist inside a bubble.”

Broadcasters are also sending fewer journalists. Remote announcing has been around for many years, but has been upped to a new level out of necessity.

ESPN executive producer Mark Gross says his network has learned a lot of new things, such as a Korean baseball game that was called by announcers in two different states. “We’re waiting to see how everything plays out because things change quickly,” he said. “Ideally we want to be at a stadium, but the important thing for us is to put together a quality broadcast. Fans aren’t hung up on where the announcers are but who their team is playing and what they think.”

Fox NASCAR races have had only one pit reporter with announcers Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon calling the action from a studio in Charlotte. Fox executive producer Brad Zager said things continue to evolve quickly.

“What we know today isn’t going to be the same plan tomorrow. We also know that what works for NASCAR isn’t going to work for every sport. This isn’t a copy and paste solution,” he said.

ESPN’s Karl Ravech, who has called baseball, college football and basketball remotely, hopes remote coverage doesn’t become the norm.

“There is value for sure in being on site. That connection between analyst and viewer is enhanced because of the access to players and coaches leading up to the game,” he said. “The announcer and analyst are able to work together better because they have discussed what they are going to talk about.”

No matter the challenges media will face, Glauber thinks interest will be high. “Column writing won’t be as difficult because you’re not bound by access issues, but there will be a much higher degree of difficulty with beat reporting.

“Because of limited access and a handful of Zoom, there will be a sameness to much of the coverage,” he said. “But readers will still come to us for information, and because sports have been away for so long.”

SPURS’ PATTY MILLS DONATING $1 MILLION TO FIGHT RACISM

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

PATTY Mills will play in the NBA restart, and the San Antonio guard said yesterday that the reason why he’s decided to participate is so he can give just over $1 million of his salary to causes in his native Australia devoted to fighting racism.

The exact amount, Mills said, for the Spurs’ eight remaining regular-season, or seeding, games will be $1,017,818.54. He will split that money between three causes — Black Lives Matter Australia, another group that deals with the problem of Blacks dying when in custody, and to the newly formed We Got You campaign that he helped organise to address the issues of racism within Australian sport.

“So, I’m playing in Orlando because I don’t want to leave any money on the table that could be going directly to Black communities,” Mills said.

Mills isn’t the only player that has announced he will be donating his salary for the eight games to charity.

Los Angeles Lakers centre Dwight Howard revealed earlier this week that he will give the remainder of his salary for the season to a charitable initiative he started called Breathe Again, which was designed to fight hatred and racism.

Mills is the longest currently tenured player on the Spurs.

“He’s a guy that I think everybody looks to for motivation and stuff like that,” Spurs teammate Trey Lyles said yesterday, not long after Mills made his announcement.

PAGE 14, Thursday, July 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

COVID-19 ‘affected my progression as a sprinter’

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE COVID-19 pandemic has presented a series of challenges to student athletes, particularly to outgoing high school seniors.

Dominic Archer Jr (left) said an incomplete senior season on the track and missed opportunities for exposure has been a hindrance to the collegiate recruitment process.

“I think it affected my progression as a sprinter by not allowing me to actually run the times I have placed in my goals for this 2020 season. There were goals that I had in mind that I didn’t get to accomplish or not running the times I had put in place to reach

by the end of the season,” Archer said.

“This pandemic has affected my collegiate recruiting because once the sports world went into a complete lockdown, I did not have the chance to get the exposure I really needed in order to be recruited by certain schools.”

The St Anne’s Blue Waves graduate is also the current BAISS senior boys’ 100 metre champion.

“It’s a handful of schools that showed interest, I am still deciding on what my route should be to get to where I need to go. It’s a very tough and frustrating process, but with God’s guidance it will work out smoothly,” he said.

“The most important for me in deciding on a school is the coaching, and the relationship with

the coach and teammates there.

Also the atmosphere should feel positive and a nice working environment.

“And the level of work at the school should be high in order for me to progress and improve.”

Without an opportunity to compete at a major regional meet like CARIFTA or earn a spot on other national teams, the limited exposure on the season has also been amplified by a problem all athletes have been faced with recently - training restrictions due to the pandemic.

“With the lockdown being implemented it was frustrating to not be able to actually go out and work out the usual way. Also the mindset you have to maintain as an athlete in order to keep doing

the little necessary workouts even in a pandemic is tough,” he said.

“Recruiters do ask about how you have been training over the lockdown because they need to know if you are at a decent fitness level in order for them to recruit you.”

For now, he continues to train and explore his prospects during the offseason.

“The ideal situation I believe for me to do is wait until everything is fully cleared or at least to some normalcy and try to work from there,” he said “At the collegiate level I plan on doing what I always do, which is to work hard and fix the necessary techniques that I need to improve on in order for me to get to that next level of competition.”

NFL’s stay-at-home order means no travel for training camp

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer TIM Flynn was looking forward to one final year as the mayoral host of training camp for the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard, California.

So much for that.

The pandemic forced the NFL to abandon, at least for this year, the fading but still time-honoured tradition of teams travelling to training camp.

The league’s version of a stay-at-home order will end the latest California run for the Cowboys, stop the 54-year streak for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and keep the Carolina Panthers away from the only campsite the 25-year-old franchise has known.

And Flynn won’t get that final, formal goodbye with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Camps are scheduled to start July 28.

“It’s a little bit of a disappointment for me individually because I’m moving on,” said Flynn, who is running for another office in Ventura County

after 14 years on the Oxnard City Council, the last eight as mayor.

“But you know what? I’ll still be able to see the practices. I just won’t be mayor doing it. That’s kind of like my own special relationship there.”

Flynn is confident the Cowboys will be back after one year in Texas. Dallas will hold the entirety of camp in its home market for the first time. It will be in the sparkling facility that opened four years ago and can handle the logistics because of an indoor field that can keep players out of the Texas heat.

But even before the opening of the sprawling complex 30 minutes north of Dallas, Flynn said he never worried about whether Jones would quit bringing the Cowboys to California.

Likewise, Flynn isn’t concerned that Jones & Co. will suddenly realise they have everything they need in the suburb of Frisco and don’t have to make the NFL’s longest trip for training camp: about 1,500 miles.

Among the biggest assets about 60 miles north of Los Angeles are mild weather and two side-by-side outdoor grass fields next to a hotel that houses all players, coaches and staff members.

“There’s just nothing that can replace it,” Flynn said.

“The lure of California will always be there. And if not just for the Cowboys, it is for many other teams.

But we have a very special relationship with the Cowboys and we want that to continue.”

Officials with Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, are preparing for the permanent departure of the Panthers.

The club is building a practice facility in Rock Hill, still in South Carolina but about 40 miles closer to downtown Charlotte.

When the new building opens, training camp and everything else will be held there — as it is with the majority of NFL teams. For decades, most or all teams trained elsewhere in the summer. That number has dwindled to single digits.

STEELERS wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) talks with some young fans. (AP) Wofford, the alma mater of former owner Jerry Richardson, built locker rooms and facilities specifically for the expansion Panthers, who debuted in 1995.

“We’ve enjoyed hosting them, made a lot of friendships and learned a lot,” said athletic director Richard Johnson, who was Wofford’s men’s basketball coach when the Panthers showed up.

“I think the ancillary benefit to hosting camps is you get kind of the side benefit, the expertise of that organisation. We’re going to miss that. It’s always good to have visitors on campus.

So we’re gonna miss that as well.”

Saint Vincent College in Latrobe hasn’t seen a summer without the Steelers since 1965, when they trained in Kingston, Rhode Island, before splitting the 1966 camp between the University of Rhode Island and Saint Vincent.

In a brief statement after the NFL announced that teams would stay home, Steelers President Art Rooney II said the club planned to return to Latrobe next year.

The Cowboys had a 27-year streak in Thousand Oaks, not far from Oxnard, that ended in 1990, a year after Jones bought the team and fired longtime coach Tom Landry. The club has bounced between Texas and California since. The latest streak in Oxnard lasted eight years.

The Buffalo Bills have trained about a 90-minute drive from home at St John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, since 2000, and their current deal covers next season.

Sean McDermott has preferred shorter stints away from home, and there’s been speculation the fourth-year coach wants to spend the entire time at the Bills’ facility. McDermott takes issue with such talk.

“I think there was some myth, for some reason, mixed messaging early,” said McDermott, who has led the Bills to the playoffs

twice in three seasons after Buffalo missed the postseason 17 straight years.

“I just believe in that for a lot of reasons, one of which is getting away I think builds fellowship and camaraderie.”

Super Bowl champion Kansas City has trained about an north in St Joseph’s, Missouri, for the past decade, and coach Andy Reid prefers going away.

Like the Cowboys, the Chiefs have two outdoor fields and one indoor field, so being at home won’t be a huge issue.

It’s not much of a blip for Indianapolis either.

The Colts have trained not far from home at a massive youth sports complex the past two years and are likely to return next year.

Washington has trained in Richmond, Virginia, since 2013, but was at team headquarters before that.

The move to Richmond was mostly for fans, so it might be in play next year.

Flynn is sure the fans will be waiting if — he leans toward when — the Cowboys return to Southern California.

“The Cowboys being a national sports team, it broadens their fan base by coming to California,” Flynn said. “I just always thought they’d be back.”

If so, they’ll be greeted by a new mayor.

COLUMN: ROLLING THE DICE AGAINST A VIRUS THAT USUALLY WINS

By TIM DAHLBERG AP Sports Columnist THERE’s plenty of activity outside ballparks on both sides of the country, with people lining up by the hundreds in nervous anticipation of what the next few days might bring.

There’s some activity inside, too, but for how long nobody knows.

Baseball is struggling mightily to get going, as each day brings more turmoil to a summer camp unlike any players have ever experienced. Some are testing positive, others are dropping out and everyone is increasingly anxious about what the next day — and the next test — might bring.

Even as the MLB’s 60-game schedule was officially unveiled, the chances of the abbreviated season actually beginning — much less finishing — remain so random that no self-respecting Las Vegas bookie would even entertain taking a bet on it.

That likely didn’t matter that much to those in their cars outside parks like Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Tropicana Field in Florida, which are doing double duty as community test centres. As players tossed balls and stretched not far away, they waited patiently in long lines of cars for the COVID-19 tests that, for some, could literally mean the difference between life and death.

The jarring juxtaposition should give everyone pause.

Because while the games haven’t even begun, the virus is already winning.

And so far it’s not even a contest.

That’s clear from reports from almost every MLB camp, where each new positive test is greeted by more wringing of hands and furtive glances toward the clubhouse door. Atlanta star Freddie Freeman is out with the virus, Mike Trout is concerned about making it through a season and David Price decided the risk of coming back was not worth the reward with his new team, the Dodgers.

The season is supposed to start in a little over two weeks, but every day brings new worry and new danger.

With no bubble, players can’t be sure of anything, and a problem in testing over the weekend that forced some teams to temporarily shut down training made them trust MLB even less.

They may not totally trust their teammates, too, and with good reason.

Cleveland is keeping outfielder Franmil Reyes away from training camp after he was seen on social media attending a weekend holiday party without a mask, and with some 1,800 players in the majors, the reality is not all are going to be as cautious as they should be.

“If we can’t really nail the easy part — which is right now, just our players — we have a big problem,” Chicago’s Kris Bryant said. “I go home every day and I just think, what if I were to get it and bring it home. It would be awful. There’s so much that could go wrong.”

Those playing in bubbles are just as worried.

NBA players are warily packing for extended days in Florida, where the virus is in full bloom and the unknown will be exacerbated by the fact that for

up to three months they won’t be able to hug their children, kiss their wife or have any family interaction that doesn’t happen on FaceTime.

Meanwhile, NHL players will be gathering in two Canadian cities to play a postseason almost nobody is clamouring for. And in a few weeks, NFL training camps are supposed to open, even as the league remains tight-lipped about just how players will be protected in a sport where contact is king.

The events of the last few days make you wonder why they’re even trying. The virus has already caused the Dallas FC team to pull out of the ill-named MLS is Back Tournament after 10 players tested positive, forcing them into quarantine in Orlando.

Carlos Vela, the league’s MVP, said he wouldn’t play for the LAFC in the tournament, and the Nashville team is likely also out because of a rash of positive tests. Meanwhile, golf has backed off a plan to have fans attend the Memorial tournament in Ohio next week because of the burgeoning number of COVID-19 cases.

I wrote a few weeks back that the rush by sports leagues to return was both wishful and dangerous. Nothing has changed since then, except that the number of cases has skyrocketed and there are massive outbreaks in the very spots some of the leagues want to resume play. They’re rolling the dice, and it could prove deadly. Just a few days into baseball’s attempted restart, the odds already are against them.