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VOLUME:117 No.169, JULY 29TH, 2020

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SPEEDING UP

Record 65 new cases forces a double lockdown

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Office of the Prime Minister announced that a lockdown will be implemented during the next two weekends as the country recorded a record 65 new COVID-19 cases yesterday.

Twenty-nine new cases were recorded on New Providence, 21 on Grand Bahama, eight on Guana Cay, six on Moore’s Island and one on Abaco.

Hospitalisation numbers have remained stable, with just one additional case added yesterday for a total of 12 hospitalised patients.

However, infectious disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes warned that “there is no evidence to suggest” the country is experiencing

a less severe strain of COVID-19 during what officials say is the second wave of the virus in the country.

“When you see numbers that are surging like this from a strictly scientific view it necessitates putting in place certain restrictions that will stop people from gathering together,” she said. “We continue to give guidance as it relates to the scientific facts. If we continue doing business as usual we can expect cases will increase unless factors contributing to the spread are taken away.”

She added: “It is very concerning that numbers are rising and continuing to do so and that we see there is involvement of other

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis asked Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to waive new wedding rules for one of his constituents on Friday, but confirmation that Dr Minnis approved the request came too late for the couple to host a fullfledged wedding with more than five people.

The Office of the Prime Minister on Sunday said two

SEE PAGE FOUR

WHILE seven hurricane shelters have been identified on Abaco, there is concern that not enough shelters are on the island to accommodate people either on the mainland, or in the cays. “There are no shelters for the cays, there is great concern about that,” said Abaco resident Ken Hutton yesterday, referring to Guana Cay, Scotland Cay, Hope Town, and Green Turtle Cay.

RBDF CANCELS LEAVE - WITH NO NOTICE

LEAVE for all members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force was cancelled late last night, effective immediately, except for those on secondment, sick leave or quarantine, special leave, approved international study leave or pre-retirement leave.

Personnel attached to the Coral Harbour Base and Defence Headquarters are to report for duty (or their

SEE PAGE THREE

pre-planned weddings were sanctioned over the weekend with more than five guests, one in New Providence and one on Harbour Island. While pictures and videos of the Harbour Island wedding went viral, details of the second wedding had not been previously known. That wedding in New Providence involved Brian Cameron Albury, an Atlantis employee who postponed his April 13

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE FIVE

PLP LEADER ASKED PM TO APPROVE WEDDING

By RASHAD ROLLE & TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT

ABACO - ‘WE STILL NEED MORE STORM SHELTERS’

SEE PAGE THREE

OFF THE BUSES: CONFUSION AFTER RULES CHANGED

CONCH CRISIS TRADERS estimate more than 100,000 conchs have died and gone to waste this year because of COVID-19 restrictions forcing the closure of popular food outlets and the loss of thousands of dollars revenue. Report - Page 5 Photo: Donavan McIntosh

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net JITNEY drivers yesterday blasted the government’s decision to abruptly close the industry within weeks of its restart as “utter madness”, with police officers stopping vehicles on the road and ordering passengers out.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

NYGARD BIDS TO REDUCE COURT PUNISHMENT

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

PETER Nygard has appealed a contempt conviction he received for breaching an injunction that banned him from publishing stolen emails from environmental group Save The Bays (STB), on the grounds the fine and sentence handed down to him were too harsh.

On October 10, 2019,

APPEAL: Peter Nygard Nygard was convicted of contempt in a case centering on the theft of emails

from the environmental advocacy group. A month later, he was sentenced to 90 days in prison and fined $150,000.

During a virtual hearing before the appellate tribunal of Justices Jon Isaacs, Maureen Crane-Scott and Roy Jones yesterday, Nygard’s attorney, Carlton Martin, appealed the sentence and fine, arguing his client was not personally

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

ALICIA WALLACE WE NEED SOME CLARITY AFTER THE HEADLINES

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Wednesday, July 29, 2020 THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH, 2020, PAGE 15

BPL Long Range Future Tropical Cyclone # 9 Projected Track

Saturday PM Freeport

Abaco

NASSAU Cat Island

Andros

Friday PM

Exuma

San Salvador Long Island

Acklins & Crooked Isl

Mayaguana

Turks & Caicos Inagua

Friday AM

Thursday

Probable Tropical Storm # 9

DIRECTION: WNW @ 15 to 20 mph RADIUS OF CIRCULATION: 230 NM Winds: 25-35 kts Gusts: 40+ kts

Wednesday Bahamas

FEARS that a new weather nightmare is racing towards The Bahamas eased a little yesterday – but a tropical storm could still reach the country later in the week.

The potential storm was last night still some distance to the east in the Atlantic, but senior meteorologist Rob Miller, at Accuweather, said that it had not become a depression yet, but was on the verge of becoming one.

He said that it was forecast to become a depression during last night, before moving through the Leeward Islands today, passing near Puerto Rico on Thursday and then aiming towards The Bahamas.

“There’s some uncertainty whether this goes north of the island then

Tropical storm may hit later this week tracks close to Hispaniola and maybe even Cuba,” he said, “or some hints it can go closer to the east and maybe even bypass The Bahamas completely to the east – while there are even some paths that it could take that go past Hispaniola and south of Cuba. A wide

range of where this can go.”

That said, he warned that there was a risk of heavy rains throughout The Bahamas, especially the central and north Bahamas on Friday and Saturday.

He said: “Worst case scenario is that it’s an actual tropical storm moving

through The Bahamas with some sustained winds, 40 to 50mph, and some higher wind gusts. Best case is it goes farther south and west with some heavier rains and really not too many concerns with that.”

At best, if the storm does not become as organised,

The Bahamas could be affected by up to three inches of rain on Friday and Saturday. If it becomes a storm, that could reach five inches with some flooding, A strong tropical storm, with winds of up to 60mph could see power outages and tree damage.

Mr Miller said that the storm “probably stays a weaker system” and said it is likely “nothing even close to what Dorian did”.

As the storm watch continued, the government yesterday updated its list of hurricane shelters.

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THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 29, 2020, PAGE 3

Record 65 new cases forces a double lockdown from page one

islands throughout the Bahamas. From what we know so far in the outbreak and global experience with COVID-19, there is a portion of people of about 20 percent that might have severe manifestations of the disease. Most people will be mild and there will be others with moderate manifestations that require some degree of supportive care and five percent will be critically ill. As an infectious disease doctor, we must be concerned when we see there is a large number of cases in the country and it behooves us to plan and expand capacity for hospitalisation and treatments. We are concerned and we have made recommendations for our capacity to be expanded, as well as sending support where there are larger numbers of cases like in Grand Bahama. Do recall that in the first wave in the Bahamas we were able to flatten the curve but that took 15 weeks and that was in the face of very restrictive measures, including 24 hours curfews and restricted movements. To stop COVID-19 we have to stop coming in close contact with the virus as spread by infectious people.”

Dr Forbes made the comments when contacted by The Tribune hours after Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar eased fears

RBDF MOVES TO CANCEL LEAVE - WITH NO NOTICE from page one

approved muster points) on Wednesday, July 29, at 8.40am. Personnel attached to the various outposts inclusive of the Harbour Patrol Unit, Port Security, Air Wing Unit and the Military Police and Force Protection Unit are to report to their respective places of duty (or their approved muster points).

This move comes after it was announced earlier this week that more than 100 police officers are in quarantine because of COVID-19. National Security Minister Marvin Dames said that as many as ten police officers have been infected with COVID-19 and at least one police station in New Providence has been closed for deep cleaning.

Six police officers in Grand Bahama are among the recently confirmed COVID-19 cases, he said, and fewer than 70 officers on that island are in quarantine.

• THE Passport Office has been closed after deep cleaning and sanitisation.

Due to protocols requiring 24 hours non-occupancy after cleaning, the office will reopen on Thursday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs last night apologised for any inconvenience.

THE Office of the Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced that a lockdown will be implemented during the next two weekends about an impending two week lockdown.

“Right now, we were advised by the health professionals (that) we don’t need to go through a full lockdown,” Mr D’Aguilar told reporters outside cabinet yesterday. “So, for example, this weekend, we will have a lockdown. That’s going to start Friday at 7(pm) and go to Tuesday at 5(am) because of the public

holiday. The weekend after that we’re going to have another lockdown - Saturday and Sunday but during the course of the week we’re going to allow commerce to continue and for people to as much as possible go about their ordinary lives but shutting down at 7pm as opposed to 10pm.

So, these are right now as you look at the professionals (who) are advising

Private Funeral Service For

Patrick Tyrone Wallace, 61 of Carmichael Road will be held on Thursday, July 30th, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Restview Memorial Chapel, Robinson and Soldier Roads. Cremation will follow.

Precious memories will forever remain in the hearts of his wife: Margaret; sons: Patrick (PJ) Jr, Christopher, Tyrone & Temiko; granddaughter: Milan; mother: Augusta Wallace; brothers: Vincent, Gary, Derek, Stephen, Willard & Jermaine; sisters: Barbara, Deborah, Donna, Patrice & Monique; Numerous nieces and nephews including: Gerrard, Elaine & Symone Sawyer, Aleksandr, Arianna, Khilian & Cydnay Vanderpool-Wallace, Natasha Campbell, Ryan Seymour, Kyle Ferguson, Remonica Cox, Krystelle Knowles, Tashon, Mia, Kareem, Liam, Willow & Kiayna Wallace, Denrich Lumpkin Jr, Cydney & Cedric II Barnes, Brian Jr & Nicholas Webb, Monique, Brian, Inga, Michael & Danny Wallace and All Saints Camp Family Viewing will be held in the Serenity Suite at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Roads on Wednesday (TODAY), July 29th, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

us, that in the rest of the Bahamas, Grand Bahama notwithstanding, we can have that hybrid of lockdown and not lockdown and we’ll see how it develops but if cases continue to grow exponentially outside of Grand Bahama, then there’ll be another review at that time.”

The Office of the Prime Minister said the government will carefully review health data after the two weekend lockdown periods.

“Food stores, gas stations, pharmacies and water depots will be permitted to operate on Saturday, 8 August for the general public from 7am to 6pm,” the OPM said. “Food store workers required to restock after curfew from Monday to Friday and during Saturday over a lockdown weekend may seek permission from the commissioner of police to travel to and from their residence and workplace only. All individuals wishing to leave the country during the lockdown either by air or by boat may do so. Religious services may be held virtually. Live streaming is

permitted between 7am and 1pm Saturday and Sunday from a religious facility, provided that no more than ten people participate from the facility. During a lockdown, exercise is permitted within the confines of an individual’s yard only. Construction is permitted on Sunday over a lockdown weekend.”

Although Grand Bahama is in the midst of a twoweek lockdown, hardware stores will be open given the threat of a possible storm, Grand Bahama Minister Kwasi Thompson said.

“We know that in Grand Bahama, we are under a lockdown and only certain businesses were exempted and allowed to open, namely food stores, gas stations and pharmacies, but the prime minister has announced that he would allow hardware stores to be opened the same time as our grocery stores and our pharmacies,” Mr Thompson said in a statement. “We are also allowing residents to leave their premises to make the necessary hurricane preparations in the event the storm affects

the Bahamas and Grand Bahama.”

Scotiabank, meanwhile, announced that two of its employees at its Freeport branch have tested positive for the COVID-19. “We have been working very closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to have all other staff members from that branch tested and in the interim they have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days,” the bank said in a statement. “Our top priority at this time is the health and safety of our employees and customers and we are proactively working with MOH officials to ensure that we adhere to all safety guidelines and best practices. Our Freeport Branch will remain closed until August 7, 2020 in line with the Government’s Emergency Powers (COVID 19 Pandemic) Order (No.3), 2020. We will ensure that the branch undergoes stringent deep cleaning and sanitisation prior to reopening in order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of employees and customers.”

Editorial View - Page 6

Private Funeral Service For Coranica Vernita Johnson, 79 affectionately called “Cora” of #23 Cortel Road West and formerly of Long Island will be held on Thursday, July 30th, 2020, 11:00 am at Lakeview Memorial Gardens John F. Kennedy Drive & Gladstone Road. Officiating will be Father Colin Humes assisted by other minsters.

She is survived by a host of relatives and friends including her Children: Winston Johnson, John (Angela), and Jerome (Nicole) Johnson and family, Shunamae (Elsworth) Cooper and family; Daughterin-law: Montess Johnson; Grandsons: Tyler and Tristan Johnson, Malcolm (Jodi) Grant and family; Sisters: Rocklyn Major-Finlayson, Inez Major; Brothers: Moses and Lenox Major; Sisters-in-law: Barbara, Marena and Marilyn Major, Winifred Ferguson, Barbara Davis and family, Thelma, Marilyn, Thelma, Priscilla, Norma and Lowanne Johnson and Minalee Flowers of Vero Beach Fl.; Brothers-in-law: Wendell, Hansel, Alfred, Garfield and Edwin Johnson, Tony Farah; Nieces and nephews including: Monique (Ricardo) Crawford, Anthony Major, Randy, Requel, Rachel, Raven, Rorey, Rakesh Major; Lenora (Shayne) Brown, Lisa (Linkworth) Stubbs, Lenox Jr. (Anya), Leonard, Maelynn, Marvell, Jeffrey, Kayla, Andrea, Geraldine, Mazel, Alton, Lucy, Margaret, Joshua, Catherine, Elnora, Conley, Olga, Patricia, Donna, Stafford, Sandra, Paul, Ivy, Arthur, Lionel, Nolan, Mervin, Cletus, Veita, Cassandra, Sherell Moncur and family, Tonya, Nichole and Cruz Farah and a host of others too numerous to mention; Other relatives and friends including: Dianah, Hubert, David, Maggie, Deborah, Elva, Queenie, Carlos, Jim, Marvin, Helen, Leviticus, Rochelle and Eddrin Turnquest, Antonia Chriswell, Sybil Darville and family, William Taylor and family, Renell Neely, Patrick and Lynden Davis, Veronica Bishop.

The Major, Johnson, Cartwright, Dean, Darville and Carrol Families and many others too numerous to mention.

If your name was omitted, the bereaved family assures you, it was not intentional.

Viewing will be held in the Celestial Suite at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Roads on Wednesday (TODAY), July 29th, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and again at church on Thursday from 9:30 am until service time.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, July 29, 2020 from page one wedding because of COVID-19 restrictions only to confront the same problem again on Friday. Mr Albury lives in New Providence and his wife lives in Cat Island. Mr Albury said as rumours swirled about an impending lockdown, he spoke to the Cat Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay MP on Friday before Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ press conference.

“One of my constituents sought permission to continue his wedding as planned,” Mr Davis confirmed to The Tribune yesterday. “I am his representative so the first point of contact is me when something goes wrong.

He came to me for help as I represent him. The prime minister indicated to me that he gave permission but my constituent never got word of that permission (until) it was long after the fact…His wedding went on, but it was still not what he had planned.”

Mr Davis said the couple has now lost not only their first wedding investment of about $8,000, but also the thousands more they spent for a second wedding that became less elaborate than planned.

Mr Albury said: “(Mr Davis is) a friend of my family and I’ve known him for a long time outside of him being our representative for Cat Island. He told me send a brief synopsis on what I’m going through and he will see what he could do. He said I will speak to the Prime Minister and I will get back to you. I waited and I waited and I waited. I didn’t hear nothing from him for a long time but I wasn’t worried because I know if he says he’ll do something he’ll do it. Mr Davis called me at 10.52pm on Friday and said he spoke to the Prime Minister and he gon’ send you a text where (the Prime Minister) said (my wedding has been) approved.

He sent it to me and the text said: ‘Tell them to carry on, I will call commissioner, what is the name of the couple and where?’ The text didn’t have the Prime Minister’s phone number next to it, only a forward so I said okay, I could go with that, that’s the leader of the opposition and in the morning I would get confirmation from police and we would have time to get everybody ready because the wedding was for 3pm. I was ready to go on what Brave did, I thought that was a done deal.”

THE TRIBUNE

PLP leader asked PM to approve wedding However, Mr Albury said Police Commissioner Paul Rolle could not be reached on Saturday morning to confirm permission that the wedding could have as many as 32 people. The wedding officiator and others were reluctant to attend an event with more than five people without police confirmation, he said, prompting the couple to nix their plans and have a wedding with only five people and a photographer.

“We were already home when we got confirmation that we had permission from the commissioner, long after the wedding was over,” he said. “We wanted to do it for my family and get it over with. My daughter home crying because she wanted to come to the wedding. She had everything arranged but couldn’t come. The whole thing was chaotic. I have no problem with persons in Eleuthera who had their wedding because they had approval.

There’s no doubt the Prime Minister gave approval for mine, I just think someone dropped the ball somewhere along the line and that’s why we didn’t get the information in time.”

Editorial View - Page 6

PHILIP “Brave” Davis asked Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to waive new wedding rules for one of his constituents

D’AGUILAR APOLOGISES TO COUPLES FOR INCONVENIENCE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday apologised for the inconvenience caused to all couples who were scheduled to get married last weekend, saying the government should have informed people in advance about the option to request for a wedding exemption.

His comments to the press came after it was revealed Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis exempted two couples from the wedding restrictions, despite ordering a weekend

lockdown last week and limiting the number of wedding attendees to five.

Acknowledging that he too “was a part of the request”, Mr D’Aguilar admitted the government failed to inform people that requests could be made for an exemption.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday, the tourism minister said: “I can’t deny that I was a part of the request but obviously it was a decision that was considered (by the competent authority). I think there was another wedding that was approved as well.

“So... I guess maybe we

failed and I apologize for that. We failed to allow people or to inform people that there is the option to always appeal to the competent authority for an exemption if you feel that the case is compelling and he (the prime minister) can consider it.”

He added: “And I think that in many instances because it was so sudden and such an immediate Friday at 3 (pm) to lockdown at 7 (pm) and you get an event planned at Saturday was very, very troubling.”

“And then you had a lot of foreign visitors and Bahamians trying to move

within the islands and then, of course, to get lockdown by that, it caused a lot of consternation.”

Photos and videos of the couple’s wedding at the Coral Sands resort in Harbour Island went viral last weekend, showing more than five attendees at the event. Guests were also seen not adhering to the social distancing protocols.

In a statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister on Sunday, officials said two pre-planned weddings were given permission by the competent authority to be held with more than five people in attendance during the

weekend lockdown. However, the statement sparked public criticism, with some observers accusing the government about preferential treatment.

Yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar referenced the ordeal as “a learning experience” and noted that the government will ensure that similar issues do not arise moving forward.

He said: “That was a learning experience for us and we’re trying to prevent that moving forward and on behalf of the government I deeply apologize… I can’t even imagine being a bride and having this thrown on you at the last minute.”

SENIOR EXUMA EXECUTIVE GOES INTO SELF-ISOLATION

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

EXUMA Administrator Preston Cunningham is in isolation after coming into contact with one of the COVID-19 cases on the island, local MP Chester Cooper said yesterday.

Mr Cooper, MP for Exuma and Ragged Island, also said while Mr Cunningham had tested negative for the virus, there is concern over a severe shortage of COVID-19-related medical equipment on the island.

He was speaking at the Progressive Liberal Party’s weekly press conference at the party’s headquarters on Farrington Road yesterday.

Mr Cooper, pictured, said: “I have had access to officials on Exuma – the chief of police, the administrator – I would say though that the administrator himself is in isolation due to a possible contact with one of the cases. He is doing well, he has tested negative and his staff, out of the abundance of caution, is also isolated at home, but we have been able to speak on a daily basis and there haven’t been any issues at this point.”

Mr Cooper wished residents well who have contracted the virus, saying: “I am pleased to report that my office has been in touch with case

number one on the island of Exuma. She is quarantined at home with mild symptoms and she is doing well. Cases two and three, I believe to be connected to case number one, are also quarantined at home and are asymptomatic.

Thoughts and prayers continue to go out to them and we continue to ask the people of Exuma to continue to follow the health protocols.”

He added: “The circumstance at the moment is that there is a shortage of test kits, a shortage of PPEs, the doctors and health care officials are at the moment constrained in terms of the availability of our general supplies. I suspect this is the case across all of the Family Islands and I urge the government to act swiftly in ensuring that we protect our frontline workers and ensuring that we are adequately equipped and we build capacity to ensure that we do what needs to happen in the Family Islands to protect the health and wellbeing of our citizens.”

Mr Cooper said he “objected strongly” to the government’s decision to lodge illegal migrants, caught at sea, on Ragged Island. “I objected strongly to the landing of the immigrants in Ragged Island,

due to the lack of capacity, lack of logistic support at the base,” he said. “There is no electricity and no running water at the base.

There is no nurse and no doctor on the island and it is rather perplexing as to why the government thought it made sense to travel all the way from the Northern Bahamas, where I understand the interception occurred, to Ragged Island, a place that is relatively COVID-free.

“I understand that today, as a result of the protest, as a result of my advocacy, that the government has taken the decision to move along from Ragged Island. So, we anticipate that the migrants will be transported elsewhere.

I am assuming that they will be repatriated, but we are going to wait for an official report from the government.”

Mr Cooper said the people of Ragged Island are concerned, perplexed and disappointed that the government seemed not to care about their health or their wellbeing. He said he and his constituents have complained about the lack of nurse, doctor and facilities for three years since Hurricane Irma and nothing has been done. This situation only adds insult to injury, he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 29, 2020, PAGE 5

100,000 conchs perish through COVID-19 rules

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

Photos: Donavan McIntosh

TRADERS estimate more than 100,000 conchs have died and gone to waste this year because of COVID-19 restrictions forcing closure of popular food outlets and the loss of thousands of dollars revenue.

Vendors at Potter’s Cay Dock yesterday shared pictures and videos with The Tribune showing what happens when captured conch are neither quickly sold nor kept frozen.

Tied with strings and bunched together at the bottom of the sea, the conchs become victims of sea centipedes and other elements of the ocean.

Abaco - ‘We still need more storm shelters’ from page one

The shelter designated for Central Abaco District is Friendship Tabernacle.

The shelter for the Abaco North District is Faith Walk Church of God Community in Cooper’s Town. The five shelters for Abaco South District are Assemblies of God Church in Cherokee Sound; Crossing Rock Primary School in Crossing Rock; Moore’s Island All-Age School and Soul Seeking Ministry in Moore’s Island; Sandy Point Community Centre on Earnest Dean Highway.

Mr Hutton, however, was satisfied with the shelters in Central Abaco. “The shelter in Central Abaco is a very excellent location, and the Central Abaco Primary is another good shelter,” he said.

He noted shelters will not be in a position to turn anyone away, even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Pastor Silbert Mills, of Friendship Tabernacle in Central Abaco, which accommodated 205 residents during Dorian, believes shelter capacity will be significantly limited due to COVID-19 and the required protocols.

“The biggest challenge that we will face is the social distancing – that limits the number of persons that

can actually enter into a shelter,” said Pastor Mills.

COVID-19 compounds the matter (concerning) the number of persons that can be accepted to a storm shelter, and I think you will find that anywhere in The Bahamas, and not just here in Abaco.”

Pastor Mills indicated that adequate hurricane shelters on the island of Abaco has been an issue before Dorian.

“Never in the history of these communities have there been adequate shelters to hold everybody.

We have a population of 20,000, and 11,000 of those live right here in Central Abaco. Prior to Dorian, there was not enough shelter to house all 11,000 in this area. So adequate shelter is a misnomer as far as I am concerned with regards to quantifying if we have enough,” he said.

Pastor Mills said that Friendship Tabernacle church was built to withstand 200mph winds, and was able to withstand Dorian, with minimal damage. “The building was damaged from flying debris… but the damage has been repaired,” he added.

Pastor Mills said the church is ready and equipped with a generator.

He commended NEMA, which through the US Embassy, has agreed to put

a well there in the event of an interruption in the water system/supply during a storm.

He does not think that Abaco is ready for a storm.

“There are still so many people battling with getting their roofs repaired,” said Pastor Mills. “And so, we will have to make do with what we have. We see a storm coming that it is expected to be a tropical storm when it gets here – not a hurricane, and we got our eyes on it. The big problem is with the rainfall because people are still in the process of roof repairs and hope it does not destroy the little work they have done so far.”

Mr Mills said they are keeping an eye on the system. “We will be going out in the next day or so, door to door letting people know that there is something on the horizon; it is not going to be a Dorian, but you just cannot take anything for granted,” he explained.

When asked about the Haitian community, Pastor Mills said: “Right now, the only area of concern is the Haitian community in the Farm; all other Haitians have been able to amalgamate into the community where there are no groupings of shantytowns in this area. So, they will be well informed.”

Dead, unfrozen conchs are not edible.

Dwight Bastian, 43, owns the Tall Boy conch stall. He estimates he has lost about $10,000 in potential revenue after more than 5,000 of his conchs recently died. “I went out and brought like 6,500 conchs that I collected over about four days,” he said. “More than 5,000 have died and the rest I sold before we were ordered to close. It’s not just the centipedes that kill them, it’s the sand and mud that blows into them when they in the water. Usually we sell conchs quickly so most don’t remain there long enough to die even though at least few are normally killed by the centipedes. The conchs have to be moving to fend for themselves and stay alive, they can’t just be sitting in the water because they will die.”

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced the closure of restaurants at Potter’s Cay and Arawak Cay on July 20.

Wendi Constantine, president of the Bahamas Dock and Allied Venues Vendors Association, wrote to Dr Minnis on July 23 “begging” him to revisit his decision shutting down the areas. “I had a few members sent me a count of the amount of live conch they have in the water at this present day,” she wrote. “Just four vendors have over 8,000 live conch in the water. (Losing) that amount sir, for all vendors, would be catastrophic.

These vendors are not boat owners who sell conch wholesale, they buy conch for product only (salad, crack conch, etc.). It’s summer time, rainy weather, the conch is weak during this time of the year and will not survive long punched up in the water. It would be devastating to have our precious commodity die and (sic) senseless death.”

She said she never got a response to her letter.

“They’re saying the conch is becoming extinct, but you are allowing them to just stay there, die and be wasted,” she said.

Vendors at various hubs around the country have been dismayed at regulations shutting them down since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, calling it a double standard that other restaurants and stalls have remained open. Some note police stations are in the vicinity of both Arawak Cay and Potter’s Cay, making it easy for police to enforce social distancing rules if they choose to do so.

Maltese Davis, 61, said she recently lost about 100 conchs. “We should be compensated,” she said.

“Since you are dictating and saying this is how it’s going to go, tell us what you are doing for us. The conchs have been dying like the thousands out there.”

Mr Bastian said there are easy solutions that could ensure social distancing protocols are followed while vendors are allowed to sell their stocks of conch.

“The government could allow vendors to have one window open that we could serve people from while we do social distance,” he said.

“People could call us, tell us how many conchs they want, and come and pick up their orders when we tell them it’s ready. The government should’ve never allowed outside sitting in these areas. They could have let us do something similar to the curbside services so people don’t have to stick around. They have to start taking us and the conchs into consideration.

To see other restaurants open, it hurts knowing we put this government in place and they’re supposed to be working for the people.”

PAGE 6, Wednesday, July 29, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

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We’ve won the first round of this fight - time to do it again THERE is good news and bad news in the fight against COVID-19.

First, unfortunately, the bad news.

Yesterday saw yet another surge in cases in The Bahamas, with 65 in one day.

While Grand Bahama has been experiencing the most cases recently, New Providence saw 29 confirmed cases yesterday, eight more than Grand Bahama.

Family Islands are not spared either – with cases in Guana Cay, Moore’s Island and Abaco.

Make no mistake, we are in the thick of it now. This is what our medical experts have been warning about from the start – a spike in cases, with fears that might overwhelm our medical facilities. At present, there are 343 active cases, with 12 people in hospital. We must pray that number does not rise to a level where decisions have to be made over who gets priority for treatment.

This is also what has been warned about in terms of the false choice between health and economy – with a surge in cases, there is no return to tourism in a hurry. We can open our borders again, but who will come in during rising cases, quarantines and lockdowns?

That’s the bad news. So where is the good?

We may be in a hole now – but we’ve

been here before, and we know the way out. The actions we took before brought COVID-19 to a halt in our country, and we can do it again. Better still, we know the drill by now. What should you do?

Wash your hands, wear a mask, stay physically distant from others, only go out if you need to. Sound familiar? It ought to be by now.

We know people are fed up of being stuck indoors – but each gathering puts people at risk of spreading the virus. A single family gathering earlier this month in North Carolina led to 41 people being infected with the virus.

Another man in Dallas who thought the virus was a hoax wrote this week about how a family get-together led to 14 members of the same family getting infected – with one dead and another on life support.

All this takes is discipline. Weekend lockdowns are back, so let’s hunker down and give the virus nowhere to go.

The medical experts have told us what we need to do. Now it’s time to play our part.

There is more good news, with word of vaccines entering the next phase of testing – but that’s the long-term solution. The short-term solution is in our hands – so let’s grasp it.

Who’d take high road?

EDITOR, The Tribune

THERE has been a lot of talk in the past concerning #1 Windsor Avenue and Village Road being a residential area, even newspaper articles written on the subject.

When the article was written it was in 2011. I did not respond because I wanted to see if anyone would take the high road and do the right thing.

There are always two sides to a story, and someWHEN it was announced that two To hear Mr Davis tell the tale, he was times three; his side, her weddings – one in Harbour Island and just a middle man passing the message side and the truth. But to one in New Providence – had been along, but should the man who wants get to the truth one MUST allowed to proceed with more than five to lead the nation have been a bit more hear both sides, to make a people present, there was little detail firm in whether it was right to seek an sensible decision. Doesn’t explaining how those two had been exemption? matter who is your friend given the go-ahead.

On the Prime Minister’s part, should or what position they hold, The Harbour Island one has been he have been more thorough in evaluatright is right and wrong is widely criticised after pictures of people ing whether or not the wedding would wrong. breaking social distancing rules were cir- have proceeded safely before giving his In 2011, I applied to the culated on social media. approval?

Department of Physical The New Providence wedding, it turns What makes one ceremony safe and Planning to have my propout, went ahead after an intervention another not – and is this ad hoc method erty, #1 Windsor Avenue by the leader of the Opposition, Philip of approving one over the other really and Village Road zoned ‘Brave’ Davis. the way we are doing things? commercial. It was denied.

A constituent of his asked for help, and Have lessons really been learned since I went before the Board Mr Davis contacted the Prime Minister, Dr Duane Sands had his resignation as who also denied my request who gave approval by text. As it turns out, Minister of Health accepted? And the saying that the area was resthe wedding went ahead with only five bigger question is this – when we are idential. I asked the Board present because confirmation from the telling people to avoid large gatherings, about the three commercial Police Commissioner was not received in what message are we sending out if that buildings on Shirley Street time, but it is a glimpse behind the scenes ban is only for some people? that are on residential of how a connection led to approval being We said above that we must be disciplots. I was told that Shirley given despite a blanket ban. plined – that means our leadership too.

Street was different from Village Road, I asked how, I was told by the Director at that time, “It just is”.

I wrote Minister Bannister, who passed it on to his Asst PS, Ms Antoinette Thompson for execution.

EDITOR, The Tribune the Prime Minister was Further, by making the After weeks of back and asked by a reporter if the embargo in the first place, forth, I got No Response.

ON July 22, the Baha- reversal in policy had been it can be construed that we In January, 2017, through mas government banned all dictated by pressure from treated our neighbour to Commonwealth Realty commercial flights to The the US. The reporter was the north in a manner befit- I obtained a letter from Bahamas save for those referred to the message ting one of the countries the Department of Physioriginating in the United from the AG. their president lives to hate, cal Planning stating, and Kingdom, the European I anticipated follow up the s-hole variety.

I quote, “With regard to Union and Canada. This questions from the other We like to shout about the above caption (Zoning meant that commercial reporters which never our sovereignty, but with- Inquiry – Ms Maude Lockflights emanating from the came. I wanted to know, as out the US we would have hart resident situated USA, where most of our I am sure other Bahamians a problem with food supply Village Road – Lot #1 Montourists come from, would were wondering the same and tourists for our number tague Heights), this letter is not be allowed. things. For instance why, one industry. I await the to confirm that the subject In an attempt at damage when treaties and a con- repercussions. lot is zoned for Commercial control much air time was vention were in place, was On another note, with development. Any further used to let US citizens the embargo made? Why nom or minimal tourists, inquiry can be made at the know that they were not wasn’t the PM reminded and no planes flying, and Department”. Mr Zonicle banned as they could come by the relevant Ministers Bahamasair staff having refused to accept the letter by air charter or private or the senior civil serv- to consider possible defer- because he said it was done yacht. Big deal. ants of these obligations ments of salary how do we without his knowledge. The On July 24 this position when he decided to place justify appointing a par- gentleman is an Inspector, was reversed, the Office the embargo? Or did he liamentary secretary to he does this type of research of the Attorney General not confer? Were these the Ministry of Tourism every day, why would he put announcing that because matters brought to the and Aviation at this time. himself in jeopardy? I had of treaties and the Chicago attention of the govern- In light of the appointee’s a sale for the property but Convention there was to be ment by the US? work in social outreach in it fell through because Mr parity so the embargo was In any event we have his constituency, if he had Zonicle refused to accept released. However, all per- been left with egg on our to be rewarded, Social Ser- the letter. sons arriving in the country faces, and the possibility of vices would seem to be a Mr Zonicle was asked had to undergo a 14-day tourists not coming to The better fit. why my property was quarantine.

Bahamas because of the 14 denied commercial zoning, Subsequently at a Press day quarantine and closed JEANNE THOMPSON when Shirley Street has Conference on July 25 held beaches. Most vacations Nassau, three commercial buildings by the Ministry of Health, don’t last as long as 14 days.

July 26, 2020. on four residential lots, he

Behind the scenes of wedding decision

Egg on our faces

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net said that he slipped and he had no intention of doing it again and if I want to take it to court, I must go and do so.

I went to Mr Zonicle’s office to speak with him concerning the letters, he spoke to me as if I were a dog, like I was nothing!!

I cannot begin to express the disappointment and hurt I felt. Shouting insults, not allowing me to talk.

I just never thought he would ever talk to anyone the way he spoke to me.

Man was he ticked, but why? I know Neighbourhood Associations have a voice in deciding what happens in the area and I am not disputing that, but to deliberately block someone from moving forward, on to something better for themselves?

I understand Mr Zonicle and the Association’s frustration with me because I kept coming back to this because I felt I was being discriminated against.

Another meeting was called in October, 2019.

Out of frustration, I guess, some of the Association representatives got up and started attacking Mr Zonicle saying that he promised them that the matter would not come up again. I guess I was supposed to be silenced and afraid after Mr Zonicle spoke to me like a dog in his office and just shrink back.

I wonder if anything was offered to stop my property from being commercial? I wonder. One of the members said in the meeting frustrated, “Physical Planning need to do their job”.

Physical Planning cannot do their job when the Association keep asking for favours and promises. In my opinion that’s treachery and corruption!

The bottom line is: 1. The four residential lots that have been made commercial was agreed by both Mr Zonicle and the Neighbourhood Association. 2. The letter from Physical Planning is a legal document and should have been honoured.3.

Mr Zonicle and the Association should have known they were breaking the Covenant, which left the door open to other properties.I am not asking the Association or Mr Zonicle for any favours,

but that I be given the same opportunity as other people. I think that the actions of the Association and Mr Zonicle have been underhanded, discriminative, deceitful, arrogant, selfish and I could go on.

Three messages were sent to Mr Zonicle regarding the rescheduling of a meeting with the Subdivision Board. To date, there has been no response.

I have spoken to at least six different friends who are lawyers and a police officer concerning this matter and they are all shocked at Mr Zonicle and the Association and think that it’s political, however the police think it’s something more sinister. I think it’s both.

I have no one to fight for me, I have to stand and fight for myself, even if that means standing alone.

We as Bahamian people need to learn to stand together for what is right.

We all make mistakes and fall short but to deliberately block someone from moving to a better way of life!? WOW! Because someone who is in power, has wealth or knows people that are, does not give them the right to push you around or deny you your rights or talk to you any way they want.

Everything has a time limit, which means that there is an expiry date to everything, it will come to an end. The only thing that is constant is God and what we compromise to keep, we will lose. Let it not be said that you were a tyrant while you are there! You can never step out on the wrong foot and end up right.

I end with this scripture Isaiah 33:1, which says – “Woe unto you who have spoiled and have not been spoiled, who have dealt treacherously and have not been dealt treacherously with. When you have ceased to spoil, you shall be spoiled and when you have ceased to deal treacherously, then you shall be dealt treacherously with.

As we are seeing the Bible unfold right before our very eyes, know that everything will pass but the word of God will stand forever.

Thank you for allowing me space to express my views.

MAUDE LOCKHARTBRAUNLICH Nassau, July 24, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 29, 2020, PAGE 7

NYGARD BIDS TO REDUCE COURT PUNISHMENT from page one

served with the notice of motion “under which the contempt order was made”.

Nygard was not tuned into the hearing on Zoom.

Yesterday, Mr Martin said Nygard had not been given a personal service of the motion as required by law.

Arguing the court and the respondents “should have known” the notice “had to be served personally”, Mr Martin said the court had “no jurisdiction or authority” to make the order.

Still, when asked how a personal service of notice would be effective since Nygard was outside the jurisdiction at the time, Mr Martin insisted the grounds of their argument revolved around the fact that the “court was wrong in granting substituted service”, since it could only be granted “if it is shown that” personal service could not be achieved.

He added in order for Nygard to be found guilty of contempt, a “link had to be established” between

Nygard and the attorney representing him in the New York hearing. He claimed the lawyer was the one who “had the documents in his possession and was writing to a judge”. Mr Martin also said Nygard had filed an affidavit in the proceedings because he did not authorise the attorney to approach the judge.

Attorney Julian Malins represented STB in the matter. He argued Nygard’s 90-day prison sentence and the $150,000 fine were justified.

“Bearing in mind

Nygard’s previous breaches of court orders... the sentence imposed by the court is, if anything, very much on the over-lenient side,” he said.

Mr Malins also invited the panel to “look through the facts the judge had to help her with her sentencing”, since he believed it was “merely indicative and helpful”. He also asked the justices to determine if the sentence was “so outside of what a judge – who had heard all the facts and submissions – could reasonably have made”.

Mr Malins said if their conclusions were “within that discretion”, the appellate justices should dismiss the appeal.

After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Isaacs said the panel would reserve their judgment and notify both parties in “due course”.

The emails surfaced in an affidavit exhibited by lawyer Keod Smith, who represented the Canadian in an earlier contempt hearing. Later, the lawyers for STB secured an injunction preventing Nygard and

Keod Smith from perusing, publishing or disseminating any information contained within the emails.

At the time, Justice Bowe-Darville ordered Nygard to make a full apology to the court within seven days, giving full and verifiable reasons for his non-appearance.

Nygard was also told to assure the court in writing that he would discontinue using the emails which were the subject of a February 2019 injunction in New York court proceedings.

NOW YOU SEE IT.. .

A BUILDING that housed government agencies including the Ministry of Labour and the Road Traffic Department has been demolished. The Clarence A Bain Building, on University Drive and Moss Road, is making way for a new development from the University of The Bahamas. Desmond Bannister MP, during the Budget debate, announced the project to demolish the building, due to be completed by September.

The building was named after Clarence A Bain, who was born in Love Hill, Andros, in 1904 and served in the PLP Cabinet, appointed in 1967. He represented Andros from 1956 to 1971, and was appointed as Commander of the British Empire in 1971. He died on July 14, 1971, and the building was named after him as a memorial.

...AND NOW YOU DON’T

Photos: Donovan McIntosh and Patrick Hanna/BIS

STAR STUDENT SYESHA WINS $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP A STAR student has earned a scholarship after being honoured by the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation.

Syesha Cox was a finalist, and has been handed a $2,000 scholarship by CIBC FirstCaribbean. The bank will also present her with a backpack and school supplies for the upcoming year.

Syesha was one of 112

sixth-grade graduates nominated by the foundation, who shared $141,000 in scholarships and more than $40,000 in prizes.

Among other accomplishments, Syesha served as First Step Academy’s head girl and published a cookbook late last year.

Marie Rodland-Allen, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s managing director, applauded

Syesha, saying: “As a nominee and finalist, you are recognised as one of the best and brightest students in The Bahamas.

We at CIBC FirstCaribbean know that sixth-grade ended in an unexpected way for you and your peers. Nonetheless, you committed to your studies, persevered, and completed primary school successfully.”

PAGE 8, Wednesday, July 29, 2020

O

N Monday, 40 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, most of them in Grand Bahama and New Providence. The were 16 new cases on Sunday and 10 on Saturday. The return of weekend lockdowns and the 7pm curfew were not welcomed. Everyone knew there would be an announcement last Friday, but most expected a full lockdown. Days later, people are still unclear as to what is and is not permitted because there has been no widespread written communication detailing the regulations. The prime minister specifically mentioned a few areas including restaurants, barbershops and inter-island freight so it was assumed everything else would continue as it has been for the past few weeks. Some people have taken to social media, however, to get clarity because they have received conflicting information or been given instructions by police officers that do not match the information shared at the last press conference.

It is difficult to keep track of the changes. Graphics are being produced and shared by the Office of the Prime Minister on Facebook. These are helpful, but not always easy to find.

While they have start dates, there is no way to know whether or not you are looking at the most recent information. The website is not being properly updated, nor is it being used to its full potential. The “Important Information” section of the COVID-19 page has not been updated since May 10. The COVID-19 dashboard page was last updated on July 26 and before that, June 30. There needs to be a page that is updated with every change and clearly states the date and time of the last update.

It should include information specifically related to grocery stores, banks and credit unions, gas stations, restaurants, retail stores, beaches and parks, gatherings including weddings,

THE TRIBUNE

Can we have some clarity please AFTER the press conference headlines The

Alicia Wallace column funerals and religious services, domestic travel and international travel.

We should not have to look in multiple places to find the most basic information. Most people go to Facebook in search of answers.

Sometimes it works, but sometimes it makes things worse because we are depending on each other to secure accurate information when it is not given by the authorities.

Social media is a powerful tool when used well.

The Office of the Prime Minister Facebook page is used to livestream press conferences and national addresses regarding COVID-19. There is a post on the page that lists the key points from the prime minister’s address on Friday.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 129 comments.

They varied and a few of them asked questions that have yet to be answered.

At a glance, four questions were about inter-island travel, specifically for tourists on Family Islands who need to get to Nassau for the flights out of the country. There should be a social media manager equipped to respond to the questions in the comments. At the very least, each post can direct people to the appropriate place to ask questions and

receive timely responses. It should come as no surprise that people have questions and it is not difficult to put a system in place to answer them.

It is expected that the guidelines — washing hands, sanitising when hand washing is not possible, wearing clean masks and maintaining a distance of six feet from other people — remain the same. We understand that change in circumstances, specifically the number of new COVID-19 cases, require a shift in our response. We will move back and forth between phases based on the health risk and level of community spread. We do, however, have a problem with restrictions that do not apply to other people in the same circumstances.

Last weekend, video footage was shared from a wedding held in Harbour Island. It was clear that social distancing was not adhered to, there were dozens of people in attendance and masks were not properly used by guests or people in the Junkanoo rushout. People were rightfully upset that this wedding - and another in New Providence which did not make social media - went on as though the Prime Minister had not just announced

LAST weekend’s wedding on Harbour Island where there was little social distancing that such events could only take place with a maximum of five people. It was also disgusting to see a guest at the window sexualise an entertainer by simulation of groping her without her realising it. This is just one example of the objectification of Black women by

tourists who believe they are entitled to our bodies.

Residents of The Bahamas have had to postpone their weddings or significantly change their plans to get married on the set date.

People have also postponed funerals or had to be selective about who would be

allowed to attend services.

It was not said that anyone could apply for exemption from these restrictions, so it was upsetting to learn the Prime Minister granted permission for these two weddings to proceed when others simply played by the rules.

A GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT OUR FREEDOMS

EMANCIPATION Day celebrations in Fox Hill last year AS Emancipation Day approaches and another weekend lockdown looms, it is an interesting time to think about freedom. There has been a fair amount of discussion about freedom and liberties, the constitutionality of the emergency order and suitability of the measures themselves.

Does it makes sense to limit weddings and funerals to five people when scores of people are in the grocery store at the same time? Is it really necessary to close beaches and parks? Can we not even have a view?

A few days ago, I was very early for an appointment in the downtown area.

My first thought was drive to the nearest beach where I could park, remain in the vehicle and enjoy the salt air and view of the sparkling turquoise ocean we use to attract tourists. First, I tried to access Western Esplanade from the entrance near Nassau Street, but there were barricades.

Then, I tried the entrance to Arawak Cay which was open, but there was a red gate blocking access to the strip of restaurants and barricades blocking access to the road running parallel to the beach.

I did not bother to drive to Saunders Beach, sure there would be barricades there too. I remembered when it was possible to just pull to the side of the road on West Bay Street, opposite the plaza or gas station, and enjoy the beach from a vehicle. There is now no space to do that. There was nowhere in the area that I could go to to see the expansive horizon. I settled for an obstructed view from the fort hill. I could not help but notice that I was only able to access a very small portion of what was available. That is, quite often, the way it feels for many of us, living in paradise. We can use the “I live where you vacation” hashtag as much as we like.

It does not mean we have the experience of paradise which we sell to other people.

We are not just heading into another lockdown weekend. It is another holiday weekend. It is a holiday to celebrate freedom from slavery. Are we content to be free to work to provide an experience we cannot have ourselves? We are not permitted to enjoy the beach and we are definitely not going to be able to enjoy Fox Hill Day with the usual festivities. We have already forgone Independence celebrations.

What are we doing with our freedom? It has to be for more than just work.

COVID-19 has changed some things, but it has also made other things more apparent. This weekend is a good time to think about what freedom is for us right now, what it should be and what we are prepared to do to fully access and activate it. We deserve more.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 29, 2020, PAGE 9

TECHTALK

THE INTERIOR of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceshipTwo Cabin during a flight. Highly detailed amenities to enhance the customer experience were shown in an online event Tuesday, revealing the cabin of the company’s rocket plane, which is undergoing testing in preparation for commercial service. There are a dozen windows for viewing, seats capable of being customised to each of the six passengers and mood lighting. (Virgin Galactic via AP)

IN this May 20, 2020 photo made available by NASA/JPLCaltech, engineers and technicians insert sample tubes into the belly of the Perseverance Mars rover at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA is upping the ante with its newest rover headed to Mars.

Set to rocket away this week from Florida, Perseverance is NASA’s brawniest and brainiest Martian rover yet. (NASA/JPLCaltech via AP)

VIRGIN GALACTIC SHOWS OFF SPACESHIP CABIN

By JOHN ANTCZAK Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Passengers flying Virgin Galactic on suborbital trips into space will be able to see themselves floating weightless against the backdrop of the Earth below while 16 cameras document the adventures, the company said Tuesday.

Highly detailed amenities to enhance the customer flight experience were shown in an online event revealing the cabin of the company’s rocket plane, a type called SpaceShipTwo, which is undergoing testing in preparation for commercial service.

There are a dozen windows for viewing, seats that will be customised for each flight’s six passengers and capable of adjusting for G forces, and, naturally, mood lighting.

Yet designer Jeremy Brown said the passengers’ most lasting impression may come from a large mirror at the rear of the cabin.

“We think that there’s a

real memory burn that customers are going to have when they see that analog reflection of themselves in the back of the cabin, seeing themselves floating freely in space ... that very personal interaction that they’ll have with the experience,” he said.

Virgin Galactic was founded by British billionaire Richard Branson after the prize-winning flights of the experimental SpaceShipOne in 2004. Branson plans to be the first passenger when commercial flights begin.

Like its predecessor, SpaceShipTwo is a rocket

plane that is slung beneath a special jet airplane and released at high altitude.

After a moment of free fall, the two pilots ignite the rocket and the craft pitches up and accelerates vertically at supersonic speed.

The rocket shuts down but momentum carries the craft into the lower reaches of space where it flips upside down so that the windows on the roof of the cabin give a view of the Earth far below.

The passengers, clad in space suits designed by the Under Armour company, will be able to leave their seats and float about

the cabin, using handholds tested by chief astronaut trainer Beth Moses during Virgin Galactic’s second flight into space last year.

The test was aimed at helping finalise the design and at learning how to train passenger astronauts for what they will experience as they become weightless and reach the top of the flight profile, known as its apogee, before the descent begins.

Moses said she tested different ways of getting in and out of the seats, moved around the cabin and waved at the mirror, concluding that it was not disorienting.

“I also purposely went to a point in the cabin to most dramatically try to enjoy apogee and a view of Earth from the stillness of space,” she said.

The passengers will need to return to their seats after a few minutes as the craft reorients and begins to interact with the increasing density of the atmosphere and then glides to an unpowered landing.

SpaceShipTwo was developed at Virgin

Galactic facilities in Mojave, California, and will operate commercially from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico, where passengers will undergo several days of training before their flights.

George Whitesides, the former longtime company CEO who is now its chief space officer, said upcoming test flights will include four crew members playing the role of passengers.

Whitesides, who will now focus on future technology, recently handed the CEO role to Michael Colglazier, a former president and managing director of Disney Parks International.

The company has yet to set a date for flights with paying passengers.

The company has said more than 600 people have put down deposits.

The initial seats were sold at $250,000 apiece.

Whitesides said the cost may increase for a while but the long-term goal is to make the adventure more accessible, possibly at a lower cost.

IN REVERSAL, CES GADGET SHOW WON’T BE IN-PERSON AFTER ALL

By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — CES, one of the world’s biggest technology conferences, will be a virtual event in January due to the coronavirus pandemic, a reversal from May when organisers said it would go on as a smaller gathering in Las Vegas.

The announcement Tuesday is another blow for Las Vegas which, like all other U.S. tourist destinations, is suffering as people stay home or vacation locally. More than 170,00 people attended the four-day show this year in January, before COVID-19 began to spread across the U.S. States in the South and West are being hit particularly hard.

In Nevada over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has increased 27%. The state now ranks sixth in the country for new cases of COVID-19 per capita.

The pandemic has disrupted

PEOPLE look at a 145 inch Ultra Large UHD display in the LG booth at the CES tech show, on Jan. 8, 2020, in Las Vegas. major tech events everywhere.

Europe’s biggest consumer electronics trade fair, Germany’s IFA, usually runs for six days and drew nearly a quarter million people last year. This year, it’s half that duration and there will be no public access to the event in September.

Web Summit, a glitzy event in Portugal that features high profile tech CEOs and celebrities, will be online this time. Organisers aim to still hold the physical conference in Lisbon in December but won’t make any final decisions until early October.

Trade shows are a place where people network, try new gadgets or make a sale.

But they’re also big business onto themselves, accounting for $2.5 trillion in global spending, according to the Events Industry Council.

Much of that is likely to be lost when events go online.

The Consumer Technology Association, which organizes CES, had said in May that it planned to go ahead and hold some events in Las Vegas next year, but the thinking changed as COVID-19 cases spiked around the world, making it impossible to hold an indoor event in January 2021, said CTA CEO Gary Shapiro.

There was also uncertainty over whether employees of big tech companies would be allowed to travel by then. Google, for example, said this week that its employees should work from home until at least July 2021.

The four-day digital version of the CES gadget show begins Jan. 6.

NASA’S NEXT MARS ROVER IS BRAWNIEST AND BRAINIEST ONE YET

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — With eight successful Mars landings, NASA is upping the ante with its newest rover.

The spacecraft Perseverance — set for liftoff this week — is NASA’s brawniest and brainiest Martian rover yet.

It sports the latest landing tech, plus the most cameras and microphones ever assembled to capture the sights and sounds of Mars. Its super-sanitised sample return tubes — for rocks that could hold evidence of past Martian life — are the cleanest items ever bound for space. A helicopter is even tagging along for an otherworldly test flight.

This summer’s third and final mission to Mars — after the United Arab Emirates’ Hope orbiter and China’s Quest for Heavenly Truth orbiterrover combo — begins with a launch scheduled for Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral.

Like the other spacecraft, Perseverance should reach the red planet next February following a journey spanning seven months and more than 300 million miles (480 million kilometres).

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine doesn’t see it as a competition.

“But certainly we welcome more explorers to deliver more science than ever before,” he said following a launch review Monday, “and we look forward to seeing what it is that they’re able to discover.”

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PAGE 10, Wednesday, July 29, 2020

by ED COOK, Research Fellow in Circular Economy Systems and Costas Velis, Lecturer in Resource Efficiency Systems, University of Leeds DURING a visit to a bookstore a few weeks ago, we couldn’t help but stare at a display unit featuring no fewer than ten books telling you how to rid plastics from your daily life. We’re bombarded by information on the topic of marine litter and plastic pollution, but how much do we really know about the problem?

Think about other planetary challenges, like climate change or ozone layer depletion. Mature areas of research have developed around them, allowing scientists to identify where the gases that cause these problems come from, and how much reaches the atmosphere each year.

But when it comes to plastic pollution, we know close to nothing about how and where plastic waste is generated, managed, treated and disposed of, especially in low and middle income countries.

As a result, we’re struggling to limit the amount of litter accumulating in the environment.

Our research published in Science involved a herculean effort to spot, track and model the current and future flows of plastics into the world’s land and waterbodies. We found that plastic entering the marine environment is set to double by 2040 and, unless the world acts, more than

THE TRIBUNE

How Earth’s plastic pollution problem could look in 20 years 1.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste will be dumped on land and in waterbodies.

By identifying the ways in which this litter is produced and distributed, we’ve also discovered how best to reduce the plastic deluge.

In the process, we found the unsung heroes on the frontline fighting the pollution crisis who could be the world’s best hope of stemming the tide.

The world’s plastic problem in numbers We developed a model called Plastic-to-Ocean (P₂O) which combines years of accumulated knowledge on global flows of plastic.

It compares our current production, use and management of waste with what is projected in the future.

Do you burn your waste in the garden or in the street? Do you drop it into the river? If you answered no to both of these questions then you are possibly one of the 5.5 billion people whose waste gets collected. If you were among the remaining two billion, what would you do with your uncollected waste? Would you make use of a nearby stream, cliff edge, or perhaps squirrel the odd bag in the woods after dusk?

More often than not, uncollected plastic waste is simply set on fire as a costfree and effective method of disposal. Our model suggests that cumulatively, more than 2.2 billion tonnes of plastic will be open burned by 2040, far more than the 850 million tonnes that’s anticipated to be dumped on land and the 480 million tonnes in rivers and seas.

Having tracked the sources of plastic items through the supply chain and their fate in the environment, we explored what might help reduce aquatic pollution. We found that the single most effective intervention is to provide a service for the two billion people who currently don’t have their waste collected.

But, of the nine interventions we tested, none solved the problem on their own. Only an integrated approach that in addition to increasing collection coverage includes interventions such as reducing demand for single-use and unrecyclable plastic and improving the business case for mechanical recycling, could be successful. For the

countries suffering most from plastic pollution, this knowledge could offer a way forward.

But even in our best-case scenario, in which the world takes the kind of concerted and immediate action proposed in our study, approximately 710 million tonnes of plastic waste will be released into the environment by 2040. That may sound a lot, but it would mean an 80% reduction in the levels of plastic pollution compared to what will happen with no action over the next two decades.

Could waste pickers save the day?

Our work also cast light on the contributions of 11 million waste pickers in low and middle-income countries. These informal workers collect waste items, including plastics, for recycling, to secure a livelihood for day-to-day survival. The model estimates that they may be responsible for 58% of all plastic waste collected for recycling worldwide – more than the combined formal collection services achieve throughout all the high-income countries put together.

Without this informal waste collection sector, the mass of plastic entering rivers and the ocean would be considerably greater.

Their efforts should be integrated into municipal waste management plans, not only to recognise their tremendous contribution but

to improve the appalling safety standards that they currently endure.

Establishing a comprehensive baseline estimate of sources, stocks and flows of plastic pollution, and then projecting into the future, has been an immense task.

When it comes to solid waste, the availability, accuracy and international compatibility of data is notoriously insufficient.

Plastic items occur throughout the world in tens of thousands of shapes, sizes, polymer types and additive combinations. There are also considerable differences in cultural attitudes towards the way waste is managed, how plastic products are consumed, and the types of infrastructure and equipment used to manage it when it becomes waste.

Our modelling effort was a delicate and tedious exercise of simplifying and generalising this complexity. To understand how reliable, accurate, and precise our findings are likely to be, think of the first models that estimated how sensitive the climate is to human influence back in the 1970s.

Hopefully, the strong evidence base we have presented today will inform a global strategy and strong local preventive action. The plastic pollution challenge can be substantially controlled within a generation’s time. So, is anyone ready to act?

theconversation.com

ROTATY CLUBS DONATE $20,000 TO HELP STUDENTS ROTARY clubs have donated $20,000 to the help students evacuated from Abaco and Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian.

The money was presented by the nine clubs in District 7020 to the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) and will provide tablet devices to students.

The presentation was made by the Rotary Bahamas Disaster Relief (RBDR) on behalf of the District 7020 Rotary Clubs, which include Abaco, East Nassau, Eleuthera, Nassau, Nassau Sunrise, New Providence, Old Fort, South-East and West Nassau.

RBDR chairman Bryan Knowles, said: “Our service objective, in this regard, is to assist those who were unfavourably impacted by Hurricane Dorian. In this case, evacuated students. It also aligns with one of our areas of focus: supporting education.”

L-R: Chairman of the RBDR, Bryan Knowles; BTVI’s Associate Vice President of Fund Development, Alicia Thompson and President, Dr Robert W. Robertson.

BTVI’s dean of infor- is very timely,” said Mr mation technology Ramtulla.

BTVI’s president Dr and distance learning, Anthony Ramtulla, said it Robert W Robertson said: was an “incredible “The impact of Hurricane Dorian has illustrated the donation”.

“Due to the COVID-19 importance of technolpandemic or other difficul- ogy and COVID-19 has ties, many students are not reinforced that we must able to acquire their own be prepared for the digital devices, so this donation economy.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 29, 2020, PAGE 11

GREAT WHITE SHARK KILLS WOMAN SWIMMING OFF MAINE PORTLAND, Maine Associated Press

AUTHORITIES in Maine yesterday said the shark that killed a woman in a rare attack off the state’s coast was a great white, the same type of shark that served as the inspiration for the movie Jaws.

The shark bite killed Julie Dimperio Holowach, 63, of New York City, the Maine Department of Marine Resources said. The shark fatally bit Holowach off Bailey Island on Monday while she was swimming.

Scientists were able to later

identify the shark as a great white using a tooth fragment, state officials said. Great whites aren’t common in Maine, which is the northern tip of their range, but recent summers have brought reports of sightings of the giant fish. The Maine Marine Patrol said a witness saw Holowach swimming off the shore of Bailey Island when she was bitten. Two kayakers helped her get to shore and an ambulance provided further assistance, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, the marine patrol said.

There had previously only been one recorded unprovoked

shark attack in Maine, and it was 10 years ago off Eastport, Maine Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher said. He said that bite involved a different species of shark.

He described the attack as “highly unusual,” but added it’s cause for vigilance among beachgoers. “The rarity of this event does not mean it’s not going to happen again,” Keliher said.

The attack happened about 30 to 40 feet offshore, and the rescuers were a man and woman in a rented tandem kayak, said Jeff Cooper, co-owner of H2Outfitters on the island. The kayakers

JULIE DIMPERIO HOLOWACH

were on the shore when one of them saw something breach, and realised something was wrong, Cooper said.

“They happened to be right there at the scene. They were courageous enough to jump in and retrieve the victim,” Cooper said.

One of the kayakers grabbed Holowach, and the other paddled to get her back to shore, said Cathy Piffath, the other co-owner.

Holowach and her family own property in the area and are well known in the community, which is shaken by her death, said Rob Beal, major of the Maine Marine Patrol.

REMBRANDT FETCHES MILLIONS AT VIRTUAL AUCTION

WATCHMAN LEADS WAY FOR EMMYS LOS ANGELES Associated Press WATCHMEN, cloaked in superhero mythology and grounded in real-world racism, yesterday received a leading 26 nominations for the prime-time Emmy Awards. The series, which captured America’s deep unease as it faces racial and political discord amid a pandemic, was nominated as best limited series and received bids for cast members including Regina King and Jeremy Irons.

King was part of a vanguard of actors of color indicating that TV academy voters took heed of the social climate.

Netflix got 160 nominations, ahead of HBO which earned 107.

LONDON Associated Press

REGINA King in a scene from Watchmen.

Barr defends aggressive response to protests WASHINGTON Associated Press ATTORNEY General William Barr yesterday defended the aggressive federal law enforcement response to civil unrest in America as he testified for the first time before the House Judiciary Committee, pushing back against angry, skeptical Democrats who said President Donald Trump’s administration is unconstitutionally suppressing dissent.

The hearing, held as the late civil rights icon John Lewis lay in state steps away outside the Capitol, highlighted the wide election-year gulf between the two parties on police brutality and systemic racism in law enforcement. Massive protests have sparked unrest across the nation following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, and calls for police reform are growing louder.

But Barr said “violent rioters

ATTORNEY General William Barr and anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests” and argued the violence taking place in Portland, Oregon, and other cities is disconnected from Floyd’s killing, which he called a “horrible” event that prompted a necessary national reckoning on the relationship between the Black community and law enforcement. But he also said

BIDEN VOWS TO FIGHT RACIAL INEQUALITY WITH HIS ECONOMIC AGENDA DELAWARE Associated Press DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate Joe Biden yesterday promised his economic agenda would combat long-standing racial inequalities as he sought to draw another sharp contrast with President Donald Trump. Biden said the Republican president is exacerbating social discord across the country, including by sending federal authorities into major cities under the pretense of addressing crime. And he said Trump has little interest in addressing the racism that Biden said has been laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately claims people of color as its victims, or in an election-year reckoning with police violence against black men.

“He can’t turn the economy around. He’s determined to stoke division and chaos,” Biden said,

speaking in a community center gymnasium in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. “It’s not good for the country, but Donald Trump doesn’t care. His campaign is failing and he’s looking for a lifeline.”

Biden countered with a litany of proposals to steer federal money and tax credits to small business and economic development programs for minority-owned firms and disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Biden also said he’d encourage home ownership to help close wealth gaps among minority communities and push the nation’s banking system, including the Federal Reserve, to more directly address economic inequality. Many of his proposals — and the billions in federal spending needed to pay for it — had already been promised as part of previous, larger Biden plans to jump-start the economy when the coronavirus outbreak begins to recede.

there was no systemic racism in law enforcement. “Largely absent from these scenes of destruction are even superficial attempts by the rioters to connect their actions to George Floyd’s death or any legitimate call for reform,” Barr said of the Portland protests.

The hearing marks Barr’s first appearance before the committee after 18 months in office, bringing him face-to-face with the panel that voted last year to hold him in contempt and is holding hearings on what Democrats say is politicization of the Justice Department under his watch. But little new ground was uncovered; fuming Democrats often used their five minutes to lay out their frustrations and cut Barr off as he attempted to answer questions.

The hearing comes during a tumultuous stretch in which Barr has taken actions cheered by President Donald Trump but condemned by Democrats and other

critics. Among them: the Justice Department’s decision to drop the prosecution of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn and Barr’s urging for a more lenient sentence for Trump ally Roger Stone, a move that prompted the entire trial team’s departure. Trump later commuted the sentence entirely.

The top Republican on the panel, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, used his opening statement to show an eightminute video that spliced together images of violence by protesters around the country. Democrats retorted with a video of their own of more peaceful protesters.

“We fought for democracy, for the right to speak freely and you are attempting to take that away,” Cicilline told Barr. “What’s worse, you’re doing it for the sole purpose of furthering the president’s political agenda and generating footage for Trump campaign commercials.”

A SELF-PORTRAIT by Rembrandt sold for $18.7m at a Sotheby’s virtual auction yesterday — a record price for a self-portrait by the Dutch master, the auctioneer’s said.

Sotheby’s said that the top end of the art market was “in rude health” and that its new live-streamed auction format, introduced because of the coronavirus pandemic, brought in a total of $192.7m.

“Self portrait wearing a ruff and black hat,” from 1632 when Rembrandt was aged 26, was sought by six bidders. The painting was one of only three selfportraits by the painter to remain in private hands, and “the only one ever likely to come to auction.”

It measures about 22 by 16 centimeters, or about 8 by 6 inches.

The sale was part of a live-streamed global auction featuring dozens of pieces of artwork spanning five centuries of art history, from Rembrandt to Picasso, and from Joan Miró to Banksy. The event saw staff from the auction house’s New York, London and Hong Kong offices furiously gesticulating and whispering into phones as bidders vied to outdo each other. The top-selling item was Miró’s “Peinture (Femme au chapeau rouge)” (Woman in a Red Hat) from 1927, which went for $28.9m. Sotheby’s said the painting, which came to auction for the first time since 1966. set the highest sale price in Europe so far this year.

SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

Bain Jr makes comeback

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

C

MLB, PAGE 16

onsidering the fact that he was told by doctors during grade seven at Jack Hayward High that a mitral valve prolapse (MVP) heart problem would not allow him to play sports anymore, Trevor Bain Jr made a remarkable comeback this year to win a title with the Las Ranchos basketball team in the Zacatecas League in Mexico.

But as a late bloomer, who didn’t get back into sports until he graduated in 2014, Bain Jr had to go through his growing pains in his rookie season as a professional basketball player.

Without any major concerns for the spread of the coronavirus, the Mexican League was completed as the Las Ranchos finished in the eighth spot in the regular season, but they turned it up a notch in the postseason to clinch their first

title as Bain Jr was named the most valuable player.

“It was different. I’ve been playing commercial and night league basketball in Grand Bahama since I started playing,” said Bain Jr, the only foreign player on the team.

“But playing over there in the different cities was quite different.

“I had a lot of star players on my team, so it was much harder for me. I played the one and the two (point and shooting guard) and sometimes the three (small forward), depending on who was on the floor.”

The 5-foot, 10-inch 24-year-old said he was surprised when he went to Mexico in December to learn that the Las Ranchos never made the playoffs, much less win a title. He expected the losing tradition to continue as he doubted himself and he even found himself on the sidelines watching after he tore his left hamstring in their final practice game before their first regular season game.

“I was going up for a lay-up in a three-man wave when I tore my hamstring,” he recalled after he suffered the injury in January.

“That kept me out of action for about two months. When I did come back to play, we only had about 25 games left in the season.

In order to get into the playoffs in the eighth spot, the Las Ranchos had to win 16 of their final 25 games, which they accomplished with Bain Jr in the line-up as he made his return in March.

“I played like five minutes or one quarter when I got back, so I really didn’t start playing a full game until May,” said Bain Jr, who averaged about 28 points per game with nine rebounds and six assists before he increased the numbers to 32, 11 and seven respectively.

“I didn’t win no season awards or anything like that, so I was very good when I won the MVP for the championship,” he pointed out. “There was over 200 players in the league and when the

season was over, I was put on the list at 126 ranked player. Hopefully next year, I want to try and win the league MVP, scoring title and championship.”

Back home in Grand Bahama since July 17, Bain Jr said he intended to spend some time with his family and fans before Prime Minister Hubert Minnis imposed a two-week lockdown of the island due to the spike in the coronavirus cases since reopening the border on July 1.

“I got stuck in Mexico when I was about to leave. Even though our city didn’t have any cases, Mexico had a lot of cases, so they had their border shut down and I couldn’t get out right away,” Bain Jr remembered.

“But I still kept in touch with home and I heard about what was going on. So when I came home, everything was going good for the first week and right out of the blue,

SEE NEXT PAGE

BAHAMAS SET TO COMPETE IN CONCACAF QUALIFIERS

GO TEAM BAHAMAS: The Bahamas men’s national football (soccer) team has qualified to compete in the CONCACAF Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup QATAR 2022. The new CONCACAF Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 will comprise of three rounds and provide all participating member associations with the chance to compete for the Confederation’s three and-a-half World Cup slots. The first round (30 teams) will be played between the Concacaf Member Associations ranked 6-35 (Bah33), based on the FIFA Rankings as of July 16, 2020. The 30 men’s national teams will be drawn into six groups of five teams in a seeded draw. Each team will play every team in their group once, playing a total of 4 matches - two home and two away. These games will be played in the FIFA match windows of October 2020 and November 2020. At the end of the first round, the six group winners will progress to the second round.

FIBA WORLD CUP SKILLS CHALLENGE TRIALS IS CALLED OFF

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Basketball Federation far exceeded its total of participants for tryouts for the under-17 boys and girls Skills Challenge teams for next month’s International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Americas Region competition for qualification for the World Cup Skills Challenge.

But after the emergency orders announced by Prime Minnis Hubert Minnis on Friday to close all beaches and parks as well as to halt all sporting activities, the trials over the weekend had to be called off.

Head coach Marvin Henfield said the federation is still optimistic that they can get a clearance sometime today so that they can proceed with trials and have the Bahamas’ 10-member team each selected and presented to FIBA by the deadline of Saturday, August 1.

At the end of the registration period last week, the federation has collected a total of 116 athletes, including 89 males from New Providence and eight from Grand Bahama with 19 females from New Providence.

“We’re just pending and waiting on clarity from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Health on whether or not we can proceed with the trials under these conditions that we are presently in,” Henfield said.

As for the number of participants registered, Henfield said he’s excited about the possibility of the Bahamas doing very well in the Challenge, should the teams compete.

“We have more than sufficient athletes to make the team when we cut them down to 10. I know we would have had a challenge with the players from Grand Bahama, as they would not be able to travel because of the borders now closed. I think they would

SEE NEXT PAGE

‘Reno’ Johnson: ‘I’m on my second leg of training’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@rribunemedia.net

FOR the past two weeks, Bahamian professional boxer Tureano ‘Reno’ Johnson has been in Hollywood, Florida, preparing for a proposed shot at the World Boxing Association’s super middleweight world title or at least his next fight on September 12.

“I’m on my second leg of training where we have been doing a lot of strength training,” said Johnson of the sessions that are held at the Hollywood Pound Boxing Gym. “I will be heading to Atlanta on Tuesday with my head fitness coach from Cuba. I will be there for two weeks and then we head to New York to train with my head coach Andre Rozier where I will focus more on my technical, strength and fitness.”

Now back in the world rankings in all three of the four professional boxing organisations, Johnson has been a member of the Golden Boys Promotional

team, headed by Oscar de La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins, since 2016.

“It’s all about business.

They are looking for fighters who are marketable and can sell tickets for them,” Johnson said. “So far, it’s been a good relationship.

“The good thing with them is they don’t mind trying to get me into the ring against whoever I request. It’s just up to me to be able to go out there and deliver when the opportunity comes.”

Golden Boys are planning on securing the deal for Johnson to fight for the WBA title against Mexico’s champion Canelo Alvarez, considered the best poundfor-pound fighter in the world.

“We are not ruling that fight out, even though it could be considered a far fetch,” Johnson stressed.

“We are working on getting the deal sealed in the next few weeks.”

Similar to 2015 when he was ranked in all organisations, including being the top contender in the WBA in 2016, Johnson suffered

TUREANO JOHNSON an injury during his loss to Sergiy Derevyanchenko at the Buffalo Rum Casino in Miami, Florida on August 25, 2017 that dropped him out of the landscape of the division. However, after he regained his momentum in two fights last year in a split decision over Fernando Castaneda on February 9 and earning the NABO title over Jason Quigley on July 18, both at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio,

Johnson surged back into the rankings.

The 36-year-old, who has amassed a 21-2-1 win-lossdraw record since he turned pro in 2004, is now ranked at No.5 in the WBC, No.6 in the WBA and No.15 in the IBF, which affords him a golden opportunity to get a chance to fight any of the champions.

“I had a setback when I had a majority draw against the Mexican,” Johnson said.

“I overcame those adversities and I beat Jason Quigley, a previously undefeated fighter in a ninth round stoppage to win the NABO title and to get back into the rankings once again.”

For Johnson, who endured an impressive amateur career that included a trip to the 2000 Olympic Games, admitted the road wasn’t an easy one for him.

“Rarely have I had a chance to display my skills in the Bahamas,” said Johnson, whose only chance came on December 5, 2014 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when he pulled off a TKO win over Humberto

Toledo. “But you know, it doesn’t matter where you fight. If you go out there and you work hard, you will be successful.

“So while I would like to fight at home, I go out there and put in the work and I get the job done wherever I get to fight.”

And while he waits for his next opportunity to get back into the ring, Johnson is battling a bigger fight and that is the coronavirus.

He said he’s following all of the safety measures to avoid becoming a victim of the pandemic in the epicentre in Florida.

“This is something that I am not taking lightly because I definitely don’t want to lose my opportunity to fight for a world title by getting sick,” he said.

“Extra precaution is being taken in my camp. You might say we are overdoing it.

“But it’s a necessary process that we are going through. I don’t have any sparring partners right now, but I will have one or two when I go to Atlanta. So my team is trying to come up

with a plan for me to deal with that.”

Right now during his training in Florida, Johnson said he’s in isolation and in quarantine to make sure that he avoids contact with persons outside of his camp that includes his big brother, Ervin Johnson Jr, who resides in Florida.

If he doesn’t fight Alvarez, who is 53-1-2 for the WBA world title on September 12, Johnson said he will take on Jaime Munguia from Mexico, who is also undefeated at 35-0.

It’s all up in the air right now and will be decided by his management team in the next few weeks.

Johnson, who was scheduled to fight on April 4 in Moscow, Russia, against Magomed Madiev, but that was called off due to the pandemic, has been added to a list of fighters that include John Ryder, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Callum Smith, Anthony Dirrell and Jason Quigley for the title fight. Alvarez is pegged to fight on September 12, but no opponent has been named as yet.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 29, 2020, PAGE 13

ZION WILLIAMSON PRACTICING, COULD PLAY IN PELICANS’ OPENER

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer ZION Williamson returned to New Orleans Pelicans practice for the first time in nearly two weeks last night and coach Alvin Gentry said the NBA’s top overall draft pick might play when the club resumes its season against Utah on Thursday night.

“It really isn’t a tough decision,” Gentry said after practice in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. “If he’s ready to play, he’ll play. And if he’s not, he won’t.

“You’re not going to risk anything long term for something very, very short term. So we’ll see and evaluate tomorrow where he is — the medical people will — and so will Zion. Zion will tell us how he feels.”

Gentry said Williamson, who left the team on July 16 to attend to a family medical matter, was held out of five-on-five drills and limited largely to three- and fiveman sets with no defenders.

The Pelicans have another practice scheduled for today.

“Obviously, we would love to

have Zion. Let’s be honest,” Gentry said. “He’s one of those generational players that can do a lot of things.”

After Williamson missed New Orleans’ first 44 games while recovering from right knee surgery, the former Duke star averaged 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in his first 19 NBA contests before the coronavirus pandemic suspended the season in March. “We’re a lot better with him than we are without him; we know that,” guard Lonzo Ball said.

Williamson, who looked leaner when the club returned to practice in recent weeks, has said he worked hard during the NBA’s hiatus on his game and his conditioning. That kept the Pelicans hopeful that he’d be able to get ready to play quickly when he returned from a family matter that he has kept private.

Williamson, who tested negative for COVID-19 daily during his eight-day absence, has been back at the NBA’s base in Disney’s Wide World of Sports since Friday night, when he began a

league-mandated 4-day quarantine that ended yesterday.

The Pelicans are 3 1/2 games behind Memphis for 8th and final playoff spot in West. But NBA has also made it possible in this unusual year to participate in the postseason by finishing 9th and within four games of 8th seed.

In that case, the 9th-place team would have to beat the 8th place team in two straight to advance to the full playoffs. Portland currently holds the 9th spot, with the Pelicans and Kings less than one game behind in a tie for 10th.

BAIN JR FROM PAGE 12

CONSIDERING the fact that he was told by doctors during grade seven at Jack Hayward High that a mitral valve prolapse (MVP) heart problem would not allow him to play sports anymore, Trevor Bain Jr made a remarkable comeback this year to win a title with the Las Ranchos basketball team in the Zacatecas League in Mexico. But as a late bloomer, who didn’t get back into sports until he graduated in 2014, Bain Jr had to go through his growing pains in his rookie season as a professional basketball player.

FIBA SKILLS FROM PAGE 12 have been disenfranchised by not being allowed to tryout here,” Henfield said. “But in terms of what we have in Nassau, I think we have sufficient players who can make the team once we can get them into the gym and see what they look like. It’s just a pity that the new emergency orders came out just before we could hold the tryouts.”

Henfield said his management team and coaching staff are eager to get the teams together.

They include Sanchez Moss as assistant coach, Jabari Wilmott as executive manager, Maleah Henfield as executive manager assistant for the female team, Joette Fernander, executive manager assistant for the men’s team, Garvin Clarke, team manager, Francis Delva, players evaluation manager and LaTonda Brown and Davis Capron as the events managers.

FIBA was using the Skills Challenge, similar to what they do in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during their All-Star weekend, to help revive the interest of the sport in the new COVID-19 environment.

“I think this is the best thing that could have happened to the Bahamas right now,” Henfield said.

“I know the players were eager to participate in

something new like this, so we were confident that they would have done very well.

“I believe, that based on the way this event was designed and structured, that being a country with small, but quick fast athletes, I think we in the BBF felt we had a very good chance of winning this thing.”

Although they don’t have enough time to stage a tryout now that the weekend sessions from Saturday to Sunday have been closed off, Henfield said if they can get into the gym before this weekend, they can still make the deadline.

“The most unfortunate thing for us is to act without authority and someone is hauled before the courts,” Henfield said. “But I know that FIBA is quite aware of what’s happening globally with this pandemic and there are some mitigating factors that they have to take into consideration.

“Under normal conditions, there are some penalties that would be levied against a country if they broke their obligation to compete. I don’t see anything of such in the documents that I read. But these are abnormal circumstances, so I don’t think we would face any sanctions if we don’t compete.”

If they can get the approval from the relevant local authorities today, Henfield said the BBF can still hold their trials as early as Thursday or Friday the latest and they should be able to make their submission to FIBA.

Once the teams are cut, Henfield said they can begin preparing for the Americas tournament, scheduled for August 10-16.

If successful, the teams will advance to the World Cup finals, set for August 17-23.

Join Us!

the Prime Minister shut us down.” Bain Jr said his first instinct was to try and get off the island, but he couldn’t get a flight so he had to stay home.

Once the lockdown is lifted and he gets word from his agent, Bain Jr said he will work on returning hopefully to Mexico to play in the same league with the same team next year. But he said his agent will probably look for somewhere else for him to play if they can’t increase the amount of money that he received this year.

“The season doesn’t start until January, so if something doesn’t come up by then, I will probably go back to Mexico,” said Bain Jr, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on September 29, one day before the Emergency Order expires in the country.

Looking back at his initial season as a pro, Bain Jr said he accomplished a lot as a player because he remembers how wild and aggressive he was.

He noted that when he went to Orlando to try out for the National Basketball Association’s D-League, the Magic organisation helped to groom him to be a better controlled player.

“In Mexico, it was tough,” Bain Jr said. “In the first game of the playoffs, this guy held the ball with his two elbows out and he knocked me down and knocked out one of my teeth.

“In game three, I got knocked out of the air, I hit my head and had to get some stitches. I never had to worry about nobody trying to hit me when I am in the air, but in Mexico, they were pulling my jersey, hitting me in the back and tried to hurt me.”

As a Bahamian, Bain Jr said he sucked it up and was determined more than ever to get over the pain and try

and win the championship for the Las Ranchos.

“That first series was the hardest for me,” Bain Jr said. “The team we played was unbeaten. But once we got over them, we knew we had a chance to do very well in the rest of the playoffs.”

As a budding sprinter, long and high jumper, Bain Jr said he was disappointed when he passed out and fell out, only to find himself in hospital, diagnosed with the MVP heart condition and he was told that he couldn’t play anymore sports.

“I couldn’t run track and playing basketball just for fun,” Bain Jr said. “Track was what I wanted to do.

“When they told me I couldn’t do sports anymore, I didn’t know what to do.

“So high school was extremely hard watching everybody run track and play basketball. My mom had it and she grew out of it, so I guess I had to grow out of mine. But it didn’t really disappear until I came out of school in 2014.

That was when I started playing basketball.”

Bain Jr, the son of Claudia Swann and Bain Sr, said he had no regrets not continuing in track because he wanted to play basketball as a result of the hype with the fans cheering in the stands.

So far, the oldest of four brothers, none of whom play any type of sports, has certainly held court for his family in Mexico for the Las Ranchos.

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THE TRIBUNE

Davis could miss Lakers’ 1st game back after poke in eye

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — Re-opening night is fast approaching, and Anthony Davis’ status is uncertain.

Davis, who left the Los Angeles Lakers’ second scrimmage after getting poked in the eye and didn’t play in the team’s exhibition finale at Walt Disney World, didn’t practice yesterday. The All-Star forward is still being listed as day-to-day.

“There is some concern that he could potentially not play Thursday, but we’re hopeful that he does and we’ll see how that plays out,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “He’s going to continue to be evaluated each day.”

The Lakers play the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, when the NBA season resumes with the start of seeding games. The Lakers-Clippers matchup is the second game of a reopening-night doubleheader, preceded by New Orleans facing Utah.

Davis isn’t the only big name waiting for word on his availability.

New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson is back with the team and out of quarantine following an extended absence from the NBA’s bubble to deal with a family

matter — but it remains unclear if he’ll see time against the Jazz.

KING’S CHAIR LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers likes to ice just about everything after practices, and having those bags strapped all over his legs leaves him a bit immobile.

So when he emerged for his session with reporters yesterday, he immediately realised the chair that was set up for him — akin to a bar stool — wouldn’t work with his icing regimen. He needed something lower to the ground, and a nearby chair that was in the hotel walkway was moved over.

And it didn’t take long to notice that the chair that James — King James, as he’s known — would be occupying sort of looked like, well, a throne. “Absolutely not,” James said. “It’s one of these hallway chairs that everybody sits in.”

By the time Vogel — who spoke immediately after James — emerged to do his media session, the bar stool was back. The throne was no longer needed.

HARDY TIME San Antonio has been rotating assistants as acting head coaches during the three scrimmage games at Disney, and yesterday was Will Hardy’s turn.

Hardy has been mentioned as a candidate for head coaching jobs in the past, and interviewed for the vacancy with the New York Knicks that ultimately went to Tom Thibodeau.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich marvelled yesterday at Hardy’s rise from an internship with the team.

“We’ve seen that process a lot over the last 25 years,” Popovich said.

“He fits the mold perfectly. He started at the ground and worked his way up ... and here he is. It’s not a surprise. It’s always a process and he’s been brilliant at it.”

The Spurs, under Hardy, beat Indiana 118-111 yesterday.

“It was great,” Hardy said. “We’re doing it as a group, as always. ... Obviously, it’s a step up from summer league, which has been my experience before this. But I’m just happy that the guys did a good job with the game plan. It takes all of us to get it done.”

INTENSE SCRIMMAGE Don’t tell Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins that scrimmages don’t matter.

The Grizzlies were leading the Miami Heat by 23 points in the third quarter yesterday in the scrimmage finale for both teams, and Jenkins didn’t like that

LOS Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, stands with forward Anthony Davis during the second half of a game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles on February 21. James and Davis had the Lakers on course to contend for another NBA title before the coronavirus pandemic upended their first season together. The superstars see no reason they can’t continue their quest in Orlando, and Davis even thinks the Lakers’ chances have improved.

(AP Photo/Mark J Terrill) a foul wasn’t called on a play where the Grizzlies were attacking. So he let referee Marc Davis know his displeasure, and Davis promptly rewarded him with a technical foul.

“That’s a tech?” Jenkins asked, somewhat incredulously.

It was. Didn’t matter.

Memphis still beat Miami 128-110 to end its tune-up schedule.

OLADIPO’S DECISION Decision time looms for Indiana’s Victor Oladipo.

He played in all three of Indiana’s scrimmages at

Disney, after initially saying injury concerns would keep him out of the restarted season. Oladipo shot 34 per cent in the three games, averaging 11.3 points and six rebounds.

Pacers coach Nate McMillan said he will meet with all his players individually, Oladipo included, in the coming days.

Oladipo has not indicated if he’s decided yet about playing in the games that count at Disney.

Indiana opens its seeding-game schedule, the resumption of the regular season, on Saturday against Philadelphia.

SOMETHING TO WATCH Florida is in the throes of a surge in coronavirus infections, and now tropical weather — always a threat at this time of year — could be the next problem.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking a system that is expected to become a tropical storm.

Most of the state of Florida, including the Orlando area, is in what’s commonly called the cone of concern. That means forecasters believe the system will affect those areas in the coming days.

Very early forecasts suggest the system could reach Florida’s mainland this weekend, with strong wind and rain likely.

Forecasters — again, with a large margin of error — are saying the worst of the weather would affect the Orlando area on Sunday.

For now, the system is not forecast to become a hurricane. A tropical storm carries winds between 39 and 73 mph. The threshold for hurricane status starts at 74 mph.

OFF DAY There are no games today, with the six-day scrimmage season ending.

The reopening-night twinbill is on tap Thursday night, with both games set to be televised nationally.

SCOTTIE PIPPEN DOWNPLAYS RIFT WITH MICHAEL JORDAN IN WAKE OF ‘LAST DANCE’

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer

FORMER Chicago Bull Scottie Pippen, left, addresses the crowd as Michael Jordan and teammates from their 1990-91 season celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Bulls’ first NBA championship, during halftime of an NBA game against the Bulls and Utah Jazz in Chicago, on March 12, 2011. (AP)

SCOTTIE Pippen says he’s talked with Michael Jordan since “The Last Dance” documentary aired in the spring and downplayed any rift between the retired Chicago Bulls stars.

“Why would I be offended

by anything that happened 30 years ago?” Pippen said.

Jordan widely praised Pippen in the documentary that chronicled the Bulls’ dynasty in the 1990s as the best teammate he ever had — both players were elected to the Hall of Fame. But Jordan called out Pippen in the second episode for

making a “selfish” decision to delay offseason surgery on a ruptured tendon in his ankle until after the start of the 1997-98 season. Jordan said in the documentary he didn’t understand Pippen’s decision.

There were reports that Pippen was unhappy with his portrayal in the

documentary, but he said yesterday, “I wasn’t upset about it.”

The documentary also included Pippen’s refusal to enter Game 3 of the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals in the final seconds.

“It didn’t bother me at all,” Pippen said.

“It was an opportunity for our younger generation that hadn’t seen or knew anything about basketball in the ‘90s.”

The series aired over five consecutive Sunday nights in April and May and included never-before-seen footage from the 1997-98 season, one where the team chased its sixth championship in a span of eight years.

The 54-year-old Pippen won six NBA championships with the Bulls, was a seven-time All-Star and won two Olympic gold medals. He’s now an NBA analyst, primarily for the ESPN studio show “The Jump.”

He picked the Los Angeles Lakers as the favourite to emerge out of Florida the NBA champion.

“If you wanted to pick one, I’d say whichever team LeBron James is on,” Pippen said.

“The fact that his experience, his ability to pull a team together, the ability to be dominant. He’s the most dominant player in the game right now with Kevin Durant not being in the game. “ The documentary was a ratings winner when sports was on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.

ESPN and Nielsen said that the final two episodes of ‘The Last Dance” averaged 5.6 million viewers.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 29, 2020, PAGE 15

NFL training camps opening with eye on baseball, babysitting

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer BRADY and Brees aren’t the B words dominating the opening of NFL training camps.

Try baseball and babysitting.

As veterans reported yesterday for COVID-19 testing, with on-field work far on the horizon for now, eyeballs are focused on the pandemic issues in Major League Baseball. The coronavirus outbreak with the Miami Marlins, who won’t be playing any games the rest of this week, is foremost in the football world.

“You know, for what’s going on in baseball right now, it affects everyone,” Jets quarterback Sam Darnold said.

“I mean, because you look at the game the Marlins had and, you know, they affect the players on the other team and then the dugouts are then infected. There’s no good way of really going about it. And you’ve got to start cancelling games.

“So it’s just a matter of what the league wants to do. And, if people start getting or contracting the virus within the NFL, it’ll be interesting to see how the NFL wants to handle it.”

Titans coach Mike Vrabel said he is not using the word worried, but “obviously, (we’re) always very concerned about the health and safety of our players and their family and the coaches and our staff in this building. But until we see how our protocols and our plan that the NFL and the players association worked so hard to put into place, till we see how those are going to function and work, we can’t make any changes.

We have to to follow the plan.”

Nobody knows if the plan will work, of course.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn said baseball players having positive tests led to the question of “How does travel affect that and the testing when you go on the road and when you don’t?”

Quinn said he was enjoying baseball’s return, “so I was disappointed to see the outbreak had affected games being played. So, it’s definitely something we all discuss for sure.”

What Broncos President Joe Ellis won’t be discussing is keeping tabs of where his players go and what they do. At least not yet.

“We can’t control what happens when they go home. We’re not going to babysit them and spy on them or anything like that,” he said. “They’re grownups. We’ll just ask them to conduct themselves appropriately to take care of themselves such as they’ll be taking care of the whole organisation, their teammates specifically, and their coaches. And we’ve got some good guys on the team I think that can help get that message through to them.”

The biggest news from NFL teams yesterday dealt with opt-outs. Any player who decides not to play this season will get a $150,000 stipend if it is a voluntary move, and $350,000 if it is for pre-existing medical reasons.

Opting out were several key members of the New England Patriots: linebacker Dont’a Hightower, a defensive leader; safety Patrick Chung; offensive tackle Marcus Cannon; running back Brandon Bolden; and fullback Dan

TAMPA Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady runs across the field during a an NFL football workout on May 19. (AP) Vitale, according to people familiar with the decisions who spoke on condition of anonymity because the moves have not been announced.

Defensive tackles Star Lotulelei of Buffalo and Kyle Peko of Denver, Eagles receiver Marquise Goodwin, Chiefs guard Laurent DuvernayTardif, Vikings defensive tackle Michael Pierce, and Ravens kick returner De’Anthony Thomas also have opted out.

SHOWING UP Running back Dalvin Cook arrived at Minnesota’s facility for coronavirus testing as scheduled with the rest of the team’s veterans, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team did not make the reporting process public.

Cook, who has begun the fourth and final year of his rookie contract with a base salary of slightly more than $1.3 million, is seeking a new deal. He backed out of the virtual offseason program last month after negotiations stalled.

Whether or not Cook will choose to take part in

practice without a contract extension is unknown. With the first on-field workout not until August 12, there’s time for the team and his camp to come to an agreement. Simply showing up yesterday was critical for Cook, regardless of what his feelings might be about how the front office is approaching his status and value. According to the new collective bargaining agreement, Cook would have been subject to a maximum $50,000 fine per daily absence and forfeited a season of accrual toward unrestricted free agency had he held out.

INJURIES/ILLNESSES The Titans placed their top draft pick, offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson of Georgia, on the COVID19/reserve list. Wilson remains the one member of their six-man draft class who hasn’t agreed to a contract. Linebacker Jayon Brown will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

San Francisco placed starting receiver Deebo Samuel on the non-football injury list after foot surgery and said he might miss the start of the season. Samuel suffered a fracture in his

left foot last month during informal workouts with teammates in Tennessee and the timeline for his return remains unknown.

Samuel is being counted on to be a key part of the offence for the defending NFC champion 49ers.

San Francisco lost receiver Emmanuel Sanders in free agency and was hoping Samuel could help fill that role in his second season in the NFL following a promising debut season.

Defensive lineman Ronald Blair, center Weston Richburg, defensive lineman Jullian Taylor, defensive lineman Kentavius Street and receiver Shawn Poindexter were all placed on the physically unable to perform list as they recover from knee injuries last season. Defensive back D.J. Reed was placed on the non-football injury list after suffering a torn pectoral during the offseason.

The Cowboys placed defensive tackle Dontari Poe and defensive end Tyrone Crawford on the physically unable to perform list. Both remain on the active roster.

Poe, who signed as a free agent, had surgery for a torn quadriceps muscle in November while with Carolina. Crawford, a starter the past six seasons in Dallas, has battled hip issues that limited him to four games last year.

Atlanta placed rookie safety Jaylinn Hawkins on the team’s reserve/ COVID-19 list hours after coach Dan Quinn said all rookies had negative tests.

Hawkins, a fourth-round pick from Cal, could have tested negative and placed on the list after exposure to the coronavirus. Teams are not allowed to disclose if a player is in quarantine.

PATS FACE CHALLENGES AS STARTERS HIGHTOWER, CHUNG OPT OUT

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — The Patriots were already going to have a completely different look following an offseason that saw former franchise cornerstone Tom Brady depart to Tampa Bay, as well as several key players on defence cash in elsewhere in free agency.

Now the COVID-19 pandemic has added more complications to New England’s efforts to rebuild its roster heading into the 2020 season.

Linebacker Dont’a Hightower said yesterday that he is opting out of the 2020 season, highlighting a list of several Patriots who will sit out because of health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

A person familiar with the situation says safety Patrick Chung has also elected not to play. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced.

Both players join tackle Marcus Cannon, running back Brandon Bolden and fullback Danny Vitale, who were listed on the league’s official opt-out list yesterday. ESPN reported that practice squad guard Najee Toran also has decided not to play in 2020.

“This wasn’t an easy decision, or one I made lightly, but I do feel it’s the best decision for my family at this time,” Hightower wrote in a post on Twitter. “I am so grateful for the support of my teammates and coaches, and I will continue to lead and help as much as I can.”

PAGE 16, Wednesday, July 29, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

MLB SUSPENDS MARLINS’ SEASON THROUGH WEEKEND AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK

By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball suspended the Miami Marlins’ season through Sunday, and the Philadelphia Phillies will remain idled by the coronavirus pandemic until Friday, while the rest of baseball forges ahead with trepidation.

“There’s real fear, there’s real anxiety for me, for all my teammates,” Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun said yesterday. “I think we’ve found it very difficult to focus on baseball at all the last couple of days.”

In the wake of a virus outbreak that infected half the Marlins’ team, Braun said MLB players are constantly assessing whether they should keep playing.

Infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said the season could be in jeopardy.

But MLB came up with a patchwork schedule for the rest of this week and said that among more than 6,400 tests conducted since Friday, there were no new positives involving on-field personnel from any team other than the Marlins.

In a statement, MLB said it wanted to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for their

players and to plan for a resumption of play early next week. MLB also postponed the three remaining games in this week’s Phillies-New York Yankees series.

The Marlins remained stranded in Philadelphia, where they played last weekend. The Phillies-Yankees games were postponed “out of an abundance of caution,” MLB said, although no Phillies players have tested positive.

The Marlins received positive test results for four additional players, bringing their total to 15, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

The person declined to be identified because the results had not been publicly released.

Nine players on the 30-man roster, two taxi squad players and two staff members tested positive earlier.

The Marlins had been scheduled to play at Baltimore today and Thursday.

Instead, the Yankees will play at Baltimore on those days.

Miami’s three home games this weekend against Washington were postponed. Nationals players had voted against making the trip, manager Dave Martinez said.

“We all decided that it was probably unsafe to go there,” Martinez said.

“It had nothing to do with the Miami Marlins. It was all about Miami and the state of Florida, this pandemic. They didn’t feel safe.”

The Marlins underwent another round of tests yesterday, as their outbreak raised anew questions about baseball’s attempts to conduct a season.

“This could put it in danger,” Fauci said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “I don’t believe they need to stop, but we just need to follow this and see what happens with other teams on a day-byday basis.”

His comments came before word of the Marlins’ latest test results.

“Major League Baseball — the players, the owners, the managers — have put a lot of effort into getting together and putting protocols that we feel would work,” Fauci said. “It’s very unfortunate what happened with the Miami (Marlins).”

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, speaking to reporters in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, expressed reservations about sports such as baseball and football being

HOME plate umpire Tim Timmons, centre, explains things to Marlins manager Don Mattingly, left, and Phillies manager Joe Girardi, right, with the other umpires looking on prior to a game in Philadelphia on Friday. (AP) played during the pandemic, especially in the wake of the Marlins’ wave of infections.

“It seems to me that when you have to travel, when you have to be in a hotel room and places that are different than you’ve been the day before, when you are in a position where you’re walking, going into an area where there is a high concentration of spread of COVID, all those things add up to a real problem,” Biden said, “and we’re not going to really overcome that until we follow science and get a vaccine.”

In Cleveland, Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria returned to the team yesterday after awakening with some COVID-19 symptoms a day earlier and being isolated for 24 hours.

And everyone across baseball seemed to be feeling uneasy.

“It’s important that we are able to provide a source of entertainment and an outlet for people who are dealing with such a challenging time in their lives,” Braun said. “But at the same time, the health and safety should be the top priority for all of us at all times. ...

“You think about all the hotel employees, bus drivers, pilots, flight attendants, anybody else all the Marlins guys might have come into contact with, and it’s obviously scary.”

The Marlins planned to remain in Philadelphia until at least today. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health said it was working with the Marlins and Phillies on contact tracing to contain the spread of the virus.

“All of our players, coaches and staff are, understandably, having a difficult time enduring this

experience,” Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said.

Additional MLB rescheduling during the week of August 3 will be announced later this week. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo offered up his state to any team needing a place to play.

While baseball deals with its logistical challenges, the NBA and NHL are resuming their seasons in bubble environments, with basketball at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and hockey at Edmonton, Alberta, and Toronto.

The NFL has opted not to create a bubble environment as training camps open this week.

“It might be that they have to go in a bubble,” Fauci said, “but I think they’re conscientious enough and want to protect their players and protect the personnel that they will do the right thing.”

HANDS TO YOURSELF: COMPLYING WITH PROTOCOLS PROVES DIFFICULT

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FROM players ignoring prohibitions on handshakes, high-fives and hugs, to some sitting noticeably closer than six feet apart in dugouts during games, the recently launched baseball season has provided ample evidence old habits are hard to shake, even when the changes are meant to mitigate the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

The outbreak among Miami Marlins players has highlighted the major leagues’ vulnerabilities, though teams were already reexamining approaches after the first few days of play.

“We have to do a better job,” Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “I think we’re saying all the right stuff but when you watch the games we have to do the right thing.”

Major League Baseball yesterday suspended the Marlins’ season through Sunday following the positive tests on the team and the Philadelphia Phillies, who hosted Miami last weekend, will remain idled until Friday. It’s not clear how the virus spread among Marlins players, though the cascading postponements have focused attention on safety protocols.

Teams were aggressive in the ramp up to the season while preparing to return to the field during

the pandemic. Having players dress outside of cramped clubhouses, utilising empty stands as auxiliary dugout space, giving players the option to wear masks during games and restricting sports reporters’ access to team personnel are the new normal around the league.

But they haven’t been able to totally curb players’ natural tendencies to engage in physical contact during the ebb and flow of actual games.

In Oakland, a series between the Athletics and visiting Angels featured several instances of suspect social distancing. One of the most glaring was on Friday when A’s players swarmed Matt Olson after a game-ending grand slam in the 10th inning that punctuated their 7-3 win.

“Instinctually you want to celebrate a big win like that, so I think you try to progress,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “I’m on record saying it’s not going to be perfect at the beginning and maybe something like this that’s going on with the Marlins creates more awareness and more caution as far as that goes. If that’s the case, then it’s probably a good thing.”

On Saturday, Boston’s Jackie Bradley exchanged elbow bumps with a few teammates as he entered the dugout after a diving catch, only to get an exuberant natural high-five from teammate JD Martinez.

MARLINS’ JESUS AGUILAR, right, celebrates a 5-2 win with teammates following a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia on Friday, July 24. (AP) In another instance Sunday, Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner jumped into catcher Kurt Suzuki’s waiting arms in the dugout for a bear hug after Turner’s home run.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove said social distancing does have negative effects on team interaction that are hard to overcome.

“Feels kind of weird sitting in the stands like a fan and cheering on your team and not being able to be in the dugout and just communicating,” he said.

“I think that’s the biggest piece that is missing. Being able to be with your team during the actual

game and down in the dugout celebrating together, keeping energy high. That’s the biggest letdown, I guess.”

One of the immediate changes Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said his team plans to implement is having a large room on their next road trip where players can gather but remain spaced out while playing video games or hanging out after night games.

There will also be another room for coaches.

“I think it’s really important to trace how it (Marlins outbreak) occurred, that’s the one thing we need to know first before you jump to a lot of different

conclusions,” Maddon said. “To me, if there was a breach of protocol by any of those players then it’s more easily explainable and if not then it becomes more problematic.”

Melvin said the A’s are still working on how, or if, to tweak the protocols they already have in place. Masks aren’t mandatory for players, but they are for the coaching staff.

Servais said the violations of protocol he’s seen have been on the field more than off of it.

“I don’t really see it in our clubhouse and the batting cage pregame. It’s been really good,” he said. “But when the game starts, and the competitive nature of everybody kind of takes over and your emotions get running high.”

If nothing else, Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke hopes the recent developments around the league will help increase players’ awareness. “I’m hopeful that it scares them a little bit into (thinking),” he said. “We’ve been good at this but we could be better.”

But the truth is, it may never be perfect.

“It’s a little different environment than other work environments that people are trying to stay healthy in, just the nature of the sport,” said Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell.

“That’s not an excuse, it’s the reality.”