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FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS... Missing pilot held by Venezuela after ‘drug flight’ crash in Randy Butler’s stolen plane By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE Royal Bahamas Police Force has confirmed missing pilot Oran Munroe is in police custody in Venezuela and being questioned for alleged drug trafficking. Munroe, a former employee of the now nonoperational Sky Bahamas, was last seen on July 24, according to a Royal Bahamas Police Force missing person bulletin which was
8AM
issued on Saturday. The RBPF bulletin asked anyone who saw Munroe to contact the Criminal Investigations Department. Since then, social media has been buzzing with claims of sightings of 33-year-old Munroe in Abaco. However, according to Chief Superintendent Roberto Goodman, officer in charge of the Drug Enforcement Unit, Munroe’s plane crashed in Venezuela. SEE PAGE THREE
SET YOUR WATCH FOR STEVEN
QC WAYNE MUNROE IN HOSPITAL WITH COVID By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe, QC, the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for Freetown in the next general election, has been hospitalised with COVID-19.
In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Munroe said following a CT scan of his lung, it has been confirmed he will need treatment in hospital. “I have a priest who is a doctor, Dr Roland Hamilton, and I let him take SEE PAGE TWO
BAHAMIAN runner Steven Gardiner heads into this morning’s 400m final hoping to claim the country’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics. See SPORTS for the full story. The final begins at 8am Bahamas time today. Photo: Martin Meissner/AP
TRIBUTES CONTINUE FOR A.D. HANNA By EARYEL BOWLEG & DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporters TRIBUTES continued to pour in yesterday from both sides of the political divide following the death of former Governor General and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Dion Hanna. Former Governor General Sir Arthur A Foulkes said Mr Hanna’s death at 93 brought to a close a life spent in devoted service.
ARTHUR DION HANNA “His invaluable service was motivated by a passionate love of country, unbounded confidence in
the potential of the Bahamian people, and full commitment to the cause of freedom and self-determination,” Sir Arthur said in a brief statement yesterday. “For a period better measured in decades rather than years I was privileged to call him friend, and for some exciting years to have been a comrade with him in the struggle for the fullness of democracy in The Bahamas.” SEE PAGE THREE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
ALL THE LATEST FROM TOKYO GAMES
- SEE SPORTS
VIRGIN IN RETURN OF FLIGHTS TO HEATHROW
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net VIRGIN Atlantic yesterday announced the launch of twice-weekly services from The Bahamas to Heathrow, London, beginning November 20. British Airways has also confirmed it is now operating three times a week to Nassau. In a press statement, Virgin Atlantic explained the new services aim to respond to the demand from travellers looking to “swap their staycations for vacations in the vibrant city of London or to visit friends and family in the UK”. SEE PAGE FIVE
DOCTOR’S HOSPITAL EXPANDS TESTING
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
DOCTOR’S Hospital is aiming to expand its COVID-19 testing sites to southern New Providence after its newly-opened British Colonial Hilton location hit a “3,000 run rate within the first week”. Dennis Deveaux, the BISX-listed healthcare provider’s chief financial officer, told Tribune Business that it is also seeking to take its PCR and rapid antigen services to other Bahamian islands as the total number of tests it has performed to-date rapidly approaches the 500,000 mark. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
PAGE 2, Thursday, August 5, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
QC WAYNE MUNROE IN HOSPITAL WITH COVID from page one
ATTORNEY WAYNE MUNROE, QC
a rapid antigen test that came back negative,” Mr Munroe said yesterday. “I took a PCR test the same time and Dr Hamilton came and tested my oxygen level and said my oxygen level was 91 or something like that and so he felt that must be COVID despite the antigen test.
“He asked us to get oxygen for our home. We did that. Over the course of the evening the oxygen was running out and the oxygen wasn’t what he liked so I was brought here and admitted here. “They did a CT scan of my lung. They say it is inflamed or something like that and that based on what they see, the treatment is drugs, steroids, that kind of thing. They’re not looking at incubation or anything like that.” Earlier yesterday, Mr Munroe released a statement confirming his positive COVID-19 test result. “Today, I wish to advise the public that I have tested positive for COVID-19. I would like to express my gratitude to the nurses and doctors at Doctors Hospital whose care I am currently in. I also wish to extend my sincere appreciation for the warm support I have received from family, friends, colleagues, and fellow Bahamians from across the community and country.” Incumbent and Free National Movement candidate for Free Town Dionisio D’Aguilar offered best wishes to Mr Munroe. “I am terribly saddened to learn of Mr Munroe’s hospitalisation after contracting the COVID-19 virus,” Mr D’Aguilar said of the news. “It is truly unfortunate that he has become another victim in this ongoing pandemic. My family and I continue to keep Wayne and his family in our prayers. We remain hopeful that he will fully recover from the virus and will be well able to return to his campaign. “Ensuring the health and safety of all Bahamians is paramount for the Government of The Bahamas. I urge all Bahamians, particularly the good people of Free Town, to get vaccinated and continue to practice health and safety measures including the
wearing of masks, regular handwashing and social distancing. “We must be our brother’s keeper as we continue to beat back the virus. Following all the protocols helps us do just that,” said Mr D’Aguilar. The Bahamas, meanwhile, confirmed 78 new cases of COVID-19 on August 3rd, including 67 in New Providence. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Health acknowledged reports that a large youth convention created a COVID-19 cluster on New Providence. “It is confirmed that multiple clusters of COVID-19 cases have been identified during contact tracing activities in July on New Providence and the Family Islands,” the statement said. “As cases increase, clusters have been linked to workplaces, construction sites, as well as social and other communal gatherings. “While COVID-19 exposures can occur anywhere, the Ministry of Health reminds the general public that for all the islands of The Bahamas, private gatherings are to be restricted to 5 persons provided that the individuals are vaccinated. However, the Ministry strongly recommends that there be no large gatherings. “The Ministry advised the public that cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19 have increased significantly over the past month. The health care system is at its capacity. To slow down or prevent the spread of the virus, as with other respiratory infections like the flu or the common cold, adherence to public health measures are critical.” One hundred and nine people are currently hospitalised with COVID-19, 11 of whom are in the intensive care unit. Two hundred and ninety-two people have died from the virus to date.
CRASH BIKER DIES By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net MOTORCYCLIST Phillip Parker, 23, of Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock, who was injured in a traffic accident a week ago, has died in hospital in Grand Bahama. Supt Stephen Rolle, press officer, reported that Parker, the driver of a Honda Trail motorbike, died shortly after 9pm at the Rand Memorial Hospital on August 2. According to reports, Parker was involved in an accident on July 25 shortly after 8pm at East Sunrise Highway. Supt Rolle said the incident occurred in the area of BaTelCo. He reported that initial investigations revealed that Parker was riding a red and white Honda Trail motorbike and was travelling east on East Sunrise Highway when he was in collision with a 2012 grey Ford Fusion travelling west. Parker suffered serious injuries and was taken by EMS personnel to the Rand Memorial Hospital. The male driver of the vehicle was not injured. Investigations are continuing into the matter. It is the second traffic fatality in a week for Grand Bahama. On Sunday, August 1, a man was killed in Eight Mile Rock after the vehicle he was driving hit a tree and overturned. The accident happened shortly after 10pm at Hanna Hill, in the vicinity of Freddie’s Auto. The vehicle, a black Ford Fusion, was extensively damaged. A male passenger in the car sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital. Investigations are continuing into that accident.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 5, 2021, PAGE 3
Missing pilot held by Venezuela after ‘drug flight’ crash in Randy Butler’s stolen plane from page one The flight began in Abaco, he said. Earlier this week, owner of the now defunct Sky Bahamas, Captain Randy Butler told The Tribune he reported a private plane missing. “We got some news in reference to an aircraft C6ASC,” Chief Supt Goodman said. “Based on some information that we had that aircraft would have left out of the area of the Abacos and later went off radar. That aircraft would have been reported stolen. It would have been reported stolen to the police and also this Oran Munroe, he was said to have been missing. “We later received information from authorities in Venezuela that an Oran Munroe along with a Colombian were in their custody after a plane with the same registration number crashed in bushes in Venezuela. These same two persons later showed up to the hospital with injuries they sustained. “Based on the info we are getting Oran Munroe is a Bahamian. They were treated at the hospital and are now in custody of the authorities in Venezuela for questioning in reference to drug trafficking.” Asked if drugs were found on the plane, Chief Supt Goodman did not confirm. “I cannot confirm that at this time, but based on what they are saying that is what they are in custody for…” he said. “We have to go through Foreign Affairs and then
THE CRASHED plane and, top right, Oran Munroe pictured in custody in Venezuela. we will move forward from so if they are proven guilty Affairs to see if there is our end, in reference to our of any crime, they will be a treaty between Veneinvestigation.” subjected to the laws and zuela and The Bahamas to Munroe and 27-year- penalties there. move forward in regard to old, Nicolas Cabrales, a It is then expected that Munroe. Colombian national, are local police will confer with Chief Superintendent in Venezuelan jurisdiction the Ministry of Foreign Goodman was also asked
if the crashed plane was consistent with the aircraft reported missing by Captain Butler. “I don’t want to go into that part of it, but I can say that the plane was reported
stolen to the police,” he said. On Monday, Captain Butler told The Tribune that he reported his private plane stolen. He expressed great concern over reports on social media that he was involved in the situation. “I did report a plane stolen,” he said. “That is truth. The plane was reported stolen to the authorities who are investigating the matter so they should be the ones to report on what is happening with that. I will not subject myself to comment on matters buzzing around on social media. Chief Supt Goodman was also asked if Captain Butler was subject to a police investigation. However, he declined comment saying the matter was under investigation and other decisions would be made if need be.
TRIBUTES CONTINUE FOR A.D. HANNA from page one
“His commitment to the independence of The Bahamas was early and unwavering. “While we mourn his passing at this time, I trust that the people to whom
he gave a full measure of service will long remember and celebrate the life of this great Bahamian.” Mr Hanna, the father of long-time Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin, died at his home on Tuesday. The Free National Movement also offered
condolences to Mr Hanna’s family. The FNM said Mr Hanna was a progressive Bahamian who truly believed in his people and was a major contributor to the push for Bahamian Independence and sparked the Bahamianisation movement.
“A patriotic Bahamian has gone to rest,” the governing party said. “We shall surely miss this giant of a man who loved and cared deeply for his Bahamas and its people. This is a loss of a true Bahamian patriot.” The Progressive Liberal Party in Grand Bahama
added that Mr Hanna was “a true statesman” and nation builder. In a statement the five PLP candidates on Grand Bahama extended condolences to his daughter, Mrs Hanna Martin. “A D Hanna has left an indelible mark on this country. He was a true statesman. There is no one more nationalistic than he was. His sacrifices indeed pointed toward making a better Bahamas,” they said. Last night Mr Hanna’s family issued a statement thanking people for their tributes. “Our family is deeply appreciative and most grateful for the outpouring
of love and support from the Bahamian people during this most difficult period,” the statement read. “We are privileged to have had such an honourable patriarch in our lives. “We celebrate his life and the contributions he made to Nation Building.” Mr Hanna was born in 1928, on Acklins Island and began his political career in the 1950s. He served as the representative for Ann’s Town from 1960 to 1992 and served in the Pindling Cabinet as Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister. In February 2006, he was appointed Governor General by the then Prime Minister Perry Christie.
PAGE 4, Thursday, August 5, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Keep wearing masks even if vaccinated, warns McMillan By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
CHIEF Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan is urging vaccinated people to continue following public health measures like mask wearing, noting they can still contribute to the spread of COVID-19. She said as the virus continues to affect the world, people must individually and collectively protect themselves. “I think with the way the virus is being spread with the Delta variant there is concern that the vaccinated can still spread it so that’s why we continue to make the recommendation to keep your mask on,” she said. “You would see they are moving toward saying that wearing the mask - even after you have been vaccinated - is the best way to go. This thing continues to evolve and as it evolves you have to be mindful that certainly the public health measures that we carry out, mask wearing, sanitisation, must continue as we move toward getting vaccines and also increasing our capacity to get people to take the vaccines. “You don’t just drop one because you have the other. You have to be vigilant if we are going to be able to continue this long haul. It’s not a spring. COVID is with us and the better we protect ourselves individually and collectively the better we will get through this whole cycle and right now we are in problems with our
TOTAL CASES
TOTAL DEATHS
15,124 292 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES TUESDAY
78 CASES
NEW PROVIDENCE 67 ELEUTHERA 4 EXUMA 3 GRAND BAHAMA 2 ABACO 1 ANDROS 1
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DR PEARL MCMILLAN capacity so I urge people, we are getting additional vaccines, get vaccinated, but please do not drop all of your public health measures that we have been saying you should carry out.” Vaccinated people travelling to and throughout The Bahamas are now required to produce either a negative antigen or PCR test result in response to emerging data about the ability of vaccinated people to
spread the Delta variant of COVID-19. Dr McMillan said officials continue to send samples away for variant testing, though the results have been slow to receive. “We get results way after,” she said. “Based on what we’re seeing, we believe the Delta variant could be here so let us act as if it is. The likelihood that it is circulating is high.”
TOTAL TESTS
HOSPITALISED
121,222 109
CASES IN ICU
11
RECOVERED
12,702
TWO MILLION HAVE DIED IN REGION SINCE START OF PANDEMIC By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
PAN American Health Organisation officials have reported a “grim milestone” this week in that since the start of the pandemic some two million people in the region have died of COVID-19 complications. Additionally, only 18 percent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean
have been inoculated. This was revealed by PAHO’s director, Dr Carissa Etienne, during the organisation’s weekly webinar yesterday. “Over the last week, more than 1.2 million COVID-19 cases and 20,000 COVID-related deaths were reported in the Americas,” Dr Etienne said. “Unfortunately, this week we also mark another grim pandemic milestone: over two million people in the
Americas have died from COVID-19 complications. That’s roughly the population of Houston, Texas. “The latter figure is the number of deaths since the onset of the pandemic. “This loss hangs heavy in our hearts, and it is a distressing reminder that we must act urgently to prevent further suffering. “COVID infections are accelerating in North America, driven primarily by a surge in cases in
the southern and eastern United States and in central Mexico. Cases are also on the rise in the Caribbean, where Cuba, Martinique and the British Virgin Islands are continuing to see an increase in new cases.” The PAHO chief also reported that although vaccines remain a beacon of hope to control this pandemic, just 18 percent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have been fully vaccinated. “As we continue to be challenged by the pandemic, we must ensure our responses and our COVID vaccination campaigns do not widen inequities that have long plagued our region,” Dr Etienne said. “Instead, we must use this pandemic as a lesson that we cannot afford to leave anyone behind. “Data are essential to guide effective policies. Too few countries collect data on the pandemic’s impact across ethnic groups, leaving ministries of health blind to important and valuable trends on how the virus is affecting our indigenous communities.” As yesterday marked “World Indigenous People’s Day”, Dr Etienne put the spotlight on indigenous
people during the webinar. She feels more has to be done for them during the pandemic. “While this pandemic has impacted all of us, today I want to spotlight the challenges facing our indigenous communities,” she said. “The Americas are home to more than 62 million indigenous peoples that represent a rich fabric of languages, cultures, and societies. “And while each group is unique, no matter where you look, our indigenous communities are more vulnerable to COVID infections. Nearly half of indigenous peoples live and work in urban centres and travel back and forth to visit their families and communities. Many of them live in communal societies that make practising social distancing and isolation very difficult. Together, this frequent movement and gathering creates opportunities for COVID to spread.” Continuing to focus on indigenous people, Dr Etienne said the truth is that most of them just do not get the best in healthcare. “Although we lack robust data for all indigenous communities, based on the data we do have from countries like Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, at least
617,000 indigenous people have been infected with COVID in the Americas and nearly 15,000 have died from COVID complications since the start of the pandemic,” she said. “It’s likely that many more have been infected, but we may not know it because they have struggled to get the COVID care they deserve. Many of our indigenous peoples live in remote and isolated areas where a clinic or a doctor may be many kilometres or days away. Even those who live in urban centres still face invisible barriers – like language, stigma, and poverty – that can keep health care out of reach.” The PAHO director challenged all countries to prioritise the needs of their indigenous people. “We’ve long said that the pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in our region,” she continued. “And this is especially true for our indigenous peoples, since most lack the financial and social safety nets to ensure they can continue to provide for their families and communities, even when they’re sick. “As countries continue to be challenged by COVID19, we call on them to prioritize the needs of our indigenous peoples. We’re pleased to see that 17 countries across our region have listed indigenous peoples as a priority group for COVID vaccinations, and vaccination campaigns are already underway. “So far, more than 134,000 indigenous people have been fully vaccinated across Guatemala and more than 312,000 have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations in Brazil. But we don’t have data from every country. That’s why we urge countries to collect more and better data to understand and resolve the challenges facing our indigenous groups.” PAHO has worked closely with organizations that represent indigenous groups in the region to include FILAC, the Fund for Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean and COICA, the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin which issues culturally appropriate recommendations to countries across the region.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 5, 2021, PAGE 5
Union chief warns there must be safety plan for all in schools LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lr o l le@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson believes schools should reopen in the coming weeks as planned but warned a comprehensive strategy must be implemented for the safety of all. Despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Mrs Wilson said the union has yet to receive a plan from the Ministry of Education. However, union officials have been told the ministry continues to review how best to open schools. “With schools in The Bahamas scheduled to reopen in approximately three weeks for teachers and the following week for students, the Bahamas Union of Teachers is cognizant of the rise in COVID-19 cases,” the BUT president said yesterday. “Our position since March 2020 has not changed and we are firm in our views that schools must open but
BELINDA WILSON they must open safely.” Mrs Wilson spoke after Education Minister Jeff Lloyd told The Tribune last month that officials have not yet made a decision as to how schools will reopen in September due to uncertainty surrounding the pandemic. Mr Lloyd assured the public that while schools will re-open, it’s too early to tell which instruction model will be used for the upcoming fall semester. This comes as the country is experiencing another resurgence of cases and an increase in hospitalisations. Yesterday, Mrs Wilson gave several recommendations and highlighted a
number of safety protocols the union would like to see implemented to protect both students and faculty from COVID-19. Suspected cases of COVID-19 have been reported in several schools, particularly in New Providence, over the course of the year. However, it is not clear how many schools have recorded cases since being re-opened and the number of infections confirmed. The latest measures recommended by BUT include proper sanitisation of classrooms and a reduction of class sizes if the ministry chooses the face-to-face or blended learning model. “Last year 2020 the Ministry of Education gave a few models for opening of schools for the then 2020/21 school year,” Mrs Wilson said. “Those were face-to-face, fully virtual or hybrid or blended model. Again, the Bahamas Union of Teachers reiterates the importance of safety first for our teachers and our students and our support staff.
“There must be clear safety protocols, class sizes must be decreased and there must be proper signage, adequate ventilation for classrooms, the use of masks, PPE’s (personal protective equipment) for teachers and the sanitisation of classrooms throughout the day. “Adequate cleaning supplies must be provided for the janitorial staff and if the face-to-face model is going to be used, then six-,feet distancing must be implemented throughout the schools,” the BUT president added. “The timetable and based on the allocation of periods for each subject must be reviewed. If the Ministry of Education is going virtual or using the hybrid or blended model, then it must utilise proper adequate technology.” However, if the ministry chooses to take the virtual route, Mrs Wilson said all learning devices must be compatible with the public-school virtual learning
platform. “The tablets and technological devices that were loaned to students and teachers must be compatible with the learning management system. The Ministry of Education must guarantee reliable, adequate and virtual platform that is accessible to all students and teachers throughout the Bahamas. “I would’ve written to (Ministry of) Education last week requesting the plans for the reopening of schools for August 2021/22 school year and I’m awaiting the information although education officials have acknowledged that they are reviewing the protocols, which they would’ve sent out to the union last year. “So again, we stand by our position that schools should open, and they should open safely and the BUT should be clear on the protocols for the opening of the new school year August 2021.” Schools across the country closed in March 2020 in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but were reopened after the summer break last October. However, schools in New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma were only teaching virtually until given the go-ahead to begin phased face-to-face learning under a hybrid model in February. In May, officials announced all public schools would return to virtual learning once again after cases started to climb again. This year, it is expected that schools will re-open either late August or early September. Last November, the Ministry of Education released its Strategic Plan for the Safe Reopening of Schools. The 94-page report outlined procedures in the event of suspected cases and also detailed guidelines for parents and all levels of school staff to follow from pre-arrival to departure from campus to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
VIRGIN IN RETURN OF FLIGHTS TO HEATHROW from page one
The new service was immediately welcomed by Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar. “We are incredibly thrilled about Virgin Atlantic’s new, twice-weekly airlift services from London’s Heathrow Airport, which will allow travellers to opt for a direct flight to the capital of the Bahamas,” he said. “There is a growing demand amongst UK travellers seeking a tropical, Bahamian escape. We look
forward to welcoming them to our beautiful shores to experience what makes our country a unique Caribbean destination unlike any other.” Nicki Goldsmith, Head of Leisure Sales at Virgin Atlantic, said the airline couldn’t be more excited to add The Bahamas to its ever-expanding portfolio of Caribbean destinations. She said: “We’re currently flying from Barbados, Antigua, Jamaica and Grenada and expect to restart Tobago and Havana, Cuba in the upcoming months. We
look forward to launching new services from the Bahamas as well as the first direct service to Europe from St Vincent and the Grenadines in October 2021. “As we head into winter 2021, we look forward to expanding our Caribbean portfolio from six islands up to eight and we are incredibly excited to welcome customers onboard flying from our destinations both old and new, heading off on holiday or travelling to visit loved ones.” However, the Bahamas is on the UK’s amber list. People travelling to these
countries are subjected to taking a COVID-19 test before travelling and complete a passenger locator form. When arriving back to England, travellers must quarantine and take a COVID-19 “test on or before Day 2 and on or after Day 8,” according to the GOV.UK government website. “You do not need to
quarantine or take a Day 8 test after you arrive in England if you are either: Fully vaccinated in the UK or under the UK vaccine programme overseas; under 18 on the day you arrive in England and resident in the UK or in a country with a vaccination programme approved by the UK; part of a UK-approved vaccine trial.
“You must have had your final dose of the vaccine at least 14 whole days before the date you arrive in England.” The company will launch twice-weekly services on the airline’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Flights go on sale from August 11 with return Economy flights starting from $977 per person.
PAGE 6, Thursday, August 5, 2021
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Famous islands face rising seas BOSTON (AP) — The famous islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket in Massachusetts are facing serious impacts from rising sea levels and more powerful coastal storms driven by climate change, a new environmental report released Wednesday warns. The “State of the Coast” report by the Trustees, a prominent Massachusetts conservation group, says the popular tourist destinations off Cape Cod risk losing hundreds of acres of marshlands to flooding and billions of dollars in coastal homes, buildings and infrastructure to erosion. What’s more, roughly 900 structures on the two islands may experience daily tidal flooding by 2050 as sea levels are predicted to rise more than 2.5 feet (0.76 meters), the organisation said. “The impacts of flooding and erosion on these beloved islands will affect thousands who live and work there, and the thousands more who visit each summer,” said Tom O’Shea, a managing director at the Trustees. “To put this into perspective: Today’s storm is tomorrow’s high tide.” The organisation hopes coastal property owners, town officials and others use the report to identify critical areas and prioritise their efforts. Its report provides a town-by-town breakdown of climate change impacts and outlines various actions for local officials, including elevating structures and investing in ecological preservation and restoration. Island communities, including the small and sparsely populated Elizabeth Islands, also known as Gosnold, are taking climate change seriously, the organisation notes in its report. A number have already hired staff focused on climate change and begun resiliency work, from redesigning harbors to replenishing sandy beaches, raising roads, and creating living shorelines to protect against coastal erosion. “This is encouraging, but many climate-related projects are in the planning phase, and more needs to be done,” the Trustees said. “We may have only 10 to 20 years before climate change forces our hand.” Democratic US Senator Edward Markey said the report “magnifies the importance of taking bold steps now” to “protect these irreplaceable and invaluable wild treasures”. US Rep Bill Keating, a Democrat
who represents the islands and Cape Cod, said it underscores that climate change is “not a hypothetical issue to deal with down the road” but “literally eating away at our Islands today”. One challenge for the islands is limited options for retreat inland. Less than 10 percent of Martha’s Vineyard’s remaining land is considered available for development, and less than 9% is available on Nantucket, according to the report. And since the late 1800s, the two islands have lost nearly 3,300 acres of beaches, dunes, and other coastal areas combined — an area equivalent to about 2,500 football fields, the organization said. The Trustees warn the consequences of inaction are stark: Nearly 800 homes, businesses and other structures valued at more than $4.6 billion are at risk of being lost to coastal erosion on the islands, which were formed by retreating glaciers and collectively contain nearly 200 miles of beaches. Nantucket alone could lose more than 500 acres of high salt marsh, or an area roughly 11 times the size of Boston Common, the organization said in its 44-page report, which draws on publicly available data, private and public organization reports and independent research. On Martha’ Vineyard, the Menemsha docks — one of a number of island locations famously featured in the 1975 blockbuster movie “Jaws” — could be underwater at high tide every 5.5 days. “Difficult decisions lie ahead to confront a turbulent future and adapt our coastal landscapes,” the Trustees said in its report. “Time is running out.” Wednesday’s report is the latest in an annual series delving into the threat and possible solutions to climate change in a different coastal region of the state. Last year’s inaugural report looked at Cape Ann and the North Shore, home to the historic fishing port of Gloucester as well as Salem, the site of the notorious colonial-era witch trials. The Trustees, considered the state’s largest private coastal landowner, owns more than 120 miles of coastline, including eight reservations on Martha’s Vineyard and more than 900 acres on Nantucket. By PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press
Bring back Dr Sands as Health Minister EDITOR, The Tribune. IT IS now clear that the Minnis administration has no real plan based on science to combat and reduce the surging rates of infection and possibly deaths. Whatever plans it has it would appear to be based on politics and not science. The Emergency Powers Act confers almost dictatorial powers within the hands of the Competent Authority, who has emerged as Dr Minnis and not the collective cabinet, at least that is the optics. With elections being just around the corner political considerations are first and foremost. The administration fell down badly in not immediately sourcing vaccinations when we knew that the pandemic was just across the bar. Had Dr Sands been allowed to stay in place we would have had more than ample dosages to vaccinate all Bahamians and residents with the recommended two shots. Today we have a situation where we all know that those who
are fully vaccinated may still contract Covid-19 but would not necessarily be hospitalized or die from it. We are right next door to the USA and the place where Americans would dare to venture for a touristic break. Yet, we appear to be unable to hustle a few dosages from Uncle Joe? He’s sent large amounts to Africa, a whole world away from this region and just sent some over to Haiti, way down south from The Bahamas. We have a resident Ambassador to the USA, His Excellency Sidney Collie and a full, well paid staff at the United Nations up in New York, yet we are still awaiting the dosages? The USA State Department and the local USA Embassy are to be thanked for the recent donation of over a million dollars in new vehicles to The Royal Bahamas Police Force and some boats to The Royal Bahamas Defense Force. They will be utilized in the never ending fight against crime. What we
really need, however, are some dosages in serious numbers to save lives and to curb the surge in new pandemic cases. We need a hands on and a knowledgeable medical professional at the helm of the Ministry of Health sooner rather than later. Bahamians should thank both Dr Minnis and his sidekick, Renward Wells, for their attempts to manage the pandemic but the administration should bring Dr Sands back onboard pronto. In politics there is always the a reluctance to appear weak or to give quarter to an adversary whether internal or external of one’s party. So it is with Dr Sands and Dr Minnis who once challenged each other for leadership of the FNM. It is time, however, for them to bury the proverbial hatchet. Bring Sands back, Dr Minnis, and let’s get a real handle on this pandemic. ORTLAND H BODIE, JR. Nassau, August 3, 2021.
Minnis and the church EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE August 3 Nassau Guardian front page caption “Killer convention?” was a major source of conviction, sadness and embarrassment for this writer, as an evangelical Christian who loves the church, the mystical body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, I was reliably informed about rumours of an alleged outbreak of COVID-19 infections and several deaths, all allegedly stemming from a Church of God Convention some weeks ago. A former Church of God elder told me. This has to be a public relations nightmare for the Church of God hierarchy, who must be now bracing for a media firestorm. Undoubtedly, there will be those from the agnostic community who will use this tragedy to further denigrate the Christian community and score brownie points. My heart goes out to the bereaving family members, whose faith in the church must have been rattled. If the COVID-19 outbreak allegations are true, it raises the question as to why did God allow this to happen. It also gives the perception that the Bahamian church has become an Ichabod, where God’s presence is conspicuously absent. All we seem to have are talented preachers, a nice music band, a stellar praise and worship team and beautiful sanctuaries. Yet there are no verifiable evidence of healings and miracles, similar to what the New Testament church experienced on a regular basis. It is indeed ironic that this troubling and heartrending news comes on the heels of an announcement of yet another set of restrictions imposed on the Christian church by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis as competent authority. Prominent clergymen, including the Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander, voiced opposition to the measures, which were viewed as Minnis usurping the role as head of the Church. I too had been critical of the restrictions – and Minnis. Now in light of the alleged Church of God outbreak, I am beginning to wonder if we as Christians have been unreasonable and dangerously naive towards Ministry of Health officials,
LETTERS
letters@tribunemedia.net who are tasked with dealing with overcrowded hospitals with gravely ill COVID patients, with one foot on a banana peel and the other on the grave. At the end of the day, it is these healthcare professionals, many of whom are churchgoers themselves, who must deal with COVID patients, not the clergymen. Minnis has been routinely castigated for impinging on the prerogatives of the church. I too am guilty of this. This country is between the Devil and the deep blue sea. COVID19 appears to be here to stay, with virtually no end in sight, notwithstanding the brightest minds in science working nonstop in the laboratories of North America, Europe, India and Asia. Making matters worse is the strong campaign by Bahamian anti-vaxxers, which is often fueled by American You tubers and Face bookers, regarding the alleged side effects of the various vaccines. Whatever one’s views are regarding AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and Moderna, we anti-vaxxers must bear some of the blame for the ongoing COVID-19 mess in the country. I am convinced that the Minnis administration is facing strong external pressure from First World jurisdictions to achieve herd immunity – or else. We produce virtually nothing. Consequently, we are hardly in a position to play hardball with the G7 Nations. This pandemic surfaced in late 2020 – a little over a year removed from the most devastating hurricane to slam into The Bahamas in modern times. The finances of the public purse are undoubtedly stretched thin. Government unions, apparently oblivious to the extent of the devastating economic impact of COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian, are regularly in the media demanding salary increases and other benefits. Fuel, food and building materials are rising sharply. Meanwhile, the Christian church, of which I am a part of, has yet, to the best of my knowledge, to offer the beleaguered Dr. Minnis any prophetic word or guidance from the Lord, as a way to navigate the country
through the COVID-19 pandemic. No divine solutions. Just criticism and blatant defiance towards the imposed restrictions. And when there’s a purported “word from God,” it is usually given by certain morally bankrupt Facebook prophets, who just as well come out and admit that they’re really political operatives with a hidden agenda. Over 4,000 ministries call New Providence home, yet the capital is producing, on an annual basis, 100-plus murders per year. Armed robberies in broad daylight are now becoming a trend. House break-ins are systemic. Juvenile delinquency is through the roof. Law-abiding citizens cannot go for an evening stroll through the Overthe-Hill areas, due to the infestation of violent gangs. Rape, incest and other illicit activities are all too common. Yet New Providence and Grand Bahama have far more apostles and prophets than the Old and New Testaments combined. All this while too many pastors are attempting to be the next TD Jakes and Benny Hinn, while hoping to make it on TBN and the Word Network. The operative phrase is ulterior motives. While we’ve protested the COVID-19 restrictions, we have, as a Christian community, offered no pragmatic alternatives that would keep our congregations and their families and colleagues safe. With a reported 4,000 ministries on New Providence, Nassau is so supposed to be experiencing the millennial reign of Christ. Where have we gone wrong as a Christian community? The Church of God tragedy, if true, should’ve never happened. King David had his Nathan. Josiah had Huldah and Jeremiah. Ahaz had Isaiah. Ahab had Elijah. Jehoshaphat had Elisha and Micaiah. Zerubbabel had Haggai. And Herod Antipas had John the Baptist. But who does Minnis have? Based on the mess in this country, I would say absolutely nobody. Minnis has absolutely no one he can call on to get an accurate prophetic message from the Lord. For what it’s worth, the alleged Church of God outbreak is one reason Minnis has very little regard for the church in this country. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama, August 3, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 5, 2021, PAGE 7
THIEF HAS MORE $5,000 fine for man who THAN A YEAR CUT defamed girlfriend online OFF SENTENCE By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE Court of Appeal yesterday reduced the sentence of a man who was convicted of stealing an assortment of items from a woman almost two years ago. In 2019, Andie Taylor and his co-accused, Eltraneko Green, admitted stealing $1,000 cash, along with a cell phone and shoes from a woman. The men were also found guilty of hurting the victim after they each pleaded guilty to one count of causing harm during their arraignment. At the time, the presiding magistrate accepted both men’s guilty pleas and sentenced them to four years for stealing and one year for causing harm. Both sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Nonetheless, Green, who had appealed his sentence at a previous hearing, had his four-year sentence reduced to two years and six months. Taylor recently sought to appeal his sentence relative to the stealing charge, on the grounds that the punishment handed down to him was “unduly harsh and severe” given the circumstances of the case. After reserving their decision in July, Sir Michael Barnett, Milton Evans and
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
Carolita Bethell yesterday quashed Taylor’s four-year sentence and substituted it with a sentence of three years’ imprisonment. . In their judgement, delivered by Justice Evans, the panel ruled the magistrate should have considered the fact that Taylor’s previous conviction of a similar nature that the magistrate considered when sentencing the applicant happened over a decade ago. “There was no dispute as to the fact that the applicant had previous convictions,” Justice Evans said. “A court is entitled to take into consideration the fact that a convict has previous convictions. This fact would necessarily become more serious if the offences were similar in nature to that for which he is about to be sentenced, but where the previous offences are not of a similar nature they would not be as aggravating. “The learned magistrate ought to have taken into consideration that the applicant had only one offence of a similar nature and that the offence had occurred some ten years ago when he was still a teenager. Had the learned magistrate given due consideration to the true import of the applicant’s antecedents, she would have exercised her discretion differently. The appropriate sentence for the applicant should have been three years”.
A MAN who defamed his former police girlfriend online because he believed she was responsible for the deaths of his friends was yesterday fined $5,000. Dre Major was charged with intentional libel after he posted defamatory content of his ex-girlfriend on his Facebook page in April. The woman, who is a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, reported the matter after Major continued to upload embarrassing posts alleging she was affiliated with gang members and at fault for the murders of two of his friends. When she testified, she said she and Major had dated for four years; however, she said, after they had broken up, he “exploded” and started posting “negative things” about her on Facebook. The court was told that Major published several Facebook posts stating: “This girl looking to get kill…She on the police force grinding all kind of killers then want come around me like she ain’t doing nothing...When I
first know her she did look like a real Haitian”. The witness said Major’s posts made her feel “hurt” because he was giving her a “bad name” as a police officer. Following the close of the prosecution’s case, Major chose to remain silent and opted not to call any witnesses to testify on his behalf. After some deliberation, Magistrate McKinney said the court found the prosecution did prove its case to the “requisite standard” and convicted the accused of intentional libel. In his sentencing, Magistrate McKinney noted the complainant was a police officer who was charged with upholding the enforcement of the law. He said Major’s actions were especially serious as his posts could have led to his ex-girlfriend receiving criminal threats or even losing her life. He told Major he considered the fact that he admitted the offence in his police interview and that he accused his former girlfriend of being an accomplice to a double homicide while identifying “when and where” the alleged offence took place. He also told Major he did not make accusations from information he received that could have afforded him a
Death Announcement JEFFREY DAVID
FISHERMEN PROVE THEY HAD CORRECT LICENCE By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A MAGISTRATE yesterday discharged four fishermen who were accused of fishing with prohibited apparatus after they were able to prove they had the appropriate licence to do so. Daniel McPhee, Stanley Deveaux, Samuel Butler and Samuel Burrows were all arrested by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in seas bordering North Exuma, after they were accused of having two air compressors on board their fishing boat on July 31. The men were further accused of using two fishing vessels for commercial use without a valid permit. During their hearing before Magistrate Samuel McKinney, the defendants denied the allegations. Their attorney, Craig Butler, also showed the magistrate his clients’ permit which proved they had permission to use
a compressor. He also explained the men were on board their main vessel: “Lady J” and the second boat they were accused of using as a commercial vessel was actually a dinghy. Mr Butler claimed the men were not able to explain themselves or produce their licence while on board the vessel, because when RBDF officers approached them that day, they were “not very accommodating” and told the men they had “five minutes to get off the boat”. He also said the marines confiscated hundreds of conch from them and said he planned to file another action to have all of his clients’ goods returned to them regardless of whether they were spoiled or not. After listening to his explanation, Magistrate McKinney discharged McPhee, Deveaux, Butler and Burrows. The fishermen thanked him profusely before leaving the precincts of the court.
defence from absolute or conditional privilege and said the court found that he did not publish the posts in “good faith.” When given an opportunity to speak, Major said he only committed the offence because his ex-girlfriend would not leave him alone. He also alleged she tried to knock him down with his car on one occasion and claimed he did not try to report the matter, because the complainant and both of her parents were police officers and officials would always take their side. “Every time I ask this young lady to leave me alone, she wouldn’t,” he said. “I’m not proud of what I’ve done, what I’ve said and what I post, but I just wanted her to stay from around me.” After listening to his plea in mitigation, Magistrate McKinney fined Major $5,000 or nine months in prison. He also placed him on 18 months’ probation and banned him from posting any more defamatory material about his former girlfriend online or elsewhere. He said if Major failed to comply with the stipulated conditions, he could risk spending six months behind bars.
ROBERTSON 1952-2021 Jeffrey David Robertson, 69, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 2, 2021 following a brief illness. He was born in Nassau, Bahamas on May 16, 1952. He later went to school in England where he met the love of his life, Diane. They married when they were both just 19 years old and all who know them would agree that they were the perfect team in life and love. Twenty three years ago, Jeff and his longtime colleague Percy Knowles started Bahamas Wholesale Agencies. Over the years they, along with an incredible team, many of whom have been there from the start, built a successful business. Jeff was always active. Full throttle until he was fast asleep on the couch is how he lived every single day. He could fix or build just about anything and spent countless hours creating and tending to a beautiful garden where he and Diane would spend quiet time watching birds and enjoying each other’s company. In recent years he discovered cycling. He joined the Enjoy Cycling Club and treasured the friendships he developed. Jeff was out there every week always ensuring that no man (or woman) was left behind and pushing them to do the bridges on every ride. One of his proudest sporting moments was competing in and completing the grueling mountainous L’Étape du Tour De France in Annecy, France. He also became an avid triathlete, often standing atop the podium. He trained hard and showed up for every race, determined to compete hard, but more importantly, have fun and support everyone else. He competed internationally in sprint and half ironman triathlons and always had his eye on the next challenge. Jeff was extremely generous with both his time and his resources. He gave freely and quietly, never seeking attention or accolades. Over the years many, many individuals and organizations have benefitted from his kindness. For many years Jeff supported his community both in Grand Bahama and in Nassau as a Rotarian. He served as president of the Rotary Club of East Nassau from 2001-2002. In 1991 he spearheaded the club’s development of the Project Read literacy program. In all aspects of life, Jeff was an inspiration and an example to follow. Whether you called him My Love, Dad, Grandad, Uncle Jeff, Buddy or Boss, his passing has left a huge void in the hearts of so many, but oh so many wonderful memories to cherish. He is predeceased by his parents James (Jimmy) Robertson and Joanne Robertson. Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 50 years Diane; daughter Jessica, son Joel; grandchildren Caitlin Lawrence, Jordan and Jasmin Robertson, Luke and Isabel Lawrence; stepmother Joanna, brothers John (Susan “Honey”) and James (Patricia); sisters Jennifer Wolfberg (Steve) and Jacqueline Derbyshire (Mark “Dabs”); nephews Jason and Johnathan Robertson and Benjamin Derbyshire; nieces Chrystonia McCoy (Lee), Judith, Joanne and Julianne Robertson and Elizabeth Reynolds (Brad); the Robertson, Grant and English extended families; many close friends; the staff at Bahamas Wholesale Agencies and his cycling and triathlon buddies at Enjoy Cycling Club and the local triathlon scene. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeff ’s memory can be made to charities and programs that meant a lot to him. Bahamas Humane Society bhumane.org/donate or; First Caribbean, Corporate Banking Centre (24667) Acct # 1086176 Swift Code: FCIBBSNS BAARK - Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights & Kindness https://baarkbahamas.com/donate-2/ or; Scotiabank East Bay St, Nassau Bank Transit #50385 Business Checking Account #3202371 Project READ Bahamas https://projectreadbahamas.wordpress.com/ 242-394-2426
PAGE 8, Thursday, August 5, 2021
BISHOP LAISH BOYD IN RESPONSE to congregants packed inside recent restrictions on the church auditorium. public gatherings, includ- While many wore masks ing the duration and that covered their noses numbers at religious ser- and mouths, others wore vices due to the increase ill-fitting masks with their in COVID-19 infections, noses exposed or had the hospitalizations and deaths, masks under their chins. Anglican Bishop Laish “Members of the choir, Boyd counselled coop- band, liturgical dancers and eration. He touted the speakers also did not wear Church’s promotion of per- masks during the convensonal responsibility and the tion. The event was held as common good. COVID cases in The BahaThe Anglican prel- mas were rising.” ate’s judicious and calm Throughout the panremarks were in contrast demic, a number of pastors to a number of and church leadother religion- ‘Some religious ers have acted ists and pastors, figures have responsibly and who reliably spin with a duty of acted with out of ecclesicare toward their astical control, a deadly congregants fulminating and combination and the greater fuming with little public good. of fatalism, common sense These churches predestination have diligently and reason. While a few and magical and strenuously church leadenforced and thinking.’ ers reasonably abided by lifeencouraged diasaving protocols. logue on the time and But some religious fignumerical restrictions, a ures have acted with a number of pastors threw deadly combination of temper tantrums, behaving fatalism, predestination and as if the state had little to magical thinking. A few no right or responsibility to have asininely labelled varirequire such restrictions to ous necessary restrictions protect public health. as an assault on religious The brouhaha about liberties. church hours came in the Others have demonaftermath of a youth con- strated a defiance of science vention at the Church of and a disregard of measGod. As reported in The ures to protect lives. The Nassau Guardian: “Multi- arrogance of some church ple members of the Church leaders has been spectacuof God have died or been lar, with some seemingly hospitalised with COVID- believing that God is 19 since a youth convention forwarding WhatsApp mesheld early last month.” sages throughout the day, The journal further giving them direct and spereported: “Photos from the cific instructions and near convention show scores of entire sermons.
THE TRIBUNE
A voice of reason against a choir of confused clerics
One pastor, not known for his intellectual acumen, posted: “Daniel taught us that sometimes civil compliance may invoke divine defiance.” And: “When Daniel was asked to forsake the laws of God for the laws of man, he simply stood by the ‘Open Window’ so that all could see clearly the choice he made.” What stunning arrogance and theological hubris to cast oneself as Daniel and to believe that one’s narrow views are directly from a divine source. The individual who wrote this might apply greater humility.
ARROGANCE
Many of us have reflected on Daniel. The gentleman in question is no Daniel, neither in terms of prophecy nor wisdom nor understanding and learning. There is a quality of religious arrogance in the land,
reminiscent of a woman overseas who claimed earlier in the pandemic: “You can’t catch COVID in the house of God.” Is God a plaything who is supposed to perform a miracle to save us from our own stupidity, ignorance and arrogance? This borders on being blasphemous and contemptuous of the Divine. Many of the churches in The Bahamas have scant traditions of reason and scholarship, relying instead on the anti-intellectual fundamentalist screeds of pastors preaching selfaggrandisement, self-help gobbledygook and prooftexted sermons. Thankfully, there are leaders like Bishop Boyd, a man of integrity and faith, who seeks to lead by example and by careful preaching and explication of Biblical principles. In response to the recent restrictions, the Bishop noted in an Eyewitness News story: “I think the church has to participate in and respect all of the restrictions that the rest of society is being asked to observe. Nobody likes restrictions, but the current worsening state of the landscape is clear. “We see the numbers rising, daily numbers increasing, younger people dying and our healthcare facilities are full, so that’s really a serious state of affairs. I personally think that one of the biggest problems is that people need to take personal responsibility and there isn’t enough of that.” He pressed: “And so, while we don’t like further restrictions, I think all of us need to work on limiting our activity and I think the restrictions need to extend to every area of our lives. “So, I think the church has to participate in and respect all of the restrictions that the rest of society is being asked to observe. We have to lead the way in modelling those things because it is all a matter of good stewardship.” Bishop Boyd appreciates the division between Church and State and the nature of religious freedom and pluralism in a democratic society. Sadly, a choir of confused clerics in a good number of other church groups clearly does not enjoy a basic understanding of such principles. By example, we are constitutionally a secular state. The preamble to the Constitution has a Christian reference. But the
preamble has no legal force. It is not dispositive in deciding constitutional questions. Chapter I Article 1 of the Constitution does have legal force. It states: “The Commonwealth of the Bahamas shall be a sovereign democratic State.” Not a theocracy, not a Christian state, but a democracy. Ours is a secular state with a Constitution dedicated to protecting certain fundamental rights and freedoms, not a theocratic state in which the doctrines of any religion or denomination reign supreme in adjudicating constitutional matters. Our freedoms come with provisos to protect public order and health. The Constitution does not protect or advance any notion of Christendom, in which Christianity is the state religion, nor does it grant any religion the right to force its doctrines or force its will on other citizens.
SECULAR
As a secular state we enjoy freedom of expression and conscience. Again, the Bahamian Constitution is not a Christian charter. It is not based on Christian Scripture or the doctrines of any religion. We continue to debate the scope of pluralism in the 21st century. The contours of the debate are centuries old and thoroughly modern. In parts of the Islamic world, mostly in the Middle East and in Africa, pluralism is anathema to the restricted world views of those who contest the notion of a secular state and religious pluralism. Yet, even in the West, including at home, there are fundamentalist, mostly Protestant voices, who contest or are uncomfortable with a secular state and various forms of pluralism. Fr Bryan Hehir is one the world’s leading experts on Catholic Social Thought. In a presentation entitled, “Catholic Social Teaching: A Key to Catholic Identity”, the Office for Social Justice of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, based on remarks by Fr Hehir, notes, “three significant statements about politics” in the Declaration on Religious Liberty. The presentation observes: “1. The Church accepts religious pluralism in a society as a given. “2. The Church accepts the secularity of the state.
“3. The only thing the Church asks of the political order is the freedom to function, not favouritism but the freedom to function. The Church wants neither favouritism nor discrimination in the exercise of its public social and religious role. “Therefore, we are not excluded from the debate because we are religious. On the other hand, we are not to be given any special treatment because we are religious.” In significant ways, many fundamentalist Protestants in The Bahamas have not intellectually come to terms with some of the basics of a modern pluralistic democracy. Some are stuck in pre-Enlightenment mindsets. Many of these churches crave favouritism, have difficulty accepting the secularity of the state, and believe the state should enforce their doctrines. Certain Bahamian churches and church leaders have fallen into bed as the handmaidens of various Caesars and political leaders. Many of these relationships are permissive, with various church leaders seeking state power, appointments, influence and handouts like the power-hungry and avaricious religious high priests of ancient times and the moneygrubbers in the Temple. In addition to separation of church and state, there often hasn’t even been reasonable distance by those pastors who conflate the state, the Kingdom of God, and their own temporal kingdoms with all the requisite trappings of luxury in the interest of self-aggrandisement and self-promotion. Many religious fundamentalists share a common agenda: discomfort or hostility toward pluralism and varying degrees of male supremacy and sexism. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to reveal in great relief various mindsets and world views. This includes religious leaders who cooperate in the promotion of the common good, such as Bishop Boyd. It also includes those who mostly act myopically in the promotion of their own needs and private goods, often dismissive of the greater human and national good. They often act more out of self-glory than they do for the greater glory of God. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 5, 2021, PAGE 9
A deep divide but salvation lies in awaking the middle ground THE old friends sat together on a comfortable bench whose careful contours well suited their ageing frames. Shaded from a brilliant hot summer sun under a large oak tree, two men who had known each other for nearly 40 years talked together about the events of the day. Herb, older by six months and with wisps of grey hair that blew whimsically in the light breeze, remarked on the efforts of the new American House of Representatives inquiry into the January 6 riots at the US Capitol. “This whole inquiry is going to be a wrenching experience for the entire country,” he said. “We’re going to be assaulted with images that will scare us and shake our confidence in institutions and beliefs that have sustained us for our entire lives. I wish we didn’t have to go through this.” His friend Arnold disagreed. “The inquiry will surely make us all uncomfortable. It will shine a light on behaviour that is totally reprehensible. We’ll have to relive outrageous disregard for things we value. And don’t forget that so many Republicans are still promoting nonsensical lies about those riots. “But we absolutely have to do this. We have to suffer. Because not to pursue this investigation wherever it leads, however long it takes and how much discord it continues to encourage, is to forfeit the ability to establish the truth about that awful day.” Arnold continued, idly stroking his reddish-grey beard. “Just think about what would happen if Congress gave up and abandoned the investigation: many millions of people would soon forget about the horrifying details of that day. Republican deniers and liars pushing an obviously illicit and erroneous narrative would prevail. “We have to go through this trauma all over again so the record can remain clear and the hundreds of images and video recordings of that riot are not forgotten and will not be repeated.” Herb protested. “But what’s the point? Democrats and liberals don’t need reminding about what happened. And on the right, the polls tell us that the GOP drumbeat of denial continues to resonate with
READING THE SIGNS
SMOKE fills the walkway outside the Senate Chamber as supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by US Capitol Police officers inside the Capitol on January 6 in Washington. Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
STATESIDE
with Charlie Harper
Republican rank and file voters. They cannot be convinced, no matter how persuasive is the evidence of a shameful riot incited by a sitting American President.” “It’s the middle,” Arnold said. “That’s the key. I agree with you that most committed Democrats and Republicans won’t change their mind about this. But there are the millions of voters who still stand in the political middle. They are able to pick and choose policies they like and dislike from both parties. They still decide many elections. “The millions in the middle have to be reminded about January 6, and they have to be sufficiently shocked by those events that they make and retain the connection between
TIME’S UP, CUOMO THE political vultures were hungrily circling Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo yesterday, and he may be gone by the time you open your paper this morning.
President Biden, both New York senators, the mayors of New York City and Buffalo, and numerous other party leaders and officials have all called for his resignation
the former President, his devoted followers and what happened on January 6. “If that happens, Joe Biden and the Democrats will have a fighting chance to retain and maybe increase their slim margins in both the House and the Senate.” “What about inflation? Rising crime?” Herb asked. “Those are issues that are going to be hard for Biden & Co to deal with no matter what,” his friend replied. “Maybe inflation will subside like many economists seem to think. Maybe the furore over police murders will diminish as the weather turns cooler in the fall and winter. That would help Biden both on the right and on the left. “But the best protection against politically adverse developments in those areas and on the Mexican
after an official investigation implicated Cuomo for numerous sexual harassment offences and crimes. It looks like Cuomo is done.
border and elsewhere in the world is a full accounting of January 6. If a majority of voters can be convinced not to forget that day, Biden and the Democrats should be able to hang on until 2024.”
ON TUESDAY in Ohio there were two primary elections for House seats. It seems likely both of these contests have broader significance for the national Republican and Democratic parties. Ohio’s 15th Congressional district is a typical, jerrymandered hodge-podge. Stretching from carefully selected neighbourhoods of the state’s largest city of Columbus to the Appalachian southeast of the state and across nearly to Cincinnati in the west, it’s been constructed to guarantee Republican electoral success. The seat was open for a newcomer, and that’s who won. Mike Carey, an attorney, political novice and lobbyist for the fading but still influential American coal industry, won the GOP primary (and certain election in November) with more than three times the vote of the nearest of his several opponents. The significance of Carey’s win was that he had the early, very clear and audible support from former President Donald Trump. After Trump’s endorsement failed to secure a primary election victory in Texas last month, doubters about his continuing influence over the Republican Party had raised their voices. Does this result mean Trump still rules the GOP? It’s tough to say. But it was unquestionably a good sign for the former President and his hopes to stay nationally relevant. In Ohio’s industrial northeast, the 11th
Congressional district is just as clearly delineated to ensure Democratic success as was the 15th for Republicans. That’s just the way of American politics in this era. Including virtually all of Cleveland east of downtown and snaking down to encompass parts of Akron to the south, this district is deep blue. Squaring off for the vacant seat in Tuesday’s Democratic primary were party establishment candidate Shontel Brown and insurgent Nina Turner. Both women are black and sought to replace Marcia Fudge, also black, who resigned from the House to become Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in President Biden’s cabinet. Brown had the support of the powerful Congressional Black Caucus and of kingmaker and No. 3 House Democratic leader James Clyburn. Turner had co-chaired Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign and was supported by progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Cortez-Ocasio of New York City. Brown won by about six percent, a result that bolsters the ascendancy of a more centrist-leaning national Democratic Party that is closely aligned with the policies and inclinations of the current President. This result also suggests Democratic voters are still focused primarily on candidates who can win general elections and keep the wolf – Donald Trump – securely from the door.
PAGE 10, Thursday, August 5, 2021
Using the OAS to promote discord over Cuba MUCH has been written about a meeting, convoked by the present Chair of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), to discuss “the situation in Cuba” which he was obliged to defer after objections by several member states. The present Chair is the Ambassador of Uruguay, Abdala Washington. He convoked the meeting on Monday, July 26, to be held at 10am on Wednesday, July 28. While the Chair has the authority to convene a meeting of the Permanent Council, it is unusual that he did so without consulting member states. After all, he expected member states to participate in a meeting on a subject matter on which he decided; the least he might have done was to consult with the coordinators of the regional members of the OAS to determine their views. This is normal practice on any matters that would
THE TRIBUNE SOL DIAZ, 7, attends a rally at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami on July 31. The rally was held in solidarity with anti-government protests happening in Cuba. Photo: Matias J Ocner/Miami Herald via AP
World View
By SIR RONALD SANDERS obviously be controversial. the 1962 suspension were In any event, no consul- such notorious figures as tation was held, and OAS Alfredo Stroessner of Paramember states were sur- guay, Nicaragua’s Anastasio prised to be given less than Somoza and Francois “Papa 48 hours to Doc” Duvalier discuss Cuba ‘No possible in Haiti. which had not Since the participated in useful purpose 1962 suspenthe OAS since will be served by sion, Cuba had 1962 when it any meeting to been discussed was suspended by the OAS by a general discuss Cuba. The only once. That assembly of the OAS can enforce was in June OAS. It should nothing on it.’ 2009 when the be noted that, general assemapart from bly decided Haiti, no CARICOM to lift the suspension at its member state was a member own volition; Cuba had not of the OAS when that sus- requested its lifting. pension occurred. Heading The 2009 resolution itself countries that voted for stated “the participation of
the Republic of Cuba in the OAS will be the result of a process of dialogue initiated at the request of the Government of Cuba”. Cuba’s response was that it had no interest in participation in the OAS. The de facto position, therefore, is Cuba has not been a participating member of the OAS for 60 years and has no wish to be a member. A sudden, unexplained decision to discuss Cuba in the Permanent
Council troubled member states who could see no productive outcome from it. Indeed, if anything, such a discussion was considered to be harmful to diplomatic efforts to try to improve relations between the US and Cuba which was one of President Biden’s undertakings during his campaign to be elected President. Further, on the same day the Chair of the OAS Permanent Council issued his unexpected convocation of the meeting to discuss Cuba, CARICOM Heads of Government had written to President Biden saying they were “troubled by the circumstances in Cuba”, referring to protests that had taken place on July 11. They attributed the protests to the 61-year-old US trade embargo, punitive measures imposed by the Trump administration and the effects of the COVID19 pandemic. They said: “All of this, together with threats to its national security, have contributed to placing Cuba in conditions of abnormality in which normal criteria and expectation cannot be applied.” They called on President Biden to lift the embargo “so that all the rights to which the Cuban state and its people are entitled can be respected and upheld”, and they recalled that “under a previous US administration of which you were a part, significant strides were made in this direction, and could be advanced to beneficial effect”. Passing strange was an email sent to many OAS delegations by an Organisation called “Youth and Democracy in the Americas”, formed by Venezuelan nationals with help from the OAS SecretaryGeneral, Luis Almagro. Curiously, this organisation, told OAS Ambassadors on July 27 that it had “presented a petition to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Dr Luis Almagro and subsequently our President Cecilia Navas met with the President of the Permanent Council of the OAS and also Uruguayan Ambassador, Washington Abdala, to request an extraordinary session to discuss the serious humanitarian situation suffered by our Cuban brothers and sisters and the dangers facing democracy in the Republic of Cuba.” They went on to say, “in view of the fact that the Permanent Council of the OAS has accepted our request and has convened a special session for tomorrow, July 28, with the situation in Cuba as its central theme, we therefore request your participation…” It was evident from this email message that the Chair of the Permanent Council and the SecretaryGeneral had accepted and consulted with an external
group that has a specific political agenda, and not with member states of the OAS on the holding of a meeting to discuss Cuba. A very odd way to behave, causing more questions to be raised, concerning the motives for the meeting. Thirteen CARICOM countries formally urged the Chair to reconsider holding the meeting. I was authorised by those delegations to send the letter in my capacity as Coordinator of the CARICOM group. Several other countries sent similar letters, and for fear of calling a meeting for which there would be no quorum, the Chair decided to defer the meeting, pending an Opinion from the Legal Department of the OAS Secretariat which is answerable to the Secretary-General and routinely produces opinions consistent with his views. The legal opinion has now been produced and, predictably, it concludes the Permanent Council has “the competence to consider the situation in Cuba” because since Cuba never formally withdrew from the Organisation, it remains a member notwithstanding its publicly stated position that it has no interest in participating in it. It seems membership can be conveniently forced on the unwilling. No possible useful purpose will be served by any meeting to discuss Cuba. The OAS can enforce nothing on it. Any discussion could only satisfy political hawks with an eye on US mid-term elections where winning South Florida with the backing of Cuban exiles would be a prize. The task of the OAS should be to promote peaceful and cooperative relations in the hemisphere, not to feed division and conflict. • Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com. (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own).
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 5, 2021, PAGE 11
THE SAME STRETCH OF OCEAN BUT TWO TALES ON THE FORTUNE OF GIANT SEA BASS By ARTURO RAMÍREZ-VALDEZ Researcher, University of California San Diego
I WAS looking at the seafloor, focused on identifying fish species as I normally did when diving off of the California coast, when suddenly I felt something large above me. When I turned my head I saw a giant fish – more than six feet long – calmly interested in the air bubbles coming from my SCUBA regulator. This was 2016 and was my first encounter with a giant sea bass. I am a marine ecologist and I study how international borders pose challenges for conservation and management efforts in the marine environment. Although there are no walls or fences in the ocean, borders still act as stark barriers for a variety of things. Giant sea bass live off the west coast of North America in both Mexican and US waters. I have found that large differences in regulation and research effort between the two countries has led to a significant misunderstanding of giant sea bass population health.
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, DIFFERENT SCIENCE
The giant sea bass is the largest coastal bony fish in the Northeastern Pacific. It can grow up to nine feet long and weigh up to 700 pounds. It lives in coastal waters from northern California to the tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico, including the entire Gulf of California. In California, commercial fishing for the species began in the late 1880s. Large fish used to be very abundant across the entire range, but the fishery collapsed in the early 1970s. As a response, in 1981 the US banned both commercial and recreational fishing for giant sea bass, and there are many ongoing research and population recovery efforts today. The collapse and subsequent protection and flurry of research in the US stand in stark contrast to Mexico. In Mexico, there are minimal regulations on fishing for the species, and there is almost a complete lack of data and research on it – there are only three studies on giant sea bass with any data from Mexico. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers giant sea bass to be a critically endangered species due to the population being “severely fragmented, leading to a continuing decline of mature individuals”. But this decision was based on a report that had no data whatsoever from Mexico. This lack of data is concerning, considering 73 percent of the species’ range is in Mexican waters. This knowledge gap made me wonder if ecologists had the wrong idea about the health of giant sea bass populations.
HEALTHY FISH IN MEXICO
In 2017, I led an effort to document the giant sea bass population in Mexico and look for clues to what it was in the past. At the beginning of the project, my colleagues and I feared the records in Mexico would confirm the precarious situation of the fish in the US. But the reality turned out to be the opposite. To our surprise, we found giant sea bass everywhere in the fish markets and fishing grounds from our very first assessments. The fishmongers were never out of the fish; instead, they would ask us, “How many kilos do you need?” It was clear that for fishers in Mexico, the species is still common in the sea, and therefore, in their nets. It is still possible to find big fish up to 450 pounds and the average catch was around 26 pounds. It was fantastic to see an abundance of these fish in
GIANT sea bass populations in Mexico have declined, but are still much healthier than researchers thought. Photo: Meru Brito/CC BY-ND Over the first half of the and now that we have accumarkets, but I also wanted to understand the fishery 20th century, as the US com- mulated better data, we trends through history and mercial fleet overfished US can make a more informed that balances how current fishing levels waters, they began fishing decision management compared to previous in Mexican waters too – but responsible years. I looked at historical they continued to count of the species with human and contemporary fishing all catches as from the US. needs. I hope that our study records and found that This changed in 1968 when the Mexican commercial the two governments signed inspires policymakers in fleet has caught an average the Mexico–US Fisheries the US and Baja to start a of 55 tons per year over Agreement, limiting how conversation about how to the past 60 years, and the much fish each country’s manage this incredible fish fishery has been relatively fleet could take from the in a collaborative way. But I stable over the past 20 other country’s waters. The feel our work also has larger years, with a peak in 2015 collapse of the US fishery implications. It shows how in the 1970s was not due to asymmetry in research and at 112 tons. According to US and a drastic reduction in fish data can create significant Mexican records, the numbers in Mexican waters, barriers to understanding largest yearly catch ever but driven by changes in the past and present status recorded for giant sea bass fishing regulation between of a species like the giant in Mexico was 386 tons in the US and Mexico. The sea bass and make it harder 1933. Biologists consider California fish populations to implement sustainable a fishery to have collapsed had been depressed for dec- practices for the future. when total catches, under ades, but this was hidden by • Originally published on the same effort, are less fish from Mexico. theconversation.com than 10 percent of the largest catches on record. So BETTER DATA, BETTER a steady trend of 55 tons MANAGEMENT per year shows that the Based on my research, I fishery in Mexico has not collapsed. It is clear that believe the giant sea bass giant sea bass populations may not qualify as a critihave faced severe declines cally endangered species. throughout their range; My analysis of modern however, the health of the catch data suggests the species is not as dire as population of this iconic fish is likely much larger thought. Another interesting find- than biologists previously especially in ing from my research is thought, that the apparent collapse Mexico. I am leading the next of the giant sea bass fishery documented in the 1970s assessment for the InterUnion for actually began as early as national Conservation of Nature, 1932.
PAGE 12, Thursday, August 5, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Workers told it’s jab... or job NEW YORK Associated Press THE US nursing home industry’s resistance to forcing workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 for fear that too many of them might quit began to crack this week when its biggest player announced its employees must get the shot to keep their jobs. The new requirement at Genesis Healthcare, which has 70,000 employees at nearly 400 nursing homes and senior communities, is the clearest sign yet that owners may be willing to risk an exodus at already dangerously understaffed facilities to quickly vaccinate the 40% of workers still resisting shots and fend off the surging delta variant. Some experts are calling for mandatory vaccinations at nursing homes, warning that unprotected staff members are endangering residents. Even residents who have been inoculated are vulnerable because many are elderly and frail, with weak immune systems. More than 1,250 nursing
home residents across the US were infected with COVID-19 in the week ending July 25, double the number from the week earlier, and 202 died, according to federal data. “It’s so easy now to say, ‘Well, Genesis is doing it. Now we’ll do it,’” said Brian Lee, who leads Families for Better Care, an advocacy group for longterm care residents. “This is a big domino to fall.” Lawrence Gostin, a professor of health law at Georgetown University, said he likewise foresees a “snowball effect”. He said resisting vaccination mandates at this point is “unconscionable”. Some local governments are taking the decision out of the industry’s hands, with Massachusetts and Denver announcing mandatory vaccinations at nursing homes this week. The question has become more urgent as the highly contagious delta variant drives up new COVID-19 cases in the US to about 90,000 a day on average — the most since mid-February — and has led to several outbreaks in
nursing homes and sent hospitalizations surging in states like Florida and Louisiana to the highest levels since the pandemic began. Despite the terrible toll taken by the disease at nursing homes, many of the nation’s 15,000 such institutions have rejected mandatory vaccinations for fear large numbers of workers will leave in protest. Nearly a quarter of nursing homes are already short of nurses or nurse’s aides. But Associated Press interviews this past week with managers at 10 mostly smaller nursing home operations across the nation that are requiring vaccines found that the threat of workers quitting en masse over the shots may be overblown. After Canterbury Court in Atlanta announced a mandate in January, CEO Debi McNeil was so fearful of a “massive walkout” that she brought in medical experts to talk to workers, met with holdouts oneon-one and invited staff to gather in the community room for meetings that occasionally got heated. In the end, only ten
of 180 workers quit, and McNeil said Canterbury’s nursing home, independent living and assisted living facilities have reported no new COVID-19 cases since February. “It was a gamble that paid off for us,” McNeil said. “I thought more people would have mandated it by now.” At Jewish Home Family in Rockleigh, New Jersey, only five of 527 workers at its nursing home and assisted-living facilities quit. Westminster Village in Bloomington, Illinois, lost only two out of 250. “It’s important to educate, but at some point we have to end this pandemic,” said Scott Crabtree, CEO of Lambeth House in New Orleans, which lost only 10 of 200 workers after it started requiring shots when they became available last year. “When do we say, ‘Enough is enough?’” More than 130,000 nursing home residents in the US have died from COVID-19, making such institutions by far the deadliest place to be during the pandemic. About 80% of residents have been
vaccinated, double the rate for staff, according to the government. Some workers have rejected the vaccine because they think it was rushed into development and is unsafe, or they feel protected because they already got COVID-19. “It’s too soon to put that crap in my body,” said Christina Chiger, a nurse’s aide at a nursing home in Tampa, Florida. “It took how many years to perfect the polio vaccine? This was done in months.” Others have been swayed by false rumors that the vaccine was made from dead babies or contains microchips or will make you infertile. That last notion concerned Michaela Murray, a nurse’s aide at an Alabama nursing home that made vaccinations mandatory. “I was kind of worried, but I talked to the doctors and they put my mind at ease,” said Murray, who agreed to get a vaccine to keep her job at Hanceville Nursing & Rehab Center, which had only six of 260 workers quit. “I had had COVID and didn’t want to
go through that again.” Pennsylvania-based Genesis said volunteer vaccinations were appropriate earlier in the pandemic, but not now, as the more infectious variant spreads and only 65% of its staff has received shots. Genesis is giving employees until Aug. 23 to get their first shot. “To succeed against the delta variant is going to require much higher vaccination rates,” said Chief Medical Officer Richard Feifer. “Our tactics in the fight have to change.” Jennifer Moore of Hollywood, Florida, whose husband is living at a nursing home where only 35% of the staff is vaccinated, said it’s also a matter of ethics. “Whenever I see a story about somebody being anti-vax, I just want to scream,” said Moore, whose husband, Thomas, has Parkinson’s disease. “I understand people have concerns about the vaccine, but these people are working with the most vulnerable population. They have a duty to their patients.”
...WHILE IF YOU WANT TO VISIT THE US, YOU’D BETTER HAVE YOUR SHOT WASHINGTON Associated Press THE Biden administration is taking the first steps toward requiring nearly all foreign visitors to the US to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, a White House official said yesterday. The requirement
would come as part of the administration’s phased approach to easing travel restrictions for foreign citizens to the country. No timeline has yet been determined, as interagency working groups study how and when to safely move toward resuming normal travel. Eventually
all foreign citizens entering the country, with some limited exceptions, are expected to need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the US. The Biden administration has kept in place travel restrictions that have severely curtailed international trips to the US,
citing the spread of the delta variant of the virus. Under the rules, non-US residents who have been to China, the European Schengen area, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa and India in the prior 14 days are prohibited from entering the US.
All travellers to the US, regardless of vaccination status, are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of air travel to the country. The Biden administration has faced pressure to lift some restrictions from affected allies, the air
travel industry and families who have been kept separated from loved ones by the rules. Many have complained that the travel restrictions don’t reflect the current virus situation — particularly as caseloads in the US are worse than in many of the prohibited nations.