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VOLUME:117 No.177, AUGUST 11TH, 2020

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

FACE-TO-FACE: THERESA’S MISSION IN COVID BATTLE

FAMILY’S ROW ENDS IN DEADLY SHOOTOUT Two officers shot after argument over prayers explodes into violence

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net A MAN was fatally shot by police yesterday at Pinewood Gardens after he allegedly opened fire on officers and his mother following a heated “domestic” dispute over prayers.

Two officers were injured during the ordeal, but are expected to recover.

At Cascarilla Street where the incident unfolded, Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle told reporters the victim was behaving belligerently and seemed to take issue with his mother praying in her home. This is what sparked the incident and led his mother to call the police.

While the victim’s identity was not officially

released, people familiar with him at the scene said he is Carlton Smith, a resident of Cowpen Road and father of two children.

“We had a report, this morning, of a domestic matter here in Cascarilla Street, Pinewood Gardens,” Commissioner Rolle explained yesterday.

“Family members were all at home and the mother was doing her morning prayer and one of her sons came by the residence and had some issues with her and the others and seemed to have a problem with her doing her prayers.

“She asked him to behave and he became belligerent.

She in turn contacted 911 and we dispatched a team of officers here to investigate this matter.

SEE PAGE TWO

PLP TARGETS ‘FAILINGS’ IN EFFORTS TO HELP GB

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Progressive Liberal Party knocked Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ national address yesterday, saying it failed to properly address the needs of Grand Bahama residents.

The statement, by Senator Michael Darville and Dr Melissa Evans, the leaders of the PLP’s COVID-19 task-force, called for a more clearly articulated plan for that island.

“People are suffering,” the statement said. “They need to know what the government is doing to keep them safe, what facilities and protocols are in place, and what resources are being provided to look after them.

“Grand Bahama is still

recovering from the effects of Hurricane Dorian. It is now a major hotspot for COVID-19 infections.

And yet the best the prime minister could offer is to concede that conditions on the island are ‘grave’?

“It was shocking to hear that, after more than five months into this COVID pandemic, the government is only just now commencing the construction of a new unit at the Rand Memorial Hospital. Why? The prime minister must urgently provide answers to how the government is going to get on top of this pandemic.

“Given that Grand Bahama has a significantly higher concentration of COVID-19 positive cases than in New Providence, SEE PAGE THREE

THE SCENE of the shooting in Pinewood Gardens yesterday.

WE WON’T ‘SHELL’ LAWYERS LOSING BAHAMAS SHORT OUT IN LOCKDOWN

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A CABINET minister yesterday pledged Bahamas Power & Light “will not sell the Bahamian people short” in negotiations with Shell North America over New Providence’s new power plant.

Minister of Works Desmond Bannister, responding to signs that efforts to close a deal may have run into difficulty, told Tribune Business that BPL’s board of directors and negotiators were proceeding carefully

to “ensure every possibility is covered in protecting the country’s interest” over what is supposed to be a 20-25 year agreement.

Asked if what has been billed as a “game changing” deal for New Providence’s energy sector was now in danger of falling apart, Mr Bannister said Bahamian businesses and households had “already seen a tremendous part of the game being changed” in terms of supply reliability and energy costs over the past several months.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

COMMERCIAL lawyers have seen business volumes plunge by up to 80 percent amid the latest COVID-19 lockdown, two ex-Cabinet ministers disclosed yesterday, describing the impact as “tremendous”.

Former Attorney General Alfred Sears told Tribune Business there was “no question” the legal profession is suffering equally with multiple other industries as both new work and fee payments dry up due to

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

business/individual clients concentrating solely on surviving the pandemic.

He estimated that mortgage, conveyancing and real estate-related work is down by “70 percent or more” while “transactional” work relating to various types of commercial deals entered into by clients was off by at least 80 percent.

Mr Sears was backed by Branville McCartney, the ex-Democratic National Alliance leader, who said that legal work was down by more than 50 percent.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

PAGE 2, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Two officers shot after argument over prayers explodes into violence

Family’s row ends in deadly shootout

THE VICTIM: Carlton Smith, a resident of Cowpen Road and father of two

from page one

“On arrival at the residence she took the officers inside and as she entered the room where her son was, he produced a firearm and began discharging shots at her and the officers. The officer who was leading, grabbed the mother and protected her and pulled her out of the room when he was struck by a bullet to the back.”

This officer, Constable 3637 Joey Rolle was described as a hero, who used himself as a human shield.

“I want to commend the bravery of this officer in his action this morning in preserving the life of the woman who called the police,” Commissioner Rolle continued. “But, I regret that in the process we had to take a life. And, this was done while a person was trying to take the life of my officers here today.

Commissioner Rolle went on to explain how the suspect ultimately lost his life.

“They were able to get the mother out of the house and secure her,” he said. “The suspect, her son, locked himself into the room. The officers called for assistance. After this, we had more officers respond to the scene here who attempted to get the young man to open the door which he refused.

“Officers then breached the door to the room where he was. He again opened fire on the officers and this time the officers shot him, fatally wounding him. A second officer was injured in the process. He received injuries to his leg. Both

THE SCENE of the shooting in Pinewood Gardens yesterday.

officers were taken to hospital where they are being treated by doctors and we believe from all indications that they should be okay.”

The second officer injured on the scene was

Corporal 3118, Jervis Rolle, according to the Commissioner. Both officers were taken to Doctors Hospital where Commissioner Rolle said he dispatched a team to visit them and

he intended to visit them himself. At the time of the incident, Commissioner Rolle said police were unaware if the deceased was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He said this

will be learned from medical reports to come in due course.

“Facts will come out in investigation,” he said. “We are at initial stages of this which is to preserve life

and to preserve the scene and evidence. And, I think we have done an excellent job in that. Her Majesty’s coroner is on scene and is directing this investigation as usual. “ The Commissioner said what was of paramount concern was getting the wounded officer and the mother of the deceased to safety, which was achieved by the police.

Following the Commissioner’s statement to the media, the scene became heated when the victim’s family and the mother of his two children came to blows.

The woman, who did not want to be named, took issue with the victim’s relatives calling police to handle the incident. Police were forced to intervene.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 11, 2020, PAGE 3

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

PLP TARGETS ‘FAILINGS’ IN EFFORTS TO HELP GB from page one

how many people are being tested every day? Is the government only testing people who appear to be sick, or is the government following international protocols? What resources and protocols are in place to effectively trace the contacts of all those who have been infected? What

SENATOR Michael Darville

resources are in place to isolate and quarantine those who may be infected?”

Dr Darville and Dr Evans asked when the Cancer Society building in Grand Bahama will be used to treat COVID-19 patients.

The Free National Movement, meanwhile, praised Dr Minnis’ national address.

FNM chairman Carl

Culmer said in a statement: “As the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, and as many rebuild their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, we are thankful that our nation was spared further destruction by Hurricane Isaias.

“Our Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis continues to demonstrate sound leadership while some choose to

sow seeds of division. I find it utterly distasteful that members of the opposition are unable to lay down their political swords during a time when so many Bahamians face difficulties.

“We are certain this country is better off under the careful and considerate leadership of our Prime Minister rather than the erratic and misguided

leadership of PLP Leader Philip Brave Davis. Bahamians dread the thought of a Davis Administration in office at a time like this. The twin crises of Hurricane Dorian and the pandemic were not of the Prime Minister’s making as the opposition would have you believe. As a people we must not be fooled by their silly political rhetoric.”

HUNDREDS flocked to the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium yesterday to collect cheques from the NIB after weeks of waiting to receive payouts.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

Longs lines of jobless queue for assistance

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

HUNDREDS of unemployed workers flocked to the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium yesterday, queuing in long lines to collect assistance cheques from the National Insurance Board after weeks of waiting to receive payouts.

This comes after NIB Minister Brensil Rolle recently told a local news station that thousands of NIB benefit checks were at the NIB site, awaiting collection.

Despite COVID-19 protocols, when The Tribune arrived at stadium yesterday, scores of people were huddled around the building’s entrance in several separate groups.

Others stood in long lines behind the stadium’s gate, waiting to receive the longawaited assistance.

“I was here from 6.15 this morning and I was some of the first,” said Anthony Poitier, 56, yesterday. “I get a text from somebody and they showed me my name on a list to come to Thomas A Robinson Stadium. It was roughly about 150 people before me (when I arrived) now it’s about 600 to 700 (people).”

Mr Poitier, who is self-employed, told this newspaper that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has yet to receive any unemployment payments from NIB. The situation, he said, has forced him to rely on family members for financial assistance.

Mr Poitier said he was hoping to collect the muchneeded money after seeing his name on a recent NIB list, but was shocked when workers there told him the cheque was not ready.

He said: “From March, I ain’t receive assistance because I didn’t know where to go. I was waiting for it to come on my phone.

My son’s them work the same place from me. They been getting their own on their phone and then they go to Sun cash.”

“But, ain’t none never come to my phone. So, when I investigate to National Insurance in July, a lady from national insurance tell me my name on the list at Thomas A Robinson so this my first time coming to collect so I’m hoping I meet cheques here.”

He added: “My son was getting it and he was lending me 20 (dollars) and my daughter was lending me because everybody was getting it except me. I was burrowing from them and I was eating off them and I’m hoping I could repay them back.”

“I done pay all kind of national insurance. I don’t know why they ain’t paid me yet.”

Many others voiced their frustration over why their unemployment cheques were not ready despite claiming their names were on NIB’s lists on social media.

One agitated local, who only wanted to be identified as Miss Elizabeth, told The Tribune she has spent better part of the past two weeks chasing NIB to receive the unemployment benefits, but to no avail.

“I haven’t gotten anything for four months,” she angrily said. “I have a print off stating from NIB that they sent the funds to my job from April 7 and when I contacted Atlantis, they said they sent it back to NIB and I was up and down from then.”

“I’ve been on this line from 7.15 this morning and the lady said they have to give me a call because there still isn’t nothing at all (for me). For the past two weeks, I was going to the main headquarters for them to investigate and… they gave me a print off one day and said ‘this is what

they paid me for the first two months’ but, I haven’t received it yet.”

Asked yesterday about her ability to manage during the lockdown, she replied: “ I am able to manage because in the situation, we have to trust God. I don’t have no income coming in, but I can tell you that not one night I went to bed hungry.”

Other complaints also

included long wait times and a lack of organisation concerning the entire process.

“Everyone filled out forms with a bank account number on it,” said another local, who wanted to remain anonymous. “When it was filled out, it was the impression that they could wire the money into the account and that isn’t happening.

Why can’t those persons be

notified via email instead of coming here to collect and that’s if you’re lucky,”.

“You have not much officer to even organise the line. You have people walking and going into the front of the name instead of going to the back.”

Some took issue with the lack of consideration given to the elderly and disabled who were standing in lines with temperatures soaring

to nearly 90 degrees. “I is a man just come off surgery and I’m a dialysis patient. I been to try see if they could assist me but the gentleman say ‘ain’t nobody could come to see me and I can’t be out here much longer,” said another Bahamian, who did not want to be named.

Calls to Mr Rolle and other NIB officials on the matter went unanswered up to press time.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

As cases rise to 945, one resident urges young people to take it seriously

PRINCESS Margaret Hospital where the 21-year-old was treated

By LEANDRA ROLLE and TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT Tribune Reporters AS COVID-19 cases in the country yesterday climbed to 945, an Abaco resident who has the virus says he wants young people to take it more seriously, saying it is “nothing to play around with” even for those with strong immune systems.

According to the Ministry of Health yesterday 39 new cases were confirmed in Grand Bahama, three in New Providence, Exuma recorded one and health officials said four cases were “pending”.

Meanwhile, officials said 31 people are hospitalised and there are 815 active cases.

The case numbers

highlight that the virus has been far reaching across several demographics.

For his part, the Abaco resident said his experience with COVID-19 has been nothing like having the regular flu.

“It ain’t a death sentence, but it’s nothing to play around (with),” said the 21-year-old resident who requested anonymity.

“It’s nothing like the regular flu. If it’s a regular flu, you can’t take pills and it just go. But the scary part of this virus is the shortness of breath so it’s like you panicking but its nothing like the flu. It’s a terrible feeling.”

The young resident told The Tribune yesterday he thought he would have been the last person to ever contract the virus. But, his fears became a reality when

he started experiencing symptoms for the virus in Abaco last month.

“I started with fever and chills, headache and sore throat,” he said. “ I didn’t know. I thought I had the flu or was getting something else.”

However, after experiencing more severe symptoms, the young local said he decided to travel to New Providence to get tested for the disease as a precautionary measure.

“I came here July 27 , got tested July 29 and the results came back Thursday gone. It was positive. I could still smell and taste, but the breathing problem, I’m still having shortness of breath because my heart beating fast too.”

Despite having no underlying health issues, the

young man said he thought the virus would take his life after ending up at Princess Margaret Hospital for severe symptoms associated with the disease.

“Last night, it came down on me out of nowhere,” he said. “I felt like it was going to end me because it was the worse feeling ever.

I still feeling bad because that shortness of breath was

horrible. I was in the hospital from 2am this morning to 10 am.”

Asked yesterday where he thought he might have contracted the virus, he said he was not certain.

“I just don’t know. I don’t know,” he told The Tribune. “I been place to place so I really can’t say where I got it from. It’s other people who sick and catch the virus in Abaco too so I just don’t know, but I know I got it in Abaco.”

His comments come amid concerns on Abaco that there could be more infected people in the community.

According to the latest dashboard, the Abaco chain now has 28 confirmed cases.

The Tribune reported that several customs officers there had to be placed under quarantine after a worker was reportedly exposed to a COVID-19 positive patient.

According to sources, the patient, who lives in the Marsh Harbour area, tested positive for the virus earlier last week and had to be flown out to the capital. Sources close to The Tribune say

officials are still awaiting the test result of the customs officer.

This also comes a week after The Tribune spoke to another local who contracted the disease after being exposed to two workers employed at Baker’s Bay resort who tested COVID positive in July.

The Abaconian, who is currently residing in the Sandy Point community, is said to be doing fine.

Meanwhile, the 21-yearold resident who lives in Central Abaco maintains that none of his close relatives or friends have contracted the virus.

“I give myself fault because I didn’t know… but I glad the people who I been around ain’t catch it.

I glad they ain’t catch it,” he said. “For the people who know that they are sick, just stay from around people because they infecting other people and then that’s how the virus is spread.”

“If people just come out and say ‘I sick or getting symptoms’, go get tested.

Don’t wait around knowing you sick and going around people.”

SECOND COVID-19 WAVE IS WORSE, WARNS BARTLETT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net DR Frank Bartlett, the coordinator at the GB Health Services COVID19 Task Force has revealed that patients contracting the coronavirus in the second wave are “more sicker” and are hospitalised “much longer” than those in the first wave.

He also disclosed that manning multiple sites with staff to cope with the crisis are an issue in Grand Bahama, where active COVID-19 cases are nearing 400.

Dr Bartlett gave an update on COVID-19 in Grand Bahama last Thursday during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in Freeport.

He said the health team has recommended an extension on the lockdown restriction that is currently in place.

“Patients in the second wave, unlike what we would have seen in the first wave of COVID in the population, are staying much longer and they tend to be much sicker,” Dr Bartlett said.

Dr Bartlett indicated that there is still a lot of things the medical profession is learning about the virus.

He said that the jury is still out concerning the reinfection of COVID-19. “(There are) some preliminary data that suggest you do have some, but it varies,” he said.

When asked about the common cold and flu, Dr Bartlett said that physicians are so COVID-sensitive now that they tend to forget that there are other possibilities. “For us, we have to remind physicians there are things others than COVID that could present - that is a challenge all over. There is not a single day that goes by - it is challenging and foremost in everyone’s minds.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 11, 2020, PAGE 5

MAN ORDERED TO PAY THEFT COMPENSATION

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

KENNETH Farrington outside court yesterday.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

23-year-old on rape charge

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A 23-YEAR-OLD Grand Bahama man was charged with rape in the Freeport Magistrate Court yesterday.

Kenneth Farrington appeared before Magistrate Charlton Smith in Court Two. It is alleged that on August 4 at Freeport the accused had sexual intercourse with a 26-year-old woman without her consent.

Farrington - who was not represented by counsel - was not required to enter a plea to the charge. The matter was adjourned to November 30 for a Voluntary Bill of Indictment. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Renardo Smith, 39, of Freetown, East Grand Bahama, was charged with accessory after the fact in connection with the rape. He was not represented by counsel.

It is alleged that on the same date and place, the accused did assist and aid after the fact in the commission of rape of a female enabling Kenneth Farrington to avoid due process of the law. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor requested cash bail. Magistrate Smith granted $5,000 cash bail with one surety. The accused Smith was ordered not to have contact with the virtual complainant or witnesses in the matter, and to report to Central Police Station every Monday before 5pm.

FISHERMAN ADMITS ASSAULT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A 29-YEAR-OLD from Grand Cay, Abaco, was convicted of causing grievous harm after admitting to punching to a man in the face who was hospitalised after suffering a concussion and left with several missing teeth.

Elvardo Cooper, 29, was arraigned in the Freeport Magistrate Court yesterday before Magistrate Charlton Smith. He pleaded guilty to the charge of causing grievous harm to Valdez Gardiner, of Grand Cay on August 6.

According to the particulars, sometime around 6pm police were called to a disturbance on the main road at the government dock where they observed a man lying on the ground unconscious with visible injuries to the face and head.

As a result of police investigations and eyewitness accounts, Cooper was arrested and charged. When

ELVARDO COOPER asked by the judge why he did what did, Cooper explained he became upset when Gardiner had assaulted a girl (Gardiner’s niece). He claimed he had slapped the young woman, causing her to bleed at the mouth.

“I went to assist her,” Cooper told the court. He explained Gardiner then confronted him and tried to hit him first, and he punched Gardiner.

Cooper, a part-time fisherman, told Magistrate Smith that he was upset to see a man putting hands on a woman like that.

However, Prosecutor Garth McIntosh told the

court Cooper should be made to account for his actions. He explained that Gardiner had suffered serious head injuries and had to be hospitalised as a result of a concussion, and had five to six of his teeth knocked out during the altercation.

Prosecutor McIntosh reported Gardiner still has swelling and suffers from memory loss. “He does not remember the incident,” he said.

Cooper pleaded with the judge not to send him to jail because he is a father of two children, a one-year-old and five-month-old.

Magistrate Smith told Cooper while the man had allegedly assaulted a woman, he should have contacted the police instead.

He convicted Cooper of the offence and ordered that he pay a fine of $1,500, and $5,000 compensation to Gardiner. Failure to pay both the fine and compensation, Cooper will serve two years imprisonment at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

A 54-YEAR-OLD man was yesterday ordered to compensate a woman he stole more than $1,000 worth of building supplies from last month.

Patrick Gray was accused of stealing 32 bundles of shingles and 12 gallons of paint from a woman sometime between July 5 and 6.

The prosecution alleged the stolen items had a combined worth of $1,393.

The court heard the complainant realised that someone had broken into her residence to steal a number of items sometime during the first week of July. She told police she had not given anyone permission to enter her yard or home and filed an official report. As a result of her complaint, Gray was arrested. In an interview with officers at the Carmichael Road Station, he denied the allegations.

Still, when the defendant appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday, he pleaded guilty to the offence. As a result, he was fined $500 or six months at

the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

He was further ordered to reimburse the woman for the items he had stolen from her property.

Three other men also appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes for similar offences.

Bruno Cherfrere, 20, and Ashtin Forbes, 19, were accused of stealing and dishonestly receiving a green 2000 Honda Accord worth $3,000 on August 7.

The pair denied the allegations and the matter was adjourned to October 5 for trial.

In a separate incident, 21-year-old Laudel Ferguson was accused of trespassing on a man’s Bellot Road residential property to steal a 2018 Yamaha scooter sometime between July 17 and 18.

During the hearing, Ferguson pleaded guilty to stealing, but insisted he had purchased the bike from another person and had no knowledge of it being stolen. As a result, Magistrate Forbes said he would enter not guilty pleas to the charges and stood the matter down for trial on October 5.

ONE-YEAR’S PROBATION FOR DRUG POSSESSION

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 20-YEAR-OLD man caught by police with a weed brownie was placed on one-year probation by a magistrate yesterday.

Chrishon Forbes was charged with drug possession after officers seized 1.58 ounces of Indian Hemp from him on August 1.

The court was told officers were on mobile patrol when they observed a black car parked west of the Bank of the Bahamas. During a search officers discovered two clear ziploc bags and a chocolate brownie which they suspected contained a quantity of marijuana.

Forbes was subsequently arrested and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit.

There, he admitted to the offence in an interview with police. According to the prosecution, the drugs had an estimated value of $86.

Eddie Miller, 36, also appeared before Magistrate McKinney for possession after officers seized 1.9 ounces of Indian Hemp from his residence on August 9.

The court heard officers proceeded to Miller’s residence on the day in

question.

Upon their arrival, they showed the defendant a search warrant before beginning their investigation. During their search, officers discovered three clear plastic bags which each contained a quantity of marijuana in a gym bag that was lying on a bed in one of Miller’s bedrooms. After pleading guilty, Miller was fined $700 or three months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Meanwhile, Kesner Pierre, 23, was charged with dangerous drug possession with the intent to supply after he was found with 1.6 ounces of Indian Hemp on August 8.

The prosecution said that day, officers were on mobile patrol near Mildred Avenue when they observed Pierre sitting behind bushes.

The court heard Miller appeared to look in the direction of the officers before acting in a suspicious manner. They noticed Miller throw a silver foil wrap on the floor. When one of the officers picked the wrap up to examine it, he discovered a quantity of suspected marijuana inside.

Yesterday, Pierre pleaded guilty and was fined $500 or three months in prison.

BROTHER SLAPS SISTER IN THE FACE

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 28-YEAR-OLD man who slapped his younger sister in the face was charged with assault yesterday. Police arrested Jermaine Smith Jr after his sister reported him for slapping her on July 20.

Smith Jr admitted to the offence before Magistrate Samuel McKinnney and was ordered to compensate his sister $200. Magistrate McKinney also told the defendant if he is convicted of any other criminal offence within the next six months, he would be fined $150 or risk spending three months in prison.

A 26-year-old man was also yesterday charged with assaulting a woman. The incident allegedly happened on August 9. Shivarro Miller, 26, the prosecution alleged, threatened to harm the victim as well.

He pleaded guilty during his hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes, but said the incident arose from a “misunderstanding” between him and the complainant.

Miller claimed the two had gotten into an argument and when he hit the complainant “once”, she went to the police. Miller insisted they “both were fighting” and stated he was also hit during the ordeal.

After listening to his explanation, Magistrate Forbes told the defendant he would enter a not guilty plea and adjourned the matter for trial on October 5.

CHARGED WITH DAMAGING CAR

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A 32-YEAR-OLD man was charged with causing damage in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Deshawn Laing appeared before Magistrate Charlton Smith in Court One, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on August 5, the accused caused damage to a 2012 Honda Accord car GB5424, the property of Cheryl Taylor, in the amount of $1,190. The prosecutor’s objection to bail was denied. Magistrate Smith granted Laing $2,500 bail with one surety. He also ordered the accused not to interfere with the complainant or witnesses or his bail will be revoked. The matter was adjourned to November 30, 2020.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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When does a good deal become a bad deal?

BACK in July 2018, there was a bold promise.

A “very imminent” deal between Bahamas Power & Light and Shell North America would, we were told, bring Nassau “out of the dark ages”.

Goodness knows we’ve too often been left in the dark by BPL for ages, but this was a deal that would transform our energy sector.

We’re not sure what “very imminent” means to some, but more than two years on, it’s looking more likely there will be a divorce rather than a marriage between the two sides.

Two years ago, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister was saying that Shell’s solution was the “best option” and “we haven’t gone back to look at anything else since. We have no reason to”.

Yesterday, Mr Bannister is instead talking about not selling “the Bahamian people short” in negotiations and trying “to ensure every possibility is covered in protecting the country’s interest”.

Indeed, Mr Bannister goes so far as to talk about the prospect of “Shell, another partner or no partner”.

“We are dealing with an agreement that is going to last 20-25 years, so we have to ensure every possibility is covered in protecting our country and protecting our people,” Mr Bannister added. “Our people know exactly what to expect, and have done comparisons with similar projects. They know what they ought to be committing to and ought not to be committing to.”

This deal was supposed to be a game changer – instead now Mr Bannister is talking up the effect of the new Wartsila engines and the likely short-term benefit of a worldwide drop in oil prices. We absolutely need to get the best deal for the nation – but we also ought to know why the best deal two years ago is suddenly not the best deal now.

We barely seem to go a week without a reminder of the importance of sorting out our electricity supply. In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias, which thankfully did no major damage, we were still left with prolonged power outages for many and intermittent outages since.

Everyone knows the frustration of years on end with little confidence that the next year, the next summer would be any different than the last. Last year’s constant power problems were the last straw – destined, we were told, to be resolved by the Wartsila engines and the Shell deal. One of those has happened, the other is in the balance.

What the hiccup has been that has derailed plans has not been disclosed – and Shell seems to be losing patience, judging by noises coming from its representatives, including an opinion piece this week by its marketing general manager.

Will any light be shed on those problems? It seems unlikely at the moment.

Coming out of the dark ages seems further away right now – but when it comes to the reasons why, it would be good not to be left in the dark.

Leaders who are going nowhere EDITOR, The Tribune THE Tribune reported that there were 48 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday. That figure pushes the official tally to 878 cases, with 763 being classified as active. Dr Frank Bartlett, who heads the COVID-19 Task Force in Grand Bahama, stated that healthcare professionals of the Public Hospitals Authority on the island are overwhelmed and exhausted, due to the increasing number of new cases. I sincerely believe that the current second wave is one reason Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is more determined to implement curfews and lockdowns – much to the annoyance of the Bahamian public, who feel like their civil liberties are being trampled on. There are now calls for the removal of Minnis as prime minister. That will never happen.

Minnis, like Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip “Brave” Davis, has a stranglehold on his position. I mentioned Davis because a PLP stalwart councillor told me several months ago that he favours Exuma and Ragged Island MP and Deputy Leader Chester Cooper instead of the current leader whom he considers to be uninspiring. Like the few stalwart councillors who supported Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin at the PLP

convention in October 2017, this particular hardcore PLP supporter is in the minority. The way the Free National Movement (FNM) and PLP are structured, their respective leaders are virtually invincible. Moreover, the FNM General Council and the PLP National General Council are both stacked with loyalists of both leaders who would be ruthless towards dissenters.

If an FNM MP moves for a vote of no confidence in Minnis as prime minister, he will be immediately expelled from the party, with little hope for reconciliation. His political career would be all but finished.

Leaders of the two major political parties are rarely ousted from office, especially when they have led their parties to election victory. When they do move on, it is usually on their own terms. It happened with Sir Lynden O Pindling in 1997, after his PLP suffered a consecutive defeat at the polls in convincing fashion.

The late Edmund Moxey told The Tribune that a group of PLP backbenchers had given a vote of no confidence in Pindling at a PLP parliamentary meeting on Andros in 1969 – just two years after Majority Rule.

That was a year before the Dissident Eight moved for a vote of no confidence in Parliament, which was defeated. To the rank and file of the PLP, Pindling had

proven his political mettle with the 1967 and 1968 election victories.

Hubert Ingraham, the nation’s second prime minister, stepped down from the FNM for good, after the party’s humiliating defeat in 2012. Perry Christie, after losing his Centreville seat in the 2017 political wipe out of the PLP, retired from frontline politics. Both men, like their political mentor, walked away from their posts on their own terms. I believe that both men, had they chosen to, could’ve remained in their respective posts with very little opposition from their party stalwarts. Despite all the chatter in the market, Minnis is going nowhere.

Davis is going nowhere.

Granted, there were major changes and shake-ups in the FNM when it was led by Sir Cecil WallaceWhitfield, Sir Kendal G L Isaacs and John Henry Bostwick during the seventies and eighties. But that was before the party had achieved the ultimate political goal of winning an election, which would have solidified the position of the leadership. That’s why it was near impossible to remove Pindling, Ingraham and Christie. And that’s why the talk of removing Minnis amounts to nothing more than idle chatter.

KEVIN EVANS Grand Bahama August 9, 2020

To make wise decisions, we need the facts EDITOR, The Tribune COVID-19 started in December 2019; possibly earlier. In order to contain the virus, The Bahamas and countries around the world went into lockdown. We were asked to be patient and told the lockdown would not last long.

It is now August 2020.

The Bahamas is still in lockdown. The government is saddled with debt.

Unemployment is high.

Businesses are closed and many have little hope of reopening.

At the beginning of the pandemic, billionaire Bill Gates proclaimed that we would not return to normal until the majority of the population is vaccinated for COVID-19.

Recently Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said “there’s no silver bullet at the moment [for COVID-19] and there might never be.” He also said “we will not be going back to the old normal,” and “the new normal” – whatever that is supposed to mean – is the latest mantra.

Despite the message of doom and gloom from the WHO, treatment for COVID-19 is available. Several countries have approved the corticosteroid dexamethasone and the antiviral drug remdesivir as treatments for COVID-19 patients.

Hope may also lie with an inexpensive protocol used by Dr. Richard Bartlett, MD of West Texas.

He reports success using inhaled corticosteroid budesonide in a nebulizer, zinc and an antibiotic such as clarithromycin. Dr. Bartlett’s protocol looks promising and studies have begun.

Many doctors also report success with a combination of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), zinc and azithromycin. In July 2020, America’s Frontline Doctors (AFD) made a video about the success of this inexpensive treatment. The video was quickly removed from YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

When Google CEO Sundar Pichai appeared before the House Judiciary

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Committee’s antitrust panel, Rep. Greg Steube asked him why Google and YouTube allow violent content on their platforms but “silence physicians and their opinion of what can help and cure people with COVID-19.” Despite Google’s belief in “freedom of expression,” Pichai said that claims of a cure discussed in the AFD video violate guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and “could cause harm in the real world.”

The drug at the centre of the uproar is hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1955 (65 years ago); listed by the WHO as an essential medicine; and deemed safe by the CDC. In spite of the safe and successful history of HCQ, The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine jumped on the bandwagon to discredit HCQ and chloroquine (CQ) by claiming the drugs are not useful and can be harmful to COVID19 patients. Both medical journals were obliged to retract the papers because the data provided by Surgisphere Corporation was not accurate.

When COVID-19 first started in China, the disease could have been quickly contained but doctors in China were silenced. As a result, the disease spread around the world, people died, the world went into lockdown, and the economy crashed.

In the US, doctors risking their lives to treat patients are being censored, discredited, threatened and risk losing their jobs when they speak about treatments for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, self-appointed global health czar Bill Gates – who is not a doctor, has a vested interest in vaccines, and is using his wealth to determine our future – has an uncensored platform via all forms of media to map out the “new normal” and to promote unproven vaccines that are being rushed to market and

are potentially ineffective and dangerous.

In addition to the fiasco surrounding treatment for COVID-19, testing for the virus has been disappointing. Tests have not been readily available, test kits have been faulty, results have not been accurate, and people have received positive test results by mail even though they were not tested.

In order to make wise decisions we must have accurate information.

Tragically, critical data about COVID-19 is being suppressed and falsified.

Behind the scenes is a major power struggle at the highest level. We, the people, are tangled in a web of apparent corruption and deception; and we are disposable.

In order to protect our health, rights and freedom we must educate ourselves.

Health is wealth, knowledge is power, and the truth keeps freedom alive.

The book “Nature Cures: The A-Z of Ailments and Natural Foods” by N. H. Hawes contains a treasure trove of information about nutrition and health.

The discussion with Dr. Richard Bartlett and Dr. Mobeen Syed on August 01, 2020 is fascinating and explains how Dr. Bartlett’s protocol may help combat COVID-19.

The book “Confessions of an Economic Hitman”

by John Perkins provides insight into how governments, corporations and powerful organizations manipulate and exploit populations around the world.

Readers are encouraged to explore, build on and share this information so that we can stay healthy and chart a path forward.

This information is not intended to offer medical advice or to promote any individual, group or organization. Please consult with your doctor before using any medication discussed in this article.

Many thanks to The Tribune for supporting free speech and continuing to bring us the news.

FORWARD, UPWARD, ONWARD, TOGETHER Nassau, August 9, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 11, 2020, PAGE 7

PARADISE ISLAND HOME BADLY DAMAGED BY FIRE A HOME at Ocean Club Estates, Paradise Island, was extensively damaged in a fire on Sunday night.

According to Fire Services Director Superintendent Kenrick Morris the cause of the blaze is unknown at this time. No one was injured and a vehicle was also damaged, he said.

“The fire department received a call

sometime around 8.04pm of a building fire, Supt Morris said, “We cleared the scene around 9.42pm.”

The Tribune understands no one was in the home as the owners were said to be out of the country.

Superintendent Morris said authorities were trying to make contact with the homeowners.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

I

F ALL is well the latest national lockdown will lift next week. For that to happen experience tells us we will need to have seen a period when there were no new cases. This is what allowed our southern islands to be taken out of lockdown on Sunday.

Our hopes must be tempered by the reality that many people still don’t comprehend the make up of the virus responsible for this infectious disease and because of it, they may not be properly following orders meant to protect us.

One medical professional is seeking to change that by disseminating as much information as possible on SARS CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

For the past five months, she has been empowering members of the public with knowledge by educating on infection, prevention and control practices to reduce the risk of transmission.

Dr Theresa MoxeyAdderley has been at the forefront of community activism and service for many years now. I have seen her in action, and often with her husband by her side (which is extraordinary and commendable).

She is full of positive energy and works hard to make community causes come to life. Among them, she is the President of Zonta Club of New Providence and through this organisation, Theresa has been going into communities advocating for an end to violence, especially against women and girls. She has encouraged victims to speak out and has been big on educating the public on issues from health to family matters.

So it was no surprise to find her leading the charge in educating the public about COVID-19.

An Associate Professor of Nursing and Allied Health at the University of the Bahamas Nursing School, Grosvenor Close, her passion for the health of her people was heightened by this pandemic. To find solutions to help her fellow Bahamians, she conducted a research study on 162 college students aged 18 to 56 years to assess their knowledge, prevention and control practices of COVID-19. She also conducted a pre-test on nearly 3,600 professionals working in various fields during several workplace protocol training sessions.

These sessions were organised and facilitated by Early Access Training Centre.

Theresa is the Programme Director and she was instrumental in preparing these business owners and professionals for the reopening of their businesses after the first phase of lockdown was lifted by Prime Minister Hubert Minnis.

Her survey revealed that many people have a poor understanding of what a virus is to begin with. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered strain of the coronavirus. Some 80 percent of the students, and 98 percent of the non-medical participants responded incorrectly to the question: “Is coronavirus a living organism?”

THERESA, centre right, proudly flanked by a group of nursing graduates

From ‘playing doctor’ as a child, Theresa’s now in the frontline of our battle with COVID Because viruses are nonliving organisms, it requires people to transport the viral particles around to different locations and then on to surfaces like tables and doorknobs. The virus needs the host to touch the infected surface and transport the particles. So, the quick ride to an establishment can mean you touching an infected surface, then your face, and then it enters your body and replicates. In the study, hardly anyone recognised that element. Theresa said this is why the advice to stay at home during the pandemic is so important.

The widespread misconception about what viruses are and how they operate may have played a role in the spike in cases.

“A false sense of security has consequently manifested amongst the general public, leading to many believing that they were protected when they actually were not,” she explained. “Consequently, people took risky actions

they realistically should have avoided.”

Although 88 percent of the college students knew COVID-19 spreads via the respiratory droplets of infected people, 58 percent of them didn’t recognise the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 included symptoms similar to the common cold or flu.

If people don’t know the symptoms they have may actually be COVID-19, they may unknowingly put others at risk by not isolating themselves.

The survey also revealed almost half of the students went into a crowded place or joined a long line in the seven days immediately preceding the survey.

“Physical distancing, standing at least six feet away from people not in your household, is an intervention intended to control the spread of the coronavirus,” Theresa said, “While social distance is more toward reducing the amount of time going out into public.”

LEFT: Dr Theresa Moxey Adderley; above, Theresa and her mother, Reverend Thelcene Simms; right: with her husband, Donald Smith

“By reducing the frequency of physical contact with a potentially infected person, the disease can be suppressed, resulting in fewer cases.”

The study showed not enough people were adhering to social distancing guidelines, such as remaining away from gatherings and settings.

Back in mid-April during the height of the first wave, Theresa worked on developing several online Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) courses for preventing the spread of the infectious disease in the community.

Theresa noted: “In the third phase of reopening, we were able to continue with the online format and also meet in small groups.”

During the in-person training sessions, small droplets of “germ glow” were placed on different surfaces before the student registered. During the session, students were asked what they touched while waiting for class to begin.

Despite being re-sanitized in some instances twice before class, several individuals, after having the blue light shines onto their palms, still showed evidence of the germ glow substance.

By doing this exercise, Theresa was able to demonstrate to these professionals how to properly wash their

hands for a full 20 to 30 seconds, among other critical sanitization practices.

This wealth of knowledge in health and passion for people is the result of Theresa’s consistent effort to set the bar high for herself. She has always been a leader and displays this strongly in the health industry. Immediately after returning home from her studies, Theresa introduced the first Patient Care Technician (PCT) programme to the country in 1998. At the same time, she was integrally involved in the establishment of the first Bahamas American Heart Association Training Centre. Through her involvement, both programmes, the PCT/ PCA and AHA BLS training has become a household name in healthcare in The Bahamas.

Later, she joined the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals (UB) in 2000 and during her time as Chairperson, she was instrumental in seriously increasing graduating nurses from about 25 to more than 80 per year.

This move had an impact on national development.

Over the years, because of her vast experience, she has been invited across the globe as a presenter and teacher. Her most recent assignment was in Tangliao, China where she taught research to over 200 nursing students.

This pioneer in nursing in The Bahamas was born to Reverend Thelcene Simms, a native of Masons Bay, Acklins Island, a heritage of which she is proud. She has six siblings, and recalls her mother always told her she would be a nurse.

“I remember early on, I would play doctor in the yard with stray animals,” Theresa recalls.

“My brother and I would go outside and say we were attending to the sick animals. My grandmother was also my first human patient.

She was diabetic and blind, and I technically practised on her. My first job, however was at Doctors Hospital as a nurse’s’aide. At that time, there was no formal training for unlicenced assistive personnel. I was encouraged by the nurses there and I subsequently enrolled into the College of the Bahamas for two semesters. It was my mother who provided the financial support for me to enter into the program at

Miami Dade Community College.”

After Miami Dade, Theresa enrolled in Barry University where she obtained her Master’s Degree in Nursing.

She then achieved a PhD from Florida International University.

Her nursing career has now spanned over two-anda-half decades, including years as a trauma, intensive care, emergency, and transplant care nurse at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Florida. She has produced research papers on HIV/ AIDS, sexual health, gender and masculinity. She has presented her research findings around the world and is published in the West Indian Medical Journal.

She has worked at various universities and hospitals in the United States for over a decade before returning back home. She has taught thousands of her countrymen in emergency response from the Berry Island to Inagua, making life-saving programmes a reality in even remote areas of the archipelago. “I enjoy being a part of the healthcare system in The Bahamas and, however small, I feel like I am making a contribution,” she said.

One of her biggest contributions to the health system was assisting in preparing the School of Nursing for the transition from the College of the Bahamas to the University of The Bahamas. She held a key role in the implementation of the Bachelor’s of Nursing Programme, which replaced the three-year Associate of Science Degree.

As more businesses prepare to open at the end of the current lockdown, Theresa is consulting with many of them to prepare the administrators and owners to implement the necessary policies and procedures to protect their staff and customers. As an expert in her field, she will continue to offer IPC training for all types of business, as well as churches and schools.

Theresa is just as passionate about her family. She and her husband, Donald Smith, have five adult children between them and two grandchildren. She remains committed to her country and the health and wealth of Bahamians, and is doing her part to help her country successfully fight COVID-19

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 11, 2020, PAGE 9

REMEMBERING WHEN THE GUNS FELL SILENT IN 1945 THIS year is a sobering milestone in relation to the Second World War. It marks the 75th anniversary of its ending – VE-Day on May 8, 1945, which was the cessation of hostilities in Europe, followed by VJ-Day on August 15 when Japan surrendered to the Allies, the war in the Pacific was finally over and the Second World War was brought to a close.

There will be ceremonies in the coming days to commemorate Japan’s surrender. But these have been preceded by sad and dignified events last week to mark the 75th anniversary of the dropping by the US of atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - on, respectively, August 6 and 9, 1945 - in which an estimated 200,000 people died.

During the 1930s, Japan’s imperialist expansion and

A WOMAN prays for the victims of US atomic bombing at the Peace Park in Nagasaki, Japan at the weekend. the rise to power of its military helped to create a rift with the US as a rival power in the Pacific. In 1940, Japan signed a Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy and attacked Indo China, having already invaded China in 1937. This was quickly followed by a nonaggression treaty with the

The

Peter Young column IF you mention The Bahamas to people in Britain, there is likely to be a positive reaction because the country is seen as a most desirable tourist destination. Such is the country’s fine reputation, it is no exaggeration to say the name itself seems to carry a certain aura. Last week, however, it hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

As widely reported in the UK press, it was announced in London that Belgium, The Bahamas and Andorra had been added to Britain’s coronavirus quarantine list because of reported surges in the numbers of COVID19 cases in those countries.

This means that all travellers from them will be forced to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in the UK. For travellers in the other direction the new advice by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is to avoid all but essential trips.

This news is another blow to the Bahamian tourism industry that is such an important part of the nation’s economy and which is already suffering - with the latest Ministry of Tourism official figures showing an overall 99 percent year-over-year arrivals drop for June 2020 despite opening up to private air and sea visitors half-way through the period. The development also points again to the pressing need to keep the local economy going after it was so badly affected by the original lockdown in March.

From what I have heard, people are now questioning more vigorously the government’s latest handling of the coronavirus crisis and the need for another lockdown and curfew after the recent easing of restrictions. As everybody is now so well aware, a prolonged lockdown can be seriously damaging to society across-the-board but the

business community, in particular, has been reacting negatively.

The Prime Minister and his colleagues responded promptly and effectively in the early stages of the crisis by shutting down the airport, imposing restrictions on movement and introducing social distancing measures. The result was an extremely low infection rate and a small number of deaths. But this all changed when they took the decision to re-open the airport on July 1. Ministers were under heavy pressure to allow air travel again.

But, with the benefit of hindsight, it was obviously a mistake. Many people ignored the official advice not to travel to Florida unless absolutely necessary - for example, for medical reasons - and brought the virus back with them which seems to account for the spike in cases here. But, if that is indeed the case, some comfort can perhaps be taken that earlier the virus at home had been largely contained.

So, despite this increase, as long as those newly infected go into isolation and are carefully monitored, more and more people are now questioning the reasoning behind the new lockdown. As has been said so frequently, the key for the government is to find a balance between the science, health and safety and the economy.

No one doubts the seriousness and potentially deadly effects of COVID19, as well as the potentially damaging effects experienced by those who recover, as Dr Minnis explained in his addresses to the nation on Emancipation Day and on Sunday. Detailed information about the new infections has not been made public and, without having the full picture, one hesitates to comment. But, even if the total is now

Soviet Union, thus removing the latter as an obstacle to further Japanese expansion in Asia. At the time, America was largely isolationist though there were those who considered that an Axis victory (Germany, Italy and Japan) would place the world in grave peril so that assisting the

Allies would be important to the US’s own security.

In 1941, Japan regarded US sanctions – including the freezing by the US of its assets and an oil embargo - as a serious threat. Its infamous attack on Pearl Harbor followed on December 7 the same year, thus bringing the US in to the war. To Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime leader, there could be no doubt that once the sleeping giant was aroused there could only be one ending to the war, however long it took.

The rest is history. However, President Truman’s decision to use the atom bomb to force Japan to surrender remains controversial to this day on ethical, moral and even military grounds.

The Allies were already mounting conventional bombing

raids on the mainland of Japan after winkling them out of islands in the Pacific - with severe fighting and heavy casualties on both sides in, among many others, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. But the Japanese refused to surrender.

Truman’s justification for using the atom bomb was to avoid the massive casualties that would result from an invasion of the Japanese mainland. The Allies had earlier warned, through the Potsdam Declaration which outlined the necessary terms of a surrender, that Japan’s failure to do so immediately would result in ‘prompt and utter destruction’. They calculated that to force a surrender it would be necessary to demonstrate their overwhelming destructive capacity and that ultimately

this would save lives and further suffering.

Critics maintain that Hiroshima and Nagasaki amounted to a war crime because, instead of bombing citizens which was morally indefensible, a naval blockade should have been imposed and military targets chosen.

Nonetheless, the use of atomic bombs was widely welcomed by Americans at the time as deserved retribution against ‘a barbarian enemy’, though in more recent years people have been questioning its justification. But to the US serviceman on the ground who had already seen action in the Pacific, the end of the world conflict was a blessed relief because it meant he would stay alive and return home - and, in the famous words of one, ‘that ended the moral concern’.

We can’t be held hostage to fear, waiting for a cure while the economy dies approaching 900 and the death toll has risen to 15, the latest figures show only 35 have been hospitalised.

Presumably, some testing positive may only have a mild dose or may be asymptomatic. So, it is reasonable to wonder whether, in reality, the threat to others might be less serious than suggested - given that those infected should be compelled to self-isolate. In such circumstances, people ask if it is still necessary to plunge the whole country into another lockdown even more severe than the first?

Moreover, some people have been asking whether the Prime Minister is listening to those in a position to know just how seriously the economy is being damaged.

So it was encouraging to hear him say in his address on Sunday that a strategy for economic recovery was being finalised and that he would speak about it soon. Many will hope that, in particular, he will have something to say about small businesses which have been hit hard by the lockdown.

It is interesting that a body like the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce has warned that for many businessmen

PM Dr Hubert Minnis addressing the nation on Sunday the new lockdown is like being “handed a death sentence” and that, reportedly, Robert Myers, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) principal, has suggested the government should take a more strategic and selective approach by only closing down those parts of the economy considered to be at particular risk in relation to the spread of the virus.

This is significant because, rather than being home grown, the uptick in cases has been linked to those travellers returning from Florida. It is also instructive that the latest advice by the World Health Organisation is that ‘localised’ measures should be used to stem

COVID-19, rather than national lockdowns, due to the health, social and economic repercussions.

It has now become clear we have to learn to live with the risks of coronavirus until a vaccine is developed.

No one knows how long that will be. But, although the threat exists, there is a danger of being held hostage to fear. The evidence suggests that except for the elderly and vulnerable the risk is relatively low and it is important that individuals take responsibility for their own well-being by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

In such a crisis everybody ought to exercise discipline, show restraint and cooperate over social distancing

and the wearing of masks in the interests of national unity.

Meanwhile, perhaps policy-makers should now focus more on the bigger picture and take greater account of wider social and economic needs. In a small country, it ought to be possible to develop a more comprehensive and effective testing and tracing procedure to ensure that all those testing positive are quarantined to prevent transmission of the virus to others. Thus, it is heartening to hear about a new contact tracing command centre based at the Melia hotel on Cable Beach.

It seems we have reached the point when the current cure may be worse than the problem. Where there is an alternative of a more flexible and pragmatic approach, it does not make sense to risk destroying the whole country by stifling all activity. But, although he offered little sign of a relief from lockdown - apart from some Family Islands - people may have been partially reassured by the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on Sunday that at least the government has a grip on the situation.

AN UNSETTLING IMAGE ON THE STREETS OF LONDON I WONDER whether other readers of the UK press were as alarmed as I was to see photos of a masked group in paramilitary uniforms marching through the streets of Brixton in south London.

According to reports, the group is a mysterious new organisation, formed as recently as last month, called Forever Family. As a protest group, its declared aim is ‘to battle against racism, inequality and injustice’ and it appears to have been spawned by Black Lives Matter.

The march in Brixton, which is home to large numbers of Jamaicans, was in connection with a so-called Africa emancipation day at the beginning of August to mark the anniversary of the date in 1834 when Britain’s abolition of slavery legislation came in to force and to campaign for Britain to pay reparations for its role in the Atlantic slave trade. But already this organisation appears to be a far-Left protest group with wider political aims.

It is the case, of course, that in democratic Britain people are able

to express themselves freely and, if necessary, gather together to do so. That is key to a free society as long as such activity is peaceful and within the constraints of the law. The march in Brixton was indeed largely peaceful though, reportedly, the threat of violence was lurking just beneath surface.

Modern historians say this marching in the streets in paramilitary gear is frighteningly reminiscent of Oswald Mosley’s brand of fascists in the lead-up to the Second World War. In the 1930s, his ‘Blackshirts’ marched through - in particular - working class neighbourhoods of London, echoing the rise of fascism in Europe.

To ordinary people today, the march in Brixton was both intimidating and divisive. The Family Forever group is being compared with the Black Panthers in America which campaigned against police brutality in the 1960s. If it turns in to a violent extremist group, members of the public will surely demand strong action by the police before it develops further.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

IN VIRUS TALKS, PELOSI HOLDS FIRM; MNUCHIN WANTS A DEAL WASHINGTON Associated Press

SPEAKER Nancy Pelosi is not about to blink. The Democratic leader has been here before, negotiating a deal with the White House to save the US economy, and lessons from the Great Recession are now punctuating the coronavirus talks.

With Republicans again balking at big government bailouts, the Democrats believe they have the leverage, forcing President Donald Trump into a politically risky standoff over help for millions of Americans.

“It’s impossible to know whether she has overplayed her hand until we see if there is a COVID package,” says Michael Steel, a former top aide to thenSpeaker John Boehner.

Yesterday brought no new talks between Trump’s team and negotiators on Capitol Hill as the president tries a go-it-alone strategy. Over the weekend, he launched a series of executive actions that give the appearance of a White House taking charge but may end up providing little help for ordinary Americans.

The president’s orders seek to reverse the devastating fallout

from unemployment assistance, eviction protections and other aid that has expired. But there are limits, and legal pitfalls, in trying to make an end run around the legislative branch.

Pelosi dismissed Trump’s proposals Monday as an “illusion” in an interview on MSNBC. Trump acknowledged he’s still quite open to a deal with Congress. “So now Schumer and Pelosi want to meet to make a deal. Amazing how it all works, isn’t it,” he tweeted Monday.

“They know my phone number.”

With Trump now having played his hand, however, Democrats

appear in no rush to show theirs.

It will take days, if not weeks, to sort out what Trump intended with his executive actions, as guidance from the administration is sent to the states. Already, the Department of Labor is telling governors that Trump’s promised $400 weekly jobless benefit boost will actually amount to just $300 if states.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the Trump’s administrative actions as “all sizzle and no steak,” held together by “spit and glue.”

In the meantime, countless Americans are already feeling

the squeeze. What had been a $600 weekly unemployment benefit boost is gone, as are federal eviction protections. Schools that had been eyeing federal help now face the prospect of reopening on shoestring budgets.

The virus shows no signs of easing, with more than 5 million infections and 160,000 deaths nationwide and stark new evidence that many Americans’ jobs may never return.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, on a conference call with governors, said action by Congress remains the administration’s “first choice.

LEBANESE GOVERNMENT RESIGNS AFTER BLAST

UK FLIES OVER CHANNEL AMID MIGRANT CROSSINGS LONDON Associated Press

BEIRUT Associated Press

A ROYAL Air Force surveillance plane flew over the English Channel yesterday as the British government sought to stop a growing number of people making the hazardous crossing from France in small boats.

Britain’s government has talked tough amid a surge in the number of migrants crossing the Channel. More than 650 have arrived so far in August with pregnant women, babies and unaccompanied children among them..

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said trying to make the voyage was “a dangerous and criminal thing to do.”

LEBANON’S prime minister stepped down from his job yesterday in the wake of the catastrophic explosion in Beirut that has triggered public outrage, saying he has come to the conclusion that corruption in the country is “bigger than the state”.

The move risks opening the way to dragged-out negotiations over a new Cabinet amid urgent calls for reform. It follows a weekend of anti-government protests after the explosion in Beirut’s port that decimated the facility and caused widespread destruction, killing at least 160 people and injuring about 6,000 others.

In a brief televised speech after three of his ministers resigned, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said he and his government were stepping down.

“May God protect Lebanon,” he said, repeating the last phrase three times.

As he spoke, protesters demonstrated in the streets near parliament for a third straight day.

The moment typified Lebanon’s political dilemma. Since October, there have been mass demonstrations demanding the departure of the entire sectarian-based leadership over entrenched corruption, incompetence and mismanagement.

But the ruling oligarchy has held onto power for so long — since the end of the civil war in 1990 — that it is difficult to find a credible political figure untainted by connections to it.

Diab blamed corrupt politicians who preceded him for the “earthquake” that has hit Lebanon.

“They (the political class) should have been ashamed of themselves because their corruption is what has led to this disaster that had been hidden for seven years,” he added.

After the catastrophe, Diab had sought to stay on for two months to organize new parliamentary elections and allow a map for reforms. But the pressure from within his own Cabinet proved to be too much.

With the mass resignation, the call for early elections appears dead, so the same factions will debate on forming a new Cabinet.

A BORDER Force vessel assist migrants on board their inflatable dinghy in the Channel yesterday

Trump dramatically escorted from White House after shooting WASHINGTON Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump was abruptly escorted by a US Secret Service agent out of the White House briefing room as he was beginning a coronavirus briefing yesterday afternoon. He returned minutes later, saying there had been a “shooting” outside the White House that was “under control.”

“There was an actual shooting and somebody’s been taken to the hospital,” Trump said. The president said the shots were fired by law enforcement and that he believed the individual who was shot was armed. “It was the suspect who was shot,” Trump said.

Trump said he was escorted to the Oval Office by the agent. The White House was placed on lockdown following the incident.

The shooting occurred just before 6pm after a 51-year-old man approached a uniformed Secret Service officer near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue just blocks

PRESIDENT Trump returns after a security incident from the White House and told the officer he had a weapon, Tom Sullivan, chief of the Secret Service Uniformed Division, said Monday night.

The man then turned around and “ran aggressively toward the officer, and in a drawing motion, removed an object from his clothing,”

Sullivan said. The suspect then “crouched into a shooter’s stance, as if about to fire a weapon” before the officer shot the man once in the torso, he said.

Sullivan would not answer any questions at a late-night news conference near the scene and did not say whether the suspect was armed.

Both the suspect and the officer were taken to the hospital. The District of Columbia fire department said the suspect suffered serious or possibly critical injuries. Sullivan released no information about the officer.

Law enforcement officials were still trying to determine the suspect’s motive and authorities were investigating whether he has a history of mental illness. The suspect’s name was not immediately released.

“At no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger,” Sullivan said. The shooting has prompted an internal review by the Secret Service and is also being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, a standard protocol.

Trump praised the work of Secret Service personnel for their work in keeping him safe. Asked if he was shaken by the incident, Trump asked reporters: “I don’t know. Do I seem rattled?”

RACE TO EMPTY OIL TANKER BEFORE IT BREAKS UP JOHANNESBURG Associated Press

OIL leaking from the MV Wakashio, and right.

URGENT efforts increased in Mauritius yesterday to empty a stranded Japanese ship of an estimated 2,500 tons of oil before the vessel breaks up and increases the contamination of the island’s once-pristine Indian Ocean coastline.

Already more than 1,000 tons of fuel has washed up on the eastern coast of Mauritius, polluting its coral reefs, protected lagoons and shoreline.

High winds and waves are pounding the MV Wakashio, which was showing signs of splitting apart and dumping its remaining cargo oil into the waters surrounding Mauritius. The bulk carrier ran aground

on a coral reef two weeks ago. “We are expecting the worst,” Mauritian Wildlife Foundation manager Jean Hugues Gardenne said.

“The ship is showing really big, big cracks. We believe it will break into two at any time, at the

maximum within two days,” Gardenne said. “So much oil remains in the ship, so the disaster could become much worse. It’s important to remove as much oil as possible. Helicopters are taking out the fuel little by little, ton by ton.”

French experts arrived from the nearby island of Reunion and were deploying booms to try to contain any new oil spill, Gardenne said. France sent a navy ship, military aircraft and technical advisers after Mauritius appealed for international help Friday.

“The booms should be in place within hours, which we hope will help to protect the coastline from further damage,” he said.

The booms will boost the improvised barriers that thousands of volunteers in Mauritius created from fabric tubes stuffed with straw and sugar cane leaves.

Amid the rough seas, efforts were also underway to get other ships close enough to pump large amounts of oil out of the MV Wakashio.

B8WOMAN

THE TRIBUNE PAGE 8, Tuesday, June 9, 2020

BODY AND MIND

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2020, PAGE 11 THE TRIBUNE

“Farming is life” – Organic farm PMH BOARDERS seeks to help Bahamians get healthy SITUATION CALLS COUNTRY’S A TREATMENT OF ELDERLY INTO QUESTION

BY ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

lmost as soon as produce, the fish or you the conthe coronavirus sumer,” said Mr Russell. hit the Bahamas, As many Bahamians have the team at Blue started backyard farming while in Fields Farms quarantine these past few months, noticed an increase in the demand Tribune Health asked how imporfor local produce, and this in turn tant it is for this trend to continue. further emphasised for them the “There is nothing greater importance of food sustainability than being able to feed yourself, in island nations. and we’ve noticed that from the Edward Russell, marketing repnumber of questions enquiring resentative at Blue Fields Farms, about how to take care of our said the pandemic also forced live herbs. They have increased people to think about food secuover the past few months and in rity. Many were panic-buying and particular during COVID-19. We started to queue in front of food wholeheartedly encourage this stores from as early as 4am to subsistence farming trend that’s ensure they were able to get their come about as a result of COVID. groceries.

The greatest benefit that we have “The possibility of not having all gotten out of this pandemic is food available really scared the question of howmembers do we feed By CARA HUNTthis time and force those family just people during the the relatives to step comes to your mother or feel bad or they don’t care.” about what happens when ourselves and ourtofamilies, and Tribune Features Writer up to the plate. father, then yes, you will Alelia Smith feels the they are down and out with don’t want be bothered. first thing everyone turned to the action people have taken DAILY operations Blue Fields cbrennen@tribunemedia.net Others, however, feel take care of them and take hospital should be careful theiratrelatives.

Yes,steps it may be difficult and were the local farms,” said Ms to solve that question by starting Farms people should not be forced them in, but what if it is who they release the board“I think we don’t treat a financial challenge, but Russell. their own at home.

It’s an WITH a desperate need to our elderly with the respect that farms is where the Church “We had tons of requests fortake in relatives they someone like a distant aunt ers to. greenhouse.

We produce important and Iorganisabelieve toproduce. free up hospital space as are “I think sometimes, espe- they deserve, micro especially and question the other However, because we unwilling or financially or uncle who you may not typically would be invathat Bahamians have mustered COVID-19 cases continue to assist. have been that close to? cially in the case ofgreens a child,- itwhich once they are sick and tions can assist, and even value the relationships we’ve unable culto restaurants, whichwe areneedthe to answer it forcan themtotivated rise, Prime Minister Dr It is a debate that has Are you morally obligated is better that they be staysold right lid. As families, tocourage the government do with local food stores, we the It’s public.

We to selves.

It’s a beautiful Hubert Minnis gone on for years, and this to take them where now they available are. do to better. not fair put something likemovement,” offer a stiwere only able announced to provide folks producethe other vegetables for carsaid Mrpend, Russell. on Sunday governcould burden on a single and then we can use with boxesthat withthe items not soldweek in Tribune Health spoke in?

‘I think we don’t They also restaurants as she Swiss chard, Eating healthy, ment is looking to getting discharge with several readers on She added, be released to such egiver,” said. that $6m a yearorganically for other stores.

We’re still requests. treat our elderly kale, bok choy, spring onions and grown food, is especially PMH’s long-term boarders. both sides of the argument.

“I don’t agree be mistreated “If everyone chips in it things,” she said. imporHopefully we’re able to open a edible flowers, which could be easier; tant for Tanya Bahamians, In his on latest national “I think that this is just with naming with the respect and neglected. would be so much Johnsonmany hopeswho this storefront the farm in the near moved to food stores in the near are plagued with chronic noncomaddress, the Prime Minister sad,” said Shana Jones, “but and shaming You could be like you cover something, situation brings about sigfuture. We’ve been encouraged to they deserve, future,” Mr Russell. municable diseases. noted that the 30 boarders you have to remember eve- people because throwing themsaid maybe I can do something nificant change in how the do so.”

The fire farmelse, produces three to have “It’s elderly time that we all take a costBlue tax Fields payersFarms more isthan ryone has a story. We don’t you never know especially once into the but I think people are treated. an aquaof food moment “I to wish look the at what we put $6m room and board that know who these people are; their situation. they are sick out offive thetimes pot. thetoamount do better.

Evenper the poor government ponicin farming operation square metrepeople as opposed to con- they into our bodiesthink and where this annually. husband and invalid. As So you can’t at Geriatrics, would long-term: provides fresh, top quality some and people are stink their My ventional operations, food comes what’s actuToday,grown a notice appeared whole lives to other people and I live in a just let them agricultural just sit there all day staring build from an and apartment-style locally produce to Bahafamilies, we need be hereleased explained,and and they use up to comes inmians the local press asking the said and then whenupthey down totwo-bedroom hoping someone ally in complex it. We need where to decide people to eat in Nassau.

Mr Russell gearing to release market, this alternative can help to reduce percent less relatives the about 30 individuthey people forget apartment with whoever visit water them.”than con- healthier liketothat stayand andmore then livecan longer to do better.’ they areof all providing a want oregano andto thyme. the amount of imports needtoto 90 als who are currently beingfor how behaved. I’m not the ourworld, two kids unsuitable Crystal Cartwright, havelives.

NIB COVID pay and finally Social ventional agriculture, using only howfulfilling sustainable food source the they“Travelling around meet the need of the Bahamian boarded PMH to come saying one thatof these people and we just consumer.In don’t have the the water con- which ever, isthey someone famistore who in a thinks pushedServices, us to thinkand aboutthe the quesBahamasatand curbing the necesthe most common defitruth,person we sawmay it asbea onrain forward makeofarrangewere like that, we’ve but that can isspace to take sheand said. 180,000-gallon family be and lies again, can Bahamians help with have their tank. members must tion, sity for and imports produce that ciencies noticed the need wayintorelatives, give back totact thelist,” world ments the hospital. and to be honest, Brittany Thompson held accountable for answered the living Thechoice initial “Wetold are naturally organic since byexpenses. making the can bewith cultivated right here. be a turn-off.” for sustainable food production, that’s we whydon’t we’re so passionate Social mediaBlue was abuzz Carmen Bostwickinnoted the money to said helpMr Russell.

Tribune Health the plight pesticides boarders. and harsh to growinvestment may And be awith lot, harmful their own food.

Currently, Fieldsat Farms particularly island have nations. about it,” the news, with some people that often playin the anyone of home the PMH boarders are “It butoff I am the cost over nothurt usedmyasheart they about the time to sure actually get into produce an assortment of finances We’ve can been living Baha-but ourselves.

Blue FieldsSoFarms’ base chemicals saying a “name and shame” a role. mas for years, and as awhat would isshaming them people those I can’t time of would be less,” she kill the fish.people.

Our fish are help the growing the food, we could lettuces that make country a five-acre pieceshould of landencourage in the would approach is the best way “I think that when to have the conversation think some only of smile said.at the reception of the akin to the but canary in that the coal up the tobrand’s that imports most itof do. it’s They food, probably western already end of New Providence spring mixes, and we thought this would be a great near the Old Fort Bay Town mine. We don’t use any pesticides message that farmers the world that are not organic grade. We over have basically been preacha wide variety live place to start. We wanted to show Centre. herbs.

The team is Bahamians the possibility of “Our operation is con- use biological controls to combat ing for centuries:farming is life,” also currently aquaponic agriculture and how ducted in our 25,000 square foot pests, which does no harm to the said Mr Russell.

NATION MUST LEARN TO EAT HEALTHIER The benefits of stretching

processed sugars or dyes. Catered Fit endorses clean, healthy eating.

Therefore, your body will look IT’S no secret that better and feel Bahamians have a major

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net good,” she said. problem when it comes to Coming from a the consumption of fatty long line of cooks and unhealthy foods. The Classes feature 25 to 50 IT is never or it can be complex, but it’s and chefs, Ms Neslatest studies have shown minutes of deep and relaxing important to maintain some recommended PROFESSIONbitt said she always that 70 percent of the to jump into regularity in your stretch stretches, depending on the ALLY trainer enjoyed being in population is overweight. any workout life, especially if you are an type of class chosen, and will dancer Angelthe kitchen and Former Minister of Health include facts and important active adult or gaining age routine without ique Mackey experimenting Dr Duane Sands said last stretching and Remember, stretching is information on stretching, teaches the with ingredients. year that over 100,000 warming up the important link between health and wellness, trivia, importance“As time passed, Bahamians have either your muscles the sedentary life and the and a discount partnership of stretching I watched my dad’s full-blown diabetes or are active life. It keeps the mus- with Lisa’s Wellness Oasis, first. in new online health decline pre-diabetic.

According to cles supple, prepares you which offers organic products classes. rapidly because The answer to solvAngelique said with the Angelique Mackey, a for movement, and helps of diabetes. Then ing this problem is both professionally trained you make the daily tran- classes she hopes her stuyears later, my simple and yet difficult Bahamian to feel energised

by Catered when Fit Bahamas dancer, sition from inactivity to dents MEALS mother was diagachieve at the same time: stretching before any vigorous activity without taking on daily tasks and that is can currently ensuring give the nosed with the Bahamians have to learn a freshthat andwe healthy activity be onepursuing of undue strain,” said the dancer they gain Junkanoo-style, and her Masterthings of Science best quality pos- ethnic, same illness.

Their diagnoto eat healthier. perspective of what food stretchthe healthiest a told Tribune Health. our concern weekly for routine degree in Health and With her new classes, ing cansible.

Weimprove preparetheir paleo, tapsesinto raised me; Kadeisha Nesbitt, for do to person can do. then into our Nutrition even Education, keto, Whole30, this shook my end-of-year world. The whom good nutrition Stretching, and mental life. veg- and if Angelique hopes participants physical shows,” sheparents said. sufdecided to be launch etarian, and thought of my and wellness are a wayonlyhas Stretching has pescatarian been dance will join her on the journey to lightly, should And as Angelique always her own meal delivery dishes for our clients. fering from diabetes, and important component in life, wants to help make done daily for at least flexibility. for hipbeing hop choreservice called There are many health had mea love possibly diagdance career.

“And feeling better every Angelique’s minutes.

AndCatered to it easier for her fellow 10 was me alsoponder taught Bahamas. benefitsmany as it kinds relatesof to ography, teach people how day is just one more perk,” She studied nosed, she made countrymen and women Fit this style a goodjourney, friend, native,eating classical, she said. achieve sourcegreat our prowithinternationus; such as in on my by health to make the change to a to“We dances. also well-known flexibility and fluduce and poultry locally “I realised the lack of ally cultural the use of She all-natural because I dancer did notMarciano want to healthier diet. levelsproducts, onethroughno Darling. idity various through farmers, fun awareness of bodily health completed organic follow in their footsteps.

The 26-year-old, who from “I also learned and loved and easy-to-learn regarding stretching and how 11 of the American Acadprocesses, she has it prepares our body for the emy of Ballet performance different styles of ballroom launched a new simplest to the most strenu- awards, with gold and gold dancing, particularly salsa. In 2013, I competed in and won online stretch ous tasks. This class is also with distinction. class.

“My dance teacher, Mari- the South American Balldesigned to help athletes and “A full dancers take their flexibility lyn Deveaux of Virtue Dance room Champion title at the body stretch and muscle readiness to the Academy, would incorpo- BSSN annual dance competican be simple, next level.” rate lessons of jazz, modern, tion. Eventually, I decided to

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

This scenario prompted me to take my health more seriously and I began my health journey, which lead to me posting pictures of nutritional meals that I created on my social media platform. Posting invoked many requests for me to prepare meals for many individuals. Finally, I gave in, and Catered Fit Bahamas was born,” she said.

Ms Nesbitt said she ensures she stays up-todate with the health trends and new research by reading all the latest articles, blogs and other social media and networking platforms on the topics of food, health, and wellness.

She is hoping to finish the year strong with the take a of short break butsessoon launch educational sions will be again hosted startedthat performing wit once a results month to motivate Web and inform Bahamians hEurhythmics about eating healthy, to Search Results teach them how to break under the instruction of unhealthy habits, and Gabriella Once show themSzabo. how to lovemy time ended there, I freethemselves throughout lanced in different jobsfit.and their journey to getting worked with different dance, marketing, and modelling companies,” she said.

For more information on Angelique’s stretch classes, contact angelalexandriam@ gmail.com.

Why prostate treatments some PAGE 12 TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Ultrasound imaging does not for the use of PARP inhibitors in may determine their lifetime ris THE good news: prostate generally show the location of treating prostate cancer. cancer, if detected early, can be of prostate cancer and be eve The development of immuno- more diligent in early prostat prostate cancer lesions. The ultrasuccessfully treated, with a 98 sound guidance allows for the therapy and future vaccines for cancer diagnosis. Targeted mor percent prostate cancer specific anatomical directed biopsy of the prostate cancer is currently being intense prostate cancer screenin survival ten years after treatment. prostate. Ultrasound guided pros- investigated and has shown great for Bahamian men with BRCA Advances in prostate cancer tate biopsies can miss prostate potential. One type of prostate gene 1 or 2 mutations will hel detection in the past 20-plus cancer altogether or biopsy low cancer treatment vaccine called prevent prostate cancer death years have led to the advent of grade prostate cancer and miss Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) has by enabling earlier detection i he prostate cancer management higher grade prostate cancer. It is FDA approval for the manage- this high-risk group for prostat option of active surveillance; estimated that 25% of ultrasound ment of advanced metastatic cancer. whereby clinically insignificant guided prostate biopsies under prostate cancer patients with few early and low-volume prostate Doctors Hospital has avai stage or fail to detect prostate symptoms. Provenge helps the able to residents of the Bahama cancer can be actively monitored cancer that is present. Urolo- immune system to target prostate the state-of-the-art 3T MRI mag until the disease requires curagists can now use MRI prostate cancer cells. ive treatment. Many men with netic resonance imaging, that An important development in an important advancement in th images in real time with ultransignificant prostate cancer have sound guidance and specifically prostate cancer on the horizon diagnosis, surveillance and man been able to delay prostate cancer Dr Greggory biopsy suspicious prostate lesions is a simple urine test introduced agement of prostate cancer locall reatment for as long as eight, 10, even 12 years before curative Prostate cancer is a very trea Pinto and thus provide highly accurate in 2019, that makes use of urine prostate cancer detection. MRI samples taken at home. The PUR able disease but yet hundreds o management. prostate imaging has led to a con- (Prostate Urine Risk) test has Bahamian men are diagnose The unfortunate news: Bahasiderable reduction world-wide been pioneered to detect aggres- every year at an incurable stag mian men have a one in six in unnecessary prostate biopsies, sive prostate cancer and predict and far too many die unnecessa chance of developing prostate cancer in their lifetime. African multiple clinical trials has shown whereby biopsies are not per- which patients will require pros- ily from this disease. ancestry is a risk factor for a more that multiparametric MRI can be formed if the MRI has not shown tate cancer treatment within the From the age of 40 years old aggressive form of prostate cancer an invaluable tool in the diagno- prostate cancer suspected lesions. next five years. The PUR test has have a PSA (prostate specifi PARP (Poly ADP-Ribose Poly- the advantage of men being able antigen) blood test every yea hat affects such men six to seven sis, staging and active surveillance inhibitors for prostate to provide urine samples at home Early detection is the key to th years earlier on average than their of prostate cancer. Pre prostate merase) B7WOMAN other racial counterparts. BRCA biopsy use of MRI has been a cancer are an important advance- without the need for an uncom- cure of prostate cancer.

TRIBUNE Tuesday, December 31, 2019, PAGE 7 The PUR gene 1THE and 2 mutations have significant game changer in the ment in prostate cancer research fortable rectal exam. a relatively high occurrence in detection and stratifying of pros- and treatment in 2019. PARP is a test looks at gene expression in • Dr Greggory Pinto is a Baha Bahamian men. The BRCA gene tate cancer. MRI prostate cancer substance that blocks an enzyme urine samples and provides criti- mian urologist who has trained i mutation increases the risk of imaging can with high sensitivity in cells. In prostate cancer treat- cal information as to whether South Africa, Germany, Franc prostate cancer four-fold and the and specificity determine which ment PARP may aid in keeping prostate cancer if detected, is low and India. He is a member of th SLEEPEuropean apnoea andAssociation nocturia BRCA gene 2 mutation increases patients require prostate biop- cancer cells from repairing their risk or an aggressive form. The of Urolo are just two conditions that be reached a he risk of prostate cancer eight- sies and the imaging of the MRI damaged DNA, leading these PUR test research continues and gists. Dr Pinto can can prevent menCare from getold by the age of 70 years old.

Urology Bahamas at th prostate allows cognitive or real prostate cancer cells to die, as a it will hopefully be part of future ting the necessary amount The use of multiparametric time image directed biopsies of part of targeted prostate cancer prostate cancer diagnosis.

Surgical Suite, Centreville Med of shut-eye they need to Avenue an Genetic testing for BRCA gene bladder treatment.

PARP inhibitor treatMRI magnetic resonance imagcal Centre, Collins BAHAMIAN men are sadly suspicious prostate lesions. Tra- The other prostate condition recurrent with 6. Kidney stones stay healthyinfections and produce THE COVID-19 pandemic REM occurring in about 20 perindex and low testostermutations are available mentalmost has every an important role in ng ofwell theknown prostate for cancer Sixth in Terrace.

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Urologists help in treating tions that man could disrupted sleep. Weinare living obstructive sleep apnoea orof pros- bahamas.com, or visitlevels.

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Very recovery rarely is there in sex? at sometime to embarrassment.

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But if your shock ifObstructive it is good health limb men through tree-quar- possisleep apnoea is bances can lead to elevated levels activity of most of the hormone compassionate and comprehenolder in particular, ciation of Urologists.

Dr Pinto and dozens of othertoimportant urine should never be ignored as mitted diseases. change the course of your future.

The feet are the foun- feet are not in their corwith agood posturecommon ensur- condition relatively tersexperience of the gait (walking) bly the type of fatigue of thebestress hormone cortisol in the body. The sive urological be reached at Urologycare.

Care male health problems. may an early warning sign and9. secreting Interstitial glands Give the children that you have of ityour dation body; they rectly functioning position cystitis/painful can ing a stable frame.

But if faced by men in the Bahamas. cycle.

During this time, the 1. Erectile dysfunction and cancercortisol of the urethra, prostate, bladder that can be life-altering levels lead to lower hypothalamus and pituitaryBahamas gland at the Surgical Suite, the very best and have no future of high support above at all times, Debilitating more thisof With condition breath- everything you have postural musclesPoor in quality your hip Centreville Medical Centre, Col- Pinto is a erections, difficulty bladder, ureters, or kidneys. pain in the fears slight ofthis an unexpected pregnancy. reduces the quality of must the life for testosterone. areofparts the brain that control • Dr Greggory them, including the hips. shock is allowed to move ing becomes obstructed during imbalances and/or miscontract to keep your torso linsthe Avenue andboard Sixth certified Terrace. Bahamian maintaining an erection, poor Kidney stones and severe bladbladder with accompanying uri- by The procedure is reversible and those afflicted.

Symptoms such as waking up testosterone production to ensure you e-mail welcome@ something through and andcare sleep and the sleep cycle is dermore Callthat 326 1929, sexual infections could also present alignment, those can nary body urgency frequency it does notforces affect a man’sFeet sexualfunction from falling tosleep thepremature opposite A lack ofdesire, and lowejaculatesfatigued than when youthe first testes. urologist and laparoscopic benefit from urologycarebahamas.com, proper hip, • Dr Susan can like the basement of a weaken other joints includor Donald tion, curvature of the erect penis; as blood in the urine but seek the is the unfortunate existence prowess, desire or erections. deranged. gradually cause a variety of side. tosterone levels are strongly went to bed, daytime fatigue, lack The management of low surgeon. He has trained in knee and foot alignment. be reached at Life Chirovisit www.urologycarebahamas. are many of the common issues consult of an urologist to deterfor some men.

This condition 3.

BPH (Benign prostate house; if the basement ing the hips.

Normal sleep is divided painful conditions which Because of itsdeprivation structural can linked; sleep of concentration, low sexual drive testosterone istreated guided by the Germany, South Africa and hyperplasia) that the men face oftenbody in silencemay due affect mine thethe exact cause. is time often like mistakenly as com. to lose practic Centre, 9B Village You have doesn’t support weight There is no the into non-rapid eye movement not only your design, lead to lowerhuman testosterone and and erectile dysfunction might be cause.

Secondary or nothing organic France, and is a member of but leading that pain to in your CallAssociation 393-2774. of and rapid moveof the floorssigns aboveofit, low stresstestosterone. present to Men start chiropractic but anything from eye can usually deal effectively low testosterone can lead hips, to (NREM) hypogonadism low hip. the Road.

European ment sleep (REM).

The normal poor sleep. This vicious cycle who are known to snore loudly testosterone may be treated by Urology. He can be reached at of testosterone at night then have moments of testosterone replacement therapy has many men feeling fatigued production the OakTree Medical Center, throughout the day, experienc- requires undisturbed, restful sleep silence, with interrupted breath- in the form of testosterone intra#2 Fifth Terrace and Mount ing difficulty concentrating and that occurs in the rapid eye move- ing, may have obstructive sleep muscular injections, nasal sprays, Royal Avenue. Call (242) falling asleep very easily, even ment stage (REM) of the sleep apnoea. Obese men are at higher pellets, testosterone patches or 322-1145-7. E-mail welcome@ at dangerous times such as when cycle. risk of suffering from this. There gels. urologycarebahamas.com or NREM accounts for about 80 is a correlation between obstrucdriving.

Treatment of obstructive sleep visit the website www.urologyIn adult men, testosterone is percent of total sleep time, with tive sleep apnoea, high body mass apnoea has shown to increase testoscarebahamas.com.

men always feel fatigued

THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

Common male issues

DEALING WITH HIP PAIN

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU TO WEIGHT LOSS THE SECRET

Health Healthcoach coachEthan Ethan Quant, of Quant, ofElite EliteWellness Wellness Solutions, has succeeded Solutions, has succeeded ininhis hisweight weightloss loss ourney journeyand andnow nowwants wants totoshare his methods share his methods with withthe theBahamas Bahamasin inan an effort efforttotofoster fosteraaculture culture ofofwellness wellnessand andconquer conquer the theobesity obesityepidemic. epidemic.

ETHAN QUANT

FIRSTLY, want to wish all me of A LOT I of people ask you happy newtoyear.

2020 for athe secret my May 110-pound beweight your loss. best The year thing yet, and bringI is, when tell good them health, exactly what I did,and one you happiness of the first things they say is, “Oh, prosperity.

HEALTH COACH IIcan’t do thatlove because... (feelyear. free personally the new to fill is in awhatever youand feel There certain reason freshness is a good one) into two main parts: diet and energy thatenough is unmatched at any It wasn’t until after I became nutrition, activity.you other time during the year.

Lit- that if youand arephysical really serious a health coachyear that When it comes to eating for erally you and havelifestyle the entire wouldn’t wait until the new year I developed appreciation for weight loss, my personal and ahead of youtheand that means start working on a isnewto you. the fact not everyone can to professional opinion do here are that countless possibilities They also say setting New Year’s just change their behaviour.

Actuthings that are going to be susand opportunities. truly working on becoming th is athe complete waste of failure and that you should give can stay on track together. ally, percent the resolutions tainable over long term.

You Thisless is athan greattwo time to setofnew best version of yourself. up on setting goals and working We will cover: time. global population can change a really want to avoid programmes goals, commit to new habits and ThisSchiefelbein/AP is an exciting time and towards them.

It might just mean • Goal-setting and action plan I wholeheartedly disagree with behaviour cold turkey. rest of during that an require cut outin any CHINESE scientist He The Jiankui speaks interviewyou at histolaboratory Shenzhen in southern China’s Guangdong province.

Photo: Mark actively work on being better am grateful that I get to shar that you can try another way to development. both of these simply because you us, that 98 percent, really needs to of the macro nutrients totally. his year than you were last year, • Progress tracking and with you so that we all can be i aloneas determine when get it done. change gradually time.

The you macros, they are called, mproving on all over of the aspects and a better place at the end of 2020.

This being the first month of the monitoring.

So with that said, here is the are carbs, proteins and fats.

The you are ready to make the change. hat you may have fallen short in “secret” to sustainable weight key is to be aware of the amount You deserve to be happy an year, I am going to be sharing in • Building your support system.

So if this is the time of year that years past. loss.

Youthat may this you of calories fromyou, each of depth with you my top strategies These three topics are essential you deserve to get everything yo decidedcoming is best for then I know thiswant timeto ofwrite year has are eating.a system Something to burnthe a particular stick it it! if you actudown.

Theinto secret toofsustainable these want.toSo let’swith get to to developing that else will going to creating structure amount that will likely getgroups. to it. Another major key you also turned a bit a cliché. let’s helped meyou a lot calories breathing. weight loss is to burn more calo- isNow to cut foodslike as that not only keep on was trackcookwith ofenable youjust to by be you successful.

The ally enjoy it. if out you processed are anything The “New Year, New You” has ownallfood. because caloric deficit you that if Quan you ries than you consume. That’s me much possible. to ing Youpromise can contact Ethan yourmy goals year,Mainly but ensure that You bestcan partcreate aboutathis is that youby can I •can youas have set You Newwant Year’s gotten a bad rap because many knew whatthem.

I wasI will putting in it adding extra physical activity to doatthose things you will not only it; there is no magic pill or silver resolutions make smallinchanges over time so Iyou ethan@elite-wellnesssolu smash be using then take these same principles. the past and probpeople (personal development bullet programme. that your body and your mind can and so I knew that I was eating your daily routine. It could be as lose weight, but you will keep it And apply them to other areas tions.com or on Instagram at @ failed sticking to them. It’s examples for my personal jourandThe self-help gurus feelin ably weight lossincluded) marketing adjust to them. Our focus isn’t just healthier because of how I was simple as taking the stairs instead off. Remember, if you would like hat it’s all just “BS”.

They say ethanquant.

OK, that doesn’t mean you are a ney, past and present, so that we of your life to ensure that you as are help elevator, or as engaging with this or any part of your the US alone is estimated at over on losing weight but being able to preparing my meals. Your guid- of the $72 billion. That’s a lot of money have sustainable weight loss over ing light when it comes to diet and hiring a personal trainer or going health, wellness and fitness jourbeing spent on pills, powders, the long term. Also, find healthier nutrition is that you want your into a group fitness programme ney, feel free to reach out to me BEIJING scientific toresearch to to enter initially in an apartmentseveral in wrote in an addressed bringing this case to meals be balanced. days a email week.

Whatevertoward directly. potions and programmes. I triedbothalternatives foods thatthe youAIDS like. virus Associated in a bid to give the physical Shenzhen, a city in Guangto the to AP; and send a strongEthan Quant Regarding activity, the you decide do,the justdirector like withclosure” • You can contact my fair share of Press them myself, yetand It’smedicine, important accordthat youa cell, actually other Xinhua.

It also girls the abilitysingle to resist the important dong province thatto borders the US Instimost thing your offood, youNational want to makemessage at to discourage ethan@elite-wellnesssolunothing was more effective thaning to like what you aresaid eating because CHINESE scienwork. (Doudna is paid had are fabricated ethicallikely infection. identity ofis that Hong Kong. tutes of Health,that Dr Francis you want to be sure it’s something you actu-suchtions.com or on Instagram at @ burningAmore calories than I con-theyyou much more to stickTheremember tist who set off an ethical review documents. the Howard Hughes not beenwith It clear isif the Collins; and gene-editing consistent it. wasn’t Your body ally enjoy.

Because you are moreby ethanquant. sumed.

So let’s break this down The to court it if also youconfirmed enjoy the the foodchildren that has debate with claims that he released, and it isn’t clear if three-year prison term pioneer Jennifer Doudna Medical Institute, which

CHINA CONVICTS RESEARCHERS INVOLVED IN GENE-EDITED BABIES had made the world’s first genetically edited babies

a third birth, saying the researchers were involved

the experiment succeeded.

The CRISPR tool has

includes any of the time he has already spent in Chi-

at the University of California, Berkeley.

also supports AP’s Health and Science Department.)

PAGE 8, 8, Tuesday, January 7, 2020 PAGE Tuesday, January 7, 2020 THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2020, PAGE 13

THE TRIBUNE

Is there a direct link between New advances in New advances in Makeup pornography and erectile prostate treatments prostate dysfunction young men? made in intreatments

Ultrasound imaging does not for the use of PARP inhibitors in may determine their lifetime risk THE good news: prostate generally show the location of treating prostate cancer. cancer, if detected early, can be of prostate cancer and be even The development of immuno- more diligent in early prostate prostate cancer lesions. The ultrasuccessfully treated, with a 98 sound guidance allows for the therapy and future vaccines for cancer diagnosis. Targeted more percent prostate cancer specific anatomical directed biopsy of the prostate cancer is currently being intense prostate cancer screening survival ten years after treatment.

EVERY man will face some investigated and has prostate. Ultrasound guided pros-imaging Advances in prostate for Bahamian with BRCA forgreat the use of PARPmen inhibitors in may determine their lifetime risk Ultrasound does notshown THE good news: cancer prostate form of erectile is his tate biopsies can miss prostate potential. One type of prostate gene 1 or 2 mutations will help detection in dysfunction the past 20-plus prostateprostate cancer.cancer deaths of prostate cancer and be even generally show the location of treating cancer, ifhave detected early, can be cancer treatment vaccine called cancer altogether or biopsy low years led to the advent of prevent lifetime, whether it takewith the form The ultraof detection immuno-in more diligent in early prostate successfully a 98 grade prostate prostate cancer andcancer miss lesions.

Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) The has development the prostatetreated, cancer management by enabling earlier of percent poor quality erections, diffiapproval the managehigher grade prostate It is FDA option of active surveillance; for prostate soundcancer. guidance allows for forthe therapy this andhigh-risk futuregroup vaccines for cancer diagnosis. Targeted more prostate cancer specific ment biopsy of advanced metastatic estimated that 25% of ultrasound whereby clinically insignificant cancer. culty maintaining an erection, or anatomical directed of the prostate cancer is currently being survival ten years after treatment. intense prostate cancer screening guided prostate biopsies under prostate cancer patients with few early and low-volume To prostate Doctors Hospital has availpremature ejaculation. attain investigated has shown great for Bahamian men with BRCA Ultrasound guided pros- helps Advances prostate cancer symptoms.

Provenge the able toand stage or fail toprostate. detect prostate cancer can in be actively monitored residents of the Bahamas and sustain erection, man potential. type of3T prostate biopsies misssystem prostate detection in the requires past acura20-plus cancer that is tate present.

Urolo- can immune to target prostate until the an disease the One state-of-the-art MRI mag- gene 1 or 2 mutations will help cancer gists can now use MRI prostate tivehave treatment.

Many men with netic resonance imaging,called that is prevent prostate cancer deaths requires an adequate penile bloodof vaccine cancer altogether or cells. biopsy low cancer treatment years led to the advent images in real time with ultraAn important development in an important advancement in the insignificant prostate cancer have supply andable nerve supply and suffiSipuleucel-T (Provenge) grade prostate cancer and miss the been prostate cancer management sound guidance and specifically prostate cancer on the horizon diagnosis, surveillance and has to delay prostate cancer man- by enabling earlier detection in Dr Greggory biopsy suspicioushigher FDA approval thecancer managegrade cancer. is introduced option of active surveillance; cient male hormone testosterone, prostate lesionsprostate is a simple urine It test treatment for as long as eight, agement offor prostate locally. this high-risk group for prostate Bywhereby ALESHA without and thus provideestimated in 2019, that makes use of urine of Prostate highly accurate 10,other even clinically 12CADET years before curative cancer ismetastatic a very treat- cancer. ment advanced that 25% of ultrasound insignificant among physiological com- or night out Pinto prostate cancerguided detection.prostate MRI samples taken at home. The PUR able management. disease but yet hundreds Tribune Features Reporter constant reapplication prostate cancer patients with fewof biopsies under early and low-volume prostate Doctors Hospital has availponents.TheBut the psychological prostate imaging has led to a con- (Prostate Urine Risk) test has Bahamian men are diagnosed unfortunate news: Bahaacadet@tribunemedia.net helps stage the able to residents of the Bahamas stage world-wide or fail tobeen detect prostate cancer actively and emotion contribution can or touching up. This siderable reduction pioneered to detect symptoms. aggres- everyProvenge miancan menbehave a onemonitored in six year at an incurable system target prostate the state-of-the-art 3T MRI magthat is sive present. until the disease requires cura- thought was before in unnecessary cancer prostate Urolocancer and immune predict and prostate biopsies, of developing prostate far tootomany die unnecessarhave achance potentially profoundly negwhich patients will require pros- cells. arecan not now per- use cancer in their Many lifetime.

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THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

Paradise THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

‘Porn is rewiring the brains of many young men. Research is showing that watching even three hours of porn a week can cause structural brain changes in regards to sexual stimulation.’

Dr Greggory Pinto

B8WOMAN

Gospel singer immortalises her DEALING WITH HIP PAIN kids’ upbringing in new book

prostate that cancer research fortable rectal exam.

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I know that you, you can choose to in some way. the rest of 2020 and I am support everything above at all times, more of this Darndest Things’ andmust it’s you have slight postural muscles in your hip Quant, of Elite Wellness Vanessa said she hopes my two amazQuant, of Elite change for the better too. you did too, because you super exciting about all Weproudly have all suphad make shock CELEBRATING top imbalances Bahamian ingand/or the community.

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Education helps painful conditions which Because of its structural spend more time with their world.

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May 2020 dren who got their hands even criticised loves them – and scholarship courtesy of the Oaktree innovation and the advancement ness a part of that. Make antine to become better.

I of 2020 to look forward your best year yet, and bring ingbe project 12, who is on it have not been able to I fall out laughing during take toohe said. effort toCentre. foster a isandforever.’ thatofIyouth,” Medical that love eating more fruits and vegwanted to use this time as to.

So as we make prepayou good health, happiness • Health coach Ethan every episode.

But guess because a decorated pictures put the book down. That prosperity. a of corporate partner, HEALTH Oaktree many Among her many accomplishand less fast food an opportunity tostories improve etables, rations for so transitioning culture wellness what?

We all have Quant, of Elite Wellness student. herAs daughCOACH made me feel good.

I and too many I personally love the new year.

Medical Centre Director Dr and Donhave ments, Raquell hasthey raised $5,000 all areas of my and processed foods a part into thisare “new normal”, that, inabout growing ter V’ajha illustrated theand videos There is a certain freshness think drawn to the I likemyself too many Solutions, has succeeded and conquer the Diego Deveaux expressed full sup-postsforabout a breaststories cancer initiative energy that is– unmatched atofany his learned new we skills, of the new normal. Let’s and Ithe crazy things want to encourage book’s cover a drawing where these you girls to up,life.

Facebook in his weight loss journey already.

We saw thatmy for purchase otherof time during the being year. Lit-done obesity epidemic. port the work the towards the of ports that by if you arebut really seriousare you RAQUELL with (from left) mother Dr Sharmaine Stuart and father Casand said to Stuart our make regular exercise and old parents projects, make health, wellness and didcompleted the sisters from an actual outsmart their father and children… they erally you have the entire year most and now wants to share of us our lives pretty wouldn’t wait until the new year Bahamas Primary School Student of for cancer survivors for chemoand vice versa.

These stosius Stuart, attorney Tanya Wright, and Vandyke Pratt, chairman of Bahamas picture. part of it.when There and started new exciting meditation a part of our I fitness all the atime...Even said Vanessa. ahead of you and that means mine,” to start working on a new you. his methods with the much came to a standstill, the Year and the They accolades therapy.

She also author ofthan ought to be shared not of the Ithere WANT to acongratuPrimary School Student Yearnormal.

Foundation. are Foundation countless possibilities V’ajha, now seventh read it,time she killed “I have of isV’ajha new Let’s make is nothe better now riesones. also saytaken setting many New Year’s and opportunities.

Bahamas in an effort to bestowed upon students. a book soon to be released called “Proand we have had to figure only to capture history and grade student at St Paul’s truly working on becoming the failure and that you should give can stay on track together. herself laughing and asked, hilarious posts waste aboutof late This youis afor making this those resolutions is a complete It was hard on some doing things that protect to start or continue workgreat time to set new best version of yourself.and emotional up on setting goals and do working Wedays, will cover: lighthearted memories but time.

“At Oaktree Medical, we are not tect Your Cupcakes – Understanding & Methodist College, was foster a culture of wellness ‘Mom, did we really you raising my daughters and PHOTO: Andre Conliffe out how to navigate this far into 2020.

I know it our mental being confined and ing on becoming the best goals, commit to new habits and This is an exciting time and I towards them.Yes, It might mean • Goal-setting andsomebody’s action plan Ibut wholeheartedly disagree with to brighten up named Grand Bahama’s this?’ youjust surely the great times we sharedBreast as like only focused on patient care also Fighting Cancer.” actively work on being better and conquer the obesity new and unprecedented has definitely been one health a part of our new away from the gym, not version yourself.

The thing am grateful that I get to share that you can try another way to development. of these simply because you this year than last year, a both she said. did.it done.

Every story a true family and immortalised Top Student inyou thewere Bahamas so that we all can be in • being Progress and with you normal. epidemic. abletracking to run outside, with all of isthe other day,” for the record books Everyone and you alone determine from when getis, Health coach improving on all Ethan of the aspects time.

DEALING WITH HIP PAIN

NEW YEAR, MEDICAL GROUP MAKE FITNESS A PART OF YOUR ‘NEW NORMAL’ NEW YOU SPONSORS STUDENT

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU LIFE LINES – OR A MIND CHANGER CHOICE: CARE LESS? YET? HAVE WECARE LEARNED ANYTHING ETHAN QUANT

that youof mayElite have fallen short in you are ready to make the change.

Quant, Wellness So if this is the time of year that years past.

I know thathas this time of year has you decided is best for you, then Solutions, succeeded also turned into a bit of a cliché. let’s get to it. in his weight lossYou” has Now if you are anything like The “New Year, New gotten a bad rap because many me you have set New Year’s journey and now wants resolutions in the past and probpeople (personal development and self-help gurus included) feel ably failed sticking to them. It’s to share his methods that it’s all just “BS”. They say OK, that doesn’t mean you are a with the Bahamas in an effort foster culture LIFE isto full of surprises WHICH category you and fall THIS year that isado almost done frequently blindsides us, as we into?

In this instance, I am sugbeen filled with changes ofhaswellness andmany conquer have collectively learned with the gesting thatand caring meansone youortake for me, although two the obesity epidemic. current coronavirus pandemic. charge your life, make were of more thanown a little challeng-

But likeatand almost all events in all life, positive decisions ing the thoughtful time, have now FIRSTLY, I wantthey to wish of mostlytoturned out toor potendespite tragedies setand contribute inhave athe meanyoutrya the happy new year.

May 2020 tially positive outcomes as I look backs, there is year usually upside ingful waybest to the well-being of be your yet,anand bring forward. to all of it ifhealth, we care toassociates look and or, your family, friends, you good happiness Usually I don’t reviewthe my year more importantly, change way and other people around you in prosperity. at community. the traditional New Year’s we look at it. your You understand I personally love the new year. stage, but wait until my birthday For instance, I know it isisoltion a unithat nothing happens in There is a certain freshness and ineven February to none take stock oflike the versal truth that of us and the smallest action has energy that and is unmatched any negatives positives at before the curfew lockdowns, another effect. timea or during the year. drawing linethe under them Litand especially since it is the not Apathy, meaning you thinkyear or erally you have entire visualising what I something would like we chose tothe do as and individuals but care less, is of action. ahead of youopposite means to make happen in that the coming was imposed upon albeityour for It there means youus,think arethat countless possibilities months. our own and the participation isis common unnecessary and and opportunities.

This year ending ingood. a totally This is a way great time set one new Being forced stay in you are willing toto allow things to different than Ito originally goals, commit to new andit place and nobutthem contact allowed happen, permit tohabits be done anticipated far from feeling work better is anor ending – Ion ambeing imbued with unless in the same physical toactively you for you with little interyear than were last year, an ofyou thefor spirit asthough well as household is hard everyone, estthis in uplifting the outcome, even improving onof all of aspects a deep gratitude and posincluding those of us the who live you will sense react to somthing you itivity havenow arrived atthe the that you mayI have fallen short in alone.

It’sthat true we have don’t like. placepast. am supposed to be emoyears benefit ofI the internet and comSocieties work best when everyand Quite Iisknow that time of kind year has munication of intellectually. athis is a onetionally engaged indifferent the process and surprise to me, although I take turned into a bit of aascliché. available 24/7. thealso outcome.

Participation and a moment to really think about The “New Year, You”have has I’m probably in New the people minority, understanding you it, there are means several who gotten a bad rap because many but I loathe telephone calls and “skin in the game” and you care have contributed todevelopment this mental people rarely initiate ones, as enough to (personal take positive action to shake-up by personal causing me to think and self-help gurus included) feel my long-suffering will ensure a benefit or“BS”. afriends reward for differently some of that it’s all and just re-assess They say attest, Iproductive avoid video chats like everyone yourself.

The my and lessincluding thoughts and the plague. current challenge work habits. of this coronaviNevertheless, know it has rus epidemic and Itrying to control been a lifeline for almost its progress is of up sorts to each one of everyone else toaction be able to actions stay in us. It requires and contact know that loved ones from alland of us to protect ourselves and each other. It will not do to be

ETHAN QUANT

This being the first month of the year, I am going to be sharing in depth with you my top strategies to developing a system that will not only keep you on track with your goals all year, but ensure that you smash them. I will be using examples for my personal journey, past and present, so that we

Life lines

HEALTH COACH that if you are really serious you wouldn’t wait until the new year to start working on a new you.

They also say setting New Year’s resolutions is a complete waste of time.

I wholeheartedly disagree with “Sometimes we all needyou a both of these simply because andLife-line you alone determine when and sometimes you to is make the change. allare weready need a Life-line” So if this is the time of year that apathetic andis indulge wishful you decided best for in you, then and friends are safe.you do or don’t thinking that what let’s get to it.

We need helpmakes of some many families (although doFor as all one person nosort difNow if you are anything like from time to abusive time, even helpers not those in situations) feence.

The point is it does.

Every me you haveI have set been Newblessed Year’s need help and itsingle has one had ofin a us positive impact of has theand potential, resolutions the past probwith friends, old and relatively sharing more daily life and conknowingly or unknowingly, to ably sticking to It’s new, failed who supported methem. in variversation perhaps the are usual contaminate someone or be ous ways - sometimes before Ia OK, that than doesn’t mean else you hurried breakfast/off work/ infected ourselves. even recognised that Itoneeded coming home/ some For the time tired/watch being we their assistance and anyway, sometimes TV/go to bed,the routine. must wear masks when in I am and hoping has given us all public notitremove them to time reflectIand weseen havepeople taken speaktowhich have advantage of it tothe pause anda think do thus making use of mask pointless. We must remember

Victoria Sarne

monitoring.

• Building your support system.

These three topics are essential to creating the structure that will enable you to be successful. The best part about this is that you can then take these same principles.

And apply them to other areas of your life to ensure that you are

a better place at the end of 2020.

You deserve to be happy and you deserve to get everything you want. So let’s get to it!

• You can contact Ethan Quant at ethan@elite-wellnesssolutions.com or on Instagram at @ ethanquant.

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THE APPLIANCE OF SCIENCE TO GIVE BARBIE A MAKEOVER SALT LAKE CITY

Nadkarni joined a team

astronaut in 1965.

perceptions

about

what

MIND OVER HEART?

PAGE 14

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020

THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLECTUAL COMPATIBILITY IN ROMANCE

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net A NEW popular meme on social media proclaims: “Females be having all types of degrees crying over a man with only a birth certificate.”

The message seems to imply that too often women are wasting their time with men who are “beneath” them when it comes to education; men who literally only have a birth certificate to their name and no academic degrees.

The question for today

then is what does “beneath” someone mean, and do degrees from colleges and/ or universities really reveal the true measure of a man?

Tribune Woman asked our readers for their opinion on how important intellectual compatibility is in romantic relationships.

“For me, lack of education is a definite no,” said Anna, a 34-year-old attorney.

“I dated a guy who had only graduated high school when I was in college and I have to say home boy was dumb. Some of the things he would say would make me cringe. In the end, I

knew he would just end up annoying me. My experience with him made me decide that I wanted to only date professional men.”

Anna is currently dating a banker and she said things are really good between them.

“We get along great. I like to debate and he can hold his own. I really think that education is an important factor for me anyway.

Intellectual compatibility is very important. It will affect how you handle your finances, how you raise your children, and who will become a part of your

circle of friends and associates, and anyone who tells you that it doesn’t matter, I think they are naive,” she said.

Freddie, who owns her own business, agrees.

“I think that it’s not just if you have a degree, but more that you have the mindset to improve yourself. I know men who aren’t college educated, but they are well-read and they watch the news, and so that makes them smart and makes them a great catch,” she said.

She added that while the chance is greater that an

educated man will have his finances in order, you can also get men without a college degree who know the value of a dollar and who are ambitious in there professional pursuits.

“You can have someone who works very hard to make a good living and that is admirable and attractive,” she said.

Stacey said her definition of the “beneath me” concept is a man who cannot provide her with the standard of living she is accustomed to.

As an accountant, she noted, she makes a “nice

salary” and enjoys a good life.

“I do think that there is a correlation between education and salary. So for me, I want someone who makes more than me. I’m oldfashioned like that. I don’t believe that women should make more than men, because in my experience a man can’t handle when a woman is smarter than him or makes more money than him, so why even go there?

I ain’ trying to have to feed no man’s ego. I want him to feel like we are at least equals in our mentalities,” she said.

SPORTS SIX STRAIGHT SECTION E

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2020

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

he Phoenix Suns had some nervous moments early on with Deandre Ayton on the sidelines but were able to right the ship and keep their undefeated streak alive in the NBA bubble.

Ayton came off the bench to finish with 10 points and six rebounds in just 17 minutes to help the Suns improve to 6-0 with a 128-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

The second year centre missed his COVID-19 testing window on Sunday but was able to rejoin the team after he returned a negative test yesterday afternoon.

Suns head coach Monty Williams told reporters Ayton made an “innocent mistake” by missing his testing window.

“You get confused by it (getting tested every day). You have to give people grace,” he said. “He’s not the only one who’s done that since we’ve been here.”

Ayton arrived at the arena with the game in progress and watched the entire first quarter from the sidelines, periodically on a stationary bike while the Suns fell behind by as much as 15 points.

He entered the game in the second quarter, scored four points on a Phoenix run that cut the lead to four (49-45 ) on a Cameron Johnson four-point play.

Once the Suns returned to full strength with Ayton in the lineup, they dominated the remainder of the game and outscored the shorthanded Thunder 42-27 in the second, 33-17 in the third and 30-20 in the fourth.

The only undefeated team in Orlando, the Suns have two seeding games left in the regular season.

They complete a back-to-back today against the Philadelphia 76ers and close out against the Dallas Mavericks for a second time on August 13.

At 32-39, Phoenix is now one game behind the Memphis Grizzlies (33-38) for the No.8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They are also just 0.5 game behind the Portland Trail Blazers (33-39) for the No. 9 spot.

The remaining schedule for the Grizzlies includes matchups against the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks while the Trail Blazers will face the Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets.

T

SEE PAGE 17

Ayton and Suns in win column again

OKLAHOMA City Thunder’s Chris Paul (3) is pressured by Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton during the third quarter yesterday in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

(Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

‘BUDDY’ AND KINGS ELIMINATED FROM NBA PLAYOFFS CONTENTION

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Sacramento Kings have been eliminated from playoff contention for the 14th consecutive season.

Buddy Hield had his best shooting performance of the NBA seeding games thus far with 16 HIELD points on 6-11 shooting (4-9 from three), but the Kings lost 129-112 to the Houston Rockets Sunday night in Orlando, Florida.

Sacramento fell to just 1-5 in the bubble and were officially eliminated from the postseason by halftime of their game once the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Kings are the third team to be eliminated from playoff contention in Orlando thus far, joining the New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards.

The Kings’ postseason drought is second only to the Los Angeles Clippers who missed the playoffs for 15 consecutive years.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kings went on a surprising 13-7 win streak to work their way back into the playoff picture that was followed by a series of underwhelming performances in Orlando.

“We have to understand and change our mindset as far as what it takes to win,” said Kings head coach Luke Walton.

“We have a very good group of guys and the main thing I hope we take from this whole bubble experience is learning that lesson firsthand.”

The Kings conclude their 2019-20 season against the New Orleans Pelicans (August 11), and Los Angeles Lakers (August 13).

“I fully expect our main guys to play and to play at a hard level,” Walton said. “These are two more great opportunities for us.

We have to be ready to go and take advantage of this opportunity.”

Tennis player Shepherd will stay at home until January

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH the collegiate sports programmes taking shape in the landscape of the coronavirus pandemic, tennis player Iesha Shepherd will be one of those Bahamian student-athletes who will be staying at home until January.

Shepherd, one of the top female players in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, should have already reported to Jackson State University to begin her senior year with the Tigers tennis team. But JSU advised all of their international students last week to stay at home until January and continue their studies online, due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus in the United States.

The 21-year-old Shepherd, who transferred from Chicago State University, feels the move will benefit her in the long run as she will still have a chance as a junior to play tennis, although she will be a senior academically with her major in accounting.

While she will be preparing to graduate in May, Shepherd said she will have the luxury of returning to JSU to complete her senior year and at the same time pursue her master’s degree.

“It’s good and bad, but I’m okay,” said Shepherd, whose classes will commence next week.

“I’m managing because I did online in high school when I left Queen’s College, so everything is fine.

I’m just glad to be home. I haven’t been home this long in about six years.”

Shepherd, who at the age of 16 left QC for California where she participated in Long Springs International, enrolled in their online classes as she pursued tennis.

“This is probably like nine months that I will be home until December,” she stated.

“I feel lost because I haven’t done it in a long time, so I’m still trying to find how I can enjoy this.

“I’m really in my room during the lockdown, having just finished my summer classes two weeks ago so it’s mind-boggling.”

IESHA SHEPHERD Instead of going through her offseason routine to get ready for the upcoming season and juggling her time with her classes, Shepherd said she’s adjusting to the new norm that she’s engaged in.

“I know the bigger picture and I realise all that is going on,”’ she said as she reflected on the pandemic.

“My body needs this break. I’m feeling stronger because I’m more relaxed.

I think this is good and bad for me.

“At least I’m taking my vitamins on time to deal with my asthma, I’m learning how to play my guitar again, I’m starting yoga and I’m spending more time with my dog, Star, but I think the most important thing is my mom and my parents are happy that I don’t have to travel right now.”

Shepherd, the daughter of Vernita Ellis-Daley and Ivan Shepherd, said she has been instructed by the coaching staff at JSU to continue to work on her game so that she can be in her typical playing condition when she reports to school in January.

“We have a group chat called the SWAT chat and we have two of our personal trainers and our head coach and our assistant coach in the group with our teammates, so we are constantly in touch with each other,” Shepherd said.

“So since March when school shut down because of the coronavirus, they have been on us. Literally, there is a new workout

session every day and nutritional facts of what we have to do during the quarantine period at home.”

With a Nike app to monitor the required time they take to train on a personal level, Shepherd said their conditions will show whether or not they are ready to play when they return to school.

“We are on scholarships, so the least they expect for us to do is to keep our bodies in tact because once January starts, we will have to compete against each other to see what’s the lineup,” she pointed out.

“So if you are not in shape, you will not be in the line-up.

“So what’s your purpose being there. They are constantly on you, reminding you what you have to eat and what exercises need to be done, so they are on us to show that they care and they want the best out of us.”

Listed as the number two seeds in their conference when they started the season, which was called off in March before they could play because of the

coronavirus, Shepherd said they had a chance to win the title, but they will never know.

“We were looking at the possibility of winning the title and going to the NCAA Championships and then this whole outburst happened,” reflected Shepherd, who was listed at number two on the team in singles and was also included in doubles.

Prior to going off to school, Shepherd has enjoyed a wealth of success as the former junior national champion, having won the 2015 BLTA Giorgio Baldacci National Tennis Open at the National Tennis Centre to earn her third berth on the Fed Cup, adding to her initial appearance in 2014 and her last in 2017.

She’s hoping that when she’s done with her collegiate career, she will begin to make her mark as a senior player on the international tour.

If that doesn’t work out, Shepherd is hoping her accounting degree will propel her into the job market.

PAGE 16, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

PHILLIES HIT 5 HOMERS TO BACK NOLA, BEAT BRAVES 13-8

By ROB MAADDI AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Didi Gregorius hit a grand slam, Bryce Harper blasted a three-run shot and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 13-8 last night, giving Aaron Nola his first win in nearly a year.

Nola (1-1) allowed one run, two hits and struck out 10 in eight innings.

The ace right-hander was 0-5 in nine starts since his last win at Boston on August 20, 2019.

The Phillies had lost Nola’s last nine starts, scoring only 27 runs combined in those games.

Roman Quinn, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto added solo shots for Philadelphia, which bounced back after getting swept in Sunday’s doubleheader to earn a split of the fourgame series.

The Phillies jumped on Braves lefty Sean Newcomb (0-2) in the first when Harper drove a 3-1 pitch way out to right-centre into Atlanta’s bullpen, setting off air horns and cow bells from fans gathered outside the stadium.

The group, which calls itself the “Phandemic Krew,” has grown from a few people to more than 30.

connected off Nick Pivetta, who yielded six runs and recorded just one out in the ninth. Austin Riley hit a two-run shot off Trevor Kelley before the sidewinding righty got the final out.

STRIKEOUT MACHINE Nola has 14 doubledigit strikeout games in his career and two in a row for the second time. He fanned 12 in a 3-1 loss to the Yankees last Wednesday.

FRANCHISE FIRST The Phillies had four homers and scored 10 runs within the first two innings of a game for the first time in club history, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

PHILADELPHIA Phillies’ Didi Gregorius rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam off Atlanta Braves pitcher Robbie Erlin during the second inning yesterday in Philadelphia.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Some folks bring ladders to peek into the ballpark and others sit on lawn chairs. They watch the game on a television hanging on a brick wall in Ashburn Alley out in left-centre field.

Gregorius made it 10-1 during a seven-run second inning that chased Newcomb. Quinn started the inning with a liner out to left. After Realmuto’s RBI single ended Newcomb’s

night, Gregorius launched Robbie Erlin’s first pitch into the right-field bleachers for his sixth career slam.

Newcomb surrendered eight runs and six hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Travis d’Arnaud hit a solo homer off Nola, who threw just 89 pitches but was denied an opportunity for his first career complete game in his 130th start.

Johan Camargo

Fight mars A’s 9th straight victory, 7-2 over Astros

By The Associated Press BENCHES cleared and even the stands emptied during Oakland’s 7-2 victory over the Astros on Sunday, tempers flaring at last between the AL West rivals months after Houston’s sign-stealing scandal was brought to light by Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers.

Oakland’s Ramon Laureano got hit by a pitch — for the third time in the threegame series — this one

by Humberto Castellanos with one out in the seventh.

Laureano began exchanging words with animated Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, then left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began sprinting toward him.

BRAVES 5, PHILLIES 2 (1st game) BRAVES 8, PHILLIES 0 (2nd game) PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ronald Acuna Jr homered twice and Freddie Freeman also went deep to spoil Spencer Howard’s big league debut and Atlanta Braves completed a sweep of the doubleheader with an 8-0 win in the second game.

Acuna also homered in Atlanta’s 5-2 victory in the first game. He had four hits in the second game and added his his fourth career multihomer game.

The Phillies had waited since the restart to send Howard (0-1) to the mound.

INDIANS 5, WHITE SOX 4 (10 innings) CHICAGO (AP) — Delino DeShields snapped a tie with a perfectly placed squeeze bunt in the 10th inning to lift Cleveland.

DeShields’ bunt drove in José Ramírez, who started the inning on second as part of baseball’s extra-inning rule for the pandemicshortened season. Mike Freeman added a two-out RBI single that gave Cleveland a 5-3 lead.

Veteran left-hander Oliver Perez got the final two outs following a 46-minute rain delay for his first save. It was just the fifth save of his 18-year career.

ROYALS 4, TWINS 2 KANSAS CITY, Mo (AP) — Hunter Dozier hit a two-run single in his first at-bat since testing positive for COVID-19, and prized

prospect Brady Singer earned his major league win to lead Kansas City.

The Royals won their fourth in a row overall.

The Twins lost all three at Kauffman Stadium and have dropped four straight.

Dozier hadn’t played this season while recovering from the virus. He quickly delivered, putting the Royals ahead 2-0 in the first inning.

RANGERS 7, ANGELS 3 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell was charged with a rare four-base error when a fly ball from Texas’ Nick Solak popped out of the rookie’s glove and flew the few remaining feet over the fence in the Rangers’ win.

The play was initially ruled a home run for Solak, but the official scorer changed it to an error after consulting with the Elias Sports Bureau.

Texas completed a threegame sweep as Lance Lynn (2-0) earned his 100th career win, losing a shutout on Tommy La Stella’s tworun homer in the fifth.

BREWERS 9, REDS 3 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich homered, tripled and drew a basesloaded walk Milwaukee got its first home victory.

The Brewers avoided falling to 0-5 at home for the first time since 1970, the franchise’s inaugural season in Milwaukee.

Justin Smoak broke out of a slump and delivered hits from each side of the plate during a six-run rally in the sixth that put the Brewers ahead for good.

Milwaukee poured it on in the seventh with back-toback homers from Keston Hiura and Yelich.

METS 4, MARLINS 2 NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom dodged trouble for five innings, rookie Andrés Giménez had three hits and scored three runs, and New York won a home series for the first time this season.

DeGrom (2-0) allowed two runs and seven hits, marking the 25th time in his past 27 starts he permitted three runs or fewer.

Jesus Aguilar hit a tworun homer in the fifth for the Marlins, who lost their second straight after getting off to a 7-1 start despite 18 players testing positive for the coronavirus.

OAKLAND Athletics and Texas Rangers scuffle after Athletics’ Ramon Laureano charged the dugout after being hit by a pitch thrown by Astros’ Humberto Castellanos during the 7th inning on Sunday in Oakland, California.

(AP Photo/Ben Margot) RED SOX 5, BLUE JAYS 3 BOSTON (AP) — Mitch Moreland hit two home runs, including a walk-off shot over the Green Monster to lead Boston.

Xander Bogaerts drew a two-out walk from Thomas Hatch (0-1) to set up Moreland’s game-winner. Matt Barnes (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth to get the win. The Blue Jays now head to Buffalo, New York, where they’ll play their remaining home games at the site of their Triple-A affiliate across the Niagara River from Canada.

Rodriguez (0-1) scored Jonathan Schoop, who was hit by a pitch with two outs and took second on a wild pitch.

Turnbull (2-0) allowed only one run and five hits while striking out four and walking two.

RAYS 4, YANKEES 3 ST. PETERSURG, Fla. (AP) — Michael Perez had an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning to lift Tampa Bay. Mike Brosseau started the ninth with a double off Zack Britton (0-1) but was thrown out at third on Brandon Lowe’s grounder.

Lowe advanced to second on a wild pitch before Manuel Margot walked.

After both runners advanced on Willy Adames grounder to first, Perez lined a single to right as the Rays took three of four from the AL East leaders.

DODGERS 6, GIANTS 2 LOS ANGELES (AP) — AJ Pollock and Mookie Betts each hit a three-run homer to rally Los Angeles past San Francisco.

The Dodgers have won nine of 12, and they took two of three in the series from their NL West rivals.

Their 29 long balls lead the majors.

With the Dodgers trailing 2-0, Cody Bellinger singled off Giants starter Kevin Gausman with one out in the seventh inning and Justin Turner followed with a single off submariner Tyler Rogers (1-3).

Max Muncy took a called third strike, but Pollock sent a full-count pitch to left-center for his fourth homer and a 3-2 lead.

Betts’ shot in the eighth made it 6-2.

Jake McGee (1-0) got the win with a hitless inning.

Mike Yastrzemski had a two-run single in the fifth for the Giants.

TIGERS 2, PIRATES 1 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Spencer Turnbull pitched seven strong innings and Miguel Cabrera singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth for Detroit.

Cabrera’s single to leftcentre field off Richard

MARINERS 5, ROCKIES 3 SEATTLE (AP) — Justus Sheffield pitched six shutout innings for his first major league win, Dylan Moore hit a two-run homer and Seattle slowed down Colorado. Sheffield (1-2) gave up four hits without a

walk and struck out seven in his longest stint this season.

He worked his way out of a jam with a strikeout to end the fifth, then sat down two more Rockies in the sixth before reaching his pitch limit.

Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a firstinning double for Colorado.

The loss snapped a threegame win streak for the Rockies, who had won seven of eight in August -including two straight over the Mariners.

PADRES 9, DIAMONDBACKS 5 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Dinelson Lamet was brilliant in taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Fernando Tatis Jr continued his remarkable power surge with a two-run homer off winless Madison Bumgarner, who allowed four of San Diego’s club-record six long balls as the Padres beat Arizona.

Manny Machado homered twice off Bumgarner. Wil Myers, Francisco Mejia and Ty France also went deep for San Diego.

Lamet (2-0) had allowed only one baserunner, on a hit by pitch, until Kole Calhoun homered leading off the seventh. The right-hander struck out 11 and walked none in 6 2/3 innings.

The Padres remain the only major league team without a no-hitter, having played 8,154 games since 1969 without one.

TRAINER’S ROOM Braves: LHP Cole Hamels (shoulder) still hasn’t thrown off a mound but manager Brian Snitker said there’s still hope he pitches this season.

Phillies: RHP David Robertson and LHP Ranger Suárez are throwing at the team’s complex in Clearwater, Florida. Robertson, a former closer, is returning from Tommy John surgery. Suárez tested positive for COVID-19 before the season.

AP STUDY: MLB AVERAGE SALARY UNDER $1.3M, SCHERZER TOPS LIST NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball’s eye-popping salaries took an astonishing dive during the coronavirus pandemic to their lowest level in nearly a quartercentury, according to a study by The Associated Press.

Washington pitcher Max Scherzer topped the shortened season’s list at $17.8 million, his income partially protected by a huge signing bonus. That is the lowest amount for baseball’s highest-paid player since Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kevin Brown made $15.7 million in 2000.

Players receive about 37 per cent of their 2020 pay under the formula agreed to in March by MLB and the union, a figure the union wound up keeping during bitter negotiations that failed to produce an agreement.

Scherzer’s $210 million, seven-year contract includes a $50 million signing bonus — baseball signing bonuses are distinct from salaries and not subject to reduction. His $35 million salary, which is entirely deferred, was sliced to $12.96 million.

MLB’s initial proposal in late May would have cut the highest-paid stars the most, and Scherzer’s 2020 salary would have been reduced to about $4.85 million. The union fought to keep the prorated pay called for in the March deal, while MLB argued it needed additional cuts to play in empty ballparks. As a result, MLB called for the shortest schedule since 1878.

LA Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was second on the opening day list at $16.3 million, boosted by a $23 million signing bonus.

LA Angels outfielder Mike Trout was third at $15.8 million, followed

by San Diego shortstop Manny Machado ($15.1 million), Houston pitcher Zack Greinke ($14.1 million), New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole ($13.3 million), Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado ($12.96 million), Houston second baseman José Altuve ($12.63 million), Astros pitcher Justin Verlander ($12 million) and Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg ($11.7 million).

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 11, 2020, PAGE 17

LEBRON James (23) and Anthony Davis (3) celebrate last night after defeating the Nuggets.

(AP)

Heat close in on No. 4 seed with 114-92 win over Pacers

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — Jimmy Butler returned to the Miami lineup and everything started clicking again for the Heat.

Butler returned from a foot injury and scored 19 points, Derrick Jones scored 18 off the Miami bench and the Heat kept T.J. Warren largely in check on the way to a 114-92 win over the Indiana Pacers last night.

Butler also had 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

“He was dictating the game,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

“The ball was going through him.

That’s the definition of a go-to player.”

Tyler Herro scored 17 while Duncan Robinson and Jae Crowder each added 14 for Miami, which snapped a two-game slide.

ORLANDO, PORTLAND VIE FOR MLS CHAMPIONSHIP LIKE NO OTHER

By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — In a year like no other, this will be a championship like no other.

Orlando City and Portland will meet in the MLS is Back tournament finale tonight, with the winner hoisting a trophy less than 24 hours before the league resumes its revised regular season in home markets.

It’s a strange situation, for sure, but given how the sports world unravelled and changed in 2020, it might just be a fitting end to an event that set a Guinness World Record for being the largest single-location soccer tournament. The World Cup-style format included 51 matches over 45 days at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex at Disney World.

The tournament nearly got derailed early, with Nashville and Dallas having to withdraw because of numerous positive COVID-19 tests, but there have been no coronavirus setbacks since. Just entertaining soccer.

Orlando and Portland emerged as the best of the bunch, both relying on staunch defence to get to the championship match.

“Defenders, sometimes, they don’t get the credit when you’re winning games,” said Orlando coach Oscar Pareja, whose team hasn’t allowed more than one goal in any tournament game. “Normally we focus on the spectacular part of the game, and that’s great. … If the team keeps defending in that manner, I think we’ll have a bigger chance to win.”

The Heat took control for good in the third quarter, blowing open what was a tie game with a 35-17 run. Goran Dragic scored 11 and Bam Adebayo added 10 for Miami.

Warren scored 12 for Indiana on 5 for 14 shooting in 29 minutes.

He came into Monday averaging a bubble-leading 34.8 points per game on 61 per cent shooting from the field, 56 per cent from 3-point range, but never got rolling against Butler and the Heat.

“They came out as the aggressor and they made shots,” Warren said of the Heat, after Miami improved to 3-0 against Indiana this season. “They’re a well-coached team. They play hard.”

Victor Oladipo scored 14 and Malcolm Brogdon added 12 for Indiana.

Miami moved a game ahead of Indiana in the race for the No. 4

seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat (44-27) and Pacers (4328) both have two games left, and sixth-place Philadelphia (4228) ends its regular season with three games in four days starting Tuesday.

The Heat own the tiebreakers over both Indiana and Philadelphia, so one more Miami victory would lock up a spot in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 series that will start early next week.

The teams play again Friday in the seeding-game finale for both teams and could meet in the opening round of the playoffs that start next week — raising the possibility that Miami and Indiana could face off as many as nine times in a 10-game span.

It was the first meeting between the clubs since January 8, a game in Indiana where Butler and Warren’s individual matchup stole the show.

What happened that night, in seven seconds of court time, has been talked about for seven months since.

Warren grabbed Butler’s arm on a drive midway through the third quarter, and the reaction by each player resulted in double-technicals.

Butler fouled Warren on the next possession, Warren taunted him with some clapping after the call and got ejected.

Butler blew kisses his way, Warren offered an obscene gesture in reply and both players got fined.

“It’s not about Jimmy and T.J.,” Pacers coach Nate McMillan said.

“It’s about Miami and Indiana.”

Butler might have taken it personally anyway. He guarded Warren on 25 possessions yesterday; Warren scored only two points on 1 for 3 shooting during those trips.

GOOD EFFORT Adebayo and Oladipo both ended up on the floor going for a loose ball in the first quarter. As play went the other way, Oladipo scrambled to his feet before Adebayo did — then extended a hand to try and help up Miami’s centre.

Small problem: Adebayo has 45 pounds on Oladipo. Hence, the effort didn’t work; both laughed about it.

SOME DEFENCE Tied at 48-48 at the break, it was only the third game in the NBA’s bubble where neither team reached the 50-point mark in the opening two quarters. The other games on that list: Toronto leading Miami 48-44 on August 3, and the Los Angeles Lakers leading the Raptors 44-41 on August 1.

UP NEXT Pacers: Play Houston on Wednesday. Heat: Play Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

In Portugal, probes and attacks a routine for soccer clubs

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer PORTUGAL is taking centre stage for soccer during the next two weeks — a country where rivalries between clubs go well beyond the field of play.

The decisive stages of the Champions League will begin tomorrow in the southern European nation where back-andforth accusations and legal actions involving the country’s top teams are routine.

Club officials are not afraid of attacking each other publicly. The government is often probing teams for alleged wrongdoing. Not even players and their agents are free from controversy.

It wasn’t long ago that search-and-seizure operations took place simultaneously at the headquarters of Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon, the country’s three biggest clubs. It happened just before the coronavirus pandemic struck, as authorities investigated possible tax fraud and irregularities in soccer in an operation called “Offside.”

Presidents of all three clubs have been accused of some sort of wrongdoing over the past years, though they have always claimed innocence and actual convictions have been rare.

Benfica, a two-time European champion in the 1960s and Portugal’s most successful club with 37 league titles, has been targeted in more than a handful of cases in the last five years. Trading of its shares was temporarily suspended last month after the latest accusations were made against the club over alleged tax fraud.

Benfica is coming off one of its biggest legal victories,

FC Porto fans ride on top of a vehicle while celebrating in downtown Porto, Portugal, after their team beat Sporting CP 2-0 to win the championship on July 16.

(AP Photo/Miguel Angelo Pereira) though, in a 2019 high-profile case in which a Porto media officer was accused of systematically releasing information from internal emails obtained from the rival.

Porto was ordered by a judge to pay nearly 2 million euros ($2.3 million) in damages to Benfica, as well as to return any documents it still possessed related to the case. Porto said at the time the emails showed a corruption scheme that benefited Benfica, something that has not been proven in court. Porto claimed it only released information that the court itself had considered to be true.

Details about the case were constantly discussed in sports shows and across Portuguese media outlets, which often resort to anonymous sources to publish information about court cases involving the clubs.

After a recent round of accusations against Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira were published by local media, the club’s lawyers released a statement lamenting the way the official was being publicly scrutinised.

“It’s regrettable,” the statement said. “Judgments are being made in the court of public opinion and in the media. Justice would be better served if everyone kept to their own businesses.”

Benfica, the nation’s most popular club, has also faced accusations – not yet proven -- related to alleged match-fixing and corruption of referees. Some of them were made public by former Sporting Lisbon president Bruno de Carvalho, who himself was accused of wrongdoing while in charge of his club.

Among the charges De Carvalho faced was

masterminding a fans’ attack on players who were at odds with him. About 50 fans with their faces covered forced their way into the team’s training centre and assaulted players and staff in the incident that made worldwide headlines two years ago.

De Carvalho, who reportedly used to belong to a radical fan group, was detained but denied any wrongdoing and eventually was found not guilty.

Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa earlier this year denied wrongdoing after a local magazine said the club and high-profile agent Jorge Mendes were being investigated for tax fraud and money laundering related to the transfer of players such as Radamel Falcão and Iker Casillas. Mendes is the agent of Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Porto said at the time that

neither the club nor Costa were ever approached by authorities about the investigation. It said the timing of the release of the information was suspicious, coming just before a decisive Portuguese league match against rival Benfica.

Porto, the European champion in 1987 and 2004, is the second most successful club in Portugal with 29 league titles, including the one it won this season after the league resumed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Sporting is next with 18 league titles. Only two other clubs outside the top three have won the Portuguese league — Belenenses in 1946 and Boavista in 2001. They will all take a backseat during next two weeks as the Champions League arrives. And maybe, just maybe, their off-the-field controversies will be put aside for a while as well.

PAGE 18, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

It’s official: NBA will have a play-in series in the West

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

JA MORANT, of the Memphis Grizzlies, dribbles the ball down court during the first half on Sunday.

(Kevin C Cox/Pool Photo via AP)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — It’s now official: There will be a play-in series to determine the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Memphis’ 108-99 loss to Toronto on Sunday means that it’s no longer possible for more than a four-game difference in the standings between the eighth- and ninth-place finishers in the West when the seeding game schedule ends later this week.

By the rules the NBA set for this season’s restart, there had to be more than a four-game cushion for the No. 8 team to get the final playoff spot outright.

The league decided to add the play-in series option in an abundance of fairness, since about 14 per cent of the regular season schedule was eliminated because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Memphis remains alone in eighth place, even after

Sunday’s loss. No team has clinched a spot in the play-in series; the Grizzlies could have assured themselves of no worse than that had they beaten the Raptors on Sunday.

Game 1 of the play-in series will be Saturday, with Game 2 — if necessary — the following day, August 16. To advance and face the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, the eighth-place team will have to win one of the two games and the ninth-place finisher would have to go 2-0.

ABC will air Game 1 of the play-in series on Saturday at 2:30pm EDT. Game 2, if necessary, would be August 16 at 4:30pm on ESPN. There will be no play-in series in the Eastern Conference; Brooklyn and Orlando have secured what were the last two available spots on that bracket, with Washington — the only other team that came to Disney with a chance of

qualifying in the East — already eliminated.

The playoffs begin Monday, August 17.

“Obviously, that’s what everybody’s goal is,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said Sunday.

The matchup for the play-in will be known no later than Thursday. There are four seeding games on Friday, the last day of the regular season, though none of them will have any bearing on the West matchup.

Only two of the eight NBA first-round matchups are known: Brooklyn clinched the No. 7 spot in the East by beating the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night, and a firstround series against the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors.

That means Milwaukee, the East’s No. 1 seed and the team with the best overall record in the NBA, will meet the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in another first-round series.

BOOKER’S 35 HELP SUNS TOP THUNDER, REMAIN PERFECT IN RESTART LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — Devin Booker scored 35 points, and the Phoenix Suns rolled past the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder 128-101 yesterday to improve to 6-0 in the restart and improve their playoff chances.

The Suns have surged in the Western Conference standings.

They entered the day just 1 1/2 games behind eighth-place Memphis and a game behind ninth-place Portland in the race to qualify for a spot in the play-in series. “We haven’t accomplished anything,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said. “That may sound like coachspeak, but we dug ourselves a hole with our record. We scrapped all year long and won some games, but it’s been an uphill battle.”

Williams appreciates the position the Suns are in.

“We’ve done a good job of getting to this point,” he said. “No one knew we were going to be here, but we’re here and we’re thankful for that.”

Phoenix centre Deandre Ayton sat out the first quarter because he missed his coronavirus test on Sunday. He tested negative yesterday and was cleared. He started the second quarter.

“In an NBA season guys are going to make mistakes,” Williams said. “You have to be able to give people grace. It wasn’t intentional. Thankfully he was able to get tested early enough that he was able to come back and play, and the guys received him with open

arms because we all understand we’re human.”

With Ayton out, Oklahoma City led 37-23 at the end of the first quarter. After Ayton entered the game, Phoenix dominated the rest of the way. He finished with 10 points and six rebounds in just over 17 minutes.

Oklahoma City was without four of its top five scorers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (bruised right calf), Danilo Gallinari (left ankle maintenance), Dennis Schroder (birth of child) and Steven Adams (bruised left leg) sat out. Reserve centre Nerlens Noel (sprained right ankle) also did not play.

Rookie Darius Bazley had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder.

The Suns rallied from 15 points down in the second quarter to take a 65-64 lead at halftime. Phoenix opened the second half on an 11-2 run and controlled the game from there.

“I thought their pressure disrupted us,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “I thought we got a little bit stagnant. We made some pretty decent plays. We were able to get some open looks, but I thought there in the second quarter they turned up their defensive intensity and that probably took us out of some rhythm.”

UP NEXT Thunder: Play the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

Suns: Play the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

SHORTHANDED MAVERICKS USE HUGE RALLY TO BEAT JAZZ 122-114 LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — The shorthanded Dallas Mavericks rallied from a 22-point deficit in the second half to stun the Utah Jazz 122-114 yesterday.

Tim Hardaway Jr led the Mavericks with 27 points and Seth Curry added 22.

Boban Marjanovic had 20 points and nine rebounds.

It was the biggest comeback for the Mavericks since February 2016 and the win means Dallas still has a slim shot at earning the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

“I loved the comeback,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “I love winning. I hate losing. I love winning for the feeling that our guys get from doing something together.”

Dallas won despite playing without stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, who were both resting because of nagging injuries. Utah was playing without star Donovan Mitchell and coach Quin Snyder played backups for much of the game to rest his starters.

Utah has lost three straight games and five of seven in the Florida bubble.

Snyder said his usual rotation players “came out really ready to play” and then the backups were a mixed bag. Snyder added it was important to get the backups meaningful playing time as he evaluates who can help the team in the playoffs.

“We’re looking to play well,” Snyder said. “Sometimes playing well allows you to win the game. Sometimes you play well and the other team plays better.”

The Mavericks trailed 78-56 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter after Utah’s Emmanuel Mudiay made a 3-pointer. They slowly rallied throughout the third quarter and then scored the first 13 points of the fourth quarter to take a 101-100 lead with about eight minutes left.

Curry said the Mavericks weren’t concerned about who was playing and who wasn’t.

“Whoever we play, that’s who we play,” Curry said.

“We’re focusing on trying to get the best health possible and the best shape and get our rhythm the best for the first round.

Dallas outscored Utah 34-14 in the fourth quarter.

The Mavericks shot 12 of 24 (50 per cent) from 3-point range.

RAPTORS BEAT BUCKS 114-106, KEY PLAYERS FOR BOTH TEAMS SIT LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — Chris Boucher scored a careerhigh 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Toronto Raptors defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-106 yesterday.

Though the meeting featured the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings, both teams were missing key players.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, the reigning MVP, missed the game after undergoing oral surgery.

Bucks coach Mike Budehnolzer said yesterday it was uncertain whether Antetokounmpo would play in the team’s final two seeding games Tuesday (today) against the Washington Wizards and Thursday against the Memphis Grizzlies.

For Toronto, Kyle Lowry sat out with a sore lower back, Serge Ibaka missed the game with a bruised right knee and Fred Van Vleet was out with a hyperextended right knee.

The Bucks already had clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for

a second straight season, and defending NBA champion Toronto was locked into the No. 2 spot, so there was little to gain for either team.

Rookie Matt Thomas scored a season-high 22

points and Norman Powell added 21 for the Raptors.

Kyle Korver scored 19 points and Khris Middleton added 17 for the Bucks.

TIP-INS Bucks: Toronto’s Paul Watson elbowed Korver in

the face on a drive to the hoop in the fourth quarter.

It was called a Flagrant 1, and Korver ended up with a small cut on his face.

Korver stayed in the game, made the free throws, then made a 3-pointer three

seconds later. Eric Bledsoe had 11 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

Raptors: Pascal Siakam scored 14 points on 5 for 16 shooting. Marc Gasol went scoreless in 20 minutes.

Forced 19 turnovers.

UP NEXT Bucks: Play the Washington Wizards toay.

Raptors: Philadelphia Wednesday.

Play 76ers

the on

PAGE 20, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Pharmacies push FDI’s 33% decline ‘horrendous signal’ govt for easing of patient pains FROM PAGE 24

FROM PAGE 24 we have the same patient volumes.

The walk-ins would be something different.

“So to fill the same volumes with limited hours, and we also only have curbside. The issue with curbside is that you add an element to the staffing of them going in and out of the store all the time and being outside in the heat. This is an additional strain that is put on the staffing, and due to the COVID-19 social distancing we are still on limited staffing. We can’t add more staff inside to accommodate what we need to accommodate.”

Ms McBride said the Association and its members are seeking “additional hours. Just as the food stores saw a need for persons needing additional hours to shop, we also see the need for persons needing accessibility to pharmaceutical care, and not just alternate days or within the confines of 9am-to-5pm.

“There are so many persons that reach here at 5pm who say they have been to work all day also,” she added. “I had a mother that said she was home but was with a non-driving caretaker, so the person still couldn’t assist.

“So she got to the pharmacy as quick as she could but it was still after 5pm.

Even with that extra day for essential workers we are still seeing that persons

are not able to access the pharmacy.”

Ms McBride also questioned whether pharmacies were permitted to offer delivery services since this had never been mentioned by the prime minister. She added that the association was also inquiring whether they could serve walk-in patients via curbside, as opposed to patients pulling up in their cars, and said it was requesting that pharmacy clients only be allowed in-store.

“The BPA also wants a clear definition of what is curbside,” Ms McBride said. “It is understood that curbside is when people pull up and we go outside to them, but then with pharmacies you have walk-in patients and you have persons that aren’t driving. Do they now just stand outside on the line, as we have been doing previously? Is that still considered curbside?

“For a lot of us we are within communities where persons just walk in to us, so what is their understanding of curbside? With the curbside it also asks for a take-out window, which is an option and some pharmacies said that they can create a take-out window at their locations.”

Ms McBride said the Association has met with Renward Wells, minister for health, and officials from the Prime Minister’s Office on its “multi-fold” requests and is now awaiting their response.

for this nation alongside saving lives amid the pandemic.

“That is the number one thing that is parallel to saving lives,” he told Tribune Business. “FDI is as important as saving lives right now because otherwise we will lose the economy and lose the peg, as John Rolle [the Central Bank of The Bahamas] governor has rightly warned. We’ll lose dollar parity.

“Along with saving lives it’s the number one thing, and we should have started three months ago. We’re already a day late and a dollar short. We need to act.

Stop talking, start acting.

Get people in who know how to act and get things done.

“We’ve got to improve the FDI architecture. Get the government and the bureaucracy out of the way.

Enough of the committees. Get people who know how to act and build businesses and efficiencies. Put people in there who understand the urgency of getting things done, and give them the authority. Along with saving lives is is the number one thing, and should be the

number one priority right now.”

The one:one fixed exchange rate peg with the US dollar is the critical foundation supporting the Bahamian economy. Loss of such parity would potentially fuel am inflationary surge due to The Bahamas’ import dependency, resulting in much-reduced living standards and disposable income.

Mr Myers hit out after the just-released World Investment Report 2020 produced

by United Nations (UN) agency, UNCTAD, disclosed that FDI inflows to this nation fell by 32.8 percent year-over-year to $637m. That represented a level equal to just 20 percent of FDI’s peak in 2014 when Baha Mar’s construction was being raced to its completion (unsuccessfully at that time).

“FDI inflows to The Bahamas, the largest host economy among small island developing states (SIDS), shrank by a third to $637m, one-fifth of the peak registered in 2014,” UNCTAD said. “Investment in hotel projects slowed, and construction projects slated to start in 2019 were forced into

a delay by Hurricane Dorian.”

While acknowledging that data was not available for The Bahamas, UNCTAD warned that this nation was likely to be especially hard hit by COVID-19 given its traditional high dependency - and that of other SIDS on reinvested earnings by overseas investors.

“Negative operational results of global multinational enterprises in 2020 will automatically affect FDI in SIDS through reinvested earnings,” UNCTAD added. “Host economies such as Fiji and Solomon Islands, with a high dependency on reinvested earnings, will be hit particularly hard.

“The comparable data for The Bahamas and Mauritius were not available for 2019.

However, in both SIDS, reinvested earnings constituted an important part of FDI flows in 2018: 34 per cent in The Bahamas and 60 percent in Mauritius.”

Jamaica, which suffered a smaller 14.1 percent decline in 2019 FDI inflows, outpaced The Bahamas by attracting some $700m from external sources last year.

And UNCTAD warned that Latin American and the Caribbean will likely suffer

the world’s greatest postCOVID-19 drop in FDI inflows of between 40 to 55 percent in 2020.

“Global FDI flows are forecast to decrease by up to 40 per cent in 2020, from their 2019 value of $1.54tn.

This would bring FDI below $1tn for the first time since 2005. FDI is projected to decrease by a further five to ten percent in 2021 and to initiate a recovery in 2022,” UNCTAD added.

All of which creates a picture suggesting that FDI will be unable to sufficiently fill the gap created by the tourism industry shutdown when it comes to attracting enough foreign exchange earnings to support the one:one fixed exchange rate peg with the US dollar.

John Rolle, the Central Bank’s governor, last week called for “urgency” in finding an alternative foreign currency earnings source to tourism. In an indication that the Central Bank is concerned about the external reserves, and exchange rate peg, if the tourism industry does not produce an adequate recovery in 2021, Mr Rolle pointed to FDI as an alternative.

NASSAU Cruise Port.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

(242) 323-2330

MONDAY, 10 AUGUST 2020

(242) 323-2320

ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE: 2,096.62 | CHG: 0.05 | %CHG: 0.00 | YTD: -134.98 | YTD%: -6.05 BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.10 22.65 2.00 1.79 2.50 6.00 6.75 5.47 8.59 4.50 6.16 12.77 3.64 5.49 10.88 8.44 16.99 4.25 9.40 15.21

52WK LOW 3.13 20.91 0.67 1.79 1.67 5.40 5.39 2.00 5.05 3.62 5.60 11.05 2.71 2.64 9.60 7.10 13.04 3.20 8.00 13.90

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Benchmark Bahamas First Holdings Limited Bank of Bahamas Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Cable Bahamas Commonwealth Brewery Commonwealth Bank Colina Holdings CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Emera Incorporated Famguard Fidelity Bank Focol Finco J. S. Johnson

SYMBOL AML APD BBL BFH BOB BPF BWL CAB CBB CBL CHL CIB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FCL FIN JSJ

Bahamas First Holdings Preference Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A Fidelity Bank Class A Focol Class B

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00 100.00

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

SECURITY Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) + Bahamas First Holdings Limited

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2015-1-3Y BGS: 2014-12-5Y BGS: 2015-1-5Y BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-3Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-3Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y

BAH29 BG0203 BG0105 BG0205 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0303 BG0307 BG0330 BG0403 BG0407

LAST CLOSE 3.35 17.43 1.62 1.79 1.67 6.00 6.75 2.99 5.10 3.79 6.10 11.26 2.56 5.30 9.99 8.44 14.30 3.99 8.97 15.20

CLOSE 3.35 17.43 1.62 1.79 1.67 6.00 6.75 2.99 5.10 3.79 6.10 11.26 2.54 5.30 9.95 8.44 14.30 3.99 8.97 15.20

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.02 0.00 -0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 0.90

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 0.90

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME

3,500

10,000

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

EPS$ 0.239 0.932 0.000 0.000 0.070 1.760 0.369 -0.438 0.140 0.184 0.449 0.722 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.203 0.939 0.631 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

VOLUME

DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.000 0.120 0.220 0.720 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.120 0.200 0.610 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

P/E 14.0 18.7 N/M N/M N/M N/M 18.3 -6.8 36.4 20.6 13.6 15.6 24.9 11.3 15.4 11.6 17.5 19.7 9.6 24.1

YIELD 5.07% 7.23% 1.23% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.85% 0.00% 0.00% 3.17% 3.61% 6.39% 17.09% 1.13% 3.30% 2.84% 3.78% 3.01% 2.23% 4.01%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

6.95% 4.00% 4.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.00% 4.50% 6.25% 3.50% 4.25%

20-Nov-2029 30-Jul-2018 16-Dec-2019 30-Jul-2020 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2018 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2018 15-Oct-2022

MATURITY

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.34 4.41 2.11 198.39 168.29 1.69 1.85 1.77 1.24 8.34 10.26 7.08 12.15 12.71 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79

52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.64 1.77 1.72 1.07 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund Leno Preferred Income Fund Leno Growth Fund Leno Diversified Fund Leno Global USD Bond Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Equities Sub Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - High Yield Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Alternative Strategies Fund Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F

NAV 2.34 4.41 2.11 196.40 163.60 1.69 1.81 1.77 1.07 8.30 9.90 7.08 11.27 12.71 10.23 N/A 8.93 11.27

YTD% 12 MTH% 2.13% 4.00% 0.91% 2.59% 1.04% 2.39% 0.65% 2.50% -1.88% 3.33% 1.88% 3.90% -2.26% 2.49% 0.76% 3.56% -11.03% -8.03% -0.45% 8.36% -3.20% 11.46% 2.10% 5.15% -6.17% 3.54% 2.92% 5.55% -4.66% -3.81% N/A N/A -4.20% 0.20% -8.60% -2.90%

MARKET TERMS

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price

52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks

Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity

52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks

Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity

Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume

Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price

Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume

Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week

Change - Change in closing price from day to day

EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths

Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today

NAV - Net Asset Value

DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months

N/M - Not Meaningful

P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings

TO TRADE CALL: CFAL 242-502-7010 | ROYALFIDELITY 242-356-7764 | COLONIAL 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225 | BENCHMARK 242-326-7333

NAV Date

30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 26-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020

Cruise lines urged: Come to our cities once you return FROM PAGE 24 He added that the sector still has “some problems to work out” before it can resume sailing, as shown by efforts to restart in other areas of the world. One cruise vessel suffered a COVID19 outbreak that infected 35 passengers and six crew.

“Obviously they haven’t come to any sort of conclusion with the CDC (US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention),” Mr D’Aguilar said of the industry. “I don’t know what the particulars are but there seems to be a bit of a stand-off.”

One key factor impacting the global cruise industry is that the vast majority of its customer base is drawn from the US, which is in the unenviable position of being the world’s COVID-19 leader with more than 5m infections and over 162,000 deaths todate. Florida, which is home to three of the world’s largest cruise ports, has also been affected especially badly.

Mr D’Aguilar’s comments came after Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents the major cruise lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, confirmed last week that its members had decided

to extend their voluntary suspension of sailing from US ports until at least October 31.

That represents a further month’s delay to the CDC imposed ‘no sail’ order, which is currently due to expire on September 30, as the CLIA warned that the industry’s restart hinges on COVID-19 conditions in a US market that supplies most of its members’ passengers.

“Despite the valuable alignment between CLIA’s previous voluntary suspension to 15 September and the CDC’s current ‘no sail’ order date of September 30, we believe it is prudent at this time to voluntarily extend the suspension of US oceangoing cruise operations to 31 October,” the CLIA said.

“This is a difficult decision as we recognise the crushing impact that this pandemic has had on our community and every other industry. However, we believe this proactive action further demonstrates the cruise industry’s commitment to public health and willingness to voluntarily suspend operations in the interest of public health and safety, as has occurred twice prior.

“CLIA cruise line members will continue to monitor the situation with the understanding that we will revisit a possible further extension on or before September 30, 2020. At the same time, should conditions in the US change and it becomes possible to consider short, modified sailings, we would consider an earlier restart.”

The Bahamian economy’s fate ultimately hinges on whether a US market that provides 82 percent of annual stopover visitors can get its COVID-19 outbreak under control. That appears unlikely, at least in the short term.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 11, 2020, PAGE 21

Minister: ‘BPL won’t Shell Bahamian people short’ FROM PAGE 24 Echoing Dr Moxey’s explanation in Monday’s Tribune Business, Mr Bannister said BPL and its Board were proceeding cautiously given that the power purchase agreement (PPA) being negotiated with Shell North America will set binding prices and commercial terms governing the state-owned utility’s acquisition of energy from the latter’s power plant over a 20-25 year period.

“We are dealing with an agreement that is going to last 20-25 years, so we have to ensure every possibility is covered in protecting our country and protecting our people,” Mr Bannister added. “Our people know exactly what to expect, and have done comparisons with similar projects. They know what they ought to be committing to and ought not to be committing to.”

However, he stopped short of expressing full confidence that the talks with Shell North America will be successfully completed.

“It’s like any other agreement,” the minister said.

“I’ve practiced law for 30 years. Some get signed, and some don’t.”

Talks between the

government/BPL and Shell North America to seal the agreement on New Providence’s new power plant infrastructure have now lasted 19 months and counting since the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project in December 2018.

The deal was billed as paving the way for lower cost, more reliable and environmentally-friendly energy supply that would significantly slash electricity bills for both Bahamian businesses and residents, thereby improving economic competitiveness and freeing-up disposable income and spending/ investment power for all consumers.

Asked whether this objective was now in jeopardy, Mr Bannister replied: “I don’t know if that is so.

We’ve already seen a tremendous part of the game being changed.

We’re seeing the seven Wartsila and one General Electric engine in place, and the hedging strategy in place, so we’ve seen tremendous changes in the energy sector over the last few months.

We’ve made quite a few steps I’m proud of.

“The game has already changed, and the question is how much more can we get

out of it for the Bahamian people.... Whatever we see coming now, whether Shell is a partner, whether it’s another partner or no partner, it has to be in the best interests of the Bahamian people.”

Some observers will likely suggest that Mr Bannister’s remarks are less than a ringing endorsement of the Shell North America talks, although the minister denied that the government/BPL was preparing to move ahead without the preferred bidder. Still, he said BPL was “very capable of doing what needs to be done” to overhaul the Bahamian energy sector.

“I don’t want to go into the specifics of negotiations,” Mr Bannister replied, when asked what matters the parties have yet to resolve. “There are a number of issues that BPL and Shell are discussing, and I don’t want to be seen as not acting in good faith.

I’m aware of the issues, I’m aware of the policy issues involved, and as minister I am only involved in the policy issues...

“The commitment is that the Bahamian people are going to benefit in whatever BPL does under this administration, and it will be to

the benefit of our consumers. Nothing that is not in their best interest will come about.”

Signs that all was not well with the proposed New Providence power plant first emerged in late May when Shell North America held a virtual conference with the Bahamian media to discuss the project. Little that was not already known was disclosed, with Shell targeting 2021 for completing the power plant phase and 2022 for the accompanying liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure.

The impression emerged then that Shell was trying to nudge the government and BPL to speed up the negotiations, and this was reinforced at the weekend when an opinion piece written by its lead negotiator, Markus Hector, Shell LNG marketing and trading’s general manager for market development, was released to the Bahamian media.

It indicated that Shell appears to be becoming frustrated and losing patience over the inability to conclude negotiations, with Mr Hector writing: “Our ability to invest in the construction of an affordable liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, and our purchase of the

new power plants, remains dependent on the timely closure of current negotiations with BPL and the government.

“As currently designed using industry standards, this project will produce the majority of power generation for the entire island of New Providence for decades to come. It will be made up of two joint ventures – the ‘Terminal Company’ to operate the LNG terminal, receiving, storing, and re-gasifying the LNG, and the ‘Power Company’ to generate electricity, which will be sold to BPL for transmission and distribution.”

The proposed power plant could play a vital role in The Bahamas’ postCOVID-19 recovery if it is able to slash energy costs and improve supply reliability, as the benefits will be felt throughout the economy. The plant is designed to run off a variety of fuels, including LNG, heavy fuel oil (HFO) and automotive diesel oil (ADO), with Shell able to pick the cheapest and most appropriate solution at any given time and switch accordingly.

Mr Hector said Shell North America will retain majority interests in both the power plant and the

LNG terminal, with BPL holding a minority stake in the former and Bahamian institutional investors taking a similar position in the latter. The government has indicated that it will sell at least a portion of BPL’s power plant stake to the Bahamian public via an initial public offering (IPO).

However, the negotiations have become increasingly complex. In the interests of “saving time”, BPL has proceeded with constructing the very power plant Shell North America was supposed to build. It invested $95m in the seven Wartsila engines that will provide 130 MW of the 220 MW to ultimately be supplied by the multinational energy giant.

And BPL was to invest a further $70m in acquiring the extra 90 MW required by the new plant.

The finished power plant will then be acquired by Shell North America from BPL under an asset transfer agreement.

However, this arrangement has been further complicated by the failure to-date to place BPL’s $535m rate reduction bond (RRB) financing. For the $70m required for the final 90 MW is supposed to raised from this facility.

Attorneys hit by up to 80% business plunge FROM PAGE 24 money, but in terms of volume and people buying new houses, and banks giving mortgages, I would say it’s 70 percent or more of that work. In terms of transactional work, with how investors look at expanding or purchasing, that is down 80 percent or more.”

Describing the effect this is having, Mr Sears said some Bahamian law firms had not only furloughed or cut management/administrative staff but also reduced their attorney numbers as well. Noting that major commercial law firms were not immune from this, he added of his own firm, Sears & Co: “I’m still keeping on my staff and am struggling with that.

“It’s a struggle. Some law firms have reduced staff, and some have reduced their lawyers - not only their support team but their legal

team. It’s a very challenging time, and it’s going to be for the long haul. I think the legal profession, like the rest of the financial services sector, is impacted in a very profound way.

“You don’t have the ability to very easily meet and take instructions from your clients, and the court is primarily dealing with urgent matters, and matters on a remote basis by Zoom and Webex. Like every other sector, it means practices have to be scaled down,” Mr Sears continued.

“However, law is life, so even as people are dying in hospital there continues to be matters of probate, wills and powers of attorney. Law and legal services, and the provision of legal services, are critical not only to business but life.”

Mr McCartney, meanwhile, said the economic lockdown associated with COVID-19 meant attorneys

and the legal profession would be hit just as hard as the rest of the economy.

“The difficulty is we have a 40 percent unemployment rate today, more than 40 percent, which means almost half our working population is not working. That’s our clients,” he told Tribune Business.

“The bottom line is that paying legal fees, unless someone is going to jail, is the last thing on anybody’s mind for most people because they’re focusing on putting food on the table and having shelter. In light of the position facing the country, the legal profession has taken a tremendous hit.

“You have clients, whether private or institutional, not giving any type of work relating to the banks, mortgages and conveyances.

That has slowed tremendously because no one can borrow. We have work, matters we have been working

on, but it has slowed down more than 50 percent compared to what it would have been normally.”

Mr McCartney revealed that he had been unable to bring back all Halsbury Chambers’ administrative support staff from the first COVID-19 lockdown, as he had intended to do, before the latest restrictions were imposed by the Government.

“We are faced with this new lockdown, which I anticipate will be extended [beyond two weeks] in light of what’s going on,” he added. “The cases in New Providence in particular have increased tremendously, and it doesn’t seem to be flattening out at this stage.”

Asked about the longterm impact for the Bahamian legal profession, he reiterated that much depended on both the length of the current lockdown and

“where we are in terms of getting our economy back” and ability to operate in as COVID-19 environment.

“The word for that is uncertainty,” Mr McCartney said. “This thing is not going away until there is a vaccine.

You’re probably looking at early to mid-2021, hopefully earlier, and in our planning we have to bear that in mind.

We have to be in a position to live with it and operate with this virus.

“It all depends on how long it takes to get to that stage in our country, where the people are disciplined in what they have to do, wearing masks, social distancing and sanitising. The quicker we’re able to do that, the quicker we’ll be in a position where we learn to operate with this virus and get our virus back.”

The ex-DNA leader, though, voiced fears that The Bahamas faced “a mammoth task” to salvage and

rebuild its economy given that COVID-19’s impact had effectively plunged it into the equivalent of an economic depression with an unemployment rate equivalent to 40 percent.

He urged law firms to “hold on” and do their best to avoid adding to this jobless rate, saying: “This year marks 30 years since I became a lawyers and this, of course, is the worst I’ve ever seen it. It [sector lay-offs] means more unemployment.

“The bottom line is this is not the fault of anyone, quite frankly, in this country. This is the hand we’ve been dealt, and it’s how we deal with it.

I pray and hope law firms and offices are able to hold on, but they are businesses at the end of the day. We provide legal services and businesses can only operate when we have that business.

Right now, that business is limited.”

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PAGE 22, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

COVID alcohol bar cuts Brewery revenue 48%

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net COMMONWEALTH Brewery has disclosed that the COVID-19-related bar on alcohol sales slashed its 2020 second quarter revenues by 48 percent year-over-year, dropping it to a $3.16m first half net loss.

The vertically-integrated brewer, distributor and retailer, unveiling its results for the six months to end-June, revealed that the initial COVID19 lockdown dropped its first-half revenue by 30.5 percent compared to prior year comparatives due to the near-two month halt to sales from its core business.

The BISX-listed entity, which is 75 percent majority

owned by international beer giant, Heineken, added that it had to “leverage” its strong balance sheet to borrow $8m that it used to maintain full staff salaries and benefits during the period when its operations were shut down.

Commonwealth Brewery said in the results statement, which was released as The Bahamas goes into a second COVID-19 lockdown that will now impact its third quarter and second half performance, that it remains confident it “is poised to rebound and return to profitability once economic conditions permit”.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Commonwealth Brewery’s operations in the second quarter of

2020,” the Kalik manufacturer told shareholders and the Bahamian capital markets.

“The temporary cessation by government of alcohol sales between March 19 and May 6, the dramatic increase in unemployment and the virtual halt in tourist arrivals severely reduced operating results and required that our business continuously adjust to the diverse challenges posed.”

Commonwealth Brewery added: “Net revenue during the second quarter declined by 47.8 percent, while operating expenses reduced by 30 percent. As a result, a total comprehensive loss of $3m was realised, compared to a positive result of $4.12m during the corresponding

period of 2019.

“Principally as a result of the second quarter’s operations, net revenue for the first half of 2020 declined by 30.5 percent, and the net loss for the first six months of the year was $3.16m.” The BISX-listed brewer’s sales dropped from $34.94m in the three months to end-June 2019 to just $18.217m this time around, chiefly due to the COVID-19 lockdown and related alcohol ban.

As a result, Commonwealth Brewery suffered a more than $7m reversal on its bottom line, which dropped from $4.122m profit in the 2019 second quarter to a $3.005m loss this time around. The same pattern was repeated for the half-year, with revenues slumping from $67.223m to

$46.887m, and a $3.255m profit in the 2019 first half becoming a $3.156m net loss this year.

Turning to the balance sheet consequences, Commonwealth Brewery said the financial results and other “short-term adjustments” caused “an increase in shortterm borrowing of $8m compared to the position at the end of the first quarter of the year. Commonwealth Brewery also implemented other mitigating actions such as revising our credit terms and reducing the recurrent operational spend.

“Commonwealth Brewery will continue its focus on top-line sustainability and cost reduction,” the company added. “During this period of uncertainty, Commonwealth Brewery has maintained its current

staff complement prior to the lockdown and maintained salary levels and full staff benefits by the above leveraging of its financial position.

“The decrease to personnel costs in the second quarter of 16.3 percent is due to management’s decision to forgo any 2021 bonus related to the 2020 financial year.... During the period of the community lockdown, Commonwealth Brewery successfully transitioned the back office staff to remote working.

“Following the resumption of alcohol sales in early May, Commonwealth Brewery successfully utilised new routes to market leveraging our online store www.700winesandspirits. com with store to door delivery.”

BOATERS HIT BY INTER-ISLE QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN marinas yesterday voiced fears it may be “too late” to prevent visiting boaters bypassing this nation in favour of the southern Caribbean due to the latest COVID-19 lockdown.

Peter Maury, the Association Of Bahamas Marinas’ (ABM) president, told Tribune Business that quarantine-related restrictions on inter-island travel would make it difficult for boat and yacht passengers to visit multiple inhabited islands as they would have to spend 14 days in isolation every time.

While there were no restrictions facing those anchoring at sea, or visiting uninhabited islands, Mr Maury said the reimposed measures designed to protect lives and limit COVID-19’s spread would inevitably act as a deterrent visitor numbers.

“It’s very slow,” the ABM president said of current business volumes. “Some people have elected to come in and spend time on a yacht and go to the Out Islands, but just because of the limitations it’s been very difficult to be quite honest.

It’s not at the level we had hoped, but it is better than nothing.”

While the government is currently prioritising the

Davis: ‘No surprise’ on BPL power plant woe

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE government’s political opponents yesterday argued there was “no surprise” that Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) multi-fuel power plant deal with Shell had seemingly run into difficulty.

Philip Davis, pictured, the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) leader, responding to Tribune Business’ report suggesting that Shell was losing patience over the pace of negotiations, said: “I am not surprised that this deal between BPL and Shell has run into trouble. We predicted the problems.

“We could not understand

how the Wartsila generation deal inter-related with the Shell deal. The plan for reliable power seemed like no plan at all. The government has simply not been transparent and with less than two years left to go in their term, they have run out of time to fix it.”

BPL invested some $95m in acquiring seven new generation turbines from Wartsila, in addition to building infrastructure at Clifton Pier to house them. These engines are ultimately supposed to be incorporated into the multifuel power plant that Shell

COVID-19 health fall-out, Mr Maury warned that any lifting of current restrictions “may be too late by then as the yachts may move on to other Caribbean islands, but who knows?

“The government is making the calls. They are clearing the boats into the country. They are allowing them to go where they want, and if they don’t want them to do business here then they can limit them and tell them where to go,” he added.

“I can tell you one thing: The boats that are here that are being chartered have been given permission to move in country from the competent authority. They are not going into inhabited

communities or anything else. Many of them are anchoring out and getting their provisions delivered, and getting fuel at the dock and leaving. So there is not much else they can do.

“Fortunately the weather is good. You can sit out on your yacht and anchor away from everybody and go swimming, which is what a lot of them want. Obviously they want to see more of The Bahamas but at this point they can’t.”

Mr Maury also said yacht crews and passengers have to quarantine for 14 days on board every time they go to a different inhabited Bahamian island. This means that if a boater stays docked in

Nassau for a fortnight, and then decides to go to Cat Island, they have to quarantine again for 14 days on board their vessel once they reach the latter destination.

“If they came into Nassau today and went to anchor off of Exuma, they can’t go onshore for 14 days,” he added. “They can stay on the boat and go swimming, but they can’t go onshore. At the marina, the government has accepted they can go and pick up groceries and stuff, but they can’t go onshore and go to the grocery store. That has to be delivered to them.

“It is the same for us as it is for them. Even if you have been in Nassau for three months you can’t just

go and jump on a boat and go to Cat Island and go walking around Arthur’s Town. I understand exactly what he’s [the prime minister] doing. If you want to go to the beach on an uninhabited island then fine, but don’t go ashore. He is saying the same thing to us.”

Mr Maury said only big mega-yachts have the “advantage” of being able to work within these limitations. He expressed hope that the government will revert back to the measures in place over the six-week period between June 15 and end-July, which followed the country’s re-opening to tourism and occurred prior to the latest lockdown.

will take majority ownership of under the proposed deal with BPL. However, signs that the long-running negotiations are not progressing as planned emerged at the weekend when Shell released an opinion piece written by its lead negotiator, Markus Hector, Shell LNG marketing and trading’s general manager for market development, to the Bahamian media for publication.

The article, which contained little that was not already known in terms of details on the proposed power plant, indicated that Shell appears to be becoming frustrated and losing patience over the inability to conclude negotiations that kicked-off after it signed a Memorandum

of Understanding (MoU) with BPL in December 2018 having previously been selected as the preferred bidder.

“Our ability to invest in the construction of an affordable liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, and our purchase of the new power plants, remains dependent on the timely closure of current negotiations with BPL and the government,” Mr Hector wrote.

“As currently designed using industry standards, this project will produce the majority of power generation for the entire island of New Providence for decades to come. It will be made up of two joint ventures – the ‘Terminal Company’ to operate the LNG terminal, receiving, storing, and regasifying the LNG, and the ‘Power Company’ to generate electricity, which will be sold to BPL for transmission and distribution.

A chamber director wants to see what the Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) strategic plan is for the next five years and wants a “long hard look” at the Shell North America arrangement with the power company.

Debbie Deal, head of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer’s Confederation’s energy and environment division, told Tribune Business that the proposed deal with Shell North America required a “long, hard look” as she called for BPL to deliver a five-year strategic plan.

“I would like to see what BPL’s strategic plan is for at least the next five years, assuming the government doesn’t change, and to see if encouraging the Shell North America deal to go through will help the Bahamian people and be less of a burden on the government purse,” she said.

“To-date the Shell deal

has not benefited the Bahamian people nor the government as it was to be a contract, all-inclusive, no funds except a fuel purchase agreement which was for 25 years I believe.”

Ms Deal continued: “This timeframe will cripple the country as we have seen that our foreign reserves, around half of it is for buying fossil fuels. We need to reduce that by at least half through the use of less energy by all Bahamians and businesses, plus our 30 percent commitment to alternative energy by 2030 as agreed in our signing of the Paris agreement in 2016.

“I think a long, hard look at the long-range impact of any deal that commits the country to one company/entity for 25 years is needed. We have seen in the last year how unforeseen things can change our direction in a heartbeat.

Maybe a higher power is speaking to us and we need to listen.”

Food retailer sees no benefit in extra hours

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net ONE food retailer yesterday said that extend-

ing Saturday shopping until 6pm for “essential workers” will only produce losses through driving up costs without the revenue earnings to match.

Atwell Ferguson, Golden Gates Supermarket’s general manager, told Tribune Business that the Prime Minister’s decision to extend food store openings by two hours until 7pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 1pm to 6pm on Saturday, would not have a positive impact on his business.

“To me it isn’t going to make any difference. All it does is that the same people will be coming at the end. We have a lot of customers that come last minute,” he explained.

“If we close 5pm, they are coming at 5pm. If we close 7pm then they are coming 7pm. So all they do is that they watch television, and when they see it’s time coming up on them then they rush to the shop.

You can say the shop closes at 12am and people would rush in at 12am.”

Mr Ferguson added: “I don’t understand why the prime minister stretched the time, especially for the essential workers on Saturday. That 1pm was

OK; they don’t need that much time. How much essential workers do we have? If we can do the whole island from 7am to 7pm, don’t you think we can do the essential workers from 7am to 1pm?

“For the essential workers for Saturday you don’t need to stretch it out too long, because all it will have is my workers just sitting here doing nothing.

That 7am to 1pm was fine.

On the regular days, I think the 5pm stretch was the perfect time.

“Now if you had the other stores open on Saturday, like the automotive stores and other places, then you can stretch the Saturday shopping out to 8pm to give them a chance to come in and get a chance to shop, but now that most people are home and only the food store people being out, I think 5pm was the perfect time.”

Mr Ferguson said he is wasting money on Saturday in anticipation of persons who may not show up because he has to pay

staff salaries, plus utilities and security. However, the government extended the shopping hours to prevent long queues outside food stores and maintain social distancing requirements to aid the COVID-19 fight.

However, Cyril Carey, general manager of Kenneth’s Food Store on Prince Charles Drive, said: “The extension is fine for me.

From what I have seen, it’s a choice. You don’t have to stay open until 6pm. Right now you don’t even have to stay open until 7pm on weekdays.”

Bradley Rolle, Centreville Food Market’s assistant manager, said: “We will see how the extension on the regular shopping days on Monday, Wednesday and Friday will work out. We hope people won’t be rushing and cramming the stores as they would have ample time to shop until 7pm.

“I also noted that Rupert Roberts [Super Value] had a sign up from Saturday, and he the correct time for food stores

to be opened up on Saturday. He had 6pm, but what I saw coming from the Prime Minister’s Office as 5pm. So how is Rupert Roberts having the information before the prime minister announced it on Sunday?”

Mr Rolle continued: “It was 1pm, then it changed to 5pm and it is now 6pm on Saturday. So this gives my customers some extra time to shop, hopefully, and what they should do for food stores is that we won’t have that mad rush of people trying to cram the stores now because they have an extra couple of hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“So that should work, and of course we have time to re-stock our shelves as I see they have given us an extra day for that, too, on Sunday, so we can now stock the shelves on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Hopefully, this process should make it a little easier and once people have the money they can shop and they will be alright.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 11, 2020, PAGE 23

STOCKS RISE ON WALL STREET; S&P 500 WITHIN 1% OF RECORD Associated Press US stock indexes closed mostly higher yesterday, nudging the S&P 500 within striking distance of its alltime high set in February.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3% after wavering between small gains and losses in the early going. The benchmark index is now within 1% of its last record high.

The gains came on the first trading day since President Donald Trump announced several stopgap moves to aid the economy in response to the collapse of talks on Capitol Hill for a bigger rescue package.

Trump signed executive

orders over the weekend to extend an expired benefit for unemployed workers, among other things. The orders were more limited than what investors hoped to see from a full rescue bill for the economy, but hopes remain that the White House and Congress can return to talks and find a compromise.

The S&P 500 gained 9.19 points to 3,360.47. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 357.96 points, or 1.3%, to 27,791.44. The Nasdaq composite lost 42.63 points, or 0.4%, to 10,968.36.

Most stocks across Wall Street rose, with hotels, cruise operators and

airlines — among the hardest-hit companies due to the pandemic — seeing the biggest gains. Smaller stocks also had a strong showing, pushing the Russell 2000 index up 15.49 points, or 1%, to 1,584.67. Losses in technology, health care and communication services stocks, which have been among the biggest gainers this year, kept the market’s gains in check.

“The more economically sensitive stocks are driving the market higher,” said Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management. “The rest of the market today

and over the past few days is doing better.”

MGM Resorts International jumped 13.8% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after IAC disclosed that it had built a roughly $1bn stake in the company.

Like other businesses that depend on people feeling safe enough to travel, MGM Resorts has been pummeled by the pandemic, and its shares more than halved in March alone.

Barry Diller, IAC’s chairman, called it a “once in a decade” opportunity, citing its potential to move business online.

But losses for technology stocks weighed on the

market. It’s a continuation of their struggles from Friday, when worries rose that worsening US-China relations could mean retaliations against the US tech industry. It’s a relatively rare setback for the industry, which has been the year’s biggest winner so far and cruised through much of the pandemic. Critics had already been calling tech stocks overpriced, even after accounting for their huge and resilient profits.

The S&P 500 extended its winning streak to seven days, its longest since the spring of 2019. The benchmark index has nearly reached the record high it

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 74° F/23° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

A t‑storm in spots in the morning

Mainly clear with a stray t‑storm

A morning shower; mostly sunny

Partly sunny with a stray t‑storm

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny, a t‑storm possible

High: 88°

Low: 80°

High: 89° Low: 78°

High: 88° Low: 79°

High: 89° Low: 78°

High: 88° Low: 78°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

98° F

88° F

98°-88° F

97°-86° F

99°-86° F

100°-86° F

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 78° F/26° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 82° F/28° C

4‑8 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 91° F/33° C Low: 78° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

MIAMI

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 80° F/27° C

3‑6 knots

KEY WEST

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 83° F/28° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

N

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

S

E

W S

6‑12 knots

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

tiDes For nassau Low

Ht.(ft.)

1:31 a.m.

2:12 p.m.

High

2.5 2.7

7:48 a.m.

8:33 p.m.

0.9 1.3

Wednesday 2:21 a.m.

3:06 p.m.

2.3 2.7

8:37 a.m.

9:33 p.m.

0.9 1.3

Thursday

3:17 a.m.

4:02 p.m.

2.3 2.8

9:29 a.m. 0.9 10:32 p.m. 1.2

Friday

4:14 a.m.

4:57 p.m.

2.3 3.0

10:24 a.m. 0.8 11:28 p.m. 1.1

Saturday

5:11 a.m.

5:50 p.m.

2.4 3.2

11:18 a.m. 0.7 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Sunday

6:04 a.m.

6:39 p.m.

2.6 3.4

12:20 a.m. 0.9 12:11 p.m. 0.5

Monday

6:55 a.m.

7:27 p.m.

2.8 3.5

1:08 a.m.

1:02 p.m.

Today

Ht.(ft.)

0.7 0.3

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:42 a.m.

7:47 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

12:13 a.m.

1:27 p.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Aug. 11

Aug. 18

Aug. 25

Sep. 2

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

N

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map H

uV inDex toDay

CAT ISLAND

E

W

6‑12 knots

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 78° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 89° F/32° C Normal low ........................................ 76° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 94° F/34° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/23° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 35.05” Normal year to date ................................... 21.45”

set in February, before the pandemic pancaked the economy into recession. It had been down nearly 34% in March.

Investors have been saying the economy needs another big lifeline from Washington, and quickly, after $600 in weekly unemployment benefits for workers from the federal government expired with July’s end. But talks broke apart on Friday, and Trump issued his executive orders on Saturday. Both the White House and congressional Democrats indicated on Sunday they wanted to resume negotiations, but no talks were scheduled.

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

6‑12 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 82° F/28° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 89° F/32° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N E

W

N E

W

S

S

8‑16 knots

8‑16 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS SE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots

WAVES 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 87° F 88° F 88° F 88° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 88° F 88° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 88° F 88° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2020

$3.98

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR

Cruise lines urged: Come to our cities once you return

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday promised to “encourage” the cruise lines to visit The Bahamas’ major cities immediately upon the resumption of sailing despite the sector’s preference for its private islands.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, told Tribune Business that he wanted to ensure the sector’s return impact is maximised for the benefit of struggling Bahamian businesses and their employees even though the cruise lines will likely want to visit their private islands only while they test COVID-19 related health protocols.

“Obviously when they start cruising again they will not want to come to the population centres,” he conceded. “They will want to go to their private islands because they can control the environment. As minister of tourism I’m going to encourage them to come to the population centres because that’s where they will make the most economic impact.

“At the outset they will want to check their protocols and see how they work, but we’re wonderfully positioned for the rebound of the cruise industry because we’re so close and they can so short cruises. The shorter you make the cruise, the less the risk. You can do a threeday cruise involving Nassau and your private island.”

Royal Caribbean’s unveiling yesterday of a $1.6bn loss for the 2020 second quarter, during which all its sailings were cancelled, highlights COVID-19’s impact on both the sector and the Bahamian businesses and livelihoods that depend on it.

While cruise passengers only accounted for 11 percent of pre-COVID-19 tourism spending in The Bahamas, Mr D’Aguilar estimated that the sector’s total shutdown had cost this nation $540m based on 2019’s 5.4m visitors and a per capita spend of $100 per visitor.

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$3.98

$4.03

Minister: ‘BPL won’t Shell Bahamian people short’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A

CABINET minister yesterday pledged that Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) “will not sell the Bahamian people short” in negotiations with Shell North America over New Providence’s new power plant.

Desmond Bannister, pictured, minister of works, responding to signs that the parties’ efforts to close a deal may have run into difficulty, told Tribune Business that BPL’s board of directors and negotiators were proceeding carefully to “ensure every possibility is covered in protecting the country’s interest” over what is supposed to be a 20-25 year agreement.

Asked if what has been billed as a “game changing” deal for New Providence’s energy sector was now in danger of falling apart, Mr Bannister said Bahamian businesses and households had “already seen a tremendous part of the game being changed” in terms of supply reliability and energy costs over the past several months.

He pointed to

• Utility ‘covering every possibility’ in talks • ‘Game has already changed’ in energy • Concedes ‘some deals done, others not’

the addition of around 160 megawatts (MW) in new generation capacity, via seven Wartsila engines and one from General Electric (GE), as having prevented a repeat of 2019’s disastrous daily load shedding although outages still persist due to BPL’s decaying transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure.

And the minister, whom has Cabinet responsibility for BPL, also pointed to the state-owned utility’s newlyimplemented fuel hedging initiative as having provided customers with rate certainty and electricity bill

predictability over the next 18 months.

However, Mr Bannister did not provide the level of reassurance or comfort that Shell North America is likely seeking. Arguing that “the game has already changed”, he added that the key goal now was “how much more can we get out of it for the Bahamian people” whether it was “Shell, another partner or no partner”.

Mr Bannister denied that he was suggesting the government and BPL will forge ahead without Shell if no acceptable deal can be

reached, when pressed by Tribune Business. However, he declined to commit to a timeline on when the negotiations may reach a conclusion or detail the issues that the parties are seemingly deadlocked on.

Praising Dr Donovan Moxey, BPL’s chairman, and the utility’s board of directors, Mr Bannister told this newspaper: “The only interest they have at heart is the interest of the Bahamian people. They are steadfast in their commitment, they have done their research, and know exactly what they ought to get on the market.

“They will be continuing with that commitment until we get what’s best for the Bahamian people. I’m really happy with the people we have negotiating on our behalf and they are not going to sell the Bahamian people short. Any agreement that ends up being signed by this Board will be in the best interests of The Bahamas.”

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Attorneys hit by up to 80% business plunge

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net COMMERCIAL lawyers have seen business volumes plunge by up to 80 percent amid the latest COVID-19 lockdown, two ex-Cabinet ministers disclosed yesterday, describing the impact as “tremendous”.

Alfred Sears QC, the former attorney general, told Tribune Business there was “no question” the legal profession is suffering equally with multiple other industries as both new work and fee payments dry up due to business/individual clients concentrating solely on surviving the pandemic.

He estimated that mortgage, conveyancing and real estate-related work, which is a traditional staple for the Bahamian legal industry, is down by “70 percent or more” compared to normal business volumes, while “transactional” work

• Commercial work plummets amid COVID • Law firms ‘struggling’ to retain workers • Legal fees ‘last thing on client’s mind’

ALFRED SEARS QC

BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY

relating to various types of commercial deals entered into by clients was off by at least 80 percent against preCOVID-19 levels.

Mr Sears was backed by Branville McCartney, the Halsbury Chambers principal and ex-Democratic National Alliance (DNA)

leader, who told this newspaper that legal work was down by more than 50 percent across all business categories.

While some observers may have little sympathy for the legal profession’s COVID-19 plight, both Messrs McCartney and Sears pointed out that law firms were

businesses in their own right.

Noting the sector’s significant economic contribution, Mr McCartney said his firm had been unable to bring back all administrative support staff from the first lockdown before the country was shut down again.

Detailing the extent and depth of the pandemic’s impact, Mr Sears said: “I would say that for people who are doing mortgages and conveyances, it [the falloff] probably may be close to 70 percent or more, because the level of unemployment and/or reduction in income has put a lot of plans on hold in terms of acquisition of property.

“You have people with

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$4.00 Pharmacies push govt for easing of patient pains

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net PHARMACIES yesterday urged the government to permit five days per week opening and to better define what “curbside service” means for the industry during the present COVID19 lockdown.

Shantia McBride, president of the Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association (BPA), told Tribune Business yesterday that discussions with the competent authority over an opening hours extension are “ever changing”.

She explained that the Tuesday and Thursday lockdowns, during which pharmacies must also close, was causing pain and inconvenience for patients who were forced to wait 24 hours longer to obtain critical medicines.

“As we look at the exposure rates and exposure sites throughout, we are in discussions with them to ensure that the public has access to pharmacy care. That was our main concern,” Ms McBride said.

“We have had a few patients call us personally to inform us that throughout the night they have been having medical issues, and the alternate-day lockdown is really causing medical issues for them in terms of getting pharmaceutical care. Not everything is COVID-related so we have persons with other ailments that need treatment.”

The industry’s opening hours to the general public, based on a normal six-day week of 12 hours per day, have effectively been cut in half through being permitted to open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 10 hours per day (7am to 5pm), plus six hours on Saturday (7am to 1pm) to serve “essential workers”.

Ms McBride explained: “For pharmacies to also be on alternate days, that gives some persons 30 hours inbetween getting assistance.

You know we have asthmatics. We had a lady where her son got stung by a centipede and she couldn’t get help.

“Most of us operate on a 12-hour work schedule from Monday to Saturday. However, while limiting us to 36 hours, the volume of our prescriptions or patient care does not decrease. We still have to service that same volume of patients that we would have had prior to the lockdown, so as it pertains to refill prescriptions,

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FDI’s 33% decline ‘horrendous signal’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE 33 percent decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in 2019 is “an horrendous signal” for The Bahamas’ prospects of replacing tourism’s earnings, a governance reformer has warned.

Robert Myers, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) principal, told Tribune Business that this nation was in danger of “falling asleep at the wheel” over the urgent need to find a new foreign currency earnings source to support the fixed one:one exchange rate peg with the US dollar.

Speaking after the World Investment Report 2020 revealed that FDI inflows to the Bahamian economy last year fell to just 20 percent of the pre-Baha Mar peak in 2014, Mr Myers said:

• Governance reformer voices fear for peg • Warns that Bahamas is ‘asleep at wheel’ • Capital inflows ‘equal priority’ to life saving

ROBERT MYERS “It’s an horrendous signal.

That’s awful, awful. That’s bad news given that it was pre-COVID-19. How are we going to maintain the currency peg if we cannot maintain FDI inflows?

“We’ve got 60 percent of

our economy that’s fallen off the cliff, and the remaining 40 percent we’d better pump full of steroids so that we get that moving and create some jobs. The number one way to do that is property and development, that type of FDI, but right now we seem to have fallen asleep at the wheel and nothing good is going to come out the other end.”

K Peter Turnquest, deputy prime minister, directed this newspaper to the work of the government-appointed Economic Recovery Committee when asked what strategies the government planned to employ to boost FDI as part of its search for an

alternative foreign currency earnings source to tourism that will help maintain the fixed exchange rate peg.

However, Mr Myers argued that The Bahamas and its economy cannot wait for the committee to complete its work given his personal prediction that FDI inflows are likely to drop another 20-30 percent below last year’s slump in 2020 due to the COVID-19 fall-out.

Describing increased FDI as “absolutely critical” to preserving The Bahamas’ fixed exchange regime, he argued that it should be the equal number one priority

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