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The Tribune

Volume:117 No.184, AUGUST 21ST, 2020

Established 1903

Weekend

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

OBITS OFFICIA

CL ASSIFIED TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS & MORE CARS

INSIDE

Davis flies to States for COVID treatment

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis was airlifted to the United States for COVID19 treatment yesterday.

Meanwhile Central and South Eleuthera MP Hank Johnson has also tested positive for the disease and is in hospital in New Providence.

“The last few days have been especially difficult for so many Bahamians,” Mr Davis said in a statement released by the PLP. “Please stay safe and look out for one another. Let’s continue to take care of ourselves, our neighbours, and our families.

“As many of you know,

my daughter Philippa is a very senior doctor in the United States. She would like me to be close by as I complete my treatment.

“After a family discussion, I have decided to fly to a hospital in the United States. I wish to thank the doctors and nurses and all the support staff at Doctors Hospital, who have looked after me so well.

“I am in close contact with colleagues and friends and will continue to monitor what is happening in our country.

“I pray God’s continued blessings on us all. I miss you all and look forward to being with you again soon,” Mr Davis’ statement noted.

PLP deputy leader

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement chairman Carl Culmer dismissed speculation of friction in Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ Cabinet due to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FNM chairman responded to claims on social media and from a Tribune source, which he “chalks up” to nothing more than mere political mischief.

“There are persons out

there trying to create mischief in the FNM,” Mr Culmer said. “They realise that the only way to get the PLP back in power is to create mischief in the FNM. I talk to Cabinet ministers just about every day.

I have a constant rapport with them and I have heard nothing from them that says they are not in agreement with what the prime minister is doing.

“None of the Cabinet ministers have told me they are resigning. People are creating mischief and that’s SEE PAGE FOUR

A COMIC’S VIEW

IS THERE A PLOT TO JETTISON THE PRIME MINISTER?

SEE PAGE NINE

LEGAL AID

SEE PAGE THREE

CULMER INSISTS NO DIVISION IN CABINET

L SOUR CE

STUDENT DEON DUVERNY, aged 18, was released from prison after three attorneys paid his $500 fine for violating the national curfew. From the left: Bjron Ferguson, Deon Duverny, Claude Hanna and Damian White.

Full story - Page 4

BUSINESS OWNERS PLAN PROTEST MARCH CAT 1 STORM EXPECTED TO HIT IN NORTH

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

PERMISSION is being sought for a “business survival march” to draw attention to the plight of entrepreneurs who fear their firms “might not last beyond September” with the present COVID restrictions.

Mark A Turnquest, the small business consultant who is organising a march

that aims to attract 100 business owners, told Tribune Business yesterday that up to 75 percent of his clients and other entrepreneur contacts feel they cannot last for more than one month if lockdowns and restrictions remain in place.

Confirming that he had already applied to police commissioner Paul Rolle to stage the march on Friday, September 4, between Arawak Cay and Parliament Square and back

again, Mr Turnquest said the level of “stress” many businesses - especially those deemed non-essential by the Government - are suffering had persuaded many to take part despite fears it would be seen as political.

Mr Turnquest said those involved planned to present “a business recovery” document to the government covering 10 industries once the event was over.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE northern Bahamas is expected to experience Category One hurricane conditions by Sunday from a weather disturbance being monitored by officials.

SEE PAGE FIVE

BRENNEN: I’M NOT RESIGNING MY POST

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

DEPUTY Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen has denied social media claims that he submitted a notice of intention to resign.

Speaking briefly with The Tribune yesterday, a tightlipped Dr Brennen said he was busy working.

A post was circulated

DR DELON BRENNEN on Wednesday night on social media by a local website operator, alleging Dr

Brennen had given notice of his resignation due to concerns about the handling of the pandemic.

When The Tribune contacted Dr Brennen yesterday, he only said: “Unfortunately, I am a bit busy. But I have not submitted ‘notice of intention to resign’…I think that’s what it (the social media post) said.”

Dr Brennen is a part of the country’s COVID-19

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

DIANE PHILLIPS ONCE UPON A TIME I WAS LOST, BUT NOW I AM FOUND

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Friday, August 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

ROLLE REVEALS 85 OFFICERS IN QUARANTINE

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

COMMISSIONER of Police Paul Rolle revealed yesterday around 85 police officers are in quarantine while one officer has been disciplined for breaching confinement.

The police chief made the revelation to reporters while officially opening the COVID-19 Hubbcat Centre at the Cable Beach

Police Station. Hubbcat is the app officials use to monitor people in quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure or infection.

Commissioner Rolle also revealed around 500 people in quarantine are currently being monitored by the police.

National Security Minister Marvin Dames told The Tribune back in July that more than 100 police officers were in quarantine because of COVID-19 and

as many as ten police officers had been infected with the virus at the time.

When asked about this yesterday, the Commissioner was not able to say how many officers had tested positive so far.

“I don’t know how many tested positive - that don’t come to me,” he said.

“In terms of individuals’ medical (information), I have no authority to discuss those kinds of issues… We did not have as many, but

persons once they’ve been exposed for their safety and the safety of all, we quarantine, or if they’re not sure. That’s what we do to make sure that everybody remains safe.”

He was also asked about claims some police officers have broken quarantine.

Commissioner Rolle said for the most part, officers have been adhering to the self-isolation rules except for one instance of which he is aware.

“I have a report of one officer who had breached her quarantine and I took disciplinary action with her.

Okay, officers have been complying… you know they’re doing their best,” the Commissioner said.

He added measures are continued to be taken such as sanitising all of the stations, practising social distancing and wearing masks. “Like I said, every now and again we deal with people and as we deal with

POLICE TEAM GIVING OUT WATER & MASKS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle and a team of officers giving out water and masks yesterday Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle and a team of officers gave out water and masks to Windsor Lane residents yesterday.

However some community members said more could be done. “...Wear your PPEs, wear masks and practice social distancing. That’s the message that we wanted to do here this morning,” Commissioner Rolle said during the exercise.

“We came into this community and it’s hot as you can see and we kind of give them a little water to wet your throat and to kind of keep you going.”

Area resident 37-yearold Sheion Lopez said she needs more help to get by.

“I’m a security officer at Columbus Primary but only so much I could do and I just started working and only so much I get pay. You understand me and I have to deal

with my children too and my mummy old she soon resign and she ain’t getting nothing because the bank and stuff taking out her money. She don’t even see a dollar out of her cheque (sic),” she explained.

According to resident Deanglo Greene, 30, about 80 percent residents in the area are out of work.

“Look through the corner ain’t nobody going to work,” he pointed out.

Jamaine Henfield, 35, was thankful for the PPE, but said people need more assistance.

“They just giving out masks and water - that’s a start. I’m thankful for it… but they could do more.

We ain’t even sure if they coming back here or not.

They only been through one corner like what’s the deal? What’s next to come?” he asked.

“We barely making it through here. We just hope they could do, we hope the government could do more.”

persons there is no guarantee that everyone who interacts with the police does not have the virus, so we do our best to protect our officers.

“There’s been a lot of misinformation circulating in social media and the commissioner of police has addressed it. So you have to decide whether you want to take what I say or whether you want to listen to social media…. I give you the facts - (I have) nothing to hide.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, August 21, 2020, PAGE 3

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Brave Davis flies to US for COVID treatment from page one Chester Cooper released a statement saying party officials “will continue to respect the privacy of the leader and his family, and urge all others to do the same.”

“The leader, his family and the party would like to thank everyone for their love, support and prayers during this time,” he said.

In a voice note on

Sunday, Mr Davis revealed he had tested positive for COVID-19 and had been admitted into Doctors Hospital for care.

Yesterday, former PLP Cabinet minister George Smith said he spoke with Mr Davis on Wednesday, adding the PLP leader appeared to be “in fine form” when they last spoke.

“I spoke with him on two occasions, he’s very communicative and I’m

CHESTER COOPER

told by a colleague of his in the men’s group he belongs to that he’s in good form, he wants to recover to get back to the work at hand so he’s taking advantage of the opportunity to mend quicker than what would happen if he stayed here,” Mr Smith, former Exuma MP and a PLP stalwart councillor, said.

“He’s in fine form, he’s a trooper,” Mr Smith added.

“I spoke with him and he’s in fine form, two days ago

and yesterday. He’s in fine form, sitting up, I don’t think his case is a very advanced case but in the interest of caution, safety, he has an opportunity to heal quicker, so he took the opportunity available.”

For his part, Mr Johnson released a statement yesterday confirming that he too has contracted COVID-19.

He is also in hospital receiving treatment for the disease.

“I am currently hospitalised in New Providence,” Mr Johnson said. “I thank the medical staff for their skilled and detailed care of me and all the Bahamians battling this illnesses.”

FNM chairman Carl Culmer told The Tribune he spoke to Mr Johnson yesterday morning.

PLP Senator Michael Darville has also contracted COVID-19.

Editorial view - Page 6

Virus claims another 79 cases plus extra death THE Ministry of Health confirmed 79 more COVID-19 cases yesterday and another related death.

The latest deceased victim is an 84-year-old New Providence woman who died yesterday morning, pushing the nation’s COVID-19 death toll to 23.

The breakdown of the new cases include 70 in New Providence, eight in Grand Bahama and one in Eleuthera.

There are now a total of 1,610 confirmed cases in the country: 950 in New Providence; 515 in Grand Bahama; 45 in Bimini; 44 in Abaco; 14 in the Berry Islands; eight in Cat Island; six in Exuma; two in Inagua; five in Eleuthera; one in Andros and 20 confirmed cases with locations pending.

“We continue to review all data and evaluate for incident cases. The public will soon be updated on the epidemiological profile,” health officials said last night.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis

Nearly 300 new cases have been reported this week alone. On Monday officials confirmed 14 new cases, followed by 95 on Tuesday and 107 on Wednesday.

The latest dashboard shows 62 cases in hospital.

There are 1,372 active cases while only 211 are listed as recovered.

On Monday night, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced an immediate seven-day lockdown for New Providence with the strictest

measures yet — closing grocery stores, water depots, and private pharmacies. The move elicited pushback and outcry with many saying they were unprepared for a no notice lockdown and NGOs reported being overwhelmed with requests for assistance.

Less than 24 hours later, Dr Minnis reversed the harsh measures, announcing in a statement the decision came after weather officials briefed Cabinet on an approaching storm. He

also said residents reached out to him about concerns about the lockdown and conceded the public and businesses were not prepared.

Last Friday, health officials said they had not ruled out recommending tougher restrictions be implemented due to the rising COVID19 cases.

The country entered a “two-week minimum” lockdown earlier this month, which meant only essential businesses were allowed to operate.

SEVERAL NURSES CALLING IN SICK AT SANDILANDS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Amancha Williams confirmed that a number of nurses, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, called in sick at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre yesterday.

The situation, she said, is part of a larger ongoing healthcare “crisis” due to rising virus cases in New Providence.

“This isn’t industrial action,” she told The Tribune. “The nurses are actually sick.”

The Public Hospitals Authority confirmed yesterday that 14 nurses called in sick. The entity said a statement would be released on the matter, but one was

not issued up to press time.

According to the BNU president, several nurses were exposed to the highly contagious and potentially deadly virus while on the job.

She said the union has had to visit the homes of some nurses to deliver care packages because they remain at home attempting to self-medicate.

“They were exposed and they are not being tested and they are having symptoms. So it is said that if you’re having symptoms you must remain home.

“These persons are waiting for results. Some of them were tested and are still waiting for results after seven to 10 days, two weeks, they haven’t heard anything and they have had to go privately, pay their funds to be

tested. They are still waiting on employee health to help them. “…They are only testing the patient and they are not testing the staff and the staff is going home to their relatives and infecting their relatives.

“It’s not a joke, this is a real crisis,” Ms Williams, pictured, added. “Right now the nurses are anxious. Their anxiety levels are high and no one is looking at the nurse and their needs.

“I know two nurses that called me that showed up to Princess Margaret Hospital and were sent back home.

So they’re home self-medicating and so God help us because nurses are managing nurses and so for me as a president I have went to the homes where husband

and wife are not well. I have taken them little care packages left at the front door, even the zinc which we know is being used to build up the immune system. These are the things that the president and the executive team are doing. We are at a critical state right now.”

In addition to the ailing health of some nurses, Ms Williams claimed they are being treated poorly by administrative officials.

“We have nurses being asked to use her vacation time to quarantine. Everything is hinging on the nurse and we are asking where is our government?

Now they are saying that no nurse that works for

PHA must take vacation.

A nurse called me the other day saying nobody here is going to have vacation.

“They revoked the vacation without even informing them and there is vacation to start Monday.

How can they do this? The nurses aren’t being compensated or provided with any benefits.

“They’ve promised compensation from March. This is now September and not one extra dollar has been given.

All that is going on in The Bahamas you have not given the nurse over time and she has worked seven days out, seven days in.

“It is not fair and then they ask why is the union president making noise?”

Earlier this month, Mrs

Williams said some nurses are burnt out and discouraged from volunteering their services due to the way health officials are organising the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the time, Mrs Williams said nurses are willing to work, but are tired of the way they have been treated during the course of the outbreak.

Her statement came days after several doctors, nurses and technicians at Princess Margaret Hospital walked off the job due to COVID19 safety concerns.

In April, then Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the vulnerability of healthcare workers as almost one in every five confirmed cases has been a medical professional.

PAGE 4, Friday, August 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS from page one all that it is. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet are doing a good job in this pandemic and people are out there trying to say they can do a better job. The Cabinet is on one accord.”

Mr Culmer was contacted after a high-ranking FNM supporter contacted this newspaper to allege that morale in the party was low.

“Our party is in shambles,” the supporter, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “Our leader has absolutely no regard for any of us nor does he regard his Cabinet. He is at odds with most of the members in fact he does not even speak to some of them. Their morale is low and many of them want out. He treats them like they are not adults. It makes us long for days of old when we had a different leader.

“You will find resignations coming a dime and a dozen because no one wants to deal with him. ..I am an FNM from the 1970s, and our party has never, ever

Culmer insists no division in Cabinet seen it like this before. This is an, ‘only what I say goes’ and ‘do what I say’ type of leadership and morale within the party is very low.

He does not even speak to or regard his chairman.”

Asked about what the party supporter said, Mr Culmer said there are some in the party who will always be disgruntled because they may not have gotten what they want.

“I am not going to waste much time on that,” the chairman said. “The Prime Minister spoke to me on Tuesday and last night. He and I have no problems.

There will always be one or two people who are disgruntled. You know, some who may have not gotten what they want or asked for.

That is what that is about, but no one in the FNM is upset with the leader.”

The chairman was asked if he thinks the FNM can win the next election.

“The PLP has started up something on social media about a general election,” he said in response. “I don’t have time to waste on it.

They are worrying about an election when we are in the middle of a pandemic.

It shows where their heads

are. Do they care about people who are suffering?

The election is in 2022. This is 2020. Let us focus on what is going on now.”

On Wednesday, Progressive Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell said people should push for a snap election in response to the Prime Minister’s handling of the pandemic.

In response, Mr Culmer in a statement, said it is “sad to see the level to which political discourse has sunk in our country.”

Mr Culmer also said: “Rather than standing with the government to

CARL CULMER

offer sensible, achievable solutions, some like PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell see this crisis as a time to make moves for political power.

Other political rejects are seeking resignations because of their personal grievances with those in power.

Our Prime Minister is not afraid of leading. He is also humble enough to change course when the people say they need more time before a policy is implemented.

Bahamians of goodwill should join with the government to offer their ideas and assistance in this extraordinary crisis.”

Attorneys chip in to pay student’s court bill

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net AN 18-YEAR-OLD high school student, who spent over a week in prison for violating the national curfew, was released yesterday thanks to a few local attorneys who paid his $500 fine.

Deon Duverny appeared in Magistrates Court on August 12 after police found him and his cousin driving on the streets of New Providence on August 10, in violation of the national curfew.

Duverny, who claims he has no previous convictions, said he was shocked when the magistrate told him that he either had to pay a $500 fine the same day or face prison for the curfew infraction.

He said he was consequently imprisoned at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services after he was unable to pay the fine. The teen said he had no guardians present with him during the court hearing as his parents are no longer alive.

“He said $500 today or prison,” he told reporters yesterday. “I mean I was on the wrong after all but that shouldn’t mean that I have to pay $500 to be on the road.

“...Two (officers) were willing to let me go because they understand the situation I was in. I was carrying my cousin home and we probably was going to stop in the village (in Cowpen Road) for something to eat.”

Asked if he told the court he was a high school student, Duverny replied: “He look like he didn’t care.”

Describing his experience in prison yesterday, the high school senior said the ordeal was an unpleasant one, saying essential items like water were not always readily available. He also said inmates are only fed twice a day.

“It ain’t nice. That’s for sure,” he said. “The other day, a guy fall off a top bunk in the prison. They called (the police) for the longest and when the guy decided to finally come, he was taking his time like he’s modelling.

“And they don’t always give you things like like water and stuff. It ain’t making no sense.”

Having experienced the frightening ordeal, the 18-year-old said he is extremely thankful to be out of prison. He is set to graduate high school next year.

Those present at court for Duverny’s release from

STUDENT DEON DUVERNY, second from left, with attorneys Bjron Ferguson, left, Claude Hanna and Damian White. prison included attorneys Bjorn Ferguson, Claude Hanna and Damian White, who all assisted to have his court fines paid.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Hanna said when the group learned about Duverny’s situation, they decided to lend a helping hand.

Calling the system flawed, Mr Hanna said the COVID-19 curfew regulations have been “disproportionately” placing a burden on those less fortunate in the Bahamian society.

“We are a part of a conglomerate of lawyers who have decided to step in to help those persons who are less fortunate and had an unfortunate circumstance under this pandemic situation with the various

regulations and orders,” he said.

“We learnt of Mr Duverny’s ordeal. He was incarcerated for some seven days and we thought that given the circumstances, we put the necessary funds to pay his fine so that he could be released, and this is just one of the many situations where these regulations are disproportionately putting a burden on the less fortunate of the society.

“Here is a young man still in high school and being incarcerated for the inability to pay a $500 fine. We think the system can do better than that.”

Mr White also lamented the unfairness surrounding Duverny’s sentence, suggesting the teen should have been given more time to pay his fine.

He said: “It’s been other clients that we have represented individually who had been given an opportunity to pay a fine over a period of time. In particular him being a high school student, I feel like in this case the ball was kinda dropped because where would he have the means to pay a fine if he was not working?

“I don’t know if the court was not aware or what took place but as soon as we heard, we got information of his situation and we thought it necessary to intercede on his behalf.”

For his part, Mr Ferguson called the entire process “unconstitutional”.

“Like Mr Hanna said, it’s disproportionately impacting the weak among our society. It is clear the weak

among our society is hurt.

The young man basically criminalised before he’s even enjoying life. This can’t be The Bahamas that we want for us. It just can’t.

“And so fundamentally, constitutionality, we say it’s unconstitutional,” Mr Ferguson said.

Mr White also added: “If we had not intervened to pay this fine, school is about to start in a month’s time and he would’ve been incarcerated which would greatly affect his ability to even properly graduate in a timely manner that he is supposed to be graduating.”

The attorneys said they will also try to get Duverny’s cousin released from prison, who is still currently at BDCS.

Editorial View - Page 6

patients that are in a pulmonary crisis - breathing crisis when you cannot measure their pulmonary function - that is beyond comprehension. I am not holding my tongue on this issue because I have clearly messaged them, and nothing has been done,” he claimed.

Dr Bethel said that a lack of follow up testing to confirm that patients are no longer shedding the virus is also a concern.

“We are getting data not from the government, but I can tell you from my own practice I have patients that are anxious to go back to work and there are various different scenarios where patients were sent home from the hospital with no basic treatment,” he said. “No surprise, so we are getting data like that, and I have a handful of people like that in that scenario. And this is why we ranked at the very bottom with managing COVID.”

He was referring to the fact that The Bahamas ranked at the bottom in the world in its response and total management of the COVID-19 crisis, at 183 of 184 in terms of its recovery rate, according to a report issued by the Global COVID-19 Index (GCI).

The GCI report, published on July 28, gave this country an index score of 6.99 out 100, putting it far behind countries which have made more progress in lessening the spread of the disease.

Dr Bethel also raised issue with the treatment he said some patients are receiving, claiming that some patients are being given Augmentin, an antibiotic, which is useless in treating COVID-19 symptoms.

“The World Health Organisation said after two weeks with treatment you should be free

of the virus. After the two week mark, because the government won’t retest them again, they come in and get a private test to show … but they are still positive and that is because they did not get treatment. And this is why we ranked at the very bottom with managing COVID.” Dr Bethel indicated that there are some drugs that can help treat symptoms of COVID-19 patients, such as Acetylcysteine, which can be obtained as a prescription or over the counter.

“It is pennies for the pills; it is available over the counter and as a prescription; it is safe and has no side effects - it is just amazing,” he said.

Other prescription drug options are persantine, soliris, and hydroxychloroquine, Dr Bethel said.

However, despite it being touted by some as

a possible COVID-19 treatment, including US President Donald Trump, the US FDA has cautioned against use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to risk of heart rhythm problems.

For his part, Dr Bethel said that Vitamin D and Zinc are also effective for prevention. He recommends going outside in the sun or purchasing the supplements and exercising.

He noted that people with severe symptoms who seek medical help shed the virus for a shorter time than asymptomatic people with mild symptoms who shed the virus for a longer period up to 19 days.

“So, it is like a see-saw trade-off balance. You get a mild case of it, but then you become a super spreader.

That is doubly worse – that is scary,” Dr Bethel said.

DOCTOR CALLING FOR MORE COVID TESTING ON GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama doctor is calling on health officials to expand COVID19 testing capabilities to the island.

Dr Kevin Bethel, of Family Wellness Centre in Freeport, said tests from Grand Bahama are being sent to Nassau for checking.

“What needs to happen is we need testing ability to test on the island,” he stated, explaining that it adds an extra time delay and cost sending the tests to New Providence. He believes that actual testing on the island could have a one-day turnaround.

When the country opens again, Dr Bethel said Bahamians traveling abroad and returning to The Bahamas must be tested when they land.

“Major islands would

need to have testing ability,” he stressed at a recent Grand Bahama Rotary meeting.

Another issue, claims the physician, is the inability of the public hospital to measure pulmonary function tests for COVID-19 patients who experience pulmonary issues.

The Rand Memorial Hospital, he claims, does not have a simple pulmonary function test capability and that officials have been made aware of this but done nothing about it.

“It is important, to follow the progress of the patient, to do these pulmonary functions, and I have been advocating that from the beginning. And as I report, can you believe it or not, even though I informed the (government officials), the Rand claims they do not have a simple pulmonary function test capability.

How are you managing

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, August 21, 2020, PAGE 5

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

BRENNEN: I’M NOT RESIGNING MY POST from page one

Task Force which has, since formed, seen the departure of former Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands and task force coordinator, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis served as interim minister of health after he accepted Dr Sands’ resignation in May. Former Minister of Transport Renward Wells was appointed to the health post recently, taking over from Dr Minnis.

BUSINESSES yesterday prepared for an upcoming storm which may hit this weekend.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Category 1 storm is expected to hit in north from page one

According to Chief Meteorological Officer Kaylinda Ward-Forbes, this portion of the country will experience similar conditions to those of Hurricane Isaias, which passed over The Bahamas earlier this month.

Weather experts are projecting the disturbance will be a tropical storm when it enters The Bahamas on Sunday, before strengthening into a hurricane as it churns towards Florida.

“It is expected to be in the vicinity of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Inagua area around early Sunday morning, that’s the latest track, which has it around 8am Sunday morning and the National Hurricane Centre is expecting it to become a hurricane sometime early Monday morning.

“At that time it is projected to be just to the southwest of Andros island.”

She continued: “The

track has it coming basically either across Inagua or in between that passage between Inagua and Turks and Caicos Islands and it will continue on a west, north-westward path.

“It may clip south Andros passing mainly on the western side and across the Great Bahama Bank into the Florida Keys.”

Residents throughout the country are being advised to closely monitor the progress of this system and to heed local advisories.

On Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis reversed the harsh seven-day lockdown imposed on New Providence a day earlier, which mandated the closure of food stores, water depots, private pharmacies, and gas stations. He said the reversal came after weather experts briefed Cabinet on a possible impending storm and after concerns were raised that residents and businesses were not prepared for a week-long lockdown.

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This comes as COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to climb. More than 1,600 cases have been reported up to press time, the bulk of which were confirmed after the country reopened its borders to international travel on July 1.

Recently, director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Diseases Programme, Dr Nikkiah Forbes admitted to a serious backlog of national tests being in the system. She also said health professionals are looking at data to

differentiate between the backlog and new COVID cases.

On Monday Dr Minnis said he was acting on advice from health officials when he placed New Providence on an immediate seven day lockdown,

closing nearly all commercial activity. He reversed the decision less than 24 hours later, he said, due to threat of an impending storm and concerns that residents and business were not prepared for a week-long shutdown.

PAGE 6, Friday, August 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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The long arm of the law has a heavy hand WHEN Deon Duverny set off to drive his cousin home, he did not expect the journey would end in a prison cell.

The 18-year-old was on the wrong side of the national curfew, and was stopped by police then taken to court, where the magistrate told him to pay a $500 fine or go to jail. With no guardian present, and no money to pay the fine, off he went behind bars.

For the want of $500, he was jailed.

He admitted to being in the wrong – and he was, according to the curfew rules. He said he and his cousin were probably going to stop for something to eat too, and those kind of social contacts are the things that the curfews and lockdowns are trying to stop, to limit the opportunity for the virus to spread.

But is putting a high school student in prison because he doesn’t have $500 in his pockets really the best way? Could he not have been given more time for family and friends to spare him a journey to jail?

The experience he has there was sobering, certainly. He talks of a lack of water. He talks of seeing a prisoner

fall from a top bunk and a long wait for assistance. These reports of problems behind the prison walls are nothing new, of course, there has long been talk of difficult conditions at Fox Hill prison.

What we can find comfort in is the response of people who have stepped up to assist Mr Duverny. As Claude Hanna, one of the attorneys who helped to have his court fines paid, said: “We think the system can do better than that.”

Constitutional arguments are swirling over the cases of those fined or jailed over breaches of emergency powers – and the government’s case is not helped by the slow publication of those orders.

But it is worth questioning what the government is trying to achieve – reducing contact between people to stop the spread of the virus – and whether the punishments in place to enforce that are the best way, or can other things be done to achieve that outcome.

Enough of our young are already criminalised – and for those who have a future, let’s not snuff out that potential by allowing justice to be too heavy handed.

Get well soon, Mr Davis OPPOSITION leader Philip “Brave” Davis has been flown to the US as he continues his treatment after testing positive for COVID-19.

We wish him well, of course. We hope he recovers quickly and returns to full fitness.

We’re less sure of the confidence it shows in the Bahamian healthcare system as he heads to the US and the assistance of his daughter, a doctor there. And it won’t help his claims to be a man of the people when he hits the campaign trail once more.

Indeed, we hope he receives the best treatment available, and that our healthcare system can look at what it is unable to provide to other Bahamians in a less fortunate position – and find a way to extend such treatment to them too.

To all Bahamians fighting this disease, we say a prayer for their recovery, including Mr Davis, and including PLP Senator Dr Michael Darville and Central and South Eleuthera MP Hank Johnson, who have both also tested positive.

To you all, keep on fighting.

Sorry language of the lockdown EDITOR, The Tribune “ENOUGH is enough.

Enough is enough stop running”. These were the words of a young woman whose voice reverberated throughout Windsor Park as she, along with a tumultuous crowd of protesters, marched this morning demanding their rights. As instructed, police officers handcuffed and transported protesters in buses and vans to be berated. These actions emerged after Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced a seven-day lockdown without giving “us” Bahamian citizens of New Providence adequate time to prepare for the lockdown. The unexpected lockdown desisted the operation of food stores, gas stations, and other essential services.

The comments and posts that flooded social media sites such as Facebook and Whatsapp connote that the Bahamian people are infuriated and had “Enough” with the government’s decisions and actions without hearing their voices. Some

comments and posts led to contentions between users that were said to be “biased and unrealistic.” Many persons stated that they conform to the lockdown and other rules and regulations. However, having no time to prepare is unfair.

A concerned mother of four shared her story with her Facebook friends.

She mentioned that she is unemployed and fed up with the government and their decisions. She doesn’t have enough food in her household for the lockdown period.

In my opinion, and I will be very transparent about the situation. Let’s make it make sense, as my Bahamian people would say. I’m afraid I have to disagree with the abrupt lockdown because most persons were not prepared. We have many individuals trying their best to survive day by day and are not as fortunate as you, me, John, or Doe, who has the privilege of purchasing household goods in bulk. We must realise that people are hurting, depressed, and

frustrated.

Everyone’s voice deserves to be heard; your living condition and financial status cannot speak for everyone. Yes, the government, churches, and private institutions offer assistance to persons in need of help. Still, the reality is that not everyone will get support. We will all learn daily, but we should never judge a person’s actions or condition without walking in their shoes.

We have to be wise about our thoughts and actions and not become distracted by the things that can destroy us physically, mentally, and spiritually. Prayer is the only answer to mitigate this issue.

We are a community, whether we like it or not.

We are all in this together.

Some of us may not like that, but the coronavirus doesn’t care. Let’s help and encourage each other daily!

But most importantly, let’s pray for our country. Prayer is essential!

ANTHONIQUE BOWE Nassau, August 18, 2020.

We can see virus has very little regard for social status EDITOR, The Tribune AS of August 20, the United States of America has a total of 5,550,029 confirmed COVID-19 infections, with 173,306 deaths. Among the casualties are a list of prominent personalities, inclusive of Hollywood celebrities, artists and musicians.

Nick Cordero, Trini Lopez, John Prine, Manu Dibango, Lee Fierro, Adam Schlesinger, Mark Blum, Terrance McNally, Joe Diffie, Alan Merrill and Andrew Jack are just a few of the big names to succumb to COVID-19. On July 30 it was announced that former African American Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain also succumbed to the novel coronavirus. Political pundits have theorised that Cain contracted the disease at a July 20 President Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the BOK Centre, amid reports by the Tulsa City-County Health Department that there has been a dramatic surge of COVID-19 infections in Oklahoma due to the Trump event and its accompanying protests.

Whether or not there is any truth to this theory of Cain’s aliment, the 74-year-old former CEO of the fast food franchise, Godfather’s Pizza, did not wear a mask at the rally.

I have noticed that many of the celebrities who have passed away were senior citizens – a demographic that is most at risk

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net at contracting severe illness due to COVID-19, according to the World Health Organisation.

Here in The Bahamas, we seem to be facing a similar situation, with several prominent Bahamians contracting the virus. I believe it was The Nassau Guardian that first broke the news of Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip “Brave” Davis being flown to the United States to seek further treatment for the COVID-19 virus he recently contracted.

Another high ranking PLP official, Senator Dr Michael Darville, also has COVID19, as per The Tribune, and is hospitalised. Interestingly, Darville is co-chair of the PLP COVID-19 Task Force.

The Tribune is also reporting that Free National Movement (FNM) MP for Central and South Eleuthera, Hank Johnson, is hospitalised with COVID-19. The rumour of Johnson’s illness began to circulate in the media on the same day Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced a restrictive seven-day lockdown for New Providence, which was subsequently eased up due to mounting pressure.

Minnis’ abrupt announcement was probably partly influenced by the news of his three Parliamentary colleagues being hospitalised

with COVID-19. Attempting to implement austere measures to curb COVID19, Minnis’ decision appears to have been aimed at preventing the death of more Bahamians.

Whatever the case may be, moving forward, Minnis needs to engage his Cabinet, backbenchers and the official Opposition, instead of appearing to be only consulting Ministry of Health and COVID-19 Task Force officials, as the current modus operandi is creating too much hostility towards his administration, which has prompted some to call for an election, as if such would cause COVID-19 to go away and the economy to magically return to its pre-COVID-19 form. Failure to engage Parliament could cause COVID-19 to be the FNM’s Waterloo, as it appears to be the case with Trump, who is currently trailing Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden in many polls.

With Davis, Darville and Johnson being ill with COVID-19, the virus is hammering home the point that it has very little regard for our socio-economic status. As Bahamians, we must forget about political differences and pray fervently for the speedy recovery of the three politicians and the nearly 1,300 individuals battling COVID-19.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama, August 20, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, August 21, 2020, PAGE 7

25-YEAR-OLD HELD ON ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

UB North working to help youngsters rebuild homes

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE University of the Bahamas North, in partnership with HEART 9/11 of the United States, has launched a Pre-Apprentice Programme to train young individuals with skills in roofing and carpentry, while helping to rebuild homes on Grand Bahama destroyed

by Hurricane Dorian.

The eight-week programme – which is being facilitated by the UB’s Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning division started last week with some 17 participants who were selected from among 120 candidates.

UB North vice president Dr Ian Strachan; Leterah Munnings, assistant director of Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning; Bill Keegan, of Heart 9/11; and Bishop Sidney McIntosh of Revelation Faith Church, announced the programme’s launching during a press conference via Zoom early this week.

Heart 911 is a disaster

emergency aid response team that was formed following the World Trade Centre attacks in New York. It consists of retired persons of the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD, and NYC Building Trades, and its mission is to respond to natural and man-made disasters, rebuild infrastructure in hard-hit areas, and recover by training for individuals to rebuild their communities.

According to Mr Keegan, participants were taught mathematics and trained in OSHA 10 (basic construction safety) during their first week in the classroom.

“This is our second week and we are now out in the field where they will begin to rebuild homes,” he said.

Participants will receive a stipend of $325 per week.

Trainees will spend time receiving hands-on training from the HEART 9/11 volunteer carpenters by building roofs supplement the classroom/woodshop training in measurement, engineering, safety, and technical skills. At the end of the 8-week program, the

Pre-apprentices must pass a written and technical test before becoming certified.

Mr Keegan said Heart 9/11 is committed to the programme. They came to the Bahamas in response to Hurricane Dorian, first assisting with rebuilding in Abaco, and also in Grand Bahama.

“We, now being retired, want to share…skills and experiences with others who are suffering through disasters of their own, such as we did following 911,” he said, explaining that it was important not only to respond but to train people so they would be ready to respond if another storm hit the island.

They were able to partner with Rise for Hope, which decided to fund Heart 9/11, along with the Templeton Religion Trust Fund. They met with the UB leadership, who also saw the benefit of the programme. A relationship was also formed with Revelation Faith Church who also came on board, with Leroy Noel, one of the contractor instructors.

“This has been an incredible relationship with all our partners…and we are looking forward to the success programme,” he said.

Dr Ian Strachan said UB North is proud and honoured to be partners in such a “transformational initiative.”

“All the organizations that have reached out to GB and Abaco in this time of greatest need, have truly renewed my faith in humanity because of their selflessness and generosity, and love for their neighbour that they have shown.

And Heart 9/11 epitomizes that. It was borne out of tragedy and driven by love and service, and have reached out beyond borders of the US to pay it forward in a way that is a winning formula because it focuses on bringing and restoring hope, rebuilding lives and also on empowering people by giving them skills they need to be able to help themselves and find gainful employment,” he said.

Dr Strachan said UB is honoured to be able to play

a part in helping to rebuild GB and Abaco. “There was no question about whether we would support this, just a matter of how we would find a way to play a part to facilitate this training, and we are very pleased to join hands with other civic leaders who are apart of this process,” he said.

Bishop Sidney McIntosh said that Dorian was very destructive, and commended Heart9/11 for taking a leap of faith to help them rebuild. “This organization is full of heart and is a family-oriented movement, and because of their initiative and love, we are able to establish this programme…that will help young men and women who want to develop themselves,” he said.

He was also very pleased that UB decided to partner and facilitate the programme. “We are hoping with great anticipation it goes in Abaco, Bimini, and the other northern parts so the Bahamas will be able ready if something like this was to happen again.”

A 25-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to prison yesterday after being arraigned on an attempted murder charge.

Shacardo Culmer appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis, charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Officers allege Culmer, along with others, attempted to kill Vernal Johnson on August 7. It is further alleged Culmer, being concerned with another, had a black handgun with the intention to endanger Johnson’s life.

Culmer was not required to enter a plea to the charges and the matter was adjourned to November 3 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Montell Miller, 24, was also arraigned in Magistrates Court on Thursday, charged with two counts of possession of a firearm to endanger life.

The prosecution claims that on July 17, Miller had a shotgun with the intent to endanger the life of Tamaj Rahming and Kenesha Forbes.

Miller was not required to enter a plea to the charges. Magistrate Kara TurnquestDeveaux adjourned the matter to November 29 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Also appearing before Magistrate TurnquestDeveaux yesterday was Robin Munroe, 28.

Munroe was charged with one count of stealing and another count of receiving after he was accused of stealing one white 2004 Honda Accord valued at $4,000 from Clay Martin on August 4 along with others.

Officers also said Munroe, while being concerned with another, “dishonestly” received the stolen vehicle on the same day.

Munroe, who pleaded guilty to both offenses, was granted bail at $1,500 with one surety. His matter was adjourned to October 26.

CAN THE CRUISE INDUSTRY REALLY RECOVER FROM CORONAVIRUS?

by Liz Sharples Senior Teaching Fellow (Tourism) and Kokho Jason Sit, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, University of Portsmouth

ON Sunday the first major cruise ship to take to the Mediterranean in almost five months sailed out of the Italian city of Genoa.

Passengers on the MSC Grandiosa were tested for coronavirus before stepping on board. The ship – which has brought in an array of strict measures to limit the spread of the virus – will stop at three Italian ports and the Maltese capital Valletta in a seven-day voyage.

But will these measures be enough to help the sector survive the pandemic? A lot is riding on the success of this Italian cruise.

After all, it was hard to imagine a cruise like this happening at all at the height of the pandemic – when ships were referred to as “floating Petri dishes”.

Worldwide media coverage showed ships being turned away from ports and left marooned in the ocean with passengers stranded at sea.

It did look bad. Between February and April, more than 19,000 British travellers from 59 vessels in 20 different countries had to be repatriated by the government.

It wasn’t just bad news for tourists. In April, Andy Harmer, director of Cruise Lines International Association UK and Ireland (CLIA), said the 90-day cruise suspension would cost the UK economy £888

CRUISE ships docked at Prince George Wharf Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff million, lead to the loss of 5,525 jobs and £287 million in wages. Across the UK, the industry supports 40,517 direct jobs paying $1.35bn in wages. CLIA says the industry generates $10bn annually for the UK economy.

So now the cruise industry is hoping strict new protocols will help it regain consumer confidence. New measures include: arriving at cruise terminals at set time slots; screening travellers with temperature checks, medical reviews, health questionnaires and an antigen COVID-19 swab test.

Guests on MSC cruises will receive a wristband,

which provides them with contactless options on board. For example, wristbands can be used to open cabin doors without touching handles and for making payments. They will also help to facilitate proximity and contact tracing, if needed. The MSC Grandiosa has also reduced capacity, with about about 2,500 passengers on board its debut cruise – about 70 percent of normal, pre-pandemic, passenger numbers.

Other cruise companies are experimenting too. TUI Cruises and Hapag Lloyd recently concluded inaugural “no-call” voyages (so no city stop-overs) from Hamburg without incident.

Those two cruise companies have also produced ten-point plans to reassure passengers and encourage more people into travelling again. Points include: preboarding thermal image screening for travellers; social distancing; 40% less guests; table numbers in the restaurants reduced; fewer participants in sports and entertainment events; ships equipped with a laboratory and expanded medical teams.

Crew members will undergo regular COVID tests.

All these measures will be needed to fight the virus and shore up customer confidence, as there has already been a failure. Earlier in August the

expedition cruise ship, MS Roald Amundsen, owned by Norwegian firm Hurtigruten, suffered an outbreak of coronavirus during its week-long voyage to Svalbard in the Arctic.

It is anticipated that prices will be reduced to entice passengers back on board. There are already deals available to book for next year, including discounts on cabin upgrades and drinks packages.

But some firms are going further by considering domestic-only cruises to overcome travel restrictions. For example, cruise company Viking is investigating UK trips for Britons who are missing their cruise

holidays. All these adaptions just go to show how innovative the industry is being to help encourage passengers to cruise again.

But will it be enough? To add to the sector’s pain, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice for the over-70s not to take cruises at all remains in place. Passengers aged 50 and above have represented the core customer base in recent years. And much of this came from the over-70s.

So it will be interesting to watch who returns first.

Industry experts believe it will be passengers who travelled in inter-generational parties and fell in love with the cruise lifestyle who will return first – but with their children rather than their grandparents. They understand how cruise ships operate and are not in the high-risk age group.

Research shows that “crisisresistant” tourists are also less likely to be put off by the risks.

Although the long-term sustainability of the sector is uncertain, it can take solace in the fact that cruise passengers are notoriously loyal. Tourism studies have shown that visitors return even after a disaster. And, according to a survey conducted by CLIA, nine out of ten passengers said they “probably or definitely will” cruise again. Nevertheless, all eyes are now MSC Grandiosa to see if it can successfully navigate these tricky waters and give this ailing industry some hope.

theconversation.com

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, August 21, 2020, PAGE 9

Is there a plot to jettison Minnis?

His advisers are not making him look too hot LET me open this week by saying, as a professional comedian with 23 years in the industry, you can’t write the comedy of errors that unfolded before our eyes this week any funnier.

From the PM’s ‘ill advisers,’ to Marvin and Travis jockeying for position, not to be outdone by another ‘prediction’ from the Minister of Tourism (MoT), this week was straight out of an episode of the ‘Twilight Zone’.

Where do I begin ?

INCOMPETENT AUTHORITY: I don’t know who’s advising Prime Minister Minnis, if he has advisers.

I firmly believe one has to want to be advised thus having the need for advisers.

No one really knows who the PM’s advisers really are, possibly it’s strategic or it could be embarrassment. I get it, no one wants to own those recent pressers that have become the beacon of more gloom and doom.

I’m convinced the PM reads his speech live, winging it with no pre-press conference read over. Not even a glance. Because if he did, he would have seen two words - “effective immediately” - that would cause the manure to hit the fan in

a major way far and wide across The Bahamas.

A simple read over and conversation with his ‘advisers’ would have allowed PM Minnis to make the proper edits to his satisfaction and avoid the ‘excrement storm’ that was.

At this point if I were the PM I would have a private meeting with the Competent Authority to try and figure out ‘who tryin’ to set us up?’

Considering his recent free fall in the popularity polls coupled with his recent inflammatory statements delivered in what the citizenry deems ‘a callous manner,’ the PM appears to be a liability.

Rumours and allegations continue to swirl of an FNM cabinet mutiny. There are also rumours that the hierarchy in the FNM have had their fill of Minnis’ leadership and are prepared to oust him as leader in a last ditch effort to stabilize the image of the party prior to the next general election.

Has the PM become excess baggage? Is there a plot to jettison Minnis?

One has to now seriously wonder, considering his advisers have made him look and now consistently sound incompetent.

If this pattern continues, it could be a flatline on Doc’s leadership.

JOCKEYING FOR POSITION: Amazingly, after PM Minnis reversed some of his emergency orders on Tuesday (after an obvious sleepless Monday night) MPs came scurrying out of the woodwork claiming to have been the conduit to the PM’s change of heart!

Two MPs in particular made me chuckle. Never one to miss a photo op, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames, on his never ending ‘clout chase,’ took the opportunity to remind his constituents in a press release that he did consult the PM and conveyed their concerns, also giving the impression it was his council with the PM that sparked the change.

I don’t need to hear this banter from Mr Dames, I don’t live in his constituency.

What I do want to hear from Mr Dames is what are the latest trends in designer suits, shoes, eye ware and time pieces. He knows his stuff in this regard.

What I also want to hear from Mr Dames is more about the crime and murder rates being down respectively. (The numbers show the decline in both categories.)

I want to hear more about the RBPF Drone Squad

TOURISM CAN’T GO ANYWHERE UNLESS US ECONOMY PICKS UP AFTER Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Travis Robinson said the Ministry of Tourism is eyeing late October as the return of its global marketing strategies, hoping by then the country is ready to reopen, readers posted their responses on tribune242.com.

Thps said: “Best of luck but please do not be so optimistic. We’ve watched a similar movie before.”

TrueBahamian posted this: “October is in the middle of the slow season.

We’re dependent on tourists mostly from the US. Tourism can not go anywhere unless the US economy picks up and travellers’ confidence is there.

“If I say the world is square, does it make it so?

Before making plans and spending taxpayer money, let us be sure where things stand first people.”

There was this comment from Proudloudandfnm: “Why would anyone think tourism will rebound in the middle of a global pandemic? That’s nothing more than wishful, magical thinking. We need a plan to sustain ourselves with a much lower level of tourism for at least a year, maybe longer. Like seriously low levels . . . Please get real . . .”

Organisation for Responsible Governance’s principal Robert Myers told Tribune Business that

the Government needed to target specific virus hot-spots and those noncompliant with established health protocols rather than punish an entire population by shutting down islands and the whole country.

That prompted these ideas from Professionalbahamian: “Thank you Mr Myers!

Absolutely we don’t need to be treated like idiots while trying to keep things afloat in the private sector.

Furthermore government needs to promise NOT to lockdown again before anyone can get anything substantial done to fight this war on COVID. “Enforce testing and allow alternate testing methods as the FDA has done, Open the economy 100% and keep it open no matter what - its a sinking ship at least give us a fighting chance - either that or give EACH citizen and investor a cheque for a year’s expenses, NIB is doing whatever they feel like - changing how long they support persons to suit themselves!! Banks are trying to help as they

seemingly are about to go out of business under pressure. Don’t force people to wear masks outdoors or in their cars (it’s stupid).

Don’t reduce store days or hours (it’s stupid) and only causes crowding - reduce occupancy. Don’t close the beaches! Post maximum occupancy - put polite Defence Force officers to enforce this (people have a right to liberty in truly free countries??!!)

“Don’t restrict inter island travel - require rapid testing before boarding aircraft. (As UAE did/does) “This war will last a lot longer than 6 months - try 24 months plus. Remember the current goal is to flatten the curve - eliminating the spread will only come with herd immunity with this one (Sweden).

“Lastly, what is the point of having such a large government if only a few representatives and the PM actually take part in governing and in the decision process? Were any representatives consulted, do any of them object to anything or are they just collecting a pay cheque with benefits and a government plate?

Or are they discouraged because they know the system doesn’t work? Take action, get involved.”

Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

patrolling neighbourhoods and the recent addition of ‘body cams’ to the uniform of patrol officers.

This was long overdue but I commend Mr Dames for getting it done, adding even more accountability and transparency to the RBPF and eliminating any grey areas regarding police arrests and officer involved shootings moving forward.

Not to be outdone, Bain and Grants Town MP, Travis Robinson, early Tuesday suggested his meeting with the PM was the catalyst for the amendments.

Again, like Dames, Robinson is clearly pandering to his constituents and hedging his bets early in an effort to save his seat just in case things go south for the FNM at the polls in 2022.

What I do want to hear more from Mr Robinson on is tourism. Robinson recently offered these comments in regards to the nation’s main industry: “We are looking at around late October for

phase one (of the reopening) and the early part of November, if everything pans out, for the final phase as we go back out and infiltrate the market with the tourism brand of The Bahamas.”

That’s a mighty bold prediction, Travis, considering October and November is known to be our slowest months in the industry. Our major market is the United States which is in its own COVID-19 rut, so nothing will move for us until the US economy stabilizes.

Until Americans want to and are in a position financially to travel, and they have confidence in our tourism product, ‘ain’t nothing happening’.

But don’t take my word for it, I’ve only been in the industry 30 years.

Now if Mr Robinson has some extraordinary information regarding the rebound of our tourism industry, please spill the beans I’m trying to get back to Jokers Wild before March 2021.

ZIP IT It has come to my understanding that the MoT Mr Dionisio D’Aguilar is a huge Laker fan, which is a red flag for me as a fellow Laker fan.

Here’s why. D’Aguilar is zero for two in his last two bold predictions regarding the lockdowns. He’s become what the old folks call a ‘jinx,’ putting ‘mouth’ on everything.

Mr D’Aguilar it’s been seven long years as you know, since our Lakers have been in the post season, please on behalf of Laker fans throughout The Bahamas, don’t say a word pertaining to the Lakers, especially anything about us winning!

If you are a true Laker fan D’Aguilar let your conscience be your guide. You know you are on a cold streak - you can’t even predict the day of the week right now - so no need to predict anything Laker related... unless you pick the Lakers opponent to win!

PAGE 10, Friday, August 21, 2020

by RICHARD GUNDERMAN, Chancellor’s Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, Indiana University MATCH the following figures – Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Guglielmo Marconi, Alfred Nobel and Nikola Tesla – with these biographical facts: * Spoke eight languages * Produced the first motor that ran on AC current * Developed the underlying technology for wireless communication over long distances * Held approximately 300 patents * Claimed to have developed a “superweapon” that would end all war The match for each, of course, is Tesla. Surprised?

Most people have heard his name, but few know much about his place in modern science and technology.

The opening of a new biopic of Tesla provides a timely opportunity to review the life of a man who came from nowhere yet became world famous; claimed to be devoted solely to discovery but relished the role of a showman; attracted the attention of many women but never married; and generated ideas that transformed daily life and created multiple fortunes but died nearly penniless.

Early years Tesla was born in what is now Croatia on a summer night in 1856, during what he claimed was a lightning storm – which led the midwife to say, “He will be a child of the storm,” and his mother to counter prophetically, “No, of the light.” As a student, Tesla displayed such remarkable abilities to calculate mathematical problems that teachers accused him of cheating. During his teen years, he fell seriously ill, recovering once his father abandoned his demand that Nikola become a priest and agreed he could attend engineering school instead.

Although an outstanding student, Tesla eventually withdrew from polytechnic school and ended up working for the Continental Edison Company, where he focused on electrical lighting and motors. Wishing to meet Edison himself, Tesla immigrated to the US in 1884, and he later claimed

THE TRIBUNE

You’ve heard of his electric car but who was Tesla, the man? he was offered the sum of $50,000 if he could solve a series of engineering problems Edison’s company faced. Having achieved the feat, Tesla said he was then told the offer had just been a joke and he left the company after six months.

Tesla then developed a relationship with two businessmen that led to the founding of Tesla Electric Light and Manufacturing.

He filed a number of electrical patents, which he assigned to the company.

When his partners decided they wanted to focus strictly on supplying electricity, they took the company’s intellectual property and founded another firm, leaving Tesla with nothing.

Tesla reported that he then worked as a ditch digger for $2 a day, tortured by the sense that his great talent and education were going to waste.

In 1887, Tesla met two investors who agreed to back the formation of the Tesla Electric Company.

He set up a laboratory in Manhattan, where he developed the alternating current induction motor, which solved a number of technical problems that had bedevilled other designs.

When Tesla demonstrated his device at an engineering meeting, the Westinghouse Company made arrangements to license the technology, providing an upfront payment and royalties on each horsepower generated.

The so-called “War of the Currents” was raging in the late 1880s. Thomas Edison promoted direct current, asserting it was safer than AC. George Westinghouse backed AC, since it could transmit power over long distances. Because the two were undercutting each other’s prices, Westinghouse lacked capital. He

TESLA was born in what is now Croatia in 1856 explained the difficulty and asked Tesla to sell his patents to him for a single lump sum, to which Tesla agreed, forgoing what would have been a vast fortune had he held on to them.

With the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 looming in Chicago, Westinghouse asked Tesla to help supply power; they’d have a huge platform for demonstrating the merits of AC. Tesla helped the fair illuminate more light bulbs than could be found in the entire city of Chicago, and wowed audiences with a variety of wonders, including an electric light that required no wires. Later Tesla also helped Westinghouse win a contract to generate electrical power at Niagara Falls, helping to build the first large-scale AC power plant in the world.

Tesla encountered many obstacles. In 1895, his Manhattan laboratory was devastated by a fire, which destroyed his notes and prototypes. At Madison Square Garden in 1898, he demonstrated wireless control of a boat, a stunt many

branded a hoax. Soon after he turned his attention to the wireless transmission of electric power. He believed his system could not only distribute electricity around the globe but also provide for worldwide wireless communication.

Seeking to test his ideas, Tesla built a laboratory in Colorado Springs. There he once drew so much power that he caused a regional power outage. He also detected signals that he claimed emanated from an extraterrestrial source.

In 1901 Tesla persuaded J.P. Morgan to invest in the construction of a tower on Long Island that he believed would vindicate his plan to electrify the world. Yet Tesla’s dream did not materialize and Morgan soon withdrew funding.

In 1909, Marconi received the Nobel Prize for the development of radio. In 1915, Tesla unsuccessfully sued Marconi, claiming infringement on his patents. That same year, it was rumoured Edison and Tesla would share the Nobel Prize, but it didn’t

happen. Unsubstantiated speculation suggested their mutual animosity was the cause. However, Tesla did receive numerous honours and awards over his life, including, ironically, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers Edison Medal.

Tesla was a remarkable person. He said he had a photographic memory, which helped him memorize whole books and speak eight languages. He also claimed many of his best ideas came to him in a flash, and that he saw detailed pictures of many of his inventions in his mind before he ever set about constructing prototypes. As a result, he didn’t initially prepare drawings and plans for many of his devices.

The 6-foot-2-inch Tesla cut a dashing figure and was popular with women, though he never married, claiming his celibacy played an important role in his creativity. Perhaps because of his nearly fatal illness as a teenager, he feared germs and practised very strict hygiene, likely a barrier to the development of interpersonal relationships.

He also exhibited unusual phobias, such as an aversion to pearls, which led him to refuse to speak to any woman wearing them.

Tesla held that his greatest ideas came to him in solitude. Yet he was no hermit, socializing with many of the most famous people of his day at elegant dinner parties he hosted.

Mark Twain frequented his laboratory and promoted some of his inventions.

Tesla enjoyed a reputation as not only a great engineer and inventor but also a philosopher, poet and connoisseur. On his 75th birthday he received a congratulatory letter from Einstein and was

featured on the cover of Time magazine.

In the popular imagination, Tesla played the part of a mad scientist. He claimed he had developed a motor that ran on cosmic rays; that he was working on a new non-Einsteinian physics that would supply a new form of energy; that he had discovered a new technique for photographing thoughts; and that he had developed a new ray, alternately labelled the death ray and the peace ray, with vastly greater military potential than Nobel’s munitions.

His money long gone, Tesla spent his later years moving from place to place, leaving behind unpaid bills.

Eventually, he settled in at a New York hotel, where his rent was paid by Westinghouse. Always living alone, he frequented the local park, where he was regularly seen feeding and tending to the pigeons, with which he claimed to share a special affinity. On the morning of Jan. 7, 1943, he was found dead in his room by a hotel maid at age 86.

Today the name Tesla is still very much in circulation. The airport in Belgrade bears his name, as does the world’s bestknown electric car, and the magnetic field strength of MRI scanners is measured in Teslas. Tesla was a real-life Prometheus: the mythical Greek titan who raided heaven to bring fire to mankind, yet in punishment was chained to a rock where each day an eagle ate his liver.

Tesla scaled great heights to bring lightning down to earth, yet his rare cast of mind and uncommon habits eventually led to his downfall, leaving him nearly penniless and alone.

theconversation.com

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, August 21, 2020, PAGE 11

BANNON PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN BORDER WALL SCHEME NEW YORK Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was yesterday pulled from a luxury yacht and arrested on allegations that he and three associates ripped off donors trying to fund a southern border wall, making him the latest in a long list of Trump allies to be charged with a crime.

The organisers of the “We Build The Wall” group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a “big beautiful” barrier along the US-Mexico

border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon, who served in Trump’s White House.

He allegedly took over $1 million, using some to secretly pay co-defendant Brian Kolfage, the founder of the project, and to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses.

Hours after his arrest, Bannon pleaded not guilty during an appearance in a Manhattan federal court. He is the latest addition to a startlingly long list of Trump associates who have been prosecuted, including his former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, whom Bannon replaced, his longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Trump has also made clear that he is willing to use his near-limitless pardon power to help political allies escape legal jeopardy, most recently commuting the sentence of Roger Stone.

FORMER Trump aide Steve Bannon

Bannon was taken into custody around 7am by the US Postal Inspection Service on a 150-foot luxury yacht called Lady May, which was off the coast of Connecticut, authorities said. The boat is owned by exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui and currently for sale for nearly $28 million. At his hearing, Bannon appeared by video with his hands cuffed and a white mask covering his face. He rocked back and forth on a chair in a holding cell with his lawyers on the telephone. The magistrate judge approved Bannon’s release on $5 million bail, secured by $1.75 million in assets.

Biden vows to unite US in keynote speech WILMINGTON, Delaware Associated Press JOE Biden last night vowed to unite an America torn by crisis and contempt, accepting the Democratic presidential nomination and achieving a pinnacle in an unfinished quest that has spanned three decades and been marred by personal tragedy, political stumbles and more dynamic rivals.

The past hurdles fell away as Biden addressed his fellow Democrats and millions of Americans at home who he hopes will send him to the White House to replace Donald Trump – though his triumphant moment was drained of immediate drama by the coronavirus pandemic, which left him speaking to a nearly empty arena rather than a to a joyously cheering crowd.

“Here and now I give you my word, if you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us not the worst,” Biden declared.

“I’ll be an ally of the light, not our darkness.”

“And make no mistake, united we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America.”

The pandemic has shaken the nation and fundamentally altered the campaign.

But Biden pointed to the public health emergency and the severe economic fallout to turn traits previously seen as vulnerabilities, notably a long career spent in elected office, into an advantage by presenting himself as a competent leader in a moment that Democrats say cries out for one in the White House.

The night’s keynote address was the speech of a lifetime for Biden, who at 77 would be the oldest president ever elected if he defeats Trump in November. But his convention leaned on a younger generation earlier in the night to help energize his sprawling coalition.

Tammy Duckworth, an

DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate Joe Biden speaking in Wilmington last night Illinois senator who lost both legs in Iraq and is raising two young children, said Biden has “common decency.”

Cory Booker, only the ninth African American senator in US history, said Biden believes in the dignity of all working Americans.

And Pete Buttigieg, a 38-year-old openly gay military veteran from Indiana, noted that Biden came out in favour of same-sex marriage as vice president even before President Barack Obama did.

“Joe Biden is right, this is a contest for the soul of the nation. And to me that contest is not between good Americans and evil Americans,” Buttigieg said.

“It’s the struggle to call out what is good for every American.”

Above all, Biden was focusing on uniting the nation as Americans grapple with the long and fearful health crisis, the related economic devastation, a national awakening on racial justice — and Trump, who stirs heated emotions from all sides.

Biden’s positive focus marked a break from the dire warnings offered by former President Obama and others the night before.

The 44th president of the United States warned that American democracy itself could falter if Trump is reelected, while Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris, the 55-year-old California senator and the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, addressed race problems in a way Biden could not.

586 BILLION TONS OF ICE WERE LOST IN GREENLAND LAST YEAR Associated Press

GREENLAND lost a record amount of ice during an extra warm 2019, with the melt massive enough to cover California in more than four feet of water, a new study said.

After two years when summer ice melt had been minimal, last summer shattered all records with 586 billion tons of ice melting, according to satellite measurements reported yesterday. That’s more than 140 trillion gallons of water.

That’s far more than the yearly average loss of 259 billion tons since 2003 and easily surpasses the old record of 511 billion tons in 2012, said a study in Communications Earth & Environment. The study showed that in the 20th century, there were many years when Greenland gained ice.

“Not only is the Greenland ice sheet melting, but it’s melting at a faster and faster pace,” said study lead author Ingo Sasgen, a

THE HELHEIM glacier in Greenland geoscientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany.

Last year’s Greenland melt added 0.06 inches to global sea level rise. That sounds like a tiny amount but “in our world it’s huge, that’s astounding,” said study co-author Alex Gardner, a NASA ice scientist.

Add in more water from melting in other ice sheets and glaciers, along with an ocean that expands as it warms and that translates into rising sea levels and coastal flooding, he said.

While general ice melt records in Greenland go back to 1948, scientists since 2003 have had precise records on how much ice melts because NASA satellites measure the gravity of the ice sheets. That’s the equivalent of putting the ice on a scale and weighing it as water flows off, Gardner said.

“The fact that 2019 set an all-time record is very concerning,” said New York University ice scientist David Holland, who wasn’t part of the study.

TRUMP: BIDEN NO FRIEND OF PENNSYLVANIA WASHINGTON Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald Trump says “Joe Biden is no friend of Pennsylvania” as he criticises the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee near his childhood hometown of Scranton.

Trump isn’t laying low during the Democratic National Convention.

He’s mocking Biden and blaming him for supporting trade policies that he says resulted in manufacturing job losses. He is attempting to frighten voters about the future of their retirement investments as well if Biden is elected, and he bragged that markets are up despite the coronavirus.

He’s also evoking images of violence in some of the nation’s biggest cities during his own presidency, saying it will only spread if Biden is elected. He says that if voters “want a vision of your life under a Joe Biden presidency, imagine the smoldering ruins of Minneapolis” and “the violent anarchy of Portland” coming to every city.

“There’s only one thing standing between your family and the radical left-wing mob,” he says.

“And that’s your vote this November.”

PAGE 12, Friday, August 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Davis and James help Lakers rout the Trail Blazers 111-88 to tie series

LOS Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James reacts after drawing an offensive foul during the third quarter of Game 2 of a first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers yesterday.

(Kevin C Cox/Pool Photo via AP)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — Anthony Davis had 31 points and 11 rebounds and the topseeded Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from an opening loss to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-88 last night in Game 2 of the first-round Western Conference playoff series.

LeBron James had 10 points, six rebounds, seven assists and six turnovers.

He had 23 points, 17 rebounds and a playoff career-high 16 rebounds in Game 1.

The Trail Blazers stunned the Lakers 100-93 in Game 1, but things went horribly wrong in Game 2.

A poor performance got worse when All-Star guard

Damian Lillard dislocated the index finger on his left hand in the third quarter.

He left the game for good, and the team said X-rays were negative.

Lillard was held to 18 points after ripping the Lakers for 34 in Game 1.

Davis scored 21 points in the first half to help the Lakers take a 56-39 lead.

The Trail Blazers’ highpowered offence shot 35 per cent in the half.

Early in the third quarter, Davis aggressively grabbed a defensive rebound, then fired a long pass to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a breakaway jam that gave the Lakers a 63-41 lead.

The Lakers continued to pour it on and led 88-58

after three quarters. Los Angeles led by 32 points in the period.

Most of the starters for both teams sat out the fourth quarter.

TIP-INS Blazers: Shot 40 per cent overall.

Made just 8 of 29 3-pointers.

CJ McCollum scored 13 points on 6-for-16 shooting.

Lakers: Rajon Rondo, listed as questionable after having right thumb surgery, was inactive.

Caldwell-Pope scored 16 points.

UP NEXT Game 3 will be Saturday.

Rockets quiet the Thunder LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — James Harden had 21 points and nine assists and the Houston Rockets made 19 of an NBA-record 56 3-point attempts to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-98 yesterday for a 2-0 lead in the first-round Western Conference series.

For all the long-range shots, Harden said the Rockets actually won with defence. Houston held the Thunder to 39 points after the break.

“We played well,” he said. “We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well tonight. But I think defensively, especially in that second half, we did an unbelievable job just gearing in what they like to do and correcting our mishaps in that first half.”

Former Thunder star Russell Westbrook was out for the Rockets again with a right quad strain, but plenty of other Houston players picked up the slack.

Danuel House Jr scored 19 points.

“It’s not pride, it’s just team energy,” House said. “We want to make sure that guys are not caring about themselves so guys are showing great energy on the court and off the court.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points for the Thunder, and Danilo Gallinari added 17.

Oklahoma City dominated the second quarter and led 59-53 at halftime. The Thunder shot 50 per cent in the half. Houston missed its last 15 3-pointers in the second quarter, and Harden scored just

eight points on 2-for-10 shooting in the half.

The Rockets went on a 13-0 run early in the second half to regain the lead. Gilgeous-Alexander, who had been cold in the bubble, made three straight 3-pointers to highlight an 11-0 run that put the Thunder ahead again. The Thunder held on and led 78-77 at the end of the third quarter.

Oklahoma City led 80-77 before the Rockets broke away with a 17-0 run, mostly with Harden on the bench.

“Unbelievable, man,” Harden said. “That was the game right there. The guys just took it upon themselves to guard and we felt in the sense Oklahoma City was getting tired and we just kept pressing the gas on them.”

While the Rockets kept the pressure on, Oklahoma City relaxed.

“I don’t know if it was stagnant or slow, whatever it was, but we weren’t necessarily playing with that same kind of force that we did in that first half,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said.

Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul, the All-Star guard, blamed himself. He was held to 14 points on 6-for-15 shooting.

“I’ve got to do more,” he said.

“Straight up. It’s that simple. That run they went on at the beginning of the fourth quarter -- that can’t happen. Got to be better. I’ve got to be better.”

UP NEXT Game 3 is Saturday.

ROCKETS’ James Harden reacts after his three-point basket during the fourth quarter yesterday. (AP)

BASKETBALL PLAYERS ALBURY, EDGECOMBE TURNING HEADS FROM PAGE 16 final by losing 83-81 to the Big Shots South Carolina - U-17 Premier in the semi-finals. They opened the tournament with a 55-40 win over the RockNation Impact 2021 and followed that with a 79-69 rout over the Harts Select in their second game.

Albury, the 6-foot, 2-inch guard, averaged 14 points per game with eight assists and 3.4 steals and he was named the most valuable player of their second game before he went to be selected to the All-Tournament Second Team.

Edgecombe, a 6-3 forward, averaged 16 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game and he was the MVP of their first game with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Smith, who previously coached the two 18-year-olds when they attended and played for the Temple Christian Suns in the Bahamas Association of

Independent Secondary Schools two years ago, said their performances were stellar.

“I think we had a very productive weekend. This was probably their best weekend we’ve had in the tournaments we’re played in,” said Smith, who helped to coach the Carolina Defenders through at least five tournaments from July 1 when they reunited.

“We gelled very well as a team and we got some good production from everybody. Both Deyton and Edgecombe were in positions over the weekend where their performances were rewarded by being named MVP and to the AllTournament team.”

With the players transitioning into their respective high schools and colleges/universities as the new school year gets underway in the United States, the tournament was the last for the Carolina Defenders for the summer.

“The more we played, our chemistry got better. We played like the team that everybody

knew that we were capable of playing. So I think there’s some great things for these players moving forward,” Smith said.

“I feel the competition that Deyton and Garreth got will definitely help prepare them for their future as they prepare for the prep college level. Right now because of what’s happening with the boarders because of Covid-19, they will stay put here with me for a while, getting their training as they make their final decisions on their prep schools at the end of September.”

Both Albury and Edgecombe will also have an opportunity to decide where they will end up playing their collegiate basketball next year. According to Smith, Edgecombe, a graduate of Galilee Academy, has received several offers from division two schools.

Meanwhile, Albury, a graduate of Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel-Aire, Kansas, has been offered scholarships to at least three division one schools.

“This was a different type of summer for them as far as basketball is concerned because they spent the whole time playing against division one talent,” Smith said.

“They were able to go up against some of the top highly recruited guys in the United States and they showed that.

“They were able to be matched against some of the guys who have already received their athletic scholarships and they proved that they can play at that level.”

Based on the way they played in the tournament, Smith said he’s confident that both Albury and Edgecombe will go on and excel at the collegiate level.

“For Garreth, I feel his future is extremely bright. I feel he can easily be a division one player once he continues to work on his craft,” Smith said.

“He just needs to continue to play the wing position because he had an excellent summer, especially given the circumstances of

not having a full year of basketball at the high school level in the United States.

“As for Deyton, he came on strong as the tournament went on and we got to see another side of his game as far as his playmaking ability at the guard level. I think on top of what he’s known for as a dynamic scorer, he played the point guard at a very high level.”

The tournaments were played as basketball continues to make its way back to some competitive level since taking a break like all sports around the world in March due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, Smith noted that the organisers made sure that everybody was safe as they got their temperatures tested, observed the social distancing rule and wore their masks whenever they entered the gymnasiums.

He admitted that they were all pleased with the protocols established and the manner in which the games were played.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, August 21, 2020, PAGE 13

Giannis and Bucks bounce back LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points and 20 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks rode a fast start to beat the Orlando Magic 111-96 yesterday and tie the Eastern Conference first-round series at one game apiece.

The Bucks boasted the NBA’s best regular-season record at 56-17, but went 3-5 in the eight seeding games at Disney’s Wide World of Sports and opened the playoffs by losing 122-110 to Orlando.

Milwaukee bounced back yesterday, building a 23-point lead in the first half, though Orlando got the margin down to nine in the fourth quarter.

Brook Lopez scored 20 points and Pat Connaughton had 15 on 5-of-8 3-point shooting for Milwaukee.

Eric Bledsoe had 13 points and Donte DiVincenzo added 11.

Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic followed up his 35-point effort in the opener by scoring 32 points.

Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross each had 12, Markelle Fultz had 11 and D.J. Augustin added 10.

The Bucks’ defensive intensity was the difference between the two games.

Orlando had no points in the paint for the entire first quarter

and went nearly eight minutes without a basket during a firsthalf stretch.

After Vucevic made a jump shot to cut Milwaukee’s lead to four with 5:34 left in the first quarter, the Magic missed their next 13 field-goal attempts.

Orlando wouldn’t make another basket and fell behind by 16 before Ross hit a jumper with 9:48 remaining until halftime.

But the Magic then missed their next six shots as the Bucks stretched their lead to 23.

Milwaukee led 64-43 at the intermission, with Antetotkounmpo capping the first half by dunking off Connaughton’s pass with four-tenths of a second remaining.

Orlando made it somewhat interesting in the second half.

Vucevic scored 16 points in the third quarter alone to help the Magic cut the deficit to 12, though Milwaukee got the margin back up to 20 by the end of the period.

Orlando continued to hang around and made it 101-92 on Fultz’s jumper with 3:56 left, but the Magic couldn’t get any closer.

Williams has a strained tendon in his left foot.

“I think Aaron is closer than Mike,” Magic coach Steve Clifford said before the game.

“He just doesn’t have the strength back in the leg, but actually watching him yesterday, they played some live two-on-two, and he’s moving a lot better than he was when they played on Monday.

I think he’s closer, but it just depends on how things progress and how much stronger he feels by tomorrow.”

Bucks: Milwaukee needs more production from Khris Middleton.

The All-Star forward scored just two points and shot 1 of 8. He has shot 5 of 20 from the floor so far in the series.

UP NEXT Game 3 of the best-of-7 series is Saturday.

MILWAUKEE Bucks centre Brook Lopez (11) scores over Orlando Magic forward Gary Clark (12) during the second half of their first round playoff game, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

TIP-INS Magic: Orlando again played without injured forward Aaron Gordon and guard Michael Carter-Williams. Gordon has a strained left hamstring, while

ROBINSON SCORES 24 POINTS, HEAT BEAT THE PACERS FOR 2-0 LEAD LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Goran Dragic had a little simple advice for Duncan Robinson before Game 2: Just shoot.

Robinson listened, hitting his first six shots — all from 3-point range. He finished with 24 points and the Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers 109-100 yesterday for a 2-0 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

“I don’t care if he miss 18 shots, 18 3s,” Dragic said. “`I want you to shoot every time. Don’t pump fake. We need you, and you can see it.’ He didn’t hesitate today, and that’s how we want him.”

Robinson opened the game by making the Heat’s first three buckets, all 3s.

He didn’t miss until midway through the third quarter, and Robinson tied the Heat record for 3s in a playoff game with seven. He finished 7-of-8 shooting, all beyond the arc, in a big improvement from Tuesday when he was 2 of 8.

“Just felt a better rhythm in this one for whatever reason,” Robinson said.

“But that can’t be the case for me. I got to kind of assert myself and not just have the game necessarily come to me, but be more

aggressive. So I thought that was big and then obviously you see some go early, the hoop starts to look a little bigger.”

Dragic scored 20 points, Jimmy Butler had 18 points and six assists, rookie Tyler Herro added 15 points off the bench, and Jae Crowder scored 10.

Victor Oladipo, who had been questionable with an injured left eye, led Indiana with 22 points. Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon each had 17 points. T.J. Warren had 14 and Aaron Holiday had 12.

Pacers coach Nate McMillan said they know Robinson is an elite shooter and expected the Heat would try to get him involved. Robinson made a team-record 270 3s during the regular season.

“We really set and talked about the first play of the game,” McMillan said. “We knew it was going to him, and sure enough, it went to him to try to get him going.

He’s a big part of what they do, and he was able to knock down the first 3 and just stayed hot from behind the 3-point line all night.”

The fifth-seeded Heat went 3-1 against the Pacers during the regular season.

Now Miami has won the

THE MIAMI Heat celebrate their win after an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Heat won 109-100.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis) first two of the first opening-round series between these franchises. The Heat are looking to improve to 4-1 against Indiana in the playoffs.

Robinson’s early 3s gave the Heat a 12-3 lead. Indiana led 24-22 at the end of the first quarter. The Pacers last led 39-38 on a jumper

by Warren with 3:43 left in the second.

Butler hit a 3 as Miami took control. The Heat led 51-46 at halftime, then used

an 11-2 run for their biggest lead of the game at 79-63 on a 3-pointer by Crowder with 4:51 left in the third.

Indiana couldn’t get closer than eight in the fourth.

TIP-INS Heat: Not only did Robinson hit his first three 3s, the entire team shot well from long range. They hit 8 of 16 in the first half to make up for their poor shooting at the free throw line (11-of-18).

The Heat finished 18 of 35 from 3-point range (51.4 per cent), setting a team playoff record for made 3s.

Pacers: The NBA’s thirdbest 3-point shooting team during the season struggled, hitting only 12 of 34 (35.3 per cent). ... The Pacers outscored Miami 40-34 in the paint.

CPR STAT Dragic pretended to give Butler CPR after Butler took a charge from Warren

with 1:22 left, knocking the All-Star backward with his head banging into Heat forward Bam Adebayo’s left knee. Dragic said he and Butler have great chemistry, and the Heat are trying to enjoy this postseason.

“I saw Jimmy was really tired, and I give him a little bit of CPR, try to give us some energy and just try to be me,” Dragic said.

UP NEXT Game 3 is Saturday.

PAGE 14, Friday, August 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Minnesota wins NBA draft lottery, rights to No. 1 pick

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer THE NBA draft lottery was delayed three months. The Minnesota Timberwolves are certainly feeling like the wait was worthwhile.

The Timberwolves won the lottery last night, giving them the No. 1 pick.

The lottery was conducted virtually because of the pandemic, with NBA officials doing the actual draw in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Golden State holds the No. 2 pick, Charlotte got the No. 3 pick and Chicago will pick fourth. The Hornets and Bulls both bucked the odds to move into the upper echelon.

The Timberwolves were 19-45 this season, marking the 14th time in 15 years that they failed to make the playoffs and finished with a losing record. And a month ago, Glen Taylor — who has owned the franchise since 1994 — said he “will entertain” offers for the Timberwolves WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.

It’ll be Minnesota’s first time holding the No. 1 pick since 2015.

Chicago had a 32 per cent chance of moving into the top four spots, Charlotte about a 26 per cent

ENGLISH CONTINUES SURGE WITH EARLY LEAD IN FEDEX CUP OPENER

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

GEORGIA guard Anthony Edwards (5) drives against Mississippi’s Breein Tyree (4) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. on March 11. (AP) chance. They leapfrogged four teams that had better top-four odds — Cleveland, Atlanta, Detroit and New York.

For now, the delayed draft — originally set for late June — is scheduled for October 16. The NBA

MEMPHIS’ James Wiseman pauses during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Bradley in Memphis, Tenn. on December 3, 2019. (AP)

has been hoping for a December 1 start to the 2020-21 season, though Commissioner Adam Silver said on the ESPN telecast of that draft lottery that date now “is feeling a little bit early to me.”

Without fans at games, a major revenue stream is obviously lost for the league and its teams.

There have been talks about starting next season with one or multiple bubbles, like the one where the league is playing now at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, but the obvious preference is to have fans returning to games. “Our No. 1 goal is to get fans back in our arenas,” Silver said on the telecast. “My sense is, in working with the players association, if we could push back even a little longer and increase the likelihood of having fans in arenas, that’s what we would be targeting.”

So not only is it unclear which player is going when — but it’s also unclear when anyone will see their NBA debuts.

Unlike a year ago, when Zion Williamson was clearly going to be the first selection, there is no consensus about the No. 1 pick.

Top candidates include Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, Memphis’ James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball — the brother of New Orleans guard Lonzo Ball.

Edwards, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 19.1 points in 32 games for Georgia in his lone college season.

Wiseman, a 7-foot-1 centre, played in only three games for Memphis and averaged 19.7 points before giving up what had been a lengthy fight with the NCAA over his eligibility. Ball, a 6-foot-7 guard, averaged 17 points in 12 games while playing in Australia’s top pro league this past season.

Cleveland got the 5th pick, followed by Atlanta, Detroit, New York, Washington, Phoenix, San Antonio, Sacramento and New Orleans at No. 13.

Memphis, which had 200-1 odds of winning the No. 1 pick and was 97.6 per cent certain of finishing 14th, ended up in exactly that spot — a pick that will now be conveyed to Boston as part of a trade that happened in 2015.

It means the Celtics could have three first-round picks on draft night, barring any moves

by Boston beforehand.

The rest of the firstround order, starting with the No. 15 pick and going to No. 30, as of now is: Orlando, Portland, Minnesota, Dallas, Brooklyn, Miami, Philadelphia, Denver, Utah, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Boston, New York, the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto and Boston.

NORTON, Mass. (AP) — Harris English made the difficult look easy yesterday in The Northern Trust, just like he has done all year to even reach this position in the PGA Tour’s postseason.

Facing the tough stretch at TPC Boston in the middle of his round, English hit 5-iron on the 11th and 12th holes, both of them to about 8 feet for birdies. He followed with two long birdie putts to run his streak to four, and finished at 7-under 64.

By the end of the opening round, English shared the lead with Kevin Streelman, Cameron Davis of Australia and Russell Henley, who finished with a tap-in eagle.

Good starts were important to so many in the FedEx Cup playoffs, which are as much about advancing as avoiding elimination.

The top 70 from the 122man field (three players have withdrawn) move on to next week for another $9.5 million event. The goal then is to reach the top 30 for the Tour Championship and its $15 million prize to the winner.

Tiger Woods opened with a 68 with five birdies over his last 10 holes.

Of the top 11 players who were separated by one shot after the first round, five of them began the week outside the top 70, with Bubba Watson on the bubble at No. 66.

English doesn’t face that dilemma at the moment.

His good start was 11 months ago when he began the season for the first time in his career without a full PGA Tour card. That was due to a slump that had him chasing after a swing that wasn’t his own, leading to six lean years without winning.

ENGLAND LOOKS TO CLINCH TEST SERIES BEFORE STEP INTO UNKNOWN

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer BACK in the spring, when the coronavirus pandemic was at its most deadly in Britain, there was a genuine fear that the England cricket team might not

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play an international game in 2020. So, after a packed summer of test matches, to be in a position where England’s side is one victory away from clinching back-to-back series wins fills captain Joe Root with a sense of pride.

His message, therefore, was quite simple as he addressed the team yesterday on the eve of the third and final test against Pakistan at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Enjoy it, and cherish it. “We don’t know the

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next time we will play test cricket,” Root said in a video call.

“So let’s make sure we throw everything into this week. Make sure we leave no stone unturned and give everything to each other and the badge.”

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England came from behind to beat West Indies 2-1 in what proved to be a thrilling test series in July.

Against Pakistan, England leads 1-0 after a victory in the first test in Manchester was followed by a draw in the second match in Southampton.

The schedule for the end of this year and early 2021 is still unclear for England, with no away games scheduled after this home summer and before Christmas after the limited-overs tour of India in September and October was cancelled.

Doubts persist about whether an all-format tour of India can go ahead next year because of the high number of coronavirus cases there.

England also wants to fit in two tests against Sri Lanka, which were postponed in March at the outbreak of the virus, but no dates have yet been set.

“We feel extremely lucky to get the opportunity to be playing right now and to have had the games we’ve had,” Root said of the test series against the West Indies and Pakistan that have been played in isolated environments.

“It’s been amazing to be a part of this experience. At the start of this summer, we were dreading the thought of no international cricket.

To almost be at the back end of the test part of that is credit to everyone involved for getting these games to go ahead and hopefully we can have a great finish to it.”

A draw or victory in the third test would give England a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years and there is increased hope a result will be possible in Southampton after a frustrating, weather-affected second match last week.

Cricket faced accusations of being stuck in its ways

during that test, when each day’s play was affected by rain or bad light.

Play continued to begin at 11am even though it could have started earlier on some days when it was not raining.

The tests are being played in empty stadiums for this series because of COVID-19 restrictions so there were no concerns about spectators getting to the venues on time.

A flexible approach to starting times was announced yesterday for the third test, giving teams an opportunity to make up for lost time by starting a day’s play 30 minutes earlier.

Captains and coaches of both teams have agreed to the changes, with the England and Wales Cricket Board saying “further consideration will be given to applying these changes at future series played in England.”

“This will enable us to play more cricket,” Root said. “It seems a sensible way of doing it. With the environment we find ourselves in and the times we are in, it seems a good way of maximising hours of play.”

After the conclusion of the first day’s play, officials will meet to discuss the start time for the next day.

An option to start play at 10.30am will be given and the final decision will be made by the match referee.

If there is a 10.30am start, 98 overs can be bowled in the day and the morning session would last 2 1/2 hours.

“The match officials will ensure that light is monitored to maximise playing time while it is still safe to do so,” the ECB said.

“The safety of the players is still the No. 1 priority for this protocol,” the ECB added.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, August 21, 2020, PAGE 15

AS FRENCH LEAGUE STARTS NEW SEASON, VIRUS STILL A FACTOR FIFA

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — The coronavirus brought the last French league season to an early end, and it’s already having an impact on the start of the new campaign.

After Ligue 1 became the only one among Europe’s top five leagues to be called off because of the pandemic, it now becomes the first to start its new season today.

But the lingering effects of the virus means it’s hardly business as normal.

The game that was originally meant to open the season — between Marseille and SaintEtienne — had to be postponed because four Marseille players tested positive for COVID-19.

And defending champion Paris

Saint-Germain is absent — as it’s preparing for the final of the Champions League in Lisbon on Sunday.

The rescheduled opening game will instead feature Bordeaux hosting Nantes, two teams who only found out on Tuesday that the match was being moved forward.

But Nantes coach Christian Gourcuff said that’s something all teams have to be ready for, as long as the virus still threatens to cause postponements and cancellations.

“We need to adapt to the situation and be prepared for it, because it’s going to be like this for the whole season,” Gourcuff said.

“It’s the same for Bordeaux, so on that front we’re equal. But if a lot of games are called off then we’ll never get out of this.”

Montpellier has also been hit hard by the virus with seven

players contracting COVID-19.

Striker Andy Delort announced on Wednesday that he tested positive.

There will be some fans in the stadiums, though, with up to 5,000 allowed into games under French government guidelines.

For Marseille, the only French team have won the Champions League back in 1993, the season would get off to an even worse start if PSG manages to beat Bayern Munich on Sunday to nullify the exclusive bragging rights that have been a source of pride for fans for decades.

PSG is the big favourite for another league title, but Marseille is still hoping to end its rival’s stranglehold on domestic titles.

When last season was ended with 10 rounds remaining, PSG was 12 points ahead of 2nd-place Marseille

with one game in hand. PSG also won both domestic cups for a third domestic treble in six seasons.

Lyon will also be looking challenge the might of PSG — or at least secure a European place again — after its impressive run to the Champions League semifinals.

Lyon lost 3-0 to Bayern on Wednesday but missed out on European competition entirely after finishing seventh in the league and lost to PSG in the League Cup final.

Lyon beat Juventus and Manchester City in the knockout stages to show they can compete with Europe’s elite. But without the influx of cash from European competition, Lyon may have to sell highly-coveted midfielder Houssem Aouar and top scorer Moussa Dembélé.

UEFA seeks player exemptions from quarantine after travel

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Ahead of national team games around Europe in two weeks, UEFA urged its member federations Wednesday to ask governments to exempt soccer players from quarantine after travel.

All 55 European national teams are scheduled to travel around the continent to begin Nations League qualifying on September 3-8, which UEFA also said would continue its current policy of excluding fans from all games in its competitions.

“Players coming from foreign clubs might be at risk of quarantine measures upon their return to their country of residence,” UEFA said.

Days later, dozens of international players are

set to play on the opening weekends of the Premier League and Spanish league.

“Associations were encouraged to approach their governments to seek exemptions for players and team members,” the European soccer body said after hosting a conference call with soccer officials from the 55 member countries.

“The fact that players will anyway be regularly tested as part of the comprehensive UEFA Return to Play Protocol should ensure that such exemptions do not represent any risk for society.”

UEFA is the only one of FIFA’s six continental governing bodies not to postpone national team games in early September.

Neutral venue countries could step in if “current domestic conditions could put the staging of the match in jeopardy,” UEFA said.

PARIS Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe reacts after missing an opportunity to score during the Champions League semi-final soccer match against RB Leipzig at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, on Tuesday.

(David Ramos/Pool Photo via AP) UEFA-organised games in August were affected by visiting players being quarantined by local public authorities.

PLAYER VIRUS CASE HITS 4TH GAME IN UEFA QUALIFYING ROUNDS

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — A player testing positive for COVID-19 forced a Europa League preliminary game to be postponed yesterday — the fourth such incident in the early qualifying rounds for UEFA’s club competitions.

All four affected games involved positive tests within visiting teams — three from Kosovo — whose cases were dealt with by local public authorities in Switzerland, Gibraltar, the Faroe Islands and San Marino. One game last week was forfeited by Kosovo’s champion Drita.

San Marino club Tre Penne said a player from its opponent, Gjilani of Kosovo, tested positive ahead of yesterday’s game.

“The player is now isolating in quarantine in the hotel where the team are staying,” Tre Penne said in a statement, later adding UEFA rescheduled the game for today.

European soccer body UEFA did not immediately confirm the game plans.

According to UEFA’s new competition rules during the pandemic, Gjilani would have to play the game by a Saturday deadline or forfeit it as a 3-0 loss.

All three teams from Kosovo — Drita, Prishtina and Gjilani — entering this season’s Champions League or Europa League have had games forfeited or postponed in just a 10-day spell.

A fourth team, Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia, was prevented from playing Wednesday in the Faroe Islands.

Slovan was flying replacement players to the islands to fulfill the Champions League first qualifying round game today against KI Klaksvik.

UEFA requires teams to play if they can select from 13 healthy players, including one specialist

goalkeeper, which have passed local authority tests.

Late registration of players can exceptionally be allowed.

Problems were anticipated in the tightly scheduled Champions League and Europa League qualifying rounds, where games in empty stadiums are mostly organised at a few days’ notice.

They involve teams from 55 UEFA member federations travelling around Europe through September.

Teams from high-ranked soccer leagues do not enter until next month.

Teams are playing for up to 480,000 euros ($570,000) UEFA prize money in each early qualifying round, and can get more for travel costs. Champions League finalists Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain each get around 100 million euros ($120 million) from UEFA. UEFA has allowed teams to stage qualifying games in their home stadium, or go to a neutral country if national travel restrictions are imposed.

Health protocols for games that UEFA organises

require players to be tested before matches. However, positive cases are managed by local health and public authorities applying varying standards amid virus outbreaks at different levels.

Last week, Drita had two players test positive, and a third self-isolated, before being effectively sent home from Switzerland by authorities in UEFA’s home canton (state) instead of entering 10-day quarantine.

Drita forfeited its game against Linfield of Northern Ireland. It was to complete a four-team mini-tournament that decided the final entry in the Champions League first qualifying round.

On returning to Kosovo, Drita said on social media “we are deeply indignant at this sudden and subjective decision” and would consider legal action.

Linfield advanced to play a single-leg knockout game in Poland against Legia Warsaw.

Though Legia reported that a player tested positive, two days later the Champions League game went ahead. Legia won 1-0 on Tuesday.

Kosovo champion Drita forfeited a preliminary round Champions League game last week in Switzerland when local health

officials intervened after two players tested positive for COVID-19.

Another team from Kosovo, FC Prishtina, faces returning with different players to Gibraltar to fulfill a Europa League game on Saturday after it was postponed on Tuesday.

Eight players reportedly tested positive ahead of playing Lincoln Red Imps and UEFA delayed the game for four days.

On Wednesday, Slovakian club Slovan Bratislava faced its game in the Faeroe Islands against KI Klaksvik being postponed because of concerns about exposure to the virus.

UEFA said it hopes to use the Super Cup game in Budapest September 24 as a pilot for returning fans to stadiums for its games. The game will pair the winners of the Champions League and Europa League.

SUSPENDS TWO MORE HAITI OFFICIALS IN SEXUAL ABUSE INQUIRY ZURICH (AP) — FIFA suspended two more soccer officials in Haiti to widen its investigation Thursday into alleged systematic sexual abuse of young women players.

FIFA’s ethics committee judges first extended a 90-day provisional ban of Yves Jean-Bart, the longtime Haiti soccer federation president, by another 90 days while he is investigated for allegedly abusing national team players FIFA said ethics investigators now “expanded the scope of the aforementioned investigations by opening formal proceedings” against a woman and a man.

They are the girls’ supervisor at the national training center, Nela Joseph, and the federation’s technical director, Wilner Etienne. Both were suspended for 90 days.

“Furthermore, preliminary investigation proceedings are currently being carried out that include the analysis of potential offenses committed” by other soccer officials in Haiti, FIFA said.

Jean-Bart, who has led Haitian soccer for 20 years, has denied the allegations that were published by British newspaper The Guardian in April.

SPORTS SECTION E

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

SEE PAGES 12 & 13

PAGE 14

Robinson, Chisholm in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

he Bahamas is one of just four countries to have multiple prospects on the latest edition of Major League Baseball Pipeline’s Top 100.

Kristian Robinson of the Arizona Diamondbacks was listed at No. 47 while Jazz Chisholm of the Miami Marlins was listed at No.72 overall.

Robinson was also added to Arizona’s 60-man player pool yesterday. The club assigned him to its alternative training site at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Arizona.

He becomes the third Bahamian prospect to join

T

LAKERS’ LeBron James reacts after a dunk during Game 2 against the Trail Blazers last night in Lake Buena Vista. (AP)

BASKETBALL PLAYERS ALBURY, EDGECOMBE TURNING HEADS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net COACH Jamaal Smith could not have been more pleased with the performances of Bahamian basketball players Deyton Albury and Garreth Edgecombe as they wrapped up play with the Carolina Defenders in the series of AAU Tournaments over the weekend.

Playing in their final Big Shots Charleston Summer Classic on Saturday and Sunday at the North Charleston Athletic Center in Charleston, South Carolina, the Defenders fell short of advancing to the

SEE PAGE 12

ROBINSON

CHISHOLM

their respective club’s “taxi squad” in this shortened season along with Chisholm and Lucius Fox of the Tampa Bay Rays.

The United States (77), Dominican Republic (13), and Venezuela (4), were the only other counties with

multiple prospects to make the list.

Cuba, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Canada each had one prospect listed.

Robinson, the Diamondbacks No.1 overall prospect, was not initially added to the taxi squad

Shaquillo Fritz signs in Spain

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net SHAQUILLO Fritz will begin his pro basketball career in Spain.

Fritz signed with Hero Jairis of Spain’s Liga Espanola de Baloncesto (LEB Silver). LEB Silver is the second division in the country and was founded in 1996.

“Fritz will be in charge of bolting the paint based on intimidation and power, being the team’s defensive reference but also contributing in the offensive facet, in which we have no doubt that he will put all the rings of the team to the test,” the team said. “His incredible vertical jumping ability stands out and, when he blocks with his non-dominant hand, he does not usually have foul problems. His natural ability and extreme work ethic make him a very talented player that we are looking forward to seeing in action on the slopes.”

Last season, Fritz completed his collegiate career with the Pacific Tigers as a graduate transfer.

In 30 appearances for Pacific, he led the team in field goal percentage at 69.6 per cent, ranked second on the team with 26 blocks and fourth

SHAQUILLO FRITZ with 98 rebounds. He finished sixth in the West Coast Conference with 0.87 blocks per game and recorded a season-high five blocks against Saint Mary’s, the second-highest single-game total in the WCC. The Tigers ended their season with a loss in the WCC tournament quarterfinals where Fritz finished with six rebounds and two points.

On the season, he averaged 2.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Fritz played the previous two seasons with the Arkansas StateRed Wolves before he entered the

NCAA transfer portal to join the Tigers.

In 25 games and 13 starts for the Red Wolves as a senior, Fritz averaged 1.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. He shot 44 per cent from the field. He led the team with 24 blocks, five of those coming March 12th in a Sun Belt Conference Tournament tilt at South Alabama.

He had a season high seven points and nine rebounds in the regular season finale against Louisiana on March 9. He also pulled down a season high 10 rebounds against Texas State on February 14. He had at least two blocked shots in six games, including a season high five blocks against Grand Canyon.

The 6’8’’, 220-pound power forward played locally for the St George’s Jaguars before a number of stops in his high school and collegiate career. Fritz completed his high school career at IMG Academy in Florida, committed to Stetson University but eventually would play his freshman season at Miami Dade College before he transferred to Paris Junior College.

With the Sharks, Fritz played in 26 games and averaged 2.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 60 per cent from the field.

but still had an opportunity to train under team supervision.

When the MLB shut down all baseball activity in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Robinson remained in Arizona and thus was allowed to continue to train at the Diamondbacks’ spring training facility when the season resumed.

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic said a Diamondbacks spokesman elaborated on the 19-yearold outfielders’ status.

“Kristian isn’t on the list because he can work out at Salt River Fields without being on the list based on the fact that he couldn’t go home (to the Bahamas)” in the first place,” said the spokesperson.

VIRTUAL CLOSEST TO THE PIN GOLF SHOOTOUT ON SEPTEMBER 2 THE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has announced the launch of a first-of-its kind virtual Closest to the Pin golf shootout.

This unique competition will feature LPGA Tour professionals and golf industry personalities going head-to-head live on YouTube.

The Islands Of The Bahamas Virtual Shootout is set for 7pm September 2 and will feature 16 contestants, among them two-time Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic Champion Brittany Lincicome, 2019 Bahamas Shootout Champion Alison Lee, long drive champion Troy Mullins, and trick shot artist Tania Tare.

The competition format will be one shot, survive and advance, in a March Madness style bracket configuration. Fans can tune in to watch on the WGT Golf YouTube channel.

QUARANTINED KANE WAS ON FAMILY HOLIDAY IN BAHAMAS

By SAMI MOKBEL FOR THE DAILY MAIL HARRY Kane has missed the start of Tottenham’s pre-season because he is in quarantine after his return from holiday.

The prolific goalscorer went on a family break to the Bahamas following Tottenham’s final game of the season against Crystal Palace on July 26.

The Bahamas was not on the UK’s quarantine list when Kane arrived there, but the travel restrictions changed on August 8, meaning the England captain was required to quarantine for 14 days upon his return to England.

Jose Mourinho’s players returned to pre-season training towards the end of last week but Kane is still to rejoin his team-mates as he finishes his period of self-isolation.

The Tottenham talisman, however, should be in

a position to return to the club’s Enfield HQ at some point next week.

His absence should not have a drastic impact on Mourinho’s preparations, which start at home to Ipswich on Saturday.

Kane went on a family break to the Bahamas following Tottenham’s final game of the season.

Kane is known to keep himself in optimal shape during the close season.

Indeed, he posted a video of himself training on his Instagram account last week, while on holiday.

However, it does cause obvious disruption to Spurs with the new season just round the corner.

Kane’s quarantine period should not have any consequences for England’s forthcoming Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark, with Gareth Southgate’s skipper still expected to be named in next week’s squad.

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