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PM PLEADS: TIME’S UP - MUST TAKE JAB Minnis urges public to vaccinate as death toll continues to rise By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis once again urged residents to take the COVID-19 vaccine during a national address last night. He said: “Let me again say to those who are still thinking about getting vaccinated: You do not have time to keep thinking about whether or not you will take the vaccine. “You do not have time to keep researching. You
need to come forward now to get the life-saving protection that vaccination gives! My administration knows that the only way out of the emergency phase of the pandemic is to vaccinate as many Bahamians as possible in as short a time as possible. “That is why we have launched the largest vaccination programme in Bahamian history. The Bahamas has secured more than half a million doses of SEE PAGE THREE
SCHOOLS TO REOPEN BUT NOT FACE-TO-FACE By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
JUST days ahead of the start of the new school year, the Ministry of Education has announced that all public schools will open with a virtual learning format due to the current resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country. The ministry also advised private institutions to also
adopt the virtual learning model and warned any school wishing to open with face-to-face learning will first have to seek permission from the Ministry of Education. In a statement released on Friday, education officials said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution and came after “heavy consultation” with the Ministry of Health. SEE PAGE FIVE
HOPE SOMEONE CLEANS UP AFTERWARDS SIGNS, signs everywhere - with FNM and PLP signs covering grass verges on just about every major road and junction at the weekend. See PAGES TWO AND THREE for more election coverage. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
FNM CANDIDATE STANDS DOWN By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Free National Movement has replaced its general election candidate for Mangrove Cay, Central and South Andros, Kenneth Smith, with 31-year-old D’Angelo Ferguson. In a statement over the weekend, the FNM said Mr Smith asked to be removed as the party’s nominated candidate for health reasons.
KENNETH SMITH FNM chairman Carl Culmer declined to discuss the matter further yesterday, saying it is a private
issue. He said Mr Smith does not have COVID-19. “The FNM regrettably accepted his resignation and respects his right to privacy,” the party said in a statement. “We thank Kenneth for his willingness to sacrifice and serve the people of Andros. He will be missed on the frontline, and we wish him a speedy return to good health and God’s blessings.”
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE TWO
INSIGHT DON’T BE DAZZLED BY THE SHOW - IT’S SUBSTANCE WE NEED - SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Monday, August 23, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Police probe video of apparent threat by PLP supporter By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle said police are investigating a video that appears to show Progressive Liberal Party supporters threatening violence towards a man. In the 28-second clip, a man wearing a PLP shirt grabs a man in a T-shirt and takes him across the street towards a building. The man recording the video says: “Bring him here, he want tear poster, bring him in the back of the yard. “You know what does happen when you tear PLP poster? We catch one tearing a poster. Let’s go in the back, bey, let’s go in the back. Let’s put him in the corner, carry him in the private room [sic].” PLP chairman Fred Mitchell, the party’s candidate for Fox Hill, declined to comment yesterday. FNM chairman Carl Culmer, meanwhile, was quick to link the actions of the men to the opposition party. “I’m concerned with that kind of behaviour but it shows what the PLP
leadership is all about and it reflects what if by some miracle they win the election their leadership they would display,” Mr Culmer said. “We would have gangsters running the country. I’m baffled and amazed that neither the leader nor the chairman has come out to say anything or to separate themselves from that behaviour. It’s disgraceful and they seem to support that kind of behaviour in the community which is not good for running the country.” Since Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced an early election, posters, billboards and lawn signs have flooded the streets of New Providence, annoying many. Another video was circulated on social media over the weekend showing three men — who did not appear to be dressed in any party paraphernalia — ripping up PLP lawn signs and removing a billboard bearing the image of PLP leader, Philip “Brave” Davis. One of the men also appeared to be removing an FNM poster. In a statement yesterday, Commissioner Rolle
said: “It was brought to the attention of the commissioner of police that some persons are deliberately destroying party paraphernalia posted throughout the city. These are permitted during election time as political parties campaign. The commissioner wishes to remind the public that it is an offence to interfere with or destroy party paraphernalia and persons caught doing so will be prosecuted. “The Bahamas is a democratic country that is governed by the rule of law, where its citizenry show respect for those laws, life and personal property. Accordingly, the commissioner implores the leaders of all political parties to encourage their supporters to exercise restraint during this time and to respect the process and not destroy or remove their opponent’s paraphernalia, but to notify the police whenever and wherever they observe persons doing so.” Commissioner Rolle said he has established an election investigation unit that will investigate all matters relating to the general election.
FNM and PLP signs along the verge as the election campaign begins. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
FNM CANDIDATE STANDS DOWN from page one
Mr Ferguson is said to be a familiar figure in Andros’ party politics, with one source yesterday saying he played a valuable role getting Mr Smith the initial nomination. Carlyle Bethel, the FNM’s Torchbearer Association president, said on Twitter: “This is the latest of many examples of the
FNM putting young people in the driver’s seat. He is a hard worker. He is committed to the party and he will do an excellent job on the campaign trail and as their next MP.” Mangrove Cay, Central and South Andros has historically been a Progressive Liberal Party stronghold. The constituency was represented for years by former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling.
Picewell Forbes, a member of the Progressive Liberal Party, has represented the area since 2007. Earlier this year, Mr Forbes revealed his intention not to seek the party’s nomination in the constituency, saying he received insufficient support from the party’s leadership. Leon Lundy is the PLPs candidate in the area for the upcoming general election.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, August 23, 2021, PAGE 3
PM pleads: Time’s up - must take jab from page one some of the best vaccines in the world. Supplies of the AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are already in country. More of the Pfizer vaccines are on the way.” Dr Minnis noted that 129,017 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered since the start of the national campaign in mid-March, with a total of 55,291 fully vaccinated Bahamians and residents as of August 21. In a sign that vaccine hesitancy has declined somewhat in the country, Dr Minnis said 11,496 doses were administered from Monday, August 16, to Saturday, August 21, most of which were first doses. “These are significant and very good numbers,” he said. “We are making progress though we have still much work to do.” Dr Minnis said initially, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be used in the next phase of vaccinations in the Family Islands for residents who have not yet received a vaccine and want one. Thirty-eight thousand four hundred doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine arrived in the country last week. “The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will also be used to vaccinate homebound residents who have not yet received the vaccine and who wish to do so. For the homebound who have already received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, they will receive a second dose of AstraZeneca,” Dr Minnis said. He added that administration of vaccines on Grand Bahama will be ramped up this week. “Doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have already been sent to San Salvador. Vaccination teams will be returning to
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis during yesterday’s National Address. the Family Islands, starting with mainland Abaco on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.” Dr Minis said little about the state of the country’s major hospitals, which are overwhelmed with COVID19 patients. However, he said the supply of oxygen has had a boost. “A critical element in the fight against COVID-19 is oxygen supply,” he said. “Access to liquefied oxygen internationally began to be restricted again, which in turn reduced the storage in country. Working with the Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis, and with the director of Florida’s
Emergency Management Agency, I am pleased to advise that we have been able to secure the necessary oxygen supply. I am advised that 3,000 gallons of oxygen were delivered at the end of last week in Grand Bahama and 2,500 gallons on New Providence. “Today, Princess Margaret Hospital has approximately 7,500 gallons of liquid oxygen. Bahamas Welding & Fire also presently has 2,500 gallons of liquid oxygen to supply to the clinics and the South Beach Clinic. Additional supplies are already in the delivery pipeline to restore normal supplies. Next week, and each week thereafter, 12,000 gallons of
liquid oxygen are expected to arrive in country, providing the supply needed.” Dr Minnis also said the government will partner with private health care providers to maximise the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, in an effort to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. He said private health care providers who can demonstrate that they have the infrastructure and human resources, who can meet the criteria to safely administer the vaccine and collect the data appropriately, will be able to administer governmentprocured vaccines. Dr Minnis also
CULMER DEFENDS ELECTION: ‘COVID AIN’ GOING ANYWHERE’ By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Chairman Carl Culmer on Friday defended Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ decision to call an early election as COVID19 strains the country’s healthcare system, saying: “COVID ain’ going anywhere.” During a national address Thursday, Dr Minnis announced that the general election will be held on September 16 to give the next administration the mandate needed to address critical health and economic challenges facing the country. This comes as the third wave of the COVID-19 crisis intensifies, with 157 people reported hospitalised as of August 19th, 16 of whom are in the Intensive Care unit. Asked about going to the polls early in these circumstances, Mr Culmer said: “That’s why the prime minister ordered vaccinations. COVID ain’ going anywhere. The point is to get as many people vaccinated and get enough vaccines so people can choose from among them.” “We have to come to terms with the environment we are in. This is not unique to the Bahamas. We have had elections in a COVID environment throughout the world in the last few days. We see what’s happening now in Europe. You still need to run the country, still need to do things that bring prosperity.”
Mr Culmer said politicians and party operatives must operate within the confines outlined in the COVID-19 protocols. “We will comply with all the requirements,” he said. He also denied Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis’ claims that Dr Minnis has called an early election because of the fiscal pressures the country is facing. “I don’t think that’s the case,” he said. “We just
had different agencies look at the Bahamas and they didn’t say our situation was dire or make any statement that the Bahamian fiscal situation is concerning. You can’t listen to the rhetoric of the opposition. Persons will say what they think will get them mileage.” Mr Culmer said Bahamians face an easy choice in the upcoming election. “When you look at the record of Minnis and Brave there is no comparison,” he
said. “When you see how Minnis and his team have managed the pandemic and still able to do infrastructure works and provide opportunities for young people, there’s no comparison. When you look at our candidates compared to PLP candidates, it’s day and night, they are far superior.”
Photos: OPM Media Services encouraged private sector businesses to allow employees “a designated period of time on a given day of mutual agreement” to get vaccinated. Speaking about the upcoming general election, Dr Minnis said the process will be safe, adding that the COVID-19 curfews throughout the country will be strictly enforced. He reminded people travelling from New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Exuma, Abaco, and North and South Eleuthera that they are
required to present negative COVID-19 test results prior to travel. Fully vaccinated people may present a negative rapid antigen or RT PCR test results. He also stressed that the number of people campaigning in groups is limited to five, all of whom must be fully vaccinated. Bahamians 65 years and older will be permitted to vote in the advance polls, which he said will also reduce the number of Bahamians voting on a single day.
PAGE 4, Monday, August 23, 2021
Officials seek to tackle spike in Long Island By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net WITH a reported spike of COVID-19 cases on Long Island, officials are taking measures to try to control the situation. Ten new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Long Island by Ministry of Health officials on August 20. This comes after a local daily reported there were some concerns about COVID-19 cases on the island not being officially recorded by health officials. In a post to his Facebook page on Friday, Adrian Gibson — the Free National Movement’s incumbent for Long Island — said steps were being taken to ensure the safety of residents as he acknowledged their concerns about the virus’ spread. He said COVID-19 detection and treatment supplies on Long Island have been restocked.
“I was informed that a challenge arose as certain supplies — such as swabs — had expired. The CMO advised me that going forward corrective measures are being undertaken to ensure that this does not recur. A similar plan is being executed to ensure that there is continued awareness of stock levels of oxygen on the island,” Mr Gibson said. He added that additional oxygen tanks were shipped to the island last week and additional swabs have been sent to the island. “Both the PCR and rapid antigen tests can be undertaken as both are available. A system is in place to send swabs via mail boat or air carrier – whichever the Ministry of Health deems necessary,” he said. “Further supplies of intravenous fluids, personal protective equipment and various other items have been shipped to the island.” He said testing and
contact tracing of suspect and confirmed cases will occur and added that he has been assured that more vaccines will be available for the community soon. Yesterday, The Tribune spoke with some residents who said they are keeping alert about increasing cases there. “My wife and I are both fully vaccinated and to be honest with you, the only places we go is from home to church. As a matter of fact, we just came from church, and everyone wears their mask. I read on WhatsApp about the ten cases, but I don’t go anywhere,” said Luther Edgecombe. “Definitely there has been concern because you don’t know why these people were involved so it would be a concern but it’s not fear so to speak because as far as I’ve been concerned, everyone has been following the protocols.” As of August 20, Long Island had 41 confirmed cases.
THE TRIBUNE
TOTAL CASES
TOTAL DEATHS
NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES
NEWLY CONFIRMED DEATHS
17,386 338 SATURDAY
108 CASES
FRIDAY
150 CASES
THURSDAY
166 CASES
NEW PROVIDENCE 91 ELEUTHERA 7 GRAND BAHAMA 5 ABACO 2 BIMINI & CAT CAY 1 EXUMA 1 ANDROS 1 NEW PROVIDENCE 121 LONG ISLAND 10 GRAND BAHAMA 8 ELEUTHERA 5 ABACO 3 EXUMA 2 MAYAGUANA 1 NEW PROVIDENCE 105 ABACO 27 GRAND BAHAMA 11 ELEUTHERA 11 EXUMA 7 RAGGED ISLAND 1* PENDING 4 * RECLASSIFIED YESTERDAY TO NEW PROVIDENCE
TOTAL TESTS
HOSPITALISED
EIGHT DEATHS CONFIRMED 130,339 148 DEATHS from COVID19 increased by eight over the weekend, pushing the nation’s toll to 338 since the start of the pandemic. Five deaths were recorded on Saturday August 21 while three were recorded on Friday August 20, the Ministry of Health said. Health officials also said 424 additional cases were recorded between last Thursday and Saturday, bringing the overall number of confirmed COVID-19
cases in the country since the start of the pandemic to 17,386. Of this figure, 3,200 cases are active. In Saturday’s dashboard, which was released last night, officials also said that a case previously reported as being the first for Ragged Island has now been reclassified as a New Providence case. “The Ministry of Health advises that due to contact tracing efforts, the COVID-19 positive case previously reported on 19
August 2021 for Ragged Island was found to have originated in New Providence. “Consequently, this case has been reclassified to the total confirmed COVID-19 cases for New Providence, and that number now stands at 13,039,” the Ministry of Health said. Yesterday, before the update from the Ministry of Health, Ragged Island residents had expressed skepticism to The Tribune that a confirmed case
• A 55-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE ON AUGUST 4. • A 60-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE ON AUGUST 6. • A 55-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE ON AUGUST 9. • A 48-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE ON AUGUST 13. • A 56-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE ON AUGUST 18. • A 63-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE ON AUGUST 18. • A 44-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE ON AUGUST 19. • A 52-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE ON AUGUST 19.
CASES IN ICU
11
RECOVERED
13,712
was on the island, saying they had no knowledge of anyone there being ill with the virus. They also said the community is so small it would be hard to miss if a positive case was there. However, the virus is spreading in other Family Islands with data showing 10 new cases recorded for Long Island on August 20. Of the 108 new cases in the August 21 dashboard, 91 are in New Providence;
five are in Grand Bahama; two are in Abaco; one is in Bimini & Cat Cay; seven are in Eleuthera; one is in Exuma; and one is in Andros. Meanwhile the deaths recorded on Friday include a 63-year-old New Providence man who died on August 18; a 44-year-old New Providence man and a 52-year-old New Providence woman who both died on August 19. The five deaths recorded on Saturday are all New
Providence residents as well. They include a 55-year-old man who died on August 4; a 60-year-old man who died on August 6; a 55-year-old man who died on August 9; a 48-year-old woman who died on August 13; and a 56-year-old man who died on August 18. This comes after 14 new COVID-19 deaths were recorded on August 18. At last report, 148 people were in hospital with the disease.
CRUISE ships will not be allowed to enter a port in The Bahamas unless passengers aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the latest amendment to the emergency order. The new rule, which takes effect September 3 to November 1, also requires the captain or master of the cruise ship to submit a crew and passenger manifest that discloses the vaccination status of all persons onboard prior to arrival in the country. The order said exceptions to the vaccination requirement will be made in cases of emergencies, “in other exigent circumstances approved by the
government” or if a passenger has a medical excuse for not being vaccinated. The new guideline also does not apply to “crew, contractors and any nonrevenue passenger” under existing protocols previously agreed upon between the government and cruise lines. Last week, Royal Caribbean announced it will require all passengers 12 and older sailing from Florida to be vaccinated to comply with the latest emergency order. All crew are fully vaccinated, according to the company. According to international reports, the cruise line had already required proof of vaccination from
passengers 12 and older who were sailing from other US ports. “Royal Caribbean’s top priority is maintaining everyone’s well-being while complying with federal, state and local laws as we always have. We will continue to evaluate and update our health and safety measures as circumstances evolve,” the cruise line said in a statement. Other cruise lines sailing from Florida are following suit. Unvaccinated passengers who are set to depart from Florida between September 3 and October 31 won’t be allowed to sail, MSC Cruises said.
PASSENGERS NOT VACCINATED? THEN IT’S NO ENTRY FOR SHIPS
POLICE SUSPECT ILLEGAL LANDING POLICE apprehended a group of foreign nationals on Friday in Grand Bahama for suspected illegal landing after a boat chase. Police said shortly before 4pm on Friday, officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit, Police Marine Unit, along with a team from the Eight Mile Rock Division, acting on information, conducted a joint operation in the area of Dover Sound Waterway. Officers saw a white vessel with twin outboard engines with a number of people onboard. A chase followed, resulting in the
vessel crashing into the sea wall while attempting to evade capture, police said. Three men were seen fleeing the scene into nearby bushes. Officers intercepted the vessel and arrested two Haitian women, a Jamaican man, a British woman, a British man, a British male child and one Canadian male child. They were all handed over to the Department of Immigration for further investigation. Police in Grand Bahama also said they found an illegal firearm on Saturday. Shortly before 3pm on the
day in question, officers from the Mobile and Northeastern Divisions, acting on information, went to a business on Coral Road in Freeport. Police were told a fight had taken place at the location, where a man produced a firearm. Upon officers’ arrival, a man was seen running from the establishment into nearby bushes. He evaded arrest. Officers made checks of the area where the man ran and found a silver and black coloured revolver with no ammunition. An investigation is ongoing.
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Monday, August 23, 2021, PAGE 5
Sick-outs still affecting healthcare services By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net AFTER more than a week of staff sick-outs, officials said on Friday that while normal operations resumed at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and at institutions in Grand Bahama, services at Princess Margaret Hospital continued to be affected by delays. In a statement released by the Public Hospital Authority on Friday, officials said “following a staff ‘sick-out’ for the past eight days, normal operations at the Grand Bahama Health Services and Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre have resumed.” However, PHA said up to Friday, PMH continued to be affected as a result of service delays. Workers participated in a sick-out in protest of the government’s honorarium exercise. They are upset that many deserving people did not get the gift while others who were not on the frontline of the COVID-19 fight reportedly have received
the honorarium. Speaking about the issue on Thursday, Health Minister Renward Wells told reporters that officials are still involved in discussions with unions to bring a resolve to the matter. “We have a union that is currently taking actions so to speak that is the Bahamas Public Service Union. The other unions that are the nurses, doctors, the junior doctors and the consultant physician’s union, we’re talking with them as well to ensure that we are always on board collectively together, working together to expand and deliver the kind of requisite healthcare for the Bahamian people,” the health minister said. Mr Wells’ driver and personal assistant were among those awarded the honorarium, a situation that has further angered staff. Although he asked the two staffers to return the $1,158.40 to the government, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell has called on the minister to do the
“honourable thing” and resign. When asked for comment about the controversy and calls for his resignation, Mr Wells replied last week: “I think I would’ve spoken definitively on that subject. I’m not going to go back over that again. I think I would’ve very clearly articulated the circumstances and how I would’ve liked to proceed and proceeded. So, as I said before on Tuesday, what is on the record as I’ve spoken will remain on the record.” The sick-out occurred as virus cases and hospitalisations overwhelm the healthcare system, with one Accident & Emergency consultant saying last week that PMH is bursting at the seams and in desperate need of additional resources. According to the latest information from the Ministry of Health, 148 people are in hospital with COVID-19. On Friday, PHA thanked staff for their “continued commitment” in providing care to sick patients despite challenges faced in recent months.
PRINCESS Margaret Hospital has been affected by delays during the sick-outs.
SCHOOLS TO REOPEN BUT NOT FACE-TO-FACE from page one
“While the preferred mode of instruction delivery continues to be face-to-face, the ministry remains guided by the mantra of ‘safety first, education always,’” the ministry said. “As many of our students and educators will be returning from summer travel, the Ministry of Education considers that online instruction will best assist us in reducing the chances of a spike in COVID19 cases throughout the country. “We think that this action is necessary given the state of our nation’s healthcare system. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, the decision is made to reopen schools via an online format. This decision will be reviewed in a few weeks.” As for private schools,
the statement added: “At this time, the Ministry of Education strongly urges all private schools to adopt a similar position by engaging their students using a virtual platform. Nevertheless, those independent schools that wish to proceed with some face-to-face instructional activities must seek approval from the Ministry of Education.” The statement said it will continue to closely monitor the changing situation to determine when it is safe for students to return to campuses. In-person classes ended in March 2020 due to the pandemic but resumed after the summer break last October in a phased approach. Following Friday’s announcement, many parents took to social media to voice their frustrations,
BRAHEEM Charlton outside court on Friday. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
DOUBLE MURDER SUSPECT CHARGED By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court in connection with two separate murders and two attempted murders on Friday. Braheem Charlton, 28, was accused of the August 9th murder of Dino Brown and attempting to cause the death of Dennis Bowles. Brown was killed off Marshall Road. Prosecutors further
alleged before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt that while being concerned with others on August 14 in New Providence, Charlton caused the death of Laneisha Armbrister and attempted to cause the death of Drazen Dean. He was not required to enter a plea and was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until December 6 when he will be served a Voluntary Bill of Indictment.
saying the news was too short notice as it now inconveniences working parents who have already made plans ahead of the upcoming Fall semester. This also comes after Education Minister Jeff Lloyd told reporters last week that public schools on some islands would reopen with face-to-face instruction, while others would operate under a hybrid model. The change of plans is likely due to the worsening COVID-19 crisis in the country. In a voice note sent to The Tribune yesterday, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson agreed that the announcement should have been made earlier. However, she also expressed support for schools being opened
virtually, believing it to be the best and safest approach in this current health climate. “I’m pleased that they have finally listened and adhered to the advice from the medical professionals and prior recommendations from the Bahamas Union of Teachers,” Mrs Wilson said. “At this time, it is our view that virtual learning is the most safe model of teaching especially based on the increased number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country and more specifically amongst school aged children.” Still, Mrs Wilson said there are a number of concerns that ought to be addressed before schools reopen next week, specifically as it relates to the ministry’s virtual learning platform.
There were several reported glitches with the system during the 2020/21 academic semester. Yesterday, Mrs Wilson outlined a series of questions she thinks the ministry should answer to assure teachers that their needs will be met. She asked: “Is the Ministry of Education’s virtual platform adequate for 100,000 users? Can all students, teachers and parents access the platform? Has the 30 percent or more than 14,000 students who never accessed the platform from its inception, have they been identified? “Have the alternative arrangements been made to ensure that they receive adequate education and access to the learning platform? They are a part of the educational system. Is there sufficient internet
access and connectivity in the 171 schools throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas from Grand Bahama to Inagua?” The BUT president also questioned the compatibility of electronic devices with the online system among other things. “Do teachers and students have electronic devices such as laptops and tablets and, yes, by the way, are these devices working? Are they compatible with the Ministry of Education’s learning management system? “These questions still need to be answered. Although I have been assured by the permanent secretary that the virtual platform works, well we will wait and see, but I impress upon the Ministry of Education officials to get it right.”
PAGE 6, Monday, August 23, 2021
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PM calls on citizens to get vaccinated WITH COVID-19 still surging and after the election bell was rung last week, there was a lot of expectation around last night’s national address by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. What we got was a lot of recycled pieces of information from previous statements. With no new major points announced, we wondered what the point was of addressing the nation other than to put the Prime Minister in front of people for twenty minutes. That isn’t to undermine the importance of his main message – it was just that there was nothing new for the nation to consider. That main message remains crucial – get vaccinated. There are encouraging signs that people are taking heed, too. A total of 11,496 doses were administered from Monday to Saturday last week, with most of those being people getting their first doses. “These are significant and very good numbers,” said Dr Minnis. “We are making progress though we still have much work to do.” Some smart decisions were on show too, such as making the single dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson available to the Family Islands, which might help to overcome hurdles in getting doses back to people in time for a second dose. There was also the announcement of a donation of 5,500 gallons of oxygen, although without information about how long that is expected to last, it is hard for people to judge exactly how helpful that is. He also spelled out how COVID-19 will change the election – with campaign groups limited to five, all of whom must be fully vaccinated, which might raise some challenges for candidates who are not vaccinated. Another change sees Bahamians who are 65 or older allowed to vote in the advance polls, which will reduce crowds on election day itself.
But the emphasis was on the need to vaccinate. Over the weekend, there have been another eight deaths from COVID confirmed. This comes in the wake of a number of deaths recorded last week, and continuing high numbers of cases. The vast majority of those in hospital, and especially of those who are dying from COVID, are people who are not fully vaccinated. That bears repeating – if you are fully vaccinated, the chances of you needing hospital treatment if you do catch COVID are significantly reduced, and the chances of dying are very slim indeed. There are many who might not have taken the vaccine previously because they didn’t have the opportunity – well, the opportunity is here now. There are those who might have been wary because of misinformation circulating online, but the simple truth is that the vaccine gives you a much better chance. There are those who cannot take the vaccine for medical reasons, such as a specific allergy. The rest of us can help those people by taking the vaccine ourselves, and reducing the risk of spreading to those individuals. Over the weekend, a conservative radio host in the US, Phil Valentine, who had played down COVID, saying “I have a very low risk of A) Getting COVID and B) dying of it if I do” did indeed die from the disease. His family told of how he had changed his mind during his sickness and had he returned to his show he would have urged people to get vaccinated. But for him, it was too late. This virus won’t stop just because you don’t believe in it, and too many of us now have friends or relatives who have died from the disease or who have suffered from it. So as much as the Prime Minister’s speech itself might have been old news, the message remains as important as ever. Get vaccinated.
It’s time for all hands on deck EDITOR, The Tribune. THERE are three fundamental principles that guide followership and leadership. The principles are: (i) there is no access without process; (ii) you cannot achieve competence without comprehension; and (iii) you cannot begin earning without learning. Now that the bell has been rung, Bahamians must become “awoke,” know the issues, make themselves aware of the needs of their country, suborn their personal needs to those of the country, and listen carefully to what is being discussed not only in this election season but in the aftermath of the election. Much has been said and will be said by the political pundits from all the political parties representatives. The points that they will make may be very apropos, and perhaps those points will hit the proverbial nail on the head. However, as
the issues are discussed and promises are made aplenty, Bahamians must not mind the “noise” in the “market,” but they must pay attention to the price of the “fish.” Bahamians need to begin the process of involvement in their political and national affairs. They need to be educated concerning how a Parliamentary Democracy functions. The education of Bahamians must be provided on two fronts: the adult level and in the schools. In both instances, a full national curriculum must be created without the interference of the Political Directorate. All aspects of our social, political, economic, and national development must be included in the curriculum. From the very outset, it must be understood that history, like democracy, is not always a clean process... there is the good and there is the bad and both need to be told without prejudice... Additionally, Bahamians
must be actively involved in their education. Bahamians must commit themselves to read and doing so deeply. Not only must Bahamians read, but they must comprehend what they read. Bahamians must develop the fine art of objectivity. Bahamians must place their country above the politics of convenience and political party that they support. Bahamians must be prepared to “fight” for their country. Bahamians must expose political, social, and economic victimization wherever it exists. Bahamians must practice the precepts of good followership. Bahamians must hold their elected representatives accountable. More importantly, Bahamians must hold themselves accountable. DR DONALD M McCARTNEY Nassau, August 20, 2021.
Minnis-less FNM party EDITOR, The Tribune. PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has been the second most successful leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) in the 51 years of its existence, second only to former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. Both men were able to accomplish what Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield and Sir Kendal G L Isaacs were unable to do – win an election. Minnis’ rapid ascension to the top of the FNM was somewhat fortuitous, leapfrogging over FNM stalwarts Dion Foulkes, Tommy Turnquest, Zhivago Laing, to name a few. Minnis was tasked with rebranding the FNM after its lopsided loss to the Progressive Liberal Party in 2012, after many prominent FNM parliamentarians were rejected by the electorate. Moreover, Minnis had to weather the internal storm that brewed within his Parliamentary caucus, as former FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner openly challenged his leadership throughout his tenure as official Opposition leader. Minnis has kept many of the familiar faces within the organisation who figured prominently in previous Ingraham administrations, yet the stubborn narrative persists in some quarters that he has purged the FNM of Ingrahamites. I view Minnis’ early election date – which leaves over seven months remaining in this legislative session – as him handing the government back to the Bahamian people. The healthcare system has been overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Nurses and non-frontline staffers from the Ministry of Health are currently engaged in an informal industrial strike. The Bahamas Electrical Workers Union is unhappy with the executives at Bahamas Power and Light. Moreover, Bahamas Union of Teachers is also threatening to take industrial action over some promised increments. Many areas of East Grand Bahama and Abaco remain mostly in a state of disrepair since Hurricane Dorian, despite the FNM’s
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net highly touted economic recovery zone initiative which removed duty from hurricane and building supplies, vehicles, furniture and appliances on the two islands impacted by Dorian. COVID-19 had brought our economy to its knees in 2020, which placed an unprecedented strain on the central government to assist tens of thousands of jobless Bahamians. The National Insurance Board has, since March of 2020, doled out over $260 million in government assistance. The government purchased Grand Lucayan Resort in Freeport remains unsold to Royal Caribbean, placing further strain on the Treasury. Moreover, Minnis has not kept his word in bringing marijuana legislation to Parliament, much to the annoyance of the Rastafarian community. Nor has he enacted a law that sets a two-term limit for prime ministers. Government revenue continues to be dwarfed by mushrooming financial obligations, due to the burgeoning workforce in the public sector. This suggests to me that whoever wins the September 16 general election, whether it’s the FNM or the PLP, the 12 percent on VAT will undergo a significant increase, perhaps to 15 percent or even higher. Either that, or an income tax regime will be introduced. Moreover, Minnis’ vaccination campaign has encountered stiff resistance from Bahamian anti-vaxxers, who are standing in the way of the country achieving herd immunity from COVID-19. My point in stating all the foregoing is to show that Minnis has left a boatload of unresolved issues on the table by truncating his legislative session. Part of me thinks that Minnis would be just as happy and relieved to lose, as he would be to win. For him, it would be a winwin situation. By winning, he would gain a new mandate from the Bahamian people. Under the current circumstances, he simply cannot govern. In the event
he loses, he can settle back into his comfortable private life as a successful businessman and physician who has a thriving private practice. For thousands of struggling Bahamians eager to punish Minnis, his financial situation won’t change, whether or not he is prime minister on the evening of September 16. He is a multimillionaire. The prime minister salary of about $86,000 is chump change, considering the massive issues plaguing The Bahamas. While most Bahamians consider $86,000 to be a king’s ransom, for wealthy individuals such as Minnis, it simply isn’t worth the headache and stress. I often wonder why anyone would even consider becoming prime minister. I think Minnis is overwhelmed and exhausted, both mentally and physically. Him being removed from his current situation, via the electoral process, would be a welcome blessing. The issue of Minnis losing might even entice him to follow the example of Ingraham in retiring from frontline politics, which would result in a byelection in Killarney. In any event, I believe that the FNM must now brace itself for a possible post-Minnis situation, in which it will be forced to hold a convention to elect Minnis’ successor. FNMs such as Dionisio D’Aguilar, Adrian White, Ellsworth Johnson, Kwasi Thompson, Iram Lewis and Desmond Bannister must prepare themselves for the likelihood of a Minnis resignation. The FNM must have a contingency plan for the possible Minnis-less era. The Minnis-less FNM, as the official opposition, will be tasked with holding the new Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis administration accountable to the Bahamian people. As for Minnis, he would probably be salivating in his accomplishment of rising to the highest political office in The Bahamas, while offering much needed advice to his successor. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama, August 22, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, August 23, 2021, PAGE 7
TWO Jamaican nationals outside court on Friday. Damond Osmond Shawn, 44, left, and Daniel Grant, 24, both pleaded guilty to drug-related charges.
Photos: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
Jamaican pair admit to series of drug charges By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
TWO Jamaican men pleaded guilty in a Magistrate’s Court in relation to several drug related charges on Friday. Damond Osmond Shawn, 44, and Daniel Grant, 24, were charged with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs (Indian hemp). The two also faced a charge of conspiracy to import dangerous drugs. Prosecutors said between August 12 to August 18 the men were concerned together and with others conspired to import a quantity of dangerous drugs into the country. The court heard that on August 18, a team of officers acting on information went to an apartment off Hawkins Hill where they found two men identified
as Jamaican. A search of the home was done and a plastic bag containing seven taped packages in the kitchen area was found. Officers also discovered 19 gray taped packages. A crocus bag containing 10 taped packages was also found in one bedroom. The men asked Magistrate Samuel McKinney for leniency. Shawn, 44, said he was trying to make money for his family while the 24-year-old said he had a three-year-old daughter. The prosecution said they were both without legal status to remain in the country. Magistrate Samuel McKinney issued the men a custodial sentence of two years, a fine of $30,000 or one year in jail if the fine is not paid. The remaining three counts carry a sentence of 18 months each. The sentences are to run concurrently.
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COUPLE CONVICTED OF CRUELTY TO 15-YEAR-OLD By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A GRAND Bahama couple was convicted of child cruelty against a 15-yearold minor and fined more than $15,000 on Friday after pleading guilty in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court. Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson handed down her decision. Both had pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges stemming from a child abuse incident in July. The couple – not represented by counsel at their arraignment on Thursday – reappeared in court on Friday. They attempted to have their guilty pleas changed. Lawyer Paco Deal, who represented the couple, made an application to the court to change Brown and Miller’s pleas to not guilty. Mr Deal claimed his clients were not represented by counsel at the time and were confused and did not know what to do. “They found it was not the best decision they made in pleading guilty without understanding the nature of the charge against them and not having legal representation. We are asking the court to use its mercy and discretion and accede the application to change their guilty pleas to not guilty,” he said. Mr Deal explained the couple’s family retained his services on Friday morning. DCM Ferguson denied their application. She informed counsel she stood the matter down to Friday to ensure she gave a proper review of one of the charges against the woman before delivering her decision in that matter. She further informed Mr Deal that she came prepared to
deliver her written decision, which he had a right to appeal. The woman, a mother of three, was charged with making a false report, cruelty to a child, and mandatory reporting of child abuse. On count one of making a false report, she was convicted and fined $500 or six months in prison. On the second count of cruelty to a child, she was convicted and fined $5,000 or ordered to serve two years in prison; on the third count of failing to report child abuse, she was convicted and fined $5,000 or one year in prison. The man, father of two of the woman’s children was also convicted of causing harm and cruelty to a child. On the causing harm count, he was fined $500 or ordered to serve three months in prison. For cruelty to a child, he was fined $5,000 or to serve two years in prison. According to court evidence on Thursday, the woman indicated her 15-year-son was disrespectful and abusive to her. She told the magistrate that she called the Police asking for assistance regarding her son’s behaviour, but received no help. She stated her son would also leave the house and return home late. She also detailed an incident when her son hit her with a curtain rod. She admitted her fiancé took a plastic cup that he’d filled with beer and hit her son in the back of the head, resulting in him leaving the house. DCM Ferguson ordered the couple had until noon today to pay the fine. She also informed them she had asked Social Services to assist in offering some counselling for the family.
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MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
Don’t be dazzled by the show - it’s substance we need By MALCOLM STRACHAN
IF you somehow missed Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ announcement, then the forest of signs that appeared overnight on the roads would soon have told you the election is coming. As one post on social media put it, the roads looked like a hot dog bun with ketchup up one side and mustard down the other. The traditional colours of the FNM and the PLP are everywhere. No sign of relish though for the DNA. Without a doubt, the game is on – and as Bahamians, we all tend to get drawn into the show, with our phones buzzing as we share memes and videos of parties out on the road as they try to entice us to vote for them. So much of it is just that, though – a show, and with the future of our nation on the line, we would do well to pay a bit more attention to substance rather than to the spectacle and the style. Over the coming weeks, the political parties will be expected to lay out their plans for the next five years. The most important piece of those plans will be how each party expects to deal with the pandemic that still rages on around us. The Family Islands are also feeling the pain of the pandemic right now, with case numbers over the past few days including 10 in Long Island, 16 in Eleuthera and a massive 27 in Abaco. Suddenly there is a demand for vaccination as people see the effects of the surge, as they see 149 people in hospital and a steady rise in deaths. Each week on social media, people have been posting how many extra pages of Obituaries have been in The Tribune and for those who thought the pandemic wouldn’t
‘The cost of COVID has been high, stacked on to the cost of Hurricane Dorian before it, and the country’s debts have piled up. Dealing with that burden of debt will be a major task for whoever wins the election, and each party needs to have a plan to do so.’
RIVALS in the House of Assembly - and now rivals on the election trail, FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis and PLP leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. affect them, it has been coming closer and closer to home. Thankfully, we are in a position where we now have enough vaccines for all of those who want it – but the winning party will have to oversee the rollout of that vaccine, and will be
the ones who need to convince reluctant citizens and deal with the continued need for any restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. Remember, the vaccination on its own is not enough, we still need to limit the spread by following the guidance we’ve
been living with for so long. The PLP has in general opposed the limitations brought in by the FNM, so that’s a pointer to how they might operate in office – but as the campaign goes on, they ought to lay out more clearly what their plan is to
deal with COVID-19. For the FNM, we’ve been living with their plan, but they too should outline how they see the future. Both parties also need to be clear with citizens too on their plans for the country’s economic recovery. The cost of COVID has been
high, stacked on to the cost of Hurricane Dorian before it, and the country’s debts have piled up. Dealing with that burden of debt will be a major task for whoever wins the election, and each party needs to have a plan to do so. All of that is before we even get to what parties might want to be talking about for the future. Ideally, we should be discussing such things as reforms in education, health, transparency in government, how to deal with crime, cracking down on corruption and a host of other things that would make the dayto-day life of citizens better. We would also be talking about taxation, the pressure on the international scene for tax reform, and how we’re going to pay for both the debts we have and the things we would like to invest in for the future. None of that is answered by a red sign saying “It’s about your future” or a yellow sign saying “A new day”. So when the candidates come knocking on the door, make sure they give you some answers. It has to be about more than red or yellow, it has to be about who will bring in the policies that make our country better. Everything else is just for show.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 PAGE 9
ROBBED OF A LIFETIME’S MEMORIES, SLOWLY SLIPPING AWAY By DR KENNETH D KEMP
I’M OFTEN asked by friends, patients and family members alike what I consider the most frightening, the most difficult or the most agonizing of all medical conditions that I’ve seen throughout my career. In every case they were, as I assume you will be, surprised to hear my response. Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most devastating and crippling forms of dementia, is consistently my pick for this disreputable designation. This progressively degenerative brain disease outstrips the very essence of one’s identity and robs you callously of every memory, every desire, every love and leaves you crippled, frightened and alone. Imagine a lifetime’s worth of memories slowly and haphazardly slipping away and then descending into the abyss where you cannot remember anyone or anything. You are completely alone. Everything you have ever learned and everyone you have ever met is now gone and you are surrounded by total strangers. In its most advanced stage, Alzheimer’s patients can even lose the ability to communicate, swallow and control their movements. In almost every other disease known to man, you are at least able to comprehend what is happening to you and find comfort in your situation from loved ones near and far. This should never be taken for granted particularly since Alzheimer’s patients are typically and universally viewed as being “dopey”, “befuddled” and a “burden” rather than given the profundity of sympathy
they so desperately require. That pervasive general perception, left unchallenged, gives tacit consent for many to continue. One of my patients began displaying symptoms, like her mother, at age 68 but wasn’t diagnosed with Alzheimer’s until two years later. Her family doctor prescribed various medications but she routinely swapped the morning for the evening dosages and lashed out at her caregivers whenever they corrected her. She got lost very easily. Eventually her keys had to be taken away; an act she saw as robbing her of her independence. As the disease progressed, she displayed very aggressive outbursts, had to be tied with soft straps and was confined to
a wheelchair. She couldn’t talk, cried constantly and barely slept for nights on end. Behavioural neurologists and geriatric psychiatrists, like those at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, are best equipped at treating these patients. The Bahamas Alzheimer’s Association is another great resource for individuals looking for information and support. The Mayo Clinic describes Alzheimer’s as a progressive neurological disorder that causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to die. What causes it is not yet known to a certainty primarily because it cannot be attributed to one single cause. Some researchers suggest the same risk factors as heart disease
(like smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, lack of exercise and poorly controlled Diabetes) also increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. Future research incentives hinge on the fact there remains little known as to what makes one individual more susceptible than another. The most significant factor appears to be increasing age wherein occurrence of the disease doubles every five years after the age of 65. In fact, between 2000 and 2019, global deaths from heart disease have decreased by 7.3 percent but deaths from Alzheimer’s have conversely increased by 145 percent. To date there remains no cure available and
treatments are admittedly limited in their scope of effectiveness. Calls for increased attention on treating this disease are becoming more and more prevalent as the geriatric population worldwide continues to grow. We are all a sum of our life experiences so what remains of us if those experiences are suddenly taken away? The answer to that has been debated often in the upper echelons of academia for years but one needs not to overthink it. Just look into the eyes of one of the 35 million people worldwide who suffer from this condition and the answer is abundantly clear. What remains is a crippling sense of loss; the perception of nothingness and what
replaces it is a justifiable fear. Alzheimer’s disease has been described as death before death and going forward, may we each help to ease the anxiety of those affected by showing compassion, not just to them but also to their caregivers. This is the KDK report. Nick-named ‘The Prince of Podiatry’, Dr. Kenneth D. Kemp is the founder and medical director of Bahamas Foot and Ankle located in Caves Village, Western New Providence. He served as the Deputy chairman for the Health Council for 5 years and he currently sits on the board of directors for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation in his role as co-Vice-chairman.
PAGE 10 MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
How a crisis in container ships could ruin Christmas By STAVROS KARAMPERIDIS Lecturer in Maritime Economics, University of Plymouth
NINGBO-ZHOUSAN may not exactly be a household name, but find something in your house made in China and it’s quite likely it was delivered from there. Ningbo-Zhousan, which overlooks the East China Sea some 200km south of Shanghai, is China’s second-busiest port, handling the equivalent of some 29 million 20-foot containers every year. At the time of writing, it has more than 50 ships waiting to dock. This is because the Ningbo-Meishan terminal, which handles about one fifth of the port’s total volumes, has been closed for a week after a member of staff tested positive for COVID. With still no word of a reopening, many more ships have diverted to alternative ports. Unfortunately, this is the tip of the iceberg in shipping. China has eight of the top ten busiest ports in world, and they are running at well below normal capacity because of COVID restrictions. From Shanghai to Hong Kong to Xiamen, ships are in long queues to unload – and the diversions from Ningbo will be making this worse. The US west coast is also seeing bad congestion, with many ships anchored in California’s San Pedro Bay,
THIS satellite image from Planet Labs Inc shows the cargo ship MV Ever Given stuck in the Suez Canal near Suez, Egypt, in March. awaiting access to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. This has driven the cost of shipping rates for
containers through the roof in recent weeks. The cost of moving a 40-foot container from China to Europe is currently running at around
$14,000, about ten times what it would normally be. So how long will this continue, and what will be the knock-on effects?
THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER PROBLEMS
This situation is noticeably different to 2020. COVID restrictions had weakened the cargo-handling capacity of ports then as well, but it was less of an issue because global demand for consumer products was so much lower earlier in the pandemic. Now that many countries have vaccinated large numbers of people and their economies are reopening, demand has bounced back with a vengeance and ports are not coping well. On top of that have been other problems, not least the Suez Canal blockage in March. With ships stuck for a week after the huge Ever Given container ship got stranded, they were under more pressure than usual to return to Asia after they finally reached their destinations in Europe and the Americas. As a result, many didn’t wait to be fully loaded with empty containers. This contributed to a lack of shipping containers in Asia, which was already becoming an issue because of ships not always calling in at their usual ports during the pandemic because demand was much lower than normal. The upshot is that containers have become more expensive, which has forced shipping companies to charge higher freight rates to cover the cost. At the same time, weather has caused problems over the summer. Both the southern Chinese port of Yangtian and part of the port of Shanghai have spent periods closed in recent weeks because of typhoon alerts. The backlog has also been worsened by major importers baulking at the shipping costs and chartering their own ships instead. Home Depot, the big US home improvement retailer, did this in June for instance.
THE FUTURE
There has actually been a slight decrease in shipping rates in the past ten days, which has seen the Freightos Baltic Index fall from $10,380 to $9,568 per 20-foot container. But this is nothing to get excited about. It broadly reflects the fact that the price of shipping goods from China to the US has come down after many ships diverted to that route to make the most of the high prices. Other routes, such as China to Europe and Europe to the Americas, are still mostly going up in price. As to whether this will continue, it is extremely
difficult to say. Some freight companies have ordered new container ships to help address the shortage, but these vessels take two or three years to build so that is not going to make any difference in the short term. What matters is future COVID outbreaks and to what extent China and other major port nations have to impose tough regulations to protect their populations. Perhaps we will be lucky and the situation will steadily improve from here, or perhaps this mismatch between supply and demand will endure for several years. In the meantime, we can expect inflation to rise as importers pass on the costs of shipping to customers. Given that governments and central bankers were already worried about rising inflation for various other reasons, they could do without this extra dimension. If the problem with shipping rates looks like enduring, it is also likely to feed into boardroom discussions about whether it is wise to rely so heavily on China as the manufacturing hub of the world. With relations between China and the west already at a low, and much talk of globalisation giving way to regionalisation, many are already arguing that they should make more consumer goods closer to home – “nearshoring”, as it is known in the trade. But more imminently, one big issue will be putting the fear of God into retailers: Christmas. All those ships that diverted from their usual China-Europe route to help serve the US are cutting it fine to get back to China in time to restock. The crossing takes about 45 days, and they need to then leave China by about mid-October to make the 35-day crossing to get goods to Europe in time for December. If there is still congestion at the Chinese ports by October, this may not be possible. The longer this shipping crisis continues, the more Christmas will be in trouble. It could become a huge news story in the weeks ahead as everyone looks forward to a “normal” festive season and many retailers desperately need a strong Christmas 2021 to help make up for what they lost from COVID restrictions. If only an old man in a red suit with a sleigh could really take care of everything, we could all breathe a sigh of relief. • Originally published on theconversation.com
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 PAGE 11
We throw away a third of the food we grow – here’s what to do about waste
by KAMRAN MAHROOF, Assistant Professor, Supply Chain Analytics, University of Bradford and SANKAR SIVARAJAH, Professor of Technology Management and Circular Economy, University of Bradford
or even the wrong shape can lead to perfectly good fruits and vegetables going to waste. As the global population continues to increase, it places real pressure on world food production. Indeed, the industry will need to grow by at least two-thirds by 2050 to ensure adequate nutrition for everyone in the world. Yet, despite the dire need to become more resourceful, food waste and loss is at an all-time high. Making it clear that unless prompt action is taken, food shortages will soon become a long-term reality. What can be done? The key to tackling this issue is to have a resilient and resourceful “farm-tofork” approach to help reduce food waste and to ensure the future of food security. Here are some things that can help combat food waste:
The COVID pandemic has shown the fragility of our global food supply chains, with many supermarkets and restaurants in almost every country having experienced food shortages. Millions of people in the UK alone have experienced severe food insecurity during COVID-19, according to a recent report by the country’s Foods Standards Agency. But food shortages were prevalent long before the pandemic. At the same time, onethird of all food produced each year is squandered or spoiled before it can be consumed. Research also suggests high-income countries waste as much food as sub-Saharan Africa produces. This food waste then ends up in landfills to rot – which Collaboration with releases greenhouse gases. And when this is com- food producers and more bined with the amount of investment in technologienergy it takes to produce, cal applications and overall infrastructure at manufacture, the earlier stages transport and ‘If food of the food supply store this food, waste was chain can drasit contributes a tically improve staggering three a country, it billion tonnes of would be the food waste and loss in lowcarbon dioxide to third-highest income countries. our planet. To put This is importhat in context, if emitter of tant because food waste was a greenhouse plant diseases and country, it would gases in the pests – along with be the thirdpoor harvesting highest emitter of world, after techniques – can greenhouse gases the US and be a big factor in in the world, China.’ the high levels of after the US and food waste at this China. But the good news is point in the food supply there are numerous tech- chain. Our research also niques, technologies and policies that together could indicates that artificial help reduce global food intelligence (AI) powered waste at every point in the drones can help farmers process of producing and become more resourceful and reduce the overuse consuming it. of pesticides in food production. This is important because pesticides can adversely affect the food ecosystem. They polAccording to the Food lute water, deplete soil and Agriculture Organisa- fertility and contaminate tion for the United Nations, turf – all of which can result lack of infrastructure, in food loss and waste. This limited knowledge on stor- approach also enhances age and food handling, crop yield and reduces combined with unfavour- operational costs as well as able climatic conditions, improves the health of livecan lead to a lot of food stock. So it’s also better for spoilage and waste in low- the environment. income countries. On the other hand, in high-income countries, aesthetic preferences and arbitrary sell-by dates A big part of the food mean food easily becomes waste. Cosmetic blem- waste problem is changishes, produce that is too ing how we shop and view ripe, too big, too little food and our mindset
AI DRONES AND PRECISION FARMING
WHY IS FOOD WASTED?
TARGET SHOPPERS’ WALLETS
around what constitutes waste. But research shows the best way to tackle food waste among consumers is to highlight the potential money that can be saved as well as the “feel-good factor”, or moral value, of doing a good thing for the environment. A recent study with households in London, UK and Ontario, Canada, found that a two-week moneybased intervention – called “reduce food waste, save money” – helped participants to throw away 30% less food. Participants were given local information on food waste and costs, along with tips on how to improve food planning, efficiently purchase, store, and prepare food – and how to
use leftovers to create new meals. Similarly, new technology can help commercial kitchens reduce food waste by directly connecting behaviour changes to increased profits. For example, the Winnow software system calculates the costs of discarded food, correlating food waste to sales. This AI-powered system has allowed Ikea stores to reduce food waste by 50% in 2020, saving 1.2 million meals in the process.
CIRCULAR APPROACHES AND UPCYCLING
A more creative approach
to food waste comes via a circular food system, which prevents food waste from being discarded. It can, for example, be converted into renewable energy. Waste can even be transformed into more food for humans (for example, tofu from leftover soybeans), as well as animal feed.
PERSONAL CHANGES
While the problem of food waste can feel quite out of your hands as a consumer, there are things you can do to help. Things like supporting businesses or restaurants that use waste foods in their products or meals. Planning
your meals around sell-by dates. Not throwing out food if it’s a bit wilted or bruised and only buying what you need – especially on special occasions where food can often go uneaten and to waste. You can also show supermarkets that “wonky” fruit and veggies are just as good as the “normal” shaped produce by buying these over the perfect looking pears or potatoes. Ultimately, it’s not going to be any single thing that solves food waste, but a collective approach can enable us to make the changes that need to happen. • Originally published on theconversation.com
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THE TRIBUNE
HAITIANS RETURN TO QUAKE-DAMAGED CHURCHES
A MAN carries chairs for parishioners to celebrate a mass on the grounds next to the earthquake-damaged church in Les Cayes, Haiti, yesterday. LES CAYES, Haiti Associated Press HAITIANS resumed services in or outside damaged churches yesterday, some for the first time since the devastating August 14 earthquake, as the country’s Civil Protection Agency raised the death toll to 2,207. The new toll comes at a time when relief operations are expanding, but
authorities have struggled with security at distribution points. Gangs have hijacked aid trucks and even ambulances, forcing relief workers to transport supplies by helicopter. In places, desperate crowds have scuffled over bags of food. On Sunday, one of the capital’s most powerful gangsters announced in a social media video that his allied gangs had reached a truce and would assist in
relief efforts. If that proves to be true, it might allow an acceleration of relief efforts. Jimmy Cherizier, alias “Barbecue,” leader of G9 Revolutionary Forces, addressed a Facebook video to the hardest-hit parts of the Haiti’s southwestern peninsula. “We want to tell them that the G9 Revolutionary Forces and allies, all for one and one for all, sympathise with their pain and sorrows,” Cherizier said.
“The Revolutionary Forces G9 and allies ... will participate in the relief by bringing them help. We invite all compatriots to show solidarity with the victims by trying to share what little there is with them.” The increase in the death toll was the first since late Wednesday when the government put it at 2,189. The government said Sunday that 344 people were still missing, 12,268 people were
injured and nearly 53,000 houses were destroyed by the quake. In Les Cayes, many attended church to mourn those lost and give thanks for their own survival. At an evangelical church in the Bergeaud neighborhood, parishioners sang hymns under beams of sunlight streaming through holes in the roof and walls. Pastor Sevrain Marc Dix Jonas, said Sunday’s service
Photo: Matias Delacroix/AP was special because until now his congregation had been unable to meet since the quake. “Today was a must,” Dix Jonas said, standing below a gaping opening high in his church’s facade. “To thank God. He protected us. We did not die.” His church was one of the few where congregants could worship inside. At many others, services were held in the street outside collapsed sanctuaries.
Seven die in airport crush as Afghans flee KABUL, Afghanistan Associated Press
A TALIBAN fighter stands guard at a checkpoint in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. Photo: Rahmat Gul/AP
AT LEAST seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabul’s international airport, the British military said yesterday, as thousands were still trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus a week after the Taliban
takeover. The Taliban moved to confront the first stirrings of armed resistance since capturing nearly all of Afghanistan in a matter of days earlier this month. Anti-Taliban fighters claimed to have seized three mountainous districts, and a prominent militia commander in the only
province not yet under Taliban control pledged to fight back if attacked. The British military yesterday acknowledged at least seven deaths at the airport. Others may have been trampled, suffocated or suffered heart attacks as Taliban fighters fired into the air to try to drive back the crowds. Soldiers covered several corpses in white clothing. Other troops stood on concrete barriers, trying to calm the crowd. Kabul’s airport, now one of the only routes out of the country, has seen days of chaos since the Taliban entered the capital on Aug. 15. Thousands poured onto the tarmac last week, and several Afghans plunged to their deaths after clinging to a US military cargo plane as it took off, some of the seven killed on August 16. The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the US, NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It’s unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands. Outside the airport on Saturday, Western troops in full combat gear tried to control crowds big enough to be seen in satellite photos. They carried away some who were sweating and pale. With temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius, the soldiers sprayed water from a hose on those gathered and gave out bottled water. “The situation at Kabul airport remains extremely challenging and unpredictable,” a NATO official said on condition of anonymity in keeping with regulations. The official was not able to confirm a precise number of casualties. The US Embassy, which has relocated to the military side of the airport, has told American citizens and others not to come to the airport until they receive precise instructions. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN that 3,900 people had been airlifted out of Kabul on US military flights in the
past 24 hours, up from 1,600 the previous day. That’s in addition to about 3,900 people airlifted on non-US military flights over the past 24 hours. It remains far below the 5,000 to 9,000 that the military says it has the capacity to airlift daily. Britain said it had airlifted more than 5,000 people, including 1,000 in the last 14 hours. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from US carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries. The voluntary program, born in the wake of the Berlin airlift, adds to the military’s capabilities during crises. President Joe Biden has vowed to bring home all Americans from Afghanistan and to evacuate Afghans who aided the US war effort. US military helicopters have been used to collect 169 Americans from outside the airport. Tens of thousands of Americans and others are still hoping to fly out. There also have been concerns about a potential attack on the airport by a local Islamic State affiliate. US military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff, measures used to prevent missile attacks. The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the US military, saying there’s no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport. “All Afghanistan is secure, but the airport, which is managed by the Americans, has anarchy,” Amir Khan Motaqi, a senior Taliban official, said yesterday. The US “should not embarrass itself to the world and should not give this mentality to our people that (the Taliban) are a kind of enemy”. Speaking to an Iranian state television channel Saturday night in a video call, Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem also blamed the deaths at the airport on the Americans.