08312020 NEWS AND SPORT

MONDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 90ºF LOW 79ºF

The Tribune Established 1903

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

Biggest And Best!

VOLUME:117 No.190, AUGUST 31, 2020

HO US E & 16 THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

SPORTS: SHAUNAE SEASON OVER AFTER 200M PULL-UP PAGES

Can YOU do more to beat this thing?

PM’s challenge to public to ensure they’re doing everything to beat COVID

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

WHILE announcing more businesses are allowed to operate beginning today under relaxed measures, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis urged people not to let their guards down especially in New Providence where COVID-19 cases remain high.

Starting today in New Providence, Grand Bahama and other islands in the second schedule of the latest emergency order, public transportation at 50 percent capacity is allowed; barber shops and beauticians can operate with one person per service provider; and clothing and fabric

stores will be able to offer in-store service with physical distancing, sanitisation and mask protocols.

The emergency order released just last week had public transport, barber shops and salons on the prohibited businesses list for the islands in the second schedule.

According to the new order, dry cleaning and laundry services can resume; while bakeries, retail clothing and fabric stores, among others, can operate at varying hours.

Retail businesses may operate Monday to Saturday between 7am to 6pm, utilising curbside or delivery services aside from clothing and fabric stores SEE PAGE THREE

THE COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a 55.2 percent contraction in receipts across taxed industries, according to the Ministry of Finance’s budgetary performance report for the fourth quarter of the 2019/2020 fiscal year.

The document noted the government’s budgetary operations were impacted

by Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19. It also revealed that the pandemic’s impact

on the country’s revenue performance was particularly evident in the final quarter of the fiscal year compared to this same period a year prior.

VAT receipts fell by some 55 percent while customs/ import duties contracted by more than 63 percent, the ministry said.

“Consistent with the pervasive impact of the pandemic on economic activity, this weakness was broadly based, with significant contractions in VAT SEE PAGE FOUR

BEACH PARTY ORGANISERS FACE BEING PROSECUTED

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE people responsible for hosting a beach party near Sweeting’s Cay over the weekend will be brought to court for organising a large public gathering in breach of the COVID-19 emergency orders, police said.

On Saturday, police on Grand Bahama reported that they received information of a beach party happening on a nearby cay.

According to initial reports, shortly after 3pm officers of the Northeastern Division, Marine Section and Mobile Unit, proceeded by boat to an area opposite Sweeting’s Cay. There they observed a large gathering engaged in a beach party. Police said upon their arrival, the party’s facilitators were warned of prosecution under the emergency orders while the crowd was ordered to disperse.

SEE PAGE THREE

COURT REJECTS GRANDMOTHER KILLER’S APPEAL

TREASURY’S REVENUES SLUMPED 55% IN YEAR’S FINAL QUARTER

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

HOME

TRAGEDY OF NEW MOM SHAKINAH SHAKINAH DEAN, pictured, died in Princess Margaret Hospital shortly after giving birth. She was aged just 20. The young mother had tested positive for COVID-19. Her mother, Karen Dean, is looking for answers over her daughter’s death. See page two for the full story.

A MAN who was sentenced to 40 years in prison for stabbing his grandmother to death seven years ago has lost his appeal over the matter.

In mid-2018, Johnathan Bethel was convicted of killing his grandmother Vivian Johnson on October 12, 2013. The jury returned its guilty verdict after an hour of deliberation.

He appealed the verdict on several grounds, chief among them that the DNA evidence on the alleged murder weapon was insufficient for the jury to assess its significance and that the trial judge failed to give a good character direction.

However, Court of Appeal Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Roy Jones and SEE PAGE FIVE

DORIAN PLEDGES - JUST $109K IN CASH

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

SEVEN months after the Hurricane Dorian Pledging Conference was held, a government official said of the $1.77bn in pledges received at January’s event only $109,000 were actual cash donations.

However Disaster Reconstruction Authority Managing Director Katherine Smith called

the conference a “success” because it was able to highlight the needs of the country and enable the DRA to engage with new donors in the months that have passed.

“I think people have this big misconception that there is something sinister going on with these grants,” Mrs Smith said in a recent interview.

“Forty-nine people pledged that day.

“The total value of what was pledged is $1.77bn. Out

of that $1.77bn, $109,000 was pledged in cash. So what you saw happening was we had a group that everybody knows, P3, a US based firm who had pledged $1.675bn. That was for equity financing.

“Then you had another maybe $92m in grants and another $34m.

Mrs Smith continued: “But what is key is $109,000 was cash. Of that cash was

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FOUR

INSIGHT ONE YEAR ON: REVISITING THE AFTERMATH OF DORIAN SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2, Monday, August 31, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Tragedy of new mum Shakinah

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN is looking for answers after her daughter, who tested positive for COVID-19, died in Princess Margaret Hospital shortly after giving birth.

Shakinah Dean, 20, was admitted to PMH on August 16 after she began experiencing shortness of breath and vomiting blood. Ms Dean, who was nine months pregnant at the time, tested positive for COVID-19 three days later. After giving birth to a baby boy on August 20, the young mother remained at the hospital where she died less than a week later.

Yesterday, Shakinah’s mother, Karen Dean, told The Tribune she is seeking closure concerning the untimely death of her daughter which she believes is due in time on the ward.

“I’m looking for answers and I want to know that something has been done... in some way or form as regards... my child,” she said.

Ms Dean, who described her daughter as “happy and full of life,” said the young mother had an unpleasant experience during her ten day stay at PMH. She claims staff at the hospital

did not give her daughter enough attention, given her condition.

“On several occasions she knocked on the wall to get the nurse’s attention,” she claimed. “She was asking for water at one point and she said the nurse came to her and asked her if that’s what you call me for and left and didn’t bring the water back right away.”

She added: “Because Shakinah had a breathing issue, she had oxygen and she had a hard time walking to the bathroom which was far from her bed. She would have a breathing attack on her way to the bathroom and she would have to sit and try catch herself in the bathroom before she attempt to go back to the bed. . . Bear in mind she just had a child a couple days prior.”

Ms Dean said she has not heard from any health officials since Shakinah’s death last week. She also said the family has not been informed of her daughter’s official cause of death as yet.

She explained her daughter wanted to be transferred to the COVID19 medical facility on Blake Road, but was transferred to another ward in PMH instead.

Ms Dean claimed Shakinah had a “horrible

experience” in that ward.

“The morning before she died when I spoke with her via video call, she said she was calling the nurse because she was cold and wanted them to turn the air-condition down, but the nurse never came.

“She told me ‘God forbid if something happens to me, (baby) Sha’kyre is all yours.’ I told her she had to speak with life and hope. I told her she had to pray for God to bring her out of there so she could come home, but she said ‘Mummy you have no idea how I feel’ and later that morning she died. She was showing no signs the day prior, but early that morning when I spoke to her, she seemed as if she was giving up because she couldn’t get (any) help. . .”

Ms Dean claimed that at one point during her daughter’s hospital stay, her son went to PMH with juice and water, but no one ever came out to retrieve the items for Shakinah. She said her son left after waiting for two hours.

Yesterday Catherine Weech, the managing director of the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), said the organisation is currently investigating the matter.

When asked to respond

to the allegations made against some hospital staff, she said: “That doesn’t sound like something that we would do. I don’t know the details, but certainly we will look into it and produce a report. But that just doesn’t sound like something we would do to our patients.”

Meanwhile, Ms Dean said her family has not been given a timeline as to when they will receive more information on the circumstances surrounding Shakinah’s death.

“No one has contacted me as yet in reference to it and I’m going to try and get funeral arrangements done because she’s still in the morgue,” she said.

“I haven’t gotten a death certificate or nothing and I want to see the COVID results, but no one has reached out to me as yet.

I’m going to deal with that this week.”

Despite the sudden loss, Ms Dean said she chooses to reflect on the loving memory of her daughter.

“Shakinah was always joyful and had a smile that would light up a room.

“She had an aura about her where if you came in contact with her, you had to love her. That was just who she was.”

SHAKINAH’s mother, Karen Dean, who told The Tribune she is seeking closure over the death of her daughter, Shakinah, who died in hospital shortly after giving birth and who tested positive for COVID-19.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, August 31, 2020, PAGE 3

Can YOU do more to beat this thing? from page one which can provide in-store service.

Restaurants may offer takeaway, drive-thru and outdoor dining. Restaurants at the Fish Fry and Potter’s Cay will be able to offer take away services only.

The second schedule of the order refers to New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Acklins, Andros, Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Islands, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma and Mayaguana— where these businesses can operate.

A nightly curfew of 10pm to 5am remains in place.

Businesses and activities that are prohibited include: spas, bars, gyms or outdoor exercises groups, cinemas, casinos, discotheques, museums, libraries, historical societies, cultural and entertainments facilities along with events, cookouts, craft and straw market vendors and jet ski operations.

Social gatherings in a

private residence or facility are prohibited except for specified home school programmes or weddings.

On Friday, the prime minister told reporters there would be a phased opening in the country once certain metrics were met.

“We are putting together a phased opening and that is being done not only by us but we have what you call a national COVID committee, which comprises of elements of the private sector, the chamber of commerce etcetera,” Dr Minnis told reporters on Friday at Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation.

“We’re asking them to look at metrics and therefore we know that once the COVID number is at a certain level then you can move to another phase.

Once the hospitalisation is to a certain level you can move and therefore the bus drivers and everybody can just look at the phase, at the metric and they know what’s being advanced.”

However, when he addressed the nation yesterday, Dr Minnis did not

make mention of which metrics were met that warranted his announcement to allow additional businesses to operate.

“I invite the residents of every Family Island to follow the specific orders, guidelines and restrictions in your communities,” the prime minister said during the televised address.

“I want to offer particular caution and encouragement for the residents of Grand Bahama, and especially New Providence, where the number of COVID-19 cases remain high.

“As we begin this gradual and phased reopening, I remind you to please follow the well-known health and life-saving measures, particularly wearing your masks, maintaining appropriate physical distance and staying at home when you do not need to be out.

“Do not let your guard down. We are still in a marathon fight against COVID-19. Let me say to you again: This is not a time for large parties, socials or group gatherings, which can further spread the virus,

which is easy to catch.

“We are trying to reopen in a measured manner, allowing certain activities in accordance with specific guidelines, restrictions and health and safety protocols.”

Dr Minnis said the new orders were designed to ensure small businesses could open with appropriate health measures.

He again highlighted some measures implemented as part of the government’s COVID-19 response, while appealing for the effort of all to flatten the curve of cases.

“We have increased hospital capacity including for COVID patients; created a COVID-19 Enforcement Unit; increased

testing capacity; improved the turnaround time for test results; and generally improved the analysis of health data.

“Of course, there is still more to be done in terms of our health response and we are doing so. Let me also assure you that the Royal Bahamas Police Force remains on high alert.

We should all be vigilant in terms of safety and security during the phased re-opening of the economy.

“The public service, the uniformed branches and independent government agencies have been advised to ensure greater and strict adherence to health measures in the workplace. As I said last Monday: Our task now

is to restore our confidence in ourselves by shutting down community spread and flattening the COVID-19 curve of transmissions and infections once again, over the next several weeks.”

He also expressed disappointment that Bahamian workers at The Pointe had not been wearing masks, while their Chinese counterparts were. He said he saw this when he drove by the construction site recently.

As it concerns education, the prime minister said Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd will hold a press conference today to give a comprehensive update on the upcoming school year.

DEFENCE FORCE RECRUITS QUARANTINED AS TRAINING HALTS PLP LEADER

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THIRTY-TWO additional COVID-19 cases were confirmed yesterday and there are three more deaths under investigation, the Ministry of Health reported.

The country now has 2,167 confirmed cases of the disease with 147 cases reported over the weekend. According to the ministry, 37 cases were confirmed on Friday and 78 on Saturday.

Three additional deaths were also recorded on Saturday: a 99-year-old man who died on August 26, a 63-year-old man and a 53-year-old man who died on August 28. They are all New Providence residents.

Despite the recent uptick of positive COVID-19 cases in New Providence, Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan said on Friday data that has shown that the island is experiencing a “levelling” of infected cases.

This also includes Grand Bahama, she added. Her comments came during a Ministry of Health press conference.

Of the 32 cases reported yesterday, 27 are in New Providence; three in Grand Bahama, one in Eleuthera and one in Long Island, becoming that community’s first confirmed case.

There are currently 13 deaths under investigation while 43 people have been confirmed to have died from the disease.

New Providence and Grand Bahama continue to lead the country in COVID-19 cases, with 1,345 and 550 respectively.

However on Friday, Dr McMillan said the data was showing positive trends.

“The percentage of COVID-19

positive results on the two most impacted islands i.e. New Providence and Grand Bahamas are showing reductions over time,” Dr McMillan said.

She said gathering additional information on all the Family Island COVID cases and the COVID-19 deaths are chief among the challenges experienced by officials.

She said: “I will not say to you that we are fully beyond our data management challenges but I will say we are committed to continuing to work the contact tracing group and the others who are working on it to ensure that the public is updated as soon as we have the information sorted out.”

On Thursday, The Bahamas recorded a total of 97 new cases, with 82 on New Providence, six on Grand Bahama and the local of nine cases still pending.

Dr McMillan said while New Providence has seen a considerable increase of cases of late, officials are of the strong belief that the cases “are levelling”.

This, she said, is based on their examination of the specimen collection date. “Certainly, the numbers over the last two days or so have seemed pretty high,” she said. “However, when we look at the specimen collection date, which is what we were using in order to give you the trend graphs,” she said.

“We have reason to believe that there is some levelling in the cases as well in New Providence as well as in Grand Bahama doing slightly better.”

She added: “We are still, even though we have addressed the backlog testing, we’re still working through our data management side which means we are still getting some of that information. So,

we are looking at the specimen collection date instead to form our trends and our trends suggest that we are in a position to begin the move forward.”

Asked about the capital’s readiness for reopening given the recent spike of cases, Dr McMillan maintained that while there is a risk associated with the re-opening, the country must aim to strike an economic and health balance.

“Certainly, there is risk associated with opening. (But), there is risk associated with not opening. We have to strike a balance.

We have to look at all aspects, the social, the economic, the health.

Should we, I guess, wait indefinitely to open the economy and there are inherent risks with that.

“With that being said, I think about two or so press conferences ago, we did say we wanted to be actually a little bit more informed with the data with respect to our epi-profile in the country and characterising it and I think we are there. We are there. We continue to enhance our data management.

We have moved to an electronic platform where all the information is added so that makes it easier for us to be able to monitor and be able to provide information on all the indicators.”

As of Friday, Dr McMillan said 107 health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19.

Health Minister Renward Wells told reporters that officials are aware of workers concerns and are working to rectify the issues.

Mr Wells added that junior doctors will be hired by the government to help aid in the fight against COVID-19.

“In regards to the doctors, the Cabinet of the Bahamas has agreed to hire - it’s actually not 30,” he told reporters when asked

about the issue. It was 33, I think 32 persons in the programme and we were going to hire 29. I think three of the individuals still need to go through a rotation and pass the final parts of their exams so they can be recognised as senior house officers.”

Mr Wells said a total of 114 beds have been added to the healthcare system for COVID-19 patients, adding that 30 more are expected to come “on stream” very soon.

• The Royal Bahamas Defence Force has discontinued new entry training due to the “quick spread of COVID-19” among its latest intake of recruits. “New entry training has been discontinued at this time, to allow the proper management and treatment of those testing positive for the virus and to keep non-COVID positive recruits in isolation,” the RBDF said on Saturday.

“Steps have been taken to sanitise the training facility, lodging, classrooms and other common spaces occupied or utilised by the recruits and training staff.”

The RBDF said the recruits will continue to be quarantined/ isolated onboard HMBS Coral Harbour and monitored closely by the agency’s force medical officer, registered nurses and emergency medical technicians.

“The recruits, who are all asymptomatic and tolerating their exposure well, are on a vitamin and electrolyte regiment to boost their immunity and clear the virus from their system,” the RBDF added. “Moreover, they have been briefed on protocols to follow should they or their fellow recruits exhibit any symptoms.”

Recruits and instructors are being screened twice daily. The remaining three weeks of training will ensue once a medical all-clear is given for the recruits, the RBDF said.

DISCHARGED AFTER COVID TREATMENT

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis was discharged from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on Thursday.

The Official Opposition leader was there for treatment after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.

PLP chairman Fred Mitchell confirmed the details on Friday and sent a short video of Mr Davis leaving the facility with his daughter Dr Philippa Davis.

“I circulated a video of the discharge from hospital yesterday (Thursday) in Atlanta of the leader of the party Philip Davis,” Mr Mitchell said in a voice note.

“He felt good as he walked out with his daughter from hospital. He will remain there for a while with his daughter.

Let’s wish him well going forward and he hopes to see us soon.

“God is good.”

Previously, Mr Davis was receiving treatment at Doctors Hospital for COVID-19, until he made the decision to be airlifted to a US hospital.

He explained that the decision was made to be closer to his daughter who is a senior critical care physician and has been on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight in the US.

BEACH PARTY ORGANISERS FACE BEING PROSECUTED from page one

After news of the incident hit social media, many people asked why the partygoers were allowed to “disperse” instead of being arrested.

When contacted yesterday, Superintendent Terecita Pinder assured the public the people responsible for the party will be brought to court.

“A lot of people got it wrong,” she said. “If you notice, the report said they were warned of

prosecution. That means they will be summoned to go to court and they are going to court. Bear in mind we had one boat and that was a lot of persons who attended the beach party, so it made more sense for us to summon them to go to court.

“We got all of the particulars and we found out who the perpetrators were and who was hosting the party and they will be taken before the courts at a later date.”

Supt Pinder said according to the information

police gathered, the beach party started around noon.

She said as soon as officials were tipped off, they got “their boat and people together and headed to the cay as quickly as possible”.

She said while she could not say exactly how many people were at the party, “quite a large amount of persons were there”.

“When they saw the police vessel approaching the cay, a lot of people ran to their vessels and headed out quickly,” Supt Pinder explained. “There were a lot of persons out there. It

was obviously a planned event.”

Asked if police on Grand Bahama were noticing a rise in large public gatherings following the relaxation of some of the emergency regulations, she said: “No, the party was an isolated incident. There is no rise in matters of that nature happening. None at all.

“The majority of people are still taking the protocols seriously, but we are not out of the woods as yet.

My advice is for people to adhere to all laws pertaining to COVID-19. So we

have to protect ourselves, do what is mandatory like wearing masks, practice social distancing and follow all the laws pertaining to business places and social gatherings that the prime minister put in place and then we’ll be okay.”

She added: “Once we adhere to all those laws and we are mindful that we’re our neighbour’s keepers and that we are here to protect ourselves and our neighbours, then we’ll be fine.”

When asked to comment on the beach party

which took place in his constituency, Finance Minister Peter Turnquest said he only wanted to remind the public to follow the rules that have been put in place for their own protection as well as the greater good of the country.

“I want to remind residents to observe the orders put in place for their safety,” the East Grand Bahama MP told this newspaper. “If we all do our part we can beat this virus, but if we insist on resisting the rules, it will be a long slow recovery for all of us.”

PAGE 4, Monday, August 31, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

TREASURY’S REVENUES SLUMPED 55% IN YEAR’S FINAL QUARTER from page one

receipts ($169.2m or 55.0 percent), customs and import duties ($54.2m or 63.6 percent), departure taxes ($27.6m or 63.7 percent), license to conduct specific business activity ($37.6m or 75.1 percent), and gaming taxes ($8.2m or 47.2 percent), “ the report revealed.

The budgetary performance also noted how the government exercised “extreme containment measures” to deter the spread of the virus in the country, which resulted in the closure of businesses, the halt of the tourism industry as well as the introduction of lockdowns and curfews, which all evidently produced a “material impact on macroeconomic activity”.

In a press release issued along with the budgetary performance, Finance Minister Peter Turnquest said “prolonged shutdowns increase fiscal risks” for all countries. He also stated the government is currently monitoring the situation in the country closely.

“The coronavirus is not going away, so our highest priority is adapting so that business and commerce can occur safely despite COVID-19,” he stated.

“The domestic economy is going to lead the way with a well-considered and balanced reopening strategy; this is not only important to restore the livelihoods of Bahamians, it is important for the country’s fiscal health. We are actively working on new models and testing our assumptions to determine if, when and where adjustments may be necessary.”

According to the report: “The fiscal costs were evident in a marked reduction in revenue receipts, alongside additional expenditures to support the unemployed, small business continuation and the Ministry of Health’s COVID19 preparedness and response plan.

“Given these developments, preliminary data for the FY2019/20 outcome indicate an estimated threefold hike in the fiscal deficit, to $788.1m, from $219.3m, in FY2018/19 — when the government achieved the lowest fiscal

deficit in over a decade.”

The document revealed that total revenue decreased, “year over year”, by $337.1m to $2,089.1m, which represented 87.2 percent of the revised budget. It noted that these results show the combined impact of “slower economic activity” in Abaco and Grand Bahama due to Hurricane Dorian, as well as the reduction of business activity amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The report notes that taxes on goods and services declined by $249.9m. It also revealed that revenue from government property expanded by $5.3m to $19.5m, exceeding the revised estimate by nearly $5m. Receipts from the sale of goods and services also decreased by $46.8m to $149.2m.

“Fines, penalties and forfeits contracted by $2m (29.7 percent) to $4.7m , or 76.6 percent of the revised budget estimate. Miscellaneous and unidentified revenue expanded from $2.4m to $15.4m, buoyed by the $12.8m in proceeds from the Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance

Facility (CCRIF), following Hurricane Dorian.”

As it relates to expenditure developments, recurrent expenditure advanced by $86.3m when compared to FY2018/19.

Compensation of employees also expanded by $47.6m to $759.9m and wages and salaries increased by $34.6m to $656.6m. A figure that was was “buoyed” by the $22.8m union negotiated lump sum payment to civil servants in December 2019.

“Spending on goods and services decreased by $40.3m (6.8 percent) to $550.9m (83.6 percent of the revised estimate). A key factor was the reduction in tourism-related outlays, by $52.2m (88.3 percent), as several marketing subventions for properties on Abaco and Grand Bahama were suspended in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, and payments of a similar nature were stalled for properties on other islands.

“Public debt interest payments grew by $10.6m (3.2 percent) to $339.1m in FY2019/20, as compared to the previous fiscal year, and

represented nearly 90.0 percent of the revised budget.

Approximately $199.2m or 58.7 percent was directed to domestic creditors, and the balance to foreign lenders.”

According to the report, the government’s “operational requirements” for FY2019/20 were facilitated through a net increase in liabilities of $714.4m.

It said that to finance the deficit, which was significantly impacted by heightened spending and revenue losses associated with Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s gross borrowings totaled $1.5bn through a combination of “short and long term facilities.”

“Debt repayment totaled $826.9m for FY2019/20, of which 94.7 percent was facilitated in Bahamian dollars. As a result, the government’s net borrowings stood at $714.4m for FY2019/20, which resulted in the Direct Charge (exclusive of exchange rate adjustments) growing from $7.5bn at end-June 2019 to $8.2bn at end-June 2020.

This corresponded to a hike in the debt to GDP ratio, to

an estimated 68.4 percent from 60.0 percent a year earlier.”

In his statement, Minister Turnquest said “despite the strain on government finances,” officials will continue to “meet their obligations while playing an important role to sustain domestic economic activity”.

“The Bahamas continues to feel the impact of the worst global economic crisis in modern history, and the government is actively responding consistent with the budget plan for fiscal year 2020/21,” he said.

“The focus remains on funding critical government services, public health and social safety needs in particular, as well as the prudent management of the government’s fiscal resources.

“Consistent with our budgeted plans, we are disbursing millions in unemployment assistance, maintaining public service salaries, and engaging in targeted capital expenditures to support the COVID-19 response and the broader effort to restore the economy,” he assured.

DORIAN PLEDGES - JUST $109K IN CASH from page one

a $60,000 cash cheque that was written by a local Bahamian who wanted to help with the debris.

“The other $58,000 were cheques that are on the UNDP’s (United Nations Development Programme) account because they were the persons that basically served as sponsors for the event and had booths and that was the income and revenue that was received from those booths. Probably that don’t add up to $109,000 but there may have been one or two other small cash donations that would have taken you up to $109,000.

“So the majority of the money that had been pledged was either equity financing, people had some grants and that’s really the long and the short of it.”

The conference drew some controversy due to the pledge from the P3 Group, which made up the lion’s share of commitments that day.

However, there remains no decision on whether the

government will tap into this option.

“We have spoken to them about what it is that they are interested in; what their plans are and how their whole programme works, but the country has not taken up and confirmed participation in any of those kinds of financing models at this time,” Mrs Smith said.

“Until we get to the point where we actually have projects that need large funding, to date we haven’t really talked to any of these persons who are offering this equity financing of any nature because we really cannot do that alone as an authority. That has to be done obviously with the Ministry of Finance as well.

“The authority can’t put the government in debt.

The Ministry of Finance are the drivers behind any kind of borrowing.”

There were also a number of pledges from countries around the world.

The Ministry Foreign Affairs is spearheading talks with nations to receive these. “… Of that 49 grouping

there were some government pledges that had been pledged. “. . .There is an active discussion going on with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with those countries about the pledges that they had pledged. I think the Indian government may not have pledged that day but had pledged a million. You had the US government that had pledged about $2m for something infrastructure to do with security or something.

“So all I’m saying is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dealing with the country pledges and trying to make sure that those pledges are actually coming in and these things haven’t really been confirmed yet.

“That’s an active conversation going on with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and those countries that made pledges.”

She also said some pledgers are not available and can’t be reached.

Despite this, Mrs Smith said she believed the conference was successful.

“I think the pledge

conference was a success in terms of putting out the whole issue of the needs of the country and what the rebuilding efforts would look like.

“I think it was a success from that point of view. Also it was a success from the point of view that you do have people who actually pledged who are still considering how they can participate and then as a result of it there were a number of people who we consider new donors to the table now as a result of all of that.”

The day following the event, officials said donors pledged $1.5bn in funding and in-kind services for Hurricane Dorian recovery.

The event attracted more than 300 local and international delegates.

Pledges included initiatives for homebuilding and repair, educational assistance, renewable energy partnerships, relief aid, grants, direct assistance to storm victims, parks restoration and loans and financing, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Remembering & Celebrating the Life & Contributions of the late

Shirley Hall Bass to the development of Culture & The Performing Arts

We are your living legacy in The Bahamas and beyond...

Bahamas Dance Theatre The Government High School National Dance School National Dance Company Georgia’s School of Dance & Theater Playboy Bahamas The Miss Bahamas Organization National Independence Celebration Committee

DAMAGE from Hurricane Dorian a year ago in Marsh Harbour.

PM: HURRICANE CLEAN-UP ESSENTIALLY ‘COMPLETE’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

A YEAR after Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said clean-up is essentially “complete” on those islands.

While he said Bahamians will be “shocked” at the work that has been done to date, Dr Minnis told reporters it is unfortunate that many feel progress should happen overnight.

The prime minister was asked about work in Abaco and Grand Bahama postDorian following a tour of Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) on Friday.

“I am very very pleased with the progress that is being made,” he said. “I think that you would be very very surprised when the ministry does a one year report and you could see. I think the entire Bahamas would be extremely shocked.

“The unfortunate thing in the Bahamas is we feel that everything happens overnight.

“A hurricane occurs today and then the following day we want to be back in business and on the way back to normal and it takes a while. When you look at the progression that we’ve made and compare to other

countries around the world, taking into consideration they were hit with the worst hurricane ever, and the clean up has essentially been completed.

“We’re only cleaning private properties where individuals are cleaning those areas and subsequently moving them to the relegated spaces.”

Ultimately, he said both islands will be like “new”.

“They’ve already gotten the land, the two 60 acre plots,” he said, referring to the government’s plans for two new Abaco subdivisions. “We’ve sent that out to RFP so that individuals can build so I think that you’re going to see a new Abaco and a new East End, Grand Bahama. So Abaco is doing very very well.”

Earlier this month, Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness Iram Lewis said the Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA) spent $30m to date in debris removal on Grand Bahama and Abaco.

Despite this he said there would be “intensified” debris clean up in Grand Bahama, in partnership with two major private entities in Freeport.

With an active hurricane season forecasted, he stressed that the DRA wants to ensure that debris is removed from all settlements and communities in Grand Bahama.

TRIBUTES TO ‘GIANT ARTISAN’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE sudden death of Dr Philip Thompson, pictured, has been described as a major loss not only to the medical community, but also to the culture of Junkanoo on Grand Bahama.

Dr Thompson died Friday morning. He was found near his vehicle at a local shopping plaza. He was 72. The cause of death is not known at this time.

Peter Adderley, former Grand Bahama Junkanoo Committee member, paid tribute to Dr Thompson, who he said was “God’s gift to the medical community” and a “giant artisan.”

In a statement he said: “Junkanoo and the window of Bahamian culture today lost a giant artisan. Philip Thompson’s creative gifts as a costume designer and builder loomed large. His well trained and talented hands were God’s gift to the medical community. He was a true professional.”

DR PHILIP THOMPSON Mr Adderley said Dr Thompson gave his services freely to the sick and poor.

Mr Adderley, creator of Feel the Rush, The Rush, and Just Rush Junkanoo parades, was a friend of Dr Thompson.

“His company meant smart heated debates, extra cold beers, and loud laughs,” Mr Adderley recalled.

“He now takes his heavenly flight. Our country is better because of his work, brotherhood, and loyal friendship.”

Mr Adderley extended heartfelt condolences to the doctor’s children, entire family, colleagues, and the Junkanoo community.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, August 31, 2020, PAGE 5

Court rejects grandmother killer’s appeal from page one Milton Evans were not swayed by his arguments and upheld Bethel’s conviction and sentence.

According to a judgement posted on the Court of Appeal’s website, Bethel and his grandmother lived together. On October 12, 2013, the appellant went to a neighbour indicating that someone had killed his grandmother.

“When the authorities arrived, the body was stiff and cold,” the judgement notes. “The appellant was arrested and charged with the murder of his grandmother. At trial he gave evidence that he was asked by his grandmother to go

and purchase paint. He said that when he returned sometime later he found a man ‘Zo’ dragging his grandmother and that Zo had attacked him before he escaped and got help.

“He was convicted and now appeals on the grounds inter alia that the DNA evidence of the handle of the alleged murder weapon was insufficient for the jury to assess their significance; the DNA evidence on the handle did not provide any statistical evaluation of the random match possibility by the analyst, that it affected the safety of the conviction and the appellant’s ability to have a fair trial; that the learned judge failed to give a good character direction and also that the learned

judge erred in law and in fact when he failed to give a Lucas direction.”

During the trial, DNA evidence was led to show that the deceased’s blood was on the blade of the murder weapon and that the appellant’s DNA was on the handle. Evidence also showed that there was no DNA found on the handle of any person unrelated to that of the deceased and the appellant.

“The appellant acknowledged that his DNA was on the handle,” the jugement notes. “His case was that he fought with Zo and that would have caused his DNA to be found on the handle and did not prove that he killed his grandmother. The issue was clear

to the jury and coupled with the other evidence, was sufficient to enable them to safely reach a verdict and to have a fair trial.

“The judge cannot be faulted for failing to give a good character direction.

It is clear that the judge inquired whether there were any specific direction he ought to give and counsel for the appellant never suggested that the judge give to the jury a good character direction in any form.

“As to the question of whether the judge’s failure to give a good character direction, which was not requested by counsel, undermined the safety of the conviction, it is settled law that the failure to give a good character direction

where the defendant was entitled to one does not automatically render the verdict unsafe. The failure to give a modified good character direction as to propensity did not affect the safety of the verdict,” the Court of Appeal ruled.

In regards to Bethel’s claim that a man named “Zo” was the actual murderer, Sir Michael said that story “lacked credibility”.

“The case for the prosecution was in our view very strong,” Sir Michael wrote. “The appellant’s story lacked any credibility. It was crystal clear that Ms Johnson had been dead for some time when the appellant claimed that he saw Zo dragging her by the legs to the bathroom.

Her body was already stiff and cold.

“She was in her panty and bra, which was what the appellant said she was wearing when his grandmother sent him out to buy paint. It lacks any credibility that she would have allowed a helper (Zo) into her house wearing only her underwear and there was no sign of forced entry. No doubt the jury took into account the fact that the appellant claimed he went looking for help and told Scott Rahming his grandmother was dead without even checking her body.”

At the time of the murder, Bethel was 21-year-old. He had one prior conviction for an incident that occured years prior, the court said.

WOMAN BROKE CURFEW ‘TO CLEAR HER HEAD’

By FARAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAGISTRATE on Friday discharged a woman who claimed she violated the curfew because she needed to go for a walk to “clear her head”.

Kieara Thompson, 23, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes after officers found her walking without a face mask on Sir Milo Butler Highway around 6.20pm on August 9.

During the arraignment, Thompson was also charged with disorderly behaviour and using obscene language after the prosecution alleged she got into an argument with the

officer who arrested her that evening.

On Friday, Thompson appeared in court with Dwinassia Rolle, 23, who was walking with her at the time. Rolle was also charged for breaching the curfew and failing to wear a face mask while outdoors.

The court heard officers were on mobile patrol when they observed two women walking north on Sir Milo Butler Highway towards the roundabout. When they were stopped and questioned, both defendants said they were going for a walk and insisted other people were outside of their homes as well. The prosecution said when they were being apprehended,

Thompson asked one of the arresting officers why she was being locked up if she didn’t have any warrants.

The court was told although officers warned Adderley about her disorderly behaviour she persisted and cursed at one of the officers. The women were eventually taken to the Carmichael Road Police Station where they admitted to the offences.

After pleading guilty to the allegations brought against them, both women were discharged.

Still, Magistrate Forbes told them that as he was giving them a second chance they needed to make adult decisions going forward instead of acting on impulse.

MAN WHO STOLE CAR BATTERY TO PAY FOR DRUGS JAILED FOR NINE MONTHS

By FARAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 30-YEAR-OLD man who stole and sold a woman’s car battery to make money to buy drugs was sentenced to nine months in prison on Friday.

Jerome Williams appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes accused of breaking into a woman’s 2011 Hyundai on July 16 to steal her car battery.

The court heard that sometime around 8.35pm, the complainant discovered the hood of her car, which was parked at her residence, was slightly open. Police said when the woman inspected her

vehicle, she realised her right rear passenger glass had been broken and her car battery was missing.

On August 25, Williams was arrested and taken to a nearby station, where, in an interview with police there, he told officers he had a drug problem and was walking in the area when he noticed the vehicle. The defendant claimed he then picked up a rock to “burst out the glass” so he could get into the car to pull the hood lever. Williams said after he stole the car battery, he sold it to a man for $20 with which he bought drugs. According to the prosecution, the defendant caused $324.80 damage to the complainant’s vehicle to steal the

$200 car battery.

During the hearing, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of stealing and damage. After accepting his guilty pleas, Magistrate Forbes noted the defendant had spent time in jail for similar offences. As a result, he remanded Williams to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services for nine months and further ordered him to compensate the complainant $520.80 before the year is completed.

If he fails to do so, Williams could risk spending an additional three months in prison. Magistrate Forbes said he would make a note for the defendant to receive drug counselling while he is in custody.

$700 FINE FOR OUNCE OF MARIJUANA

By FARAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 25-YEAR-old man who was caught with an ounce of marijuana was fined $700 in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Sven Hepburn was arrested after officers seized $80 worth of Indian Hemp from him on August 17.

The court was told officers were on Hibiscus Way when they observed Hepburn standing at the corner.

The prosecution said the defendant appeared to look in the direction of the officers before acting in a suspicious manner.

As a result, the officers approached him and informed him they would be searching him in reference to dangerous drugs and firearms. They then deployed a dog from the K-9 unit who indicated he

had found something in the immediate area where Hepburn was standing. When police searched the area, they found a clear plastic ziploc bag that contained a quantity of suspected marijuana. Hepburn then told the officers “I ain’t going to lie, I throw that there when I see y’all.” He was subsequently arrested and cautioned in reference to dangerous drug possession.

When given an opportunity to speak, Hepburn told the magistrate he “was in the wrong place at the wrong time”. After pleading guilty, he was fined $700 or three months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

On Friday, Rohaan Adderley, 24, also appeared before Magistrate Forbes for a drug related offence.

Adderley was arrested after officers seized 1.5 ounces of Indian Hemp

from him on August 13.

He pleaded guilty to simple possession and was ordered to attend drug counselling at the Department of Social Services for 12 months.

If he fails to do so, he will spend three months in prison.

The court heard around 7.20pm officers observed a Chevy jeep driving suspiciously. As a result, they stopped the vehicle and informed its occupants that they would be searched.

It was at this time that the officers observed Adderley throwing a clear plastic bag from his person as he got out of the vehicle. When they retrieved it, they discovered a quantity of suspected marijuana inside. Officers then searched Adderley and found another plastic wrap in one of his pants’ pockets. According to the prosecution, the drugs had an estimated value of $120.

MARIJUANA FIELD DISCOVERED IN ABACO A TEAM of officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force found a marijuana field in Abaco on Saturday.

According to a police report, shortly after 9am, a team of officers acting on information, went to an area called Gilpin Point in Abaco where they discovered 75 marijuana plants ranging from eight inches

to 4’5” in height.

Officers then searched a nearby residence, where they found a .38 revolver, a 12 gauge shotgun, two rifles, along with an assortment of shotgun shells and .38 rounds of ammunition. A small quantity of marijuana was also retrieved.

Police then arrested a 68-year-old man who lives at that residence.

THE SCENE off Carmichael Road after a body was found in the area of Miller’s Heights.

BODY FOUND IN BUSHES

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

POLICE discovered a body in bushes in the Carmichael Road area Sunday afternoon.

According to Superintendent Shanta Knowles, shortly after 4pm yesterday, officers found the lifeless

body of what appeared to be a male in bushes in the area of Miller’s Heights, London Avenue.

On Friday, police issued a missing person bulletin for 17-year-old Lavard McKenzie, who was last seen at his Miller’s Heights residence on August 27 around 10am.

Yesterday, Supt Knowles said police could not say

whether the body officers discovered in bushes over the weekend is the body of the missing teenager.

She said police are waiting on an autopsy report to determine the deceased’s cause of death and ascertain whether any foul play was involved.

Investigations are ongoing.

PAGE 6, Monday, August 31, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

Just because the country’s open doesn’t mean the crisis is over TODAY’s the day.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis fired the starting pistol for the reopening of the economy in New Providence last week – so his national address yesterday was a little redundant.

That said, it was reassuring to hear that there were no second thoughts, no shift based on new medical advice and that it was all systems go.

That said, many feel a little wary about this new approach – and that’s a good caution to have.

As The Tribune was going to press, another 32 new cases were announced – along with, sadly, another three deaths under investigation. That brings the total number of dead to 43 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 13 under investigation.

If that doesn’t give you cause to reconsider whether you need to be out on the roads today, then it should. At the very least, it should make you take every precaution as you do.

“Do not let your guard down,” said Dr Minnis, “We are still in a marathon fight against COVID-19.”

He repeated that this is not a time for large parties or gatherings – and as much as we might ache to see friends we’ve not seen in too long, every time we do we risk spreading the virus to those same people we love, or catching it from them unwittingly.

This is no time for slackness. This is no time for people to be not wearing masks, such as the Bahamian workers singled out for criticism by Dr Minnis at The Pointe while their Chinese colleagues were wearing theirs.

This is a time to excel in showing how Bahamians can outdo others. People in other countries are holding protests over wearing masks – there were protests in the US and the UK just this weekend. We can do better than that.

We can do what needs to be done and beat this virus.

Dr Minnis may have not been inspiring in yesterday’s address, but how many times has he got to repeat the same things before people do what needs to be done: Wear masks; wash your hands regularly; stay socially distant. It’s a simple formula – so let’s get it done.

Who’s keeping track?

We might roll our eyes a little at the words of the managing director of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority today.

It seems forever ago now, but in January a pledging conference was held to

raise money to aid in the rebuilding after Hurricane Dorian.

Cast your mind back to the aftermath of that terrible storm a year ago and you may well recall there were many pledges being made at the time. It was hard to keep up at times, with all the celebrities pledging assistance or organisations stepping up to help.

Then came the pledging conference – which in this column we welcomed as a good idea. Even one dollar gained from that would be one dollar we didn’t have before.

However, in the aftermath there were a number of questions about the exact sum that was pledged, and a long wait for a written list of the pledges.

Mrs Smith says that people have “this big misconception that there is something sinister going on with these grants”.

Well, if people ask for more details and they’re made to wait forever, they will begin to wonder what’s going on.

A promise to do something, of course, does not mean something has actually been done – and similarly just because a pledge was made does not mean there was an outcome from it. There needs to be follow-through. However, the disparity between the $1.77bn total in pledges and the $109,000 in cash that has been received is wide indeed. A large part of that total was distorted by a $1.675bn in equity funding pledged by a US firm, but the country hasn’t taken up that offer so far.

What is more concerning is that Mrs Smith doesn’t seem to quite have her finger on the pulse of other donations.

She said: “I think the Indian government may not have pledged that day but had pledged a million. You had the US government that had pledged about $2m for something infrastructure to do with security or something.”

That all sounds very vague and not at all encouraging. Shouldn’t that information be at her fingertips, with progress reports on who pledged it, when it was pledged, what it was for, and what the state of follow-up meetings has been and when the money will have arrived?

Have some of these pledges fallen through the cracks?

There’s really no point in asking for help if you don’t keep track of the assistance after it’s promised. If someone pledges and then backs out, that’s not the government’s fault. But if someone pledges and then never hears from the government again, that’s shoddy management – and a failure that directly affects people who still do not have a roof over their head.

Emerging from the tunnel EDITOR, The Tribune.

The Prime Minister outdid himself during his national address this past Monday. Clearly he has a new crew of advisors and I am especially pleased to note that Dr Dayl-Regis is back in the loop as lead spokesperson for the health protocols and management of the pandemic on behalf of the Bahamian people and the administration.

It was a well crafted; researched and most welcomed address after the high number of COVID related deaths. The sympathies and condolences of myself and family are extended to those who may have lost loved ones so far.

One death is too many but we will emerge from the pandemic in fine form, God willing.

I am happy that the PM has scrapped the wicked and debilitating practice of extensive lock downs and invasive curfews. The

announcement that commercial activities will be allowed to resume next week was also a welcomed piece of good news for a change. The COVID is going to be around for a bit longer and we, like others around the world, will have to understand this. Until a vaccine is discovered we will have to observe ALL of the recommended health protocols. In this vein I urge all Bahamians to continue to do just that.

We are not out of the woods yet and people should become more considerate about wearing face masks and maintaining a social distance as recommended by the health officials. The economy should bounce back over the course of the next four months or so. I predict that by January, 2021 we will have put the worst aspects of the pandemic behind us.

The Commissioner of Police is urged to place

more foot and bike patrol officers in the inner city areas; at the food stores and certainly at the now reopened wash houses.

Churches should remain restricted for now and protocols MUST be followed at weddings and burials. No fly by night parties, please and certainly no large gatherings at the beaches. As we emerge from the tunnel of disaster and grief, let us not look behind but forward, onward and upward together.

Thank you Competent Authority for finally getting it right. Now the hard task of rebuilding begins.

As we roll up our collective sleeves let us be ever mindful that there will be additional dark days ahead of us, but we have yet to see our best days as a people.

To God then, in all things, be the glory.

Jr

ORTLAND H BODIE, Nassau, August 25, 2020.

In tribute to Mr Justice Neville Smith EDITOR, The Tribune.

GRATEFUL if you would publish this tribute in memory of Mr. Justice Neville L Smith (ret.): “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than anything I have ever done; it is a far, far, better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.” – Charles Dickens.

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Mr Justice Neville Smith, a legal and judicial light, a gentleman, and scholar.

Mr Neville Smith (as he then was), was called to the Bahamas Bar and joined the Department of Legal Affairs in 1967 where he served until his elevation to the Supreme Court Bench in 1985. He demitted that judicial office in 1995 and joined the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court where he remained until his return to The Bahamas in 2001.

He then entered private practice which continued until a few months before his passing. He was made a Queen’s Counsel in 2015.

Inexorably, Mr Justice Neville Smith (ret.) has been in the forefront of the legal and judicial service of The Bahamas for nearly 50 years. As Director of Legal Affairs between 1975 and 1985, he was the chief legal advisor of the government responsible for advising the AttorneyGeneral and represented the state in civil actions before the Court in the aftermath of the Bahamas’ transition from Colony to

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net independent nation. He was known for his scholarly and well-written legal opinions, for his careful and meticulous preparation of his briefs, and for his excellent and fearless presentation of his cases before the Court.

In that capacity, he also mentored many young lawyers in a newly independent Bahamas, and was a stern but kindly taskmaster, setting for them, high but achievable standards. He insisted that his lawyers work hard and produce the best legal opinions they were capable of, and that they perform in Court to the best of their ability.

Undoubtedly, his insistence on hard work and the attainment of excellence; and his stellar example, were instrumental in producing, from persons who had served in that Department under him, five Supreme Court Justices, with four out of the five, becoming Justices of Appeal, registrars, magistrates and many senior lawyers who now practice at the private Bar. As Justice of the Supreme Court, Neville Smith continued his commitment to duty, and was as relentless in his work ethic as he had ever been. He penned some courageous decisions and insisted on lawyers following the rules

of court and complying with the prescribed timelines.

This practice did not make him popular with lawyers, but in time, he earned their respect.

Throughout his tenure on the Bench, he tenaciously adhered to the highest standards of judicial service and positively impacted the administration of justice in The Bahamas. Likewise, in his private practice after his judicial service, he continued to uphold all the lofty traditions and standards of the Bar. His greatest pride was the following in his path by his son and daughter, both fine lawyers who continue his commitment to legal excellence.

But above all his attributes, Justice Neville Smith was the consummate gentleman, gracious, charming, and quick to share a story or a laugh. He was steeped in, and guided by, his faith; deeply committed to his God and very much involved in the life of Christ Church Cathedral, where he served for many years as lay reader, vestry member, cell coordinator, and catechist.

His fellow faith travellers will miss his faithful work and witness, and I will always cherish the lifelong source of wisdom and encouragement. I therefore offer this tribute, with fondness and gratitude.

DAME ANITA ALLEN Nassau, August 30, 2020.

Appreciating aid workers EDITOR, The Tribune.

HUMANITARIANS overcome unprecedented access hurdles to assist people in humanitarian crises in 54 countries as well as in a further nine countries which have been catapulted into humanitarian need by the COVID-19 pandemic.

These real-life heroes are doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times to help women, men and

children whose lives are upended by the crisis. Some humanitarian workers are killed and injured in the course of their work.

Let us honour all aid and health workers who continue, despite the odds, to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.

Being a humanitarian means helping people who are suffering and saving lives any time any place in the world. And

so humanitarian work requires being responsible, conscious of the circumstances of other people’s lives, and helping them on the basis of need, without discrimination. Let us all celebrate and appreciate aid workers who are doing extraordinary work particularly during these tough times of COVID-19.

HANDSEN CHIKOWORE August 19, 2020.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

One year on

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A YEAR after Hurricane Dorian made landfall in Grand Bahama, the island is still declared as a disaster zone with many residents and businesses picking up the pieces.

The storm made landfall in the country on September 1, 2019, as the strongest storm ever to hit The Bahamas.

Major clean-up efforts are ongoing to rid the island of massive debris and thousands of derelict vehicles destroyed during the storm.

Recovery and rebuilding has been a long and slow process, but some progress has been made due to the outpouring of humanitarian response and assistance by many foreign and local NGOs and through government assistance programmes. The island still does not have full potable water restoration.

Dorian was different from the other storms Grand Bahama had experienced previously. It sat on the island for 40 hours after wreaking havoc on Abaco and the fury and level of devastation unleashed on the island was catastrophic.

At least 31 Grand Bahama residents are listed as dead or missing due to the storm, including several children. It was the largest number of mass casualties ever recorded on the island.

The storm’s official death toll is 74, with the bulk of that figure being Abaco residents, however many more remain missing, leaving families without closure.

Dorian pummeled Grand Bahama with 180mph winds, and gusts of 200mph, and swept 25ft storm surge across 80 percent of the island, and buried communities in tons of debris.

Homes were swept off their foundations; businesses were flooded and left in turmoil; and essential services and infrastructure, as well as schools, and the island’s only hospital and airport were left severely damaged in its wake.

Dave Mackey, and his wife, Cathy, said the memories of the “horrific” day one year ago came flooding back much earlier before Dorian’s anniversary.

“For me, it was when the hurricane season started and the memories came in,” he said. “All of us felt the gloom when the season started and the number of storms had been forecasted.

It was, ‘here we go again.’”

During Doria, the water level rose to the secondfloor balcony of their canal-front residence in the Pine Bay subdivision.

“I remember the water and how high it was,” Mrs Mackey recalled.

“It was horrifying because

DEBRIS caused by Hurricane Dorian, in Mclean’s Town, Grand Bahama, a year ago. we are up to 20ft, and to have the water up there with you - all around was just water,” Mr Mackey added.

According to Mrs Mackey, they are still traumatised.

“We put everything away for the storm (Dorian) and we are afraid to take anything out. We can’t relax.

And so much stuff that does not belong in the house has been brought up, and you are constantly reminded of why it is there and in the way.”

Pine Bay, and many of the other water-front subdivisions ‘over the bridge’ in East Grand Bahama, are prone to severe flooding because of the canals.

The area has changed dramatically, and a small percentage of residents are now living there.

“Coming out here was like a war movie,” Mr Mackey said.

All of the single-story homes in the area were destroyed. The Mackeys’ house was among the very few that remained intact because it was built some 20ft high on columns - supported by 41 stilts driven eight feet down in the bedrock – able to withstand hurricanes.

To date, about 90 percent of the residences are still not habitable in Pine Bay. There is a stark difference in the areas ‘over the bridge’ compared to the Lucaya and Freeport areas, where there has been significant progress in the restoration.

Not much progress in restoration has been made there in over a year.

Although water and electricity have been restored ‘over the bridge’, there is still no cable television, internet, and telephone services.

There has not been any restoration work of those services in East Grand Bahama, which appears to be neglected due to the loss of so many residential customers in the area.

Another issue is the standing water in swimming pools at many of the derelict homes there that require the urgent attention of the Department of Environmental Health Services to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, other insects, and rodents.

Dorian also triggered perhaps one of the country’s

worst environmental disasters - a catastrophic oil spill at the Equinor South Riding Point plant in East Grand Bahama. About 55,000 barrels (2.3 million gallons) of oil spilled at the oil storage facility, and in the surrounding forest.

Major clean up of oil had started but was stalled in March following the Covid19 pandemic.

East End communities from Freetown to McLean’s Town, and also Sweeting’s Cay there were hardest hit, are still significantly challenged with restoration.

Attempts were made to reach Deputy Chief Councillor of Sweeting Cay’s Gladstone Russell, but efforts proved fruitless.

Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, MP for East Grand Bahama, says it has been hard for the residents in Grand Bahama, particularly in the east.

“Since that day, residents have had it hard trying to put things back in place and reconcile with physical loss and the post-traumatic stress of trying to move on without loved ones. It’s not been an easy year for most.

Simple things such as having a job or finding adequate shelter have been a challenge for many,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the government’s resources have been stretched extremely thin by the sheer magnitude of the destruction on both Abaco and Grand Bahama, which has been compounded by the COVID-19 experience,” said Mr Turnquest.

He indicated that the government has tried to do its part within the limitation of its resources, providing temporary rental assistance, food assistance, home repair assistance, and debris removal.

With all that has been done, Mr Turnquest more work is needed including completion of the repairs and upgrades to the Rand Memorial Hospital; completion of the transfer of the airport to the government and a new design and terminal construction; completion of the various economic projects announced and in progress before and since the storm and COVID. Agreements signed for the sale and redevelopment

of the Grand Lucayan Resort and Freeport Harbour by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and ITM Group, and Carnival port project in East Grand Bahama have been delayed following the devastation caused by Dorian.

Mr Turnquest also noted that repairs to the GB Highway in the east are expected to be started within the next month after several delays due to technical and operational challenges with the asphalt plant.

The rebuilding of the clinics, the government complex, the administrator’s residence, and restoration of the community parks; the building of a new comprehensive school and hurricane shelter in High Rock; and the repairs to the government dock building in McLeans Town, which houses the police station and other public facilities, are underway.

Temporary homes are being relocated to Sweeting’s Cay, and the water supply is being restored.

“We hope to have electricity restored before long in both communities,” Mr Turnquest reported.

He also noted that the erection of other temporary homes to help people transition back into these communities is expected.

And, the finalisation of crown land grants so that people can rebuild on land they occupied before the storms.

Speaking to the loss of lives, Mr Turnquest described it as an “unimaginable horror and loss.”

Despite warnings and urging before the storm, many did not evacuate. He said they continue to pray for those families who lost loved ones.

“Twenty-two persons either did not make it or are still unaccounted for, including persons I would have pleaded with personally to leave the afternoon before. It is still very

DAVE and Cathy Mackey in front of their home in the Pine Bay Subdivision one year after Dorian and, below, the surge that reached the second-floor balcony of their home.

Photos: The Mackeys

vivid in my mind those faces and the last conversations as I urged families to evacuate,” he recalled. “They are all gone now, and I often reflect on them, their unique characters. Some were extremely loving and sweet, others very sweet but always ready to debate.

Some were just quiet and kind.

“The horror of the aftermath and the anxiety of the search and rescue has lasting impressions. What I saw, I would never want to see again. Unbelievable is the best word to describe what we found. Washed out roads, homes cleaned away to the foundation as if no structure ever existed. Just unbelievable,” he said.

Mr Turnquest stressed that support from NGOs has been tremendous.

He also said the government looks forward to the restoration of communities and the return of residents and businesses.

The more than 200 businesses affected have had access to business recovery grant funding provided by the government and in partnership with the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Meanwhile, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president Greg Laroda has called for major stakeholders to come together for the development

of a “generational” plan for the island’s recovery. He believes that the government, Grand Bahama Port Authority, and the chamber must work together to come up with the best possible plan that will put the island on the right path to recovery.

As Grand Bahama continues to recover from Dorian, a monument constructed at the foot of the Sir Jack Hayward Bridge on July 14 honours the 31 souls lost on September 1, 2019, with the names of all engraved.

The deceased are Catherine Armstrong, Clarissa Collie, Daisy Cartwright, Freeman Carey, Irene Saunders, Kenel Joseph, Latravalia Williams-Daniel, Ango Daniel, and Marvin Rolle. The missing are Aaron Cooper, Adam Cooper, Albert Bridgewater, Clarence Jones, Darnita Cooper, Donluck Munnings, George Laing, Hennilee Mackey, Howard Bevans, J’vonaje Forde, Mateo Bethel, Monique Munnings, Omarion Munnings, Philip Thomas, Philip Thomas Jr, Raphaela Munnings, Remeille Thomas, Roswell Pinder, Shirlene Cooper, Sybil Pinder, Tanae Pinder, and Terrell Lightbourne.

Fifty-five unidentified Dorian victims were buried in Abaco in May.

PAGE 8 MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

No problem, Mr Dames?

Abaco residents disagree

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

‘What the place needs is two policemen, 24-hours a day with cell phones that belong to the government that they only use to receive or make calls associated with crime on this island.

If that happened everybody would feel much better, if we could get in touch with a policeman.

They are not here. I just feel like I’ve lost my idyll. This was my little retirement paradise. I afraid to stay here now.’

FOR months, reports have leaked out of Abaco of increasing levels of crime which are leaving residents on the main island and surround cars desperate.

Like much of the response since Hurricane Dorian destroyed their communities almost exactly a year ago they fell they have been abandoned by the government - left to pick up their lives as best they can.

Many did just that - spending thousands of dollars trying to rebuild shattered homes and businesses, living through months of hell when to many the only people they saw helping them were most overseas aid organisations who swamped the island after Dorian struck.

Few, if any, have a good word to say about the work done by the government to put Abaco back on its feet.

Latterly, crime has been a dominant factor in their lives. Many report t hefts from homes, cars and businesses and blame the lack of visible police and defence officers on the ground to follow up on incidents.

Comments last week by National Security Minister Marvin Dames rubbed salt into many Abaconians’ wounds as he seemed to brush off any criticism of police actions on Abaco, insisting there has been sufficient police manpower to cope and ifnact since Dorian the number of officers had been increased.

He said he has weekly updates from military on that island and has had no reports on “a diminished number of human resources”.

His reassurance did little to comfort many families The Tribune spoke to who were victims of robberies, some more than once. They are all living in fear and the general consensus is that more police should be sent to the Abacos.

Sharmon Malone, a resident of Hope Town, expressed disappointment in the lack of governmental presence in the broken island.

“There has been some serious thefts on Abaco,

since the hurricane,” she said. “I had a 250 gallon plastic water tank, water pump and pressure tank stolen after the hurricane.

No police report was filed because we didn’t have any police on the island until about two weeks after the hurricane. The defence force and police came up about two weeks after the storm.

We didn’t see anyone from the government, officially, for a month, probably.”

Ms Malone and her family were not living at their house at the time of the robbery because it was badly damaged by the storm. She said they were there one day and the next day they went back and the items were gone.

“We saw no government official here. Wait! Actually,

a helicopter landed about two days after the storm, in Hope Town. They landed, gave out some water and toilet paper and left. The government does not want the world to know what’s going on in Abaco. Some people are in tents, some people without water… so many unemployed people.”

Mike Fairman and his wife Kathy are also residents of Hope Town. They were robbed twice since Dorian passed through.

“The first time, they just came and got my generator in the middle of the night.

It was a small generator,” Mr Fairman recalled. “I got up and it was gone the next morning. That was first time. That was in February.

The second time they came in here when I was gone. I

had left here and went to the United States.

“I had the place checked out before I got back by the caretaker and he went to open up my basement and someone had already opened it up. They took two generators and all of my tools. It was all my tools that I had brought over new after Dorian,” Mr Fairman said.

He said there is, “most definitely”, a serious problem with crime on Abaco after Hurricane Dorian and is saddened that his “retirement paradise” is being invaded.

“They (officials) are just referring to Abaco (mainland) when they speak of police presence,” he said.

“They are not referring to police on Elbow Cay. We haven’t had any police protection over here. It’s been

JAPANESEVEHICLES.COM SELLING QUALITY USED VEHICLES SINCE 1988.

e

d 30

Risk Free

LOW PRICES 30DAYS GUARANTEE Dec 3 Nov. 13SUPPORT LOCAL ON TIME DELIVERY

Gua r ante

ay s Tr u

e ch a n i c

al

M st

WHATSAPP: +81-70-4374-2547 (Inna) / +81-80-2081-0760 (Juan) Local Contact: 603-2277/ 424-4216

Montrose Ave.& Hampton St. Nassau

terrible. My wife (Kathy) and I are very nervous and upset about it.

“What the place needs is two policemen, 24-hours a day with cell phones that belong to the government that they only use to receive or make calls associated with crime on this island. If that happened everybody would feel much better, if we could get in touch with a policeman. They are not here. I just feel like I’ve lost my idyll. This was my little retirement paradise. I afraid to stay here now.”

Another Abaconian, Patty Sands, also robbed twice, said they are all in fear. She said goods are not even safe at the freight dock.

“After the hurricane, I had a small generator to run a fridge get stolen, I had my house robbed, electronics robbed,” she said remembering her ordeal.

“I had one guy, while I was sleeping on the couch, trying to get the screen out of the window right above where I was sleeping. I scared him so badly he went running. Every time I turn around somebody’s house is getting broken into. You can’t leave nothing at the freight dock; it gets stolen.

We need police here to stop this. It’s getting out of hand.

“We are all in fear! I had to chain my generator to my post. That’s how we live now. I have a niece in Marsh Harbor and they cut her chain and stole her generator twice. There are thefts in Marsh Harbour and all over Abaco. Nothing can be left outside. People are just stealing.”

One of the more brazen, daylight, robberies was of Thomas Gates, proprietor, Gates Construction. Mr. Gates’ entire payroll, of some $18,350.00, was stolen from his truck which he left for only a few minutes.

“The guy actually works for me,” he said of the suspected robber. “So it’s an inside job. It was Friday and I do payroll every Friday. I pay in cash as some of them don’t have bank accounts.

Obviously they were watching me. I did my payroll envelopes and I put them in the glove compartment of my truck. I stepped out of my truck for no more than three minutes down by ferry and when I got back to the truck, the payroll was gone. $18,350.00.

“They released the suspect. They said they didn’t find any evidence. I don’t know if they searched his dwelling. They had him overnight and released him the next day. Then like a

week or so later, I heard through the grapevine from some of the other guys that work for me that he was driving around in a new car. Every time I talk to the police they say the case is still pending.”

Eighty-two year old, Vernon Malone, a Justice of the Peace, has lived in Hope Town all his life and fears that crime will drive away tourists and second home owners. He, too, gives evidence of the criminal element on that island.

“It’s killing the second home owners and the tourism industry on this island,” he said. “I’m sure the tourists are not accustomed to this way of life. You advertise that it’s pretty, that you don’t need to lock your door etcetera and then they come and they get robbed the first night they are here; they never come back. Then they tell their friends and their friends don’t come. So it’ killing the tourist industry here.

“I was staying in the little apartment by the church and my money and passport and my briefcase was in there. They picked the lock.

They didn’t make any noise and took the pouch with my money and made off with it. I reported it to the police and until today I’ve not heard from the police and that was in March. I went to the police station to get a police report so that I could start the process of getting my passport. But as far as any report on the investigation, there was nothing.

Mr Malone said he identified a suspect for police, but there was no follow up from them.

Second home owner, Joanne Feinstein, had her house robbed shortly after the storm while she was out volunteering and has gotten no satisfaction from police there.

“Just after the storm, my husband and I were volunteering and we couldn’t live in our house because of the damage, but we had locked up our personal valuables as best as we could. When we went there in the morning it was ransacked. They stole his tools, my heirloom jewellery from my mother and cash,” Ms. Feinstein said.

“We reported the home invasion it to the police and there was no record. We filled out another police report and I called every day because I knew that the criminals had left flashlights and their fingerprints all over the empty jewellery box. There were three detectives that came to my home. Since then I’ve called and called and nothing has happened and that was ten months ago. We had a suspicion about someone who might have done it. We told the police and no one even talked to the person.”

Some of the crime victims in Abaco said people there are getting desperate as in some places there is still no light, no water, no cable, no internet and growing unemployment. They said they cannot go to sleep feeling comfortable in their surroundings knowing that at any moment they can be victim to another crime.

They are calling on Mr Dames, and his team, to add more police on the island and not just on the mainland, but on the surrounding cays as well.

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 PAGE 9

The right call, yes.

But it’s down to each one of us to get it right this time?

By MALCOLM STRACHAN PRIOR to the Prime Minister’s address last week, as rumours flew around the country about a potential week-long lockdown, Dr Hubert Minnis surprised us all. A shocking but much welcomed course reversal was in order. Following what would have been a 21-day lockdown had the competent authority not had a change of heart, we are now in the process of a phased opening.

While COVID-19 still presents a very real threat, reports that cases are now “levelling” from Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan have given health officials enough comfort to appropriately advise the Prime Minister. With the nation waiting with bated breath for his decision, Dr Minnis was ready to hit the reset button in an attempt to reopen the country for a second time.

This move towards opening was no doubt born out of the realisation that along with his desire to save lives, it was not politically expedient to keep locking the country down. The mental toll may far outlast the physical effects of COVID-19.

Also, while our democracy may have its issues, no Bahamian Prime Minister, when bluster and bravado is stripped away, wants to be recorded in the annals of history as a dictator.

Dr Minnis, understanding he was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t, volleyed the ball back into the court of the Bahamian people.

Our destinies are now very much in our own hands. And if anyone for a second, believes we won’t be locked down again if things go haywire, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.

Dr Minnis said as much during that feared address last week. Reminding the citizenry there is currently no vaccine, he said: “But I must say to you, that if the data points to the need for other restrictions in the future to address community spread, such restrictions will be put in place.”

Not to be skittish about implementing such measures, I’d say it’s safe to say Dr Minnis means business.

As far as he is concerned, the lockdowns and curfews have proven to be effective tools in flattening the curve.

While the government still faces huge challenges in

Until then, COVID-19 is not going anywhere.

That said, it is absolutely the most sensible decision to figure out how we live with it, rather than in fear of it.

First and foremost, it is imperative that healthcare capacity is increased.

We heard reports from the Consultant Physicians Staff Association president, Dr Sabriquet Pinder-Butler, that our main healthcare facilities were maxed out as she called for a zero-tolerance policy for people not wearing masks in public, following the quarantine orders and going

‘While our democracy may have its issues, no Bahamian Prime Minister, when bluster and bravado is stripped away, wants to be recorded in the annals of history as a dictator.

Dr Minnis, understanding he was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t, volleyed the ball back into the court of the Bahamian people.’ relation to maintaining healthcare capacity, the new school year and being ready to accept tourists again in time for high season, much of this responsibility rests on the shoulders of the Bahamian people. We, for the most part, are getting what we asked for. Now, as a population, we will have to consider each other and weather this storm until a vaccine becomes available.

in

out public they’re

knowing COVID positive.

During the Ministry of Health COVID-19 update last Friday, Health Minister Renward Wells spoke to the same.

“With the exponential increase in cases during this second wave, the Ministry of Health continues to execute a comprehensive

COVID-19 response strategy to meet the significant demands being placed on the public healthcare system and to ensure the well-being of all Bahamians

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS The Board of Directors of Cable Bahamas Ltd. hereby notifies its shareholders and the public that the company applied for and was granted an extension until 25 September 2020 by The Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) to file its 4th Quarter Financial Statements for the period ending 30 June 2020. The extension was requested due to unforeseen circumstances and logistical challenges resulting from the COVID-19 Emergency Orders implemented in response to the global pandemic. The company’s 4th Quarter Financial Statements for the period ending 30 June 2020 will now be published on or before 25 September 2020.

Dated the 31st day of August, A.D. 2020

and residents,” said Mr Wells.

Elaborating further on the ministry’s response strategy and touting the addition of 114 beds into the public healthcare system, Wells said their focus is on “increasing hospital bed capacity, increasing testing capacity in our labs and fast-tracking repairs and upgrades to public health facilities” on New Providence and Grand Bahama.

In addition to shoring up capacity, improved data management and sharing has been another positive note that we hope to see continue.

As much as citizens will have to be at our best to defeat this invisible enemy, so will the systems we have in place.

Therefore, the decision by the Prime Minister to make citizens accountable was a good one.

Businesses were under the threat of permanently shutting down. Citizens, particularly those in lesser income communities, were

becoming marginalised under the rigorous lockdown measures. Middle and upper-income families were also not impervious to the social and economic challenges presented by COVID-19.

Now, having the outcome we wanted, if we can progress through these phases with cases trending in the right direction, we may be able to return to a sense a normalcy a lot faster.

We will all have to be committed to this cause, however.

Perhaps the best thing that came out of the Prime Minister’s decision to reopen the country is that it forces us to be mature adults about dealing with this virus. We should all be able to recall the stress and fear we experienced during the periods of lockdowns and now follow protocols to protect our families and our nation.

Friends, it is now up to us. Let’s hold each other to account and get through this.

PAGE 4 , XXXDAY, XXXMONTH XX, 2015 PAGE 10, Monday, August 31, 2020

THE TRIBUNE THE TRIBUNE

BE INFORMED:

On a scale of 1 to 10, how risky is...

Opening the mail

2

Getting restaurant takeout

2

Pumping gasoline

2

Playing tennis

2

Going camping

3

Grocery shopping

3

Going for a walk, run, or bike ride with others

3

Playing golf

4

Staying at a hotel for two nights

4

Sitting in a doctor’s waiting room

4

Going to a library or museum

4

Eating in a restaurant (outside)

4

Walking in a busy downtown

4

Spending an hour at a playground

5

Having dinner at someone else’s house

5

Attending a backyard barbecue

5

Going to a beach

5

Shopping at a mall

6

Sending kids to school, camp, or day care

6

Working a week in an office building

6

Swimming in a public pool

6

Visiting an elderly relative or friend in their home

7

Going to a hair salon or barbershop

7

Eating in a restaurant (inside)

7

Attending a wedding or funeral

7

Traveling by plane

7

Playing basketball

7

Playing football

7

Hugging or shaking hands when greeting a friend

8

Eating at a buffet

8

Working out at a gym

8

Going to an amusement park

8

Going to a movie theater

9

Attending a large music concert

9

Going to a sports stadium

9

Attending a religious service with 500+ worshipers

9

Going to a bar

MODERATE RISK

Ranked by physicians from the TMA COVID-19 Task Force and the TMA Committee on Infectious Diseases

1

MODERATE-LOW

Know Your Risk During COVID-19

LOW RISK

What could kill you? Going to a bar, party, bro hugs, having sex, silivia exchanges and/or kissing anyone without a mask who lives outside of your household, going to the gym, concert or attending church poses higher chance of catching COVID-19. But, opening the mail, grocery shopping, playing tennis, golf, staying at a hotel and getting takeout from a restaurant is low, according to list from Texas Medical Association ranking the “Riskiest” activities........

MODERATE-HIGH

HIGH RISK

Texas Medical Association | 401 W. 15th St. | Austin, TX 78701-1680 www.texmed.org

@texmed

TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH, 2020, PAGE 15

WE NEED

YOU

@wearetma Don't spread germs After using toilet, put the down before flushing

toilet lid

Toilet flushing may splash germs out as far as 6 feet away, polluting the surrounding environment

Put the toilet lid down before you flush

TO HELP US

衞生防護中心網站

衞生防護中心Facebook專頁

Centre for Health Protection Website

Centre for Health Protection Facebook Fanpage

www.chp.gov.hk

fb.com/CentreforHealthProtection

uced in February 2020

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, August 31, 2020, PAGE 11

SHOCK AND MOURNING AS CHADWICK BOSEMAN DIES OF CANCER ACTOR Chadwick Boseman poses for a portrait in New York in 2018 to promote his film, Black Panther.

LOS ANGELES Associated Press KOBE Bryant. Rep. John Lewis. And now, Chadwick Boseman.

So far, 2020 has been marred with bad news and tragedy with the deaths of several popular Black icons including Bryant, Lewis and recently Boseman, who died Friday. All three were viewed as leaders in their respective fields of sports, politics and film — places where people, particularly in the Black community, have often looked for inspiration during a year of racial tension and protests against the police brutality of unarmed Black people.

But for many, the loss of another major figure such as Boseman is taking a toll.

The actor, who starred in

the blockbuster superhero Marvel film Black Panther, shockingly died at the age of 43 in his home in Los Angeles after he privately battled colon cancer for four years.

“These are pillars in our community,” Rev Al Sharpton said. “In times of instability, you depend on pillars. It’s bad enough when there’s a storm outside and you hear the lightning and thunder. It gets worse when the pillars that you’re building and standing on (are) shaking.

It’s like they’re chipping away at our foundation.

The very building is shaking down, because the things that undergird and protect us from the storms are being removed.”

Sharpton called Boseman an important pillar

that humanised several Black historical trailblazers in his roles — including color-line breaking baseball star Jackie Robinson, legendary singer James Brown and the first African American US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Boseman’s family said he endured “countless surgeries and chemotherapy” while portraying King T’Challa of Wakanda in the Oscar-nominated Black Panther, a film that proved a person of color could lead in a successful superhero film.

“For him to pass at this time when we are disproportionately affected

by COVID and have all of these attacks by law enforcement, and him being the symbol bringing us to Wakanda, it’s just a blow,”

US faces up to aftermath of Hurricane Laura BRADLEY Beard calls Hurricane Laura his third strike.

In 2005, Rita pushed a foot of floodwaters into his white, wooden home in Hackberry, Louisiana, a tiny Cameron Parish community 15 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

Next came Ike in 2008, which pushed water up to the floor of the long mobile home where his daughter and two granddaughters live on the same property.

Laura outstripped them both. It tore his house entirely off its foundation and dropped it a few feet away. The trailer where his daughter, Nicole, lives with her two daughters was torn apart, the walls demolished to reveal a mix of clothes, belongings, and wooden planks. About the only things still in their place were a canoe and a garbage can, tied to a steel grill buried in the ground.

A retired welder who worked at many of the refineries that dot the Louisiana coast, the 62-year-old Beard climbed through the debris, laboring with two artificial knees. After several minutes working to turn off the property’s water lines, he sat on a fallen log and wiped the sweat from his brow.

“I got no other place,” he said. “This is all I got.”

Across Cameron Parish, the coastal parish where Hurricane Laura crashed ashore early Thursday, residents dug through what was left of their belongings, covered now-stripped roofs with tarps, and took stock of the damage.

The Category 4 storm packed 150mph winds and

NICOLE Beard searches for belongings in the debris of what was the trailer home she lived in, in Hackberry, Louisiana.

Photo: Gerald Herbert/AP a storm surge that Louisi- strike Louisiana, a shockana Gov John Bel Edwards ing assessment in a state said was as high as 15 feet. where Hurricane Katrina Louisiana officials reported made landfall on August two additional deaths 29, 2005. Out in western on Sunday, bringing the Louisiana it is the storm total number of deaths that came ashore a month attributed to the storm in after Katrina — Hurricane Louisiana and Texas to 18; Rita — that evokes strong more than half of those memories. were killed by carbon monThe damage wrought by oxide poisoning.

Laura reminded many resiThe deaths reported dents of Rita, which made Sunday include a 57-year- landfall in the parish and old man in Calcasieu Parish wiped out many communiwho suffered a head injury ties entirely, leading to one after falling from a roof, of the largest evacuations in the Louisiana Department American history. of Health said. Another Nicole Beard had her Calcasieu Parish resident second daughter by cesardied from carbon monoxide ean section two weeks poisoning. before Rita hit.

As of Sunday morning, “I evacuated for Rita roughly 460,000 customers with a newborn baby and were still without power, stitches in my stomach,” she according to the Edison said.

Electric Institute, the assoMany people never ciation of investor-owned returned to Cameron electric companies in the Parish, whose population US. fell 30 percent in the 2010 President Donald Trump census, the first taken after visited Louisiana and the storm.

Texas on Saturday to show Most people in Cameron his support and assess the Parish said they got out damage. ahead of Laura, a storm Edwards called Laura the that forecasters warned was most powerful hurricane to “unsurvivable”.

Sharpton said. “To hear that our superhero who projected a positive light was now gone, it was a gut blow.”

Boseman was elevated to a stage that many Black actors don’t get the chance to occupy, said Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

And his ability to be “transcendent” on that stage brought a comic book character to life for many in the Black community.

“Even though we knew that it was like a fictional story, it actually felt real. It actually felt like we finally had our Black superhero and nobody could touch us. So to lose that, it’s sad in our community,” James said, lamenting on the loss of “the Black Panther and the Black Mamba in the same year.”

Photo: Victoria Will/Invision/AP In January, Bryant died in a helicopter crash involving eight others including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. Lewis died in July after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year.

Other notable deaths this year include actress Naya Rivera, civil rights leader CT Vivian and music executive Andre Harrell.

“The year 2020 has been up and down for everybody,” Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo said, adding that Boseman left “so much behind.”

“It’s a lot to unpack,” said Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul. “Chadwick was a special guy.

I think everyone took it hard, especially the Black community. That was one of our black superheroes.

I think Black Panther was something so powerful, for myself along with my kids to see a superhero that looks like them and the way that he played it with such class and elegance. That was tough.”

Activist Martin Luther King III called Boseman’s death another “great loss”.

But he encourages people not to lose hope even in a year of tumult.

“We could easily say ‘Oh my God. This is the most terrible year that existed.’

But I choose not to say that,” said the son of the Rev Martin Luther King Jr. “Our ancestors had to go through so, so much.

And yet, we’re still here.

We are nowhere where we need to be, but we are always making progress and moving ahead.”

DEMANDS IN BELARUS FOR PRESIDENT TO GO KYIV, Ukraine Associated Press TENS of thousands of demonstrators rallied Sunday in the Belarusian capital of Minsk to begin the fourth week of daily protests demanding that the country’s authoritarian president resign.

The protests began after an August 9 presidential election that protesters say was rigged but that election officials say gave President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office.

Protesters initially tried to gather at Independence Square in Minsk, but barriers and riot police blocked it off. They then streamed down one of the capital’s main avenues, past hulking olive-green prisoner transport vehicles. Police detained some marchers and forced them into the transports. Police said 125 people were arrested, but Ales Bilyatsky of the Viasna human rights organisation said more than 200 were detained.

The marchers, chanting

“Freedom!” and “Resign!” eventually reached the outskirts of the presidential palace, which was blocked off by shield-bearing riot police. There were no official figures on the crowd size, but some opposition sources claimed it exceeded 100,000.

The protests arose after the election that officials say gave President Alexander Lukashenko a landslide 80 percent win over his main challenger, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the wife of a popular jailed blogger.

SPORTS PAGE 12

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020

PAGE 15

Miller-Uibo shuts down season

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Celtics take Game 1

BOSTON Celtics’ Marcus Smart (36) and Jayson Tatum (0) leave the court at the end of the first half of a conference semifinal playoff game against the Toronto Raptors yesterday in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Celtics won to take a 1-0 series lead. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

SEE PAGE 14

I

n her second straight meet, Bahamian Olympian 400 metre champion Shaunae MillerUibo was unable to complete the finals of her event, prompting her to put a lid on the coronavirus-laden track and field season on Saturday.

Three weeks after she withdrew from the final of the women’s 100m at the Star Athletic Sprint Showcase at the Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, Miller-Uibo returned to action, but pulled up in the 200m at the Drake Blue Oval Showcase at the Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Miller-Uibo didn’t finish the last of two heats in the half-lap race.

In the race was fellow Bahamian and two-time World Championships finalist Tynia Gaither, who picked up a third place in 23.08 seconds for fourth place overall.

Lynna Irby, sponsored by Adidas just as Miller-Uibo and Gaither, had the fastest time in winning with 22.52 with Kyra Jefferson of Nike coming in second in 22.69. Shakima Wimbley, also of Adidas, won heat one in 23.07 for third place.

After withdrawing from the final of the 100m on August 10, Miller-Uibo’s manager Claude Bryan, the chief executive officer of On Track Management Inc., said it was “just a mild discomfort so she opted for caution.”

However, after Saturday’s race, Miller-Uibo said she “felt a little discomfort in my leg and decided to stop.” She nor Bryan gave any indication of what might have caused the discomfort.

Coming off her silver medal performance at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar last October behind Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, Miller-Uibo stormed out of the MILLER-UIBO resumption of the track and field season after the world-wide stoppage of sports in March because of the spread of the coronavirus.

Except for coming in second in a 150m virtual race behind American Allyson Felix and ahead of Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland at the ‘Weltklasse Zurich Inspiration Games on July 9, Miller-Uibo has been unbeaten in all of her races in face-toface competition on the track.

She has also produced the worldleading time of 21.98 in the 200m at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida and previously had the best time of 10.98, now listed at No.4 in the 100m. “We’ve had a really great season and it just wasn’t worth taking the risk,” said Miller-Uibo about whether or not she intends to continue competing this year with the European circuit now in full swing.”

Miller-Uibo, like fellow Bahamian male compatriot Steven Gardiner, under the management of On Track Management Inc., has signalled the end of her season.

“This is my last competition of the season,” she stated. “So now it’s time

to take a break and focus on being ready for next season.”

Miller-Uibo, the reigning Olympic champion from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016, has hinted that she will probably just concentrate on the 200m in Tokyo, Japan with the 2020 Olympics rescheduled for July 2021 because of the coronavirus.

She was hoping that the World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee would have granted her request to amend the schedule so she could pursue the 200/400m double, but that has been denied. So MillerUibo is more committed to contesting the shorter race.

If she does, Miller-Uibo could be providing a 1-2-3 punch in the halflap race for the Bahamas with Gaither and Anthonique Strachan, who is training and competing in Kingston, Jamaica with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah.

At the American Track League Meet #7 at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, Gaither clocked 11.61 after running 11.59 in the heats for her victory in the 100m.

Two weeks prior at the Back to the Track Series III Meet at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, the 27-year-old Gaither, now training in Texas, took 60m in 7.46 and the 100m in 11.25, the latter of which is listed in the top 25 in the world.

Strachan, who celebrated her 27th birthday on August 22 cramping up in the 100m at a meet in Jamaica, came back Saturday at the Velocity Fest 7 Track Meet and placed second in the 200m in 23.87 behind Thompson-Herah (22.79) at the Sports Development Foundation National Stadium. (See full story below)

Velocity Fest: Strachan second in 200m

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribuneedia.net COMING off her last meet on her 27th birthday when she was unable to finish her 100 metre race because of the cramps, Bahamian sprinter Anthonique Strachan returned to action on Saturday with another second place behind Jamaican double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah.

Competing at the Velocity Fest #7 Meet at the Sports Development Foundation National Stadium on Saturday, Strachan came through the line in the women’s 200m in 23.87 seconds to follow Thompson-Herah, who sped to victory in 22.79.

Their Maximising Velocity & Power (MVP) Track and Field Club training partners Srabani Nanda (24.06) and Junelle Bromfield (24.33) rounded out the third and fourth spots.

“Honestly, more could have been done, but it’s been a tedious season, but it isn’t over yet,” Strachan said.

“I still have to regroup and re-energise myself.”

After she suffered some cramps from a back

problem she experienced during the 100m last week, Strachan said she was eager to compete again this weekend.

“Usually I don’t make it this far in the game, but I feel good due to the fact that I learnt a lot about team management this year and I am now learning to balance things out,” Strachan said.

“During the whole pandemic, isolation and quarantine and stuff like that, it could really be messing with your head, so I’m glad that I am learning how to deal with all off those situations now.”

On top of that, Strachan is getting the top notch competition that she would have expected had she been able to travel around the world to compete in the various meets on the World Athletics’ campaign.

When it’s not Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the backto-back World champion or Thompson-Herah, the reigning Olympic 100/200m champion, Strachan said being a part of the MVP stable has brought out the best in her.

“We are training together, so it feels like training. It doesn’t feel like a track meet,” Strachan said.

SPRINTER ANTHONIQUE STRACHAN “So it takes a lot to get used to the fact that it’s not training, but it’s actually a track meet. So you have to get yourself in that competitive edge so that you can compete.”

Still in a celebratory mood from her birthday

on Saturday, August 22, Strachan said she advised her training partners two weeks ago that she just wanted some cupcakes and ice cream and now she has a house full and she has to digest it in moderation as her season is still not

complete. “We’re supposed to go to Europe and do a few meets there in September before the season is done,” Strachan said.

“But we don’t know exactly when we will be going.”

At this point in the coronavirus-plagued season that was disrupted from March when sports worldwide came to a halt, Strachan said she’s pleased with the progress she made and it only bodes well for her future.

“I ran my fastest times in six years, so even if I want to complain, I can’t complain,” said Strachan, who posted 22.6 in the half-lap race a couple weeks ago.

“I’m better than where I was six years ago. So I have to be grateful for what I got.

“Atleast I’m able to see that the work that I put in, I’m getting the benefits back from it. So I just have to work harder and train more to get the best out of my situation.”

And while she has made some drastic improvement in her speciality in the 200m, Strachan said she doesn’t have any aspiration of concentrating on the double by adding the 100m or the 400m to her résumé.

“You could look back at

my start and look at it now and you can see that it has improved drastically, but I am not getting that quick reaction that is needed for the 100m,” Strachan pointed out.

“As for the 400m, I have been strong armed to run it.

“I do intend to run some 400m to get some strength for the 200m, but I don’t expect that my coaches will allow me to do it competitively at the major international meets.”

With the latest improvements coming out of Jamaica with regard to legendary sprinter Usain Bolt, Strachan said he’s in isolation and according to his long-time friend and rival, Asafa Powell, he doesn’t have any symptoms, but he’s progressing.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t go to the party to celebrate,” said Strachan, who like many of the current athletes didn’t attend the bash that took place to commemorate the superstar’s 34th birthday.

Strachan, who has moved to Jamaica in 2018 to help rejuvenate her career, said she’s practicing the safety protocols of wearing her mask, washing her hands and keeping her 3-6 feet spacing.

Lucius Fox: ‘Ready to work. KC you’re getting my all’

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net LUCIUS Fox had a simple message for the Kansas City Royals fan base after he was traded to the team last week: “Ready to work,” Fox said via Twitter, “KC you’re getting my all.”

Fox is now listed at No. 26 in the Royals organisation

among its minor league prospects. “We talked to Tampa about Fox for quite some time, not necessarily about Brett Phillips,” Royals assistant general manager Scott Sharp told reporters on a Zoom call. “[Fox] is just a really interesting athlete. He has three options left. He is using one this year.”

Fox was traded for the second time in his career

Want to increase your Sales?

Advertise your Business in The Bahamas leading newspaper in circulation, or on Tribune242.com. Call our Advertising Department on 502-2350/502-2394 for more information.

when the Tampa Bay Rays sent him to the Royals in exchange for outfielder Brett Phillips.

Fox, 23, has been listed at shortstop for the duration of his career but saw time at centrefield, secondbase and thirdbase during Spring Training. He was listed as an infielder/outfielder for the Rays’ 2020 player pool.

“He is a switch-hitter,” said Sharp. “He plays shortstop. He can play second base. Some people have talked about him possibly playing centre field because of his speed element. He has played at the upper levels of the Minors at a young age.”

The Rays’ loaded prospect list at shortstop

includes the No.1 player overall in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 - Wander Franco, No. 49 overall Vidal Brujan (second base/shortstop) and No.77 overall Xavier Edwards (secondbase/ shortstop).

Fox immediately joined the Royals’ 40-man roster and was assigned to the Royals’ alternate site at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.

He was a member of the Rays’ taxi squad this season and was assigned to the club’s alternate training site this season.

He saw playing time during MLB Spring Training and Summer Camp, most recently in a pair of intrasquad scrimmages

LUCIUS FOX ahead of the regular season opener.

The Royals are currently 13-20 on the season, fifth

in the American League Central.

Prior to the COVID19 pandemic, Fox was set to make his 2020 debut in AAA baseball with the Durham Bulls of the International League.

He spent 15 games last season with the Bulls, but spent the bulk of the year with the Montgomery Biscuits in the AA Southern League. He went on to lead the Southern League with 39 stolen bases. In 119 games last season across both leagues (104 with the Biscuits) Fox hit .221 with a .331 OBP and a .657 OPS. He totalled 90 hits including 16 doubles, nine triples, three home runs, 34 RBIs, and scored 66 runs.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, August 31, 2020, PAGE 13

US Open show starts today despite COVID-19 pandemic

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Back in April, an onschedule US Open simply did not seem possible.

The coronavirus was at its peak in New York; a building on the tournament grounds housing indoor tennis courts was converted to a field hospital.

The pandemic was locking down much of society, including sports.

Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time in 75 years, the French Open was postponed, and the US Tennis Association said it was considering “the possibility” of changing its dates, too.

Today, the last day of August, the 2020 US Open will, indeed, begin — as scheduled, albeit without any spectators.

And it will begin with one player dropped from the field because he tested positive for COVID-19.

Benoit Paire, a Frenchman who was seeded 17th, was replaced in the draw yesterday, a striking reminder of the circumstances surrounding this

attempt to ensure that the Grand Slam show goes on.

There are many other reminders, such as the plastic signs propped up around the quieter-thanusual grounds, making a mix of requests and commands.

“Keep us all safe. Please wear a mask & keep your distance.”

“Unless you are eating, please wear your mask in the dining area.”

“We’re Back! But hugging isn’t. Some ways to say hello: virtual hugs; quick elbow taps. Please avoid: hugs; fist bumps.”

“Help us keep the bubble safe. Let us know if you witness unhealthy behavior,” with a phone number to call.

Merchandise shops are filled with empty shelves and undressed mannequins.

Instead of a main plaza filled with fans eating and drinking and comparing purchases and talking about tennis, there is a space for players to hang out, with a putting green, basketball hoop, and giant chess board among the outdoor

SERENA Williams arrives for her match with Maria Sakkari, of Greece, during the third round at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in New York on August 25.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) “I was like, ‘Wow, this is diversions offered. “When you’re walking to and from pretty sad, because usually practice — you have to get this place is just filled with somewhere for a certain energy and atmosphere, time — it’s nice. You know like before the tournament that there’s no one around, starts,” he said.

“Now it’s tennis players that you’re not going to get stopped,” said Andy and their teams walking Murray, who won the first around with masks on. It’s of his three Grand Slam just all very different and a titles at Flushing Meadows little bit sad.”

When play begins this in 2012. “Yeah, it’s very morning in Arthur Ashe quiet and very relaxed.”

Then Murray described Stadium — where many his thoughts during his trek seats are covered by pieces to the locker room after a of cloth with messages like “New York Tough” and practice session last week.

“Black Lives Matter” — 2016 runner-up Karolina Pliskova, the top-seeded woman, will play Anhelina Kalinina in the opening match.

That distinction was not earned by virtue of being ranked No. 1, but because the women who hold the first two WTA spots, Ash Barty and Simona Halep, chose not to participate because of the pandemic.

In all, six of the top eight women are missing, including 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu. If the women’s event seems unpredictable as can be — even with Serena Williams and her 23 Grand Slam singles trophies in the bracket — and it is hard to know just how well anyone will deal with lack of competition this year, the overwhelming favourite for the men’s championship is Novak Djokovic. He is scheduled to begin tonight’s session against Damir Dzumhur, followed by two-time major champion Naomi Osaka — who pulled out of the Western & Southern Open final with an injured left hamstring — against Misaki Doi.

TWINS BOB, MIKE BRYAN END RECORD-BREAKING DOUBLES CAREER NEW YORK (AP) — American twins Bob and Mike Bryan announced their retirement after a record-breaking doubles career last week Thursday, making official what seemed clear when they did not enter the US Open.

The 42-year-old brothers collected 16 Grand Slam championships together, 119 tour-level titles and a 2012 Olympic gold medal. They finished 10 seasons atop the ATP doubles rankings and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007.

Along the way, they became as famous a doubles team as there

was, known for leaping to bump chests at the end of victories.

The Bryans, who were born in California, already had said 2020 would be their last year on tour.

“We feel it’s the right time to walk away,” Mike said.

They were not on the entry list released last week for doubles at the US Open, where play begins today without spectators amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bryans won five championships as a pairing in New York, most recently in 2014.

“We’re most proud of the way we devoted ourselves completely

to the game and gave our full effort every day,” Bob said.

“Our loyalty toward each other never wavered and we are leaving professional tennis with zero regrets. We’ll miss the competition and camaraderie amongst the players.

“We’ll also miss the excitement of gearing up for a big match and playing for the roar of the fans.”

He had hip surgery in 2018.

While he was off the tour, Mike won two additional Grand Slam titles with Jack Sock as his partner.

The brothers are the most successful doubles team in Davis Cup

history, winning 25 matches across 15 years.

In March, just before tennis shut down because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Bryans clinched a Davis Cup best-of-five series by giving the US a 3-0 lead against Uzbekistan in Hawaii.

Under new rules instituted in 2018, the twins are the first ATP players whose credentials qualify them for automatic listing on the ballot for the International Tennis Hall of Fame, bypassing the usual nomination process.

They’ll be eligible for the Class of 2025.

DJOKOVIC WINS 35TH MASTERS, HURT OSAKA WITHDRAWS FROM FINAL

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — For all that’s been on Novak Djokovic’s plate of late — including a painful neck and his efforts to start a new players’ association in men’s tennis — he just keeps winning.

He’s perfect in 2020, an ideal way to head into the US Open.

Djokovic tied Rafael Nadal’s record by earning his 35th title at a Masters 1000 tournament.

He overcame a sluggish start to beat Milos Raonic 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Western & Southern Open final Saturday and improve to 23-0 this season.

Djokovic, 11-0 headto-head against 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Raonic, goes into the US Open as the No. 1 seed and a big favourite.

Earlier Saturday, Victoria Azarenka won her first tour title since 2016 when Naomi Osaka pulled out of the women’s final because of a left hamstring injury.

“I just hope I’m giving myself, you know, the opportunity and the chance to have enough time” to recover ahead of the U.S. Open, Osaka said.

Djokovic will be seeking his 18th Grand Slam title, which would move him one behind Nadal and two behind Roger Federer’s men’s record of 20.

Neither of those rivals is entered in the US Open — although both spoke out via Twitter on Saturday against Djokovic’s bid to start a new group to represent men’s tennis players.

PAGE 14, Monday, August 31, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

TOUR DE FRANCE: ALAPHILIPPE WINS STAGE 2

Celtics roll past Raptors, take 1-0 East semis lead LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Celtics clearly have the formula to create problems for the Toronto Raptors.

Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart each scored 21 points, Kemba Walker added 18 points and 10 assists and the Celtics never trailed on the way to beating the Raptors 112-94 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series yesterday.

The Celtics improved to 4-1 against the Raptors this season — no other team has beaten the reigning NBA champions more than twice — and both of their meetings in the NBA’s restart bubble at Walt Disney World have been one-sided.

“You got a team like Toronto, the defending champs, a really, really good team and they know what it takes ... you have to be locked in even more,”

Smart said. “And that’s just (what) we try to come out and do.”

Toronto is 0-2 against Boston at Disney, losing by a combined 40 points and not leading for a single moment in those two games.

The Raptors are 11-0 at Disney against everybody else.

Jaylen Brown scored 17 points and Daniel Theis finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds for Boston, which is 5-0 in this postseason — though Celtics coach Brad Stevens dismissed any notion that control of the series has been secured.

“We’re not even in the ballpark of doing that yet,” Stevens said. We won one game.”

Kyle Lowry had 17 points for Toronto, which got 15 from Serge Ibaka, 13 from Pascal Siakam on a day where he was slowed

big-time by early foul trouble and 12 from OG Anunoby.

The Raptors were outscored 51-30 from 3-point range.

Lowry said the toll of the events of recent days and weeks, including the three-day stoppage of play last week in response to the shooting by police in Wisconsin of Jacob Blake, a Black man, is weighing heavily on players.

“Basketball always matters, but in this situation, at this time, it’s taking a backseat,” Lowry said.

“Yes, it’s our job and we’re going to go out there and perform at the highest level we can possibly perform at. There’s no excuses, but we have an obligation right now to use our platform. That’s why we’re still here.”

Toronto has lost four games by more than 15

points this season — three of them against Boston.

The Celtics won by 22 on August 7, 18 on Sunday and 16 on Christmas Day. The other was a 20-point loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 11.

The final moments of the second and third quarters gave Boston big lifts.

Toronto had the ball, down by 12, with 32 seconds left in the first half when Tatum intercepted a pass and got loose for a dunk — followed by a stop at the other end and Walker hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 59-42 halftime lead.

Down by 13 late in the third, Toronto couldn’t control a rebound and extended a Boston possession with 3.1 seconds left. Tatum hit a baseline jumper as time expired, and the lead was 88-73 going into the final 12 minutes. “Tough day for us,

right?” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.

“Nothing was much fun out there today.”

TIP-INS Celtics: Boston has now won seven consecutive Game 1s, the longest such streak for the Celtics since taking 11 consecutive 1-0 series leads between the start of the 1985 playoffs and the 1987 NBA Finals.

Theis had 15 rebounds, total, in the first-round sweep of Philadelphia.

Raptors: Toronto trailed 39-23 after one quarter, the sixthworst point differential in a span of 547 quarters — including playoffs — played by the Raptors going back to January 16, 2019.

The Raptors have lost Game 1 in 14 of their last 18 series.

NICE, France (AP) — Racing across the finish line at the Tour de France, Julian Alaphilippe kissed his finger and raised it to the sky, dedicating his win yesterday on Stage 2 to his father who died in June.

“I promised myself that I’d win for him,” the French rider said.

The tribute and the thrilling manner of his victory showed that even amid the coronavirus crisis, the Tour is still a mighty generator of emotions.

Many of its fans are heeding government pleas to watch the action on TV from the safety of their couches. Those still turning out in towns and villages as the race zooms past are being urged to keep their distance, to prevent the virus from contaminating the riders for whom they cheer through face masks.

And yet, despite all this, the opening weekend of the Tour still set hearts racing, with dramatic spills on the rain-slickened opening day followed by Alaphilippe’s poignant win. No one can be sure that the race will negotiate its way through France’s worsening infections to the finish in Paris on September 20. Yet the show, for now at least, is most definitely on — with Alaphilippe back in the race leader’s iconic yellow jersey, once again showing the way.

Having already done more than any other rider to turn the 2019 edition into a thriller, the darling of French cycling fans again showered the Tour with his class and guile in poaching victory in the picture-postcard Mediterranean city of Nice. A final burst of acceleration timed with precision enabled Alaphilippe to shake two pursuers and hold off the main pack of riders furiously gaining ground on the finishing straight.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS REACH THE 2ND ROUND

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers knocked him around and shut his teammates down, and still Luka Doncic kept coming.

Kawhi Leonard wasn’t worried, because nothing rattles him in the postseason.

“This is playoff basketball and everything is not going to go your way,” Leonard said. “You’re going to have downs and ups. Just got to keep playing.”

Now his team will keep playing into the second round.

Leonard had 33 points and 14 rebounds and the Clippers eliminated Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks with a 111-97 victory yesterday in Game 6 of the first-round series.

Doncic capped a superb first postseason with 38 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, keeping it interesting into the fourth

quarter even while playing without injured teammate Kristaps Porzingis.

But with Leonard reaching the 30-point mark for his career-best fifth straight playoff game and a strong defensive effort, the Clippers simply had too many answers. “I’m proud of our team, how we fight,” Doncic said. “I think we fight until the end. The Clippers have an amazing team so it was hard, but I think we gave everything.”

The No. 2 seed in the West advanced to a 2ndround meeting with either Denver or Utah. The 6th seeded Jazz were trying to close out last night but the Nuggets evened the series with a 119-107 win.

Paul George and Ivica Zubac added 15 points apiece for the Clippers, who turned up their defence in this one after winning Game 5 with the best offensive performance in their postseason history, when they shot 63% and romped to a 154-111 victory.

Perhaps it was too much to ask to be that sharp again after a four-day layoff, but they didn’t need to be even while playing most of the game without starting forward Marcus Morris, who was ejected for a flagrant foul against Doncic in the first quarter.

Leonard also had seven assists and five steals. The Clippers said he was the first player in at least the last 20 postseasons with 30 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals in a game.

“You can tell he was the one guy that shoots to close out a series,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.

“He was calm. He got us in place.”

The Mavericks had only two field goals in the first six minutes of the third quarter, both by Doncic, and by the time he made the second the Clippers had opened the half with a 20-3 run that turned a six-point lead into a 77-54 lead. But Doncic wouldn’t quit, with

a 3-pointer and two threepoint plays in the final 1:28 to cut it to 85-74. He made another 3 that trimmed it to 88-82 with 9:27 to play but Dallas couldn’t get any closer. Los Angeles began putting the ball in Leonard’s hands and he delivered with eight straight Clippers points before consecutive 3-pointers by Reggie Jackson pushed it to 105-89.

Dallas was in its first postseason since 2016 but quickly learned about the physicality, mixing it up with Morris on multiple occasions. The Clippers led by two when Morris was ejected for swinging his arm down and striking a driving Doncic in the head or neck area. The Clippers picked up their defence in the second period, limiting the Mavs to 17 points and 33.3 per cent shooting to open a 57-51 advantage at the break.

TIP-INS Clippers: Patrick Beverley had a pregame workout

before sitting out for the fifth straight game with a left calf strain. Rivers said the guard had a good practice Saturday and was getting closer to returning but just wasn’t ready yet.

Mavericks: Porzingis missed his third straight game with torn cartilage in his right knee. ... Dorian Finney-Smith scored 16 points.

MORE ON MORRIS Trouble between the Mavs and Morris started in the opener, when Doncic was called for palming the ball and Morris tried to take it out of his hands. He ended up grabbing Doncic, starting a scrum that led to the ejection of Porzingis.

Morris later denied trying to hurt Doncic, who battled a sprained left ankle, when he stepped on his foot.

But referee Scott Foster said Morris’ reputation didn’t factor into the decision to give him a flagrant foul 2 Sunday, an automatic

ejection. “Of course not,” Foster said.

DOC’S DAY OFF Rivers spent part of the Clippers’ day without a game Saturday watching his son Austin help the Houston Rockets beat Oklahoma City in Game 5 of their series. It was the first game Rivers attended in the bubble but hardly his first time watching his son play at Disney.

Austin Rivers was a Florida prep star at Winter Park High School. “It was funny, I usually bring, like, a notepad. I didn’t have anything. I just kind of sat and watched the game,” Rivers said. “You still coach during the game. Not him, but just both teams and you watch what you can do and I got a little mental scouting in. But more importantly it was a great detox for me just to sit there and enjoy basketball in a gym that I’ve been a fan, a spectator, literally hundreds of times.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, August 31, 2020, PAGE 15

Jon Rahm makes the biggest putt to win a thriller at BMW

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. (AP) — With so few people around, Jon Rahm still got word from the other side of the Olympia Fields clubhouse that Dustin Johnson had made a 45-foot birdie on the final hole to force a playoff yesterday in the BMW Championship.

Resilient as ever, Rahm went out and made some magic of his own.

From one end of the 18th green to the other, Rahm’s putt from just over 65 feet rolled down the ridge and into the cup, setting off a roar so loud it nearly made up for not having spectators.

“I knew how good DJ has been playing. I was expecting nothing else,” Rahm said. “I was fully confident it was going to come into a playoff and hoping to win it. Never did I think I would make another 50-, 60-footer, a couple of breaks in there, to end up winning it.”

Johnson could only laugh at his birdie putt, eliciting a rare show of emotion — a slow, sweeping upper cut.

And he had the same reaction to what Rahm did.

What else is there to do?

“I played an unbelievable putt, got in the playoff and then Jon made an even more ridiculous putt on top of me,” Johnson said, who has been runner-up twice and won in his last three starts.

The course that all week felt like a US Open delivered the kind of excitement typical of the Masters.

Rahm’s big birdie putt on the first extra hole spared him thoughts of his blunder in the third round, when he picked up his ball on the

fifth green without marking it, leading to a one-shot penalty and his only bogey of the weekend.

He tore through the back nine Sunday on his way to a 6-under 64, the lowest round of the week, to finish at 4-under 276.

Johnson, a 54-hole leader for his third straight tournament and coming off an 11-shot victory last week at the TPC Boston, birdied three of his opening four holes to open a three-shot lead, dropped a pair of shots around the turn and then delivered in the clutch with his 45-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 67.

It was only good enough to stay at No. 1 by a slim margin.

He also stays at No. 1 in the FedEx Cup going to the Tour Championship, meaning he will start the chase for the $15 million bonus at 10-under par, two ahead of Rahm, the No. 2 seed.

Joaquin Niemann, the 21-year-old from Chile, also made a spirited run with a 67 and was in the lead until a bogey on the 14th and no birdies the rest of the way. He tied for third with Hideki Matsuyama, who had a 69.

Tony Finau closed with a 65 to finish three behind.

They were the only five players under par at Olympia Fields.

Rahm won for the second time this year on the PGA Tour, and the 11th time in his career worldwide.

Mackenzie Hughes had reason to celebrate, too.

He was on the verge of playing his way into the top 30 who advance to East Lake when he took a sloppy bogey on the 17th.

Needing a par on the 18th, he put his approach into the front bunker, splashed

out to 5 feet and raised both arms when it dropped.

Niemann also moved into the top 30, though he was chasing victory all day.

Adam Long and Kevin Streelman were bumped out, and Long suffered the worst of those fates. He was projected 30th in the FedEx Cup until Corey Conners three-putted from 5 feet for double bogey on the final hole. That allowed Billy Horschel to move up enough spots on the leaderboard to move to the 30th and final spot by three points over Long.

The top 30 are assured spots in at least three majors next year, along with the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua to start the year.

The winners-only event is taking the top 30 in the FedEx Cup from having lost three months of the season to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MORGAN LEADS ENGLAND TO 5-WICKET WIN VS PAKISTAN IN 2ND T20

TOP - Jon Rahm poses with the J.K. Wadley trophy, left, and the BMW trophy after winning the BMW Championship golf tournament at the Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill., yesterday. ABOVE - Rahm reacts after making his putt on the first playoff hole during the final round.

(AP Photos/Charles Rex Arbogast) Tiger Woods missed all the action. He made double bogey on his 17th hole for a 71, making this the first time he was over par in all four rounds of a tournament since the Bridgestone Invitational in 2010.

Woods failed to reach the Tour Championship for the second straight year.

He now gets two weeks off before the US Open at Winged Foot, and Olympia Fields proved to be a good test for that.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — England captain Eoin Morgan smashed 66 runs off 33 balls to help his side to a fivewicket win over Pakistan in the second Twenty20 international yesterday.

Pakistan scored a challenging 195-4 after losing the toss at Old Trafford before England finished on 199-5 in 19.1 overs.

England openers Jonny Bairstow (44) and Tom Banton (20) shared a 66-run partnership. When they departed in the space of two balls, Morgan came in to hit six fours and four sixes to keep the momentum going.

He was dismissed with 18 required in the last three overs but Dawid Malan, the junior partner in a match-changing 112-run stand with Morgan, went to another fifty to help England over the line with five balls to spare.

Malan’s unbeaten 54 in 36 balls — his seventh 50-plus score in only 12 T20 innings — helped England move into a 1-0 series lead on a day when the BBC screened live coverage of a cricket match for the first time in 21 years.

Morgan is averaging 48.4 with a strike-rate of 174.1 in the 14 T20s he has played for England since the start of last year, and the Irishman put his form down to the security he feels in his role. “Even before the series started, within T20 cricket in the last two years in internationals and some domestic are my best numbers to date which is great,” Morgan said. He added: “Before I became captain, jumping up and down the order I didn’t feel that comfortable with it, but now that it’s my decision I feel more at ease.”

SÁNCHEZ PINCH SLAM, HICKS HR HELP YANKS TAKE 2 FROM METS NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sánchez delivered the first pinchhit, extra-innings grand slam in Yankees history, Deivi García made a strong impression in his big league debut and New York beat the crosstown Mets 5-2 to complete a doubleheader sweep last night.

The Yankees stormed back in the opener, erasing a five-run lead with two outs in the seventh to win 8-7 in eight innings.

Aaron Hicks lined a tying, tworun homer in the seventh, and Gio Urshela hit a game-ending single off Edwin Diaz an inning later.

The Yankees won the final three games of this five-game Subway Series, snapping a sevengame skid that was their longest since 2017.

Sánchez blasted a 2-2 fastball from Drew Smith (0-1) into the left field bleachers for a 5-1 lead.

It was the slumping catcher’s first career pinch-hit homer and second career grand slam.

García took a shutout into the sixth until allowing Dominic Smith’s tying single. Smith’s hit came after Jeff McNeill reached on an error by first baseman Luke Voit, who had the ball kick off the heel of his glove into right field.

García allowed four singles, struck out six, walked none and threw 75 pitches over six innings.

Jonathan Holder (1-0) allowed an RBI single to Michael Conforto and in the eighth. Luis Cessa retired pinch-hitter Wilson Ramos with the bases loaded for his fourth career save.

In the seventh inning of the opener, Mets third baseman Andrés Giménez made a throwing error, and Jared Hughes walked a batter and plunked another to load the bases before Voit hit a check-swing, two-run single against the shift to pull within 7-4.

Another run scored on Diaz’s wild pitch before Hicks lined a two-out, 3-2 fastball just over the wall in right for his third homer of the season.

CARDINALS 7, INDIANS 2 ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright turned back the clock with a complete game on his 39th birthday as St. Louis beat Cleveland.

The oldest active player in the majors, Wainwright threw a fourhitter for his 23rd career complete game and first in four years. The

Cardinals snapped a four-game skid in which they scored six total runs.

Dexter Fowler homered and had three RBIs for St. Louis, which stopped Cleveland’s fourgame winning streak. The Indians had won nine in a row on the road.

Wainwright (3-0) settled in after allowing Tyler Naquin’s two-run homer in the second inning. The right-hander struck out nine and walked two, going the distance for the first time since July 2016 against the Marlins.

He threw 122 pitches, most in the majors this season, and gave a much-needed breather to a Cardinals bullpen that worked 15 1/3 innings over the previous two games.

The performance even prompted the entire Indians team to salute him after the final out.

WHITE SOX 5, ROYALS 2, (10 INNINGS) CHICAGO (AP) — Prized rookie Luis Robert hit his first game-ending homer, a three-run drive in the 10th inning that lifted Chicago over Kansas City.

Dane Dunning threw five no-hit innings before being pulled from his second major league start, and the surging White Sox won for the 11th time in 13 games to move into a first-place tie with Cleveland in the AL Central.

Tyler Zuber (1-2) intentionally walked José Abreu to start the 10th, putting runners on first and second. James McCann struck out, but Robert drove the next pitch to left field for his ninth home run — tops among big league rookies.

RAYS 12, MARLINS 7 MIAMI (AP) — Willy Adames hit a grand slam, helping surging Tampa Bay finish a three-game sweep.

Joey Wendle, Yoshi Tsutsugo and Kevin Kiermaier also went deep for the Rays, who have won 12 of their last 14 to move an American League-best 13 games over .500. Blake Snell (3-0) allowed two runs in five innings.

Miami starter Sandy Alcantara (1-1) was lifted after loading the bases with no outs in the fifth.

Adames greeted reliever Robert Dugger with his grand slam, and Kiermaier later hit a two-run blast off Dugger. Miami dropped under

.500 (14-15) for the first time this season and is 1-8 at home.

GIANTS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1 PHOENIX (AP) — Johnny Cueto pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Alex Dickerson homered and had two RBIs, and San Francisco won its first road series.

Cueto was sharp in his last start before the trade deadline, allowing a run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Dickerson hit a solo homer in the first inning and lined a runscoring single in the eighth off Archie Bradley after the Giants put two on against Stefan Crichton (2-2). Evan Longoria followed with a two-run single and Tyler Rogers (2-3) worked a perfect bottom half to push the Giants to their ninth win in 12 games.

Eduardo Escobar homered and Taylor Clarke allowed one hit in five innings for Arizona. The Diamondbacks had three hits to lose for the 10th time in 11 games.

DODGERS 7, RANGERS 2 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cody Bellinger and the Dodgers set the National League record for home runs in a month, powering their way past Texas.

Bellinger’s two-run drive gave the Dodgers 57 long balls in August after solo shots from Corey Seager and Will Smith.

The 10th home run of the season for Bellinger topped Atlanta’s previous mark of 56 home runs in June 2019. The record came in the third inning of Los Angeles’ final game of August.

The Dodgers, who have the best record in the majors at 26-10, have won 12 straight series to open the season.

PIRATES 5, BREWERS 1 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco homered off Brandon Woodruff and Pittsburgh beat Milwaukee.

Bell broke a 1-all tie in the fourth with a towering, two-run

blast that hit an SUV parked well above the wall in right-center as part of a promotion.

The Pirates stayed in front the rest of the way to hand Woodruff (2-3) a rare loss at Miller Park.

The right-hander entered Sunday having gone 10-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 16 home starts over the past two seasons.

He struck out seven but allowed four runs, four hits and three walks in five innings.

PADRES 13, ROCKIES 2 DENVER (AP) — Eric Hosmer started San Diego’s power surge with his three-run homer in the first, Chris Paddack threw six efficient innings and the Padres routed Colorado.

Hosmer’s homer was one of five for the Padres, who rank second in the majors with 66 this season.

Jake Cronenworth added a two-run drive in the seventh before Jurickson Profar and Trent Grisham lined solo shots in the eighth. Josh Naylor finished it off with a two-run homer in the ninth.

Paddack (3-3) picked up his first win since Aug. 3. The righthander threw 60 of 85 pitches for strikes, allowing five hits and two unearned runs while striking out eight.

Manny Machado extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Fernando Tatis Jr. had another big day with three hits, including two doubles.

CUBS 10, REDS 1 CINCINNATI (AP) — Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward and Ian Happ became the first starting outfield to hit multiple homers in the same game, and the Cubs pounded the Reds for a split of their four-game series.

Schwarber hit the first and last of the Cubs’ season-high six homers, belting a solo drive in the fourth inning against Luis Castillo (0-5) and a grand slam off José De León in the ninth. Heyward and Happ also went deep twice.

The NL Central-leading Cubs hit 14 homers in the series. Help is on the way, too, after they acquired acquired infielder/outfielder José Martínez in a trade with Tampa Bay. TIGERS 3, TWINS 2 DETROIT (AP) — Jonathan Schoop hit a tiebreaking homer

in the sixth inning, and the Tigers finished off a three-game sweep.

Tyler Alexander (2-1) pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for Detroit, which handed Kenta Maeda (4-1) his first loss of the year.

Detroit has won five straight to pull back to .500 on the season.

Minnesota has dropped five in a row.

BLUE JAYS 6, ORIOLES 5 BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run single with two out in the ninth inning, lifting Toronto to its fourth straight win.

Hernández came up with the bases loaded and grounded a single into left field.

Pinch runner Santiago Espinal scored easily and Randal Grichuk slid in safely just ahead of the throw by left fielder Mason Williams.

Cole Sulser (1-4), who surrendered a game-ending homer to Grichuk on Friday, issued three walks and Hernández’s hit to take the loss.

RED SOX 9, NATIONALS 5 BOSTON (AP) — Bobby Dalbec hit a two-run homer in his major league debut, leading the Red Sox to the win.

The 25-year-old Dalbec started hours after Boston traded first baseman Mitch Moreland to San Diego.

Dalbec struck out in his first at-bat before taking Javy Guerra deep over Pesky’s Pole in right field in the third inning.

Rafael Devers went deep twice for the Red Sox, and Josh Osich (1-1) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.

MARINERS 2, ANGELS 1, (10 INNINGS) ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Pinch hitter Tim Lopes drove in Kyle Lewis with the tiebreaking run in the 10th inning, sending Seattle to the victory.

Lewis homered in the seventh after Justin Dunn threw six scoreless innings for the Mariners.

Angels star Albert Pujols hit his 666th career double in the seventh inning to pass George Brett for sixth place in baseball history.

Pujols also scored Los Angeles’ only run on Andrelton Simmons’ single.