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‘TIME FOR ACTION NOT JUST WORDS’
All candidates urged to ensure they deliver on reform promises By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net ANTI-CORRUPTION campaigners yesterday warned that mere political promises will not cut it as The Bahamas faces “dire and irreversible circumstances” unless the next administration adopts urgent reforms. The Organisation for Responsible Governance, issuing a call to action for all candidates seeking to become MPs at the upcoming September 16
general election, urged them to commit to policies that would deliver the “transparent and accountable governance” that The Bahamas desperately needs to rebuild its economy and society in the wake of COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian’s devastation. Asserting that this is no time for empty words and rhetoric, the six-page “open letter” identified a series of policies the group said should be priorities for the next administration.
By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE union that represents the University of The Bahamas’ faculty and the school’s Student Government Association have come out against the university’s strict new COVID-19 policy. On Wednesday, UB issued a statement stating its board of trustees has mandated that anyone
entering the school’s campuses and facilities must show proof of being fully vaccinated or present a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test effective Monday. People who are unvaccinated but seek entry to its campuses must have a rapid antigen test result issued within the last 72 hours. UB said this refers to faculty, students, staff, alumni, vendors and members of the public. SEE PAGE FOUR
- SEE PAGE EIGHT
UNIONS SEE ‘LIVEABLE’ WAGE AS REAL GOAL
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net TRADE Union Congress president Obie Ferguson says any political party not talking about a “living wage” is out of touch with the needs of Bahamian workers. SEE PAGE TWO
SUPER VALUE UNDECIDED ON WHO PAYS TESTS
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
UB FACULTY DEMANDS COVID POLICY RETHINK
NAUGHTY: A PARADE OF POLITICAL PROMISES
CARIBBEAN LIFE THROUGH THE LENS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A PICTURE by Tiffany Smith, titled Yellow Bird in Banana Tree, part of an eyecatching exhibit by six female photographers from the Caribbean at the newest art venue in Nassau, the TERN Gallery. See today’s WEEKEND section for more.
SUPER Value’s president yesterday promised it will not make employees pay for weekly COVID-19 tests if it violates the law. Debra Symonette said the chain had yet to determine whether it would pay for these tests or if it would require unvaccinated staff to do so. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
FAMILY’S FIGHT TO SAVE MUM-OF-FOUR By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A RELATIVE of an Andros woman who died from COVID-19 last week yesterday recalled the family’s frantic efforts to save her life. Shonell Rolle-Russell, 46, a mother-of-four, was one of four victims whose death was added to the nation’s COVID-19 death toll on September 1.
SHONELL ROLLE-RUSSELL In its September 1 dashboard, the Ministry of Health had reported that four people, including three New Providence residents and one Andros resident,
had died from the disease between August 27 and August 30. Yesterday, family members confirmed the identity of Andros native and deaconess Mrs Rolle-Russell as that island’s victim. Her sister, Judith Rolle told The Tribune that family members are still in disbelief over her death. She described her sister as a caring, soft-hearted and loving person. SEE PAGE FOUR
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
DIANE PHILLIPS: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UNFINISHED
- SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Friday, September 3, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
PEOPLE gathered for the FNM rally in Inagua yesterday.
Photos: Yontalay Bowe/FNM
UNIONS SEE ‘LIVEABLE’ WAGE AS REAL GOAL from page one
The day after the Free National Movement released its 81-page manifesto with a pledge to consider an increase in the minimum wage, the TUC president said he was inclined to side with University of The Bahamas’ previous study that the living wage for New Providence and Grand Bahama should be $2,625 and $3,550 per month respectively. He told The Tribune his position on this was “very strong”. For his part, Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union president Darrin Woods said his union would “wait and see” what happens if the FNM was re-elected, adding the Minnis administration did not live up to its promises for labour over the last four years. “We are interested in a living wage,” Mr Ferguson said. “We have the minimum wage now and it’s not ideal.
“We as a movement are interested in a living wage and if you recall the University of The Bahamas did a study and they determined what the minimum wage should be. “It was certainly more than $250. So, what we say we are to be engaged in establishing what the living wage should be, not the minimum wage. “I basically share a very strong view on the minimum wage. I think all of my colleagues to a great extent, at least the majority of them, support the concept of a living wage and that’s the reason why the document that we signed that we thought every political party would have signed, we stressed that while we are now enjoying what we call the minimum wage, which is about $250, we say we want the living wage. “Living wage is what the average Bahamian needs to exist on and if you’re not talking living wage then you are not up to date with the times.”
He was referring to an MoU signed between the TUC and National Congress of Trades Unions of The Bahamas which commits the Progressive Liberal Party, if elected, to “work towards the enactment of a liveable wage”. After the union leaders and PLP leaders signed the MOU a large number of other unions disassociated themselves from the signing saying they had not been involved in any discussions about the document. Yesterday Mr Ferguson continued: “At one point we had asked for $350, right, $300 on the lower side and on the high side $350. Obviously, the university’s position is by far more than what we propose but they did a scientific analysis, which I am inclined to go with, and we are inclined to go with those figures. But the economy is as such today that we want to make sure to the extent that we want to make sure that the economy is poised for growth. We want to make
sure that is the case. “We want to make sure the dollar remains strong, and we want to be sensitive to all the other economic factors and all the economic partners that are trying to get this economy back.” However, Mr Ferguson lamented that both umbrella unions had not been included in the government’s plans for a post COVID-19 pandemic rebound. “The problem we had though we haven’t been a part of that process. We have been shut out. “Labour is a factor of production just like land, just like capital, just like entrepreneurial skills. Those are factors of production. If you pull one out, you’re not going to get the maximum of what you are trying to achieve. “While we are moving towards the digitised society, we haven’t gotten there yet so what you have to do is use what you have in order to get what you’re trying to get and we as a labour movement, we have
not been really a real part of whatever mechanism they are reviewing or looking at to jump start this economy. “The labour movement is very highly qualified, not like it used to be. We have accountants (and) CPAs. We have lawyers. We have economists. We have management experts. I mean you know we have planners in the labour movement and so we don’t always come alive when there is a strike or there is some industrial action. “We are a part of the civil society, but somehow we are not viewed like that by some of our people and I think they forget our history.” Yesterday, Mr Woods suggested he was not too optimistic about the FNM’s pledge. He said: “How about we go back to the last one where they said they were going to amend the Industrial Relations Act and the Employment Act in the last one? So, we wait and see.”
The September 30, 2020, study on the living wage was authored by Lesvie Archer, Olivia Saunders, Bridget Hogg, Vijaya Permual and Brittney Johnson. The study said “a gross living wage estimate for New Providence is 26 percent lower than the Grand Bahama living wage estimate, nearly 200 percent higher than the national minimum wage, 127 percent higher than 2013 poverty line and nearly 75 percent higher than the minimum wage hike proposed by a local union.” The study also says: “Our living wage estimate for Grand Bahama is nearly 300 percent higher than the living wage, 200 percent higher than the 2013 poverty line and 140 percent higher than the minimum wage hike proposed by a local union.” The country’s minimum wage is currently $210 a week. The Progressive Liberal Party has also promised a minimum wage increase to $250 if elected.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 3, 2021, PAGE 3
A CONCH BY ANY OTHER NAME... THE Queen conch is important to Bahamian culture. It has been used for centuries for food, decoration, jewelry, bait for fishing, and even as a musical instrument. A Bahamian treasure by any name, its scientific name is now Aliger gigas, originally known as Strombus gigas or more recently as Lobatus gigas. Periodically species can be renamed when further information becomes available for their reclassification. Aliger is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks are in the family Strombidae. Sadly, conch populations around the region have collapsed due to over-harvesting and harvesting of juveniles, environmental group BREEF said in a press release. Conch is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITIES). The Bahamas is actively working to protect the country’s conch population for current and future generations. As a reminder to all fishers, a conch must have a well-formed, flared lip to be harvested. We ask the public to support Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that serve as replenishment zones, and only purchase and consume sustainably harvested seafood. To learn more about how you can help protect our marine environment visit www. breef.org.
CASUARINA McKinney-Lambert with BREEF students looking at queen conch specimens.
Candidates challenged to commit to reform By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A NON-profit and civic foundation has appealed to all nominated candidates seeking election “to publicly commit to actionable” reform on areas that have long prohibited the country’s forward development. In an open letter to the candidates, the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) said that there still are significant long-standing issues despite the “acknowledgement of the need for improvement in accountability, transparency, effectiveness, and efficiency
in governance by subsequent administrations.” “While ORG acknowledges that some progress has been made, the status quo in governance and politics has not been able to sufficiently address these problems and has in fact created massive inefficiencies by perpetuating sub-standard governance practices,” ORG said. “The behind closed doors, ultra-political environment that has prevailed for years does not support the creation and completion of modern, open, inclusive, datadriven, long-term solutions and policies which are necessary for the positive and
sustainable future of The Bahamas. ORG asserts that a shift to a more open and participatory model of governance is both essential to our future success as a nation and vital to bringing about the necessary reform. “Over the past days, manifestos, blueprints, and visions have been issued by the Free National Movement, the Progressive Liberal Party, Democratic National Alliance and the Coalition of Independents. ORG commends the parties for their presentation of these to the public and recognises the inclusion of various actions for long term reform in each of these. “However, the longstanding
governance and economic issues that plague The Bahamas should not be seen simply as issues to be solved as part of a partisan agenda. They affect every segment of the nation, and their resolution will require commitment, action and sacrifice from all who call The Bahamas home regardless of party affiliation.” ORG identified opportunities for short and midterm action by the next government which included fully enacting the Freedom of Information Act and providing extensive public education on the appropriate usage of law. Electoral reforms such as fixed election dates, term
limits for a prime minister, and the separation of powers of the executive and legislative branches of government were also highlighted. ORG also presented a number of ideas for education reforms and civil society development. Economic development was another area discussed with the expansion and capacity support of the Small Business Development Centre to manage the dual roles of business incubation and post disaster recovery coordination being mentioned. ORG said The Bahamas finds itself at a “critical juncture and failure to achieve
significant progress in the next administration can result in dire and irreversible circumstances.” “ORG stresses the obvious to all candidates. Promises sound good, but solid plans lead to meaningful, inclusive and positive growth. The Bahamian public deserves plans for change that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and anchored within a believable timeframe. This commitment to transparency and accountability can be the difference between a shortterm electoral victory, and the longer-term sustainability and success of the nation.”
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT LEGISLATION TAKES EFFECT AFTER months of preparation, and years of legislative reform, the government’s landmark public procurement legislation took effect on Wednesday. The Public Procurement Act, 2021 has implications for all government entities and state-owned enterprises, which have been undergoing training and orientation exercises over the last four months. The Public Procurement Department, located in the Ministry of Finance, is fully established, the ministry said in a press release yesterday. Carl Oliver is serving as
acting chief procurement officer while the recruitment exercise of the head of the department remains ongoing. To implement the Act, all of the required ministries, agencies and other entities have set up their own procurement units and tenders committees, which will selfadminister and oversee the contract process under their budget remit up to specified financial thresholds, the ministry said. This is a governmentwide process that has taken time to roll-out and will take time to iron out. The Ministry of Finance has conducted training sessions for
Co-Administrators
Co-Administrators
all government entities as well as external stakeholders,” said Marlon Johnson, acting financial secretary, adding that public education activities will be ongoing. The ministry co-hosted a live two-day webinar series last month in collaboration with the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation with about 200 registered participants and over 5,000 online views. There will be
ongoing public education through the ministry’s social media channels and other stakeholder outreach. “The department will ensure that the reporting requirements on procurement activities are met, as well as the requirements for publication of the details of contracts awarded. We anticipate the first publication online and in the media before the end of the month and that the publications
will happen at set intervals thereafter. The Ministry and the new Public Procurement Department will work to ensure all public entities operate consistent with the provisions of the new law,” said Mr Johnson. A key provision of the new law is the requirement that bids be facilitated via an open online platform. The eProcurement and Suppliers Registry has been operational for some
time in preparation for the new legislation. To date, there are 2,527 business suppliers registered on the eProcurement and Suppliers Registry. These businesses will now benefit from access to electronic notifications for all government tenders and have the ability to be seen by all government entities seeking to source goods and services. Training for government entities will be continuing.
PAGE 4, Friday, September 3, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Family’s fight to save mum-of-four from page one
SHONELL ROLLE-RUSSELL
She said it was just some two weeks ago when they received the news about her COVID-19 diagnosis. “She said she started feeling bad that Thursday (August 19) and so Friday she went to the doctor and that’s when we had the harsh reality of what it really is because they swabbed her and everything,” she said. Shortly afterwards, Mrs Rolle-Russell’s health started to deteriorate, at which point local doctors recommended she be airlifted to New Providence for further medical care. However, Ms Rolle said the family was not able to evacuate her sister until days later due to lack of available beds for COVID patients in Nassau at the time. “We just used whatever resources we had to make sure she was comfortable with them having no beds in the hospital and no beds to accommodate her,” said Ms Rolle. “Because she was here (in Andros) for three days before she left and when they had a bed available late Saturday night, the doctor said they were going to send her out Sunday morning which they did because her sugar level was so high. “And when they sent her to Nassau, her oxygen level was dropping really,
really low because even my oldest sister after we sent her to Nassau, we even sent a speedboat over there to bring my dad’s old (oxygen) tank over but…that tank only lasts one day and we sent two tanks because she was running out of oxygen very, very fast.” Despite their efforts, Mrs Rolle-Russell died five days after being evacuated. Her sister said she believed fear and anxiety caused her sibling’s symptoms to worsen. “From Sunday, when we sent her to Nassau she was talking,” Ms Rolle recalled. “I spoke to her after two o’clock because she left around nine (in the) morning and I called her and I said ‘sis I checking on you’ and knowing us we’re claustrophobic. We don’t like to be closed in and them putting her in a bubble after they sent an ambulance, all of that I believe played a major role in her deterioration.” Ms Rolle said when she spoke with her sister on the Sunday before her death, she was short of breath, so she told her to get some rest and that she would check on her later. She said later that night her lung collapsed and she was put on a ventilator. “She was in that state until Thursday. And then some time Thursday, her heart had stopped, but they revived her and they said they gave her until 24 or 48 hours and if it happens
again there’s nothing they could do…but she died Friday evening,” Ms Rolle added. Ms Rolle said she believed if Andros had sufficient medical resources or even if her sister had been fully vaccinated, she could have survived the disease. “I feel like if she had it she probably wouldn’t have made it to the hospital, not dead. She probably would’ve been sick and pulled through,” she said. According to data released from the Ministry of Health yesterday, 412 people have now died from the virus to date, with 29 deaths still under investigation. In addition to Mrs RolleRussell’s death, the latest deceased victims include a 62-year-old woman from New Providence who died August 28, a 39-year-old New Providence man who died August 29 and an 83-year-old woman who died August 30. Health officials also recorded 116 new COVID cases on September 1, 104 of which are in New Providence, four each in Grand Bahama and Eleuthera, three in Exuma and one in Abaco. The latest figures have pushed the nation’s overall COVID tally to 18,567. However, only 3,220 cases are still active, with 167 patients in hospital sick with the virus.
UB FACULTY DEMANDS COVID POLICY RETHINK from page one
Anyone seeking entry to UB as of September 30 however, must show proof of full vaccination, the university said.
Daniel Thompson, president of the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas, has taken grave exception to the new policy, calling it dictatorial. “The COVID policy was put in place without even the appropriate dialogue,” Mr Thompson said. “UB needs to engage in more effective communication. They need to consult with their stakeholders and stop believing that the board of trustees is some rogue enterprise. They are not an independent state to set their own laws without consultation. That’s called dictatorship and we’re a democracy. “They’re doing this right in the middle of the silly season. From my position perhaps they are doing their last bidding before they exit the scene. We are not in the category where persons are telling their members not to vaccinate. We encourage you to vaccinate, but we do have members of our faculty who do not support the vaccination, who do not wish to be and will not be vaccinated. “What we don’t encourage is for the organisation to begin to create policies that are punitive because the essence of their policy is that if I object, not because of religion or health, then I don’t have a job. That cannot be. What we are advocating is that there ought to be a compromise so that there is a continuous testing option after September 30.” Mr Thompson said his union met with UB officials last Friday and they were supposed to get back to his team, but instead the statement was released outlining the new policy. “We met on Friday to discuss this new policy and during that meeting the legal counsel said emphatically that this is not a mandatory vaccination policy because the three unions that were there, the BPSU, the PMU and the UTEB queried the mandatory policy,” he told The Tribune. “General counsel, Ms Tracey Ferguson-Johnson, said emphatically, ‘this is not a mandatory policy’. Our concern was if you want us to be tested, then the university should pay for it. So they said they would go back to the board because they only wanted to pay for the testing for
security and the custodial staff. Not librarians who have to keep the library and not anyone else who has to come on campus. “They were supposed to come back to us. Ten minutes before that same press release was issued we got a copy of it. So obviously that was not a dialogue. We saw that they had agreed to pay for the fees, but now coming the 30th of September, it is now mandatory. We have a serious problem with that. That option should remain in place that you can test if you don’t wish to be vaccinated.” He said UB’s board of trustees ought to review a compromise. “No University Act has given them the independence to infringe on people’s rights. So we dismiss the idea that the council is supreme. They are not more supreme than the law of The Bahamas. You cannot tell me I have to be vaccinated in order to work,” he added. “What we say is that they can use means to (encourage) persons to get vaccinated, but you cannot put a gun to their heads and say, ‘if you’re not vaccinated you don’t have the right to be employed.’ That’s the challenge that exists. We, as a trade union, have a right to protect those members as well.” UB’s Student Government Association also expressed disappointment with the new policy. That body issued a statement also calling for the new policy to be revised. “The Student Government Association wishes to express its disappointment with the chairman of the board of trustees following the announcement of its COVID-19 vaccination policy and calls for its immediate reneging and subsequent revision,” the group said yesterday. The SGA says it met and shared its concerns of the then proposed policy with the UB officials to no avail. “However, none (of the concerns) were presented in the policy, and we feel students must be given a seat at the table. “We call upon the board of trustees to revise this policy with consideration of all students, faculty and staff who continuously fall victim to the reckless decision making of the university,” the SGA said.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 3, 2021, PAGE 5
More than 10,000 apply to take part in advance poll By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net MORE than 10,000 people have applied to the Parliamentary Registration Department so far to participate in the advance poll for the upcoming general election, according to acting Parliamentary Commissioner Lavado Duncanson. Last month, officials revealed some 30,000 people were eligible to cast an early vote in the advanced poll, which is set for September 9, seven days before the general election. In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Duncanson said department officials are doing all they can to make early voting registration available for eligible voters ahead of its September 4 application deadline. “We have processed approximately over 10,000 persons as of last night, just over 10,000 to date,” he said yesterday. “What we are doing is continuing to make it possible for as many persons who are eligible to apply.” Eligible voters include disabled people, people aged 65 and older, students studying abroad, embassy workers, staff members of the Ministry of Tourism, Bahamas Maritime Authority, high commission or other foreign mission staff of The Bahamas as well as their spouses among others. Nine polling sites have been identified in New Providence and four in
BATTERED street signs on the campaign trail after recent bad weather. Grand Bahama to facilitate outside to assist with the thing the Parliamentary social distancing along Registration Department early voting. will do is require that Asked what sort of those lines.” Mr Duncanson was also person to sanitise their changes voters can expect this election cycle to ensure asked about health officials’ hands before participating their safety, Mr Duncanson recommendations regard- in the said practice.” Voting in The Bahamas said: “Persons can expect ing the practice of voters the health and safety pro- dipping their fingers in ink usually entails people waittocols that are mandated given the current health ing in long lines at polling stations before casting their today. The mandatory wear- climate. However, he said health ballot. ing of the masks, our poll But many have been workers will be equipped officials have said the pracwith masks for safety use. tice can still be done once concerned that the voting There will be a sanitisation persons sanitise in advance. process may take longer “After consultations with than usual this year with of hand requirement as perhealth officials, the feed- the implementation of sons enter the poll. “There will be sanitisa- back we would’ve gotten new COVID-19 preventation of the stations that is there was a concurrence tive protocols, resulting in individuals use behind with persons sanitising their extreme overcrowding at the booth and sanitisa- hands prior to adhering to the sites. This comes at a time tion of the pencils that will that practice,” Mr Duncanbe used and there will be son added. “It’s outlined when COVID-19 infecmeasures placed on the within the Act and one tions and virus-related
hospitalisations are surging. Health unions have previously warned about the likelihood of Election Day being a super spreader event. Addressing those concerns yesterday, Mr Duncanson said his department has put in place certain measures to reduce waiting time and also to allow for a smooth process. “We’re still making available for persons to take advantage of the advanced poll which will assist with reducing some of the numbers before general election day. On general election day as was posted in The Tribune on last Monday, the nomination information
would’ve been the identification of polling stations in the various constituencies,” he said. “If you take note of the polling stations within the various constituencies, there would be a reference as to how some of the polling stations was split into category A and category B and the purpose of that was to reduce the amount of individuals in each of the polling stations and that is in an effort to assist with facilitating a smoother transition in and out of the polling stations.” Meanwhile, it is still not clear what will happen to eligible voters in quarantine or those who have tested positive for COVID-19. National Security Minister Marvin Dames, who has responsibility for elections, suggested on Tuesday that such people may not be allowed to vote. However, he said a decision has not yet been finalised as the government is still being guided by health officials. At last report, the number of registered voters totalled 194,547. However, Mr Duncanson told reporters last month that the total figure was “subject to change” as clean up exercises of the register are still ongoing. Asked for an update yesterday, he said: “The certification of the registration is scheduled to take place some 15 days after the issue of the writ and so the early part of next week, we’ll be in the position to give you the exact numbers after everything would’ve been finalised.”
‘IT WAS INHUMANE TO PUT ME IN CELL WITH COUGHING MAN’ By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A FREEPORT woman who was charged with assault is claiming “inhumane” treatment after police allegedly put her in a male cell with a coughing man and ignored her requests to be transferred. Cindy Pintard, of South Bahamia, appeared before Magistrate Simone Brown. She pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault. It is alleged that on August 30, at Freeport, Pintard assaulted Ivan Charles. She elected a summary trial. The police prosecutor did not object to bail and requested the accused not have direct or indirect contact with the virtual complainant. He asked for the matter to be adjourned to October 18. Pintard was not represented by counsel. She told the magistrate that her attorney is Wayne Munroe, but said that he was not able to attend court. She told the court that while in custody at Central Police Station, she was arrested and put in the male cell with a man, who was sick and was coughing. Pintard said she asked to be removed from that cell, but her request was ignored. She also claimed that an officer came and asked her to take her mask off against her will. Pintard said she was spoken to and treated with disrespect by the officer. She also believed that she was put at risk of possible exposure to COVID-19. “What (has happened) to me at Central Police Station was inhumane; I was put in the male cell with a man who had a severe cough. I asked to be moved, and nothing was done,” she told the court.
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“I would have to wait five days before I can take a COVID test, and then quarantine for 14 days. I don’t think I would be able to return to court on October 18,” Pintard told the magistrate. Magistrate Brown
advised Pintard to file a complaint. She adjourned the matter to November 9 and ordered Pintard not to contact the virtual complainant. Pintard was granted $3,500 bail with one or two suretors.
Funeral Services For Montoya Z. Davis, 44 affectionately called “Toya” a resident of Anderson Street off East Street who died at his residence on Friday, August 6th, 2021 will he held 11:00a.m. on Saturday, September 4th, 2021 at the Gravesite of Woodlawn Gardens Soldier Road. Bishop Eldon Scott will officiate. Relatives and friends may pay their last respects at THE CHAPEL OF MEMORIES THE NEW COMMONWEALTH FUNERAL HOME, INDEPENDENCE DRIVE on Friday from 1:00 p.m.7:00 p.m.
Devon Sawyer, 47
a resident of Freeport, Grand Bahama who died at The Princess Margaret Hospital on Wednesday, August 11th, 2021 will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 4th, 2021 at Pro Cathedral Christ The King Anglican Church, Pioneers Way, E & E Atlantic Drive Grand Bahama. Canon Norman Lightbourne will officiate. He is predeceased by his father: Dwight Sawyer; mother-in-law: Victoria Ida Oliver. Precious memories will linger in the hearts of his wife: Nicole Sawyer; children: Savannah, Devon Sawyer III, predeceased Devon Sawyer Jr.; mother: Dell Sawyer; sisters: Dawn Sawyer and Dominique Smith; brother: Dwight II Sawyer; father-in-law: Dwight Stewart; sisters-in-law: Gemma Sloan; brothersin-law: Malcolm Smith and Dillion Stewart; nieces & nephews: Dwynette Sawyer, Dwynique (Wesley) Ferguson, Dwight III, Dameko, D’Nea and Erika Sawyer; Skye Symonette and Destiny Adams; Seth Sawyer and Deja Smith; numerous aunts uncles and a host of other relatives and friends. Arrangements are being handled by THE NEW COMMONWEALTH FUNERAL HOME, INDEPENDENCE DRIVE.
PAGE 6, Friday, September 3, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
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From Arctic warming to cold wave IN FEBRUARY 2021, in the midst of rapidly warming global temperatures, an exceptionally severe cold wave hit large parts of North America, from Canada to Northern Mexico. It left ten million people without power. The impact was particularly severe in Texas, which alone had more than 125 deaths associated with the event. In the US, it was the coldest February in more than 30 years. The cold wave became the nation’s costliest winter storm on record. The freezing temperatures were associated with a dip southward in the jet stream, a band of strong winds about eight miles above Earth’s surface associated with the boundary between colder and warmer air. The jet stream flows from west to east, but that’s not the only direction in which atmospheric waves can move – they can also move up and down over large distances, and that can link the weather and climate in one region, like the Arctic, with regions elsewhere, like Texas. When you throw a rock in a pond, you see ripples – waves – expand away from the initial disturbance. While ripples on a pond are a different type of wave than dips in the jet stream, both types of waves can transmit the effects of a disturbance to faraway areas. In this case, the atmospheric waves transmitted the influence of climate change in the Arctic to parts of North America and Asia. In a study released September 2, 2021, in the journal Science, we show how that happened and how, counter to what one might expect, events like the February cold wave can actually become more likely with global warming. What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay there The Arctic is warming more rapidly than any other region, at a rate more than twice the global average. This is causing large changes in the region’s climate, including melting sea ice and, in the late fall, increasing snow cover over Siberia. Ice and snow provide an insulating layer and are highly reflective, so their changes strongly alter the amount of energy and moisture moving between the surface of the Earth and the atmosphere. The atmosphere is sensitive to changes in energy and moisture, so substantial changes provide a “kick” to the atmosphere that results in upward moving waves rippling away from the area. These waves move upward into the stratosphere and disrupt the stratospheric polar vortex, another band of fast winds that circles closer around the pole in the middle stratosphere, around 18 miles up. In response, the vortex weakens and stretches. Not only can the stratospheric vortex be changed by the waves, but the vortex can also change how the waves move, because the waves are influenced by the wind and temperature fields they move through, and the vortex helps determine those winds and temperatures.
What differentiates a vortex stretching event from larger vortex disruptions is that upward-moving waves are reflected back down to the surface, where they can influence lower-altitude weather patterns. As these downward moving waves collect at lower altitudes over North America, they create a southward dip in the jet stream, bringing cold air farther south than usual. So, the upward and downward movement of atmospheric waves over long distances – like ripples moving across a pond – can link the Arctic to other regions. Testing cause and effect We took two different approaches to identifying and examining these relationships. First, we used a machine learning, a technique in which a computer essentially trained itself to group similar events from the historical data. We then analyzed the stretched vortex events to show that, for those cases, there was a typical sequence of events: first surface temperature changes in the Arctic, then changes in the stratospheric polar vortex, followed by cold waves in North America and Asia – with vertically moving waves providing the connections over the span of a few months. The identified surface temperature changes in the Arctic are similar to those associated with the melting sea ice and increasing Siberian snow cover of Arctic climate change. We then used a computer model of the atmosphere to evaluate cause and effect and directly test how the atmosphere responds to those Arctic changes. We found that the model reproduced the observed sequence of events. The machine learning analysis of observations and the computer modeling experiments provide two independent lines of evidence supporting a pathway of influence – from Arctic climate change at the surface up to changes in the stratospheric winds, and finally back down to cold waves in North America and parts of Asia. Implications of these results Our research reinforces two crucial lessons of climate change: First, the change doesn’t have to occur in your backyard to have a big effect on you. Second, the unexpected consequences can be quite severe. In this case, large changes in the Arctic are not just a local concern – they also have wide-ranging impacts across North America and parts of Asia. And those impacts are not always what people are expecting. The results highlight another reason to rapidly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving global warming and at the same time the need to develop better strategies for managing extreme weather events, both hot and cold. • Originally published on www.theconversation.com By Mathew Barlow, University of Massachusetts Lowell and Judah Cohen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The voting rights of quarantined EDITOR, The Tribune. I WRITE in response to your column of September 1, 2021, entitled “Why is there no plan for the Quarantined?” Good question! The answers that have been offered by the “powers that be” thus far lie somewhere in the range between pathetic and paralyzed. The eligible citizen’s right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights in a democracy: in fact, it defines democracy. I have been shocked and dismayed, therefore, to listen to not one but two Cabinet Ministers – and the Chairman of the incumbent party – cavalierly and sweepingly dismiss this right, potentially disenfranchising hundreds if not thousands of Bahamian voters in the process. National Security Minister Marvin Dames, who should know better, has the gall to compare the quarantined to the incarcerated.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net No, Mr Dames, the sick are not criminals. They are not paying a debt to society, and if they are registered and wish to vote then they have a right to do so. Health Minister Renward Wells says his Ministry thinks the quarantined should not be allowed to vote because they pose a danger to the public. No, Mr Wells, your job is not to determine who may or may not vote. Your job is to find a way to facilitate access for those who are eligible. Free National Movement Chairman, Mr Carl Culmer, asks why a person in quarantine would want to “jeopardize” others: I don’t know, Mr Culmer! Why did your party call an election in the middle of a pandemic, at the height of a surge?
We have processes in place that allow Bahamian citizens living in foreign countries to cast their vote. Why can’t we find a way to allow people who want to respect public health concerns – but also want to exercise their right as citizens – to vote? If eligible citizens do not have full access to the democratic process, then the process is flawed. The Bahamas has a proud heritage as the second-oldest functioning parliamentary democracy in the Western Hemisphere. To Messrs Dames, Wells, and Culmer et al, I say: Shame on you, gentlemen! We have the processes, we have the resources, and we should have the desire to make a plan for the quarantined. Please, get it done! CATHY RAMSINGH-PIERRE Nassau, September 1, 2021
Independence of the press? EDITOR, The Tribune. I THOUGHT the press was supposed to be fair and impartial. If so, the behaviour of one media group in particular in the lead up to this election is positively shameful. It started with one of the principals of the commercial concern which owns the media group, openly touring Washington, DC, with a particular party leader, chaperoning him to some glossy but really meaningless “fluff” meetings in an apparent PR exercise
and reputation makeover attempt. Now, in the decisive weeks before the citizens of this country are to cast their vote, the coverage by this media group is becoming more and more skewed and lopsided to favour that same party. And don’t even get me started on the talking heads who they employ, who we are supposedly meant to look to for their “unbiased opinion” and “critical analysis”. It is blatantly obvious that this media group is backing a horse. I wonder, what do they believe might
be in it for them? Because this kind of biased perspective by the media is not in the interest of the public at large. It is what they call a “special interest”. But then, that is what tends to happen when big business owns the press: it goes from being a tool for furthering the public’s right to know, and turns into a weapon for swaying mass opinion so an elite few can gain an advantage. Very sad. RICARDO JOHNSON Nassau, September 2, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 3, 2021, PAGE 7
Man beat girlfriend who he blamed for getting him sick By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAGISTRATE yesterday discharged a man who assaulted his girlfriend for getting him sick during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marlon Curry was arrested after he attacked his girlfriend in a drunken rage after he woke up with a fever he believed he caught from her. He admitted the offence
during his arraignment before Magistrate Shaka Serville. The court was told that the woman told police she was assaulted by her boyfriend at their residence on August 8. The prosecution said the woman claimed Curry, who appeared to be intoxicated, asked her: “You think I does play?” before choking her. The court was told Curry then attempted to punch his girlfriend, but she blocked the
blow with her hand. After she filed her complaint, the accused was arrested and taken to the East Street South Police Station, where he admitted the offence in an interview with police. Yesterday, Curry was also accused of causing harm to his girlfriend’s daughter. However, he denied the allegation and the matter was adjourned to trial. When given an opportunity to speak, Curry told the
magistrate the incident only happened because he was angry at his girlfriend because she “brought COVID home”. He said he was being extra cautious amid the pandemic because the virus “was not a joke”. However, on the day in question, he woke up with a “hot fever” which he felt he caught from his girlfriend who was not as careful. He insisted he was remorseful for his actions and said he regretted acting in the heat of the moment.
Curry’s girlfriend was also present during his arraignment. She told the magistrate she was “very sick” on the day she got into an altercation with Curry. She said during their “scuffle” her daughter tried to intervene and was accidentally struck. She also asked the magistrate to be lenient as she did not want to go through with the matter. After listening to their explanations, Magistrate Serville told Curry even if
he was upset, his emotions were not a “permission slip to act in a fashion that would result in assault.” However, he said he considered his early guilty pleas and the fact he accepted responsibility for his actions and granted him an absolute discharge. After his case was dismissed, Curry was warned to refrain from his previous behaviour to avoid a similar incident taking place in the future.
TEEN WHO PUSHED COP TOLD TO BEHAVE By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A TEENAGER who tried to intervene in the lawful arrest of her brother must stay out of trouble for three months to avoid spending 30 days in prison. Police arrested Antonique Paul, 18, after she pushed a female police officer who attempted to arrest her brother on August 7. The prosecution said around 11am that day, officers visited Paul’s Lumumba Lane residence to detain DEONTAY Outten outside court yesterday.
Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
ATTEMPTED MURDER SUSPECT SAYS HE WAS BEATEN BY POLICE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A 22-YEAR-OLD Eight Mile Rock man who was arraigned on attempted murder charges in Freeport yesterday claimed he was brutalised in police custody. Deontay Outten, of Jones Town, Eight Mile Rock, appeared before Magistrate Simone Brown on two counts of attempted murder. He was not represented by counsel. Outten — who claimed he was in severe pain and could not stand — sat as the magistrate read him the charges.
It is alleged that on August 26, at Jones Town, Eight Mile Rock, Outten attempted to murder Alexandria Forbes. It is also alleged that on the same date and place, he attempted to murder Jefferey Simmons, Jr. He was not required to enter a plea to the charges, which are indictable offences. During the arraignment, Outten told the court he was experiencing a lot of pain and requested to see a doctor. He claimed that while in custody the police refused to take him to see a doctor when he asked. When asked by Magistrate Brown why he wanted
to see a doctor, he claimed he was experiencing some chest pain, heart problems and seeing blood in his urine. “I need to see a doctor because I feeling pain and tightening in my chest,” he said. “They don’t want me to see a doctor because they know what they do. I (peeing) blood and feeling dizzy. I asked to see a doctor from yesterday.” Magistrate Brown took a note of the complaint and ordered that Outten be taken immediately to the hospital or clinic to be seen by a doctor. He was denied bail. The matter was adjourned to December 9.
17-YEAR-OLD DENIES ASSAULT WITH KNIFE By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A TEENAGER who denied assaulting another with a deadly instrument was granted bail ahead of his trial. The 17-year-old appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after he was accused of assaulting another youngster with a knife on August 17. He pleaded not guilty and his matter was adjourned to September 20 for a fixture hearing in the juvenile court.
In the interim, the teen was granted $1,500 bail. Meanwhile, in a separate matter Patrick Carey, 27, was arrested after police said he assaulted Quentin Henchell with a handgun on May 16. He also denied the allegation during his arraignment before Magistrate McKinney and his case was adjourned to November 8 for trial. Carey was granted $5,000 bail until that time. In another case, a man who denied stealing cell phones from two people, was also released
on bail until his trial. Police arrested Shaquille Gray after he was accused of stealing a $33 Alcatel phone from a woman on August 15. He was further accused of taking a man’s $150 cell phone without permission on the same day. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of stealing during his arraignment before Magistrate Algernon Allen and his case was adjourned to September 30 for trial. Gray was released on $3,000 bail in the meantime.
her brother. The court was told that police wanted to question the young man in reference to a murder accusation. However, while they were apprehending him, Paul began acting in a disorderly manner. and pushed one of the officers. She was subsequently arrested and taken to a nearby station where she denied the offence. Yesterday, Paul admitted the offence when she appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain. During his plea in mitigation, her attorney told
the court that his client was remorseful for her actions and also noted that she was a daycare worker who had plans to attend university in the Fall. In response, Magistrate Swain said she considered Paul’s young age and her early guilty plea and granted her a conditional discharge. As part of the agreement, she must be of good behaviour for three months. Magistrate Swain warned her that if she didn’t, she could risk spending a month behind bars.
COUPLE DENY HAVING SEX IN PUBLIC By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A COUPLE accused of having sex in public are set to stand trial at the end of this month. Marvin Martin, 49, and Carol Bowe, 32, were arrested after they were accused of getting caught in the act in a car on June 15. Prosecutors said the two
also exposed an eight-year-old girl in a manner likely to cause her unnecessary suffering or injury, after they allegedly had sex in front of her. Both Martin and Bowe pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse in a public place and cruelty to children when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt in June. Their case was transferred and adjourned to September 1
for trial; however, the matter did not proceed. When the couple appeared before Magistrate Algernon Allen yesterday, he adjourned the matter to September 30 for trial. The couple’s $8,500 bail was extended until that time. They must report to the Wulff Road Police Station every Tuesday on or before 6pm until their court case.
PAGE 8, Friday, September 3, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
A parade of political promises NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that ROBENSON PHILOGENE, of Mason Addition, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 27th day of August, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that ANDIEU ETIENNE GABRIEL, of Dignity Gardens, P.O. Box EE6051 Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 27th day of August, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that JULIE AUGUSTIN SIMON of Hanna Hill, Eight Mile Rock, Freeport, Grand Bahama s applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 3rd day of September, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that JUNA JEAN ABSOLU, of Flamingo Garden, CR-5603 Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 26th day of August, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
THIS week, as we draw closer to Election Day, the political promises were on full display. School lunches? Check. Land for unions? Check. A different kind of governance? Check. One hundred thousand dollars for each Bahamian? Check. Let’s begin. Doable Promises This week, in what was billed as a big speech by the Prime Minister, we learned that a Minnis administration, should they be elected for a second term, would provide free food for Bahamian students. To say this is a big deal is an understatement. The truth is, should Doc and company be re-elected, they are now promising to provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks for all Bahamian students. The thought of all Bahamian students receiving a “free lunch” actually warms my heart. How much better would our students in the public school sector perform were they not
A Comic’s View
By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA
deprived of a hot breakfast and lunch? This, I argue, would help our students perform at a level before unseen. I know that there are many persons sceptical of Doc’s ability to pull this off, but if he were able to do this, along with ensuring we have enough vaccines to cover the whole country is all he did in a potential next term, he would have done something so transformative that our children’s children would benefit. So I give Dr Minnis an A+ on the promise, and hope it becomes a reality no matter who wins on September 16th. Empty Super Value for the sake of the kids. This is a good idea.
Less Doable Promises I know the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has received a lot of flack for promising land to the unions in exchange for their support. If we’re honest, this is not really doable. For one, the unions cannot guarantee the support of their members, which I’m sure is diverse. Secondly, it’s messy for a political party to strike this kind of deal in the first place. According to Peter Goudie, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) labour division chief, ‘that the pledge to double the redundancy pay ceiling from 12 to 24 months could inflict
an astronomical cost on struggling businesses at a time when the country was reeling from its worst-ever economic and fiscal crisis,’ as reported by this paper. Why would Philip “Brave” Davis and the PLP enter into an agreement that is not only disavowed by many unions, but also has the potential to bankrupt businesses? Honestly, I don’t know. It may sound good to PLP politicians but would surely inspire the ire of many Bahamians. I’m gradin’ this promise as ‘less doable.’ But should the PLP win, I guess the Unions would get Andros land for their headquarters. Regular Promises For their part, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) is promising nothing but good governance. In today’s Bahamas, where constituents expect ‘that Lil ting’ rolled up in a T-shirt, this is most unorthodox. In a world not crowded by grand dreams of becoming millionaires overnight from our natural resources, the DNA would certainly have a winning message. Unfortunately, promising what the country needs, as opposed to what Bahamians want, just may not be enough this time around. Unrealistic Pipe Dreams The Coalition of Independents (COI) made their name promising each Bahamian a cheque for one hundred thousand dollars. Now as far as election promises go, this is a big whopper. And totally undoable. Perhaps that is why we haven’t heard much about this pipe dream in recent weeks. Nevertheless, the COI continues to skate by on momentum garnered for this “Big Lie”. Make no mistake, whomever wins control of the government come September 16 will have a monumental task in front of them. But if you are voting for the Coalition in hopes of becoming an overnight thousandaire, please think again. There will be many promises Bahamians have to evaluate. But more than a promise, we need to assess who can deliver. Just remember, the bigger the campaign promise, the less likely the chance for it to come to fruition. We know how Bahamians go. You have been warned.
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THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 3, 2021, PAGE 9
The good, the bad and the unfinished of the current government By Diane Phillips
I PROMISED myself his audience: “Successive when I started writing this governments even before we column four years ago that I had political parties saw fit to would stay away from poli- preserve our environment.” tics. In close to 200 columns He recalled legislation dating since, I’ve held politics at back to the Sea Gardens Act arm’s length except on that of 1898, but his main mesrare occasion when dis- sage was a frightening one cussion of policy trumped and he repeated as often as distance from party. he could. If we don’t curb our No one knows what is appetite for fossil fuels, we going to happen in the will lose the most important upcoming election. But I war we have ever faced, the do know this. There are a battle against climate change. few things that happened He wrote – yes, he wrote – for the good and a few that a compendium of bills that were ignored over the last together became a sweeping four and a half years and legislative agenda to establish both of those categories an environmental protection deserve a brief mention. agency and support it with The good: Agriculture strong regulations. and Marine Resources The good and bad: There Minister Michael Pintard were horrendous issues took a strong stance to pro- when the new environmentect marine tal protection resources and ‘Romauld ‘Romi’ legislation was whether you first impleFerreira took like the restricmented,hold-ups tive fishing the environment in developpolicies or not, and made it ment permits, Pintard stood a stranglehold up for those non-political. In on research resources that school assemblies projects and do not have and on every scientific a voice of exploration their own. He radio show that vessels. At would give him understood one point, we could go air time, Ferreira hundreds the way of the awaited a Florida Keys told his audience: permit as to the north “Successive the office or Turks and governments even with its newCaicos to the found powers south and run before we had attempted to out of conch political parties review each before we ran saw fit to preserve thoroughly. out of a desire But that for conch our environment”.’ hiccup ended salad. He also and many of reintroduced the vessels farming and gave backyard that once said they were farming a credibility, respect- conducting research and ability and boost – and the were actually here for far seeds to go with it. Thumbs more lucrative commercial up for substantive policy. purposes were subjected to The bad: Not one thing the scrutiny they deserved. happened in the way of The bad: Opportunity exploding tacky signage to create a fixed date for that instantly impacts the national elections slipped physical environment. This through the cracks one does not include political more time. That’s like putsignage that is temporary. ting a chicken in the oven, I’m talking about com- turning it on and hoping it mercial crap all over utility will be done whenever you poles, trees, snipe signs and choose to take it out. on billboards in residential The good: A whittling neighbourhoods now in away at the corruption at front of Blair, along Eastern Customs & Immigration, Road and Montagu where started by Brent Symonette there never used to be sig- and aggressively pursued nage. You don’t see that in by Elsworth Johnson who Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay as minister increased comor Ocean Club Estates, but puterisation for tracking I guess the rest of us don’t applications, moved more deserve the same respect. records to a secure location The good: Romauld and had the courage to dis‘Romi’ Ferreira took the miss a few people. environment and made The bad: The growing it non-political. In school numbers of COVID-19 assemblies and on every patients exposing the radio show that would give frailty of the health care him air time, Ferreira told system with still little
ONE of the good things to praise - the work by volunteers, nurses, and more organising and administering vaccines - former Labour director John Pinder pictured here receiving his shot. understanding of where the PHA money goes. The good: All the volunteers from Rotary, Kiwanis and other service clubs, the Governor General’s Volunteer Bahamas, nurses, medical technicians and individuals who gave thousands of hours organising and administering vaccines. The bad: Obesity and poor lifestyle habits continued unabated. A nation of people who hold world records in diabetes and fast food consumption seems oblivious to the connection. The bad: Still no passage of the Integrity Commission Bill, standard financial procurements procedures for all agencies, full funding, staffing and operations of FOIA, campaign finance legislation or full transparency. The good: ORG, Organisation for Responsible Governance, is watching. And the round of applause goes to: All those frontline workers in the battle against COVID and those in Abaco who are still rebuilding two years after Dorian.
BY DAY, Roderick Wells was a plumber, the number one plumber for Resorts Int’l and the early days of Atlantis. No one knew the insides of the original hotels like he did or could fix anything like he could. He was a legend. But it was what he did when the work day was over that makes him worth remembering with gratitude and admiration. He was Michael Wells’ father, a job that never came with a punch card. Michael was born with cerebral palsy, a quadriplegic with a brilliant mind trapped in a body that refused to function. He could control nothing beneath his neck, was not able to feed or dress himself, pull a cover up if he were cold or even ask someone to do it for him. He could hear, but not speak. Despite the odds, Michael just screwed up his determination and made a success
as Mr Wells chattered away and watched Michael’s face light up in a grin. In the last several years, Mr Wells’ health deteriorated. He wandered in and out of Michael’s room as if he were searching for something in the past that could make him the centre of Michael’s universe again. Sometimes Michael would get upset or shed a tear just looking at the once robust, talkative full of life and vim and vinegar man who could be a bit rough on others but always treated Michael like a king on a throne that just happened to look like a wheelchair. Mr Wells died August 20 from plain old age, tired of life and aches and pains, but never tired of being Michael’s father, the job he kept forever and from which only death signalled his retirement.
REMEMBERING RODERICK WELLS of himself. He taught himself how to read and write, using first a unicorn stick on a band around his forehead, later a laser beam connecting to software moving a keyboard-like screen. He wrote book after book of short stories and continues to write them. He is the subject of the documentary by Kareem Mortimer “I am not a dummy”. Roderick Wells’ job, his really important job, was being Michael’s father. Several nights a week he would come home from work, lift Michael into the car, take him for a drive. He’d talk politics or whatever was on his mind and Michael would listen, and he knew that his father loved him more than life itself. On the weekends, he would drive him to Fish Fry, Gambier or Adelaide for their favourite conch fritters and more one-way conversation
PAGE 10, Friday, September 3, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
New Texas abortion law pushes women to out-of-state clinics
By IRIS SAMUELS Associated Press/ Report for America EVEN before a strict abortion ban took effect in Texas this week, clinics in neighboring states were fielding growing numbers of calls from women desperate for options. An Oklahoma clinic had received more than double its number of typical inquiries, two-thirds of them from Texas. A Kansas clinic is anticipating a patient increase of up to 40% based on calls from women in Texas. A Colorado clinic that already had started seeing more patients from other states was preparing to ramp up supplies and staffing in anticipation of the law taking effect. The Texas law, allowed to stand in a decision Thursday by the US Supreme Court, bans abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, typically around six weeks. In a highly unusual twist, enforcement will be done by private citizens who can sue anyone they believe is violating the law. “There’s real panic about how are they going to get an abortion within six weeks,” said Anna Rupani, co-director of Fund Texas Choice, one of several nonprofits that help pay for travel and other expenses for patients seeking out-of-state abortions. “There’s this fear that if I can’t get it done in six weeks, I may not be able to get it done because I may not be able to leave
TOP, anti-abortion protesters wait outside the Supreme Court in June and, above, pro-life demonstrators in March gather in the rotunda at the Capitol while the Senate debated anti-abortion bills in Austin, Texas. my job or my family for more than a day.” Traveling for an abortion may be impossible for women who would struggle to find child care or take time off work. And for those without legal US status along Texas’ southern border, traveling to an abortion clinic also entails the risk of getting stopped at a checkpoint. Fund Texas Choice is among the groups seeking to expand a network that helps women in Texas and other places with restrictive abortion laws end their pregnancies in other states. It already has seen more women reaching out. The organization typically handles 10 new cases per week but received 10 calls from new clients just Wednesday, when the law
took effect. The phenomenon is not new. Women have been increasingly seeking out-of-state abortions as Republican legislatures and governors have passed ever-tighter abortion laws, particularly in the South. At least 276,000 women terminated their pregnancies outside their home state between 2012 and 2017, according to a 2019 Associated Press analysis of state and federal data. The trend appears to have accelerated over the past year. Abortion clinics in neighboring states began seeing an uptick in calls from Texas after Gov. Greg Abbott banned abortions in March 2020 for nearly a month under a COVID-19 executive order.
The number of Texans seeking abortions in Planned Parenthood clinics in the Rocky Mountain region, which covers Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and southern Nevada, was 12 times higher that month. In California, 7,000 patients came from other states to Planned Parenthood clinics in 2020. The number of Texans getting abortions in Kansas jumped from 25 in 2019 to 289 last year. The Trust Women clinic in Wichita accounted for 203 of those procedures in a three-month period. Those patients traveled an average of 650 miles (1,000 kilometers), Trust Women spokesman Zack Gingrich-Gaylord said. “Last year was a dress
rehearsal,” he said, predicting similar numbers under the new Texas law. One woman discovered she was pregnant just as Abbott’s emergency order banning abortions was lifted. She and her partner had lost their jobs in San Antonio during the pandemic. “We didn’t know which way the world was going to go with everything shut down and no change in sight,” said Miranda, who spoke on the condition that only her first name be used for fear of harassment and intimidation. “The last thing I wanted to do was be pregnant.” She struggled to find an abortion clinic that could help her. An online search led her to Fund Texas Choice and the Lilith Fund, another organization that offers financial assistance to Texans seeking abortions. They offered to pay for a flight to New Mexico. “It’s so comforting because it’s like someone saying, ‘We got you. Let’s take care of this together,’” Miranda said. Eventually, she found an appointment at a clinic in Dallas, a five-hour drive away. The groups helped with gas and lodging, aid that will be even more important with the new law, Miranda said. “To be able to help me in a time of need when I had nothing, not even a job — that’s something I think a lot of women would benefit from if they knew those options were there,” she said. Trust Women Wichita
clinic director Ashley Brink said the phones have been busier than normal this week with potential patients from Texas and beyond. Women also have been calling from Louisiana and Alabama who would typically get abortion care in Texas but are having to travel even farther. The clinic typically sees 40 to 50 abortion patients in a week and now is expecting an additional 15 to 20. At Trust Women’s clinic in Oklahoma City, 80 appointments were scheduled over the past two days, more than double the typical amount, co-executive director Rebecca Tong said. Twothirds were from Texas, and the earliest opening was three weeks out. “Oklahoma has just barely enough clinics for the amount of people here,” Tong said. “If anyone is thinking, ‘Oh, they can just go out of state, it’ll be so easy,’ a lot of clinics in the Midwest and South, we don’t do abortion care five days a week.” In recent months, 15% of patients supported by Cobalt, an abortion access advocacy group in Colorado, were from out of state, president Karen Middleton said. She expects that number to keep rising. The group administers a fund to cover the cost of the procedure, travel, lodging and meals. It began preparing for a potential influx of patients from Texas several weeks ago.
VIRGIN GALACTIC FLIGHTS ON HOLD OVER SAFETY PROBE CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida Associated Press
THE Federal Aviation Administration said yesterday that Virgin Galactic cannot launch anyone into space again until an investigation is complete into a mishap that occurred during July’s flight with founder Richard Branson. The ban came as Virgin
Galactic announced plans to launch three Italian researchers to the edge of space in a few weeks. The FAA said the rocketship carrying Branson and five Virgin Galactic employees veered off course during its descent back to New Mexico on July 11. The deviation put the ship outside the air traffic control clearance area. The FAA is
overseeing the probe; it’s responsible for protecting the public during commercial launches and reentries. Crew safety, on the other hand, is outside its jurisdiction. Virgin Galactic insisted yesterday that Branson and everyone else on board were never in any added danger. “Virgin Galactic may not return the SpaceShipTwo vehicle to flight
until the FAA approves the final mishap investigation report or determines the issues related to the mishap do not affect public safety,” the FAA said in a statement. Virgin Galactic acknowledged the space plane dropped below the protected airspace for one minute and 41 seconds. The spacecraft’s free-flying portion of the up-and-down
flight lasted about 15 minutes and reached an altitude of 53.5 miles. Virgin Galactic said high-altitude wind caused the change in flight path and insisted the two pilots “responded appropriately.” In a statement, the company said the flight was “a safe and successful test flight that adhered to our flight procedures and training protocols.”
“At no time were passengers and crew put in any danger as a result of this change in trajectory,” the company noted. Branson ended up beating fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos — founder of Amazon as well as rocket company Blue Origin — into space by nine days. Bezos launched July 20 with three others from West Texas.