09092020 NEWS AND SPORT

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VOLUME:117 No.197, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2020

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INSIDE: BUMPER PUZZLE PULLOUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY

JUSTICE - AFTER TEN YEARS LOCKED AWAY Now man innocent of any crime wants $27m in damages

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court judge has ruled in favour of a Jamaican man who spent nearly a decade unlawfully detained in prison and the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, despite the fact he was never convicted of a single crime.

Matthew Sewell, who was first detained at just 18 years old, spent nine years and nine months falsely imprisoned. He is now seeking $27m in damages.

In 2006, he was accused of raping a six-year-old girl and was detained at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services for

SEE PAGE EIGHT

NO OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS MADE ON PMH CARE ISSUES

two years before he was granted bail in 2008. Three years later, he was once again charged with rape and remained in custody for over four years without trial.

In August 2013, Mr Sewell was granted bail and the rape charges from 2006 and 2009 were dismissed.

Still, two months later, he was arrested in connection to a housebreaking incident.

While on bail for that charge, Mr Sewell was informed he was wanted for murder and taken back into custody, although he was never formally charged with that offence.

SEE PAGE TWO

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said yesterday his ministry has yet to receive any “direct” or “written” complaints from patients alleging mistreatment from staff at Princess Margaret Hospital or other medical facilities.

Still, he said health officials are investigating the claims.

“We’ve not received any direct complaints, written complaints but the ministry is looking into it.”

SEE PAGE THREE

CARNIVAL UNAWARE OF ITS SHIPS DAMAGING SEABED

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net A MAJOR cruise line has said it is unaware of any issues with its ships related to allegations of seabed and marine life damage caused by vessels sheltering in Bahamian waters near the Berry Islands.

In a statement to The Tribune yesterday, Roger Frizzell, Carnival’s senior vice president & chief communications officer, said while the corporation was not aware of issues in this regard, the cruise line is committed to the protection of ecological habitats.

“We are not aware of any such issue with our ships. We file daily ship plans with the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) and closely follow our stated plans,” Mr Frizzell said. “We do not use restricted areas.

“Our top priorities are compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and welfare of our guests and crew members, along with the destinations we visit. We are committed to working with Bahamian officials to further the protection of ecological habitats and will continue to cooperate fully in this effort.”

SEE PAGE FOUR

NO MORE ‘PAPI’ STORIES PLEASE, PRIME MINISTER

‘ABACO CRIME DOWN? MORE AN EPIDEMIC’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE SHOW GOES ON BAHAMIAN artist and graphic designer Cydne Coleby, who specialises in mixed media collages, is finding success overseas, with showings of her work in Paris and London, even during the pandemic. See Weekend on Friday for the full story.

ABACO business and community leaders yesterday said they were “dumbfounded” The Bahamas’ top police officer would refute a crime “epidemic”.

Roscoe Thompson, the Marsh Harbour/Spring City Council’s head, and Ken Hutton, the Chamber of Commerce president, both said the 39 percent crime decline reflected many Abaconians had given up reporting such incidents.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

THREE-POINT PLAN TO BOOST NURSE NUMBERS TECHNOLOGY

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

WITH the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to strain healthcare workers, Health Minister Renward Wells said the government is hoping to hire nurses from abroad to aid in the fight.

According to the minister this is just one of three solutions the Minnis administration is working on in an effort to strengthen the

MINISTER of Health Renward Wells country’s response against the pandemic and also, resolve nurse shortage issues.

He said while one option includes bringing in medical workers from countries like India and the Philippines, another includes speeding up the examination process for student nurses so they could be quickly introduced into the health care system.

His comments come as healthcare workers continue to struggle with exhaustion from the increasing amount of COVID cases.

SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

ELON MUSK WANTS INSIDE YOUR BRAIN

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, September 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Justice - after ten years locked away from page one After denying the allegations of housebreaking in 2014, a magistrate also dismissed that particular case, but Mr Sewell was taken back to prison instead of being discharged for the crime.

He is currently suing the government for damages related to arbitrary and unlawful detention, battery, assault, malicious prosecution and breaches of his fundamental rights under the Constitution.

On Monday, Justice Ruth Bowe-Darville struck out the government’s defence and scheduled a hearing on October 28 for the assessment of damages.

In addition to the interest and costs he is claiming, Mr Sewell is also requesting $27m in damages.

His attorney, Fred Smith, QC, said his client is asking to be awarded $8.9m for false imprisonment, $2.6m for assault and battery, $5m for punitive damages, $3m for aggravated damages, $5m for constitutional vindicatory damages and $3m for malicious prosecution.

Speaking about his client’s court victory, Mr Smith told The Tribune he believes Mr Sewell’s case is just the “tip of the iceberg” as it relates to human rights abuse cases.

“We are very pleased that the court has given judgment in favour of Mr Sewell in relation to his claims of abuse over the nine years and nine months,” he said.

“To put this in perspective,

MATTHEW Sewell yesterday after being released in 2015, pictured with his lawyer, Fred Smith, left.

Mr Smith said Mr Sewell “This young man has has suffered tremendously been forever scarred by at the hands of his wrongful the inhumane and degradincarceration and has had ing treatment he received his nose broken and one of for nearly 10 years in the his eyes nearly gouged out, clutches of a system of instiin addition to experiencing tutionalised civil crimes repeated beatings, while against humanity,” Mr Smith in prison. He also said Mr stated. “This kind of case Sewell has since been diag- reflects savagery, ignorance nosed with post-traumatic and inhumanity which really stress disorder (PTSD) and is internationally embarrassschizophrenia. ing to The Bahamas.”

the court has held that Mr Sewell was falsely imprisoned for 3,568 days illegally.

That is a chunk of nearly a decade stolen from Mr Sewell at the age of 18-years-old until he was 28.

It baffles a civilised mind to think that between the government, prison, police and immigration authorities, Mr Sewell’s rights were repeatedly abused.”

He added: “The government failed to make discovery, they failed to abide by the court orders, they failed to file any witness statements and so the court struck out their defence. “(They) should not complain about large awards because it is in their power to stop the police, the immigration and the

defence force from abusing people. In this awakened state of Black Lives Matter that has fired the world, I hope The Bahamas government takes heed to implement proper training and disciplinary action to stop this out-of-control train that continues to abuse people’s rights day in and day out in The Bahamas.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 9, 2020, PAGE 3

Doctor criticises lack of COVID treatment at Rand

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A WELL-KNOWN private physician in Freeport has criticised the lack of treatment for COVID patients hospitalised at the Rand.

Dr Kevin Bethel has claimed patients are being discharged from hospital with “no basic treatment”, and still experience some symptoms, and complications such as reduced lung function and stroke. He also noted there are cases of reinfection.

The doctor said COVID can cause a 30 percent reduction in lung function, but that treatment with Acetylcysteine, which can be obtained as a prescription, or over the counter, is cheap and effective in treating the disease.

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

Other prescription drug options are Persantine, Soliris, and hydroxychloroquine, Dr Bethel said.

Dr Lockhart said COVID positive patients and suspects admitted to the hospital are only receiving “supportive care.”

“Most of the care COVID patients, positive and suspects, are receiving now is supportive care, in absence of any definitive treatment that we have available,” he said.

“A lot of them who require treatment as such usually get oxygen of some kind, whether it is something to supplement or high-level ventilation; a few require intubation, but very

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis visiting the Rand Hospital in Grand Bahama on Monday. few in GB; and hydration.

That is the extent of treatment for COVID, but there is also the concern of superimposed infections, and that usually results in additional antibiotic therapy where there is the concern of possible bacterial infections.”

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

In response to this, Dr Freeman Lockhart, Chief of Services, Surgery, and Consultant at Rand Memorial Hospital agreed antibiotics

are not effective for any viral infection. But he said: “You have to keep in mind in the case of COVIDrelated patient case there is always the concern of possible bacterial infection. And where clinicians are concern about a possible bacterial infection, they will always initiate bacterial treatment which is antibiotics.”

Concerning complications caused by COVID-19, Dr Lockhart said there are vascular complications as it relates to COVID infections that can cause delayed complications such as vasculitis, and also the lung infection that results from the scarring from COVID

that later causes difficulty with breathing and problems with ventilation as a result of underlying COVID infections.

“Those are some of the complications that we are seeing and reading about and we anticipate down the road for patients who have COVID infection,” he said.

During the Prime Minister’s visit to Freeport on Monday Dr Lockhart, Chief of Services he reported that there are currently10 cases in total in hospital on Grand Bahama. Of those, he said seven are positive patients and three are COVID suspects who are awaiting results.

He said: “What we are seeing in GB… since midlate July which would have been the start of the second surge in GB to present, is a 75 percent drop in COVIDrelated cases presenting to the emergency room. That is quite significant since mainly, the number of hospital beds is not at risk.”

“We were at a point in late July and early August where we were concerned about the capacity here in GB,” he said. And that’s when we saw a maximum of COVID-related cases, both positive and suspected cases, and our capacity was not able to sustain the number of patients.

“We are thankful for what we are seeing now is a decline in patients. As a result, concern as it relates to capacity in GB has settled.”

As of September 4, 2020, there have been 584 cases of COVID-19 recorded on Grand Bahama. After July 1 following the reopening of the borders, Grand Bahama had experienced an exponential surge in coronavirus infections, and at one point had surpassed the number of cases in New Providence, and was classified as a hot spot for coronavirus infections due to increased community spread at the time.

THREE-POINT PLAN TO BOOST NURSE NUMBERS from page one

“We’re looking on moving on three tracts right now in regard to nurses,” he told reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

“We have about 54 student nurses who would’ve come through the programme who need to sit the final programme.

We’re seeking with the Nurses Board to be able to have them sit that exam hopefully by the end of September and that amount of nurses, whoever passes we will bring into the system.”

He added: “Then there’s the circumstance of looking at nurses abroad whether they are from India or from the Philippines or Israel.

I know that there were a number of overtures that were sent out to the international community prior to COVID because there was a need for some hundred nurses prior to COVID from what I’m understanding and so we’re moving on that tract.

“And then the third tract is to look at circumstance and an immediate injection of individuals. I don’t know whether it will be

Cuba because at the end of the day, there is a language issue there and we wouldn’t want to compound our problems anymore in the healthcare system other than what we already have because we are seeking to be able address the issues with COVID as best as we can.”

The decision to hire foreign nurses is not a new one for the country, the health minister maintained.

However, Mr Wells said if there are Bahamian healthcare workers abroad wishing to return home and aid the country’s efforts

NO OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS MADE ON PMH CARE ISSUES from page one

“I know the staff at PMH had a meeting yesterday (Monday) on those kinds of circumstances on social media,” he told reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

His comments come after several maternity patients took to social media over the weekend documenting their “unpleasant” experience at the hospital during and after childbirth amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some have alleged mistreatment and discrimination from nurses due to COVID-19 fears.

And one woman told The Tribune recently she is looking for answers after her 20-year-old daughter, who had COVID-19, died in Princess Margaret Hospital shortly after giving birth.

Similar allegations were made about other cases on Facebook.

Some on social media have even said they have written letters to health officials concerning their complaints but have yet to receive a response.

Responding to the claims yesterday, Mr Wells insisted that the only letter he received was from a mother requesting permission for her child to travel abroad

for emergency medical treatment.

“I’ve not received any letter from any individual other than a mother whose child, that was recently delivered about a week ago, whose child needed emergency heart surgery and there was the opportunity made for this child to be able to go to the United States to be able to have that life-saving surgery,” he insisted.

“I signed off that letter as minister of health for the air ambulance to deliver that child. That child was delivered yesterday into Miami.

That is the only letter I have received in regard to health care and health issues.”

He added: “But let me say, the issues that we see in social media, obviously anyone who has a heart as the prime minister would say. . .your heart would go out too, there’s that sense of compassion.

“And you know as a father and as a husband who has lost children, just seeing the story brought back my own circumstances and as such PHA, I believe the managing director would have spoken to the issue and to the fact that we’re looking into it.”

Mr Wells also reminded the Bahamian public “to keep in mind” that the

country’s healthcare system is being strained. However, he said it never bodes “well” with him whenever he hears about someone losing their life. “…I think the Bahamian people also ought to keep in mind that given where we’re at, the staff itself within the medical community throughout the country both in the public and private sector is stretched you know,” he said.

“Hearing the kind of things that we’re hearing in regards to the loss of life, it doesn’t sit well with them and it certainly doesn’t sit well with me and we’re going to do all we can to continue to preserve the life of the Bahamian people.

“Doctors have taken the hippocratic oath which they seek to always in every circumstance that they do all that they can to ensure that life continues.”

On Sunday, Public Hospital Authority managing director Catherine Weech told The Tribune that PHA was investigating all the allegations, insisting that the organisation does not take such claims lightly.

However, she said management must do its due diligence before putting out public statements on specific claims.

against COVID-19, the ministry would more than welcome them.

“We’ve done this in the past,” he said. “We’ve brought in Filipino nurses, nurses from India, we’ve brought in doctors from abroad so this is a normal course of business that The Bahamas has been doing even before we became an independent nation.

“But if we can find Bahamians who are willing to return home and help assist us in this national effort, by all means, we would welcome them.”

Mr Well also said the

government plans to hire 29 junior doctors to help aid the country’s fight against the COVID-19 threat, a decision made in response to the amount of stress being put on the health professionals.

“We are hiring 29 doctors, SHOs (senior house officers). The government of The Bahamas made the decision to do that,’ he said.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a sense of fear and uncertainty among nurses.

Officials have even previously told this newspaper that workers “feel burnt

out” and “discouraged from volunteering their services” due to the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recommendations presented to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis last week, seen by The Tribune, the Bahamas Nurses Union appealed for a worker’s compensation system established to ensure nurses receive the best medical care and treatment in the event of COVID-19 infection.

This system would feature medical and indemnity benefits.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, September 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

PLP opposes amalgamated schools on Mayaguana

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE official opposition is calling the government’s decision to amalgamate the public schools on Mayaguana “a regressive education policy”, but the director of education says the decision was made to maximise the government’s resources.

Yesterday, PLP senator and the opposition’s spokesman for education, Dr Michael Darville issued a statement lambasting the government for the decision, saying the parents and stakeholders in the community of Mayaguana are opposed to it.

“I again note the continued demonstrations by parents and stakeholders in the community of Mayaguana on Monday, September 7 in strong opposition to the confusion being caused by the government’s decision to ‘amalgamate’ the public school system there,” Dr Darville’s statement read.

“The government’s proposed amalgamation of

the primary and secondary public schools in Mayaguana is widely regarded in the local community as a regressive education policy and a move backwards to the outdated ‘all age school’ education system.”

Director of Education Marcellus Taylor said the decision to amalgamate was made based on the population on Mayaguana and the number of school aged children on that island.

“In many of the southern islands of The Bahamas, we have had diminished enrolment in schools as the communities have diminished populations. Places are becoming more urbanised, people leave the rural areas and go to the urban areas. And, because that happens, we have the challenge of getting resources in place to offer the type and quality of service we would’ve liked,” Mr Taylor explained.

“Now when we look at the school age population in Mayaguana, what we have there is a school enrolment of 39 children. And, we are utilising a building that has historically accommodated that amount of

students when it was based on only one settlement.

We are not of the opinion that we will have any problems accommodating the students. In addition to the school building that is there, we are using one of the buildings that is in the community. So this process of amalgamating schools is to maximise the resources that we have.”

Dr Darville also has a problem with the building proposed for the amalgamation. In addition to that, he doubts it will be ready for the October 5 opening of school.

“Also, the proposed refurbished site in Pirate’s Well - the old lodge hall building - is inadequate, not COVID-19 compliant and the refurbishment cannot be completed in time for school opening,” Dr Darville’s statement continued.

“Additionally, the proposed administration building at the closed high school location in Abraham’s Bay is considered too inaccessible to the general public.”

Mr Taylor explained that Mayaguana originally had two schools - one in Abraham’s Bay

and one in Pirate’s Well.

The amalgamated primary and secondary schools will now operate out of Pirate’s Well and the Abraham’s Bay school will now become offices for the island administrator who was looking for a space to operate.

“The teacher resource is the first and most important thing we look at; that we have to ensure that we have sufficient teachers to cover the student enrolment and also the physical plant and our ability to maintain it and to outfit it with all the things we feel they need to put in place. Amalgamating the school is one of the ways in which you do that,” he said.

“We are in the process of renovating and refurbishing the building to make sure it can accommodate any overflow that we may have. We are quite confident and satisfied that what we are doing is in the best interest of the education and also the community.

There are some people that claim that this isn’t working for them, but when you look at what the claims are, it’s not a claim

against amalgamation, it’s a claim against the choice of site.”

Mr Taylor said the Ministry of Education is confident that it will be able to accommodate the children at the school by one of the three models – complete virtual, complete face to face or a hybrid. Whichever model is suitable at the time, he said, the ministry will employ.

He also said: “The government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has to operate as the government ought to.

On the next end, people complain about this and that but we have to maximise the resources that we have. The government of The Bahamas has its limitations. It has a capacity and if we keep just using the resources lavishly and irresponsibly it creates problems for us as a country, down the road.

“Look at government revenue in Mayaguana. I guarantee you, what we spend on just education alone is two or three times what the government takes in as revenue in Mayaguana. That doesn’t mean

we shouldn’t be providing the service, but what it does mean is that we should be judicious in the way in which we provide those services so that we can maximise the resources we have.”

In his statement, Dr Darville called upon Mayaguana representative Miriam Emmanuel to respond to “the plight of her constituents”.

When contacted, MICAL MP Miriam Emmanuel said she was aware of the concerns.

“There is always, in my view, some justifiable reasons whether you accept it or not, why schools or some other project may not be completed at the particular time,” she said.

“I can assure you that whatever the situation is concerning the schools on Mayaguana, the matter is receiving urgent attention.

The children of Mayaguana and education are of great importance to this government, the minister and myself. The schools will be completed in time as education is very vital to the development of our children and our nation.”

CARNIVAL UNAWARE OF ITS SHIPS DAMAGING SEABED

A NUMBER of ships shown off the Berry Islands on Monday - including Carnival and Celebrity vessels. from page one Carnival said it has ten ships in the area, but none of its vessels are in the Berry Islands’ waters.

The government has not named any cruise line as responsible for the seabed damage. However, a marine vessel tracking website, marinetraffic.com currently shows several vessels anchored near Great Harbour Cay. Several Celebrity ships are positioned nearest to that cay, while several other Carnival ships are nearby, according to that website.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, parent company of Celebrity Cruises, also insisted its ships were in compliance.

In a statement to The Tribune last night, the company said: “Royal Caribbean Group has a strong commitment to environmental stewardship built on a culture of adherence to strict company policies, practices and regulations and a focus on continuous improvement. We are aware that unconfirmed claims have been made related to possible sea floor damage involving vessel activity in the vicinity of the Berry Islands in The Bahamas.

“We have conducted a complete review of the documentation for vessels sheltering in the waters of The Bahamas as well as our associated policies to reaffirm that we are in compliance and also to identify

opportunities for further enhancements. We have communicated with our marine operations teams to reinforce the importance of the safety and environmental requirements needed to operate our vessels in Bahamian waters.

“As a vested Bahamas tourism partner, we share and understand concerns regarding any potential environmental impact to the country’s marine resources and will cooperate fully with authorities in order to effectively assess the situation and develop further preventative action as necessary.”

Damage to marine life and the seabed was brought to light on Sunday when the government released a statement confirming an investigation into the situation was underway.

According to a joint statement from Minister of Agriculture Michael Pintard and Minister of the Environment Romauld Ferreira on Sunday, an initial dive, while limited in scope, showed significant damage to the marine environment allegedly caused by ship anchors.

The statement said a team was urgently putting together a comprehensive assessment to determine the extent of the damage and quantify the value of the damage and the potential remediation costs. Steps are also being taken, the ministers said, to determine gaps that existed in standard operating procedures, policies

or legislation that allowed this situation to occur and engage those responsible so that they take corrective actions.

The statement noted that over the last few days the ministries responsible for marine resources and the environment were made aware of possible damage to the marine environment due to vessels sheltering in Bahamian territory.

“The alarming claims prompted various government ministries and agencies to meet, discuss and determine the accuracy of the claims and to formulate an emergency plan of action in the event such claims were accurate,” the ministers said.

Following this revelation, local environmental watchdogs said they want the government’s investigation into the alleged damage by cruise ships to be “quick” and “public”.

Groups reEarth and Save the Bays made the appeal on Monday.

Sam Duncombe, speaking on behalf of the groups, said even with the cruise ship industry closed, the Bahamian people and marine environment continue to suffer.

In a statement Monday she said: “Even with the cruise industry shut down, the environment of the Bahamas is being degraded and its people harmed. We are now part of a global network of citizen groups in countries worldwide demanding an end to ‘business as usual’. In the

Bahamas, we are calling for an environmental impact assessment so we can make smart decisions about how to restart the industry in the coming years.

“We support the pledge last week of Prime Minister Minnis to ‘build back better’ after Dorian and hopefully now after COVID, but we must not do so blindly. Let’s take six months, employ the best local and international experts, share initial findings, and consult with the public. Then the government can chart a course towards an economic recovery that it is sustainable,” she added.

In her statement, Ms Duncombe said local fishermen describe the damage as equivalent to a “bulldozer” driving across the ocean floor.

According to Ms Duncombe, on September 4, Eric Carey, executive director of the Bahamas National Trust, received a voice note from fishermen in the Berry Islands reporting significant damage to the seafloor from cruise ships’ massive anchors and chains dragging across the seabed.

Two miles west of Little Stirrup renamed Coco Cay, a private cruise port operated by Royal Caribbean, there are 15-18 cruise ships anchored in Bahamian waters spaced two to three miles apart, the fishermen have said, adding the anchors are dragging along the seafloor and the ships have to be repositioned, she said.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 9, 2020, PAGE 5

NEMA: BE READY FOR PEAK OF HURRICANE SEASON

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE National Emergency Management Agency is urging all residents to remain prepared as the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is approaching.

According to a NEMA release yesterday was considered the date for the

peak of the season.

“From mid-August through mid-October, activity markedly increases with September 10 being the statistical peak of the hurricane season,” Trevor Basden, Director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology explained.

“This may be interpreted as the day you are most likely to find a tropical

depression, tropical storm, or hurricane somewhere in the Atlantic Basin.”

Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell noted the Atlantic Basin has been very active with the most recent weather systems Tropical Storm Paulette and Tropical Storm Rene also forming on September 7.

Captain Russell said:

“We are grateful that Hurricane Isaias, which passed through The Bahamas, and Tropical Storm Laura which passed along the southern coast of Cuba, did not result in any significant damage to The Bahamas.”

Mr Basden also added the tropics are being closely monitored by local meteorology experts.

“No matter whether it is before peak season, during peak season, or after peak season, be assured that the Bahamas Department of Meteorology will monitor the Atlantic Basin and inform the Bahamian people of its tropical cyclone status,” said Mr Basden.

Captain Russell reminded the public to

Delays over payments ‘are being addressed’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net DISASTER Reconstruction Authority officials say they are working to rectify all issues with Grand Bahama vendors used for its Small Home Repair programme after concerns were raised by suppliers about not receiving payments since the initiative was launched.

Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness Iram Lewis told reporters yesterday the agency was aware of all the concerns expressed by vendors and were in discussions about the way forward.

“The matter has been brought to our attention and it’s being addressed,” he said ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. “As soon as we come to the decision with respect to the way forward, because like I said we are addressing it right now, because it’s a matter of serious concern and it will be addressed.”

Asked yesterday about the reasons for the delay in payments, the minister conceded that the delay was due to an influx of persons registering for the programme.

“It’s not a stall,” he said.

“What happened is there was an influx... Everyone is coming in for support and we’re trying to support as many as possible. In fact, we’re trying to support everybody who is coming in and has a legitimate claim.”

In February, the government launched the housing repair initiative to provide vouchers to people whose homes were damaged during Hurricane Dorian in early September 2019.

The DRA said as of August 30, more than 4,000 homeowners have registered for repair help.

Despite recent issues, Mr Lewis yesterday reiterated

the DRA’s commitment to ensure that storm victims receive as much help as possible in repairing their homes.

“We’re approaching for 5,000 in terms of persons who would’ve registered,” he told reporters.

“We have spent quite a bit of the funds towards reconstruction and debris management. It’s been very taxing but understanding the importance of it as a responsible government, we will do our best to not only clean up our outer communities but do our best to ensure that persons are back in their homes.”

With economic loss and infrastructural damage from Dorian estimated at $3.4 billion, Mr Lewis noted that the government is looking to partner with more organisations to further the relief efforts on both Abaco and Grand Bahama.

“We’re looking for help,” he said. “And we will do our best to ensure and like I said, the government cannot do it alone. Our international partners are here, and they are assisting cash and also in kind (donations).

“But get the word out — we need help and we cannot do it alone. Persons out there need help. If we had the (means) to get the cheques and just take care of everyone, we would’ve done that but in the face of the fact that we have shortage, we’re doing our best to be creative and we’re trying to prioritise and priority is getting people in their homes.”

He also noted the donations would be a major help in making up some of the shortfall from the Dorian pledging conference in January, which raised over $1bn in pledges. In March, officials revealed that only $364,000 was in actual cash and deposits.

Yesterday, Mr Lewis

noted the amount had not changed.

“Of course, you know a lot of funds were pledged from the pledge conference,” he said. “We got over $1.5 billion pledged. However, we received $364,000 in cash and deposits and so there is a serious shortfall and on top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of priorities shift from persons who would’ve made pledges,” he added.

“We did not collect all that was pledged but we will do our best to accommodate Bahamians.”

According to the minister, the government had also pledged to donate $10 million towards Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.

However, due to COVID-19’s impact, Mr Lewis said priorities had to be shifted.

“The government made a commitment last year to deposit $10m as a part of the overall initiative and the balance is supposed to come from pledges and private donors who would’ve earmarked specifically for reconstruction so again because of the pandemic, a lot of priorities shifted,” he added.

Asked about the likelihood of the government still honouring that commitment, Mr Lewis replied: “Obviously, it adds to the challenge and even to those that would’ve pledged internationally, persons priorities shifted because of COVID-19 and the because of the economic downturn so again there’s no way we could force anyone who made a pledge to give us our pledge.

“But we are hopeful that those who pledged would honour their commitment and as the pledge comes in we will use it in the community and I’ll be able to account for it as I’ve done in the past how the funds have been expended.”

RESIDENT RENEWS ATTEMPT TO BUILD NEW CEMETERY

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A LOCAL resident is reviving an effort to build a new cemetery off Bernard Road.

The Town Planning Committee in 2018 rejected James Bain’s application to build the cemetery on 13 acres of vacant land he owns near the Budget convenience store, which is east of Sands Addition.

The Town Planning Committee’s action followed intense pushback from residents.

Nonetheless, a recent newspaper notice indicates Mr Bain has appealed the Town Planning Committee’s decision.

The notice says: “Appealing: from the decision (refused) of the Town Planning Committee made on the 23rd day of May, 2018 under Town Planning Application number

SPA/1/2018 refusing an application by Three Investment Limited, per James R Bain, president in respect of a proposed development of a property on Bernard Road, New Providence island into a cemetery, chapel and columbarium.”

It is not clear when the matter will be heard but a fresh petition has already been created in opposition to the construction of any cemetery.

The online petition, started by Donavan Rahming, has attracted 82 signatures so far.

“Mr James Bain is back at it again,” the online petition says. “He has submitted an appeal to gain approval for his proposed Eastern Gate Memorial Park Development on Bernard Road again. This proposed development was declined twice before by the Town Planning Committee. “Let us do our part in keeping this cemetery development

out of our neighbourhood.

Cemeteries are hazardous to our health, can cause more congestion, and can increase crime due to accessibility. With respect to governmental regulation of the location of cemeteries, aesthetic, health and property value considerations of importance — put simply, having a cemetery next door can radically reduce the value of property since many buyers do not want to live next to a cemetery. This neighbourhood demands that you take your development elsewhere.”

Former Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell is among those opposing the cemetery.

He said the application for the cemetery was rejected several times under the Christie administration.

“They should give it a rest,” he said yesterday.

“There isn’t really a demand for a third graveyard, there is a lot of capacity, so what do you need it for?”

MINISTER of State for Disaster Preparedness Iram Lewis.

adhere to safety protocols such as regular hand washing/sanitizing, properly wearing a face mask over the mouth and nose, and staying physically distant from others.

This year’s season was forecast to be an active one with 25 named storms predicted which was “the most ever forecasted for a season”.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, September 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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How much is the price of liberty?

WHAT is the value of a year of your freedom? How about two years? How about nine?

For nine years and nine months, Matthew Sewell lost his liberty despite never being convicted of a single crime.

Mr Sewell’s story is a picture of a justice system that delivers anything but justice. First, in 2006, he was detained for two years before being granted bail.

Then, three years later, he was detained for more than four years without trial.

In 2013, he was granted bail and previous charges were dismissed, but then he was arrested again and accused of housebreaking. While on bail for that charge, he was again taken back into custody for a different accusation, for which he was never charged. When the housebreaking charge did reach court, it was dismissed – yet Mr Sewell was taken back to prison again.

Sadly, it is far from the first time this has happened. Another notable case readers may be familiar with is that of Atain Takitota.

Mr Takitota was arrested in 1992 by immigration officers in Nassau. He had no money, no passport, spoke no English but claimed to be a Japanese citizen, although authorities in Tokyo denied it.

Aged around 50 years old, his only crime was to be a homeless foreigner.

For that, he spent the next eight years of his life held without charge in the maximum security wing at Fox Hill prison.

He tried to kill himself three times, and only found a path to freedom thanks to the assistance of a prison officer who brought him to the attention of local lawyers. In 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that his eight-year imprisonment was unconstitutional. His deportation order was set aside, and the government was ordered to give him the right to earn a living in The Bahamas. He was awarded a shockingly inadequate $1,000 in damages, and his lawyer sued, bringing Mr Takitota an award in 2006 of $500,000 plus court costs, a sum later increased again on appeal.

There will be those who protest at Mr Sewell and his lawyer, Fred Smith QC, asking for $27m in damages, but what price should we set on someone’s liberty? Some will complain that it is Fred

Smith involved again – but it is a court that decided Mr Sewell was held unlawfully, not Mr Smith.

Worse, Mr Takitota’s case showed the failings of our system – and we failed to act upon it to ensure people’s lives were not ripped away without any thought to the timely delivery of justice.

Years in jail without facing trial is of no use to anyone – not the accused, not the victims of crime.

Victims do not need to be brought back to the court having lived with years of wondering whether their case will be resolved. Those accused of those crimes do not need to wait years to be given the chance to prove their innocence. The slow motion of the Bahamian justice system helps no one.

These cases are not the only ones – far from it. Will we learn from them? Or will we see the Attorney General contesting Mr Sewell’s lawsuit rather than speaking out about the failings his case exposes, and the reforms being carried out to stop it happening again?

The Attorney General, Carl Bethel, need only turn to one of his own colleagues to hear more about Mr Sewell’s case – Adrian Gibson MP was part of the legal team that secured Mr Sewell’s release.

Writing in The Tribune in 2015, Mr Gibson said: “We have seen more than enough instances of the State showing an eerie willingness to detain someone and throw away the keys without any regard to matters being heard in a court within a reasonable time or at all. The only time the State seems to care is when it’s brought to the attention of the international media and we, as a country, become subject to great embarrassment because of the foolish decisions and thoughtlessness of the few.”

The price the Bahamian government will have to pay in Mr Sewell’s case is small in comparison to the price people are paying for having their lives taken away from them. The question is not how much should be paid out in compensation, the question is what are we doing to stop this happening again?

We fear the answer to that is not enough.

Freedom of information EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS A taxpayer and a businessman I find it strange and in fact take great offence when Bahamians are told by the relevant entity or authorities that the salaries of persons employed by governmental agencies and corporations are no one’s business in the public domain as the revelation could lead to those individuals being targeted by criminals.

This is so stupid that it is not funny. If you are the Managing Director @ Bahamas Power & Light; The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation; The Bank of The Bahamas; Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance; the Managing Director at the National Insurance Board, etc., the public has the right to know the level of compensation and the extent of perks. No more, no less.

It has been rumoured that big bucks are being paid to persons who are quasi-civil servants. On social media platforms there’s been speculation that a high ranking individual who is employed via contract with the Ministry of Finance is pulling down close to B$200,000 per year plus unknown perks! Is this true in a climate where our national debt hovers close to nine billion dollars?

Is this true when old age pensions average about B$250.00 per month?

If the long promised and constantly tweaked Freedom of Information Act were to come into force, citizens may be in a better position to know the levels of inordinate compensation packages being drawn down by some civil servants and those who are quasi. Some of these same people used to be in the private sector and, as far as I am aware, possess not special financial or other qualifications!

The Attorney General has yet to inform us just how much of our taxpayers’ money he and the administration spent/wasted on bogus prosecutions viza-viz Shayne Gibson and Frank Smith. The Office of the Prime Minister, historically and for many decades has/had a habit of compulsorily acquiring the average Bahamian private property for public purposes but never pay those affected the market compensation mandated by law.

In a business capacity I personally know of at least one man whose lands were acquired over 30 years ago and he is still waiting to be paid. One woman’s elderly father went overboard at Potter’s Cay 18 years ago. There was no lighting and no barriers. The then Chief Justice rendered a

judgment for damages to the estate of the deceased and the people them are still waiting for a few dollars. There was never an appeal so the government is obliged to pay the damn people!

You all are all able to recall when the newly elected FNM and Minnis came to power in 2017.

They promised during the campaign that they would itemise the travel expenses for all government related travel. They have yet to produce one, just like Brother Christie who jetted off to the Vatican with a gussiemae entourage to kiss the Pope’s hand or was it something else?

There was a time when I believed that I would have entered elective politics but the call of the church was, at that time, more persuasive. These are challenging days and times and all right thinking Bahamians must step up to the plate. We have been shucking and jiving ever since Independence. Our leaders by and large were on a personal run and not for nation building, or so it seems.

God willing, a change must come. To that same God, in all things, be the glory.

Jr

ORTLAND H BODIE, Nassau, September 5, 2020.

Is JLP win a good sign for FNM? EDITOR, The Tribune.

AT the recent heads of agreement signing for the Jack’s Bay Resort development, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is reported to have said that he is “more focused on saving lives than calling an early election.” General elections in this country, for all intents and purposes, have become pastime events for Bahamian revelers and entertainment seekers.

Issues of national importance are usually not high on the agenda of these people looking for free entertainment and food.

In the lead up to the September 3 general election in Jamaica, Bahamian political operatives had started a discussion about a potential snap election being called before Christmas, due to the Free National Movement’s (FNM) handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to them, the Bahamian people have lost confidence in the Minnis administration.

For these political operatives, the Jamaican general election, in the event that the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) loses, will portend doom for the incumbent FNM. That didn’t happen, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica.

The JLP won a staggering 49 of the 63 seats in Gordon House. The official Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), under former leader Dr Peter Philips, won just 14.

In the 2016 general election, the PNP, then led by Portia Simpson-Miller, won 31 seats. For the JLP and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the 49 seats

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net represent an increase of 17 seats.

With 1,913,410 registered voters, only 714,808 or 37 percent of Jamaicans voted.

In the 2016 general election, 48.37 percent voted.

Conversely, in the Bahamian general election of 2017, voter turnout was pegged at 88.36 percent.

Jamaican political analysts have suggested that the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is one reason for such a low voter turnout – the lowest since the 1983 election, in which then Prime Minister Edward Seaga called a snap election.

The PNP, under Michael Manley, chose not to contest that election. Many PNP supporters chose not to participate.

Elections were scheduled to be held in 1985. The previous election was held in 1980 – the year 844 people were murdered. Jamaican political analysts have estimated that 700 of those murders were politically motivated.

Unlike The Bahamas where political violence is rare, political violence in Jamaica is commonplace. Since the 1940s when Jamaica attained adult suffrage, the vexing matter of garrison politics has dogged our CARICOM ally.

Certain constituencies are run by political Dons, named after the fictional character Vito Corleone in the Godfather film.

These political Dons are tasked with insuring that voters in their area vote a certain way – or else.

Thankfully, Holness is attempting to dismantle the political garrisons.

I believe that the presence of political Dons is one reason for Jamaica’s low voter turnouts.

Granted, more Jamaicans opted to stay away from the polls due to COVID-19.

But the COVID-19 pandemic is just half the story.

With the JLP victory, it is two straight election wins – something that hasn’t happened in The Bahamas since 1997, when former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham led the FNM to two consecutive wins against the Progressive Liberal Party and the late Sir Lynden Pindling.

With its 3,185 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths, Jamaicans apparently are satisfied with the Holness administration’s handling of the pandemic.

Jamaica has a population of over 2.9 million.

The Bahamas, with its population of nearly 400,000, as of September 7, has 2,585 confirmed cases and 59 deaths – 25 more than Jamaica. For all intents and purposes, Jamaica is outperforming The Bahamas in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having said all of that, in the event Minnis calls a snap election, would the FNM win, as the JLP managed to do? That all depends on how Bahamian voters feel about PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis. Despite the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am not that confident that the FNM is doomed. Time will tell.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama, September 7, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 9, 2020, PAGE 7

$300 price for man to see his sweetheart

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 48-YEAR-OLD man who told officers he was outside during curfew hours because he was heading home after visiting his sweetheart was fined $300 yesterday.

Police arrested Charles Narcisse after they found him on Balfour Avenue around 11.55pm.

According to the prosecution, officers on mobile patrol observed a male walking on the street. When they approached and questioned him, he said he was coming from his sweetheart’s house, the court was told.

At the time, Narcisse also told the officers he was aware of the 10pm-5am curfew and indicated he had not contacted the COVID19 hotline to get permission to leave his residence. As a result, he was arrested. In an interview with police, Narcisse said he was coming from his friend’s house and was heading home.

After pleading guilty to violating the curfew, Narcisee told Senior Magistrate

Derence Rolle-Davis he went out after 8pm and sat down “making jokes with his friends”. He said by the time he realised what time it was, he told himself “My God I get catch” and shortly after, he was arrested for breaking the curfew. Narcisse insisted the incident was the “first time” something of this nature had happened to him.

Yesterday, five other men appeared in court for curfew infractions.

Carrington Knowles, 46, was charged after officers found him on Wulff Road around 11.15pm on August 27. He pleaded guilty during a hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes and was fined $350 or two months behind bars.

The court was told at the time of his arrest, Knowles told officers he was heading to his boss to get some food. When given an opportunity to speak yesterday, the defendant also told the magistrate his boss had a birthday party.

In response, Magistrate Forbes said he expected Knowles to understand the importance of adhering to

the emergency protocols and told him his “carelessness and recklessness would cost him”.

Meanwhile, officers arrested Weldon Cher Frere, 18, Shawn McDonald, 18, Donnavan Milfort, 19, and Patreco Culmer, 18, on Flamingo Drive around 8.25pm on July 29.

The court heard officers on mobile patrol observed the teenagers sitting on a vacant lot around a fire.

When they questioned the defendants, the boys told them they were just “chilling”. They were subsequently arrested. During their interview with police, the prosecution said Culmer said he was outdoors because he went to get some food, while Milfort claimed his mother had cooked for him and his friends and they went there to wait for it. The court was told the other two defendants declined to comment when questioned.

During the hearing, all of the defendants admitted to breaching the curfew.

After accepting their guilty pleas, Magistrate Forbes discharged them with a warning.

MAN WHO SAID HE WOULD KILL HIS DAUGHTER TOLD TO TAKE ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN was ordered to attend anger management and parenting classes after he admitted to threatening to kill his daughter and punching her in the face.

Dominic Taylor, 35, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes, charged with one count each of threats of death and cruelty to children after he was accused of causing unnecessary suffering to his 12-year-old daughter on September 5.

The court heard the girl’s mother filed a complaint against the accused on her

daughter’s behalf. She told police while the 12-yearold was at the defendant’s residence around 8pm that night, he came there intoxicated and asked her if she wanted something to eat. When she said no, he became upset and told her the food was not going to waste. The court was told the man’s daughter then tried calling her aunt on the phone, but the defendant grabbed it from her, punched her in the face and threatened to kill her, stating he was going to get a gun for her.

During the hearing, the defendant pleaded guilty to both charges, but said he was “disciplining” his

DRUG FIND

EIGHT MILE ROCK MAN DENIES SERIES OF OFFENCES

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama man was charged in the Freeport Magistrate Court in connection with offences including unlawfully discharging a firearm.

Samiko Rigby, 32, of Hepburn Town, Eight Mile Rock, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson.

He was charged with

wantonly discharging a firearm, two counts of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly behaviour.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Rigby was granted $2,000 bail for the first offence, and $1,500 bail with two sureties for each of the other two offences.

The matters were adjourned to November 23, 2020.

In a separate matter,

two men were charged with assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a matter that occurred on September 5.

Antonio Johnson, 29, of No 11 Berkeley Drive; and Alfred Harris age 20 years of No 41 Edgar Place, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Chief Magistrate Ferguson told the men bail was denied and adjourned the matter to November 17, 2020, for trial.

FINED FOR SWIMMING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 51-YEAR-OLD man was fined yesterday for swimming on private property last weekend.

Dwayne Rolle appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis charged with trespassing, after he was accused of swimming in waters within the borders of Harbourside Resorts, Atlantis, on September 5.

He pleaded guilty and was fined $50 or ten days at the Bahamas Department

of Correctional Services.

The court heard a security manager at Atlantis Marina had been made aware of the defendant who had been trespassing on Harbourside Marina’s property and caught fishing juvenile conchs. The court was told another resort employee told Rolle he could not be there because it was private property.

Still, the defendant returned which prompted them to contact Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers who took the defendant on board their craft and escorted him off

the premises. Later that day, the accused returned once again. He was arrested for trespassing a short time later. During his interview with police, Rolle said after he was done checking something on his friend’s boat, he went for a swim.

He insisted he did not realise he crossed over on private property.

After accepting Rolle’s guilty plea, Magistrate Rolle-Davis imposed the fine.

He warned him if he failed to pay the fine he would spend ten days in prison.

daughter and only wanted to make sure she had something to eat. He added the 12-year-old girl was “sassy” and the entire incident ended up blowing up “out of proportion”.

After listening to his explanation, Magistrate Forbes accepted the man’s guilty plea and placed him on probation for one year. During that time, he ordered the defendant to attend anger management, parent training and drug counselling in respect to alcohol use. He warned the accused if he failed to comply with the terms of his probation, he would spend three months in prison.

A MARIJUANA plant from a previous discovery.

MAN DIES AFTER TWO CARS COLLIDE IN GRAND BAHAMA A GRAND Bahama man died after a collision between two cars late Monday afternoon.

Shortly before 5pm Monday, traffic officers were called to Midshipman Road, east of Balao Road, where an accident occurred involving a pink 2010 Mitsubishi Colt with three passengers and a cream coloured 2009 Honda Life

vehicle with two passengers.

Both vehicles received extensive damage.

All drivers and passengers were transported to the Rand Memorial Hospital for medical attention.

However, shortly before 9pm the driver of the Honda, a 60-year-old man, died from his injuries.

An investigation is ongoing.

A JOINT effort by police and law enforcement partners led to the discovery of a marijuana field in Andros.

Sometime after noon on Monday, officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit in conjunction with Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, United States Coast Guard, and the Drug Enforcement Agency, acting on intelligence, went to North Andros by air.

The officers discovered a field of suspected marijuana. One thousand plants from two to seven feet in height were uprooted and transported to New Providence. No arrest was made.

DEATH AT SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION SITE A MAN in Grand Bahama died yesterday after an accident at a school construction site.

Police said shortly after 3pm Tuesday, officers were called to the Sir Jack Hayward School.

They were told that a male construction worker, who was repairing a building, fell from the rooftop to the concrete below. He was taken to Rand Memorial Hospital where he later died.

Private Funeral Service For Sharon Louise Thompson McGregor, 58 of #13 Ruthland Avenue, South Beach Estates will be held at Curry Memorial Methodist Church Zion Blvd, on Thursday, September 10th, 2020. Officiating will be Rev. L. Carla R. Culmer.

Private Funeral Service For Royal Bahamas Defence Force Leading Mechanic

Marshall Livingston Ricardo Pratt, 34 affectionately called “Ricky”

of Blue Hill South will be held on Thursday, September 10th, 2020 at Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base, Coral Harbour Road. Officiating will be Rev. Prince O. Bodie, Defence Force Chaplin.

Interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.

Left to cherish his memories are his Mother: Yvonne Pratt; Father: Eric Pratt; Son: Darius Pratt; 5 Sisters: Natasha Johnson, Valentina Forbes, Dorette Rutherford, Lakeshia Rutherford, Erica Pratt; 3 Brothers: Eric Pratt Jr, Dwayne and Dwyite; Aunts: Sherry Ann Charlton, Lavan, Deborah, Cleotha and Tashia Pratt; Uncles: Eugene, Ronald (I) (M.C.), Christopher, Hensil and Ronald Pratt; Nieces: Nicolette Johnson, Petra Todd, Charlesia Rutherford, Michael Bethel, Brittney Bethel, Shara Jervis, Erica Pratt, Destiny Bethel; Nephews: Rashad Cooper, Shayne Bethel, Sterlin Bethel, Johnathon Saunders, Keno Rutherford, Ricardo Sweeting, Devon Sweeting, Nicolas Smith, Tyler Burrows, Chad Jervis Jr.; Grand Nieces and Nephews: Alphanique Dean, Zemari Rutherford, Kaylisa Rutherford, Ka’Maire Burrows, Zariea Peare, Ariana Bethel, Reshek Cooper, Rashaya and Ricardo Sweeting, Rashano Cooper; Cousins: Novolette Fox, Shadia Clear, Samuel Williams; a large host of other relatives and friends including: O’Monique Seymore, Melissa, Elvis Anderson and Drexel Smith. Also, special mention to the Royal Bahamas Defense Force Department all of his squaddies that he worked so fondly and closely with.

Viewing will be held in the Perpetual Suite at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Roads on Wednesday (TODAY) from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Left to cherish her memories are her loving husband: Kevin McGregor Sr.; Step-son: Kevin Jr. (Rachel) McGregor; Step-Grandson: Andre McGregor; Sisters: Margarette Thompson-Bain and Barbara Thompson; Brothers: Kirk Sr, Ritchie, George Jr., Irwin (Dusty), Alexis and Charon Thompson Sr.; Mother-in-Law: Patricia McGregor; Sisters-in-Law: Jacinta and Florence McGregor, Rose, Fran, Shakera and K’Juanna Thompson; Brothers-in-Law: Supt. Christopher Bain & Vincent McGregor Nieces: Kriston Carroll, Brittney, T’quylla, Hydia, Richan, Jancola, Charnell, Charnea, Donaaja, Ameka Thompson, Javerra Rolle, Katherine and Jasmine McGergor; Nephews: Nymrod, Colton, Julius, Drayson, Charon Jr. Thompson, Jamal, Jayden, John McGregor & Phillip Sturrup; Nephew-in-Law: Ramon Carroll & Alverdo Rolle; Niece-in-Law: O’Pichi Thompson; Grand Nieces and Nephews: Cameren and Peyton Carroll, Oranique and Kirk Thompson III, Duane Grant Jr., Kevin Cambridge Jr., Angel Archer, Jamal and Jordan McGregor; Aunts: Margaret Murphy, Verlene Clarke, Beverley, Elaine, Rosa, Veronica, Gloria and Maria Thompson, Gertrude and Albena Seymour; Uncles: Henry Seymour, Arlington Thompson of Rochester, New York, Franklyn, Thaddeus Jr., Wellington, Clinton and Basil Thompson; numerous Cousins including: Ralph Murphy, Tommy Thompson of San Antonio, Texas and Sharon Thompson of Rochester, New York, Stephanie & Phillipa McKenzie, Eloise Percentie, Darrie, Sandra, Monique, Samantha and Nadia Cartwright, Linda, Loretta Ferguson, Denise, Alice, Tamara, Marcia, Margo, Sharon, Antoinette, Colette, Marcie and Crystal Kemp, Juilette, Peggy Newbold, Sherry, Shantell, Christina, Ethelyn, Christine, Carla and Agnes Seymour. Huling, Joseph, Percy Minnis, Arlington & Eugene Cartwright, Alvin & Derek Miller, Patrick, Nigel, Darren, Herman Jr. Wayne, Timmy, Jimmy, Jason, Robert, Clifton, Rico, William Jr. Veto, Theo Thompson, Dwight Cartwright, Ron Culmer, Rodney, Patrick, Shawn, Lloyd and Rev. Rodger McKenzie, Hayward and Cedrick Johnson; God Children: Anwar Stubbs, Mileak Knowles, Maurice and Mikhail Carey; Special Friends: Branhilda Bostwick, Beth Fox-Carey, Bernetta Murphy, Stephen Solcomb; Other Relatives and Friends: The Bahamas Conference of The Methodist Churches, New Hope Methodist Church Family, Curry Memorial Methodist Church Families, the entire Stuart, Newbold, Seymour, Munnings and Thompson Families, the entire South Beach Family especially Evans, Charlton, Davis, Smith, McKenzie, Weech, Pearson, Bonimy, Storr, McKay and Austin, Attorney Angenette Pyfrom, Freeport City Council, Elaine Ferguson & Family, Mrs. Blanch Spence and the Let’s Talk Family, Ruby Thompson & Family, Sharon Taylor & Family, Stephanie Gray & Family, the entire Minnis Family, Sandra Bastian & Family, Raymond and Vernita Carroll, The Cat Island Association Family, Monette Maycock, Yvonne and Nerissa Lockhart, Shelley Munnings, Class of A. F. Adderley High School 1978 and 1981. Wellington Pinder Estate Family, Dr. Timothy Barrette & Family.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, September 9, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

No more ‘Papi’ stories please PM - just a clear message and a sign you understand DURING the FNM convention ahead of the 2017 general election season, there was major concern about the leadership.

When we saw it was likely to be Dr Hubert Minnis, and then when it was confirmed, we started talking about what that kind of leadership would look like. People questioned his leadership ability.

One of the main points that came up often was his (lack of) skill in public speaking. Some said that was a trivial issue to raise and we had become too accustomed to the styles of Christie and Ingraham. They pointed to all of the talking Christie had done for the previous five years and asked where that had gotten us. The argument about whether or not public speaking ability is critical to the position of Prime Minister went on and on. It came down to needing someone in

By Alicia Wallace

the seat, wanting a change in administration, and supporting whomever was there.

By now, we must see the importance of well-written speeches that are delivered with both confidence and compassion. We have to know, particularly after the devastation Hurricane Dorian and now in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, that communication matters. Content and style are important.

When the nation is being address by the Prime Minister, it needs to be convinced he knows what he is talking

SOME of us are still spending a lot of time at home. Even those who are out and about need to find ways to wind down. Here are two books, one television show, and an Instagram account to check out this week.

1. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie - This novel, winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2018 and long-listed for the Man Booker Prize, is about a Pakistani family living in the UK. The family, during a time of terrorist threats and under the shadow of its own complicated history is struggling to assimilate. The eldest child, Isma, has taken responsibility for her younger twin siblings following the death of their grandmother and mother. When the twins turn 18, she decides to pursue her dreams, but continues to worry about them.

This family’s lives soon become intertwined with that of a political family through the son, a love interest.

Themes of family, identity, love, and sacrifice are strong in this novel. It has five sections, each one dedicated to a different character, creating a more complex narrative. After reading this, I

about. That he is not just reading from a script. That he has access to data that informs his decisions. That potential outcomes — not just the ones hoped for — have been considered.

Bahamian people and residents need to know that we are hearing from someone who understands all of our circumstances and is prepared to address our needs.

The Prime Minister needs, in every single address, to be able to deliver clear information, show empathy and give hope. We have not seen this at all. We are getting

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOME TIME

bought a few other books by the same author. I’ve read Salt and Saffron which, while it did not quite measure up, I enjoyed.

2. Free Food for Millionaires

by Min Jin Lee - Casey Han is the daughter of Korean immigrants and she loves expensive things. This novel shows the complexity of Asian American life. Money, capitalism, gender, religion, and racism are prominent themes and the events that unfold are not inspired by stereotypes, but challenge them.

Casey is pursuing higher education, has thousands of dollars in credit debt, needs to end a bad relationship, and has a secondary family that seems nostrings, but may not be. I picked this up because I loved Pachinko, an excellent novel by the same author.

3. Succession - Can a television show be drama and satire at the same time? This HBO series, boasting five Emmy nominations in 2019, is about the

long speeches padded with unnecessary fillers and take far too long to get to the information we need. They are either delivered robotically, even when there are anecdotes built in that are meant to humanise Minnis.

In many cases, including the last Monday address, they fall flat, offend, or create even more distance.

Last week, the Prime Minister shared a story about his four-year-old granddaughter. The veracity of the story doesn’t matter as much as the messages it sent. The child’s birthday was coming up and he asked if she would love to have a party. She said, “No, Papi.

Party means gathering.

Gathering means COVID. COVID means sickness.”

This is in keeping with an earlier story he shared about the same grandchild refusing to kiss him, offering

Roy family, owners of Waystar Royco— media and hospitality giant. The father and CEO Logan Roy had a major health event and his children expect him to announce a successor soon. They compete with and scheme against each other in efforts to gain control of the company. Logan seems to be a puppetmaster and, at times, they are aware of it, but they can’t seem to stop themselves from trying to impress him and stay on his good side. Lies and manipulation are the order of the day, every day.

4. Yungbbq - This Instagram account is fun to watch. Yung BBQ is a dancer and personality with 1.2 million followers. She posts daily videos of herself dancing, usually in the street.

She puts together outfits that perfectly match the music (and often mimics that of the artist in a music video), her dance moves are fun, and there is a combined reaction of laughter and awe. She combines technical skill with personality and her videos bring joy to hundreds of thousands of people. Last week, her I Can’t Stand the Rain dance video, completely with the Missy Elliott outfit, got 1.5 million views.

her elbow instead.

There are multiple things happening with these stories. He is trying to inject humour into his otherwise dry speeches. He is trying to present himself as a human being with a family, more like us than many of us currently regard him, seeing a more robotic, unfeeling entity seeking to control. He is also using his granddaughter as a tool to educate and inspire, saying, ‘Look, even a four-year-old knows we need to change the way we do things. You adults should takes from her!’ It is not a bad idea, but these stories thrown into otherwise terrible speeches don’t do much.

Sometimes, they can go completely wrong.

Minnis went on to say that his granddaughter was taken to John Bull where she picked out her own present and said her Papi would come to pay for it.

He noted the gift cost more than a party would have added up to. This was probably meant to be funny but it shows the disconnect between the Prime Minister and the people. Perhaps the people in his circle and who share his socioeconomic status and have concern for people who are struggling could laugh at that. People who still consider themselves “middle class” may even be able to have a little chuckle. There are far more of us, however, who are left wondering if he has a clue.

Over 100,000 people are receiving food assistance. Hotels are closed and employees have been at home for months. It was just reported last week that

a IDB survey revealed 72.5 percent of households experienced income loss as of April 2020. Additionally, 46.7 percent of households said their income was below the poverty in April compared with January when 16.1 percent reported incomes below the poverty line. Of low-income households, 80.6 percent were impacted by job loss. Why would the Prime Minister share, in the middle of a crisis of this magnitude, that he purchased an expensive gift for his toddler grandchild?

Somehow, he is not making the connection between the data he has access to and references in his speeches and the lived experiences of real people. People who are listening to him. People who are becoming increasingly aware that there is a large gap between his words and his understanding of very real circumstances.

It’s great that the Prime Minister wants to show more positive character traits. People generally don’t mind personal anecdotes and know he can spend his money as he likes.

Those stories, however, should not be insulting or callous. People want to know when they can get back to work, what systems and programmes are in place for them to access assistance, and how the government will address the systemic issue of poverty (not to be confused with temporary circumstances).

It’s not a time to joke about expensive birthday gifts.

Empathy.

Compassion. Responsibility. Common sense.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Why sleep is so important for losing weight

By EMMA SWEENEY, Lecturer in Exercise and Health, Nottingham Trent University and Ian Walshe Lecturer in Health and Exercise Sciences, Northumbria University WHEN it comes to weight loss, diet and exercise are usually thought of as the two key factors that will achieve results.

However, sleep is an oftenneglected lifestyle factor that also plays an important role.

The recommended sleep duration for adults is seven to nine hours a night, but many people often sleep for less than this. Research has shown that sleeping less than the recommended amount is linked to having greater body fat, increased risk of obesity, and can also influence how easily you lose weight on a caloriecontrolled diet.

Typically, the goal for weight loss is usually to decrease body fat while retaining as much muscle mass as possible.

Not obtaining the correct amount of sleep can determine how much fat is lost as well as how much muscle mass you retain while on a calorie restricted diet.

One study found that sleeping 5.5 hours each night over a two-week period while on a calorierestricted diet resulted in less fat loss when compared

to sleeping 8.5 hours each night. But it also resulted a greater loss of fat-free mass (including muscle).

Another study has shown similar results over an eight-week period when sleep was reduced by only one hour each night for five nights of the week. These results showed that even catch-up sleep at the weekend may not be enough to reverse the negative effects of sleep deprivation while on a calorie-controlled diet.

METABOLISM, APPETITE, AND SLEEP There are several reasons why shorter sleep may be associated with higher body weight and affect weight loss. These include changes in metabolism, appetite and food selection.

Sleep influences two important appetite hormones in our body – leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is a hormone that decreases appetite, so when leptin levels are high we usually feel fuller. On the other hand, ghrelin is a hormone that can stimulate appetite, and is often referred to as the “hunger hormone” because it’s thought to be responsible for the feeling of hunger.

One study found that sleep restriction increases levels of ghrelin and

decreases leptin. Another study, which included a sample of 1,024 adults, also found that short sleep was associated with higher levels of ghrelin and lower levels of leptin. This combination could increase a person’s appetite, making calorie-restriction more difficult to adhere to, and may make a person more likely to overeat.

Consequently, increased food intake due to changes in appetite hormones may result in weight gain. This means that, in the long term, sleep deprivation may lead to weight gain due to these changes in appetite. So getting a good night’s sleep should be prioritised.

Along with changes in appetite hormones, reduced sleep has also been shown to impact on food selection and the way the brain perceives food. Researchers have found that the areas of the brain responsible for reward are more active in response to food after sleep loss (six nights of only four hours’ sleep) when compared to people who had good sleep (six nights of nine hours’ sleep).

This could possibly explain why sleep-deprived people snack more often and tend to choose carbohydrate-rich foods and sweet-tasting snacks, compared to those who get enough sleep.

Sleep duration also influences metabolism,

particularly glucose (sugar) metabolism. When food is eaten, our bodies release insulin, a hormone that helps to process the glucose in our blood. However, sleep loss can impair our bodies’ response to insulin, reducing its ability to uptake glucose. We may be able to recover from the occasional night of sleep loss, but in the long term this could lead to health conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Our own research has shown that a single night of sleep restriction (only four hours’ sleep) is enough to impair the insulin response to glucose intake in healthy young men. Given that sleep-deprived people already tend to choose foods high in glucose due to increased appetite and reward-seeking behaviour, the impaired ability to process glucose can make things worse.

An excess of glucose

(both from increased intake and a reduced ability to uptake into the tissues) could be converted to fatty acids and stored as fat.

Collectively, this can accumulate over the long term, leading to weight gain.

However, physical activity may show promise as a countermeasure against the detrimental impact of poor sleep. Exercise has a positive impact on appetite, by reducing ghrelin levels and increasing levels of peptide YY, a hormone that is released from the gut, and is associated with the feeling of being satisfied and full.

After exercise, people tend to eat less, particularly when the energy expended by exercise is taken into account. However, it’s unknown if this still remains in the context of sleep restriction.

Research has also shown that exercise training may protect against the

THE TRIBUNE

metabolic impairments that result from a lack of sleep, by improving the body’s response to insulin, leading to improved glucose control.

We have also shown the potential benefits of just a single session of exercise on glucose metabolism after sleep restriction. While this shows promise, studies are yet to determine the role of long-term physical activity in people with poor sleep.

It’s clear that sleep is important for losing weight.

A lack of sleep can increase appetite by changing hormones, makes us more likely to eat unhealthy foods, and influences how body fat is lost while counting our calories. Sleep should therefore be considered as an essential alongside diet and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.

• Originally published on theconversation.com

PAGE 12, Wednesday, September 9, 2020

SPORTS

THE TRIBUNE

Tour riders cleared of virus, ‘Sprinter Sam’ wins Stage 10 ILE DE RE, France (AP) — Tour de France riders passed coronavirus tests to confirm their good health only to endure numerous crashes along the Atlantic coastline when the race resumed yesterday.

Sprinter Sam Bennett prevailed ahead of Caleb Ewan to post his first Tour stage win, while Primoz Roglic avoided the many crashes that punctuated Stage 10 to keep the race leader’s yellow jersey.

After the 168.5-kilometre (105-mile) ride from Ile d’Oleron to Ile de Re, Roglic maintained a 21-second lead over defending champion Egan Bernal. Frenchman Guillaume Martin was in third place, 28 seconds off the pace.

Having performed 841 tests of all 166 riders and team staff over the previous two days, organisers gave all cyclists the goahead to start. But Tour director Christian Prudhomme was forced to abandon the race after testing positive for the virus.

Also, four staff members from four different teams failed the test and were dropped from the race bubble.

“I’m happy that the race goes on, it’s beautiful” Roglic said after the stage.

The race did lose one rider before the stage started, as the injured Domenico Pozzovivo of Italy pulled out.

Under sunny skies in western France, Stefan Küng and Michael Schar made an early break but were kept on a leash.

On flat roads exposed to winds, the main teams rode at full speed at the front of the pack to avoid getting caught in crosswinds, limiting the gap to less than two minutes.

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IRELAND’S SAM BENNETT, left, is congratulated by Australia’s Caleb Ewan, second place, (not seen) after winning stage 10 of the Tour de France cycling race over 168.5 kilometres (104.7 miles) from Ile d’Oleron to Ile de Re, France, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena) The nervousness in the Bennett, who now holds Under the race’s health pack was detrimental to stage wins at all three protocols those four squads several riders, including Grands Tours, reached 65 are now at greater risk of Robert Gesink and Nicolas kph (40 mph) in the last being excluded. Anyone Roche, who hit the tarmac 500 metres as he overpow- who tests positive has to at more than 55 kph with ered Ewan to snatch the leave the race and any about 100 kilometres left. best sprinter’s green jersey team with two or more posThe crash split the bunch from Peter Sagan’s shoul- itive tests — either rider or and the pair of breakaway ders. “You dream of it staff — within seven days riders was swallowed soon and you never think it will also has to abandon. after. happen. It does and it did.

The next wave of tests Another big pileup It took a while for it to hit will be during the next rest involving Martin and Slo- me,” an emotional Bennett day on September 14. venian hopeful Tadej said at the finish.

Prudhomme’s positive Pogacar occurred in the Earlier, Tour organisers test might have an impact town of Rochefort after and cycling governing body on French political affairs a rider apparently hit a the UCI said the four staff as it came only days after median strip and fell. members who tested posi- he spent two hours in his Both men rejoined tive for the virus worked car following a stage in the the peloton after Martin for Cofidis, AG2R La Pyrenees in the company received a new bike and Mondiale, Bernal’s Inos of Prime Minister Jean was escorted back by three Grenadiers and Mitchelton Castex. As a result, French teammates.

Scott.

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Macron said a government meeting scheduled today will be organised via videoconference, or postponed.

Castex was tested for the virus and it came back negative.

BFMTV quoted the prime minister’s office as saying he would isolate himself for seven days as a standard precautionary measure.

Speaking to France Info radio earlier, Prudhomme said he does not have virus symptoms, adding that he will stay in isolation for seven days.

“Obviously the most important thing is that not a single rider tested positive,” Prudhomme said.

“I did not come close to the riders over the past 10 days, we can see now how important it was to stay away from them.”

Under threat of cancellation at some point — more than 30,000 people in France have died after contracting the coronavirus — the Tour has been salvaged by pushing it back from its traditional July date to the end of the summer. The price paid for the race to be run are strict health protocols which include mandatory testing for riders and team staff on rest days.

All were tested before the Tour started in Nice and have since lived in the race bubble, making sure they stay away from fans and sponsors usually omnipresent during the race’s three weeks.

To avoid false positive results that could rule healthy riders out of contention, Tour organisers perform a retest and a blood analysis as quickly as possible in case of a positive test. They have set up a mobile coronavirus lab that can produce results in two hours.

WARHOLM WINS 400M HURDLES AT GOLDEN SPIKE IN OSTRAVA OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) — Two-time world champion Karsten Warholm of Norway easily won the men’s 400 metre hurdles at the Golden Spike meet yesterday, although he couldn’t challenge the world record this time.

Warholm clocked 47.62 seconds but said he’d been hoping to run faster after finishing the distance in 46.87 in Stockholm last month. That was the second best time in history, only 0.09 seconds behind the world record set by American Kevin Young at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

“I was a bit surprised with the time, I thought it was better,” Warholm said. “I pushed all the way through but that’s sport.”

About 3,000 spectators were allowed to attend the 59th edition of the meet due to the government’s restrictions to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The event is part of the newly established World Athletics Continental Tour Gold circuit.

World and Olympic champion Christian Taylor of the United States leaped a world-leading 17.46 metres to win the men’s triple jump, while fellow American Ryan Crouser extended his dominance in the men’s shot put this season by winning with a throw of 22.43 metres.

Dutch runner Sifan Hassan used her strong finish on the final lap to take the women’s 5,000 in 14:37.85, while Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway won the men’s 1,500 in 3:33,92.

In a rarely contested race, two-time 200 metre world champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands won the women’s 150 metres in 16.56.

Australia retains top T20 ranking with late win over England SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Australia held onto Twenty20 cricket’s top ranking with a five-wicket win yesterday in the last game of a series that England had already clinched.

Mitch Marsh finished unbeaten on 39 and hit the winning runs as Australia chased down its target of 146 with three balls to spare at the Rose Bowl.

England provisionally took No. 1 spot in the T20 format when it led the three-game series 2-0 but needed a sweep to retain top ranking.

The series marked Australia’s return to international cricket for the first time since March following the shutdown for the coronavirus pandemic.

For England, it continued a positive run since it reopened international cricket in July with a test series against West Indies and followed up with series against Pakistan and Ireland.

England will now host Australia in a threegame ODI series, the first between the countries since

England won the World Cup on home soil last year.

Yesterday, England opener Jonny Bairstow overcame a slow start to score a 44-ball 55 containing three fours and three sixes and lead the team to 145-6.

That was the lowest score of the series so far, with paceman Mitchell Starc very economical by conceding just 20 runs off his four overs.

Joe Denly’s lateinnings 29 off 19 balls gave England’s total some respectability, but Australia went at 10 runs an over off its first seven and was seemingly easing to the win.

However, the Australians slumped from 70-1 to 100-5 in six overs in its latest middle-order collapse, with Adil Rashid’s legspin accounting for the wickets of captain Aaron Finch (39), Glenn Maxwell (6) and Steve Smith (3).

Marsh and Ashton Agar (16) put on a stand of 46 to see Australia home.

“We know where we messed up in the first game but tonight we were really good again for the majority of the game,” Finch said, reflecting on Australia’s batting collapses after promising starts in the first and third games.

“It was nice Mitch and Ashton got us over the line this time. There are always areas for improvement, especially in those middle overs against the spinners.”

England was missing star batsman Jos Buttler and regular captain Eoin Morgan, while Australia rested paceman Pat Cummins and opener David Warner. They should all return for the three-match ODI series starting Friday.

THE TRIBUNE

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 9, 2020, PAGE 13

Innovative, ultramodern SoFi Stadium ready to welcome NFL

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — When Stan Kroenke asked his fellow NFL owners for permission to return pro football to Los Angeles nearly a half-decade ago, he won them over by promising something nobody else could realistically deliver.

The Rams owner vowed to build a football palace.

The billionaire proposed a luxurious, massive new home for his NFL team, a landmark that would become the most important sports arena in North America’s secondlargest city for the next century.

Kroenke dazzled his fellow multimillionaires with sketches of a strikingly unique stadium with a surrounding development that would become the NFL’s West Coast hub.

While the full scope of that $5 billion development is still years away from completion, the centrepiece of Kroenke’s dream has come to vibrant life at the former site of the Hollywood Park racetrack.

SoFi Stadium appears to live up to all of Kroenke’s promises as it prepares to open its doors Sunday night for its inaugural event: the Rams’ season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

“Every time I’m in there, there’s some aspect, some design element that’s just overwhelming,” Rams general manager Les Snead said.

“It seems like it’s a hologram. I don’t know what they’ve done, but it’s overwhelming. You feel like you’re in a video game or something.”

From its translucent roof to the largest video board ever built, from the acres of luxury seating and the endless accompanying amenities up to the 100,000th chair in the top row, SoFi Stadium has everything.

Except fans. For now, anyway.

The unfortunate coincidence of opening a stadium amidst a global pandemic means the Rams and Chargers will play in their palace without fans until further notice.

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little bit bittersweet” to open the stadium without fans, Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff said. “But at the same time, you realise this building is going to be here for generations,” he added.

“For decades. It’s going to host the world’s greatest events, and while

through its seemingly endless succession of posh, shiny areas.

In keeping with the Southern California theme, a three-story “Beach House” club area is connected by an Instagram-bait staircase.

Several large, connected suites called “Bungalows” sit just beyond the end zones, enticing rich fans with the chance to be a few feet from a receiver catching a touchdown pass.

And then there’s the Executive Club, a 75,000-square-foot corridor circumnavigating the field underneath the stands. It has everything from marble-paneled elevator banks and gorgeous lounge areas to four separate bars focused on a single beverage: champagne, tequila, whiskey and wine.

“I could go on a million reasons what makes it special, but wherever you are, every single place, you feel like a VIP,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “There is definitely a special feeling that is different from any stadium I’ve been in.”

This empty NFL season is only the opening chapter of SoFi Stadium’s life. The 56th Super Bowl will be here in February 2022, while college football’s national championship game follows in 2023. The 2026 World Cup seems likely to hold matches at the stadium, which is also expected to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Things will be even busier outside SoFi Stadium on the 298-acre campus, which already has greenery and a man-made lake. Office buildings are going up for NFL Media and other tenants, to be followed by a half-million square feet of retail space, a 300-room hotel and about 314 apartment units.

Kroenke and his team are creating not just a stadium, but a village.

Sunday’s opener is one milestone on the journey.

“I’m not going to lie, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Evans, who lives 10 minutes away. “Mr Kroenke’s vision for this was ambitious from the start: A global entertainment destination that embodied Southern California. But it’s also going to be a wonderful place for me and my family to come here on a Tuesday night and sit by the lake and have a picnic. I hope it evolves into a wonderful destination for SoCal, and it’ll start to resonate and create memories.”

AN EXTERIOR view of SoFi Stadium, the future home for the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers football teams, is shown in Inglewood, California, September 4. The body of water in the foreground is an artificial lake.

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) we may regret what Sunday is California breezes slip under going to look like, you’re not going the canopy to cool the playing to remember the way it opened. field, which didn’t feel particularly You’re going to remember how hot last week even with a summer this project transformed Ingle- sun directly overhead. The roof is wood and Los Angeles.” made of material that dissipates Kroenke’s employees make it the heat, and dozens of roof panels clear SoFi Stadium is a legacy can be rolled back to allow in even project for a man who has built more fresh air. hundreds of unremarkable build“We had this unique opportuings in his career. Before he nity to create a building that really became one of the most prolific captured the beauty of why so owners of teams in sports history, many people live here and come the real estate developer married visit here,” said Lance Evans, the to a Walmart heir made a chunk of main architect on the project from his fortune by building Walmarts design firm HKS. and the shopping centres attached “It’s the climate. It’s the environto them. ment. It’s the landscape, but we SoFi Stadium is improbably, didn’t want to sacrifice a multitude thrillingly big — the NFL’s largest of other events that this building stadium in pure size at 3.1 million could and should host.” square feet while seating 70,000, The entire bowl is dominated by with the ability to accommodate the Oculus video board, a unique up to 100,000 if needed — but this two-sided oval of 80 million sparis no big-box warehouse. kling pixels beaming 4K replays, Demoff says Kroenke had a statistics and advertisements prime directive to everybody everywhere. involved in the project. “You can’t The arena bowl is just the start undershoot Los Angeles,” Demoff of SoFi Stadium’s opulence, howrecalled. “That was always what he ever. The stadium is built deep in stressed to us in every design meet- the ground with the playing field ing. You can’t undershoot the new 100 feet below ground level, and stadium in the entertainment capi- the areas behind the main seating tal of the world and in one of the bowls are so vast and spacious that world’s great international cities.” they’re called “canyons.”

The architects and builders say They’re all meticulously landthey’ve created the first “indoor- scaped and appointed, and fresh outdoor” stadium, but that air streams into large gathering classification doesn’t exactly make areas designed to be used by suite sense until it’s experienced. holders all year round, not just on What they mean is that SoFi those 16 game days per season.

Stadium has a roof — a masAs you might expect in an indussive, clear canopy arching artfully try heavily dependent on selling from the ground across the entire luxury, SoFi Stadium’s upscale arena bowl and an adjoining plaza amenities are remarkable. with a separate 6,000-seat perforKroenke built 260 luxury suites mance venue— but the building and more than 13,000 premium also is open at each end and on its seats — and that official count concourses. seems low when you’re wandering

ZVEREV OVERCOMES DEFICIT, 12 DOUBLEFAULTS FOR US OPEN SEMIFINALS

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The disqualification of Novak Djokovic from the US Open, and the absences of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, presented quite an opportunity to Alexander Zverev and the other men left in the tournament — all in their 20s, all seeking a first Grand Slam title.

Who would falter? Who would rise to the occasion?

Done in by double-faults and bothered by an officiating decision, Zverev stumbled at the start of yesterday’s quarterfinal against Borna Coric.

Then, suddenly, Zverev soared.

Down a set and a break early, then so close to trailing by two sets to one, Zverev grabbed 14 of 15 points in a pivotal stretch on the way to earning his first semifinal berth at Flushing Meadows with a 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory over Coric.

It was a scratchy contest — both men generated more unforced errors than winners through two sets, and Zverev finished with 12 double-faults — and the winner acknowledged afterward that the way he played at the outset was “not the level for the quarterfinal match in a Grand Slam.”

But he got more aggressive as things went on, including essentially hitting two first serves instead of a softer, slower second following a fault, and that helped lift him to his second consecutive major semifinal, after getting that far at this year’s Australian Open. “It’s obviously a great accomplishment, but I don’t want to stop here,” the 6-foot-6 Zverev said.

“I hope that I can continue the way I’m doing.”

ORGANISERS, IOC TRYING TO REMOVE DOUBTS OVER TOKYO OLYMPICS

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — The International Olympic Committee and Japanese organisers are trying to convince the public that the postponed Tokyo Olympics will take place next year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tokyo organising committee CEO T oshiro Muto said last week that the games could go ahead without a vaccine. This week John Coates, the IOC member who oversees the Tokyo Olympics, said the games would happen despite the pandemic.

Coates is to appear today in a virtual meeting with the IOC executive board. He is expected to give an upbeat assessment of Tokyo’s prospects.

Several recent public opinion polls have shown skepticism from the Japanese public and the business community that the games can go on — or should go on.

“We can tell you that the IOC is fully committed to celebrating the games of the 32nd Olympiad next year in Tokyo,’’ organising committee spokesman Masa Takaya said yesterday. “We have begun formulating the concrete steps we will take.”

City, government and Tokyo Olympic officials gathered last week in the first of a string of meetings to plan for countermeasures against COVID-19.

Japan has reported about 1,350 deaths from the coronavirus.

Panels will make plans to deal with possible quarantines, getting athletes into

Japan, COVID-19 testing, measures to keep venues safe, anti-virus measures at the Athletes’ Village and immigration issues. They’ll also consider if fans will be allowed, and if non-Japanese fans will be among them.

The IOC and local organisers have has been saying since the postponement five months ago that the games will open on July 23, 2021.

They were taking the same approach in March, just weeks before the Olympics were postponed.

Organisers and the IOC have given few details of how 11,000 Olympic athletes and 4,400 Paralympians will be safe in Tokyo, along with thousands of staff members, and games and technical officials.

Details are not expected until later in the year, or into early 2021.

In Japanese professional baseball and soccer, however, the heads of the leagues have asked the government to allow a maximum of 20,000 fans or up to 50 per cent capacity — whichever number is smaller.

Separately yesterday, Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto said at a news conference the games must go on. “I feel we have to hold them no matter what,” the Sankei News reported her as saying.

Organisers have yet to say what the one-year postponement will cost or who will pay — with estimates in the billions of dollars.

The University of Oxford is releasing a study this week that shows the Tokyo Olympics are the most expensive in history, examining records since 1960.

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KLAY’S STATUS UNCLEAR UNTIL THE WARRIORS ARE BACK TOGETHER

By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer FRANCISCO SAN (AP) — The Golden State Warriors expect to have a

PAGE 14, Wednesday, September 9, 2020

SPORTS

THE TRIBUNE

US OPEN: 2018 CHAMP OSAKA BEATS ROGERS TO REACH SEMIS (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka played powerful, clean tennis to beat 93rdranked Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-4 in the US Open quarterfinals.

Osaka’s victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium last night was built on seven aces and an ability to get the better of the big hitting by both from the baseline.

Rogers, a 27-year-old from South Carolina, had won all three previous matchups against Osaka.

But this time, Rogers ended up with 27 unforced errors, Osaka just eight.

Osaka, who won the US Open two years ago, will meet No. 28 seed Jennifer Brady - a 25-year-old from Pennsylvania who’s never been this far at a major tournament - in the semifinals.

MIAMI Heat’s Andre Iguodala (28) dunks in front of Milwaukee Bucks’ Brook Lopez (11) in the second half yesterday.

(AP Photo/Mark J Terrill)

Heat reach the East finals, top Bucks to win series 4-1

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat are headed to the Eastern Conference finals.

Giannis Antetokounmpo could only watch.

The fifth-seeded Heat finished off an upset of the NBA’s best regular-season team yesterday, topping the Milwaukee Bucks 103-94 in Game 5 of their East semifinal series — while Antetokounmpo, the league’s reigning MVP, couldn’t play because of a sprained right ankle.

Butler and Goran Dragic each scored 17 points for the Heat, who won the series 4-1 and will face either Boston or Toronto when the NBA’s final four gets underway next week. It’s Miami’s first time in the East finals since 2014, and the first time Butler has gotten to the NBA’s final four.

Jae Crowder scored 16, Tyler Herro scored 14, Bam Adebayo had 13 and Kelly Olynyk had 12 apiece for the Heat.

Khris Middleton had 23 points for Milwaukee, which got 15 points and 14 rebounds from Brook Lopez. Donte DiVincenzo scored 17, Wesley Matthews and Marvin Williams each had 11 and Eric

Bledsoe had nine assists for the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo did what he could — cheering from the bench throughout, rebounding for teammates during pregame warmups and again at halftime, offering words during time-outs.

And the Bucks were inspired from the jump.

But the NBA’s No. 1 overall seed in these playoffs — a league-best 56-17 in the regular season — just didn’t have enough.

Milwaukee opened the game on a 28-15 run, putting Miami on its heels from the opening minutes.

DiVincenzo got the call to start for Antetokounmpo and scored eight of Milwaukee’s first 16 points, Matthews had nine by the end of the quarter and the Bucks were off to a promising start.

Miami answered that start with a 30-9 run of its own, capped by three free throws from Olynyk with 4:36 left in the half for a 45-37 Heat lead.

LOS Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James sits on the bench during the second half of last night’s conference semifinal playoff game against the Houston Rockets.

(AP Photo/Mark J Terrill)

Milwaukee wouldn’t let the Heat get away, though -- not then, and not in the third when Miami pushed the lead out to 12 after a 3-pointer by Crowder with 3:07 left. The Bucks needed just 50 seconds to rip off seven straight points, and it stayed close from there.

TIP-INS Heat: This is Miami’s seventh trip to the conference finals since 2005, the most of anyone in the East and matching the most of any team in the NBA in that span; San Antonio also has seven such trips since 2005. ... Miami survived on a night where it had 22 turnovers.

Bucks: The NBA went to the 16-team playoff format in 1984 and this is only the sixth time in those 37 seasons that the No. 1 seed did not make the East finals. ... The Bucks depart the bubble with a $2,020,431 share of the NBA’s annual playoff pool. They could have split $6,827,848 if they won the title.

LOTS OF DEFENCE Antetokounmpo didn’t play and there were still three of the other nine members of the NBA’s All-Defensive Team, announced earlier yesterday, in the game.

Lopez, Bledsoe and Adebayo were

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — LeBron James scored 36 points, Rajon Rondo sparked a fourthquarter rally and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 112-102 last night to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.

James earned his NBArecord 162nd playoff victory, surpassing former Lakers guard Derek Fisher’s 161.

Rondo had 21 points and nine assists as the Lakers broke open a close game in the final period. He scored eight straight points during

all second-team selections. Antetokounmpo was a first-teamer, as would be expected for the player who also won Defensive Player of the Year.

ADELMAN TRIBUTE Heat coach Erik Spoelstra got his 79th postseason win, tying Rick Adelman — one of his idols as a Portland kid — for 11th on the NBA’s all-time list.

“I thought he was one of the most successful, understated, humble people to ever do it in this business,” Spoelstra said.

“I hope people can really realise his greatness. He should be in the Hall of Fame. He’s innovated this game offensively as much as anyone.”

ODD COINCIDENCE The last time the Bucks played a game without Antetokounmpo on the floor was April 28, 2013 — about two months before they took him with the No. 15 pick in that year’s draft. Their 2012-13 season ended that day, with a loss to Miami.

UP NEXT Heat: Game 1 of the East finals vs. Toronto or Boston, TBD.

a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter that put the Lakers ahead for good.

Rondo assisted on the other basket during that stretch.

Anthony Davis had 26 points and Kyle Kuzma added 14. James Harden scored 33 points and Russell Westbrook had 30 for the Rockets.

Rondo assisted on a layup by James that put the Lakers ahead with about 10 minutes remaining. Rondo then hit a 3-pointer to give the Lakers an 89-85 advantage, their largest lead to that point.

After a Houston timeout, Westbrook missed a shot and Rondo sank another 3.

Rondo then stole the ball from Harden and made a layup to cap the 10-0 run.

LA controlled the final period for the second straight game. The Lakers blew a 21-point lead in Game 2 but outscored Houston by 10 in the fourth quarter to win 117-109.

TIP-INS Lakers: C JaVale McGee returned to action but G Dion Waiters was unavailable after both players were hurt in Game 2. Coach Frank Vogel said Waiters is

OSAKA (AP) Earlier, Brady defeated No. 23 seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-2.

“I came out with nerves.

I think she did, too,” Brady said. “I just tried to pretend it was a first-round match.”

It’s been quite a surge for Brady, whose big serve and forehand have carried her to an 11-1 record since tennis returned from its pandemic hiatus.

Her ranking was low enough at the start of 2020 that she needed to go through qualifying to get into a tournament’s main draw.

“There were a lot of doubts, a lot of questions.

Definitely not positive thoughts during those times,” said Brady, who helped UCLA win an NCAA title. “But I think I’m pretty lucky to have just stuck to it and just really continue to just play and practice and compete and get better. Here I am today.”

Today’s women’s quarterfinals are Serena Williams vs. Tsvetana Pironkova, and Victoria Azarenka vs. Elise Mertens.

day to day with a strained groin.

Rockets: Danuel House missed the game for what coach Mike D’Antoni said were personal reasons unrelated to COVID-19.

House had scored 13 points off the bench in Game 2. ... This marked the fourth time in D’Antoni’s tenure that Houston split the first two games of a playoff series. In the previous three instances, the Game 3 victor went on to win the series.

UP NEXT Game 4 is Thursday.

THE TRIBUNE

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 9, 2020, PAGE 15

Semenya loses at Swiss supreme court over testosterone rules

By GRAHAM DUNBAR and GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writers GENEVA (AP) — Twotime Olympic champion Caster Semenya lost her long legal battle yesterday against track and field’s rules that limit female runners’ naturally high testosterone levels.

Switzerland’s supreme court said its judges dismissed Semenya’s appeal against a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling last year that upheld the rules drafted by track’s governing body affecting female runners with differences of sex development (DSD).

The 71-page ruling means Semenya cannot defend her Olympic 800-metre title at the Tokyo Games next year — or compete at any top meets in distances from 400 metres to the mile — unless she agrees to lower her testosterone level through medication or surgery.

The 29-year-old South African repeatedly said she will not do that and reiterated her stance in a statement through her lawyers yesterday.

“I am very disappointed by this ruling, but refuse to let World Athletics drug me or stop me from being who I am,” she said. “Excluding female athletes or endangering our health solely because of our natural abilities puts World Athletics on the wrong side of history.”

The Swiss Federal Tribunal said Semenya’s appeal “essentially alleges a violation of the prohibition of discrimination.”

In a May 2019 verdict, the sport court’s three judges had said in a 2-to-1 ruling the discrimination against Semenya was “necessary, reasonable and proportionate” to maintain fairness in women’s track. Testosterone is a hormone that strengthens muscle tone and bone mass, and is a doping product if injected or ingested.

The panel of five federal judges said yesterday it was limited to examining “whether the CAS decision violates fundamental and widely recognised principles of public order. That is not the case.”

Semenya’s “guarantee of human dignity” was also not compromised by the CAS ruling, the judges decided.

“Implicated female athletes are free to refuse treatment to lower testosterone levels. The decision also does not aim to question in any way the female sex of implicated female athletes,” the federal court said.

Reacting to the verdict, Semenya said: “I will continue to fight for the human rights of female athletes, both on the track and off the track, until we can all

CASTER Semenya smiles after winning the women’s 800m at the Prefontaine Classic on June 30, 2019.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

SOUTH Africa’s Caster Semenya waits for the start of the 800m semifinal at the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) run free the way we were born. I know what is right and will do all I can to protect basic human rights, for young girls everywhere.”

Although exact details of Semenya’s condition have never been released since she won the first of her three world titles in 2009 as a teenager, she has testosterone levels that are higher than the typical female range.

The Swiss court statement yesterday referred to female runners with “the genetic variant ‘46 XY DSD’.”

World Athletics argued that gave her and other female athletes like her with DSD conditions and high natural testosterone an unfair advantage.

The rules Semenya appealed against require her to lower her testosterone to a level specified by the international track body for at least six months before competing. Athletes have three options to do that: Taking birth control pills, having testosteroneblocking injections, or undergoing surgery.

Semenya took birth control pills for around five years until the world track body, then known as the IAAF, had to suspend its previous hyperandrogenism rules after a CAS appeal brought by sprinter Dutee Chand of India.

Testifying at her fiveday hearing at CAS in February 2019, Semenya said taking the medication had unwanted side effects including making her injury prone.

Yesterday’s federal judgment came more than a year after the 2012 and 2016 Olympic champion lost a previous ruling from the same court.

That July 2019 verdict overturned a temporary ruling which had allowed Semenya briefly to compete in the 800 metres at international events — winning a top-tier race at Palo Alto, California — without taking testosterone-suppressing drugs.

It’s unclear what Semenya will choose to do next. She could compete in the 100 or 200 metres or at distances longer than the mile but she has never had the success in those events that she has had over two laps.

However, she had already switched her training this year to 200 metres, hinting that she was prepared to lose in court.

Greg Nott, Semenya’s long-time lawyer in South Africa, said her international team of lawyers was “considering the judgment and the options to challenge the findings in European and domestics courts.”

Any appeal to the European Court of Human Rights would likely not receive a judgment until after the Tokyo Olympics open next July.

Yesterday’s judgment also came at a financial cost to Semenya and South Africa’s track federation, which joined her appeal. Each was ordered to pay 7,000 Swiss francs ($7,600) to the court and 8,000 Swiss francs ($8,700) toward World Athletics’ legal costs.

TRINBAGO INTO FINAL TAROUBA, Trinidad (AP) — The Trinbago Knight Riders have taken their perfect record into the final of the Caribbean Premier League.

Lendl Simmons hit consecutive boundaries to end the first over to finish 54 not out and Tion Webster added 44 as the Knight Riders, 111-1, beat the Jamaica Tallawahs, 107-7, by nine wickets in a semifinal yesterday. Simmons and Webster shared an unbeaten 97-run stand.

The Knight Riders won all 10 games in the round-robin portion of the Twenty20 tournament.

The final is scheduled for Thursday, also at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

SPORTS PAGE 16

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

PAGE 15

‘Jazz’ shows his worth in Marlins’ 8-0 shutout win

Heat top Bucks, reach East finals

MIAMI Heat’s Bam Adebayo, left, blocks a shot by Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton (22) in the second half of their conference semifinal playoff game yesterday in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Heat won the series 4-1. (AP Photo/Mark J Terrill) SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 14

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ven as they moved him around on the infield and up in the batting line-up, Bahamian Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm showed his worth to the Miami Marlins as he helped in another victory last night.

Playing against the Atlanta Braves at the Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, the Marlins pulled off a stunning 8-0 shutout.

Miami picked up its second straight victory to improve to 19-18 for third place in the National League’s Eastern Division, while front-running Atlanta dropped to 24-18.

The 22-year-old Chisholm was inserted into the starting lineup at second base instead of shortstop and he batted seventh rather than ninth in his previous outing.

Taking advantage of his new role, Chisholm went 0-for-4, but had a walk, three stolen bases and a run scored for .063 average.

In his first at-bat in the top of the second inning, Chisholm got struck out

by Braves’ starting pitcher Kyle Wright, who relinquished a solo homer to

E

right fielder Matt Joyce on a 2-2 pitch as Miami took the initial 1-0 lead.

Chisholm came back in the fourth and was walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home with the Marlins’ second run in the inning on catcher Jorge Alfaro’s run-producing single to left.

Their second run in the inning came when designated hitter Garrett Cooper cracked a 1-0 pitch for a two-run home run to pick up third baseman Brian Anderson, who led off the rally with a walk.

Chisholm got cooled off in the sixth as he struck out as the lead-off batter. He came back in the seventh to ground into a fielder’s choice to get on first, but was forced out on another fielder’s choice by shortstop Miguel Rojas.

He ended his plate appearance the way he started by getting struck out by Braves’ relief pitcher Jacob Webb to end the ninth inning.

Acquired by Miami in a trade with the D-backs for Major League righthander Zoe Gallen on July 31 last year, the No. 70 overall prospect Chisholm was called up for his Major

MIAMI Marlins infielder Jazz Chisholm is shown during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 1 in Miami.

Chisholm and the Marlins pulled off a stunning 8-0 shutout against the Atlanta Braves at the Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, last night. (AP) League debut on Tuesday, September 1.

Chisholm, who had been at the Marlins’ alternate site in Jupiter, became the first Bahamian since Antoan Richardson to play in the Major League. Richardson, now a first base coach with the San Francisco Giants, played in the league twice with the Atlanta Braves in 2011 and the New York Yankees in 2014.

Chisholm and Richardson joined five other Bahamians to play in the league, inclusive of Andre

Rodgers, Tony Curry, Ed Armbrister, Wenty Ford and Wilfred Culmer.

Since making his debut on the defensive end for Rojas in his first game, Chisholm has played in a total of six games, producing 16 at-bat with two runs with one hit on a triple, a walk and five stolen bases.

Chisholm and the Marlins, who are in contention for the playoffs, will be back in action tonight in Atlanta before they return home to host the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

NFL: Chiefs’ Fenton gets championship ring

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER enjoying his first experience as a National Football League champion, Kansas City Chiefs’ second year corner back Rashad Fenton finally got his championship ring.

Now as the 2020 season gets set to open on Thursday night, Fenton is hoping he can duplicate the feat as he plays a bigger role for the Chiefs alongside Charvarius Ward and Bashaud Breeland, who is currently serving a four-game suspension.

The 5-foot, 11-inch, 188pound Fenton joined his team-mates last week in receiving their Super Bowl LIV championship rings, which according to chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, has a total of 255 diamonds and 36 rubies, customised with each player’s name and jersey number.

Fenton’s mother, Lorraine Bethell-Fenton, is a Bahamian who graduated from RM Bailey High School and moved to Florida to attend St Thomas and Barry University where she gave birth to Rashad with his father, Rohan Fenton.

“I felt good about it. It was exciting, it was thrilling.

I was just happy for him,” she said. “It was just so nice to see a young man like him accomplish so much so fast.

That was pretty nice.”

Fenton, a graduate of Miami Carol City High School who went on to excel for South Carolina and was drafted by the Chiefs in the sixth round with the 201st overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, was unavailable for comments.

KANSAS City Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton (27) runs during NFL football training camp practice on August 27.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) But the 23-year-old noted outside as he rotated with in a local daily publication the first and second team that he was looking forward defensive units. to helping the Chiefs to “Coming into this camp, repeat as the NFL champi- he knew his exact role being ons, especially as he makes that he would be a dual guy, his contribution on the so he’s playing faster,” said defensive end. defensive backs/corner “Special teams help me backs coach Sam Madison. get my edge,” Fenton told “Now we have the opporthe Kansas City Stars in tunity to mix him with the an interview last week. ones, with the twos, play“It helped me feel out the ing corner, playing nickel energy. It just helps me out is putting a lot on his plate, defensive-wise in general. but yet making sure he “You got to start the understands that he’s going game off and finish the to be needed in those roles game with special teams, so later on during the season.” doing that on special teams The Chiefs, coached by is special. It just helps me Andy Reed, will host the bring and put more fuel.”

Houston Texans in their Last year, Fenton played season opener on Thursday in 12 games for the Chiefs, at Arrowhead Stadium in making 30 per cent of their Kansas City when they will special teams’ 130 snaps also raise their Super Bowl and contributing 169 defen- LIV championship banner. sive snags. In preparation Bethell-Fenton noted for this season, Fenton has that she intends to be right been playing inside and on the sidelines cheering on her son just as she did when they won the title last year.

“You’re looking at a group of young men who were so thirsty and hungry Advertise your Business in The Bahamas leading for it (championship) and newspaper in circulation, or on Tribune242.com. Call they never gave up,” she reflected. “Even when it felt our Advertising Department on 502-2350/502-2394 like they were choking, they for more information. never gave up.”

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