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VOLUME:117 No.200, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

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SCHOOLS SHOWDOWN Teachers plan mass absence today as exams start over COVID-19 safety concerns

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A PLANNED sit-out of public school teachers could disrupt the resumption of national exams today as educators look to protest the readiness of their institutions for COVID-19.

Teachers will call in today and say they will not be attending work, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson.

“For many months the Bahamas Union of Teachers has urged the Ministry of Education to present a reopening plan and sit with the Bahamas Union of Teachers so that we can have input,” she told The Tribune yesterday.

“We had two meetings on August 24 and 26 with an

accumulation of 13 hours discussing the plan with the union and giving recommendations, most of which were ignored.

“So a straw poll was taken among teachers on their campuses by the shop stewards and the majority of teachers voted in favour of industrial action.

So Monday will be dubbed ‘call in support teacher a COVID-19 day’.

“Teachers throughout The Bahamas will call in (saying) ‘I will not be in attendance today.’ Some teachers in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands will wear union colours and union t-shirts in support and solidarity for the action.

Teachers want the Ministry of Education to know that ‘teachers’ lives matter’ and we stand in solidarity.”

SANDALS TO KEEP DOORS SHUT UNTIL JANUARY 28

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE deputy prime minister yesterday admitted the delayed re-opening by top hotels has thrown “a major wrinkle” into the Government’s plans with Sandals’ flagship property not returning until January 28.

K Peter Turnquest told Tribune Business the Government will make “adjustments as necessary” once the Ministry of Finance assesses the likely economic and fiscal impact, with the fall-out potentially affecting the already cash-strapped Public Treasury’s ability to fund the individual and business COVID-19 assistance

MAN KILLED IN LATE-NIGHT SHOOTING

SEE PAGE THREE

initiatives beyond their planned end-September close.

He spoke out after Sandals Royal Bahamian seemingly joined its Cable Beach neighbours, the Baha Mar mega resort complex and Melia Nassau Beach property, in electing not to re-open on the October 15 date recommended by the Ministry of Tourism for the resort industry’s return.

This newspaper’s check of Sandals’ group website shows the all-inclusive resort chain, which is controlled by Gordon “Butch” Stewart and his family, advertising a January 28, 2021, re-opening date for the Sandals Royal Bahamian property.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

A BODY is taken from the scene after a homicide on Hawthorne Road in the area of Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged last night where a man was shot. A second man was reportedly in police custody late as The Tribune was going to press. For more details, see www. tribune242.com.

VICTIMS LOSE THOUSANDS IN ONLINE ROMANCE SCAM

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net POLICE are warning the public about an online romance scam where victims are being deceived and eventually defrauded of thousands of dollars.

Officer-in-charge of Financial Crime Investigations Chief Superintendent Matthew Edgecombe told

The Tribune there are some cases where people were defrauded of $10,000 or $25,000 over a period of time.

He added that officials had so far seen a lot of women fall victim to this type of crime, mainly those 35 and older, however he said anyone can be roped into such a scheme.

“It’s nothing new, but basically over the pandemic

I should say we saw an increase in persons coming forward and making them aware of these matters. We notice this has been happening now for some time,” Chief Supt Edgecombe said.

“Now with our international partners, we are able to do our best to stop this from happening but SEE PAGE SEVEN

RIVAL TOURIST DESTINATIONS MOVE TO SCRAP QUARANTINE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN tourism is facing “a competitive disadvantage” because it will not “be so bold” as Caribbean rivals in eliminating COVID testing and quarantine requirements, said

Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday.

The Dominican Republic - which already has no quarantine requirements for arrivals - will eliminate the need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival as of tomorrow.

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SUSPECT QUIZZED ON FATAL STABBING

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

POLICE in New Providence are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man who died in hospital after an altercation at Raymond Road.

According to police reports, shortly after midnight on Friday, police received reports of a physical altercation between two men.

SEE PAGE THREE

INSIGHT DID WE LOSE THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY?

PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Monday, September 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

TWO POWER OUTAGES OVER WEEKEND

PLP leader back after COVID-19 treatment ON his return to the country from COVID-19 treatment in the United States, Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said he remains deeply concerned that The Bahamas is not headed in the right direction.

Mr Davis gave brief remarks on Friday at Jet Aviation moments after his

PHILIP ‘Brave’ Davis speaking to the media.

arrival. He was airlifted last month to a hospital where he received treatment for the deadly virus.

He said: “First of all, I want to give thanks to the Almighty Lord who has blessed us with healing and love and to all those whose prayers and well-wishes, sent from every corner of The Bahamas, covered and lifted up my family and me. With all our hearts, we thank you.

Truly, God is good.

“Even while I was away, I never felt that far from home. Having family with me was a blessing – my daughters Philippa and Christina and others.

“Imagine my surprise to find out that the lead nurse in the hospital in Atlanta grew up in Andros. Bahamian roots, connecting all over the world.”

“We have our challenges in this country, but there’s so much that unites us,” Mr

PLP leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis being welcomed on his arrival.

Davis continued. “When is not headed in the right times are tough, we come direction. And we’re going through for each other. And to need to summon the best things are extremely tough. of this country to overcome We remain a nation in crisis. these difficult times.

“I’ve been in near“So it’s back to work. I’ll constant touch with my have a lot more to say in colleagues who I thank for the coming days. It’s wonnot missing a beat in the derful to be back with Ann important work that we and the rest of our children. are doing. We’re all deeply God bless you all. It’s so concerned that the country good to be home.”

AN issue at Bahamas Power and Light’s Clifton Pier station led to a “widespread” outage in New Providence last night, the utility provider said.

Shortly after 7pm, BPL said the unspecified issue left several areas without power including East St South and the southern New Providence commercial area on Thompson Blvd; Blue Hill Rd north and south; Musha Hill (Ridgeland Park); portions of Seabreeze and Abundant Life Rd; Mackey Street as far as Madeira, and the Twynam area.

However people in areas not mentioned also complained about power loss, including those on Eastern Road and the Englerston community.

This came after an island-wide outage in New Providence on Friday.

Last night BPL said work was underway to address problem at

Clifton Pier, adding the company expected to have power restored within an hour.

BPL experienced major engine disruption that caused an island-wide outage in New Providence on Friday.

The outage happened at 1.16pm and electricity was restored after 4pm, BPL said.

“Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd reported that all customers affected by the island-wide outage that occurred at 1.16pm had their power restored by shortly after 4pm,” the company said in a statement shortly after 5pm.

“At 1.16pm, our system experienced a problem that caused the six engines online at Station A to come offline all at once. The mitigation systems were unable to deal with the sudden, unexpected loss of half the generation on the grid, which led to an islandwide outage.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 14, 2020, PAGE 3

MOTHER PRAYS FOR SON MISSING IN FLORIDA

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

EURESTON HUYLER

A BAHAMIAN mother is praying for the safe return of her son who has reportedly gone missing in Florida.

Sabrina Huyler-Ramsey says she last saw 19-yearold Eureston Huyler on Thursday at 9am when he left for Palm Beach State College to see the school’s advisor to register. She said she doesn’t know what happened to her son.

“I hadn’t heard from him,” she said. “So as I started to contact him and then after four when his phone went dead (and) he

wasn’t home by six I knew something had to have been wrong as he’s normally (home) no later than six o’clock.

“If I had known what happened, I would not be feeling the way I’m feeling now so I’m not even venturing that far.”

The mother described the teen as someone who doesn’t “interfere with nobody”, “well-groomed” and “a real nice gentleman”. She said she has been overwhelmed by support on social media for her son, adding that at this point, she is just waiting for more word from police.

The family lives in Delray Beach, Florida, where Ms

Huyler-Ramsey has been residing for more than 30 years.

Former Bahamas Consul General to Atlanta Randy Rolle shared his concern for the missing teen yesterday, noting in a release that he has worked with many Bahamian students over the years as a foreign officer and the father of a college student.

“I empathise with his parents as words cannot describe how they must feel at this very moment,” Mr Rolle’s statement said.

“It is my hope and prayer that Mr Huyler is found safe, and that he is able to make contact with his parents as soon as possible. Today, I

Teachers plan mass absence from page one Mrs Wilson’s comments came after the Ministry of Education released a statement encouraging teachers not to be persuaded by her “antagonistic pronouncements.” The ministry accused her of trying to deprive children of the chance to learn while insisting schools are safe and that protocols mandated by the Ministry of Health and the Department of Environmental Health for handling COVID-19 infections are being followed.

“The Ministry of Education categorically refutes public assertions by Mrs Belinda Wilson the President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers that there are unsafe conditions in Ministry of Education schools due to the presence of persons with COVID-19 infections in several of those schools,” the ministry said. “These assertions are designed to create public panic among teachers, students and parents in pursuit of the BUT president’s selfish goal of derailing the national examinations, which are to be held from Monday, 14th September – Friday, 2nd October, due to her personal opposition to them. “…The ministry is deeply aggrieved by the fact that the BUT President would seek to deprive children of this vital opportunity, and while this behaviour is not unexpected, it is particularly regrettable that such

action would be taken at a time when we should all be pulling together as a country to advance national development in the midst of the worldwide COVID crisis. The ministry therefore assures the general public, including educators, staff, parents and students sitting the national examinations, that all Ministry of Education facilities and schools, including those being utilized for the national examinations, are safe, and that persons need not fear for their safety.” “…the Ministry of Education hereby confirms that while there have been reported cases of persons with COVID 19 infections at a few MOE schools, those premises were vacated and were subsequently cleaned and sanitized by Environmental Monitoring and Risk Assessment Division (EMRAD) certified COVID 19 cleaning teams, in accordance with the Department of Environmental Health requirements, and are safe for all persons to occupy, including, where applicable, for the administration of national examinations, beginning on Monday, 14th September. The public is also reminded that in compliance with Ministry of Health protocols, persons who may have been exposed to a confirmed COVID individual are required to undergo COVID 19 testing, and to submit to quarantine conditions, which then removes such persons from contact

with the general public.”

Mrs Wilson, nonetheless, claimed schools restarted on September 7 with campuses unprepared for the reopening. She said some classrooms were not cleaned and that janitorial staff were not given protective equipment or adequate training. She said schools were not given sufficient hand sanitizers, a claim the ministry rejects.

“Most egregious is the fact that the Ministry of Education gave teachers tablets that were incompatible with the Zoom platform so they could not be used,” she claimed.

“Many teachers were crammed in classrooms and computer labs many as five of them sharing one computer device without social distancing protocols being followed. Very concerning is that in several schools suspected positive cases of COVID-19 or persons who were exposed to COVID19 positive persons were at school among their colleagues and peers before they were made aware.”

She said there are COVID-19 concerns at Columbus Primary, DW Davis Junior High, CI Gibson Senior High, Sybil Strachan Primary, Stapledon School and North Long Island High School.

“The increase of COVID19 cases over the past two weeks is alarming and there is no testing for teachers and or students,” she said.

“We have so many teachers who are still uncertain as to where they can get tested.”

SUSPECT QUIZZED ON FATAL STABBING

from page one

When they arrived at a residence, police spoke to one of the men allegedly involved.

“Officers responded and, on their arrival, they saw and spoke to a male who stated that he was visiting the mother of his children, when a male with whom he was familiar was at the residence approached him,” police said.

“An argument ensued which turned into a physical altercation, the male produced a knife, he was able to take the knife from the male. However, during the altercation he stabbed the male.”

The victim was taken to the hospital in private vehicle. He later died of his injuries.

Police said a man is in custody assisting with investigations.

This marks the 44th homicide for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

The death is the second this month after the body of a man was discovered wrapped in a sheet off Bacardi Road on September 6.

Officers received information shortly after 8pm on Saturday from a concerned citizen about a potential homicide on Blyden Road off Bacardi Road. The Central Investigative Unit launched an investigation

immediately into the complaint, police said.

“Acting on information, shortly after 12am on Sunday September 6, 2020, the officers were led to a track road off Bacardi Road where they discovered the lifeless body of a male wrapped up in a blue sheet,” police said Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call police at 502-9991 or 328-TIPS.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

wish to appeal to all Bahamian students abroad to register with your local consulate office, to remain in contact with loved ones, and to always ensure that reliable persons know of your whereabouts at all times.

“Additionally, I take this opportunity to remind Bahamian students studying abroad to avoid social gatherings, to sanitise hands regularly and wear masks to protect yourselves against possible exposure COVID-19.”

Mr Huyler is 6’4’’ and has a dark brown complexion.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Bahamas Consulate in Miami.

SOME of the survivors after being rescued by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

12 MIGRANTS RESCUED - BUT SEARCH IS ON FOR MORE AT SEA

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A SEARCH and rescue mission is underway for a group of Jamaican and Haitian migrants reported missing at sea.

This comes after the Royal Bahamas Defence Force rescued 12 migrants who were stranded at sea on Saturday from a capsized vessel off Chub Cay in the Berry Islands.

RBDF search and rescue coordinator, Commander William Sturrup said five people were reported missing from the vessel.

“After receiving reports from Nicholls Town Police Station that a 27ft vessel was taking on water nine miles south of Chub Cay in the Berry Islands, RBDF Patrol Craft P-127,

(headed) by Chief Petty Officer Onassis Ferguson, was dispatched to the area to investigate,” the RBDF noted in a statement.

“The search and rescue unit arrived on scene at 5.20 am to find the vessel partially submerged with several individuals in the water clinging to the vessel.

Twelve persons were subsequently rescued with ongoing search efforts to find the remaining persons.

“The rescued migrants were transported to HMBS Coral Harbour to be processed and checked by medical personnel in advance of subsequent handover to police and immigration officials for further processing and investigation.”

Police press liaison officer ASP Audley Peters revealed the migrants are

being held at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

In the statement, the RBDF and Commander Sturrup advised “boaters of their responsibility to observe boating safety requirements related to the possession of adequate safety, survival and communications equipment as per the Port Department regulations. Individuals are advised to adhere to the Emergency Orders as it pertains to maritime traffic and the movement of passengers.”

The RBDF also urged boaters to pay attention to local weather warnings and to report instances of suspected human smuggling or trafficking to its Operations Department at 826-3117 “to effectively counter such transnational maritime threat”.

A Private Graveside Service for DONOVAN ANTHONY LIGHTBOURNE, 52 of Pitt Road, will be held on Wednesday, September 16th, 2020 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church Cemetery. Officiating will be Monsignor Alfred Culmer.

Due to current Government regulations in respect of Covid-19, attendance is limited.

Donovan will be forever and lovingly remembered by his Mother: Violet Rodgers; Stepfather: Adrian Rodgers; 3 Sons: Donovan Ares, Dimaggio and Raidon Franklyn Lightbourne; 2 Daughters: Dovanya Anthonice and Raine Theresa Lightbourne; Grand Child: Amir Deshawn Lightbourne; Sister: Adria Rodgers-Cargill; Brothers: Marcellus Ifill and Antonio Rodgers; Paternal Sisters and Brothers: Frank, Latina, Lettia, Ira, Desiree, Jennifer, Sophia, Shervone, Shyvonne, Corey, Stacey, Marissa, Candace, Dellano and Dennis; Aunts: Beverly Smith, Agatha Thompson, Loretta Thomas, Doctor Jacquelyn Robinson, Linda Basden, Georgianne Robinson, Sandra Beecham, Veronica Sears, Allison Evans, Bridgette Burrows, Paulette Bain, Valencia Robinson and Margaret Robinson; Paternal Aunts: Jennie Fernander, Judith Blair, Erica Reckley and Carolyn Wright; Uncles: Gregory, George Jr. Eugene, Frederick, Reynold, Carlton, Franklyn, Roderick, Stephen, Leslie, Paul, Brian and Gilford Robinson; Paternal Uncles: Rodney, Ishmael and Jeffery Lightbourne; Brother-In-Law: Wayne Tony Cargill; A host of Nieces, Nephews Cousins and extended family whom he loved dearly; Grand Uncles and Aunts abroad: Ina Moore Haughton and family, Doris Moore Morgan and family, Alphonso Moore and family and Lloyd Moore and family; Special Friend: Raissa Turner and Family; Mrs. Hazel Knowles and family, Genevieve Scavella, the backyard boys and Numerous other extended relatives and friends including: Yvette Robinson and Anne Smith.

Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street on Tuesday, September 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm.

PAGE 4, Monday, September 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

GB power cost ‘third lowest’ in region says top executive

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama Power Company top executive said the cost of electricity in Grand Bahama is the third-lowest in the Caribbean region but agrees that it could be lower.

“I would be the first to say the price is not low enough,” said Dave McGregor, president and CEO of GBPC. We need to accelerate the transition to renewable energy to really start pushing down the price.”

Mr McGregor indicated that the Power Company is moving toward transformation to renewable energy and is talking to at least four independent power producers about a solar plant for Grand Bahama.

The Power executive – at the Rotary of Club of Grand Bahama Zoom meeting last Saturday – also indicated that they are looking for a new suitable site for its 5 megawatt Solar Sun Project, which was stopped after the initial site was severely flooded during

DAVID MCGREGOR Dorian in early September.

GBPC had started work on the project on land, near its West Sunrise Highway plant, in 2019.

“We actually contracted that, and we actually started work,” Mr McGregor said.

“Hurricane Dorian came with apocalyptic flooding at the site where we were going to build solar; it flooded half the site, so we stopped that project and are trying to find another site; we are trying to find some land that is unencumbered and not susceptible to flooding.”

There has been much

ongoing criticism and public debate over the high cost of energy in Grand Bahama.

Last week, a group of concerned residents protested in front of the GBPC headquarters.

And two local civic organizations, the Coalition for Concerned Citizens and Families for Justice, also spoke out against a storm recovery and stabilization (SRS) charge that the company is expected to put in effect on October 1.

The organizations stressed that the cost of electricity is already too high and that the island’s economy,

consumers, and businesses cannot afford any further additional charge on their energy bills. The CCC has planned a town meeting later this month to discuss SRS charge.

In his address on Saturday, Mr McGregor noted that the Power company suffered significant damage during Dorian to the tune of some $45m at its Peel Street plant.

“What we do with the stabilisation charge is trying to payoff Dorian,” he explained. Those costs need to be recouped somehow.”

“There are several ways we could do it, build it into the electricity rates every year that we feel we could be fair to customers because you will be paying then for hurricane restorations. Another way is to hedge the price more. It is appropriate to do it when you are using heavy fuel oil,” he said, noting that they did that with Matthew which caused some $27m in damage to GBPC. “We ought to use that until 2025 to hold the price of power stable so businesses, in particular, can plan their costs over the next few years with some stability.

We all want energy cost to be lower but holding them stable has also helped.”

McGregor said that the all-in price of electricity has not changed since 2012, a claim which CCC said is not correct. Pastor Eddie Victor, the convener of CCC, claimed that a rate increase was approved in 2015.

“The price of electricity has not gone up in nine years, McGregor said.

The Power executive also noted that 75 percent of its customers’ bills are less than $200 in average months, excluding July and August.

“If your bill is higher than $200 you are in the top 25 percent (high usage) electricity on our island.”

“And what I found working with Barbados and Dominica, I was actually quite shocked when I came to GB looking at the electricity usage per capita.

People in GB, and indeed people in The Bahamas, use about three times as much electricity as they do in Dominica, and twice as much as in Barbados.

“So I think we have some work to do at the GBPC, and you have work to do as residents and customers to help manage energy cost because we are using three times as much as our neighbours, So that is going to be a major focus of us,” he said.

Despite this, however, he contends that GB compares favorably with the rest of the Caribbean, at the bottom third lowest in the Caribbean in terms of electricity costs.

“It might not feel like this because we had some high billing months in July, but our rates at 10 cents fuel surcharge and 19 to 20 cents base charge, is about the third or fourth lowest in the Caribbean,” he stated, adding that the “fuel hedging strategy has paid off.”

He noted that Trinidad and Tobago is first, and Jamaica is next due to its transition to renewable energy and spreading energy cost among the millions of consumers there.

Mr McGregor - who has been in the Caribbean for eight years in the energy industry – has been sent

by EMERA to commence renewable energy transformation in GB. He noted that there have been a couple of false starts, referring to Hurricanes Matthew and Dorian, which caused $27m and $45m, respectively, in damage at its main generation Peet Street plant, which uses fossil fuels.

“Renewable energy is the future for this island, he stated. We need to get off expensive imported fossil foreign fuel, and the way to do that is to introduce reliable energy. Solar is the one that works best here, but we are also looking at wind, and with some other local partners to look at tidal options as well.”

“I think it is important we introduce solar energy and others introduce solar

energy to the landscape we have here,” he said.

There are at least four parties who are interested in building solar plants and selling their energy to GBPC. McGregor confirmed that all the parties are Bahamians, some with foreign interest, but would not disclose those groups because of a non-disclosure agreement.

He stressed that it is really important that the cost of that solar energy is lower than the cost of energy today. “We really want more people paying less for electricity, not fewer people paying more,” he said.

Mr McGregor stated that EMERA had implemented a three-point plan after acquiring GBPC: to improve reliability, reduce and stabilize energy cost; and transformation to renewable energy.

They are now in the third step of that plan, he said, and while still trying to reduce and stabilize energy cost and improving reliability.

The new $85m plant, he said, has tremendously increased generation reliability, and the investment of $15m on a storm hardening programme to reduce outages caused by hurricanes and thunderstorms, and an automatic reclosure system against lightning strikes.

Secondly, their fuel hedging programme established in 2016, has also allowed them to lock in the price of heavy fuel oil at $42 per barrel until 2021/22, reducing the fuel surcharge to customers from 20 cents to 10 cents, since 2016 and until 2021/22.

“Along with Barbados, GB is today one of the more reliable power systems in the Caribbean,” McGregor said, adding that it has a 99 percent reliability rating by CARILEC and international standards.

He said reliability measures are determined by the number of minutes and number of hours customers are interrupted per year, and the number of times customers are interrupted per year.

GB LEVY ‘A SLAP IN THE FACE’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A VETERAN hotel union executive said the levy being imposed by the Grand Bahama Power Company is a “slap in the face” to the residents and businesses that have also suffered immense losses during Hurricane Dorian.

Kirkland Russell, the vice-president of Commonwealth of Bahamas Trade Union Congress and member of Coalition for Concerned Citizens, said EMERA/GBPC has no regard for the people of Grand Bahama.

“I would like to express great disappointment and unbelief in the fact that…

EMERA on October 1, will implement a levy intended to recoup losses as a result of Dorian.

“GB would have endured too much and

this is certainly not the time to talk about putting extra taxes and burdens on the back of the Bahamian people,” he stressed.

“GB has suffered enough, there is no more juice to be squeezed out of GB.” Mr Russell claims that EMERA has demonstrated over the years that it is not a good corporate citizen.

“For any company to believe at this time in GB that residents or customers ought to pay for the loss of your infrastructure is inhumane and wrong. It is totally wrong, and not the time,” said the trade unionist.

He urged EMERA to instead look for ways to lower cuts and not tax the people.

Mr Russell noted that GB has experienced the highest unemployment rate in its history at 60 percent.

“The tourism industry in GB is nothing. We have the

major tourist hub closed and there is no date as to when the hotel will be up and running to support this island. Our airport is in disarray, and the harbour is in the same position,” he said.

“The island of GB is in poor shape and EMERA must not defer, but suck it up. That is your infrastructure.”

Mr Russell accused EMERA of passing on all its costs to customers.

“It seems they are interested in running a cost-free operation. A few years ago, when they constructed a new power plant at Peel Street, the cost was passed over to the citizens of GB; the fuel surcharge is passed onto citizens of GB,” he noted.

While EMERA has lost some 300 plus customers in East GB, and lots of revenue as a result of downsizing at the hotels, Mr Russell claims that the company is still earning a handsome sum and can bear the burden.

“There are other businesses on GB that had to deal with losses, and some the loss of families who died. GB is in dire straits and we need a caring company,” Mr Russell said.

He urged the government to consider allowing Northern Bahamas Utilities to operate a Bahamian-owned company, which has made an application for power distribution for East and West Grand Bahama.

The agreement to provide power to East and West Grand Bahama between the government and EMERA has come to an end.

“We say give that portion of the power distribution to the Bahamian company,” said Mr Russell.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 14, 2020, PAGE 5

Health experts warn of rise in suicide risk during pandemic THE Pan American Health Organisation has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate suicide risk factors, urging people to speak about the issue in an open and responsible manner, remain connected even during physical distancing, and learn to identify warning signs to prevent it.

According to PAHO, the novel coronavirus is affecting the mental health of many people with data from recent studies showing an increase in distress, anxiety and depression, particularly among healthcare workers.

These, in addition to violence, alcohol use disorders, substance abuse, and feelings of loss, are important factors that can increase a person’s risk of deciding to take their own lives, the agency said.

“We still don’t know

how increased depression, domestic violence or substance use will impact suicide rates in the region, but it’s important to take a minute to talk about it, support each other in these pandemic times, and know the warning signs of suicide to help prevent it,” said Renato Oliveira e Souza, PAHO’s head of mental health and substance abuse.

This comes after World Suicide Prevention Day was observed on September 10.

Most suicides in the region (36 percent) occur in people between the age of 25 and 44, and those between the age of 45 and 59 (26 percent), PAHO said, adding that Guyana and Suriname have the highest suicide rates in the region.

As in the rest of the

world, suicide rates in men remain higher than for women, and account for about 78 percent of all suicide deaths, PAHO added.

Three times more men than women are killed in high-income countries, but in low- and middle-income countries the rate is 1.5 men for each woman.

“This 2020 we find ourselves in very unexpected and challenging circumstances as we face the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of the new coronavirus has probably had an affect on everyone’s mental well-being. And that’s why this year, more than ever, it’s crucial that we work together to prevent suicide,” Mr Oliveira e Souza stressed.

According to PAHO, most suicides are preceded by verbal or behavioral warning signs such as

422 NEW CASES IN A WEEK

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas recorded 422 new cases of COVID19 between September 5 and September 12, 403 of which were recorded in New Providence.

COVID-19 deaths increased by 11 during the specified period, for a total of 67 while 2,443 tests were completed.

The number of hospitalised cases declined by 12 between the September 5 and 12, now totaling 71.

Of the 54 additional cases health officials recorded on Saturday, 45 were in New Providence, two in Grand Bahama, four in Abaco, two in Eleuthera and one in Exuma.

Of the 60 additional cases reported on Friday, 56 were recorded in New Providence, one in Abaco and two in Eleuthera. Another case was listed as having its location pending.

The two deaths reported on Friday are a 30-year-old New Providence woman who died

on September 11 and a 58-year-old New Providence woman who died on September 9.

COVID-19 statistics for yesterday were not released up to press time.

Although COVID-19 has shown little signs of slowing down, officials have set October 15 as the date hotels throughout the country could resume full operations and the use of beaches.

Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said officials are hoping to fully reopen the tourism sector by early November with November 1 eyed for the reopening of tourism attractions, tours and excursions.

Mr D’Aguilar said not only will hotels need an approved quarantine facility for the reopening, but visitors will also be required to remain wherever they lodge for no more than 14 days.

They will be required to quarantine for 14 days or for the length of their stay, “whichever is shorter,” he said. As a marketing

‘PROGRESS MADE’ ON GB WATER SUPPLY

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama’s water potability is progressing, according to the GB Utility Company, which reports its customer base potable supply is at 70 percent.

The company confirms 27 areas are now receiving safe drinking water.

“We appreciate our customers’ patience, and we’ll continue to keep residents apprised as we progress toward island-wide potability in the coming months,” said Philcher Grant, director of group corporate affairs and government relations at Port Group Ltd. Ms Grant said water in those areas has had regulatory approval and met all requirements, including monitoring, WHO guidelines and testing that has been validated by independent labs.

Some of the areas still without potable supply are Central Area, East Section, North Bahamia and Yeoman Wood.

The environmental section of the building and development services department (BDS) of the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) is responsible to ensure GBUC is delivering water that meets WHO standards.

Nakira Wilchcombe, director of the building department at GBPA, said as regulator, the GBPA is satisfied that those areas identified are now receiving water that is considered potable.

“We want customers to understand that there are some subdivisions that feed from different

distribution lines and different wellfields,” explained Ms Wilchcombe. “In those cases, some parts of a subdivision may have potable water while other parts do not.

“We’ll be sharing more specifics on our social media channels and we encourage you to follow us for details on each subdivision as we progress. Despite COVID-19 and the challenges it brings, our team is working hard to restore all customers in all areas, and we won’t stop until we’re done.”

Senator Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama, recognised GBUC’s progress and acknowledged the work still ahead.

“With the devastation of Hurricane Dorian still fresh in our minds, and the added challenges wrought by COVID-19, we are grateful for the determination shown by the GBUC team in returning the island’s drinking water to our communities,” he said.

“It has been almost a year since Dorian and I know it hasn’t been easy, but we trust the utility’s strategy and investment will ensure Grand Bahamians are never again without clean drinking water for a prolonged period following a storm. The Government of The Bahamas will continue to work with the GB Utility Company to ensure we have full restoration of our water supply.”

The company noted that the 25 percent discount is currently reflected on the water portion of customers’ bills remains in place for residents that do not have potable water.

strategy, he said the ministry is avoiding the word “quarantine,” and is instead pushing the phrase “vacation in place”.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told reporters last week he does not foresee more lockdowns to fight COVID-19.

“I think with the excellent job that the health professionals are doing, you must establish a balance between health and the economy,” he said on Thursday. “They are able and were able to isolate and determine the areas that are having an increase in numbers and if we can isolate and determine those areas then we can zoom in on those particular areas so as not to impact the entire Bahamas.”

The Ministry of Health is expected to host a press conference today after not hosting one last week.

talking about: wanting to die, feeling great guilt or shame, or feeling a burden on others. Other signs are feeling empty, hopeless, trapped, or with no reason to live; feeling extremely sad, anxious, agitated, or full of anger; or with unbearable pain, whether emotional or physical.

Also, behavioral changes such as making a plan or researching ways to die; staying away from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items or making a will; doing very risky things like driving at extreme speed; showing extreme mood swings; eating or sleeping too much or too little; using drugs or alcohol more often. All these can be warning signs of suicide.

PAHO’s release said suicide can be prevented and effective interventions

are available. On a personal level, early detection and treatment of depression and alcohol use disorders are critical to suicide prevention, as well as follow-up contact with those who have tried suicide and psychosocial support in communities. If a person detects warning signs of suicide themselves or in someone they know, they should seek help from a health care professional as soon as possible.

Removing barriers to access to mental health care, limiting access to the means to commit suicide, providing truthful and appropriate information on the subject in the media, as well as reducing the stigma associated with seeking help can also help reduce suicide.

Last week, The Tribune reported that the Bahamas

Red Cross said it received more than 200 calls to the organisation’s support hotline in less than a month in August mainly related to those feeling financial stress or not having a job amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Bernadette Saunders, the Red Cross’ health and wellness coordinator, said she can get up 50 to 60 calls in a given day. She estimated she received calls from five people contemplating suicide since March but highlighted there are some who call the hotline and may not open up to being suicidal.

A week ago, police said a man was rescued by a concerned citizen after he drove his car into waters below the Montagu ramp in an attempted suicide.

If you are in distress, you can contact the Red Cross’ hotline at 828-4121.

PAGE 4, Monday, September 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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No united front for back to school IF we were hoping for a smooth start and a united front for the return to school, we have been swiftly disappointed.

After Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson raised a number of concerns about the return to school and safety during the COVID19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education has fired back – with a rather bitter statement.

That in turn has fired up union members who will reportedly not be in attendance at school today.

Honestly, is this helping anyone?

The ministry has made it personal, claiming that Mrs Wilson’s concerns are false and that they are part of her “selfish goal of derailing the national examinations… due to her personal opposition to them”. The ministry claimed the allegations “are designed to create public panic among teachers, students and parents”.

What are the panic-inducing claims Mrs Wilson has made? She has said that schools were not prepared for the reopening, that some classrooms were not cleaned and that janitorial staff needed protective equipment and training. She said that schools were not given enough hand sanitisers, a claim the ministry rejects, and that teachers were given tablets that were incompatible with the Zoom platform being used for virtual learning, and that “many teachers were crammed in classrooms and computer labs…without social distancing protocols being followed”.

A great deal of these are relatively straightforward fixes – or easy to investigate in the case of the tablets being used, to see if a remedy is possible. These should be areas where all sides can work together to reach a solution.

On the other hand, escalating matters by sloganeering that “Teachers’ lives matter” with its self-conscious reference to the protests in the United States, and having teachers call in today to refuse to attend isn’t helping either.

Both sides should take a step back and wonder what kind of image they are presenting to parents and children with this kind of in-fighting.

The ministry has attempted to reassure by pointing out that if a COVID-19 infection occurs in a school, it will be vacated, cleaned and sanitised – but what happens if that is on an exam day?

How will the ministry cope with children in one school having not taken an exam while others have, and the possibility of questions being shared to those waiting for a new date?

Safety must be the absolute priority when dealing with school reopenings.

We have seen across the water in the US what has happened when schools have opened their doors then swiftly had to close them again because of COVID outbreaks – and we must learn from that experience.

Schools are not just the children,

they are the community around them – the parents, grandparents, teachers, janitorial staff, office staff and more.

Safety must be for everyone – and none of this bitter dispute will help any of them.

Learn from the best

Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar is facing a quandry.

He sees other jurisdictions open their doors despite the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and sees the restrictions in place for visitors to The Bahamas serving as a barrier to his attempts to reopen ours.

What are the solutions? Some, he says, are unacceptable to Bahamians – such as opening the doors for visitors to come in but not for Bahamians to go out.

He describes the measures taken by the Dominican Republic and Mexico as “bold” – but given that Mexico presently sits seventh in the world for the total number of COVID-19 cases, maybe it’s not so bold as much as recognising that other places are no worse.

The Dominican Republic sits at 31 in the list of most cases in the world, and has had nearly 2,000 deaths. Even with our current soaring numbers, we have about 25 percent fewer total cases per head of population than the Dominican Republic.

Should we be following solutions being tried by countries who have handled the pandemic worse than ourselves?

What other solutions are there? As far as adhering to wearing masks and keeping our distance, Mr D’Aguilar says “been there, done that” and points to our current results.

In this column last week, we pointed out measures planned in the UK to reduce the amount of time spent in quarantine – although any amount of time in quarantine is likely to deter tourists to some extent.

What we could try if we had the resources would be a massive expansion in testing – but we don’t seem to have the quantity of kits or the capacity of number of tests per day at labs to try that. The backlogs in testing and regular delays in the daily dashboard of cases suggest a challenge there.

What we would say is that Mr D’Aguilar is right to look at what other countries are doing – but perhaps the ones to learn from are the ones managing the virus best, not the ones doing worse than us.

We all share the same goal – restarting our economy, but doing it as safely as possible. As we write this, a total of 67 Bahamians have died so far from COVID-19 in this pandemic. We have seen too many lose loved ones. We do not need to see more.

Don’t ask employers on minimum wages EDITOR, The Tribune.

HERE is a rhetorical question to the next government of The Bahamas: Why on earth would a fair and rational government consult with the Chamber of Commerce or employers’ representatives in setting minimum wages?

Minimum wages should reflect and match the cost environment in which workers live and operate.

If they do not, then national living standards stagnate and regress as all other costs (fuel, electricity, food, rent and endless consumer taxes and “user fees”) continue to rise.

All of us (employers

included) suffer when that happens.

Minimum wages should NOT reflect the needs of any particular business person or lobby group, whose interests are primarily with boosting their own profits – including at the expense of employees.

If any businessperson cannot operate in an environment where wages are not suppressed in relation to the consumer price index, then he or she should simply be replaced in the market by better businessmen (ie by businessmen prepared to adjust to a slimmer income gap between employer and employee than presently exists in The

Bahamas).

That is called competition, which is claimed to be a sacred tenet of capitalism.

Yet it somehow feels that only one side of the equation is expected to endure its effects.

While it is the job of every government to look out for the interests of the population as a whole (including the economy), it is NOT the job of any government to protect the individual interests of the “business community” as presently constituted. That is called collusion.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, September 13, 2020.

Welcome return for Mr Davis EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE return of the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, the Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, MP(Cat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador) is welcomed news.

First of all, the Lord Jesus Christ, has been merciful to Brave. Secondly, the PLP needs Brave, more than ever before as The Bahamas transitions from the interregnum of the Minnis regime. Secondly the PLP needs to urgently conceptualise; devise and suggest, in the public domain an economic and social Charter with the unwashed masses as we prepare for the general elections which I submit will be held long before the expiration of the parliamentary term.

One need not be a rocket scientist nut, like me, to know that the unmistakable handwriting is on the wall for all to see, even those who are visually impaired.

Brave’s successful treatment and recovery were essential in keeping the PLP on even keel. That party does not have a deep leadership basis. I state boldly and without fear of credible contradiction.

The Deputy Leader is, no doubt, a good Bahamian and his day may well come one day, but not right now.

Real PLP’s respect Brother Cooper, but he is a political novice and is not, so they say, ingrained in the natural philosophy of the iconic PLP. Some suggest that he may be a Christie ‘plant’ or a Manchurian candidate for the FNM. In Bahamian politics either you pay your dues or, like the Competent Authority, who got his ultimate post by accident, you get where you need to go by default. If Brent Symonette (FNM-Montagu) were a black man, he would have naturally succeeded the Rt Hon Hubert Alexander Ingraham.

I have been privileged to know both of the Huberts.

Ingraham, despite his obvious shortcomings, was a

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Real Deal leader. Brother Minnis (FNM-Killarney) seems to be a pretender leader based on trial and error.

May I be allowed to say why? Ingraham the First was a man whose word was his bond. He was a gruff, but gifted leader who was able (probably still is) to effectively communicate with the unwashed masses.

Mind you, he was no orator, like Brother Christie, but he was capable of laying out a workable plan of action and ensure the means to play it out.

Our beloved (or is it most hated) Prime Minister and his people them abruptly shuttered the entire nation in March of this year, with scant notice.

Why they did so was never fully explained, even if some of the features initially worked, Without common sense and scientific public data, they allowed Bahamians (who were supposed to be broke ) to get to the USA for supposed medical treatment and back to school shopping! Mudda sic..... me, willy-nilly. Thanks to Brother Minnis and his people them we have now recorded in excess of 60 COVID related deaths.

Are there more to come?

Only time will tell.

Brave has been granted a second lease on life.

Like Hezekiah of old; like Joshua and the rest of them, especially the Patriarch Joseph, who led the Israelites out of bondage and cruelly by the then political Egyptians, Brave, the Lord Jesus Christ willing, is The Man, at this hour, to lead the unwashed masses from the economic; political and societal morass of the regime.

The PLP should immediately get battle ready; select a slate of sensible and nation-building candidates. No flakey or jokey

candidates. No persons who seek to get into the House for personal and economic enrichment. We are no longer for that. The ravages of Dorian should have been a wake up call for Minnis and his crew, but it was simply, it seems, an opportunity to appoint multiple disaster people and agencies. There seems to be no accountable or fiscal responsibilities.

How much was, in fact, collected and disbursed relative Dorian? Would someone please submit audited statements and physical cash in the bank/s?.

On these grounds alone Brave should be able to galvanise even more of the empathy of the unwashed masses. The expansion of the Economic Zones recently announced by the Competent Authority is yet more political ammunition for the PLP and Brave.

Where would one find the money or proper Land Title to access a lending institution much less hire an attorney for a title search and incorporation? These don’t come cheap. Minnis done jack up the economy and now he is proposing the expansion of Economic Zones. This is, I submit a diabolical and grossly wicked scheme to facilitate a land grab and the gentrification of the inner city areas to the overt rip-off of the “unwashed masses”.

Brave must now step up to the plate. The days of doll house and party politics, as we know or recognize them are over.

Chester and Fred, et al, are great people and party members but Brave is the de facto and de jure of the PLP. If Brave were to realise this, he could order his Prime Minister’s suit now to be sworn in by the end, if not before, of next year (2021) The handwriting is on the wall. Trial by error is not working except for those in the ruling elite.

ORTLAND H BODIE Jr, Nassau, September 13, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 14, 2020, PAGE 7

VICTIMS LOSE THOUSANDS IN ONLINE ROMANCE SCAM from page one THE GENERATOR taken in the raid.

$5,000 reward offered after Bahamas Striping break-in

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Striping Group of Companies is offering $5,000 to anyone with information that leads to the recovery of expensive equipment stolen during a theft at the company’s headquarters on Abundant Life Road early Friday morning.

Dr Alan Albury, managing director of the company, said thieves stole a Caterpillar generator valued at $35,000 and a cement mixer valued at $15,000.

It is the third theft the company has faced within six weeks, with previous thefts costing an estimated

$10,000, he told The Tribune on Friday.

“Upon entering premises this morning we discovered a ten foot gap in the fence and we recognised upon inspection that we have a Caterpillar generator valued at $35,000 and a cement mixer valued at $15,000 that was missing from the premises,” he said.

“We were able to review the security footage and we could see where culprits actually manhandled the generator, connected it to a vehicle and made good their escape. The incident took place at about 4.02am. We realise there is an uptick of crime and the challenges people are going through, but this puts us

at a disadvantage because these are tools we use in business as we try to maintain as much employment as we could.”

Dr Albury said the $60,000 equipment theft doesn’t include the property damage the company has experienced.

“We recently upgraded our CCTV system, we brought additional high definition cameras, we covered many spots that were not necessarily covered before,” he said. “The police came in this morning and we provided them with footage.”

Dr Albury noted the commercial generator has to be installed by an electrician.

“We’ve notified the Bahamas Contractors Association and a lot of electricians that are in groups here on the island as well as the Port Controller and the mail boats in case (thieves) are trying to ship the generator off island.”

The theft affects the operations of the company.

“To maintain continuity of business we would have to go into the rental market to fill both of those items (generator and cement mixer), so that’s an additional cost to our business,” Dr Albury said.

Footage of the crime shows at least three people participated and a truck was used during the crime.

TWO TOLD TO TAKE DRUG CLASSES BY COURT

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO men, charged with marijuana possession, were conditionally discharged after they agreed to attend drug counselling classes.

Ashmeade Thompson, 33, was charged with simple possession after officers seized $115 worth of Indian Hemp from him on September 10.

He pleaded guilty during a hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes on Friday.

The court was told that officers on patrol near Step Street around 1.50pm that day proceeded to a convenience store in the vicinity.

When they entered the store, they saw the accused, who on noticing the officers, ran off with a black plastic bag in his right hand. The prosecution said an officer gave chase and eventually caught up with Thompson

and informed him that he would be searched in connection with dangerous drugs and firearms. When they searched the plastic bag, the officers discovered 26 silver foil wraps, each containing a quantity of what they suspected to be marijuana. They also seized more than $2,000 from the accused as the proceeds of crime. Thompson was taken to the Fox Hill Station then transported to the Drug Enforcement Unit, where he declined to comment in an interview with police.

During the arraignment, Thompson was represented by attorney Ian Cargill.

He told the magistrate his client’s family owned the convenience store in which they saw him that day and explained that Thompson ran the store with his mother. Mr Cargill claimed his client found the drugs in the store and had planned to keep them to

‘STRESSED OUT’ MAN THREW ROCK AT STORE

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 30-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to five months in prison after he admitted throwing a rock at the storefront of a woman’s clothing store because he was stressed out.

Toriano Johnson appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes on Friday, after he was accused of causing $818 worth of damage to the display window of Nathalie Bullard’s clothing store on September 7.

The court heard that one of Ms Bullard’s employees called her and told her an unknown person had approached her shop in the Pineapple Plaza on East Street South and damaged

her window. The prosecution said the defendant was arrested two days later. In an interview with police at the East Street South station, Johnson admitted to the offence and said he committed the act because he was stressed out.

During the hearing, Johnson reiterated the explanation he gave officers at the time of his arrest and pleaded guilty to one count of damage. He was subsequently sentenced to five months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services and ordered to reimburse Ms Bullard for her broken display window.

Magistrate Forbes warned the defendant that if he failed to do so, he would spend an additional month behind bars.

MAN ACCUSED OF SEX WITH BOY

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 36-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to prison on Friday accused of having sex with a minor last month.

Kendal Ramsey was charged with one count of unlawful sexual intercourse after he was accused of having sex with a 16-yearold boy on August 7.

He was not required

to enter a plea during his hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes and the matter was adjourned to November 30 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Ramsey, who is represented by attorney Barry Sawyer, was denied bail and remanded to prison in the interim.

He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

smoke because he used recreational marijuana. He insisted the defendant was remorseful for his actions.

After listening to Mr Cargill’s plea in mitigation, Magistrate Forbes granted Thompson a conditional discharge for 12 months, on the agreement he would attend drug counselling classes. Still, he warned him if he failed to do so, he would spend three months behind bars. He also said a separate hearing will be held on December 7 to determine what would happen to the funds officers seized from Thompson on the day of his arrest.

In a separate incident, Antonio Thompson, 20, appeared before Magistrate Forbes charged with dangerous drug possession after officers seized $180 worth of Indian Hemp from him on September 9.

He also pleaded guilty and was discharged on condition he would attend drug

counselling for one year. If he fails to comply with the conditions of his release, he could risk spending three months in custody.

The court was told that officers on mobile patrol near Mason’s Alley saw Thompson sitting under a self-made tent. The prosecution said Thompson appeared to look in the direction of the officers before acting in a suspicious manner. As a result, they approached Thompson and told him he would be searched. During their investigation, the officers noticed a bulge in the front of the defendant’s pants and discovered 26 silver foil wraps, each containing what was suspected to be marijuana in his underwear.

Thompson was subsequently arrested and taken to a nearby station. In an interview with police there, he admitted to the offence and said he had the drugs for his personal use.

sometimes it’s very hard.

Once your money is gone, it is gone sometimes.”

Police said in a release on Friday that the scam involves people being contacted via social media by people they don’t know, but engage in conversations with them, eventually leading to a perceived relationship.

Police could not say at this time how many victims were targeted/chosen, according to the press statement.

However, they noted it seemed single, divorced and widowed people, or those in search of some form of companionship, appeared to be ideal victims.

“After numerous conversations, these situations can ultimately lead to a relationship where the victims develop feelings for the other person. Sadly though, the perpetrators are using false identities and stolen photos to pretend to be someone else (military personnel, etc).

Eventually the fraudster would ask for assistance with funding for various reasons, to which the victim complies,” the release explained.

“In one instance, the fraudster pretended to be military personnel stationed overseas and claimed that he needed money sent to his base to have him released.

The money is usually sent using local money transfer agencies to various foreign countries. The fraudsters can be very smooth and convincing in the manner they communicate with the victims and gain their trust.

“In some instances, persons in these positions are distracted by their desire for happiness and companionship and are unable to recognise that they are being scammed. In certain cases, there were which can further justify to a victim that (their) actions were for a worthy cause.”

Police encouraged the public to be cautious when talking to people over social media, particularly those unknown to the individual.

Furthermore, one should be very suspicious of anyone asking for money to

be sent to them, especially when the destination is a foreign country. People are also encouraged to report “any suspicious online activity to the police so that the matter can be properly investigated.”

In addition, CSP Edgecombe urged the public to be careful about what they put online.

He warned: “We as social media users, we give so much information about ourselves – who we are, where we live, where we work and they use that to their advantage.

“We even say sometimes I’m a divorcee, my husband just died... they know how to prey on you.

“To become involved in some international money scam or money laundering scam – that ain’t good,” he said Friday.

When contacted for an update yesterday, CSP Edgecombe said no men had come forward as being victims of the scam.

“Sometimes people can be embarrassed to come forward,” CSP Edgecome said yesterday, adding he could not say how many victims have come forward.

He said the perpetrators typically send out many emails looking for “anyone who bites,” however the scam is also done over WhatsApp, Facebook and other platforms.

“From evidence we’ve gathered it appears to be a scam involving international people, not Bahamians,” he said.

Local police have contacted international partners abroad to identify the fraudsters and their bank accounts, but CSP Edgecombe said the possibility of them recovering funds is “slim” from his experience.

Police are urging other victims to come forward so they can build up their database.

“This is something that has been happening for some time for a while but I’ve seen it pick up more during the pandemic, a few cases more from January to now, and that’s only people who came forward,” CSP Edgecombe said. “(We) suspect it could be many more people who have been victims of this.”

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

When a vaccine arrives we have to ensure it is available to all

By MALCOLM STRACHAN FOR anyone who still resisted the idea we may be in a tough stretch for the remainder of this year, next year and potentially beyond, hopefully you heard Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar’s thoughts on when we would return to pre-COVID tourism success. His response, though indecisive, was much more measured than the last time he offered his thoughts.

Not wanting to contradict himself, D’Aguilar said he would stick with his initial prognosis of 18 to 24 months. And we certainly hope he is right. However, we can fully appreciate him stating what experts are saying to be a potential fiveyear window where tourism may not be dead, but a shell

of what it was in the two years prior.

That said, it is all the more important we get through this pandemic, learning to live responsibly as a populace with COVID-19. We have few alternatives to making the country safer as a destination as soon as possible. With cases continuing to surge, we’re not doing ourselves any favours if the entire population is not being disciplined.

Certainly, people may be tired of the restrictions and having life dictated to them, but if it is for our own safety, we must cooperate and continue to follow the protocols outlined by health officials.

Whether it is being able to accept tourists again or getting to a place resembling what life used to feel like, this is a reality we may have to grapple with

‘Of the 80,000 people that will potentially get access to vaccines, many of them will not be your everyday Bahamian who cannot afford decent healthcare. Whether this will truly serve The Bahamas as much as it may serve other countries is certainly a debate that could be had. One would hope our government has explored all of the other avenues before determining this was the best course of action.’ until we have a vaccine.

D’Aguilar said so himself back in June prior to the country’s initial reopening, and the same is true today.

Thankfully, on that front, we were pleased to hear progress when Minister of Health Renward Wells addressed Parliament last week. He announced that the government is in the process of expressing

its interest to the World Health Organisation to participate in COVAX, a global initiative formed by 172 countries working with manufacturers of vaccines to provide worldwide fair access. Currently, COVAX is working on nine candidate vaccines, with some others being evaluated with the goal to ensure that two billion doses of vaccines

will be available to both developed and developing countries by the end of 2021.

This move may make the most sense for governments that do not have the resources to singlehandedly fund the development of a vaccine or manufacture it themselves. With a concern being what happens if a much larger developed country is less inclined to provide equitable access to the vaccine, the possibility of ‘vaccine nationalism’ would create incredible problems for a developing tourism dependent economy like ours.

Having opted out of the COVAX initiative last week, the US, along with Russia and China, which has yet to commit, have made it quite clear that they are prioritising their own citizens first.

And with the US being a major source market, we cannot afford to be behind the eight ball with getting our hands on a vaccination.

As the Centre for Disease Control is still highlighting the risk of travelling to The Bahamas, it is possible to make the argument that once travellers are vaccinated, there is not much to be concerned about with the virus spreading to tourists. However, the financial, social, mental and other forms of injury associated with COVID-19 won’t do much to help a country’s brand if it’s still viewed as a COVID-19 hotspot, vaccine or not.

With the 80 countries financing the COVAX facility sharing the potential risks and reward, we can only hope a successful candidate is discovered as soon as possible.

In his discussion of the COVAX facility, WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the importance of global cooperation in vaccine research.

“COVID-19 is an unprecedented global health challenge that can only be met with unprecedented cooperation between governments, researchers, manufacturers and multilateral partners,” he said.

“By pooling resources and acting in solidarity through the ACT Accelerator and the COVAX facility, we can ensure that once a vaccine is available for COVID-19, it’s available equitably to all countries.”

One thing to note is the WHO’s position is to look out for the many – essentially asking richer countries to shoulder the burden for poorer

countries. And while this is something Bahamians should support; our leaders also have a responsibility here at home to look out for the Bahamians who are most vulnerable.

Absolutely, this may be a conversation for another day, but as projections of how much of a population will be able to be vaccinated currently sit at around 20 percent, consideration must be given as to how this will be rolled out.

Obviously, the immunocompromised, frontline workers in the healthcare and education systems and in law enforcement should be the first to receive vaccinations. But if you are a person who’s concerned about our nation’s most vulnerable being disenfranchised in this process in favour of the upper crust of society, I can’t say I blame you.

Of the 80,000 people that will potentially get access to vaccines, many of them will not be your everyday Bahamian who cannot afford decent healthcare. Whether this will truly serve The Bahamas as much as it may serve other countries is certainly a debate that could be had. One would hope our government has explored all of the other avenues before determining this was the best course of action.

While we can certainly agree that vaccine nationalism looks ugly on the face of it, it is difficult to blame countries that would have already made significant investments in their own vaccine development initiatives for weighing the scales accordingly. Now, what we need to hear from our government is how much participating in the COVAX initiative is going to cost us, versus, how much it would cost to also go at this alone like some other countries have opted to do.

Unless we can be assured that the vaccines can get to the people who need them most – the most vulnerable – we need our government to get back to the drawing board and then report to the Bahamian people.

And unfortunately, there’s not much time for them to do so with binding commitments needed to be made by the end of this week. As has been the course for the Minnis administration and those that came before them, no decision in governance is a small one. Hopefully, this time around, they make the right one after consultation from the Bahamian people.

INSIGHT

DID WE MISS OUT ON THE HEALTH DEAL OF A LIFETIME?

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 PAGE 9

Resolving Years of Unconscionable Neglect And a Toxic Combination of Politics, Systemic Corruption, Nepotism, Mismanagement & lackadaisical leadership under the resulted in the Princess Margaret Hospital being left in such a ‘Morally Repugnant’ State

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

A POTENTIAL ‘PUBLIC | PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP’ WITH BECK GROUP, JOHNS HOPKINS, DISNEY, US EXIM BANK & PRIVATE EX-PAT BENEFACTORS

proposed collaboration of the PHA, Johns Hopkins and Disney deal from advancing to Cabinet for a decision to be made on it.

FOR decades, Princess “Our economy is going , am Margaret Hospital has to be in a state of rot for rah er Ing inist t r struggled to provide a first- some time before we see be M Hu ime on Pr class health service for the any light,” the FNM insider t H as y R term b ed st thousands of patients it said. “This could have been let s la mp hi Co ring cares for. avoided if Sands had just du Hamstrung by budg- presented the Hopkins proets swallowed up almost posal to Cabinet, gotten it entirely by the hospital’s approved and put us on the wage bill, out of date and map. Medical tourism could broken equipment, wards be booming right now, but left closed for years due his interest was elsewhere. to hurricane damage - the Robert Carron did all that PMH staff faced a daily hard work getting Johns battle to do the best they Hopkins on board and then could.

Sands killed the deal.”

Imagine then an opportuThe Tribune contacted nity comes along to change both Dr Sands and Mr all that. An opportunity to Carron - who was then provide The Bahamas with deputy chairman of the a world-first, top-of-the-line PHA - and both had simimedical facility operated by lar stories of how Hopkins one of the world’s leading became interhospitals. Who could say ested in The no?

Bahamas.

So, how did this all start? Dr Sands’ When the FNM was elected alma mater in 2017 as is normal a whole is Johns new raft of appointments Hopkins’ was made to the boards University, which oversee our public School of services.

Medicine, For Immediate Release This included the Public and Mr (Sunday, March 31, 2019) Hospitals Authority and Carron spent among the tasks it was an extended assigned was to explore period at MOH Meetins With Johns Hopkins to Discuss the possibility of a massive Johns HopPartnership upgrade to the hospital in kins when New Providence. his child was Friday, a team from Johns Hopkins Medicne Internation visited the Ministry of Health where they met Based upon an inquiry ill. with the Minister of Health and other key officials from the Public Hospitals Authority and Department of from the Deputy Chair“In the Public Health. Discussions focused on possible opportunities for collaboration with the PHA and Ministry man of the Public Hospital’s manifesto of Health on initiatives that will result in long-term improvements to healthcare in the Bahamas.

Authority Board if Johns (FNM) there is a Hopkins Medicine and/or commitment to Thebuild preliminary discussion included opportunities to improve hospital services, redevelop community Hopkins Bloomberg School a new tower at based UWI trained physician, the “Nation Services Princess healthcare and the possibility of raising $200 million to eventually expand the Princess Margaret of Public Health might be Margaret Hospital,” Dr belief is that the UWI phy- Agreement” collaboraHospital campus to enclude a state of the art A&E/Childrens & Maternal Health Tower. Johns Hopkins interested in managing a Sands said. “For the last sician is the be all and end tion, addressed to Robert invited by Mr. Robert Carron, Deputy Chairman of the Public Hospitals Board of Directors, who helped new facility based upon three years, onewas of my all. And the thinking is that Carron. The goal of the to facilitate discussion of partnership with an organization posessing the wherewithal, experience, talent the Beck Group’s strategic missions was to get that to ‘these American trained project was to create a resources to elevate the operations, infrastucture and environment of the public hospital institutions master plan and they hoped happen. So we and have had physicians always trying to Centre of Excellence for of the PHA. Discussions also included an opportunity for iniatives to enhance public clinics across the The Walt Disney Com- formal discussions with bring their US influence Caribbean and ultimately into branded carewhich facilities promoting access Dept to quality of care for pany’s “Team of Heroes” Baylor, Johns country intoprimary The care/urgent Bahamas, rebrandgreater each Hopkins communities throughout the Bahamas.

Global Children’s Hospital and University of we don’t need’.

So you have Public Health Family Island Miami. initiative funded potentially Johns Hopkins, because to walk a very fine line. You Clinic into an Urgent Care A key mater benefit of partnership will be the opportunity for publicCentre health and clinical training for staff through by the US EXIM Bank of it being my alma know when you have sup- propelling The world chairrenowned institutions suchwhen as the Hopkins/Bloomburg of Publicinto Health and United States and other private expat and the then-deputy port and you don’t School Bahamas a the regional Instittutes of Health.

These support iniatives would the Bahamas capacities to prevent, manage and treat benefactors a new Chil- man of PHA, Mr have forenhance certain leader in medical tourism; Robert communicable non-communicable public health issues improving of Bahamians. dren’s Hospital & Women Dupuch-Carron, whose as wellthe as,health focus on tropical son andthings.”

Health Centre, Level 1 spent a year at Hopkins, Dr Sands said the idea of and non-communicable disPhotos Attached The Bahamas catapulting Trauma Centre, Radiology asked if he could ease research. pursue Department & EMS facil- that angle. So we had a itself as a world leader in Mr Carron told Insight: ### ity described as ‘the likes series of discussions. We healthcare, to him, made a “I’m sorry but I have no AT a welcome dinner for the Johns Hopkins team are, from left, MEDIA INFO: of which the world hasn’t had a whole group come whole lot of sense. other knowledge other than PMH deputy managing director Lyrone Burrows, then Minster of Corporate Communications seen’.

“It is a biggity Public andHospitals auda-Authority what you’ve already been Health Dr Duane Sands; US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Stephdown from Hopkins.”

Senior management from informed by the Office of anie Bowers; director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Tele: continued. + 1.242.502.3228/1.242.502.3262 Dr Sands has categori- cious idea,” he Mobile: + 1.242.376.3760/1.242.376.1883 Johns Hopkins made a cally denied the FNM “But you need to have the Prime Minister, former Cancer Center Pediatric Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation number of visits to Nassau insider’s claim, saying he people who believe it. Minister of Health and cur- Program at Johns Hopkins Professor of Peadiatric Hematologyand all seemed to be pro- had no support from PHA And, if they don’t believe rent PHA chairman Julian Oncology Dr Ken Cooke; chairman and barrister-at-law of Tribgressing until then-Health and that is why the pro- it you are going to get Rolle. uneMedia Group Eileen Dupuch Carron CMG; and executive vice Minister Dr Duane Sands posal did not advance. tepid support. That doesn’t “I was appointed the president of Johns Hopkins Medicine and president of Johns said the project would not “There was nothing to stop you from looking at deputy chairman of the Hopkins Global Ventures Dr Mohan Chellappa. be proceeding. present!” Dr Sands said ideas. If you ask me if that Public Hospital Authority What had happened to adamantly. “It was just a (Hopkins) was an excel- and National Emergency managed, Disney and Beck to get your answer. kill the project? Somehow concept. The one proposal lent model to pursue. Yes! Management Service and designed hospital of which “What I feel people the ‘deal of a lifetime’ was that Hopkins presented at Would I pursue it again? asked to assist Dr Minnis’ the president of the John should know is that Dr shelved and has left many the end was a draft pro- Yes!” Administration and the Hopkins and Bloomberg Minnis and his Cabinet involved pointing fingers at posal presented to the Prime Minister Dr then Minister of Health to School of Public Health colleague deserve credit each other.

PHA. That proposal never Hubert Minnis received transform the delivery of said the likes of which the for supporting the PHA’s Acting on a tip from a got any vetting by the PHA his primary training from a healthcare in our nation.. world has never seen. So chairman and Board’s unorhigh-ranking FNM insider, that says, ‘Hey! Yes! We West Indian institution. A “Having spent 561 days we put together a plan and thodox efforts which have Insight has confirmed from are interested’. Then, like I spokesperson at the Office at John Hopkins with my we submitted it and it was resulted in the tremendous the Office of the Prime said, we moved into Dorian of the Prime Minister said wife and my son I became rejected,” said Mr Carron. progress that’s been made Minister that no one can and then COVID and it fell the proposal was never pre- quite friendly with people Asked why the plan was to transform delivery of recall ever seeing a Cabi- by the wayside. sented there, therefore no in leadership there. I fol- rejected, Mr Carron said: public healthcare in our net Memorandum on the “The challenge of medi- commentary of the matter lowed through on the “As I recall, Dr Sands nation after so many years project.

President of Hopkins state- informed the Board that of unconscionable neglect cine in The Bahamas is was given.

The insider alleged that where US trained phyFor PHA’s consideration, ment that they would be the project was rejected by under Senator Darville & Dr Sands, “sat on” the deal sicians are considered Johns Hopkins submit- interested in coming to The Cabinet,” he stated.

Co. and intentionally held the outsiders. And if you are a ted a framework for a Bahamas and become the My responsibility on the “Yeah, there’s lots more centre of excellence for the Board was to submit it to work still to done, but least Caribbean.” the Ministry of Health and we got a hospital with a Mr Carron said after this, then they conduct the pro- roof, windows, AC, digithe BECK group, which is cess and we were informed tal X-rays, CT scanner, headed by a Bahamian, had some weeks later that it renovated wards, beds, been engaged to do some was not approved,” contin- maternity suite, upgraded designs and he reached ued Mr Carron.

A&E department and out to Disney, because it Mr Carron expressed laundry (fingers crossed) has a $100m initiative for surprise that it had been and the best bread in the hospitals. suggested the project had world!!”

“The idea to approach no support within the PHA. Also contacted by The Disney’s Team of Heroes “No support?” he Tribune to fill in the blanks, came from a group of replied. “(Laughing) PHA’s chairman, Julian nurses and head of PMH Please I’m not respond- Rolle was very tightlipped Medical Records Dept ing to a ‘red herring’ like about the entire process. after they’d visited hospi- that... Have a look at “I wouldn’t have any tals in the Orlando area,” the pics in the press and comment on it,” Mr Rolle he added. count the heads of TUC, said. “Those items would “Since Disney Cruise other trade associations, have had to have gone to Line generates millions of US Charge D’Affaires, Cabinet before they came dollars in revenue from The THEN Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands listens to Dr Challeppa respond to points raised by PHA’s Bahamas we thought they PHA Board members and to the Board. I don’t know advisory group, Dr Marcus Cooper, president of the Medical Association of The Bahamas and Dr might be willing to collabo- others who came to the that they were. We did not Munroe, president of Consultant Staff Association during discussions held at the Ministry of Health rate with a John Hopkins welcome dinner, meetings receive any instructions to and various other events pursue the same.” on Friday, March 29.

Press Release

PAGE 8 MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Internal strife making Guyana a continuing regional problem ONCE again, Guyana is causing regional and international worry following two sets of killings of young men (two of African origin and two of Indian origin) that have sparked the flames of communal violence and threaten to engulf the country.

The facts of these killings are yet unknown and unestablished. As this commentary is being written, the Police are still in the process of investigating the crimes. What should be a period of national support to find the perpetrators and deliver justice, has been misused to promote violence and civil disturbance.

Justice for the four persons who have been killed is necessary, but justice is not about assuming facts, acting lawlessly and exploiting emotional sentiment to further the ambitions of a few politicians.

Following the first killings of the African-Guyanese teenagers, Isaiah and Joel Henry, supporters of the opposition, APNU-AFC, blocked main highways and confronted Police.

Hooligans took advantage of the protests to commit atrocities which included beatings. The following day, two Indo-Guyanese were killed – one of them a 17-year old, Hareshi Singh,

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS and the other Prettipaul 1964, worry that a similar Hargobon who was beaten disaster is being promoted, which could not be conto death by a crowd.

Commendably, Volda trolled or stopped without Lawrence, the Chairman of foreign military interventhe People’s National Con- tion. In the 1962-64 period, gress Reform (PNCR), the Guyana was a British main party in the opposi- Colony and British troops Nonetheless, tion APNU, made a public intervened. statement, saying: “I am the considerable loss of life calling on every single and property wounded the member of the People’s country and scarred the society.

National ConAddressing gress Reform, ‘As a family we the present situirrespective of ation, Guyana’s your status, I am want justice President, Irfaan saying that we (but) we as a assured cannot continue. nation cannot Ali, the Guyanese This carnage people that his must stop.” be fighting government Similar strong each other.’ “will work to statements from bring justice the Opposition leader in Parliament, to every single person Mr Joseph Harmon, and who has been affected in former President David these circumstances”. He Granger, would be the announced that he would responsible thing for them be approaching the British Government and the Carto do.

Guyanese, who lived ibbean Regional Security through Guyana’s destruc- System for help in investive and haunting racial tigating the killings. He violence between 1962 and should include a forensic

investigator in his request.

An external qualified investigator would help to give confidence to the thoroughness of investigations.

President Ali also said that he is “exploring the commissioning of an International Commission of Inquiry to look at every aspect of this situation”.

However, he should also consider how, as a nation, Guyana will, internally, address the racial issue that has been exploited for so long.

International Commissions might be helpful, but as in South Africa and Northern Ireland, it is in Guyana that solutions to communal strife must be found.

In this, he should follow the lead of a remarkable Guyanese – Gladstone Henry, the father of one of the murdered boys.

Mr Henry has publicly declared, “I am not supporting immoral protesting.

As a family we want justice (but) we as a nation cannot be fighting each other”.

Therefore, consideration might be given to the creation of a “One Guyana Commission”, to explore practical steps that can be taken to cement Guyana’s one society. The work of the Commission should be countrywide, listening to the free contention of all voices, concerning ways in which every Guyanese can honour the strands of their ancestral heritage while celebrating their uniquely blended Guyanese civilisation, with equal opportunities for all.

An observation made

by Joshua Hyles in his book, ‘Guiana and the Shadows of Empire’ is compelling: “Country studies of Guyana point out that the country’s disparate ethnic groups have come to resemble one another culturally and physically more than those of their (racial) countries of origin”. In other words, what Hyles is saying is that a person of Indian or African origin living in Guyana often exhibits more cultural and physical similarities to a

person of Indian or African origin in Guyana than another Indian or African abroad.

This is a truism for any Guyanese of Indian or African origin who has travelled to India or Africa.

Those, who have visited the lands of their ancestors, recognize that their visceral homeland is Guyana.

The challenges of language of tribe, of cast, of culture set aside Guyanese, except Amerindians, from the distant lands of their ancestors.

Guyanese – of all races – have resided together for almost two centuries.

In doing so, a Guyanese civilization has been woven from strands that originated in other lands – in India, Africa, Europe, China and in Guyana itself. What has been created is a unique blend that is Guyanese.

Together, the two main groups in Guyana – people whose ancestors came from Africa and India – are a formidable force.

The British colonizers and plantation owners knew that very well, which is why they employed the strategy of divide and rule; a strategy continued by selfserving local politicians. In the words of Lord Varys in the television series, Game of Thrones: “He would see this country burn if he

could be King of the ashes.”

Guyanese should free themselves from the ‘race’ trap if they are to avoid despoiling their country and robbing themselves of the very high quality of life that their recent oil and gas production offers.

In the past, violence in Guyana has led to refugees, migration, and instability in the region. Neither the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nor the nations of the Americas would sit-by and watch Guyana descend into civil strife and violence now. Such a development would have consequences for them, and they will undoubtedly act if circumstances demand it.

For the time being neighbouring states will keep a watchful eye, hoping that good sense will prevail among all the politicians in Guyana to calm emotions and maintain stability.

Guyana must become part of the solution to the region’s challenges, not continually be part of its problems.

• Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. He is also a senior fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 14, 2020, PAGE 11

BERMUDA PREPARING TO FACE HURRICANE PAULETTE MIAMI Associated Press RESIDENTS of Bermuda were urged to prepare to protect life and property ahead of Hurricane Paulette, while Tropical Storm Sally threatened to intensify into a hurricane as it approached the US Gulf Coast.

Paulette gained hurricane status late on Saturday and was expected to bring storm surge, coastal flooding and high winds to Bermuda, according to a US National Hurricane Center advisory.

Bermuda’s government announced that LF Wade International Airport would close last night, and government buildings would be closed today and Tuesday. It opened several shelters for evacuees.

Paulette had maximum sustained winds of 80mph as the system moved along a curved course toward Bermuda, forecasters said.

The biggest threats were strong winds, storm surge,

up to six inches of rain and life-threatening surf and rip currents.

The storm was 240 miles southeast of the territory yesterday and was moving northwest at 14mph. It’s the strongest in terms of winds of six disturbances the center was tracking in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

New Orleans and surrounding areas, meanwhile, were in the crosshairs of Sally, which was expected to become a hurricane today and reach shore by early tomorrow - bringing hurricane conditions to a region stretching from from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Tropical storm conditions were expected in the region

by Monday.

Louisiana Gov John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency on Saturday, and officials in the New Orleans area issued a mandatory evacuation order for areas outside of levee protection.

TWO POLICE OFFICERS SHOT IN ‘AMBUSH’ ON PATROL CAR LOS ANGELES Associated Press AUTHORITIES searched for a gunman yesterday who shot and critically wounded two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies who were sitting in their squad car — an apparent ambush that drew an angry response from the president.

The 31-year-old female deputy and 24-year-old male deputy underwent surgery on Saturday evening, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a late-night news conference. Both graduated from the academy 14 months ago, he said.

They were each in critical condition yesterday afternoon, said Deputy Trina Schrader.

The deputies were shot while sitting in their patrol car at a Metro rail station and were able to radio for help, the sheriff said. Villanueva, whose department has been criticised during recent protests over racial unrest, expressed frustration over anti-police sentiment as he urged people to pray for the deputies.

“It pisses me off. It dismays me at the same time,” he said.

The department tweeted video of the shooting that shows a person open fire through the passenger-side window of the patrol car.

“The gunman walked up on the deputies and opened fire without warning or provocation,” the department stated.

The video sparked reaction from President Trump who responded on Twitter, “Animals that must be hit hard!”

“This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice,” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted. “Violence of any kind is wrong; those who commit it should be caught and punished.”

A handful of protesters gathered outside the the hospital where the injured deputies were being treated. The protesters tried to provoke deputies stationed outside and at one point were prevented from entering the emergency room, Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez with the Churches in Action group told the TV station KABC. “Unacceptable behavior.

The hospital should be a sanctuary, we should leave hospitals alone,” he said.

Mendez and members of his group gathered nearby in prayer for the wounded deputies.

“To the protesters blocking the entrance & exit of the HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM yelling ‘We hope they die’ referring to 2 LA Sheriff’s ambushed today in #Compton: DO NOT BLOCK EMERGENCY ENTRIES & EXITS TO THE HOSPITAL,” the sheriff’s department tweeted. “People’s lives are at stake when ambulances can’t get through.”

DEPUTY WHO HIT BLACK MAN IS FIRED A SHERIFF’S deputy in Georgia has been fired after being captured on video repeatedly punching a black man during a traffic stop, authorities said yesterday.

The deputy was being let go for “excessive use of force”, the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. It did not identify the deputy, but said a criminal investigation has been turned over to the district attorney’s office.

Roderick Walker, 26, was arrested and beaten after

Clayton County sheriff’s deputies pulled over the vehicle he was riding in Friday with his girlfriend, their five-month-old child and his stepson for an alleged broken taillight, his attorney, Shean Williams of The Cochran Firm in Atlanta said on Sunday.

The deputies asked for Walker’s identification and got upset and demanded he get out of the vehicle when he questioned why they needed it since he wasn’t driving, Williams said.

IN this photo from January, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., raise their hands to answer a question as Joe Biden pauses during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by CNN and the Des Moines Register in Des Moines, Iowa. Bernie Sanders is warning that if Joe Biden doesn’t do more to promote his policies and reach out to Latino voters he’s at risk of falling short to President Donald Trump this November. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

BERNIE SANDERS: BIDEN WIN IN NOVEMBER IS NO ‘SLAM DUNK’

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bernie Sanders is warning that if onetime rival Joe Biden doesn’t do more to promote his policies and reach out to Latino voters, the Democratic presidential nominee is at risk of falling short to President Donald Trump this November.

Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist who left the primary race in the spring and has worked to shift Biden to the left on key issues, has made the warnings in public and private in recent days.

Most recently, he went on MSNBC on Sunday to express concerns that Biden wasn’t speaking up enough about his economic proposals.

Position “I think Biden’s in an excellent position to win this election, but I think we have got to do more as a campaign than just go after Trump,” he said. “We also have to give people a reason to vote for Joe Biden. And Joe has some pretty strong positions on the economy, and I think we should be talking about that more than we have.”

In a Friday interview with PBS, Sanders was more blunt: “Am I here to tell you absolutely, this is a slam dunk, no chance that he will lose? That is not what I’m saying,” the Vermont senator said.

His comments follow a week when Biden campaigned with union workers in Michigan and released a tax plan focused on boosting U.S. manufacturing by punishing businesses that take jobs overseas. Biden also emphasized his economic agenda and attacked Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic while the former vice president spent Labor

“We got to reach out to the Latino community. You know, a lot of young people, you’ve got a lot of Latinos, African Americans who may not vote.

They’re not gonna for Donald Trump, that’s for sure, but they may not vote at all. How do we bring them into the political process?

How do we get them to vote?”

Bernie Sanders Day with union workers in Pennsylvania.

Sanders used his MSNBC appearance to urge Biden to speak more about some of his kitchentable economic policies: raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, lowering prescription drug costs and expanding health insurance coverage.

Sanders said Biden’s policies are “a compromise” but that they were “pretty strong, progressive policies.”

He also encouraged Biden to focus more on Latino and young voters, groups that broadly supported Sanders during the primary. Biden has struggled to build enthusiasm among young voters, and some Democrats have expressed concerns about what they see as the campaign’s lack of outreach to Latino voters, which Sanders echoed on MSNBC. “We got to reach out to the Latino community.

You know, a lot of young people, you’ve got a lot of Latinos, African Americans who may not vote.

They’re not gonna for Donald Trump, that’s for sure, but they may not vote

at all,” Sanders said. “How do we bring them into the political process? How do we get them to vote?”

A Biden campaign adviser, Symone Sanders, was asked Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” whether the campaign would take Sanders’ advice.

“We know that we have work to do. And we have said from the beginning, and Vice President Biden has been very clear about this ... that we are really working to earn every single vote in this country.

And we want to earn the votes of the Latino and Hispanic community,” she said.

Sanders has campaigned for Biden, holding virtual rallies in seven states, including one this weekend in Michigan. It’s one of three states where Sanders warned Democrats should be “nervous” about their chances, along with Penn-

US President Donald Trump.

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

sylvania and Wisconsin.

“The enthusiasm is with Trump, not with Biden,” Sanders said.

In 2016, Trump’s unexpected victories n those three Rust Belt states, bolstered in part by his support among white working class voters, helped deliver him the White House.

The Biden campaign has focused much of its early efforts on those three

states, with Biden and running mate Kamala Harris visiting all three in recent weeks.

While Sanders made his concerns public in recent interviews, he also has expressed them in private to the Biden campaign, according to Faiz Shakir, Sanders’ former presidential campaign manager.

“He has been in direct contact with the Biden team and has urged them to put more emphasis on how they will raise wages, create millions of good paying jobs, lower the cost of prescription drugs and expand health care coverage,” Shakir said.

Progressive Shakir said Sanders “also thinks that a stronger outreach to young people, the Latino community and the progressive movement will be of real help to the campaign.”

Biden has adopted some of Sanders’ more liberal proposals, but the Democratic nominee has been careful to avoid some of progressives’ more contentious policy priorities, such as defunding the police and adopting a fully government-run healthcare system. His commitment to a more centrist campaign has frustrated some progressives, who warn that Biden’s careful campaign could turn off young and minority voters.

But Sanders expressed confidence that those in the progressive movement who may be disappointed by Biden’s policies would still be motivated by a desire to win the White House.

“I would hope that, while people will have strong disagreements with Biden — I do — for the moment, put that aside,” Sanders said on PBS. “That’s what, in a sense, coalition politics is about: You come together for a common goal. The goal is to defeat Trump.”

SPORTS PAGE 12

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

US OPEN

PAGE 16

Vlasov and Beaumont pull off emotional win

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

I

t was a great weekend for Bahamian Ana Camille ‘Millie’ Vlasov and her horse, Beaumont, at the Jumping du Golfe St Tropez Hubside 1* Equestrian competition in St Tropez, France.

Vlasov, the lone Bahamian in action, competed in three classes against competitors from France, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Chile, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden and the United Kingdom and was successful in the top three in all of her races.

At the end of the competition yesterday, 21-year-old Vlasov and Beaumont pulled off an emotional victory. It’s a step in the right direction for Vlasov, who hopes to qualify for the Bahamas at the 2023 Pan American Games and the 2024 Olympic Games.

“My horse gave his heart for the win and he was on fire,” she said. “It felt like I had wings this morning. I’m extremely pleased with the win this morning and can not describe the joy I feel for the Bahamas.

“It’s a small step in the right direction and it really shows that hard work pays off. I’m looking forward to my next show with him.”

Vlasov, who has been competing for the past three years with her horse, will be back in competition in the first two weeks in October at the same location where she hopes that she can duplicate her winning feat.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, competition only got started in July, but Vlasov said she was just delighted to be back in action.

“I’m really thankful about the quarantine because I improved my riding so much and would’ve never been able to achieve what I did this weekend without my two wonderful trainers Gilles Bertrand de Balanda and Abdel Said.” de Bslanda, who qualified for four Olympics, was the coach for the French World Championship and Nations Cup championship teams.

She also coached Said, who also qualified for the Olympics for Belgium and is ranked 69th in the world.

Her mother, Pippa Vlasov, was also there lending her moral support.

ANA ‘Millie’ Vlasov, of the Bahamas, celebrates after her victory.

“There are strict protocols for the coronavirus with mask wearing and hand sanitising,” said Vlasov, who is married to Peter Vlasov. “There are not many spectators allowed and social distancing is strictly enforced.”

Vlasov has been competing professionally for four years, but she’s been riding all of her life.

“I used to do a lot of pony classes and competitions in Wellington, Florida when I was younger,” she noted.

“But I went to boarding school in England and the competition got very difficult to balance with school work so I didn’t compete a lot during high school.

“But when I finished, I wanted to ride. I was supposed to go to university

and only ride for three month and I ended up staying almost four years and now riding full time.”

Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre, president of the Bahamas Equestrian Federation, was elated about Vlasov’s performance. “We are thrilled with Millie Vlasov’s performance this weekend,” she said. “She showed the excellent result of her hard

work and training. We have high hopes for her and her horse going into major international games and we see this as a tremendous step forward for all Bahamian riders.”

Like the other sports, equestrian has a series of qualifying events for their competitors to participate in and Ramsingh-Pierre said the federation will be working with the Bahamas Olympic Committee in getting her to the Commonwealth Games, Central American and Caribbean Games and the Pan American Games.

“The Pan Am Games, which was scheduled for Panama in 2022, is uncertain because Panama pulled out,” Ramsingh-Pierre said.

“The qualifications for those games are yet to be determined.

“But we have to wait for communication from our international Olympic body regarding qualifications for our athletes because we have another competitor, Marcus Davis, who trains with Olympian Ian Millar at Millarbrooke Farms in Perth, Ontario, Canada, who is also looking at qualifying for some international games in 2022 and beyond,” she added.

‘JAZZ’ AND MARLINS SWEEP PHILLIES

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net “JAZZ” Chisholm and the Miami Marlins have moved into sole possession of second place in the National League East following yesterday afternoon’s sweep in a double header over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Marlins won 2-1 in game one and followed with an 8-1 win in game two to improve to 23-21 on the season.

In the opener, Chisholm got the start in shortstop after starter Miguel Rojas jammed his right middle finger. He walked in the third inning and advanced to second after Jorge

Alfaro drew a walk. Chisholm scored on a Corey Dickerson single to tie the game at one and the Marlins scored the go ahead run when Starling Marte drove Alfaro home on a single of his own.

Marlins rookie Sixto Sanchez pitched a three-hitter over seven innings for his first complete game.

In game two, Chisholm started at secondbase. At the plate he went 1-3 and scored one run.

The Marlins led 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning and Chisholm got the Marlins rally started when he hit a single to left field that advanced Garrett Cooper to second.

Rojas followed with a double to left field to score both Cooper and Chisholm as the Marlins widened the margin.

Defensively, Chisholm also teamed with Rojas and Jesus Aguilar for a pair of 6-4-3 double plays.

The Marlins complete their seven game series with the Phillies today at 4:10pm.

Chisholm is hitting .161 with five hits, six runs scored and two RBI since his MLB call up.

For the remainder of the season, the Marlins are scheduled to play everyday through September with series against the Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm (70) is congratulated by Starling Marte after scoring on a single by Corey Dickerson during the third inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday in Miami.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Former baseball player Asa Ferguson dies at 83

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ASA Ferguson, a former baseball player who became involved in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations making great personal sacrifices, including mortgaging his home to sustain the sport financially, died on Saturday.

Married to Pam for more than 60 years, the 83-yearold Ferguson leaves four children - Gregory, Helen, Chandrice and Shannon - after he passed away at home, just days after he was released from Doctor’s Hospital.

Before he got involved in track and field, Ferguson was a member of the Bahamas Baseball Association when they got started in 1954. Ferguson got involved in track and field when the late Leviticus ‘Uncle Lou’ Adderley and Winston ‘Gus’ Cooper formed the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials (BACO)

in 1975 in preparation of the BAAA hosting the CARIFTA Games for the first time in 1976.

As a long-time executive at the Bahamas Telecommunication Corporations’ Technical Department, Ferguson replaced Dionne Barrett as treasurer of the BAAA, serving from 1985 to 1997.

He was the manager of the Central American and Caribbean Championship team that went to Pounce, Puerto Rico in 1975 where Mike Sands won the gold medal in the men’s 400m.

He also attended the World Championships in Athens, Greece in 1997 and the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998.

Remembered by the BAAA for his unwavering commitment and dedication to the sport, Ferguson was also lauded for bringing the private sponsorship of NORTEL, through BATELCO, to the BAAA. “Every event held in the

ASA FERGUSON Bahamas after he came a part of it, he was involved in it,” said Alpheus ‘Hawk’ Finlayson, a long-time public relations officer of the BAAA. “He was the money man. He was the person on the gate. Even otherwise when we had some things, he just joined in and made it happen.

He always had (Anthony) Boots (Weech) and the crew from Batelco working with him.”

If there’s anything that Finlayson could remember about Ferguson, it was the fact that he believed in his family and he cared for them.

“Asa, like many sports administrators of his era, made personal financial sacrifices so as to ensure that ‘national teams’ travelled,” said Sands, the former Bahamian national 400m record holder who eventually moved into the administration of the BAAA as a former public relations officer and president. “I vividly recall a team being at the airport waiting for a charter that was arranged by an individual, who will remain nameless.

“A deposit was made but the aircraft never arrived.

As faith would have it, Harold Longley, then RBC’s big man, was also at the airport. To make a long story short, Harold told Asa that he needed ‘something/ anything’ to hold as collateral, Harold called the bank, told them to accept

whatever Asa brought in. We, myself along with Doyle Burrows, went to Asa’s office, got his landpapers and received about $40k against it..by the time we got to the bank..the funds were waiting.”

Sands said they got another charter and the team was none the wiser for what transpired, even though it took the BAAA about 10 years to pay Ferguson back.

“I thought the story was worth telling without fear of contradiction and for what it’s worth as to the true measure of the man, for those that may not be aware,” Sands said.

Frank Rutherford, the first Bahamian to win an Olympic track and field medal for the Bahamas at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, said he clearly remembers how Ferguson stood up for him when another former deceased BAAA executive criticised him like he did with so many other athletes.

“Asa, one time told one of his colleagues at the track one day ‘Ma, stop calling that young man a cripple jumper. That’s not good to tell a young athlete,’’ Rutherford recalled.

“I will not say who the colleague was, but Asa was always a man of seriousness, honesty, integrity and resolve.”

Strongman Bradley Cooper Sr, a two-time Commonwealth medallist in the discus with a gold in Brisbane, Australia in 1982 and silver in Edmonton, Canada in 1978, also offered his condolences to Ferguson’s family, whom he said grew him up in Salem Union Baptist Church.

“Asa was a great executive, who always spoke out against wrongdoing, no matter who it is,” Cooper Sr pointed out.

“I was an athlete under him many times and I also worked under him with the Bahamas Games. He knew what he wanted to accomplish and how.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 14, 2020, PAGE 13

AUSTRALIA COLLAPSES AS ENGLAND WINS 2ND ODI BY 24 RUNS

NUGGETS FORCE CLIPPERS TO PLAY GAME 7

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — Flights home from the NBA’s bubble are planned whenever a team is on the cusp of elimination, just in case they’re needed.

Denver is in no hurry to board that plane.

The never-say-die Nuggets pulled off another season-saving comeback — and, after rallying from 19 points down with 22 minutes remaining, they’ll see the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 on Tuesday night for a berth in the Western Conference finals.

Nikola Jokic had 34 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, and the Nuggets topped the Clippers 111-98 yesterday to even their West semifinal series at three games apiece.

The Nuggets will try to become the first team in NBA history to rally from a pair of 3-1 deficits in the same postseason, after doing so against Utah in the West first round. “I’m running out of adjectives,

superlatives, whatever you want to call it to speak on our team,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

“That is a tough, resilient group of you-know-whats.

I love our team. I love our team. I love our toughness.”

Jamal Murray scored 21 for Denver, which got 16 from Gary Harris, 13 from Michael Porter Jr and 10 from Monte Morris. The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 62-27 over a dizzying 20-minute stretch of the second half, turning everything around.

“I don’t know how we did it, to be honest,” Jokic said. “That’s an amazing team. They are really talented, well-coached.

They’re really scary.”

Paul George had 33 points, Kawhi Leonard scored 25 and Lou Williams had 14 for the Clippers, who are now 0-7 in games where they could clinch a trip to the conference finals.

The Clippers were outscored by 29 after halftime, their worst such deficit of the season.

“It’s frustrating,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.

“Listen, when you decide to be a coach it’s not going to be roses every day. We clearly have the right formula as far as how we’re playing and then we keep losing it.”

The Nuggets were down 16 at the half — the fourth time out of six games in the series when they trailed by at least that many in a game — and eventually fell behind by as many as 19 in the third quarter.

“I just think we’re a really good team,” Murray said. “It shouldn’t get to this point.”

Of course, the Nuggets flourish when they’re in trouble. They saved their season in Game 5 of the opening round by rallying from 15 points down in the third quarter against Utah to set the tone for a rally from a 3-1 series deficit. They saved themselves again in Game 5 of this series, getting down by 16 before coming back to save the season again.

On Sunday, it was more of the same.

George hit a 3-pointer shortly after halftime for a 19-point lead and Leonard made a pair of free throws with 8:27 left in the third quarter to put the Clippers up 73-55. That’s apparently when the Nuggets decided it was time to get going.

Over the next 10 minutes, the Nuggets outscored the Clippers 30-8. Denver had eight different players score in that stretch, Murray and Morris scoring seven apiece, and the big deficit became an 85-81 lead with 10:16 left. “It’s not that we don’t respect them,” George said. “We respect the opponent. They got this far for a reason.

They’ve been together for a while so they’re a connected group. They’ve been here. They’ve been a part of a lot of Game 7s.”

Another one awaits.

“It’s going to sound weird or funny or whatever, but we don’t care,” Jokic said.

“We’re just going to go there and have fun.”

TIP-INS Clippers: Leonard also had eight rebounds and

five assists. ... Ivica Zubac had 12 rebounds and George was 11 for 11 from the foul line.

Nuggets: Denver’s lead reached 16 in the final moments — a 35-point turnaround from early in the third. ... The Nuggets are 5-0 this season when facing elimination.

FAST FOUL OUT The Clippers’ Patrick Beverley fouled out with 10:16 remaining, after scoring only two points. It was his sixth foul-out of the season, the second against the Nuggets. And it was only the fourth time he’d fouled out of a playoff game; he did so yesterday in 17:37, more than seven minutes quicker than he’d ever managed to do so in his postseason career.

SCHEDULES SET With Denver’s win, the Western Conference finals — Clippers or Nuggets vs. the Los Angeles Lakers — are now certain to start on Friday, with games every other day until someone wins the series.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Australia batted itself into a winning position before dramatically collapsing yesterday as England won the second one-day cricket international by 24 runs to stay alive in the series.

England’s decision to bat first at Old Trafford had appeared to backfire with the world champions limited to 231-9 and Australia reaching 143-2 with 20 overs left.

Australia was making the run chase look easy thanks to a 107-run stand for the third wicket between captain Aaron Finch (73) and Marnus Labuschagne (48).

But the tourists then collapsed to 147-6, and 166-8, in Manchester before finishing 207 all out in 48.4 overs.

A trio of England pacers did the damage: Chris Woakes (3-32), Jofra Archer (3-34) and Sam Curran 3-35. In what has become an unwanted tour tradition for Australia, Archer again claimed opener David Warner (6).

England captain Eoin Morgan said bringing Woakes and Archer back into the attack dramatically swung the game in the home team’s favor.

“Jofra is obviously an ace and so is Woakesy. It’s our strongest suit,” Morgan said. “You like to bowl them in the most important parts of the game and I felt at the time I brought them back that was the most important part because the game was edging away from us.

“Finch and Marnus made it look easier than it was. So I threw everything at it and the guys bowled unbelievably well. When they bowl like that they make the captain look good.”

WELCOME BACK: LAKERS, LEBRON HEADED TO WEST FINALS

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are going to the conference finals for the first time in a decade, ending the longest drought in franchise history.

LeBron James is going there for the first time since 2018. For him, that also qualifies as ending a drought.

James scored 29 points and the Lakers wrapped up their first trip to the Western Conference finals since 2010 by topping the Houston Rockets 119-96 on Saturday night in Game 5 at Walt Disney World.

“It’s the reason I wanted to be a part of this franchise, to take them back to a place that they were accustomed to being — and that’s competing for a championship,” James said. “It’s an honour for me to wear the purple

and gold, and for us, we just try to continue the legacy.”

Kyle Kuzma scored 17 points, Markieff Morris had 16, Danny Green added 14 and Anthony Davis finished with 13 for the top-seeded Lakers.

They will play either the second-seeded Los Angeles Clippers or thirdseeded Denver Nuggets for the West title in a series that won’t begin before Wednesday.

James is going to the conference finals for the 11th time overall — six with Cleveland, four with Miami and now with the Lakers.

It’s his ninth time getting to this round in the last 10 seasons; the one miss in that stretch was last season, when his inaugural year with the Lakers fell apart because of injury and the team missed the playoffs.

“The opportunity to play for a championship, that’s what we’re all here for,

that’s what we all signed up for,” James said.

James Harden scored 30 points, Jeff Green scored 13 and Russell Westbrook had 10 for Houston. “Tough season for us,” Harden said.

“Obviously, it didn’t end like we wanted it to. Just got to figure it out.”

And now that the offseason is here, the speculation about coach Mike D’Antoni’s future will ramp up. His contract with the Rockets is now complete, the sides couldn’t agree on terms of any extension a year ago, and he’s been mentioned as a candidate for the vacancies in Indiana and Philadelphia.

“We’ve got a great organisation, great city, great fans, team’s great,” D’Antoni said.

“I mean, everything’s good here. We’ll see what happens, but I couldn’t ask for a better situation. I had four years and hopefully it

keeps going. You just never know.”

It was a tough end to a tough week for the Rockets.

Westbrook exchanged heated words with a fan in the family section during the fourth quarter; NBA security asked the man, identified by ESPN as a brother of Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, to leave the game.

“He started talking crazy,” Westbrook said. “I don’t play that game.”

Houston won Game 1 of the series and lost the next four. Saturday’s finale came a day after Danuel House — who averaged 11.4 points in nine playoff games this season — was told to leave the bubble.

An NBA investigation showed he had an unauthorised guest in his room for several hours earlier this week, and he missed the last three games of the series. “It affected us,”

Harden said, who called the situation disappointing.

The Lakers ran out to a 33-11 lead, though Houston came right back with a 17-2 run to get within seven.

The Lakers’ lead was 62-51 at the half after the Rockets turned 13 Los Angeles turnovers into 15 points, the biggest reason why Houston was still in the game to that point.

Houston got within seven on a drive by Westbrook 2:09 into the third, and that was the last real gasp of hope for the Rockets. The Lakers scored the next 15 points, and the lead was 95-69 going into the final quarter.

“I’m really proud of our whole team,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.

D’ANTONI’S TENURE If this was the end of D’Antoni’s time with the Rockets, he’ll be leaving with some strong numbers.

Houston went 217-101 in his four regular seasons with the team — a .682 winning percentage. This season was his “worst,” at .611. He’s gone 28-23 in the playoffs with Houston and was the NBA’s coach of the year in 2016-17, his first season with the Rockets.

“Mike has done some unbelievable things here,” said Harden, who said he’d want D’Antoni back.

CONGRATULATIONS Less than two hours before game time, James tweeted at Naomi Osaka — who rallied to win the US Open women’s championship in three sets on Saturday. “GREAT COMEBACK!! Congrats,” James wrote. Osaka wore masks throughout the tournament bearing names of Black victims of violence; James saluted her efforts by adding a raised-fist emoji to the end of his tweet.

PAGE 14, Monday, September 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Brady’s 1st game with Bucs ends in 34-23 loss at New Orleans TOM Brady was intercepted twice in his Tampa Bay debut, Alvin Kamara scored touchdowns running and receiving, and the New Orleans Saints beat the Buccaneers 34-23 yesterday.

The first of Brady’s interceptions led to Kamara’s 6-yard touchdown run.

The second pick thrown by the new, 43-year-old Bucs QB — who left the New England Patriots in free agency after 20 years and six Super Bowl triumphs — was returned 36 yards for a touchdown by Janoris Jenkins.

Neither quarterback was statistically exceptional in this first-ever NFL game featuring two quarterbacks in their 40s. The 41-year-old Drew Brees passed for 160 yards and two TDs, but he also avoided critical mistakes. He did not turn over the ball and took only one sack. His first TD pass was a dump-off to Kamara from 12 yards. In the fourth quarter he hit free-agent signing Emmanuel Sanders for a 5-yard score.

Few witnessed this historically significant quarterback matchup in person, with government leaders and the Saints having agreed that no fans should attend the opener amid the coronavirus pandemic. That turned the normally deafening 73,000-seat Superdome into more of an echo chamber. When Wil Lutz’s field goal put New Orleans up 17-7, the squeaking of pulleys could be heard across the stadium as the net behind the goal post was lowered.

CARDINALS 24.

49ERS 20 SANTA CLARA, Calif.

(AP) — DeAndre Hopkins had a career-high 14 catches for 151 yards in his Arizona debut and set up Kenyan Drake’s 1-yard TD run with 5:03 to play.

Kyler Murray threw for 230 yards and a touchdown and ran for 90 yards and another score to help the Cardinals overcome a pair of fourth-quarter deficits to beat the defending NFC champion 49ers in a smoky opener at an empty stadium.

Jerick McKinnon, in his first game in more than two years, caught a 5-yard TD pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to give San Francisco a 20-17 lead with 8:38 to play before Murray led a late comeback.

His 33-yard pass to Hopkins got the ball down to the 1 and Drake ran it in on the next play to give Arizona the lead.

Garoppolo led the 49ers down to the 16 before throwing an incomplete pass to Trent Taylor on fourth-and-5 that ended the comeback attempt.

CHARGERS 16, BENGALS 13 CINCINNATI (AP) — Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow ran 23 yards untouched for a touchdown — the best moment of his NFL debut — but the

Chargers roughed him up and rallied.

Playing in empty Paul Brown Stadium, Burrow got his first snaps in the NFL and learned the hard way what it’s like to face a tough front line.

The Bengals also had an in-character finish. A.J. Green was called for offensive interference in the end zone in the closing seconds, and Randy Bullock missed a 31-yard field goal try with 2 seconds left and pulled up lame.

A line anchored by Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram III held the quarterback from national champion LSU to 23 of 36 passing for 192 yards with three sacks and a costly interception. Twice, Burrow overthrew open receivers for what would have been touchdowns.

WASHINGTON 27, EAGLES 17 LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Peyton Barber ran for two touchdowns and Dwayne Haskins rallied Washington from a 17-point deficit.

After falling behind 17-0 following a pair of touchdown passes by Carson Wentz, Washington relied on a punishing defence and opportunistic offence in its first game since owner Dan Snyder finally agreed to change the team’s name and former employees alleged sexual harassment in the organisation.

Rivera lived up to his “Riverboat Ron” nickname earned in nine seasons with Carolina. In his first game after finding out he has a form of skin cancer, Rivera went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Eagles 5 with the score tied midway through the fourth quarter. Barber ran for the first down and then scored from the 3 to give Washington a 24-17 lead.

Wentz was sacked eight times and threw two costly interceptions behind an injury-depleted offence line featuring two guys — right tackle Jack Driscoll and right guard Nate Herbig — starting their first career games.

RAVENS 38, BROWNS 6 BALTIMORE (AP) — Looking every bit like the reigning NFL MVP, Lamar Jackson threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, ruining Kevin Stefanski’s debut as Cleveland’s head coach in a game played without fans in attendance.

Although the COVID19 pandemic kept the seats empty and the play was sloppy following a preseason without any games, two constants prevailed: Jackson was the focal point of a high-powered offence and the Browns lost another opener.

Facing a Cleveland secondary depleted by injuries, Jackson completed 20 of 25 passes and racked up a team-high 45 yards on the ground. A year ago, the multi-faceted star set an NFL single-season record

for yards rushing by a quarterback and threw 36 TD passes.

The Browns were incapable of stopping him. As a result, Cleveland still hasn’t opened with a victory since 2004.

PATRIOTS 21, DOLPHINS 11 FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

(AP) — Cam Newton looked just fine as Tom Brady’s replacement, rushing for two touchdowns.

Newton rushed for 15 times for 75 yards and threw for 155 yards, leading a Patriots offensive attack that did most of its damage on the ground in their first game since the departure

Aaron Jones rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown for the Packers, who posted their highest score against the Vikings since a 44-31 victory at the Metrodome on October 27, 2013.

Cook rushed 12 times for 50 yards, two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions. Adam Thielen caught six passes for 110 yards, two scores and another 2-pointer, but Cousins underthrew him in the final minute of the first half. Jaire Alexander, who also had a safety on an untouched cornerback blitz in the second quarter, made the bobbling interception.

Then Rodgers hit ValdesScantling on a fade route

NEW England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins yesterday in Foxborough, Mass.

(AP Photo/Steven Senne) of Brady to Tampa Bay as a free agent. Sony Michel added a touchdown for New England, which had 217 of its 357 yards on the ground. Newton was 15 of 19 passing.

Miami struggled for most of the game offensively and lost top receiver DeVante Parker, who left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. Ryan Fitzpatrick was 20 of 30 for 191 yards and three interceptions. Miami was held to 269 total yards.

PACKERS 43, VIKINGS 36 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aaron Rodgers took full advantage of the young cornerbacks and the empty stadium in Minnesota, beginning his 13th season as Green Bay’s starting quarterback by passing for 364 yards and four touchdowns.

Davante Adams was predictably the biggest beneficiary with a careerhigh, franchise-record-tying 14 catches for 156 yards and two scores. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard each reached the end zone, too, as Green Bay had its way with a Minnesota defence renovated this year out of salary-cap necessity as hefty new contracts were given to quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Dalvin Cook.

up the right sideline with rookie Cameron Dantzler in position but too late to turn for the ball, a 45-yard touchdown that gave Green Bay a 22-7 lead with 11 seconds left in the first half.

SEAHAWKS 38, FALCONS 25 ATLANTA (AP) — Russell Wilson was cooking right from the start, throwing four touchdown passes.

With the Falcons not allowing fans for at least their first two homes games because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Seahawks took advantage of what was essentially a neutral site to pull away in the second half.

Wilson completed 31 of 35 passes for 322 yards, throwing a pair of TD passes in the first quarter as Seattle built a 14-12 halftime lead, adding two more in the third quarter to put the Falcons away.

The biggest one came after the Falcons made what looked to be a crucial stop, leaving the Seahawks with fourth-and-5 at the Atlanta 38. The offence stayed on the field, but instead of going for the first down with a short throw, Wilson lofted one to DK Metcalf, who was streaking toward the end zone.

Metcalf beat cornerback Isaiah Oliver and hauled

in the perfectly thrown ball without breaking stride to push Seattle to a 21-12 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Atlanta attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-2 from its 33. Blocking back Sharrod Neasman took a direct snap and had enough for the first down on a run up the middle, only to fumble the ball. It was recovered by Seattle’s Freddie Swain at the 36. Five plays later, Wilson zipped his fourth TD pass of the game.

BEARS 27, LIONS 23 DETROIT (AP) — Mitchell Trubisky perfectly lofted a 27-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Anthony Miller with 1:54 remaining.

Detroit drove to the Chicago 16 with a chance to win, and rookie running back D’Andre Swift dropped a pass in the end zone. Matthew Stafford threw another incomplete pass as time expired to complete the collapse.

Trubisky threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to help Chicago come back from a 17-point deficit.

It looked familiar to Lions fans: Detroit opened last season by blowing an 18-point lead at Arizona and settling for a tie. That began a trend that saw the team fail to stay ahead during a season that ended with just wins.

Trubisky, who held off Nick Foles to keep his job, shook off a shaky start to complete 20 of 36 attempts for 242 yards with three touchdowns, including short passes for scores to Jimmy Graham and Javon Wims.

Stafford was 24 of 42 for 297 yards with a TD pass to T.J. Hockenson in the third quarter — and an interception that gave Chicago a great chance to take its only lead of the game. Adrian Peterson ran for 93 yards on 14 carries in his Detroit debut, just four days after signing with the team.

JAGUARS 27, COLTS 20 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Gardner Minshew threw three touchdown passes, including a 22-yarder to Keelan Cole in the fourth quarter, and Jacksonville stunned Indianapolis and Philip Rivers.

The Jaguars entered Week 1 as the NFL’s biggest home underdogs, with talk of tanking being the most prevalent preseason topic surrounding the revamped team.

The tempered expectations may have contributed to the team only being able to distribute about 14,000 tickets for the league’s lone game played with fans in the stands Sunday.

Minshew gave the sparse crowd plenty to celebrate.

The second-year pro completed 19 of 20 passes for 173 yards and no turnovers.

He connected with DJ Chark, rookie Laviska Shenault and Cole for

scores — and looked sharp all day.

Undrafted rookie running back James Robinson accounted for 90 yards, including 62 on the ground.

The Colts have themselves to blame for the loss.

Coach Frank Reich went for it on fourth down from the 3-yard line early and failed to get points. Rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship hit the left upright from 30 yards out, another missed opportunity.

And Rivers looked solid at times, but also had some questionable throws with his new team.

RAIDERS 34, PANTHERS 30 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Josh Jacobs ran for 93 yards and three touchdowns, Derek Carr threw for 239 yards and a score to spoil Matt Rhule’s coaching debut.

Jacobs’ 6-yard run around the right end with 4:14 left put the Raiders ahead for good after they’d surrendered a 12-point fourth quarter lead.

Carolina had a chance to take the lead, but the Panthers handed off to fullback Alex Armah — instead of All-Pro Christian McCaffrey — on fourth-and-inches at midfield, He was stopped at the line, turning the ball over on downs with 1:11 left. McCaffrey racked up 134 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns for Carolina.

Teddy Bridgewater, who replaced Cam Newton as the starting QB, finished 22 of 34 for 270 yards and one touchdown in his Carolina debut. Robby Anderson, a free agent pickup from the Jets, had six catches for 115 yards and a go-ahead score.

BILLS 27, JETS 17 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP)— Josh Allen led three consecutive first-half touchdown drives, and the Bills overcame their own sloppiness and injuries to two starting linebackers.

John Brown had six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, and Stefon Diggs finished with eight catches for a team-leading 86 yards in his Bills debut after being acquired in a trade with Minnesota in March.

Allen finished 33 of 46 for 312 yards in becoming Buffalo’s first player to top 300 yards since Tyrod Taylor had 329 in a 34-31 overtime loss to Miami on Dec. 24, 2016.

Buffalo’s defence was a force despite losing Matt Milano to a hamstring injury in the second quarter.

Middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds did not return after hurting his shoulder while trying to tackle Jets receiver Jamison Crowder, who scored on a 69-yard touchdown catch and run.

The Jets finished the game without starting running back Le’Veon Bell, ruled out in the second half due to a hamstring injury.

BERNAL’S BAD DAY SETS UP SLOVENIAN BATTLE IN TOUR DE FRANCE GRAND COLOMBIER, France (AP) — The Tour de France boiled down to a battle between its two star Slovenian riders yesterday as last year’s winner Egan Bernal dropped out of realistic contention.

Tadej Pogacar beat yellow jersey-holder Primoz Roglic in a dramatic mountaintop finish to Stage 15, though Roglic retains a 40-second advantage in the yellow jersey and formidable support from teammates who shepherded him up the Grand Colombier climb.

Bernal plummeted down the standings, all but ensuring the end of a five-year streak of Tour victories by his Ineos Grenadiers team, formerly known as Team Sky. “At the moment, Roglic seems unstoppable,” Pogacar said. “But today

Bernal cracked and maybe one day myself or Primoz will crack too. There are still a lot of opportunities ahead.”

Pogacar stayed with Roglic on the long and brutal Grand Colombier climb despite Roglic having backing from four teammates on his ascent. They drew on their last reserves to sprint for the summit finish, Pogacar taking his second stage win by a bike-length.

Pogacar and Roglic were given the same time. As the stage winner, Pogacar was awarded 10 bonus seconds in the general classification against Roglic’s six for second place. Roglic leads Pogacar by 40 seconds overall. “I was a bit too short at the end. I didn’t make any gift to Tadej. We are good friends but we both want to win. He was just stronger

SLOVENIA’S TADEJ POGACAR, wearing the best young rider’s white jersey, crosses the finish line ahead of Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic, wearing the oveall leader’s yellow jersey, left, to win stage 15 of the Tour de France cycling race over 174.5 kilometres (108.4 miles) from Lyon to Grand Colombier pass, France, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) and I was a bit disappointed to lose the stage,” Roglic

said, adding that the Tour is “far from over.”

Today is a rest day before five competitive stages including an individual time trial on Saturday, then the traditional procession into Paris on September 20.

Colombian riders started the day ranked third to sixth overall behind the Slovenian duo, but all of them lost time Sunday on the 175-kilometre (108mile) stage into the Jura mountains, and for two the challenge seemed over.

Bernal dropped off the lead group on the Grand Colombier climb and appeared to lose any chance of retaining the title as he dropped to 13th overall, 8 minutes 25 seconds off the yellow jersey. Fellow Colombian Nairo Quintana started the day fifth but also dropped back on Grand Colombier and is ninth, 5 minutes, 8 seconds off the lead.

Two more Colombian riders, Rigoberto Uran and Miguel Angel Lopez, managed to stay with the lead group and sit third and fourth in the overall standings.

As the long climb from the Rhone valley to the finish began, Roglic’s Jumbo-Visma team had five riders including the Slovenian in the peloton. They worked well together on the climb to protect Roglic and force a pace that put pressure on his rivals.

Restrictions introduced because of the coronavirus pandemic were supposed to ensure that fans were restricted to the flatter sections and foothills and weren’t allowed to throng the narrow approaches to the summit finish. However, there were still some cheering and waving flags near the top.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 14, 2020, PAGE 15

BRIONTAE RILEY TO PLAY PRO IN FRANCE

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FROM the time she picked up a basketball under the supervision of coach Varel Davis at CH Reeves Junior High School, Briontae Riley knew that she was going to be something special.

Thanks to Bahamian Jaraun ‘Kino’ Burrows and his Raw Talent organisation, the versatile multitalented Riley is heading to Grans, France, to play professionally for the Basket Club Gransois.

Riley, who was known for playing just about every sport in high school although basketball was her first love, will head out on Friday, September 18 to begin her sting as a six-foot forward.

“I’m very excited because this is something I wanted to do for a very long time. From when I started playing with coach Varel (Davis), that was really what she was pushing me for, so I’m really excited it’s finally coming to pass,” said Riley, who last year played for Holland College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in Canada.

Coming out of Canada she started in just two of the 19 games she played in, averaging 4.5 points in 12.5 minutes per contest.

Holland finished third in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association with a 13-5 win-loss record in their regular season, and Riley said she’s out to prove that she has what it takes to play at the pro level. “I have the intentions to go there and give it my all.

Looking back at her career, Riley said it wasn’t an easy road, although she began playing on the junior national team with coach Davis at the age of 13 and then moved on to play with her on the Cheetahs team in the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association.

“When I heard that she got the deal, I was so happy and elated to see that someone that I taught and coached over the years, is planning on going overseas and playing basketball,” said Davis, who also doubles up as the president of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association.

“Her hard work has finally paid off. I coached her on the national team for many years. She’s a very hard worker. She reminds me of myself, a very determined player,

BRIONTAE RILEY, of the Bahamas, in action (far left). who never gives up. Although she had some disappointment in Canada, I was glad that she came back and worked herself in shape and now she’s heading off to France to play professionally.”

What is so gratifying for Davis, a former outstanding point guard on the national team, was the fact that when she got Riley interested in playing the sport, she didn’t know anything about it.

“To see her blossom is just an honour and a privilege. To see the hard work that you put into these young people are paying off. It’s an awesome feeling.”

After graduating from CH Reeves, Riley played one year for the Falcons at Jordan Prince Williams High, but then she moved to the United States to play for Texas Christian High School.

That was short lived as she returned home and enrolled at Doris Johnson where she helped the Mystic Marlins win three

consecutive senior girls’ titles in the Government Secondary School Sports Association, along with three Geneva Rutherford Tournament and National High School Championship crowns.

While working at Atlantis and playing in the NPWBA, Riley said she never gave up on her dreams, although her hopes of getting back off the island and possibly playing in the Women’s National Basketball Association started to dwindle.

“I kept working out and playing basketball, trying to find ways to get back to college and hopefully get to the WNBA from there,” she said. “But this opportunity came up and I took it.”

The daughter of Patricia Riley and Basil Ferguson thanked God for his blessing, coach Davis for introducing her to the game and teaching her the basic fundamentals of the game, coach Kervon Spence at Doris Johnson, whom she said never gave up on her

and Burrows and Raw Talent for making it possible for her to head off to France.

“Briontae is the first female that I’ve signed to the Raw Talent programme, but she has the same expectations as the young men, to come over and use the resources, skill trainers, the performance trainers and the weight trainers to develop her game,” said Burrows, who is back in France playing with the Fos Provence Basket pro team.

“There’s been a lot of success with the young men, starting with Nardo Bridgewater and Kenny (Isnord) and now Adam (Johnson).

“So more opportunities are coming with Raw Talent. But I thought this was the right fit for a talented young lady like Briontae to come to France and play. It has worked out well for her and so we’re just waiting for her to get here to get her career started.”

To the other local female players also following their dreams of playing professional basketball, Riley advised them that the WNBA is not the end of the road.

“I know everybody wants to play in the WNBA. I know I still want to,” she stressed. “But to the girls here, don’t give up because you never know when that chance might come. Sooner or later, it will come, so don’t give up, keep pushing and trying.

“I know I will do my best to try and open doors and opportunities for more players to actually join me in France.”

Davis, in sharing some parting words with Riley, indicated that he only expects the best from her.

“She knows the training that she got from myself, coach Spence and the other members of the national team, so if she can keep that same attitude up, she will be okay,” Davis stressed.

“She just has to stay focused because as a young person, you could lose focus. So just stay focused and do your best and make us proud. She’s a very hard worker and determined person, so I know she will make us proud.”

Riley, who will be coached by Alexi Ross in France, will be in Europe where she will join Lashann Higgs, playing for the Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre PDM of the Liga Femenina Endesa, the top division of women’s basketball in Spain.

ACES CLINCH THE TOP SPOT IN WNBA PLAYOFFS BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — A’ja Wilson and Dearica Hamby each scored 23 points and the Las Vegas Aces secured the top seed in the playoffs with an 86-84 win over the Seattle Storm yesterday.

Each team finished at 18-4 but the Aces won both regular season contests against the Storm.

Both squads entered Sunday’s season finale having secured double-byes into the semifinals. Seattle played without forward Breanna Stewart and point guard Sue Bird, who were held out due to injury.

Jewell Loyd’s jump shot with 5:11 left put the Storm up 79-74. Kayla McBride followed with a 3-pointer 17 seconds later, Hamby recorded a three-point play and Las Vegas led the rest of the way.

MYSTICS 85, DREAM 78 Ariel Atkins scored 26 points and the Mystics clinched the eighth and final seed to the playoffs with a win over the Dream..

The Mystics (9-13) will take on No. 5-seed Phoenix (13-9) on Tuesday in a single-elimination game.

Washington’s win eliminated Dallas (8-14) from playoff contention after the Wings beat the New York Liberty 82-79 earlier Sunday.

WINGS 82, LIBERTY 79 Arike Ogunbowale scored 26 points, and her three-point play with 12.4 seconds left helped carry Dallas past the New York Liberty.

The Wings (8-14) needed help to earn the No. 8 spot, but Washington beat Atlanta later in the day to secure the final playoff position.

Ogunbowale gave Dallas the lead for good when she banked in a 12-foot runner going to her left after getting hit by Amanda Zahui B. on the drive.

PAGE 16, Monday, September 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

THIEM 1ST SINCE 1949 TO WIN US OPEN AFTER CEDING 1ST 2 SETS

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — At a US Open unlike any other, Dominic Thiem constructed a comeback the likes of which hadn’t been seen in 71 years.

After dropping the opening two sets against Alexander Zverev yesterday at a nearly empty Arthur Ashe Stadium — fans were banned because of the coronavirus pandemic — Thiem slowly but surely turned things around for a 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory across more than four hours to earn his first major championship.

The 27-year-old from Austria is the first man to win the American Grand Slam tournament after trailing 2-0 in sets in the final

since Pancho Gonzalez did it against Ted Schroeder in 1949 at an event then known as the US Championships.

Not only that, but in a fitting finish to an unprecedented two weeks, this match was decided by a fifth-set tiebreaker, something that had never happened in the final.

When it ended on a groundstroke flubbed by Zverev, a weary Thiem collapsed on his back way behind the baseline. Zverev — who himself came within two points of the victory — walked around the net to offer a handshake and hug to his pal, two gestures rarely spotted in this era of social distancing.

Thiem had come in 0-3 in Grand Slam finals, but always came up against Rafael Nadal or

Novak Djokovic in those others. This time, he was the favourite and came out jittery, THIEM (AP) but eventually worked his way out of that, while Zverev went from cool and confident to passive and pushed around.

The fifth set was just as backand-forth as the other four, the mistakes rising with the tension and the history in the offing.

Thiem broke in the opening game when Zverev shanked a pair of forehands.

Zverev broke right back -- and pierced the silence with a rare cry of “Come on!” -- when Thiem double-faulted.

Then it was Zverev’s turn to nose ahead, breaking for a 5-3 lead when Thiem sent a downthe-line backhand wide and leaned over, gasping for air.

But with a chance to serve out the biggest win of his nascent career, Zverev faltered, getting broken right back when he pushed a volley into the net.

That began a three-game run for Thiem, who broke to lead 6-5, earning his own chance to serve for it, when Zverev netted a backhand, followed by a long forehand. A trainer came out to check on Thiem’s right leg during the ensuing changeover. He couldn’t seal the deal then, either, and eventually needed a trio of match points to end it.

While this was the No. 7-ranked Zverev’s first Slam final, this was

the first one that Thiem was supposed to win, following losses to Nadal at the French Open in 2018 and 2019, then to Djokovic at the Australian Open this February -- back before the pandemic upended the world and prompted a US Open with zero fans and regular COVID-19 testing.

Instead of wild applause and loud shouts greeting great exchanges, the soundtrack at Arthur Ashe Stadium mainly came from outside the largest court in tennis, courtesy of roaring airplanes, rumbling trains, revving car engines, honking horns and wailing sirens. There was the occasional polite applause from the dozens of tournament workers allowed in the stands — and, deep into the match, yells from the players’ entourages.

Osaka comes back, beats Azarenka for 2nd Open title

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — After one errant forehand in the first set of the US Open final, Naomi Osaka looked at her coach in the mostly empty Arthur Ashe Stadium stands with palms up, as if to say, “What the heck is happening?”

In response to another wayward forehand against Victoria Azarenka seconds later, Osaka chucked her racket. It spun a bit and rattled against the court.

Surprisingly off-kilter in the early going Saturday, Osaka kept missing shots and digging herself a deficit.

Until, suddenly, she lifted her game, and Azarenka couldn’t sustain her start.

By the end, Osaka pulled away to a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory for her second US Open championship and third Grand Slam title overall.

“For me, I just thought,” said Osaka, who trailed by a set and a break, “it would be very embarrassing to lose this in an under an hour.”

This, then, is what she told herself with a white towel draped over her head at a changeover when things looked bleakest: “I just have to try as hard as I can and stop having a really bad attitude.”

It worked. A quartercentury had passed since a woman who lost the first set of a US Open final wound up winning: In 1994, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario did it against Steffi Graf.

“I wasn’t really thinking about winning. I was just thinking about competing,” Osaka said. “Somehow, I ended up with the trophy.”

Osaka is a 22-year-old who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father; the family moved to the US when she was 3.

Osaka, now based in California, arrived for the US Open intent on claiming the championship, to be sure, but with another goal in mind, as well: continuing to be a voice for change by calling attention to racial injustice.

She showed up for Saturday’s match wearing a mask

NAOMI OSAKA, of Japan, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, in the women’s singles final of the US Open tennis championships on Saturday in New York.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) with the name of Tamir Last month, Osaka Rice, a Black 12-year- refused to compete after old boy killed by police the police shooting of a in Ohio in 2014. That was Black man, Jacob Blake, in the seventh mask she’d Wisconsin — she said she used during the tourna- would withdraw from her ment, after honouring other semifinal at the Western & Black victims of violence: Southern Open, although Breonna Taylor, Elijah decided to play after the McClain, Trayvon Martin, tournament took a full day Ahmaud Arbery, George off in solidarity.

Floyd and Philando Castile.

Osaka and her coach, “The point,” Osaka Wim Fissette — who used explained, “is to make to work with Azarenka people start talking.”

— have said they think

the off-court activism has helped her energy and mindset in matches.

“I wanted,” Osaka said, “more people to (see) more names.”

So perhaps it was no coincidence that this win over Azarenka, a 31-year-old from Belarus also seeking a third Grand Slam title but first in 7½ years, made Osaka 11-0 since tennis resumed after its hiatus because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Osaka added to her triumphs at the 2018 US Open — earned with a brilliant performance in a memorably chaotic and controversial final against Serena Williams — and 2019 Australian Open.

Azarenka carried an 11-match winning streak of her own into Saturday, including a stirring threeset victory over Williams in the semifinals, stopping the American’s bid for a 24th Grand Slam title.

Azarenka won the 2012 and 2013 Australian Opens and lost to Williams in the US Open finals each of those years.

“I thought the third time was the charm,” Azarenka said, “but I guess I’ll have to try again.”

Even after Osaka surged ahead 4-1 in the third set, the outcome was unclear.

Azarenka drew to 4-3, then stood and stretched during the ensuing changeover.

“Had a little bit of a energy dip,” Azarenka said.

Osaka regained control, then laid down on the court when the final was over.

The 23,000-plus seats in the main arena at Flushing Meadows were not entirely unclaimed, just mostly so — while fans were not allowed to attend because of the coronavirus pandemic, dozens of people who worked at the tournament attended — and the cavernous place was not entirely silent, just mostly so. One of the lucky few in the house: Osaka’s boyfriend, rapper YBN Cordae.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play in front of millions of people watching on TV,” Azarenka said.

“Unfortunately, they’re not here.”