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VOLUME:117 No.221, OCTOBER 14TH, 2020

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SYSTEM ERROR Virtual learning fiasco as pupils are unable to log into online classes

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net AFTER weeks of preparation by the Ministry of Education, the virtual learning system crashed on day one for thousands of public education students who tried to log on.

Parents, educators and students were up in arms yesterday when they, from their homes, logged on to the ministry’s new and much advertised virtual learning system only to meet the following message: “Undergoing maintenance. Thank you for being patient. We’re doing some work on the site and will be back shortly.”

That message could be seen on most of the laptops and tablets used by students, others however, did not get that far as their passwords did not work.

SEE PAGE EIGHT

The Tribune contacted Education Director Marcellus Taylor, who admitted there was a problem with the system.

“We have a hotline and the people have called,” said Mr Taylor. “There is a challenge that is being worked on right now. The system is under maintenance to resolve the issue.

The engineers are working on it and we hope that it will be resolved quickly.”

Students are to be in the virtual classroom until 3pm daily, and up to that time on Tuesday, the message on many of their individual screens remained the same.

Dianna Adderley, mother of a student at Anatol Rodgers, said it is a crying shame that her child cannot receive a consistent education like all school aged children should.

SEE PAGE THREE

IMF CUTS ECONOMIC RECOVERY FORECAST

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday dampened The Bahamas’ prospects of a swift rebound from COVID-19 by slashing this nation’s projected 2021 economic growth to 4.6 per cent.

Its revised forecast, which shaved 2.1 percentage points off the 6.7 percent growth it predicted for The Bahamas back in April.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

‘LOCKDOWNS WORK - BUT NEED TO FIND BALANCE’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Renward Wells yesterday defended the government’s use of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic saying the tough measures have been proven to work.

He said in instances where Grand Bahama and Bimini residents were restricted from moving, the end result saw COVID-19 cases fall drastically.

The results on these two islands, he said led to government and health professionals calling for a more stringent lockdown.

However, he said, a balance must be struck so that the economy is not destroyed.

He also skirted around answering a question about whether another two-week lockdown was in the works for New Providence where case numbers are steadily increasing.

“I would say that that’s not the facts,” Mr Wells said when asked to respond to critics who have repeatedly said that lockdowns do not work. Among these is Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis who recently said the measure only “pauses” the situation.

SEE PAGE FOUR

WHAT REALLY MAKES A NATIONAL HERO?

DAVIS PAYS TRIBUTE AS EX-MINISTER DIES, 77

ASHTONIQUE BULLARD, a grade eight student at LW Young school, wrestles with the online system.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

COVID? I COULD GIVE A SERMON

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

BISHOP Simeon Hall has made a plea from his hospital bed for Bahamians to take COVID-19 seriously after he contracted the disease.

The co-chair of the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana said he went to the hospital last Friday to be seen for some other

BISHOP SIMEON HALL ailment and was told he had caught the coronavirus.

“By now you might have heard that I am very ill

in hospital,” Bishop Hall, pastor emeritus at New Covenant Baptist Church, said in a voice note released yesterday. “I came in hospital to check on something else, only to be told that I had also contracted the COVID virus.

“I thought to call on the body of Christ to pray for me. Pray that the Lord will lift me up and I will stand in the congregation of the Lord one more time, but SEE PAGE FOUR

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

FORMER Cabinet minister Darrell Rolle died yesterday aged 77.

Mr Rolle represented the Mangrove Cay constituency in Andros from 1971 until his retirement in 1997.

When he was elected to the House of Assembly at age 28 after a bye-election, he became “one of the youngest elected legislators on record,” a statement from Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday.

SEE PAGE THREE

TECHNOLOGY

APPLE UNVEILS NEW IPHONES FOR FASTER 5G

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, October 14, 2020

DECISION AWAITED ON JUNKANOO DURING PANDEMIC

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Lanisha Rolle said officials are awaiting Cabinet’s decision on how Junkanoo can still be celebrated this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mrs Rolle made the statement before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting when asked about the ministry’s celebratory plans concerning the upcoming holiday season, which in pre-COVID times, would have been marked with Junkanoo parades.

She said: “Well, as you’re aware, you have youth month in October. You have sports month in November. We do that on a virtual platform and then you have culture month

in December which normally includes the Junkanoo celebrations. We are awaiting to see Cabinet’s determination as to what will be the best thing to do and what would be the safest way we can go about celebrating our Junkanoo, albeit a virtual platform.

“But what is important for me as minister of culture is to ensure that we continue to promote and enhance and preserve Bahamian culture in the best way we can notwithstanding COVID-19.”

In July, officials made the decision to cancel all traditional Junkanoo parades in response to the rising COVID cases.

Last month, Dion Miller, chairman of Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence, told The Tribune the decision has not changed, adding

the Junkanoo community has seen a decline in donations due to the financial strain from the pandemic.

“We are still in the process of looking at some virtual experiences. We have nothing finalised in that regard yet – we are working with our partners and with the government to see if it is possible to make something happen that keeps everyone safe and promotes social distancing,” he said.

Despite restrictions brought on by the COVID19 pandemic, Mrs Rolle told reporters yesterday officials are still committed to ensuring that Bahamian culture is preserved and celebrated.

This also applies to National Youth Month, which is celebrated in October.

According to Mrs Rolle, this year’s youth events are being held virtually. “We still celebrate the hard work of our youths over the years,” she added. “And so all of the various events that we normally have, as close as we can to having it, we’re going to do it because we believe it’s important for youth to be encouraged and for youth to be celebrated and for us to hold and host discussions where we can talk about the things that impact them and things they want to see change.”

Yesterday, the youth minister also urged young Bahamians to be the agents of change by putting an end to violence. Several young children have lost their lives to gun violence this year, with the latest victim being

a four-year-old.

“I’m very concerned about that and it’s not only those killings. It is the violence that has continued for some time now,” she said.

“I believe the world must continue to understand that when you’re young, you go through so many different changes. You’re trying to establish yourself. You’re trying to determine your identity. You’re trying to establish your place in life.

“All of those things can be quite confusing but at the end of the day, we must guide them in the right direction and as for myself being the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, my guide to them would be to become focused on positive things and unite to be the difference you want to see.”

THE TRIBUNE

SYSTEM ERROR THE TRIBUNE

from page one

“We logged on and from the (beginning) we experienced issues,” she told this newspaper. “We tried my daughter’s password seven times and on the seventh time we got that message I showed you.

The Minister of Education (Jeff Lloyd) has been hyping us up for months on this virtual learning and now nothing happens.

So now what?

“I call day one a total and absolute failure. To think I took the day off to ensure my daughter was on the right path with this thing. So my day was totally wasted.

We tried over and over and got the same message. It’s a faulty system and we can’t even hear from the teacher on this.”

Belinda Wilson, president of Bahamas Union of Teachers, said she warned that something like this would happen, but the Ministry of Education did not take heed.

“Well actually, I think I alluded to this weeks ago,” she said. “From we (teachers) returned to school September 7, we were experiencing issues from then and only teachers and administrators at the time were trying to log on to the Ministry of Education’s virtual platform. And from September 7 up until present, challenges continued, however today, which is the day when thousands of

children and parents and teachers are supposed to log on to the system, then the cry now is, ‘we can’t get on.’

“I was saying that now for weeks that even the tablet that the Ministry of Education loaned to teachers was incompatible with Zoom and they needed to be upgraded for about $40 each in order for those tablets to work. So today, the proof is now in the pudding and the virtual school is nonexistent because there are thousands of students and teachers who are unable to access it.”

Ms Wilson said not being able to log on to the system is only one problem that educators and students face with the virtual learning platform.

“What also happened that we are very concerned about is that not only are the students and teachers unable to log on, but work that teachers would have uploaded to the site, my understanding is, has been deleted. Students’ passwords are not working and the passwords that the students had a week or two ago were changed,” the president said.

“We are still uncertain as to the digital curriculum; what is the content that is being uploaded to the site? Is it completed?

We are concerned about that. Teachers at this time do not know who they are

going to be teaching. They do not have the names of their students, a class list or a number of students that are going to be in their classes. They have no contacts for the students, so students have been calling the teachers and the teachers haven’t been able to give them any viable information. And, the administrators seem just as lost as teachers.”

Asked if she had heard anything from the Ministry of Education on the matter of the broken virtual learning system, she responded, “Not one word!”

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Education said “technical challenges” prevented many students from accessing the virtual platform. The statement said most school administrators and teachers were able to implement “alternative modes of instruction” using their “plan B”.

The ministry said One on One and Amazon Web Services, the companies responsible for hosting the system, were working to address the issues.

Public schools opened to students on October 5, however last week was dedicated to orientation.

Students in New Providence and Abaco must do virtual learning due to current COVID-19 restrictions. Students in other islands are being taught using face-to-face instruction or hybrid methods.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, PAGE 3

FORMER Minister of Education Darrell Rolle at an Atlantic College graduation ceremony at the Paul Farquharson Conference Centre.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

DAVIS PAYS TRIBUTE AS EX-MINISTER DIES, 77 from page one

A native of Lowe Sound, Andros, Mr Rolle held many positions during his 26 years as senior government official. As a member of the Pindling Cabinet, he served as Minister of Transport, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Labour, Minister of Education and Culture, and Minister of Works and Utilities, among other posts.

His last Cabinet post was

Minister of National Security, a position he held from 1990 until August 1992, when the PLP was voted out of office that year.

“Darrell Rolle was the youngest Cabinet minister ever and one of the longest serving ministers of the Pindling Cabinet, eclipsed only by Sir Clement T Maynard,” Mr Davis noted.

“Mr Rolle was a trusted and loyal Pindling PLP and an ardent supporter of the progressive movement. He played an active role in the

formulation of the numerous public policies, the establishment of the many public institutions and the passage of scores of pieces of legislation that together form the modern Bahamas.

“He was a good and faithful servant of the people and we thank him for his public service as he transitions to receive his eternal reward,” Mr Davis said, extending condolences on behalf of his wife and senior PLP members.

Mr Rolle died at his home.

received letters indicating they will work five eight hour shifts per week. The shift for established nurses is four on/four off.

“They did this throughout all of the PHA so they had a plan,” Ms Williams said. “They’re going against the industrial agreement.”

Some nurses in Grand Bahama reportedly called in sick to protest the shift condition.

Ms Williams said on Monday: “You think this government could afford to shut down any hospital or clinic? So why do you want to put a shift change in the middle of COVID? They are taking advantage of us. When you (are) supposed to be compensating us, you beating us. We are still getting bullied by this administration. You should have the best interest of the people at heart

right now but they are still not offering the nurses anything.”

Asked what nurses will do about the matter, Ms Williams said: “Anything is liable to happen. We got to do what we got to do.

We’re definitely going to sue them. They’re not practising goodwill.”

PHA officials had promised a statement on the matter but one was not issued up to press time.

WELLS: WE’RE NOT TRYING TO OVERWORK HEALTHCARE STAFF

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said the Public Hospitals Authority’s controversial shift system is designed to get the maximum amount of work from healthcare workers without overworking them.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, the minister insisted that officials are doing their best given the ongoing health crisis as a result of COVID-19.

Bahamas Nurses Union President Amancha Williams has told The Tribune that the union intends to take legal action against the government after more than 100 new nurses were allegedly put on a shift system that the union has consistently opposed.

“I have spoken to the union president. The prime minister and I have met

with the union on a number of occasions since I have become minister,” Mr Wells said when asked about the shift change and the BNU’s concerns yesterday.

“We have in the Ministry of Health sought to properly deploy our personnel assets inside the Ministry of Health in PHA, at PMH, at the Rand in Grand Bahama, at South Beach, at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.

“We have sought to be able to seek to get the maximum amount of work without trying to overwork our medical personnel.”

He continued: “There (are) issues in that the nurses’ union president claims that it’s a breach of the industrial agreement.

We are looking at it and I told her that we’ll be getting back to her on those issues.

“But we’re just seeking to do the very best we can

inside the health sector, in the health space to be able to be able to deliver for and on behalf of the Bahamian people what we know needs to be delivered in regards to healthcare.

“As you know the cases in (the) country have been rising and we’re seeking to deal with it as best as we can.”

On Monday, Ms Williams said between 100 to 200 new nurses recently

TURNQUEST CRITICISES ‘MISLEADING’ REPORTS ON LOANS

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FINANCE Minister Peter Turnquest yesterday criticised reports accusing the government of acquiring loans from banks caught up in controversy, insisting such claims are “very incorrect” and “misleading”.

The minister was responding to allegations in a local tabloid about the financial institution used by

the government to secure its latest bond financing offering.

Asked about the issue before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, the deputy prime minister replied: “I saw a tabloid speaking to the credibility of one of the participants, the book runner (for) the latest bond offering which is very unfortunate and I guess I’ll leave it there,” he told reporters before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

“But safe to say that the holders of our debt are not necessarily the institutions that act as the book runner or market maker for these issuances. The bonds are actually held by institutional investors throughout the United States and Europe in various chunks.

“So, it is very incorrect and misleading to say that a financial institution is in fact holding our debt or somehow whatever actions they may have been

involved in or whatever would’ve had anything to do with... our paper or the credit that we’ve been able to receive.

“I think it’s mischievous.

I think it’s very misleading and it’s unfortunate, but again we’ll talk a little bit more about that.”

On Monday, the Ministry of Finance announced that it had secured $600m from overseas investors via an international bond offering.

According to Mr Turnquest, the $600m bond offering is

“the largest chunk” of the debt financing that the government will seek to cover its $1.327bn deficit and finance the public sector.

Since the announcement, many questions have arisen about the offering.

Yesterday, Mr Turnquest said more details will be announced shortly.

“I know that there are some concerns about the interest rate and the tenors.

We will talk a little about that in detail. There’s also some concern about why we

will go to an international offer versus a domestic offer and we’ll talk about that a little bit, to explain to Bahamians what we are trying to achieve,” he said.

“We do have another $400m in change left in our borrowing resolution that we will try to source primarily from the domestic market but we’ll work that out based on the economic activity over the next couple of months to see where we are and what our needs may be.”

PAGE 4, Wednesday, October 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Rising deaths and younger patients - a bleak picture of COVID-19

By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@ tribunemedia.net THE Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation has raised alarm about the country’s COVID-19 crisis, citing an eight-fold rise in deaths since July and a shift towards younger people catching and dying from the disease.

The international health agency said the local COVID-19 outbreak is both a national and international public health risk.

PAHO/WHO also cited the country’s “increasingly overwhelmed” healthcare system, including Princess Margaret Hospital’s morgue capacity, and the escalating health and social costs associated with the pandemic as other points of concern.

The issues were outlined in a statement from Dr Esther de Gourville, PAHO/WHO’s country representative for The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. This came after Dr de Gourville met with government and opposition officials as well as local business leaders between October 2 to 12 to discuss the COVID outbreak in the country.

During those meetings with stakeholders, Dr de Gourville outlined the trends in the COVID-19 outbreak, including the expansion of the disease from three to 14 islands by October; an approximately 40-fold rise in cases and eight-fold rise in deaths since July 2020; infection and deaths reported among healthcare workers; as well as a shift in the age distribution of cases and deceased

persons with more cases and deaths now being reported among those aged between 20 and 40.

She also discussed the “increasingly overwhelmed healthcare services (including morgue capacity at the Princess Margaret Hospital); and a recent trend of at least one COVID-19 death per day”.

The release continued: “Also discussed were the escalating health and social support costs being incurred to expand human resources for health, clinical, contact tracing and data management capacities, and social support for unemployed persons and vulnerable groups.”

PAHO/WHO said stakeholders discussed the serious trends in the ongoing outbreak in New Providence and Abaco, where case counts continue to rise.

PAHO/WHO also

‘LOCKDOWNS WORK - BUT NEED TO FIND BALANCE’

acknowledged COVID-19’s adverse impact on global economies and here at home. An issue of concern is The Bahamas’ reliance on tourism to drive its economy coupled with the fact that a few countries have issued travel warnings advising their citizens to restrict non-essential travel here, Dr de Gourville said.

“The current COVID-19 outbreak in The Bahamas is a risk to both national and international public health,” she said.

She added that there is an “urgent need” to strengthen public health systems on affected islands where case counts continue to rise.

“A balance must be struck between public health and economic activity, such that lives are protected while economic activities continue in modalities appropriate

to the current context,” she noted.

“In conclusion, only a united Bahamian society can bring the COVID-19 outbreak under control in The Bahamas.

“Social, economic, political, and cultural differences compromise the country’s ability to respond to the pandemic.

All stakeholders and every member of the public must be united in solidarity, resolve and resilience to stop virus transmission, prevent deaths, and ensure the continuity of essential social and health services while protecting front-line workers and vulnerable populations. Only then can COVID-19 transmission be slowed and one day stopped – as has been demonstrated in the earlier phase of the outbreak on islands such as Bimini,

Grand Bahama and others.

“Every Bahamian must resolutely commit to complying with recommended public health measures.

Taking personal responsibility for disease prevention requires every one of us – young and strong to old and weak – to wear a mask, sanitize or wash hands frequently, disinfect items that are frequently touched, and maintain a physical distance of three to six feet from others in public spaces.

“Nothing less than this will stop COVID-19 from taking more lives from our communities, families and friends.”

She added that PAHO/ WHO remains committed to its technical cooperation programme with The Bahamas and is supportive of all efforts to safeguard the public’s health, regardless of political affiliation.

from page one

MINISTER of Health Renward Wells.

“Lockdowns work and they have been proven to work,” Mr Wells said.

“We locked down Bimini in the first wave for 14-days with a surge in Bimini and it got to the point where I think for some 50 days there was not one case of COVID in Bimini between April and June. In our second wave there was a surge in cases where people are now looking at New Providence but the surge wasn’t happening here it was happening in Grand Bahama.

“We locked down Grand Bahama for 28 days. Folks missed that. Twenty-eight days of a lock down in Grand Bahama and Bimini and what do we have? We were seeing 20, 30 cases in Grand Bahama a day. We are now seeing one case, two cases, three cases.

“Lockdowns break the chains of transmission of this virus. We know that, it’s been proven and so what we’re seeking to do is to manage lockdowns without completely damaging and destroying our economic life.

THE most recent dashboard, from October 12 - with no updated dashboard issued last night.

“So the government of Wells said: “I can simply The Bahamas, health pro- say to you that our initial response fessionals are to this now calling for a ‘Lockdowns is we’ve had more stringent break the chains a weekend lockdown, but lockdown, we as policy of transmission we’re going to makers we of this virus. We weekend lockhave to balance know that, it’s downs as the the lockdowns that are being been proven and Prime Minister announced. requested with so what we’re We’ve also the aspirations taken the of the Baha- seeking to do curfew from mian people is to manage 10pm and put and the eco- lockdowns it down to nomic desire 7pm. of the Baha- without “What we’re mian people to completely seeking to do be able to get damaging and is to reduce out there and the amount of work and so destroying our social interthat’s where the economic life.’ actions that health protothe Bahamian cols come into place.”

Asked if a two-week people are engaging in. lockdown could again That’s the first response occur for New Providence that we’re having as an as was the case in Grand administration and seekBahama and Bimini, Mr ing to give the Bahamian

people the day in which they can work.

“But the reality is we should work while it’s yet day for the night comes when no man works so we’re seeking to simply have the Bahamian people engaging in the kinds of activities that they ought to be engaging in in the day and we’re seeking to reduce that at night and to reduce the social interactions on the weekends with a hope of us being able to contain this virus,” Mr Wells said.

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced weekend lockdowns beginning at 7pm on Fridays for New Providence and Abaco, two islands with high cases. During the week, a nightly curfew of 7pm is also in place among other restrictions.

He did not give an end date for these measures.

COVID? I COULD GIVE A SERMON from page one

also I want to use this occasion to call on Bahamians everywhere to let us take this thing more seriously.

Let each Bahamian make a personal effort to bring an end to this disease.”

Bishop Hall, in a later interview with The Tribune, said he had always been careful to practice social distancing and that he never went anywhere without a mask.

“I’ve been here in hospital since Friday,” Bishop Hall told this newspaper. “I had no cold and no symptoms. It’s amazing. So far, the worse thing right now is that I am very weak in my legs. Other than that, I feel like I can preach a sermon right now. I know that I am ill, so I have to

BISHOP Simeon Hall. go by what the doctors are saying. And, I really want to call on every Bahamian to take this seriously and to do their best not to play

with this and at the end we can go forward.”

The 73-year-old pastor said every Bahamian should take on the fight against COVID-19 as a personal crusade.

“I was always very careful, but I contracted the virus and so it is not a matter of trying to avoid it.

I call on all Bahamians to take this as a personal crusade to beat this demon and like other countries have done, let us seek to ameliorate this crisis.”

Bishop Hall thanked the doctors, who he said are doing a marvellous job, and he also thanked those who kept him in their prayers.

The country now has more than 5,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the bulk of which have been recorded in New Providence.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, PAGE 5

THE Samaritan’s Purse organisation - which offered assistance in Abaco and Grand Bahama in the wake of Hurricane Dorian - has partnered with the government to provide a 28-bed COVID-19 isolation and treatment unit.

The move will help to increase patient capacity as the country tries to deal with the pandemic.

The facility will be tents set up next to Princess Margaret Hospital. It will also serve as a COVID19 referral centre for The Bahamas. It will not include ICU treatment. No ventilators will be provided or operated by Samaritan’s Purse.

“This unit is being set up as a proactive and precautionary measure,” said Minister of Health Renward Wells. “The entire world, including The Bahamas, is experiencing the second wave of COVID-19. The Bahamas and countries in the Northern Hemisphere are in flu season and approaching winter.

“It is critical that The Bahamas has additional healthcare capacity as the global pandemic continues, with more waves of the virus likely, which is why we continue to augment healthcare capacity here at home.”

Samaritan’s Purse will provide the unit and all staffing to operate for three to six weeks. There will be 30 staff members, including medical professionals and operations staff.

The organisation will also provide infection prevention control training to protect Bahamian healthcare workers. Public health staff will work alongside Samaritan’s Purse. The treatment unit will be donated to the government upon Samaritan’s Purse’s departure. The set-up of the unit is expected to begin by the end of the week.

Samaritan’s Purse is an international, nondenominational, evangelical, Christian disaster relief organisation.

GOOD SAMARITANS TO BRING TENT FACILITY TO EXPAND PATIENT CAPACITY

PHOTO: The Samaritan’s Purse facility in Grand Bahama.

D’Aguilar - PLP is all criticism, but no plan

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday defended the government’s decision to restart the tourism industry next month against criticisms from the opposition party, saying he has yet to hear a plan from the PLP. “You know the leader of the opposition has to say something. I’m very interested in what their plan is.

They’re all about what they don’t like, but I don’t hear what their plan is,” he told reporters ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

While defending the government, Mr D’Aguilar said health officials have recommended more stringent measures to curb further spread, but this advice had to be weighed against other factors.

“That is definitely one of the recommendations that we go for a harder lockdown and a longer lockdown but there are other issues in play,” he said “There are some people who say you shouldn’t lock down, they don’t work.

There are some people who say you should lock down as hard as you possibly can, so the government is trying to take all that into consideration. Obviously, we’re very much guided by our technical advisors, the Ministry of Health, in coming to our decision.”

The minister was responding to recent comments made by opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis, who accused the Minnis administration of not doing enough to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Mr Davis, in a statement released Monday, also hit out at the government’s tourism reopening plan, saying its recent announcement on the return of the tourism sector on November 1 shows that the government

is “disconnected from reality”.

“As we have said repeatedly, our country cannot begin to recover economically until we first contain the virus,” Mr Davis said.

“The United States has already warned its citizens not to travel to The Bahamas and PAHO indicated other nations were considering similar warnings. The government’s announcements about dates for hotels to reopen and cruise ships to return are disconnected from reality.”

In response, Mr D’Aguilar said he is not going to “sit back and do nothing” as suggested by Mr Davis until the COVID19 cases are under control.

With the tourism industry being the country’s leading revenue generator, the minister said it is important for the government to strike both a health and economic balance to get more people back to work.

He said: “Many jurisdictions, I mean you just have to go through the Caribbean and look through all the different countries, they’re all coming up with plans to re-open their tourism sector. Given that this is the most tourism-dependent region in the world, I’m not going to sit back and do nothing.

“I guess that’s what he’s (Mr Davis) saying to do – ‘Do nothing until we get our community spread under control’. We’re a country of 16 different destinations. We have an archipelago of islands and where they have been successful thus far in many of the Family Islands, we just got to make sure that persons that travel, we mitigate as much as possible not only the importation of the virus through travellers coming in but also the transmission from our citizens to them.

“So, testing in businesses is paramount and the bottom line is we have to make an effort in the safest possible way with the

BROADCASTING HQ SHUTS AGAIN FOR CLEANING THE Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas’ headquarters at Harcourt “Rusty” Bethel Drive was closed yesterday for cleaning and sanitisation after another staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

“While this staff member has not been on duty for several days, management will have the concerned area(s) cleaned and sanitised as a

precautionary measure,” a statement from the stateowned broadcaster said.

BCB will open for normal business today.

Last week, the building closed for cleaning after an engineer tested positive for the disease.

Similar exercises took place in August after staff members contracted the virus.

necessary protocols to kickstart our tourism economy again. It is our bread and butter. It is our revenue, it is how we survive and so if the leader of the opposition is suggesting we sit back and wait, I’m going to push a little harder than that.”

In early September, the Ministry of Tourism said it was recommending hotels throughout the country resume full operations and use of beaches on October

15, with officials eying November 1 for the reopening of tourism attractions, tours and excursions.

The ministry has since announced new testing protocols for visitors and returning residents, requiring all to be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival in The Bahamas and again four days later as part of new rules that will take effect on November 1.

The move is also an effort

to make travel to the Bahamas more tourism friendly while abandoning the need to quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

Yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar said officials are confident the new strategy will allow them to facilitate the return of the tourism industry in a safe manner.

“We figure that with that rigorous testing regime is going to significantly mitigate the possibilities of the

importation of the virus into the country,” he said.

“We’re trying to do a balancing act. We’re trying to get our economy going but we’re trying to do it in the safest possible way and we feel with this testing regime, we’ve discussed it with health professionals, we feel that this is a safe mechanism by which we can begin the reintroduction of tourism back into our economy.”

PAGE 6, Wednesday, October 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

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Virtual learning a disaster on day one MINISTER of Education Jeff Lloyd sounded confident at the end of August.

Announcing the delay in school reopening until initially October 5, he said that the delay would help as there was “a need to complete the installation of the adequate level of internet service needed for connectivity to the Department’s Virtual Platform for thousands of students who will now remain at home in both the public and the private education sectors”.

Even back then, there were doubting voices – be it parents in Abaco and Eleuthera voicing concerns about a lack of electricity let alone internet and devices, or teachers union chief Belinda Wilson concerned that teachers would not have enough tools to teach in a virtual environment and about a lack of policies for online learning.

“We are unclear about what learning management system they are going to be using,” said Mrs Wilson at the start of last month, “What is the platform that is going to be used? We have no information or details on that.”

Yesterday, the proof was in the pudding – as thousands of students tried to log on… and the system crashed. Day one.

The frustration of students as they try to get back to their studies, of teachers as they try helplessly to communicate with their students, and of parents as they wonder with annoyance what’s been happening all this time to test this system out – it’s almost overwhelming.

One mother said: “I call day one a total and absolute failure. To think I took the day off to ensure my daughter was on the right path with this thing. So my day was totally wasted.”

Union boss Mrs Wilson understandably said everything but “I told you so” when she said “I think I alluded to this weeks ago”.

She warned weeks ago about issues that teachers and administrators were experiencing trying to log into the system – and problems ignored weren’t going to magically fix themselves when thousands more people logged into the same system.

How much stress testing was done?

Would it not have been sensible to get a school to pilot the system as soon as possible so that not everyone was logging in all at once.

Education director Marcellus Taylor admitted yesterday that there was a problem with the system – but that doesn’t help anyone.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Education

said it was working with the companies hosting the system to address the issues, but at the time of writing there was no word as to whether students would be able to log in tomorrow to find it working.

As for Mrs Wilson, she said the sum total of communication to her from the ministry was “Not one word!”

We keep saying we must do better, but we never will if we don’t listen when concerns are raised. Can we start there?

As for all those students, parents and teachers left seething as they just want to get on with things, you were failed yesterday. We know you demand better, and we hope the Ministry hears those demands.

All at sea

While students might have been left feeling confused by events, so too it seems are boaters visiting The Bahamas.

Let us look at a couple of stories in particular. There is the Brazilian family who complied with every health protocol set by The Bahamas who found themselves unable to leave Bay Street Marina on their yacht to head to the Exumas.

Or there are the Bahamians returning from the US with the required negative tests and necessary documents who were denied entry to Palm Cay marina and forced to anchor offshore from Sunday until 5am yesterday when the weekend lockdown ended.

There are more stories of boats being turned away – leaving the president of the Association of Bahamas Marinas, Peter Maury, frustrated that The Bahamas might be “chasing away the little business we do have”.

He pleaded for government agencies to all be on the same page when it comes to COVID-19 emergency powers.

He’s right, of course. The orders should be clear, and should be clearly understood by all, especially those who enforce them. Anything less is just going to bring confusion and frustration.

Indeed, as we perhaps rather optimistically look towards further reopening in November, isn’t it absolutely essential that we get it right now, when the traffic is limited? Otherwise, we’re just inviting disaster as we attempt to operate on a larger scale. Oddly enough, that’s the same lesson not seemingly learned over the school virtual learning system. Why do we make the same mistakes over and over again?

Let teachers work remotely EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS COVID numbers rise in New Providence and the Prime Minister has asked those who can work from home to do so, the Department of Education is still putting restrictions on teachers when it comes to working remotely.

In the newsletter from one of the schools here on New Providence, it’s stated that consideration (not even approval) will only be given to teachers with health conditions or family circumstances.

It is a shame that in the midst of this pandemic where several schools and government offices have had to close temporarily due to exposure and where statistics have proven that the work place is a COVID19 “hot-spot” that teachers must still come up with reasons to work remotely.

Teaching is virtual in New Providence, meaning

all teaching and learning is to take place online. Why, then, can’t teachers here who have internet access at home work remotely until New Providence is given the all clear for hybrid or face-to-face learning?

Is COVID-19 not a legitimate reason to work remotely and protect oneself and one’s family? When will we value the professionals responsible for educating the future of our commonwealth?

If the Ministry of Education would step into the present century and put as much energy into fully and effectively integrating virtual teaching and learning into their system as they put into making sure teachers are where they can see/monitor them at all times between 8:45 and 3:15, maybe then their administrators, teachers, parents, and students would be working fluidly through

their online portal right now instead of grasping at straws.

So here teachers sit on the morning of Tuesday, October 13, at their desks in the work place that is considered a COVID-19 hot spot, using their own devices because the ones the ministry provided are incompatible with the virtual learning apps, and waiting for the errors on the virtual online learning portal to be fixed so that they can teach.

Don’t get me wrong - teachers are not looking for ways to get out of work, they are simply wishing, hoping, and even praying to be treated as the trained professionals that they are.

An educated educator for change.

EDUCATED EDUCATOR Nassau, October 13, 2020.

The good, the bad and the ugly EDITOR, The Tribune.

ON this National Heroes Day, as we remain locked down in our homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an ideal time to reflect on the meaning of this holiday that was, for so many years, avidly fought for

by S Sebastian Campbell and his National Heroes Committee.

In a recent letter to the press, Campbell highlighted six points as he respectfully advocated for more Bahamian awareness, education, and adherence to their original plan, particularly with regard to the bestowing of National Honours.

These were envisioned to replace the British Honours and fully celebrate the achievements of Bahamian heroes throughout our archipelago with pride for their contributions to national development.

This, unfortunately, has not happened and the National Honours remain overshadowed by an apparent reluctance to release the shackles of colonial bondage.

Recently, Columbus’ statue atop Government House sparked public conversations and controversy that many found difficult to embrace, and even though the country finally changed the name of this holiday to better reflect where we stand in an independent 21st century Bahamas, what do the overall actions of the “powers that be” as well as those of we, the people, really demonstrate for us as a nation, 47 years after Independence?

Are we bold enough to believe in ourselves first, and admit that “foreign” is not always superior? Do we feel secure enough to claim our ignorance and invest in our own?

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Are we willing to truthfully identify those attributes in our society that can be labeled – the good, the bad, and the ugly? And are we prepared to work together to truly celebrate the good, and actively correct the bad and the ugly?

Only an honest and respectful two-way dialogue of listening and communicating will take us to a better place.

If we are content to retain the status quo obtained from the use of the same old models, and are too ignorant and lazy to be creative enough to achieve a more effective outcome, then we will remain shackled, living in a dual reality that we, as a people, do not recognise nor fully understand because we cannot “see what we lookin’ at” that is staring us right in the face, clearly delineated in the riveting words inscribed by our Bahamian framers for the occasion of our Independence in 1973: THE COAT OF ARMS MOTTO: “Forward Upward Onward Together” THE NATIONAL FLAG: “Black, a strong colour, represents the vigour and force of a united people; the triangle pointing represents the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop and process the rich resources of land and sea, symbolised by gold and aquamarine, respectively.”

THE PLEDGE: “I Pledge my allegiance to…. the Commonwealth of The Bahamas One people, united in love and service”

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM: “Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahamaland March on to glory, your bright banners waving high See how the world marks the manner of our bearing Pledge to excel through love and unity Pressing onwards, march together to a common loftier goal…”

There is much work still to be done. I would, therefore, like to encourage us all to open our eyes and focus on what national, independence and unity truly means by using these powerful words as our shining guide as we attempt to manoeuvre through this strange and daunting environment that has resulted from the dual disasters of Dorian and COVID-19.

By reaching back into our history we can be guided by the resilience of our ancestors, whose fortitude to survive, united as a community, was continually achieved through their ingenuity and common sense.

Everything in Nature requires balance for survival. Our strengths as Bahamians reside within the power of our unique culture and creativity with which we have been blessed.

Now, more than ever, we need to invest in our people first, and concentrate on developing these abilities as a community of a family of islands for our benefit, whilst fiercely protecting our sustainable resources for the benefit of generations to come. All of us must press forward, upward, onward together.

Our future depends on it!

PAM BURNSIDE Nassau, October 12, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, PAGE 7

PARK GETS A FRESH LOOK ALTHOUGH New Providence parks and playgrounds are not open due to the COVID19 pandemic, one of the country’s most historical parks in the Over-the-Hill area has recently been remodeled by the Bahamas Striping Group of Companies.

The Southern Recreation Park now has new improvements ranging from new landscape and play areas, exercise spaces for adults, and a resurfaced basketball court.

As concerns mounted over the years about children not having a safe place to play, the park has over 20 security cameras that are monitored as well as solar lighting to keep the park well-lit in the evening hours. Once the park opens, it will also be monitored by security wardens 24 hours per day.

President of BSGC Atario Mitchell said the ‘242 signature basketball court’ is the first of its kind in the Over-the-Hill area as it consists of cushion material that absorbs shock to the joints. He added that the park is perfect for the entire family, and the residents of the Bain Town area have now gained a well-equipped and engaging place for recreation.

That’s the way the cookie crumbles as teen gets probation over marijuana

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A TEENAGER who was found with marijuana cookies and batter was yesterday placed on a year’s probation and ordered to attend drug counselling classes.

Police arrested Basanique Darling, 19, after they found nine grams of Indian hemp along with a quantity of cookies and cookie dough containing one pound and four ounces of marijuana in her car on October 8.

She pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession during a hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes yesterday.

The court was told that officers were on mobile patrol near West Avenue around 3pm when they saw Darling riding in a Honda Civic. The prosecution said when the defendant noticed the officers she began acting suspiciously. As a result, officers beckoned for the vehicle to stop and ordered Darling to get out of the car. When she did, they informed her that she would be searched for dangerous

drugs and firearms. During their search, they found a loose quantity of marijuana in a red towel underneath the front passenger seat.

Officers also found marijuana cookies and cookie dough in the backseat of the defendant’s vehicle.

After accepting Darling’s guilty plea, Magistrate Forbes told her the maximum penalty for simple possession was a $150,000 fine or five years in prison.

He told the defendant making weed cookies was illegal and urged her to make “more practical decisions” in the future. As a result, he placed Darling on probation for 12 months and ordered her to attend drug counselling classes at the Department of Social Services. He warned her if she failed to do so, she would be convicted of the offence and sentenced to three months in prison.

Yesterday, several other people appeared before Magistrate Forbes for drug related offences.

Basil Gibbs, 25, was arrested after officers found one ounce of Indian hemp on him on October 9.

The court was told that

officers were on mobile patrol near Mildred Avenue when they saw Gibbs walk towards a bushy area where he picked up a silver coloured object from the ground. When the officers approached and searched the defendant, they found the marijuana joint they originally saw him with, as well as two clear plastic bags containing 26 more silver foil wraps. Gibbs was subsequently arrested. In an interview with police at the Drug Enforcement Unit, he said he had lost his job and had bought the marijuana to smoke on his birthday.

When given an opportunity to speak, Gibbs told the magistrate he only bought the marijuana because it was his birthday and he wanted to have enough drugs to last him during the lockdown. After pleading guilty to two counts of marijuana possession, he was ordered to attend drug counselling classes for 12 months. If he doesn’t, he could risk spending three months behind bars.

Yesterday, two brothers were also charged with marijuana possession with intent to supply after

HOMELESS MAN DISCHARGED AFTER VIOLATING CURFEW

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAGISTRATE yesterday discharged a man for violating the curfew after he explained that he was homeless.

Police arrested George Brown, 60, after they found him sleeping in Rawson Square around 3.15am on October 10.

The court was told that officers were on mobile patrol on Bay Street when they saw the defendant laying on a bench in the square. When the officers woke Brown up and asked him why he was outdoors during curfew hours, he told them he had no home.

As a result, he was arrested.

In an interview with police at a nearby station, he admitted the offence.

During the hearing, Brown told the magistrate although he had a place where he could wash his clothes and bathe, he had no fixed address. In view of those circumstances, Magistrate Forbes said he would

discharge Brown with a warning. Still, he advised the defendant to remain in the yard of the residence where he was washing his clothes to avoid coming on the public street during curfew hours.

Meanwhile, Elvardo Dean, 19, and his 16-yearold friend were arrested after officers found them on Paradise Island around 3.15pm on Saturday, October 10.

They both pleaded guilty to violating the curfew, but were discharged after they told the magistrate they were unaware of the full weekend lockdown.

During the hearing, Dean and the 16-year-old said they did not know that a 24-hour lockdown had been enforced over the weekend as they still saw cars driving on the road.

The pair also claimed they had ventured to Paradise Island to go to a party at a hotel over the bridge.

The teens also said they did not have cell phones so they were not aware of the latest amendments to the

emergency orders.

In response, Magistrate Forbes told the young men that what was “originally a controllable incident had now become uncontrollable” as people were not paying attention and were violating the guidelines implemented to deter the spread of COVID-19. He told the boys he needed them to be more responsible because far too many Bahamians were engaging in ignorant behaviour.

Magistrate Forbes said in this instance, he would not punish the young men, but urged them to comply with the rules and regulations from that point forward.

Yesterday, Bianca Aranha, 42, Michelle Darling, 35, Neketrius Johnson, 37, and Rashad Maynard, 30, were charged after officers found them on Malcolm Road around 12.50am on October 9. All of the defendants denied the allegation and the matter was adjourned to June 14, 2021 for trial. In the meantime, each of the defendants was granted $1,000 bail.

DOMINICANS DETAINED AFTER VESSEL SINKS THREE Dominicans were detained by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in Inagua after they were rescued by a United States Coast Guard helicopter stationed in Matthew Town, after their vessel is reported to have sunk.

Shortly after 7pm on Monday evening, the men were picked up on

the east-southeast point of Inagua by the USCG Helo after they claimed they swam ashore from a sunken skiff, the RBDF said. They were then taken to the airport on the island, where they were eventually transported to the clinic in Matthew Town.

“RBDF personnel assigned to the island, led by Senior

Lieutenant Elvis Bullard, are providing security details for the foreigners, who are being attended by the local medical professionals. The local medics assured proper protocols are in place for the safety of personnel. The Dominicans are being processed by immigration officials as part of the ongoing investigation,” the RBDF said.

officers found 18 grams of Indian hemp in their vehicle on October 8.

Louis Mackey, 34, and Keyvon Mackey, 24, pleaded guilty and were each fined $200 or one month in custody. The prosecution said officers found the drugs in the southeastern portion of the brothers’ yard after a K-9 dog led them towards the bumper of a car, which had a white plastic bag in its exhaust pipe. When the officers

examined the bag, they discovered six foil wraps that all contained a quantity of marijuana.

Officers arrested Kevin Herious, 43, after they found 20 grams of Indian hemp on him on October 9. The court was told that officers went to an unfurnished structure on Bacardi Road around 12.30pm on the night in question.

When they searched it, they found a quantity of marijuana on a wooden table

and another loose quantity of the drug on top of a box in the structure. As a result of their discovery, Herious was arrested. In an interview with police at the DEU he admitted the offence. According to the prosecution, the drugs had a combined street value of $100. After pleading guilty to dangerous drug possession, Herious was fined $250 or one month at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

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PAGE 8, Wednesday, October 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

What really makes a national hero?

By Alicia Wallace

WHAT makes a national hero?

Over the past few days, there has been heated discussion about the five people recognised as national heroes. There are people who believe one or more of those people to be undeserving of the designation and there are people who have others in mind who have done more or better. Considering the recommendations and criticism, we do not have a solid definition of a national hero.

Is a hero a person who does one thing one time that many people notice?

Is a hero a person who does many things that often go unnoticed? Is a hero a person who changes the lives of others? Is a hero a person who makes a difficult time a bit easier? Is a hero a person who does their job well?

Some of the five people selected are relatively

unknown. Some of them, we have only recently come to know. If we do not recognise a name or face, can the person be a national hero?

Is a person a national hero by virtue of recognition?

DJ Ovadose was recognised as a national hero. It was definitely an interesting choice. When the first lockdown started, Ovadose hosted free virtual parties.

People enjoyed the music and engaging one another in the comments and on social media. On a Friday night when they would normally be at a bar or club, people felt less trapped at home because there was an event they could enjoy.

It definitely helped to pass time and probably relieved stress, lifted spirits, and got people to move their bodies. Even as his virtual events went on, people talked about what a great marketing move it was because when lockdown ends and things go back to

WHO are our heroes? Is it people like DJ Ovadose, above right, or Dr Nikkiah Forbes, who have gained popularity during the pandemic? “normal,” people are going to remember his name and want to book him.

Whether it was a

Private Funeral Service For EZRENA LOUVISE FORBES, 88 of Driggs Hill South Andros, will be held on Thursday, October 15th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road. Officiating will be Bishop Carrington S. Pinder, assisted by Other Ministers of The Gospel.

Precious memories will forever linger in the hearts of her, Children: Locksley & Elsie Forbes, Elaine, Benjamin, Patrice and Lynden Forbes, Beverly Forbes-Morris, Karen Forbes-Baeyens and Delereast Forbes-Bartlett & William Kent; Sisters: Vandaleta Miller, Vernice Forbes and Leoma Burke; Brothers: Amos and Rodney Flowers; Grandchildren: Reba, Locksley Jr. & Andrea, Benjamin Theron, Dejaneau, Christopher, Dehavelian & Janice, Ramon & Aniska, Lavardo, Lanardo, Lathario & Rajon Forbes, Devaughn Johnson, Eleanor & Craig Rolle, Kimberly & Cardrone Nixon, Aneka & Shannon Fox, Nacara & Lance Beard, Bianca Morris, Kent, & Kamaal Bartlett & Mavil Stephanie Cordoba, Lyndira Shakira Collie, Patricia Miller, Lyndera Kayshell Forbes; Great Grandchildren: Cody Hall, Imani Stuart, Jade & Korey Christie, Janae, Aaliyah, Daniel, Chloe, Rayshawn, Rashae, Naraha, Tameka, & Kaylee Forbes, Donté Rahming, Michail, Micah & Michaila Rolle, Fabian Campbell, Madison Hall and Skylah Fox, Caleb & Kiara Nixon, Janae Pierre (adopted daughter) Kameron, Willy & Sapphire Petit-Frere, Enrick Miller, Princess & Princeton Munroe, Sierra, Reginald III & Serina Miller. Nieces & Nephews: Michael & Sandra Flowers, Rodney Jr., Joey, Orlando, Ryan, Eyvette Sturrup, Paula Darville, Michael Miller, Lester & Yvonne, Martin & Eurika, Katrina, Wayne, Devon, Andy & Vanrea, Jason & Hermeone Flowers, Betty & Cecil Lynes, Hon. Renward & Sarah Wells, Tanya Penn, Dennis & Natty Forbes, Deon Morris, Aneka Edwards, Jermaine, Erica, Nasal, Mercedes & Kimberly, Seldon & Lycetta, Adena & Nadena, Marjorie Adderley, Pernetta Smith, Johathan, Alice, Wesley, Zendal, Vestra, Tyrone, Mabel, Helen, Rody Forbes, Cleopatra Turnquest, Zelma & Bishop LeRodney Rolle, Eunice Hannah, Violet Duncombe, Violet Williams, Patsy Thompson, Livingstone, Nelson, Barbara & Letamae Forbes; Grand Nieces & Nephews: Wade & Deborah, Clinton, Bunson, Afarier Rolle, Aanica Scavella, Royanne Darville, Ricky Thompson, Deberia Rolle, Ray Williams, Ivana Hastey; Adopted Great Grandchildren: Natasha, Lemuel, Zoe, Janae, Jade, London, Timesha, Kenria, Kenya Kendal Jr., KenLeigh Kendele (Dream), Rane & Fritz Forbes, Tyler Allman; God Children: Arementha Duncombe-Smith, Roderick, Deborah, Cy Forbes, Freda Carey, Moreen Johnson, Fred Rolle, Alfred Stuart Jr., Devonique Carey and Crezelda (Sally) Feliz; Adopted Mother: Isabella Nesbitt; Adopted Sisters & Brothers: Florida Mae Gibson, Bernard, Dr. Hayward, Pastor Arnold, Evangelist Idamae Nesbitt, and Mildred Evans; Adopted Children: Andrea Devaluier, Sherma, Bonnymae & Victor (Jeff) Forbes, Jan Poitier, Sophia Rolle, Norma Davis, Gloria Rolle, Roy Bannister, Robert & Robin Strickland, George M. Polgert, Sgt. Ellis & April Miller and Orthneil Andrews; Adopted Son & Daughter-in-law: Rudolph Davis and Alice Stuart; Adopted Grandchildren: Jeffrey, Dr. Winston, Noel, Timothy, Kendal, Dustin, Dr. Jerold Forbes, Nina Forbes, Sha-nae Allman, Quidemae, Patrick & Natasha Davis, Rachael Rolle, Tyrone, Christine Cleare, Shawn Seymour, Perry Knowles, Margo Sturrup, Marvin, Rodnell, Denecio & Shanell Stuart, Vernique Glinton & Tameka Lewis. Numerous Relatives & Friends: Mother Blooming Neely & Family, Jenny, Patson, Lofton & Francetha Neely & Family, Rev. James & Mother M. Pratt, Joyce Major & Family, Cedric & Herbert Nesbitt, Carlton Sweeting, Craven, Yvonne, Shirley, William (Fissy), Cheryl & Eldon Forbes, Mark & Michael Flowers, Drucilla, Steve, Kenneth, Albertha, Terrance, Thalia Duncombe, Mildred Burrows & Family, Annabell Knowles, Almina Ferguson, Mildred McKenzie, Florina Forbes, Jackie McKinney, Paula Adderley, Telinda Missick, Letamae Riley-Forbes, Warren & Carnetta Seymour, Paula Lee & Family, Alfreda McPhee, Michael Humes & Family, Ruth Tinker & Family, Ed & Emily Rahming, Mabel Forbes, Marita Roberts, Cherry Albury & Family, Judy Forbes, Rowena Forbes & Family, Samuel Williams, Gwendolyn Rolle & Family, Ellen Higgs, Lecitus Forbes, Iona Sweeting & Family, Sheila Forbes, Louisemae Pinder, Hon. Picewell Forbes & Family, Dame Marguerite Pindling & Family, Darrold Miller, Paula Lee & Family, Preston Johnson & Family, Norwood Rahming & Family, Dashy Williams, Devon & Denise Carey, Melony & Malory Green, Bradley McKenzie, Dudley McKenzie, Iva & Janet McKenzie, Pastor, Stanley Forbes and members of St. Luke’s Baptist Church, Pastor & Members of Blessed Hope SDA Church, Principal, Staff & Students of South Andros High School and The entire community of South Andros. Special Thank You to Her Care Takers: Princess Wright, Judy Moxey, NayToya Jarrad & Natasha.

Viewing will be held in the “Celestial Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Road on Wednesday (TODAY) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and at the church on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

marketing move, a way to escape his own boredom, a gift to the Bahamian people, or a combination, people learned his name, heard him play and thanked him for what he was doing.

Is DJ Ovadose really a national hero?

Dr Nikkiah Forbes quickly became a household name when the Ministry of Health started holding press conferences. An infectious disease expert, it makes sense that she had the information we wanted. She did a great job of communicating with the public, portraying confidence and professionalism while speaking in a language we could understand. It was not long before there was a fan club of sorts and many members of the public did not want to hear from anyone but her.

People were certain that she had the information and would be the best person to share it with us. Forbes has clearly been good at her job and her communication skills put her miles ahead of the others. Is Dr Nikkiah Forbes really a national hero?

Many of the people who were mentioned in the discussion over the weekend were people who do their jobs well. People mentioned a journalist who has done her job and built a platform for herself which some may see as an act of benevolence while others see it as a strategic career choice.

There were many mentions of healthcare workers who are putting their lives on the line every day. Some people mentioned those who are rarely thought of like cashier and gas pump attendants. The suggestions were disparate, but most of them lifted people up for doing their jobs particularly well, in a different way, or under terrible circumstances.

In some ways, it seems like an attempt to expunge ourselves of guilt from ignoring or overlooking the work of certain groups of people. Do we name them heroes to make ourselves feel better for the added risk they take on — whether by choice or out of necessity — in order to meet our needs?

Who do you consider a hero? I thought of Jensen Burrows, d’Sean Smith and Jason Burrows who rescued 100 people in Grand Bahama from their homes after Hurricane Dorian. I thought of those who did not make the news, but saved lives.

Most would agree that it is good that we are thinking outside of the pool of “nation builders” when we name heroes. The definition needed to expand. We needed to see more diversity in our list of heroes.

Perhaps, however, it is time to settle on a definition beyond admiration. What makes a hero? Is it a job well done? Is it one great act? Is it a series of smaller acts? Is it consistent work in a particular field? What distinguishes a hero from a person who earned their pay? Is intent a factor, and how do we identify it? Share your thoughts on heroes — definitions, examples, (dis) qualifications, and purpose.

Let’s see what we can come up with to help us recognise and celebrate national heroes.

WE ALL HAVE A ROLE - AND COULD DO BETTER ANOTHER holiday weekend has come and gone with New Providence and Abaco locked down. It was announced last week Wednesday, but we could easily have predicted it.

These weekend lockdowns continue to frustrate people. It does not seem like they are particularly helpful when people are still gathering in various ways. During the weekend, while grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies were closed, churches were allowed to open for up to one hour of services.

Yesterday morning some people returned to their places of employment and we know workplaces collectively form a hotspot.

Once again, the measures do not make sense. For some people, that makes it harder to comply. It also makes it more difficult to maintain mental health because it feels like we are constantly losing in game where we do not even make the moves.

The argument continues on the blame for the spread of COVID-19. Is the the fault of the people, or is it the fault of the government or, more specifically, the competent authority?

The question cannot be answered so simply.

Our current state is due to a combination of factors. The competent authority has certainly made bad decisions. Some of them made absolutely no sense. Some of them were risks that we cannot be sure were properly calculated. Some of them were not as bad as others, but required more a decision and an announcement to be effective. In many cases, facilitation and enforcement were lacking. As the months go by, it does not seem as though lessons are being learned and incorporated into the decision-making process.

Yes, personal responsibility is a major factor. We need to wear our masks, wash our hands, sanitise whenever we enter a place of business, avoid gathering in large numbers, refrain from travel as much as possible and maintain a distance of six feet from people who are not in our households.

Some of these requirements do not make sense when considered alongside the decisions made by the competent authority. Do we maintain a distance of six feet when we dine together at restaurants? Do we wear masks while eating and laughing over a meal? We can, of course, make the decision for ourselves that we will not participate in activities that increase the risk of spread. We could also refrain from consuming the food that makes us sick, stop talking about people behind their backs, take only the one allotted hour for lunch break and ensure we do not curse in the presence of children.

There are many things that we should stop doing for our benefit and the people around us, but we continue. Why is that? Is it because there is no immediate reward?

COVID-19 is not visible to us. We do not see it around us. Some people still say they do not know anyone who has been infected. Maybe people feel invincible because the virus seems so far away.

Some people do not seem to be thinking about it at all. They are determined to go about their lives as normally as possible. With the exception of wearing a mask, far too many people have gone back to normal.

Many business places have stopped paying attention to the use of hand sanitiser. The dispensers are still there or someone at the door still has the container,

but people are not required to use it. There are hands that have not been sanitised touching the shopping carts, products on shelves and card machines among other surfaces. Businesses with high traffic — like grocery stores — should take this more seriously. The decision has been made to ensure that people sanitize their hands before entry, but with facilitation and enforcement, that decision means nothing.

The people most concerned about COVID-19 and able to do so are staying at home as much as possible. To leave the house to be at the mercy whose practices vary greatly. There are some things some of us cannot avoid like grocery shopping and banking, but socialising in person, unnecessary shopping and going to the gym are no longer priorities.

There are those who believe we need to learn to live with the virus around us and believe that means relaxing restrictions and going back to normal as much as possible. In theory, it seems like a sensible move. The problem is we are not prepared to facilitate and enforce the practices that would make it relatively safe for us to do that. We, as individuals need to be more responsible and hold each other accountable while the government needs to revise the restrictions, present them alongside supporting data, facilitate implementation, and enforce them.

Blame is a hot potato we have been playing with for months, but as we toss it around and around, little more gets done and COVID-19 spreads at alarming rates. We can expect more of the government and be more disciplined at the same time.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, PAGE 9

APPLE UNVEILS NEW iPHONES FOR FASTER 5G WIRELESS NETWORKS

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE and TALI ARBEL AP Technology Writers

APPLE unveiled four new iPhones equipped with technology for use with faster new 5G wireless networks, hoping that demand for higher data speeds will spark demand for new phones.

That might not happen as quickly as Apple would like.

In a virtual presentation Tuesday, the company announced four 5G-enabled versions of the new iPhone 12 ranging in price from almost $700 to roughly $1,100.

Apple also announced a new, less expensive version of its HomePod smart speaker.

Smartphone sales have been slowing for years as their technology has matured. That has meant far fewer gotta-have-it innovations that can drive demand and, at least until recently, increasingly pricey phones.

Add to that pandemicrelated economic crisis, and consumers have tended to eke as much life as possible out of their existing phones.

Apple, however, is clearly betting that 5G speeds could push many users off the fence. At its event, the company boasted about 5G capabilities and brought in Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg

to champion the carrier’s network.

5G is supposed to mean much faster speeds, making it quicker to download movies or games, for instance. But finding those speeds can be a challenge.

While telecom operators have been rolling out 5G networks, significant boosts in speed are still uncommon in much of the world, including the U.S. So far, there are no popular new consumer applications that require 5G. Updates in the new phones mostly amount to “incremental improvements” over predecessor iPhones, technology analyst Patrick Moorhead said, referring to 5G capabilities and camera upgrades on higher-end phones. But he suggested that if carriers build out their 5G networks fast enough, it could launch a “supercycle” in which large numbers of people switch to 5G phones.

That might be a big if.

Mobile expert Carolina Milanesi of the firm Creative Strategies said economic pain caused by the global pandemic and accompanying job losses could easily restrain that buying impulse.

Apple’s new models include the iPhone 12, which features a 6.1-inch display and starts at almost $800, and the iPhone 12 Mini, with

TECHTALK WAYMO REMOVES BACKUP DRIVERS FROM ITS AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

By CATHY BUSSEWITZ AP Business Writer

ONE of the new iPhone 12 phones equipped with technology for use with faster new 5G wireless networks that Apple unveiled Tuesday. (Apple via AP) a 5.4-inch display at almost $700. A higher-end iPhone 12 Pro with more powerful cameras will begin at roughly $1,000; the 12 Pro Max, with a 6.7-inch display, will set buyers back at least $1,100.

Apple said the phones should be more durable.

In a move that may annoy some consumers, Apple will no longer include charging adapters with new phones. It says that will mean smaller, lighter boxes that are more

THE NEW HomePod Mini that Apple unveiled Tuesday. The new HomePod Mini will cost almost $100.

It will integrate Apple’s own music service, of course, with Pandora and Amazon’s music service in “coming months.”

(Apple via AP)

environmentally friendly to ship. Apple, however, separately sells power adapters that cost about $20 and $50, depending on how fast they charge phones.

The iPhone models unveiled Tuesday will launch at different times. The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro will be available starting Oct. 23; the Mini and the Pro Max will follow on Nov. 13.

That compresses Apple’s window for building up excitement heading into the key holiday season.

Although other parts of Apple’s business are now growing more rapidly, the iPhone remains the biggest business of a technology juggernaut currently worth about $2 trillion, nearly double its value when stayat-home orders imposed in the U.S in mid-March plunged the economy into a deep recession.

The pandemic temporarily paralysed Apple’s overseas factories and key suppliers, leading to a delay of the latest iPhones from their usual late September rollout. The company also closed many of its U.S. stores for months because of the pandemic, depriving Apple

of a prime showcase for its products.

Apple on Tuesday also said it was shrinking the size and price of its HomePod speaker to catch up to Amazon and Google in the market for internetconnected speakers, where it has barely made a dent.

Both Amazon and Google are trying to position their speakers, the Echo and the Nest, as low-cost command centers for helping people manage their homes and lives. They cost as little as $50, while the HomePod costs almost $300.

The new HomePod Mini will cost almost $100. It will integrate Apple’s own music service, of course, with Pandora and Amazon’s music service in “coming months.”

Apple didn’t mention musicstreaming giant Spotify. It will be available for sale Nov. 6 and start shipping the week of Nov. 16. The research firm eMarketer estimates about 58 million people in the U.S. use an Amazon Echo while 26.5 million use a Google Nest speaker. Roughtly 15 million use a HomePod or speakers sold by other manufactures, including Sonos and Harman Kardon.

NASA MOON-LANDING TECH HITCHES RIDE TO SPACE ON BEZOS ROCKET

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space company launched a New Shepard rocket for a seventh time from a remote corner of Texas on Tuesday, testing new lunar-landing technology for NASA that could help put astronauts back on the moon.

The entire flight — barely skimming space with a peak altitude of 66 miles (106 kilometres) — lasted just 10 minutes. The booster landed vertically back at the launch complex after liftoff, and the capsule followed, parachuting onto the desert floor.

The capsule carried science experiments, including 1.2 million tomato seeds that will be distributed to schoolchildren around the U.S. and Canada, and tens of thousands of children’s postcards with space-themed drawings that will be returned to the young senders.

NASA’s navigation equipment for future moon landings was located on the booster. The sensors and computer — tested during the booster’s

THE NEW Shepard rocket lifts off from its launchpad in Texas, to test new lunarlanding technology for NASA that could help put astronauts back on the moon by 2024. (Blue Origin via AP) descent and touchdown — will hitch another suborbital ride with Blue Origin.

It’s all part of NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to put the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024, a deadline imposed by the White House.

“Using New Shepard to simulate landing on the Moon is an exciting precursor to what the Artemis programme will bring to America,” Blue

Origin’s chief executive Bob Smith said in a statement.

Texas-based Southwest Research Institute had a magnetic asteroidsampling experiment on board, as well as a mini rocket-fueling test.

Led by Amazon founder Bezos, Washington state-based Blue Origin is leading a team of companies to develop a lunar lander for astronauts.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is also working on a lander, as is Alabama-based

Dynetics. NASA chose three teams in this early phase of the Artemis moon-landing programme to increase the chances of getting astronauts to the lunar surface by the end of 2024.

Delayed three weeks by technical issues, this was the 13th New Shepard flight for Blue Origin. The first was in 2015. The rocket is named for the first American in space, Alan Shepard.

Tuesday’s launch was the first in nearly a year for Blue Origin: The pandemic stalled operations. Blue Origin said its staff is maintaining social distancing and taking other safety measures.

Blue Origin said it needs a couple more flights before launching people — tourists, scientists and professional astronauts — on short hops.

The capsule has six seats and six windows, the biggest to fly in space. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

NEW YORK (AP) — Waymo is allowing the general public to hitch a ride in its driverless autonomous vehicles in Phoenix, expanding a service it had been quietly offering to a select group of riders for the past year.

The service launched to the general public last Thursday.

The vehicles, which have no back-up drivers behind the wheel to take over in sticky situations, serve an area of 50 square miles. There isn’t anyone watching remotely who can take over in an emergency and drive the car.

Before the coronavirus struck, which reduced demand for rides, Waymo was providing 1,000 to 2,000 rides in autonomous vehicles per week. Most of the rides had a backup driver behind the wheel, but 5% to 10% of the rides were without a human backup driver and were available only to a smaller group of riders who signed nondisclosure agreements. Waymo did not disclose how many fully autonomous vehicles will be available to the public in the Phoenix area.

“We are worried about our ability to meet demand with the capabilities of the vehicle we have right now,” CEO John Krafcik said in a conference call with reporters.

Waymo, a unit of Google parent Alphabet Inc., is hoping to eventually expand the service into California, but does not yet have concrete expansion plans to announce, Krafcik said.

“Even small experiments with fully autonomous vehicles in the real world are important steps forward,” said Erik Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, in an email.

But he cautioned that “given the secrecy about every company’s autonomous technology, people in Phoenix can only hope that the driverless cars turn out to be as safe as cars with drivers.”

For the next several weeks, every Waymo ride in the Phoenix area will be without a backup driver. After that, Waymo will re-introduce human backup drivers behind the wheel in some of the vehicles so the company can work on expanding its service area.

Rides with human backup drivers cost the same amount as those without.

To help encourage safety during the pandemic, Waymo provides wipes and sanitising gel in the car and asks riders to confirm in a checklist that they haven’t been exposed to the coronavirus.

Waymo requires riders to wear masks and checks that masks are being worn using cameras inside the car. If Waymo detects a rider is not wearing a mask, the company’s support team will call to remind the rider of the policy, but the company would not say whether it would stop the trip.

The vehicles also have an air circulation feature that helps remove germs that other riders may have introduced.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, October 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

More masks, less play: Europe tightens rules as virus surges GENEVA Associated Press GOVERNMENTS across Europe are ratcheting up restrictions to try to beat back a resurgence of the coronavirus that has sent new confirmed infections on the continent to their highest weekly level since the start of the pandemic.

The World Health Organization said yesterday there were more than 700,000 new COVID-19 cases reported in Europe last week, a jump of 34% from the previous week.

Britain, France, Russia and Spain accounted for more than half of the new infections.

The increasing caseload is partly the result of more testing, but the UN health agency noted that deaths were also up 16% last week from the week before. Doctors are warning that while many of the new cases are in younger people, who tend to have milder symptoms, the virus could again start spreading widely among older people, resulting in more serious illnesses.

Italy and France are restricting parties and putting limits on restaurants and bars. The Netherlands went further and ordered the closing of all bars and restaurants, And to discourage partying at home,

A SHOP sells face masks on Oxford Street in London, yesterday. Unemployment across the UK rose sharply higher in August which is a clear indication that the jobless rate is set to spike higher when a government salary-support scheme ends this month and new restrictions are imposed on local areas to suppress a resurgence of the coronavirus. Photo: Frank Augstein/AP it banned the sale of alcohol after 8pm.

The Czech Republic is closing all schools until Nov 2, while Latvia is ordering teenagers to switch to distance learning for a week.

And Britain unveiled a three-tiered system for deciding what restrictions to impose, based on how severe the outbreak is in certain areas.

Those moves reflect a new approach to containing the virus among governments wary of hurting already fragile economies. Officials are eager to avoid the total lockdowns they imposed in the spring that resulted in heavy job losses. Instead,

they are relying on a patchwork of regional or targeted restrictions that have sometimes caused confusion and frustration by those affected.

The UN health agency appeared to support the new approach, with WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic saying lockdowns should be a “last resort”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a European Union advisory body yesterday that she is watching the rising infection figures “with great concern”.

“We must not squander now what we achieved through restrictions in recent months,” Merkel

said in a video address.

“None of us found it easy to impose those restrictions,” she added. “Many people lost their lives, and so it is all the more important that we ensure now that a further lockdown won’t be necessary, that our health system isn’t overstrained again.”

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte ordered bars and restaurants to close at midnight and banned pickup sports games among friends and parties in enclosed spaces. Private gatherings at homes with more than six people who don’t live together are also discouraged.

“Our objective is clear: We must prevent our country from plunging back into a generalised lockdown,” Conte said.

Italy reported more than 5,900 people tested positive over the past day and 41 people died, bringing the country’s official COVID19 death toll to more than 36,200, the second-highest in Europe after Britain.

The outbreak has spread to the annual Giro d’Italia, which was thrown into chaos after several top riders withdrew from the cycling race following positive tests for the coronavirus.

Italy made masks mandatory outdoors last week, a requirement already in place in Spain, Turkey,

India and a few other Asian countries. Elsewhere in Europe, such mandates are in effect in many places in Poland and hot spot cities like Paris and Brussels, and are being introduced in several German cities.

In France, which has seen a rapid increase in infections, Paris, Marseille and seven other large cities have been placed under maximum alert, resulting in the closing of bars, gyms and swimming pools. Public parties are banned, and restaurants have to maintain at least 3 feet between tables, with groups of diners limited to six people.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki urged the country’s citizens to observe social distancing and wear masks as he himself went into quarantine following contact with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19. He said in a video message that his government was working as usual and that he had no symptoms.

Poland, a nation of about 38 million, has seen a sharp spike in newly recorded infections, with close to 5,100 cases and 63 deaths reported yesterday. Over the summer, new daily cases were around 600.

Some doctors are warning that Poland’s chronically underfunded health care system may collapse if the current rate of new

cases continues.

In Britain, which has suffered the deadliest outbreak in Europe, with a toll of more than 43,000, officials defended their new system as striking the right balance.

Under the plan unveiled this week, Liverpool is in the highest-risk category, and its pubs, gyms and betting shops have been shut.

“The prime minister has to balance protecting people’s lives and the NHS (National Health Service) from the virus while also prioritizing things that matter to us as a society, like education and keeping as many people in employment as possible,” Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC. Britain’s number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases has more than tripled in the last three weeks, with infection rates rising across all age groups and regions.

In an effort to keep people and goods moving throughout the European Union, member countries approved a color-coded system yesterday.

The countries agreed to not restrict people traveling between green areas — where infection numbers are low — but EU governments will continue to set their own restrictions, such as quarantines or mandatory testing upon arrival, for people coming from orange or red zones.

Trump, Biden zero in on swing states that are key to victory WASHINGTON Associated Press WITH Election Day just three weeks away, President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden concentrated

yesterday on battleground states both see as critical to clinching an Electoral College victory, tailoring their travel to best motivate voters who could cast potentially decisive ballots.

Biden went to Florida to

court seniors, looking to deliver a knockout blow in a state Trump needs to win while trying to woo a group whose support for the president has slipped.

And Trump visited Pennsylvania, arguably the most

important state on the electoral map, unleashing fierce attacks on Biden’s fitness for office in his opponent’s backyard.

“He’s shot, folks. I hate to tell you, he’s shot,” Trump told a big rally crowd in Johnstown, saying there was extra pressure on him to win because Biden was the worst presidential candidate of all time. “Can you imagine if you lose to a guy like this? It’s unbelievable.”

In his second rally since contracting the coronavirus, Trump spoke for more than an hour to a crowd of thousands packed in tightly and mostly maskless. Like the night before in Florida, Trump seemed healthy, and his rhetoric on the pandemic — including the dubious claim that it was mostly a thing of the past — changed little despite his own illness, except for his threat to kiss audience members to prove his immunity.

Trump made a local pitch, hammering home the claim that a Democratic administration could limit fracking in areas where the economy is heavily dependent on energy, despite Biden’s proposal to only bar new leases on federal land, a fraction of US fracking operations. And Trump, touting his elimination of a federal rule that would have brought more low-income housing to the suburbs, zeroed in on groups whose support he has struggled to retain, including female voters turned off by his rhetoric.

“So I ask you to do me a favour. Suburban women: Will you please like me?

Please. Please. I saved your damn neighbourhood, OK?” Trump said. “The other thing: I don’t have that much time to be that nice. You know, I can do it, but I gotta go quickly.”

Biden spent the day in Florida, his third visit to the state in a month, looking to expand on his inroads with older voters. To Trump, “you’re expendable, you’re forgettable, you’re virtually nobody,” Biden said at a senior centre in Pembroke Pines, about 20 miles from Fort Lauderdale.

The “only senior Donald Trump seems to care about” is himself, Biden added.

After frequently criticising Trump for not doing enough to promote mask wearing to prevent the spread of the virus, Biden was wearing two masks, an N-95 underneath a blue surgical mask, as he

SUPPORTERS cheer as President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at John P Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pa, yesterday.

Photo: Gene J Puskar/AP deplaned in Florida. Later in the day, he switched to his normal mode of donning just one.

Introducing Biden in Pembroke Pines, Democratic Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz noted that “neither of these men will walk into the White House without the blessing of Florida seniors”.

“Much is made of the rise of the youth vote, and thank God for it,” the Florida congresswoman said. “But it’s residents 65 or older who still swing elections in the Sunshine State.”

Biden also held a drive-in rally designed to promote voter mobilisation in the heavily African American community of Miramar.

His swing coincided with a $500,000 donation from billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg to increase Democratic turnout in Miami-Dade County.

“I’m running as a proud Democrat, but I will govern as an American president,” Biden said to supporters blaring their horns as they listened from cars. “I’ll work as hard for those who vote against me as those who vote for me.”

Back in Washington, yesterday marked a second day of Senate hearings to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Trump and top Republicans see a swift confirmation as a chance to energise conservatives. Trump mentioned those proceedings as he left the White House, saying, “Amy was doing incredibly well.”

Biden’s campaign believes it can win the White House without Florida’s 29 electoral votes, but it wants to lock up the state to pad a margin of victory over Trump, who has questioned the legitimacy of an election where many people will cast mail-in ballots during the pandemic.

Biden has vowed to win Pennsylvania, but if he falls

short, his path to victory narrows substantially.

With 20 electoral votes, Pennsylvania is anchored

by Philadelphia to the east, Pittsburgh to the west. But the rest of the state is largely rural, comprised of small cities and towns where Trump ran up the score four years ago. He will need to again, in even greater numbers, as his prospects have slipped since 2016 in places like vote-rich suburban Philadelphia, where he underperformed by past Republican measures.

Trump’s rally was at the airport in Johnstown in Cambria County, a historically coal and steel area that narrowly backed Democrat Barack Obama in 2008.

But it has trended Republican for the past three decades and, in the 2016 election, Trump scored a 37 percentage-point victory.

The area is also substantially whiter and has lower median incomes and lower rates of college-degree attainment than the rest of Pennsylvania.

Biden, who was born 220 miles (350 kilometers) away in Scranton, visited Johnstown late last month.

The former vice president has tried to cast himself as a champion of workingclass voters while accusing Trump of focusing instead on stock market returns and Park Avenue values.

Despite the pandemic, Trump’s campaign has prioritised in-person events and aggressive door-knocking as it tries to turn out new and low-propensity voters, including more members of the white working class who may have backed Democrats in the past.

Republicans point to an aging population and a shrinking voter-registration edge for Democrats, down 20% from 2016’s election to 717,000, according to the latest Pennsylvania data.

SPORTS PAGE 11

DON’T GET MUSCLED OUT BY COVID PAGE 12

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020

n i a g a t i o d s Let’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER helping his team-mates get on top of the podium in 2012 in London, England, quarter-miler Ramon Miller is hoping to come back for an encore as the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay prepares for another title or medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan next July.

Miller, a graduate of Dickenson State University and now in his second year as a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, anchored the quartet of Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown, Demetrius Pinder and Michael Mathieu to the stunning gold over the United States and Trinidad & Tobago as they brought the curtain down on the world’s biggest sporting stage in a Bahamian national record time of two minutes and 56.72 seconds.

Four years later in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the combo of Alonzo Russell, Mathieu, Steven Gardiner and Brown had to settle for the bronze as the USA turned the tables to regain the gold, while Jamaica picked up the silver.

Four years prior to ascending the top of the podium in London, Miller along with Avard Moncur ran in the semifinals of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China where the team of Andretti Bain, Mattieu, Andrae Williams and

RAMON Miller as he beat Angelo Taylor.

Brown secured the silver behind gold medal winning United States and ahead of Great Britain, the bronze medalists.

With this year’s games postponed until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 33-year-old Miller said it’s given him the inspiration to get himself ready with the challenge of joggling his job chasing criminals to maintain his quest for his prominence on the international stage as a professional athlete.

“I have to thank God for allowing me to do it, despite all that is going on,” said Miller, about the pandemic that has put a damper on sports worldwide. “I’m still able to keep my composure and remain calm and train as best as possible.

“With the role I play in my line of work and

training, I really have to balance it out. But fortunately for me, I have set up an environment where I really don’t have to go out of my home to get some type of training in, but it’s hard due to all the stipulations and regulations imposed by Covid-19.”

The graduate of Dickinson State University where he was supposed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend, but was cancelled until next year (due to the pandemic), was referring to the fact that while he’s confined to home here in the Bahamas, he will eventually need to venture outside of the country to get in some quality competition to ensure that he stays on the competitive edge.

With the performance of the Golden Knights still in the minds of many Bahamians as they reflect on the historic achievements by our athletes on the global stage, Miller said a lot of their accomplishments to due to the road paved by previous relay team members like Brown, Timothy Munnings, Carl Oliver, Troy McIntosh and Dennis Darling, who set the standard when they began the trek that has made the Bahamas a force to reckon with at the four-yearly games.

“They were persistent and they really gave me the momentum to try and make the Bahamas proud,” Miller stressed. “That is what we did in 2012. For me, training right here at home was

a great achievement.

“It might have been a bit harder for me than the other guys, but I was able to put it together and went out there and helped my team bring home the gold for the Bahamas.”

At the time, Miller was self-trained, but he relied on the Bahamas’ natural resources like the sand at Goodsman Bay, the world famous 66-stairs and both the Sydney Poitier and the Paradise Island bridges.

“My family came out and tried to time me every now and again, or I had one or two of the local coaches who critiqued what I was doing, but for the most part, I did it here all by myself,” he stated. “I thank God for blessing me with the ability to get the job done.”

Struck into the pandemic that has seen Prime Minister Hubert Minnis imposing curfews and lockdowns that have prevented local athletes from training with the beaches and parks periodically closed, Miller said he’s still working hard to complete his final rodeo.

“I want to make my country proud one more time, so this is going to be my last chance to win another medal for the Bahamas at the Olympics next year,” Miller revealed. “Due to Covid-19, everything has been either delayed, postponed or cancelled.

“I have a background of adjusting, so I just have to adjust to what’s going on. I have to adjust while I go to

work and when I’m training. I was able to set up an environment at home where I live. I wasn’t thinking about the pandemic, but it’s benefiting me in the long run.”

Miller, who has posted a lifetime best of 20.50 seconds in the 200m and 44.87 in the 400m, said training for the Olympics isn’t a small feat, but he’s committed to get the job done just as he’s dedicated to serving in his role as police officer.

“I understand all of the safety measures and protocols that the government has put in place, which is key,” Miller summed up.

“There’s nothing you can do right now, but to adjust, but I have an environment here at home that is helping me to get through this pandemic.”

And if it all works out, Miller said he would like nothing better than to be able to get back to the glory days of 2012 when the Bahamas shone on top of the podium and heard the national anthem played as they received their gold medal.

“We now have guys like Steven Newbold, Stephen Newbold, Ojay Ferguson in the pool now, so our chances have gone up,” he insisted. “2012 will be a year that I won’t forget, but it has been the driving force for me coming back for my last rodeo next year.”

And hopefully that will be the impetus for Miller and the rest of the male

athletes like Brown, who is also preparing for his last dance, to give it one more shot at getting the Bahamas back on the podium, preferably with the gold.

While the returned trip to the Olympics will be the crowning glory for Miller, he’s even more enthused about heading back to DSU where his induction into the Hall of Fame on October 9 has been postponed until October, 2021.

During his tenure at Dickenson State University from 2006-2010, Miller was labeled as a legend as he emerged as the most decorated athlete in NAIA track and field history. He won multiple national titles in the 200 and 400m and was the NAIA national record holder in the 400m.

Miller also won numerous collegiate titles in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays.

He was a 12-time national champion at Dickinson State and was named the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) most outstanding track and field athlete in 2009.

Miller, who graduated with a bachelor of science degree in exercise physiology and coaching, is the first athlete from DSU in Dickinson, North Dakota, to receive the Golden Hawk Award, a prestigious award from the school presented to someone who excels beyond the doors of Dickinson State, and one that is presented by the DSU Heritage Foundation.

...BUT COULD GOVT PICK UP THE BATON ON GOLDEN LAND GIFT?

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS an incentive of winning the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, the Golden Knights were presented with a parcel of land by the Bahamas government, just as the Golden Girls did following their triumph at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

But unlike the other members of those teams, quarter-miler Ramon Miller is the only one so far to develop his plot, building his dream house. But unfortunately with the house completed, Miller is unable to get his family to reside in the complex because there’s on infrastructure in place.

“I’ve written to both prime ministers (Perry Christie and Hubert Minnis) and I have letters confirming this and confirming that, but even in writing to our former BAAA president Desmond Bannister, nothing has commenced.

“I really appreciate the land they gave us. I’ve put something on it, but as a Bahamian, I’ve taken the initiative to spend a great deal of money building the home and I’ve given them

RAMON Miller has built his dream house on the land given to him by the government... but he can’t live there with no infrastructure in place - including light, water and the paving of the road. the documents to show that I want to move my family into our home.”

Bannister, the Member of Parliament for Carmichael and the Minister of Works, confirmed that they are in receipt of Miller’s documents and are preparing to provide the necessary infrastructure, including light

and water and the paving of the road, on the property located in Lake Killarney Shores in Tropical Gardens.

Pauline Davis-Thompson, a member of the Golden Girls’ team of Savatheda Fynes-Coke, Chandra, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Eldece Clarke, said one of the

reasons they were also not able to build anything on the property was because of the fact that they don’t have the necessary infrastructure in place.

Miller, who anchored the team of Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown, Demetrius Pinder and Michael Mathieu to the gold at the Olympic

Stadium in London over silver medalists United States and bronze medalists Trinidad & Tobago, said he’s the only one to occupy the land, but he just want to take possession of his new home.

“It’s sad that I have to write about it, but this seemed to be the only recourse I have left and that is to bring it to the public forum,” he stated. “I don’t want to do this, but I need to get it done because I really want to move in.”

Miller, a 2010 graduate of Dickinson State University, who has been employed on the Royal Bahamas Police Force for the past two years, said he started building on the property from 2016 and he had it completed at the end of 2019.

“It’s completed and I just don’t want it to be sitting there like a duck,” he stated. “I was even willing to pay for the infrastructure to be put in place, but they advised me that the government is responsible for putting it in. They even gave me my money back.

“I went through all of the proper channels and nothing has been done. I’m the only athlete here, who is pushing it. The government gave us a gift to try and help

us out. All I need for them to do is to put the infrastructure in place so I can move in.”

As he’s also taking the time out to train for his final Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, Miller said it would be a burden lifted off his shoulders if he can secure his occupancy in his new home.

“I would be much more comfortable with my training,” he said. “My main goal is to get my family into our home so they can be comfortable. My place of comfort is right here at home, so I just want to be here and set an example that as I Bahamian, I can do it here at home.”

Miller, 33, graduated from DSU in Dickinson, North Dakota with a bachelor of science in exercise physiology and coaching.

He was scheduled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on October 9, but the event has been postponed until 2021.

He enjoyed a phenomenal four-year stint that saw him emerge as the most decorated athlete in NAIA track and field history, having won multiple national titles in the 200 and 400m and setting the NAIA national record holder in the 400m.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Don’t flout rules and get muscled out

by COVID

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation president Joel Stubbs said while it’s been a difficult ordeal for gym operators to be closed to the public, he can understand the concerns of health officials because of the lack of protocol procedures that the patrons exhibit.

“On return to the gym, I couldn’t help but notice the many gym clientele who’ve decided to workout mask free,” Stubbs said. “That was just too overwhelming for the naked eyes considering that the gyms were not following the health protocols that are established.

“I spoke with persons encountered in the gym trying to help them understand with everyone breathing in and out, huffing and puffing during strenuous activity, without wearing a mask, the potential to contract or spread coronavirus is very high, especially with the potential of asymptomatic persons who have been scientifically found to have the same viral load as symptomatic covid-19 persons.”

Having observed the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic from a national

prospective, Stubbs said it’s obvious that the numbers are escalating exponentially, so with that being said, the virus will find its way in the gym facilities if it hasn’t already.

“It is mindboggling and completely senseless to see persons walking into the gym foyer with a mask on, check-in, proceed to the weight floor and then remove the mask to get their sweat on around others, when these persons could potentially be asymptomatic,” Stubbs said.

“The virus being equally spread opportunistically through asymptomatic individual’s who have the same viral load as symptomatic individuals, we must be mindful that one of the reasons for the opening of gyms having been delayed is because of the known factor that according to international data, gyms are among the most contagious places and therefore

require the most scrutiny once open to keep its members aware of the hazards they present to each other, and the protocols required to keep the workout areas clean, sanitized and safe.”

Stubbs, a pilot by profession, said one of the downsides of a potential outbreak of the coronavirus is that those facilities

JOEL STUBBS, above and left. business and the local gym scene.”

As the BBFF president, a certified personal trainer, coach, a sports enthusiast and a retired professional athlete, Stubbs provided the following suggestions to assist in the combat of the coronavirus: 1) Wear your mask where during workouts. the “As I’ve been doing it outsince the reopening, whenbreak has ever you feel starved for occurred will air, head over to an area have to close for free from traffic where it deep cleaning and is comfortable for you to sanitising once it gets in the lower your mask quickly gym. to enjoy a few deep inha“With the reopening lations of fresh air,” he afterwards, there is no tell- said. “Then return to your ing whether persons will workstation.” feel comfortable and or 2) Use a towel once compelled to return. That, you’ve sanitised the as you very well know, will work equipment before be bad for business and exercising. their owners,” he stated.

“Mark your towel using “Overall, negative public- one side to lay on the ity and further lockdown machine and the other will be damning for that side for contact with your

THE TRIBUNE

body,” he continued.

3) While using cardio machines, every other treadmill should be vacant to allow social distancing.

“It is preferable to do cardio in the outdoors, where the natural breeze will dissipate the viral load being respired into the environment,” Stubbs said. “For others selecting to utilise the cardio machines, make sure only family members occupy the device next to you. For any other person, make sure that there is some distance between the both of you.”

For what it’s worth, Stubbs said this is just his concerns for the health and well-being of all gym members and also for all gyms’ ability to remain open and provide a spot for us to train effectively and enjoy the fitness lifestyle.

He summed up: “Don’t trust anyone. Please protect life and wear a mask.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, PAGE 13

GN-2451

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PORT DEPARTMENT

PORTUGAL’S Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese soccer federation says Ronaldo has tested positive for the coronavirus. The federation says Ronaldo is doing well and has no symptoms. He has been dropped from the country’s Nations League match against Sweden on Wednesday. (Janerik Henriksson/TT via AP, file)

MATCHDAY: RONALDO OUT AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 A LOOK at what’s happening in the main games in Nations League on Wednesday:

PORTUGAL VS. SWEDEN Portugal will be without Cristiano Ronaldo after the star forward tested positive for the coronavirus. He was feeling well but was immediately dropped from the squad and put in isolation.

The rest of the team tested negative ahead of the match in Lisbon. The announcement of Ronaldo’s positive result came two days after he played in the 0-0 draw at France. Defending champion Portugal is tied with France at the top of Group 3 with seven points from three matches.

ITALY VS. NETHERLANDS Italy enters on an 18-match unbeaten run and is one point clear atop Group 1 following a 0-0 draw in Poland on Saturday. The Netherlands has scored just one goal in three matches but is in second place, one point behind Italy and level on points with Poland. Italy has won three and drawn three in its six meetings

with the Netherlands since the Oranje beat the Azzurri 3-0 in the opening round of the 2008 European Championship.

CROATIA VS. FRANCE After drawing with Cristiano Ronaldo’s team Portugal, France coach Didier Deschamps said he can count on all his players for the match at Croatia.

Deschamps said the French players underwent coronavirus tests Monday that have all returned negative.

World champion France missed the chance to move three points clear at the top of Group 3 with the goalless home draw ahead of its trip to World Cup runner-up Croatia.

ENGLAND VS. DENMARK Another off-field issue has left England coach Gareth Southgate short of cover at left back for the game at Wembley Stadium. Kieran Trippier was withdrawn from the squad reportedly because he must attend a Football Association hearing into his alleged breach of the governing body’s betting rules relating to an incident in July 2019. Trippier, a right back,

had been filling in at left back because of a shortage of available players in that position. Ben Chilwell, the only specialist left back named in the squad, initially had to delay linking up with the group over coronavirus fears after attending a party that was in contravention on virus guidelines. Now he has returned to his club, Chelsea, for assessment on a pre-existing injury. England tops Group E, a point above Belgium and three more than Denmark.

ICELAND VS. BELGIUM Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out of Belgium’s match at Iceland and returned to his Manchester City club.

Without elaborating, the Belgian federation said on Tuesday that he could not be “fit enough” to play after he was substituted during the second half of the 2-1 loss to England on Sunday.

Belgium was already without several important players including Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens. Belgium lost the Group 2 top spot to England following its first loss in almost two years.

(Associated Press)

ANOTHER BLOWN LEAD HAS CHARGERS REELING GOING INTO BYE WEEK

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer THE Los Angeles Chargers were 5-1 two years ago in games decided by seven points or fewer.

They have been anything but clutch in close games since then.

Anthony Lynn’s squad is 3-13 since the start of last season in close games. All five this year have been decided by one score, including Monday night’s 30-27 overtime loss at New Orleans as Los Angeles became the first team in 17 years to blow leads of 17 points or more two straight weeks.

“Guys are putting themselves in position to win games. I could give you a ton of excuses and I’m not about that. We have to get it done,” Lynn said of the team’s second 1-4 start in four years. Justin Herbert became the first rookie quarterback to throw four touchdowns on “Monday Night Football” and didn’t commit a crucial turnover, but a constant from the past two weeks is that there have been too many blown coverages by the defence.

As much as Lynn would not like to use injuries as an excuse, they have taken a brutal toll.

The Chargers had eight starters either inactive or on injured reserve while wide receiver Keenan Allen, defensive end Uchenna Nwosu and cornerback Casey Hayward left the game with injuries. Defensive end Joey Bosa is dealing with multiple ailments and was only in on pass-rushing situations.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic shuffling their schedule five of the next six weeks, the Chargers get their bye week this week instead of the middle of next month. It certainly could not come at a better time.

While the Chargers hope to get healthy, the players hope to find something mentally to get them over the hump of close losses.

“The kid is playing out of his mind. We all need to be better for him and pick him up,” said tight end Hunter Henry of Herbert.

• WHAT’S WORKING Herbert continues to show he is not rattled by blitzes. On third-and-7 on the Chargers second drive, New Orleans rushed seven but Herbert rolled right and completed a 17-yard strike to Keenan Allen for a touchdown. It was Herbert’s third touchdown this season while facing a blitz.

• WHAT NEEDS HELP The defence stepping up in the fourth quarter. They have forced only one three-and-out and are allowing an average of 138.6 yards per game in the final 15 minutes, which is second most in the league.

• STOCK UP Justin Jackson had 94 scrimmage yards (71 rushing, 23 receiving) in his first extensive action in nearly two years. The running back had a 36-yard run during the first quarter, but averaged only 2.5 yards on his remaining 14 carries.

LOS Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) walks off the field after losing to the New Orleans Saints in overtime of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Monday. The Saints won 30-27. (AP Photo/Brett Duke) • STOCK DOWN Michael Badgley missed the first extra point of his career and then had a 50-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of regulation hit off the right upright. Badgley is 7 of 10 on field goals this season and 2 of 6 from his career from 50 yards or more. Those are not good stats for someone nicknamed “The Money Badger.”

• INJURED Allen left in the second quarter with a back issue and Nwosu was helped off in the fourth quarter with a leg injury. Hayward also wasn’t in during the fourth quarter because of an undisclosed injury.

• KEY NUMBER 39.2% — Play success rate on first down. A successful play is measured as gaining 40% of the yards needed on first down (so 4 or more yards on first-and-10). The Chargers have the second-lowest success rate in the league and are 12% under the league average, meaning they are facing second-and-long on six out of every 10 plays on second down.

• NEXT STEPS The Chargers face a favorable stretch of games after the bye week with four of their next five opponents having a losing record.

Los Angeles hosts Jacksonville on Oct. 25 in its first game after the bye.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, PAGE 15

IMF slashes Bahamas Tourism training prospects for rebound in online switch FROM PAGE 20

the 20 percent contractions estimated by the credit rating agencies.

Using 2018 real GDP data, as the 2019 figures are not yet available, the IMF’s forecast would see Bahamian economic output shrink from $10.763bn to $9.17bn - a loss of $1.593bn in real economic output.

Applying the IMF’s revised 4.6 percent GDP growth estimate for 2021 to the $9.17bn figure results in Bahamian GDP rebounding by some $420m to $9.59bn, a figure that is still some $1.173bn below 2018’s economic output, and which gives an insight into the severity of the losses and devastation inflicted by COVID-19.

The IMF’s projections came as James Smith, the former minister of state for finance and Central Bank governor, accused The Bahamas of “fumbling the ball” by failing to contain its COVID-19 infection rate well below those of its major source markets to give visitors sufficient confidence to travel to this nation.

Warning that there will be no COVID-19 recovery unless this is addressed such that tourism can recover, he told this newspaper: “The crux of the matter is we’re facing a pandemic. The pandemic is stopping visitors coming in, which is our main foreign exchange earner.

“To create an environment where they feel safe we need to take measures that demonstrate the rate of infection in The Bahamas is going down compared to the rest of the world. That would give confidence and comfort to a visitor, but

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we’re going in the opposite direction.”

New Providence, prior to the weekend lockdown, was averaging between 50 to 100 new COVID-19 cases per day, or around 500-600 per week, amid complaints that The Bahamas is lagging when it comes to testing and contact tracing.

“Why come to The Bahamas if it is a higher infection rate than where you are coming from?” Mr Smith asked. “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see what the solution is: Bring the rate down and give confidence to travellers that it is safe to come.

“We’re almost at the end of the year, and are still having increases in our major tourism recipient island of New Providence.

We’ve not been dealing with the pandemic in a way that gives comfort to the travelling public.”

Arguing that a rapid tourism turnaround was unlikely for at least six months, which would take The Bahamas through much of the peak winter tourism season to the end of the 2021 first quarter, Mr Smith reiterated: “What would make the visitor, 80 percent of whom come from the US, comfortable coming to The Bahamas if The Bahamas has a higher infection rate than they do?

“They’ll fly over here, and go to a destination that has a lower rate. We took our eyes off the ball when we opened too quickly to allow Bahamians to go into Florida, which was a hot spot, and let them off testing if they returned within 72 hours.”

Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, told Tribune Business that the IMF’s economic growth projections for The Bahamas and many other countries are “guesstimates as opposed to estimates” given that so much remains unknown as to how the COVID-19 pandemic will ultimately play out.

In the Bahamas’ case, this was the uncertainty surrounding the strength and timing of any tourism rebound. “Until the dust returns to a normal economic flow there’s always

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going to be revisions,” Mr Bowe said. “Until we have a tourism re-opening there’s only going to be uncertainty.

“The Bahamas’ fortunes or misfortunes always be linked to that industry. The economy is not built for the 400,000 citizens and residents of The Bahamas. It’s built for that 400,000 plus the five to seven million visitors that come on an annual basis.

“That five to seven million probably equate to another one million persons on a daily basis in The Bahamas.

Our is built on the size of 1.5m consumers, so to have that drop to 400,000 is a very drastic position,” he added.

“There will be no clear understanding of the recovery until that one million trickles back in. I would expect there to be constant revisions until we have some certainty on the tourism market position for The Bahamas.”

Matt Aubry, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) executive director, responded “ouch” when informed of the IMF’s revised GDP growth projections for The Bahamas. However, he said these reflected the increasing uncertainty over the timing and strength of the global economic recovery as increasing numbers of countries impose new COVID-19 restrictions.

Noting Carnival Cruise Line’s decision to push the resumption of sailing back to December 2020 at earliest, and with many major Bahamian hotels yet to confirm their re-opening dates, Mr Aubry said of the IMF’s actions: “I think this is evidence of how things are rolling out.

“The hope and premise was it would be a more manageable scenario in the fall, and as we move to November 1 and the re-opening of tourism we see more indications that confidence is just not there.”

THE Ministry of Tourism yesterday said it has transitioned its main training initiative, the BahamaHost programme, to a digital platform in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The programme, in its new digital format, will allow the Ministry of Tourism to engage attendees in talent development, skills training, attitude and customer relationship workshops.

BahamaHost has been the tourism industry’s premier training initiative for over 40 years, having assisted more than 50,000 Bahamians in becoming certified BahamaHost ambassadors. The digital format will help the Ministry of Tourism expanding the BahamaHost

programme’s reach using the Zoom app to host daily lectures.

In a statement, the Ministry of Tourism said BahamaHost digital will teach Bahamians about their own distinctive cultural values while promoting costumer service excellence within and outside the industry. Facilitators will also engage participants in sessions about Bahamian history and civics.

The course also seeks to develop participants’ knowledge of the Bahamian tourism product, the importance of delivering exceptional service to all customers, and factors impacting national and global tourism as well as

readiness for entering a post-COVID environment.

Kirkland Pratt, the Ministry of Tourism’s director of industry training, said: “It took a lot of preparation to launch the new online version of the BahamaHost programme, but I’m happy the Ministry of Tourism made this possible.

“Now I’m asking all who will venture with us on this new learning portal to prepare to relearn, rediscover and fall in love all over again with what it means to be uniquely Bahamian.

Attendees will be affiliated with the best team, and I am confident that if they engage and establish partnerships with our team, learning will take place beyond this training environment.”

Banker: Govt could have got ‘better than 8%’ FROM PAGE 20 The Fidelity chief said the government had not articulated the “risk premium” paid by investors in the $600m offering, which was the interest rate component representing the extra compensation sought as a result of COVID-19, the country’s downgrade to “junk status” with Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (S&P), and the near-total tourism industry shutdown.

And he also queried the government’s strategy to push the principal repayment, or “balloon payments”, back to the final three years of the 12-year bond’s maturity.

Mr Bowe argued that starting the repayments earlier, albeit in smaller sums, would give investors and the global capital markets greater confidence in The

Bahamas’ ability to repay and possibly earn a lower interest rate.

With the government’s direct foreign currency debt standing at $2.951bn at end-June 2020, or 36 percent of its total debt, the net $352m increase produced by the $600m offering will have taken the former figure past the $3bn mark.

The government is effectively betting that the economy, and especially tourism-related foreign currency inflows, will recover in sufficient time to enable it to service the increased US$ debt and avoid a significant depletion and rundown of the external reserves that support the one:one currency peg.

James Smith, a former minister of state for finance and Central Bank governor, acknowledged to this

newspaper that the $600m bond offering was effectively a move to shore up the external reserves in the short-term, and ensure The Bahamas’ has sufficient funds to meet its import bill, that could produce in the medium to long-term if the economy does not rebound sufficiently.

“That actually is our second major concern,” he added of increased pressure on the external reserves from greater foreign currency debt servicing demands. “Right now the idea is to get foreign currency so we can all eat.

“And, when it comes time to repay the debt, we will have streams of visitors to generate foreign currency. That means we have to deal with COVID-19. If we don’t do that we will be in real trouble.”

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

TUESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2020

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

2094.89

-0.04

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

0.00 -136.71

-6.13

(242) 323-2330 (242) 323-2320

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.08 22.65 2.00 1.79 2.46 6.00 6.75 4.80 8.59 4.50 6.16 12.77 3.64 5.60 10.88 8.44 16.99 4.25 9.40 15.21

52WK LOW 3.13 20.91 0.67 1.65 1.67 5.40 5.39 2.70 5.05 3.62 5.60 11.05 2.71 3.85 9.60 7.50 13.04 3.20 8.00 13.90

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Benchmark Bahamas First Holdings Limited Bank of Bahamas Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Cable Bahamas Commonwealth Brewery Commonwealth Bank Colina Holdings CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Emera Incorporated Famguard Fidelity Bank Focol Finco J. S. Johnson

SYMBOL AML APD BBL BFH BOB BPF BWL CAB CBB CBL CHL CIB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FCL FIN JSJ

Bahamas First Holdings Preference Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A Fidelity Bank Class A Focol Class B

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00 100.00

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

52WK HI 2.35 4.43 2.12 198.39 168.29 1.69 1.85 1.77 1.24 8.34 10.26 7.08 12.15 12.71 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79

52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.64 1.79 1.73 1.06 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

SECURITY Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) + Bahamas First Holdings Limited

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)

MUTUAL FUNDS

MARKET TERMS

Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2015-1-3Y BGS: 2014-12-5Y BGS: 2015-1-5Y BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-3Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-3Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y

BAH29 BG0203 BG0105 BG0205 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0303 BG0307 BG0330 BG0403 BG0407

LAST CLOSE 4.00 17.43 1.62 1.79 1.67 6.00 6.75 2.99 5.10 3.76 5.99 11.26 2.18 5.60 10.44 8.44 14.30 3.96 8.97 15.20

CLOSE 4.00 17.43 1.62 1.79 1.67 6.00 6.75 2.99 5.10 3.76 5.99 11.26 2.17 5.60 10.40 8.44 14.30 3.96 8.97 15.20

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund Leno Preferred Income Fund Leno Growth Fund Leno Diversified Fund Leno Global USD Bond Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Equities Sub Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - High Yield Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Alternative Strategies Fund Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00 52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks 52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume Change - Change in closing price from day to day Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.01) 0.00 (0.04) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

EPS$ 0.239 0.932 0.000 0.000 0.070 1.760 0.369 -0.438 0.140 0.184 0.449 0.722 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.203 0.939 0.631 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

VOLUME

NAV 2.35 4.43 2.12 196.40 163.60 1.68 1.81 1.76 1.07 8.30 9.90 7.08 11.27 12.71 10.23 N/A 8.93 11.27

DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.000 0.120 0.220 0.720 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.120 0.200 0.610 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

P/E 16.7 18.7 N/M N/M N/M N/M 18.3 -6.8 36.4 20.4 13.3 15.6 21.3 12.0 16.1 11.6 17.5 19.5 9.6 24.1

YIELD 4.25% 7.23% 1.23% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.85% 0.00% 0.00% 3.19% 3.67% 6.39% 20.00% 1.07% 3.15% 2.84% 3.78% 3.03% 2.23% 4.01%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

6.95% 4.00% 4.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.00% 4.50% 6.25% 3.50% 4.25%

20-Nov-2029 30-Jul-2018 16-Dec-2019 30-Jul-2020 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2018 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2018 15-Oct-2022

YTD% 12 MTH% 2.95% 4.23% 1.39% 3.17% 1.60% 2.52% 0.65% 2.50% -1.88% 3.33% 1.10% 2.34% -2.43% 1.49% 0.34% 2.43% -11.07% -9.92% -0.45% 8.36% -3.20% 11.46% 2.10% 5.15% -6.17% 3.54% 2.92% 5.55% -4.66% -3.81% N/A N/A -4.20% 0.20% -8.60% -2.90%

MATURITY

NAV Date

31-Aug-2020 31-Aug-2020 28-Aug-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths NAV - Net Asset Value N/M - Not Meaningful

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THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, PAGE 17

Dundas pop-up market back after licence woe Friday a ‘hot mess’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

only possessed licences allowing them to operate from their home or sites other than the Dundas Theatre for the Performing Arts on Mackey Street.

“We are going to get new licences right now,” Mr Kemp said. “So now we’re working with the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) to get licences for all of our vendors. The licences need to be adapted to work from the Dundas specifically.”

Mr Kemp, who also is the organiser of the Nassau Night Market downtown, said of that event: “Downtown was a weekly event

because a group of individuals downtown wanted to sell their goods. That was the Nassau Night Market, but the Dundas is a bunch of businesses coming together to sell their goods.

“We have an average of 15 people at the Dundas, and it is just a matter of filling out paperwork. The police said there was an issue with our licences; that was it. We are back on Thursday at the Dundas and we are doing a $5 before 5pm. There is a huge variety and every vendor sells something unique. It ranges from food, to craft, drinks to you name it. “

TinFerl does not make anything from the initiative, Mr Kemp said, but “the money goes back to hiring security and putting up COVID signs and general maintenance of the area”.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what will come out of this new support from the Government. We are just very excited to work with the Government to set up proper street vendors and pop-up vendors. We are working with the Department of Inland Revenue and the Access Accelerator (Small Business Development Centre),” he added.

Marinas struck by weekend ‘havoc’

is the confusion is putting the industry at fault. We say this is what the order says, and these guys are saying, no it isn’t.

“The miscommunication and misunderstanding is definitely disrupting the private sector and damaging what little business we have. I had three boats in and they’ve all left. I have my regular boats now, but how are we going to start competing as a country if we do this? The prime minister needs to make the order and the bureaucrats need to get out of the way.

“It’s quite shocking to me.

It’s causing havoc and is a shame, because what little business we do have is being chased away. If they don’t get it together it’s not going to make for an easy November 1 opening and smooth business,” Mr Maury continued.

“We need to all get on the same page, otherwise this stuff is going to be very difficult and a huge problem for the private sector when we re-open. We’re running

out of patience. I listened to the prime minister’s speech and heard it as clear as day, as well as read it.

“That’s where we are.

We need better communication to be honest with you. Yachts want to come over. It’s a beautiful time of year, but they’re not going to come over and get harassed any more. The BVI is opening and we have to stay competitive.

“There are a limited number of tourists these days, and everyone wants them,” the ABM chief added. “We have to be careful how we treat them. The old attitude of ‘I don’t care if they come or not’ has to stop. Otherwise businesses will be unable to support the government any more, and that will be the end of it.

“Government needs us, and we need every dollar we can get right now. To find these guys putting another obstacle in our way which we didn’t expect, it’s very unfortunate.”

THE TinFerl Pop-up market is “back now” and planning to re-open tomorrow after vendors began working to obtain the necessary licences that will allow them to operate from the Dundas.

Brandon Kemp, one of the market’s organisers, told Tribune Business yesterday that the police had shut the site down on the basis that the vendors did not have the required licences to operate from that location. Instead, most

FROM PAGE 20

undermine its competitiveness at a time “when we need every dollar we can get” in the battle for scarce visitors.

Mr Maury said he had been assured yesterday by Lieutenant Commander Berne Wright, the Port Department’s head, that there will be no repeat of last weekend and that visiting boats will be able to “transit according to the prime minister’s order”.

Dr Hubert Minnis, in his address unveiling the latest lockdown measures last week, specifically exempted air and sea ports on New Providence from these restrictions given that the negative COVID-19 PCR test and 14-day mandatory quarantine requirements (the latter until November 1) remain in place and provide sufficient safeguards against the virus being imported.

Mr Maury, arguing that the prime minister’s speech and its written text could not have been clearer, told this newspaper that the reality on the ground over the weekend did not match the content of the address.

He said: “Boats that called to come into the [Nassau] harbour were told the harbour was closed. A Brazilian family who keep their boat here flew into go to Exuma on Saturday, with negative PCR tests and health visas permitting them to travel. Their boat was harassed, and not allowed to leave.

“The Royal Bahamas Defence Force took it upon themselves to lock everything down. They were not following what the prime minister said, and what the

order reads. They told them [the Brazilian family] that the harbour was closed, but that’s not true.

“In the end my staff were able to get the minister of tourism on the phone, and the sea ports and airports are open.... It makes no sense for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to counter what the Prime Minister says.”

Such issues were not confined to Bay Street Marina’s clients. “There was a Bahamian boat that came in with two Bahamians on it,” Mr Maury added of another report made to him. “They were on a 30-foot console, and had their negative PCR tests. They’re in an open boat, brought it from the US, and were told to anchor out and couldn’t come into Palm Cay until 5am this morning.

“I asked the Port Department: What sense does that make? It was rainy and there was lightning. The fact we cannot read a simple order puts the whole business in jeopardy, it puts the whole industry in jeopardy.

At this point I don’t know what to say. At Albany, Immigration refused to clear a boat because they said the sea ports were closed.”

The ABM president said the actions of the government agencies, in contradicting the advice Bahamian marinas were giving their international boating clients, was causing “a lot of mistrust among visitors”.

He added: “We have a huge misunderstanding among government agencies. It’s really upsetting a lot of businesses, and what little business we have. It’s causing a lot of confusion and disruption. The biggest thing

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE MKT INVESTMENTS INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 the dissolution of MKT Investments Inc. has been completed and the company has been struck from the Register on the 25th day of June, 2020

Delco Investments Limited Liquidator

SILVER DOLLAR IINVESTMENTS LIMITED NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: (a)

SILVER DOLLAR INVESTMENTS LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b)

The dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 9th October, 2020 when its Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c)

The Liquidator of the said Company is Delco Investments Limited of Deltec Bank & Trust Limited, Deltec House, Lyford Cay, P.O. Box N-3229, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated this 14th day of October, A.D. 2020

Delco Investments Limited Liquidator

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Funeral Directors Association’s (BFDA) president yesterday branded last Friday a “hot mess” after the latest COVID-19 restrictions forced families to rush forward their loved one’s burial.

Kirsch Ferguson told Tribune Business: “Friday was a hot mess because come this week we are back now to graveside services, so persons who had funerals this week had to push up to Friday of last week just to avoid the new measures.

“Outside of the funerals being halted, we had florists and taxi drivers who had to change plans. Our printers were in high gear in having to get things out for Friday.

So everything was in a mode of acceleration trying to ensure families were served.”

While funeral homes were unlikely to have suffered a major financial setback from this, Mr Ferguson added: “The only thing that we advised families was if limousines are not necessary, because you are having a graveside, then don’t get them.

“The programmes have been reduced significantly because there is no need for an abundance for them.

A traditional family would normally get 200 booklets and now they are only getting 50. They are making a decision to get a reduced amount.”

He continued: “Based on the challenges we are faced with, we are doing it for the families we serve. We are met with restrictions but we are trying to accommodate them as best we can.

Families are now approaching us with limited financial resources, due to insurance policies having collapsed or people have lost jobs, so it is balancing act with referrals dealing with this pandemic.”

“A lot of funerals are posted in the paper for services, because funeral homes have been bending over backwards to accommodate families in this time of crisis.”

The reimposed COVID19 measures for New Providence limit funerals to grave side services or internments only, with a maximum of ten attendees present outside of those officiating and mortuary workers.

Mr Ferguson said: “Graveside is difficult because we are challenged with finding persons to carry the casket from the hearse to the graveside. A lot of these families are dominated by women and we are not going to get a woman to lift a casket in these times.”

Denalee Penn, managing director of Evergreen Mortuary, said: “I have no comment other than people are frustrated, fed up and fatigued with these inconsistencies on the part of the Competent Authority.

He [Dr Hubert Minnis] has no plans for the Bahamian people as we go through this pandemic.”

NOTICE IN THE ESTATE OF JOANNE GIBSON MAURA, late of Vista Marina in the Western District of the Island of New Providence one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Deceased IT IS HEREBY NOTIFIED, for the information of those it may concern, that all personshaving claim or demand against the said Estate are required to send the same to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of October, A.D. 2020 and if so required by notice in writing from the undersigned to come in and prove such demand or claim or in default thereof be excluded from the benefit or any distribution made before such debts are proved; AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to settle their respective debts at the Chambers of the undersigned on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned.

Dated the 29th day of September, A.D. 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

for funeral industry

LEGAL NOTICE PUMA ENERGY HOLDINGS S.A. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: (a)

PUMA ENERGY HOLDINGS S.A. is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b)

The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 30th day of September, A. D., 2020, when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted and registered by the Registrar General.

(c)

The Liquidator of the said company is Christophe Zyde of rue de Jargonnant 1, 1207 Geneva, Switzerland.

Dated this 7th day of October, A. D., 2020.

Christophe Zyde Liquidator

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

KLUM INVESTMENTS LTD.

ELIO INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 the dissolution of Klum Investments Ltd. has been completed and the company has been struck from the Register on the 16th day of March, 2020

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 the dissolution of Elio Investment Holdings Ltd. has been completed and the company has been struck from the Register on the 25th day of June, 2020

Delco Investments Limited Liquidator

Delco Investments Limited Liquidator

CALLENDERS & CO. CHAMBERS, One Millars Court, P.O. Box N-7117, Nassau, The Bahamas Attorneys for the Personal Representative

PAGE 18, Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Govt to tap local investors for remaining $400m funds

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE deputy prime minister yesterday said the government will largely tap the domestic capital markets for the remaining $400m debt financing it requires for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

K Peter Turnquest, speaking outside the Cabinet Office following the government’s $600m foreign currency bond placement last week, signalled that the amount, timing and nature of any further borrowing will depend on whether the tourism industry and wider economy rebound as projected.

The latter event has direct implications for the government’s revenue and spending forecasts, and the predicted $1.327bn deficit for the 12 months to endJune 2021, which measures by how much expenditure exceeds its income. A

K PETER TURNQUEST slower and/or weaker-thananticipated recovery would place the Minnis administration’s fiscal projections in jeopardy.

“We do have another $400m in change left in our borrowing resolution that we will try to source primarily from the domestic market,” Mr Turnquest said, “but we will work that out based upon the economic activity over the next couple of months, and see where we are and what our needs may be.”

THE TRIBUNE Responding to concerns that raising an additional $400m from Bahamian investors may be problematic, given the ongoing fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s “junk” creditworthiness with both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Mr Turnquest said: “No, not at all.

We are very comfortable where we are.

“We believe that The Bahamas continues to be a very strong player in the market. Our paper, as demonstrated, is very desirable, and we believe we will be able to achieve that. Now, the question really is about what’s the cost - what does it cost - and, of course, market factors will dictate what that cost will be.”

Mr Turnquest added that the government’s $600m foreign currency bond, placed with international investors last week, “is the largest chunk of financing under our borrowing authority that Parliament granted us in June.

“We are satisfied with the level of interest in our debt paper, with well over $1.1bn of interest [in the $600m bond], and we were able to come out successfully,” he continued. “I know there is some concern about interest rate and the tenors, we will talk about that a little bit more in detail.

“There is also some concern about why we would

go to an international offer versus a domestic offer, and we will talk about that a little bit to explain to the Bahamian people what we’re trying to achieve in this particular financing.”

The Ministry of Finance subsequently said the deputy prime minister will publish an update on the government’s borrowing plans at the House of Assembly’s next sitting, in what appeared to be a response to tabloid media attacks on its fiscal plans and the $600m bond offering.

Mr Turnquest yesterday branded such attacks as “very unfortunate”, as well as “mischievous” and “very misleading”, while the Ministry reiterated its position that not all low interest rate loan offers are as good as they initially appear.

“The Ministry of Finance receives 15 - 20 offers every year, especially around post-budget time, offering very low interest rates to total debt forgiveness,” it said. “These offers are considered when the investors have track records and sufficient background information on which to do due diligence.

Transparency is required regarding the sources of funding and proposed financing structures.

“Unfortunately, many offers are from middlemen with no money themselves.

Despite advertised low interest rates, often times

their extraordinary up-front administrative and arrangement fees are not disclosed transparently and negate any rate savings they potentially bring.

“While market forces ultimately dictate interest rates, the government always seeks the most favourable financing arrangements and manages its debt portfolio in a responsible manner to minimise investment risks that might call into question the country’s fiscal integrity.”

Mr Turnquest, too, has previously hit back at suggestions the government may be ignoring low interest rate offers to finance its $1.3bn deficit for the 20202021 fiscal year. One offer seen by Tribune Business involved a $750m foreign currency bond, priced at 3.87 percent interest, that would placed “with a major international bank” and funded by the global capital markets.

The offer, which was conveyed to Mr Turnquest on September 3, 2020, and copied to the Ministry of Finance’s acting financial secretary, Marlon Johnson, and ex-Central Bank governor, Wendy Craigg, came from Public Resources International, a US-based debt advisory firm that has worked on debt restructurings and similar fiscal matters with governments before.

“PRI has been engaged by the World Bank/IMF to implement debt settlements for seven countries, including Bolivia and Honduras in Latin America,” the company said of its credentials. “PRI has also carried out important financial assignments for Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada (including funding for a desalination plant through US Export-Import Bank), St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

However, the proposed bond would carry a “floating” rather than fixed interest coupon. Yet PRI argued this still produced a 3.5 percentage point savings rate for The Bahamas compared to the likely 7.5 percent fixed rate such a bond would attract, thereby cutting the interest bill for Bahamian taxpayers. The $600m bond issue just placed carried a much higher 8.95 percent interest rate.

It added that The Bahamas would be able to refinance the bond “without penalty” after three years, and said: “There is no floating rate risk for at least three years as the floating rate would have to increase 3.5 percentage points before fixed rate at 7.5 percent [making it] more advantageous than floating rate. No reputable economist considers this to be likely.”

GOVT NOT SEEKING STAFF SLASHES AT BAHAMASAIR

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE government has not looked at slashing Bahamasair’s 600-strong staff despite the airline’s increasing reliance on taxpayers to cover its $3.5m monthly payroll, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, speaking outside the Cabinet Office, said: “Every airline in the world is reeling from a reduction

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR in revenue. In fact, the government has a number of agencies that get most of their revenue from user fees.

“Even in the aviation sector you have NAD (Nassau Airport Development Company), you have Nassau Flight Services, you have the Airport Authority and you have Bahamasair.

And then, outside of the aviation sector, you have BPL (Bahamas Power and Light) and other public corporations that have been significantly impacted by the fact people aren’t travelling and they don’t have any employment.

“All of these agencies are impacted by the fact

that travel has been significantly reduced, and the government is exploring options on when and how to restart and relaunch Bahamasair, but understand that even in the United States there has been a substantial decrease in the amount of service, and vast amounts of people have exited the [aviation] business,” Mr D’Aguilar continued.

“So it’s very difficult all around and concerning. All of those agencies around government that rely on user fees for the majority of their revenue used to get a tiny government subvention to top it up or to cover some losses. But, in this particular instance, we’re being hit in all areas by these corporations that generate most of their revenue from user fees.”

Mr D’Aguilar said Bahamasair is “absolutely” struggling to make its employee payroll because it has virtually no revenue coming in to support its costs. Its international routes remain suspended, which has forced the

airline to rely on a domestic market that has been made even thinner by the 14-day mandatory quarantine imposed on travellers coming from the main hub of New Providence.

“They are having to rely almost exclusively on the government to subsidise their weekly payments,” the minister added. “So you can see it is not flying, or it has very little business, and there is just no way that it can support the fixed costs of that airline, which are very, very substantial.”

Mr D’Aguilar, meanwhile, said the effort to monetise Bahamian airspace by levying overflight fees on all aviation traffic passing through it is “going according to plan”.

He added: “When you pull the trigger on how you are going to bill, how it is going to work, there is a sixmonth consultation period where you speak to all of the players in the market to advise them on what you are intending to do. So, it’s a little more complex here because even though we own our airspace, we have

managers of that airspace that are not Bahamian.

“The Americans manage 75 percent of our airspace, and the Cubans manage 25 percent of our airspace, and what was happening was persons were paying the managers directly. So what we’re trying to do is say, no, we own it, it is our building, it is our space, you pay us and then we will deal with them.

“We had to come up with a plan,” Mr D’Aguilar said.

“We had to come up with a pricing strategy; how to charge people to go over our airspace, into our airspace from an international destination and domestic travel, and how to address all of those three different types of travel through our airspace.

“We hired a consulting firm. We got all of that straight and now we are out in the market advising people of our plan and our strategy, and we will see how it takes us, but certainly in the first quarter of next year we are hoping to introduce it.”

Minister ‘begs for patience’ over tourism’s re-opening

back into the market are doing so very cautiously and they just want to make sure that the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted and they have everything running in their core business. Slowly they will be able to expand the services that they offer to their guests.”

Mr D’Aguilar said health officials had indicated “almost zero transmission” of COVID-19 has been traced back to tourists entering The Bahamas. He added that the government was sufficiently confident that the more frequent and rapid-result testing it plans to introduce from November 1, with visitors tested on arrival and on the fifth day of their stay, will mitigate the associated health risks.

“We are trying to do a balancing act,” the minister said. “We’re trying to get our economy going, but we are trying to do it in the safest possible way, and we feel that with this testing regime this is a safe mechanism by which we can begin the reintroduction of tourism back into our economy. They indicated loud and clear if you have a 14-day quarantine, we’re not coming “Remember, tourism employs 50 percent of our workforce. It is two-thirds of our economy. There are people out there who think we should shift to another industry. There is not an industry we can think of, or they can think of, that can in any way replace tourism in the short-term or medium-term.

“So we had to look at other jurisdictions, see what other strategies they were using and see where we can adopt something we feel

is safe and allow both of them to exist - the economy getting going, but there is sufficient testing in place to ensure there is no importation of COVID-19.”

Mr D’Aguilar said there had been recommendations that the government impose “a harder lockdown and a longer lockdown” than the one presently in place for New Providence and Abaco, but suggested this had to be balanced with the need to preserve economic activity - not least because this will generate the tax revenues that enable The Bahamas to service its debt obligations.

The minister added that the government was seeking to implement some form of insurance plan to cover the costs associated with treating and repatriating visitors who test positive for COVID-19 while staying in The Bahamas.

“The prime minister would have mentioned in one of his speeches that we are looking at universal health for all visitors that are coming into the country,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “A health plan in the event that they test positive, what are the protocols we are going to do If they are asymptomatic, what are the options that are available to them?

They can be retested and they can go into quarantine for 14 days. Or, if they are symptomatic they can leave the jurisdiction.”

“So anybody who tests positive, we’re going to encourage them to return home. So, if you are going to go through the symptoms of COVID, we would think that you would want to be back in an environment with which you are familiar.”

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday “begged for patience” from tourism industry stakeholders and workers as he warned that the sector’s COVID-19 recovery will be extremely slow.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, speaking outside the Cabinet Office, said: “I’m going to have to beg for patience because the cruise industry is going to start very slow. They are probably going to start to go to their private islands and, once they get comfortable with that, they are going to want to come to Nassau and go on pre-arranged tours, then come into the general public.

“So, this is going to be a crawl, before you walk, before you run. It’s not going to be right back to pre-COVID. There is going to have to be a staggered approach to getting this tourism industry back up and running, and then there are going to be people who are frustrated.

“Asking why aren’t tourists coming back downtown immediately? Why are they not engaging in these activities they used to do on the beach? I need to eat and I need to feed my family. We get that, and we are mindful of that, but understand that the players who are coming

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, PAGE 19

TOP BFSB EXECUTIVE ‘HIGHLY COMMENDED’ THE Bahamas Financial Services Board’s (BFSB) chief executive was presented with the Highly Commended Award in UK-based International Investment’s prestigious Woman of The Year category.

Tanya McCartney, who is also BFSB’s executive director, beat off competition from of dozens of applicants in coming close to being crowned the overall winner. Miss McCartney, who has held her post since 2016, was also on the candidates shortlist for

Personality of the Year at the same awards.

“I am truly honoured to be the Highly Commended out of a field of dynamic women from around the world in the category of Woman of The Year, and also to have been placed on the shortlist of candidates for the Personality of the Year award,” said Miss McCartney.

“For me to be in the company of so many worthy and outstanding international candidates for both awards is very humbling, but the spotlight should

TANYA MCCARTNEY

really be shared with the entire BFSB membership, including our partners in government.

“The nominations and the Award I received reflect the unselfish commitment to BFSB, and hard work by our member firms. We are all in this together to create, sustain and promote The Bahamas as an international financial centre with global recognition. The award and nomination give credence to what we have accomplished, and motivate us to achieve even more.”

The International

Investment Awards, now in their 21st year, are the longest-running international event of their kind.

The International Investment publication is targeted at international independent financial advisers and wealth management professionals serving expatriate and cross-border clients.

The awards cover the full spectrum of the industry from Fintech to trusts and private banking.

A UK-trained barrister and chartered banker, Miss McCartney facilitates collaboration between

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 71° F/22° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

A couple of showers and a t‑storm

Partly cloudy, a pass‑ ing shower

A t‑storm in spots in the afternoon

Rather cloudy with a t‑storm or two

Some rain and a t‑storm in the p.m.

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm possible

High: 86°

Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 78°

High: 88° Low: 77°

High: 88° Low: 78°

High: 87° Low: 77°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

93° F

85° F

96°-86° F

97°-87° F

97°-84° F

96°-81° F

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

7‑14 knots

S

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C

7‑14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N E S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

W

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 73° F/23° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C

MIAMI

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

6‑12 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 86° F/30° C Low .................................................... 75° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 85° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 73° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 87° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 77° F/25° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.38” Year to date ............................................... 53.21” Normal year to date ................................... 31.55”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 77° F/25° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

7‑14 knots

S

4‑8 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

6:07 a.m.

6:31 p.m.

3.2 3.5

12:02 a.m. 0.4 12:21 p.m. 0.3

Thursday

6:59 a.m.

7:21 p.m.

3.5 3.5

12:50 a.m. 0.1 1:16 p.m. 0.0

Friday

7:49 a.m.

8:11 p.m.

3.8 3.5

1:37 a.m. ‑0.2 2:10 p.m. ‑0.2

Saturday

8:39 a.m.

9:01 p.m.

3.9 3.5

2:24 a.m. ‑0.3 3:02 p.m. ‑0.3

Sunday

9:30 a.m.

9:51 p.m.

4.0 3.3

3:12 a.m. ‑0.4 3:55 p.m. ‑0.2

Monday

10:22 a.m.

10:44 p.m.

3.9 3.1

4:01 a.m. ‑0.3 4:50 p.m. ‑0.1

Tuesday

11:15 a.m.

11:39 p.m.

3.8 2.9

4:52 a.m. ‑0.1 5:46 p.m. 0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

7:08 a.m.

6:43 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

4:36 a.m.

5:34 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Oct. 16

Oct. 23

Oct. 31

Nov. 8

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

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High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

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LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

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The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

CAT ISLAND

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the private sector and policymakers on matters concerning the Bahamian financial services sector in her role with BFSB. Nominees for the Woman of the Year and Personality of the Year awards were judged against factors including their ability to deliver exceptional service levels to clients; deliver improved service levels over time; and their own professional development and adoption of clear, sustainable business models in their current role.

4‑8 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 86° F/30° C Low: 82° F/28° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

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E

W

E

W

N

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6‑12 knots

6‑12 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS NE at 7‑14 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots

WAVES 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 85° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 85° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 85° F

business@tribunemedia.net

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020

$4.10

$4.10

Marinas struck by weekend ‘havoc’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

T

HE Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) president yesterday warned this nation cannot afford a repeat of the weekend “havoc” that saw boaters “harassed” and denied entry by government agencies.

Peter Maury told Tribune Business The Bahamas was in danger of “chasing away the little business we do have” after the actions of law enforcement authorities ran contrary to the prime minister’s emergency order allowing seaports - including marinas - to remain open on New Providence despite the holiday weekend lockdown.

Citing several incidents that were brought to

Banker: Govt could have got ‘better than 8%’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A PROMINENT Bahamian banker yesterday argued that the government could have obtained an interest rate “lower than eight percent” on its $600m bond offering had it unveiled a debt management strategy.

Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, told Tribune Business that while more information was needed to determine whether the government had obtained a good deal on its latest foreign currency borrowing, he believed the debt servicing costs could have been around one percentage point lower than the 8.95 percent that the issue was ultimately priced at.

That interest coupon means that Bahamian taxpayers, via the Public Treasury, will have to pay around $600m across the 12-year bond’s lifetime just to service the debt, meaning that the total cost - in interest and principal to be repaid - will essentially be some $1.2bn or double what has been raised.

“I personally believe we could have done better than eight percent based on the information I have available to me,” Mr Bowe told this newspaper. “We have not done ourselves a service by not having a clearly articulated debt management plan.”

Noting that the interest rates sought on The Bahamas’ existing foreign currency debt in the secondary market had come down from 12-15 percent at the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak to around 8.5 percent presently, Mr Bowe said the drop had not resulted from any actions taken by this nation or its government.

“How much lower could it have been had we done things to gain investor confidence?” he asked. Referring to The Bahamas’ last foreign currency bond, which was placed in late 2017, Mr Bowe added: “It’s incorrect for us to believe it was 8.95 percent versus six percent.

We’re not speaking about a 300 basis points difference.

We’re talking about whether we could get below eight percent or not.”

SEE PAGE 15

• Boats denied movement contrary to PM order • Bahamas ‘chasing away little business we have’ • ABM chief urges all to ‘get on the same page’

his attention, Mr Maury said the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) treated Nassau Harbour as “closed” to all boating traffic and sought to prevent a Brazilian family - who had complied with all health protocols - from leaving his Bay Street Marina on their yacht to head to the Exumas chain.

Disclosing that he and his staff had to request intervention by Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, so that their client could eventually depart, Mr Maury said he was also informed that two Bahamian citizens

- returning by boat from the US with the required negative COVID-19 PCR test and other necessary documents - were denied entry to Palm Cay’s marina.

Instead, they were forced to anchor offshore in an open boat, amid rain and thunder, from 10am on Sunday until 5am yesterday morning when the weekend lockdown officially ended.

The ABM chief said he had been informed incoming boats were also turned away from Albany’s marina

by Immigration, with officers refusing to clear arrivals on the basis that all seaports were closed.

Suggesting that he was almost lost for words, Mr Maury said all parties - private sector marinas and the government’s agencies needed to be “on the same page” when it came to the interpretation and application of the COVID-19 emergency powers orders.

Otherwise, he warned, the mixed messages and conflicting actions threaten to “damage” The Bahamas’ lucrative boating/yachting market - one of the few segments that has been able to remain operational straight through from June 15 - and

SEE PAGE 17

$4.03

JAMES SMITH

$3.95

GOWON BOWE

IMF slashes Bahamas prospects for rebound

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday dampened The Bahamas’ prospects of a swift rebound from COVID-19 by slashing this nation’s projected 2021 economic growth to 4.6 percent.

Its revised forecast, which shaved 2.1 percentage points off the 6.7 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth it predicted for The Bahamas back in April, further signals that this nation - in common with many others - faces a longer and harder road to recover from the pandemic than initially thought.

The IMF, in its latest World Economic Outlook, also brought its projections for the extent to which the Bahamian economy will shrink in 2020 more into line with those of the Central Bank of The Bahamas, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the credit rating agencies, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (S&P).

The fund, which had forecast an 8.3 percent contraction during the first weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown, is now predicting a 14.8 percent shrinkage.

This compares to the Central Bank’s projection of a 15-20 percent decline, and

SEE PAGE 15