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Volume: 118 No.222, October 14, 2021
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THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1
MURDER RATE RISES BY 61%
FRONT PORCH: VACCINE MANDATES AND REQUIREMENTS TO SAVE LIVES
- SEE PAGE EIGHT
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Police Commissioner hails overall crime drop - but denies curfew played part By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle revealed yesterday a 26 percent increase in crimes against the person, with nearly all criminal offenses in that category including murder, robberies and rape trending upward this year. Regarding murder specifically, that category increase
48-PAGE SUPPLEMENT PLUS TEN EXTRA PAGES INSIDE
by 61 percent. Despite the uptick in these serious offenses, the police chief highlighted a two percent decrease in overall crime. The new crime stats were released yesterday shedding light on the increased level of crimes against the person, which took place between January 1 and September 30 this year. SEE PAGE THREE
SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED IN APRIL JEROME AVENUE MASSACRE By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle says officers are “actively” searching for several suspects some of whom are believed to have left town following the mass shooting on Jerome Avenue that left six men dead in April. Another person of interest, he added, is believed to have died since the incident. The police chief made the revelation during a virtual press conference yesterday when asked for an update on the investigation into the April 15 shooting.
He told reporters: “We have identified suspects in that particular incident, and I have a team of officers who are actively searching... I do not wish to as I said then to put that information in the public for reasons I have already explained. “I do believe that (a) couple of those individuals have skipped town and at least one is already deceased but we will find them and they will have to come back home to nest and when they do, we will be there waiting.” SEE PAGE FIVE
FOR the first time since the COVID pandemic began, five cruise ships pulled into port in a single day yesterday, bringing up to 10,000 passengers to visit as tourism continues to rebuild. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
REHIRING THE RETIRED? THEY LORETTA URGES CUSTOMERS GET SALARY PLUS PENSION TO DITCH ZERO INTEREST RBC By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Davis administration will allow retired civil servants who are reengaged by the government to simultaneously receive
their salary and their pension, a shift in policy from the Minnis administration. A memorandum seen by The Tribune says Cabinet has “agreed that the present policy position which SEE PAGE FIVE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Cabinet minister Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday urged Bahamians to pull their money from Royal Bank of Canada
after it cut interest rates on savings accounts and term deposits to zero. She said the move was a further sign that the bank needed “to close down and push out”.
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
TRIBUTES PAID TO ‘PIONEER’ FARRINGTON EDITOR’S By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
VETERAN hotelier J Barrie Farrington died yesterday, prompting tributes from people including the president of the Atlantis resort who hailed him as one who chartered the course to The Bahamas becoming an international destination. Mr Farrington died after a long battle with cancer.
J BARRIE FARRINGTON pictured when he voted this year. He spent 41 years at Atlantis on Paradise Island, which bore many other names over the years. In 1995, Mr Farrington
was named Hotelier of the Year and in 1997, Queen Elizabeth II honoured him with the prestigious title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). He received the Clement T Maynard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of tourism. He was also a lifetime director of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association. SEE PAGE TWO
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PAGE 2, Thursday, October 14, 2021
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TRIBUTES ARE PAID TO ‘PIONEER’ FARRINGTON from page one
Atlantis’ president Audrey Oswell referred to Mr Farrington as an inspiration to all. “Our entire company is saddened and heartbroken by the passing of J Barrie Farrington,” she said in a statement. “JB, as he was affectionately called, had a deep and abiding love for tourism throughout The Bahamas and was instrumental in the development and expansion of it. “He was an inspiration to all of us that were fortunate enough to have worked alongside him and could refer to him as a friend. At his retirement farewell in 2013, Sir Sol Kerzner praised JB for his immeasurable contribution to the success of Atlantis. “We are so thankful and grateful to this tourism pioneer, who chartered the course of The Bahamas becoming an international destination. His legacy lives on and he will forever be an important part of the Atlantis family.” Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham also remembered the deceased hotelier, calling him a Bahamian success story. “Over the years, Barrie was instrumental in fostering productive and collaborative relationships between the owners and operators of the resort properties on Paradise Island with the government of the day,” Mr Ingraham said. “He was an early Bahamian success story in hotel management and administration and his contribution to the Bahamianisation of the senior management of international hotels operating in The Bahamas has been far-reaching. “I think since his diagnosis with cancer he has
J Barrie Farrington pictured with Sol Kerzner and former Prime Ministers Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham. proven to be a valiant the passing of J Barrie Farfighter on that front. His rington,” Mr Sands said. candid discussion with the “On behalf of the Bahamas media about his bouts fight- Hotel and Tourism Assoing three different cancers ciation, I wish to express my will have proven useful to heartfelt condolences to his many men in our society family and friends; he will who face the undaunting be missed by so many. circumstance of cancer in “We will be forever their later years.” grateful to Barrie for his Mr Ingraham added that contributions to the tourism Mr Farrington had been industry and to organizaan exemplar in the tour- tions such as ours. He was ism sector throughout his highly respected as a seacareer who fittingly demon- soned professional with a strated, “how one must live formidable understanding until you die.” of the business of tourism. “I was impressed to see “Barrie will also be photographs of him earlier remembered for his this year being vaccinated patience, his elegance and against COVID-19 and the dignified manner in more recently casting his which he treated others. vote in the advanced poll Barrie was ‘old school,’ yet of the general election,” Mr he understood that with Ingraham said. “Barrie was progress, came change and a man committed to being a adaptation.” productive member of sociMr Farrington, 85, served ety right to the end. as president of the Bahamas “J Barrie has always been Hotel Employers’ Assoof the school which main- ciation for 31 years. He was tains that ‘men don’t quit chairman of the Bahamas playing because they grow Hotel Industry Manageold; they grow old because ment Pension Fund for they quit playing.’ Barrie seven years and a trustee of never quit. He retired a the Bahamas Hotel Allied young man, an avid tennis Industries Pension Fund for player, a great humanitar- more than 30 years. ian and a world traveller. I In 2018, he spoke with tip my hat to him.” The Tribune about his Robert “Sandy” Sands, battle with hairy cell leupresident of The Bahamas kaemia, prostate cancer and Hotel and Tourism Associ- breast cancer. ation, said those who work In 2019 he published a in the hotel industry will memoir of his life, entiforever be grateful to Mr tled “The Commander of Farrington for his contribu- Hawkins Hill,” which he tions to the industry. had hoped to put on sale to “It is with deep sadness raise funds for the cancer that I received the news of society.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 14, 2021, PAGE 3
Murder rate rises by 61% from page one According to the data, murders have increased by 61 percent during this time period; while there were 87 murders from January 1 to September 30, during the same period in 2020 police recorded 54. Additionally, police said there were 20 attempted murders during the specified time period this year, when compared to 15 during the same period in 2020, for a 33 percent increase. While there were only four cases of manslaughter this year in comparison to last year, which only saw one incident, police said this accounted for a 300 percent increase. “Our most notable highlight for 2021 thus far is a slight overall reduction in crime,” Commissioner Rolle said during a virtual press conference. “The men and women of the
COMMISSIONER of Police Paul Rolle. force performed at an a major deterrent to crime. outstanding level to keep This was coupled with daily communities safe and operations that targeted provide police visibility hotspots and prolific offendthroughout the Common- ers in an effort to offset and wealth of The Bahamas as interrupt criminal activity.”
However, he was defensive when asked by The Tribune whether ongoing curfews due to COVID-19 Emergency Orders had any effect on the nominal overall crime reduction. “Which curfew are you referring to? Are you telling me that the work that these officers did day in and day out, that it didn’t have anything to do with that? I don’t accept that,” the police chief said. “Why don’t we look at the officers and the work that the officers have done? I have said that the officers have done a tremendous amount of work. I gave you the facts of what we did. I don’t have anything (about) what curfew did because curfew did not give me a report, but I gave you a report about the officers. Let’s just focus on that. I can speak to that.” The commissioner also said the police force had a 59 percent success rate for
solving murders. “We investigated 87 incidents of homicides thus far in 2021, compared to 54 in 2020. There were 79 murders in New Providence, six in Grand Bahama and two in the Family Islands. “Victims between the age of 18 and 35 represent 66 percent of all homicides. Retaliation and conflict were the most common motives for murders representing 55 percent of the total. “Fatal gunshot wounds remain the leading cause of death accounting for 75 murder incidents. We were able to solve 59 percent of all murder cases from January to September 2021.” Regarding sexual crimes, there was an eight percent increase in rapes, with 40 rapes recorded so far this year compared to 37 at the same point in 2020. Meanwhile, armed robbery, robbery and attempted robbery also all increased.
Specifically, there were 317 armed robberies from January to the end of September compared to 281 during the same period in 2020, for a 45 percent increase. There was a 16 percent increase in robberies: 73 incidents were reported during the aforementioned period this year and 63 reported during the same time last year. Attempted robberies saw a 57 percent increase with 11 this year over last year’s seven. “Armed robberies occurred mostly between the hours of 7pm and 10pm. Most armed robberies occurred on the streets with business establishments and residences close behind. Firearms continue to be the weapon of choice for the commission of armed robberies,” Commissioner Rolle said. Both attempted rape and unlawful sexual intercourse decreased by 20 percent.
Asked why they were transferred back to the force after previously being reassigned to government ministries, the commissioner said: “I don’t think I understand the question. I brought them back and I’ll leave it right there.” When he spoke, ACP Fernander said he was pleased to be back in office. He said the new crime figures highlighted the fact that the fear of crime was still prevalent among citizens. ACP Fernander said: “As mentioned by the commissioner with respect to the crime stats you can see that the fear of crime is still out there and we intend as the commissioner mentioned to be consistently out there. “In order to reduce the fear of crime out there I believe that number one, the presence out there with
the police has to be consistent. Number two, response times to crime and once the presence is out there (and) the response time (is improved) either we will catch the culprits in action or we will catch them moving away. “The third thing is followups. That’s with members of the community (and) their complaints. You have to keep them up to date as to what is going on with respect to their complaints. “Follow through straight to court and even after. “So, we are going to stay focused with that to move the fear of crime from the community.” ACP Fernander said he would also like to see the reinstatement of a firearms court. “As mentioned by the commissioner, crime committed by firearms is too high out there and I will recommend
to the commissioner that we should move back to the gun court just to focus on the gun matters that appear before the court because there is only police witnesses. “I see no reason why within a week once you’re arraigned within a few days the matter comes up. It’s only police witnesses in that and I believe that could help and assist with the presence of weapons out there and to go after those individuals who continue to bring firearms in the country. “So, I want to end with this and say to the Bahamian people and also our commissioner that Assistant Commissioner Clayton Fernander (is) in for duty.” For his part, ACP Strachan said he looks forward to collaborating with all to ensure the safety of the community.
OFFICERS SENT ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT RETURN IN RESTRUCTURE By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE Royal Bahamas Police Force is in the process of restructuring with the return of three highranking officers who were controversially sent on special assignments in late 2019 and early 2020 after returning from forced vacation leave. RBPF Commissioner Paul Rolle explained yesterday that Assistant Commissioner Clayton Fernander, Assistant Commissioner Leamond Deleveaux, and Assistant Commissioner Kendal Strachan were all set to take up key portfolios now that they are back on active duty. ACP Deleveaux is heading criminal proceedings and prosecutorial control.
ACP Fernander will take on the force’s intelligence management portfolio and ACP Strachan has been assigned the operations management and tactical support portfolio. “I am extremely pleased to have these assistant commissioners rejoin the senior executive leadership team as we continue to address the scourge of crime, drugs and the proliferation of firearms on our streets,” Commissioner Rolle said as he spoke at a press conference where crime statistics were revealed. “These men are well respected and hold a wealth of knowledge and experience which will definitely be an asset to the team. “Notably Clayton Fernander has extensive experience in criminal investigations and operations. Leamond
Deleveaux has vast experience in policing throughout the force and prosecutions. Kendal Strachan has extensive experience in criminal investigations both locally and internationally where he is well respected. “I enthusiastically welcome these honourable men to make a positive and impactful difference in our country as we rebuild and as we move forward.” The three senior officers were among several who were directed to take vacation leave in 2019. Although the former Minnis administration justified the vacation policy by citing fiscal measures, the officers believed that the administration simply wanted to sideline them. When their vacation leave ended, they were sent on special assignments for a year.
WSC: IF POLICE DON’T HAVE A COMPLAINT, WE CAN’T INVESTIGATE By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net ROYAL Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Paul Rolle was adamant that police have no authority to “dig into nobody’s business” unless there is a complaint in response to questions of whether an investigation would be launched into allegations at a government agency. He was asked yesterday to explain whether the RBPF would investigate allegations surrounding the issuance of contracts at the Water & Sewerage Corporation under the tenure of former executive chairman Adrian Gibson. “I don’t know,” he said during a virtual press
conference. “You are asking the wrong person. What I am saying is that the police only investigate matters that are reported to us. We don’t have any authority to go and dig into nobody’s business unless there is a complaint. “What I would suggest is I could refer you to the Prevention of Bribery Act and if you look at that the Act tells you how complaints are initiated and then that would help you.” Earlier during the press conference, the commissioner told a reporter: “That’s not a matter for me. You’ve got to take that question elsewhere.” Mr Gibson, the Long Island MP, came under fire in late August after it was revealed in leaked
documents that a company, Elite Maintenance, was awarded contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars by WSC. The director of the company has the same name as a person identified as Mr Gibson’s fiancee in a leaked police report. On Monday, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said there is enough information in the public domain to “warrant an investigation” into contracts issued at WSC. When asked if the AG or police commissioner have investigated WSC contracts to date, Mr Davis told reporters: “I know that is being looked at. I don’t know where it is because I don’t want to interfere. The information is in the public domain. We’ll expect
those who have responsibility to do their work, to do their work. Where it is, I do not know. All I know is that sufficient information was out there in the public domain to warrant an investigation.” Mr Davis said he is “not going to say” anything more about the issue, because those “who know what they have to do, ought to just” do it. The commissioner was also asked whether the RBPF had at any time looked into allegations against former Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald. At the tail end of the last Christie administration, Mr Fitzgerald confirmed that he sought contracts from Baha Mar for his family’s business after The Tribune
exclusively revealed that he requested brokerage, trucking and limousine contracts worth millions. Critics claim that he breached the Manual of Cabinet and Ministry Procedure, which states that a minister must not solicit or accept any benefits advantage or promise of future advantage whether for himself, his immediate family or any business concern or trust with which he is associated from persons who are in, or seek to be in, any contractual or special relationship with the government. Shortly before the 2017 general election, The Tribune published emails showing that Mr Fitzgerald advocated on behalf of Bahamas Cargo & Logistics, a company he said was
formed by his father years ago. The issue was again brought into the spotlight after it was confirmed that Mr Fitzgerald is the new senior policy advisor and head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit. In response, Commissioner Rolle said: “There were a lot of talks. As I said I cannot comment on matters that were in the media regarding that. I’m saying if you can tell me who made a complaint — I am not aware that there was any formal complaint made. There was a lot of information circulating in the media and I think we need to be fair, be honest when we speak. A lot of people were saying stuff, but nobody came forward.”
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Hesitancy still an issue - but vaccination rising in region By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE Pan American Health Organization has revealed that although vaccine hesitancy is still quite prevalent in the Caribbean, some 39 percent of the population is now fully vaccinated. PAHO’s director, Dr Carissa Etienne made the announcement yesterday at the organisation’s weekly webinar which updates the region on COVID-19. While some countries are seeing a decline in COVID cases, many others are seeing spikes not only in cases, but in COVIDrelated deaths as well. “In the Caribbean, Barbados is reporting the highest number of COVID cases and deaths since the pandemic started, following a five-fold increase in COVID infections over the last month,” Dr Etienne said. “Cases have also increased in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and smaller islands like the Cayman Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and Anguilla. “So, we continue to urge
countries to keep a close eye on how the virus is spreading locally so they can focus on controlling these outbreaks.” Public health measures remain critical to control the spread of COVID everywhere, especially as vaccine supply remains limited. “Our region has embraced vaccines and 39 percent of people are fully vaccinated against COVID across Latin America and the Caribbean. It’s also encouraging to see that 26 countries and territories in the Americas have already immunised 40 percent or more of their populations,” she said. Over a period of one week, the region reported some 1.1 million plus new cases and just over 24,000 COVID-related deaths. And, last week, the World Health Organization launched, what PAHO called, an ambitious new strategy to vaccinate 40 percent of the population of every country by the year’s end. But, Dr Etienne said that is not the reality everywhere as in far too many
places, vaccine coverage is much lower. “Today I want to spotlight those countries in our region that are lagging and that will require special attention to meet this 40 percent vaccination target,” she said continuing. “Six countries in our region have yet to reach 20 percent of their populations: These are Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Haiti in the Caribbean, and Guatemala and Nicaragua in Central America. “Across all these countries, vaccine availability due to unequal distribution of doses has been a central challenge. But many of these countries are facing their own unique barriers. In Jamaica, supply delays have gotten in the way. In Guatemala, shortages of syringes have delayed immunisation campaigns.” She said in Haiti, logistical challenges continue to delay the roll out of available vaccination doses. And, across the Caribbean, “vaccine hesitancy among some groups remains a problem.” In terms of PAHO’s support in countries obtaining
THREE MORE DEATHS THE COVID-19 death toll has risen to 608 after three more deaths were recorded on Monday. In its October 11 dashboard, the Ministry of Health noted that two women and one man died from the disease on September 27 and 29.
The deceased were between the ages of 47 and 73. These deaths were previously under investigation and were recently reclassified. Fifty-seven new coronavirus cases were also recorded on Monday.
Thirty-five more cases were recorded on Tuesday, pushing the nation’s toll to 21,815. One hundred and fortytwo people are in hospital with the virus, 15 of whom are in the intensive care unit.
vaccines, Dr Etienne said her organisation is committed to make it happen. “Vaccines will help end this pandemic and PAHO is committed to supporting every country in our region to reach and exceed these WHO targets,” she said. “We’re working hard to accelerate vaccine deliveries to our region – including COVAXprocured and donated doses – especially for countries where coverage remains low. “We’re supporting Jamaica, Guatemala, and Nicaragua in finalising preparations to receive COVAX and bilateral shipments in the coming weeks. In the last few days, we fast-tracked the delivery
of a total of 1.3 million doses that were donated by Spain, Germany, the United States, and Canada. These vaccines are being used to boost coverage in Honduras, Guyana, Argentina, and Jamaica.” She is pleased that countries in the region are actually sharing excess vaccines with other countries. “We’ve also been glad to see countries within our region pitch in to support their neighbours by sharing doses so we can make the most of available supplies,” she said. “As more vaccine doses are making their way to our region, we urge countries to make the necessary
preparations so these doses can be used as quickly as possible. “Based on the lessons from across our region, we know that the success of vaccination campaigns rests on having the infrastructure in place to roll out doses at scale. Now is the time to expand cold chains and invest in health systems – especially as financial institutions and donors alike have expressed their willingness to support countries to make these improvements.” Dr Etienne said to be effective, vaccine campaigns in the region must be designed around the unique needs of the population.
MINISTER PLEDGES TO REDEVELOP PARKS AND HEALTH FACILITIES ENVIRONMENT and Natural Resources Minister Vaughn Miller pledged to enhance and redevelop public parks and health facilities in Adelaide Village during a tour of the community yesterday. Speaking to reporters during yesterday’s walkabout, Mr Miller said the initiatives are part of his plan to improve the quality of life for Adelaide residents and also to preserve the community’s unique cultural heritage. “One of the reasons for beginning in this historic village is because of its rich heritage and its right for heritage tourism, also eco-tourism and, of course, cultural tourism,” the newly appointed minister said yesterday. “And I was born and raised in Greencastle, Eleuthera, and this area reminds me so much of Green Castle…with a Family Island feel and Family Island look. “And for the most part,
MINISTER of Environment and Natural Resources Vaughn Miller. the residents of the village are concerned and do not want to lose this rich look and heritage and the cultural aspect of it and so we would like to preserve that and we’ll also like to inform and educate persons with regards to the wetlands.” Mr Miller said residents can soon expect to see infrastructural upgrades happening in the area, beginning with the Adelaide public park. “I’m happy to state that a contract has been signed for the renovations and refurbishment fully (of the park) from over a year ago
and I’ll be meeting with the minister of works to discuss going forward with that contract but I can say hopefully by Christmas, that you’ll see a complete overhaul of this park and it will have a completely different look,” he told reporters. Following a tour of the community park, Mr Miller also visited the Adelaide Health Clinic where he highlighted the need for a new state-of-the-art health facility. “The need for a greater and the need for a state-of(the)-art facility is great in Adelaide and as a member of Parliament, I wish to speak to that,” Mr Miller said. “I want to speak loudly and clearly to that. The need for a bigger and more state-of-the-art facility is a desperate one in Adelaide and I speak for that as (a) member of Parliament and it’s something I’ve been advocating for and I will continue to advocate for it until it comes to fruition.”
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Other challenges facing the Adelaide clinic include manpower shortages, according to local officials. “The challenges, sometimes we have a doctor shortage,” Tamala Sweeting, nurse in charge of the clinic, said yesterday. “We have doctors on Mondays and Fridays but some doctor days we don’t have a doctor. Our doctors come from Flamingo Gardens Clinic, which is our mother clinic, and if they are short, that means we don’t have a doctor for that Monday or Friday.” Other areas toured yesterday included the community’s wetlands. According to Mr Miller, protecting the country’s natural resources is a key area of focus for his ministry. He also pledged to crack down on those engaging in illegal dumping activities. “As it relates to the
dumping, it is a concern for this area and not only this area but the entire constituency and indeed this island,” the Golden Ises MP said. “There are too many challenges with it and we certainly intend to take a proactive approach and that’s why I said earlier that once we would’ve met and conclude with our strategic planning, we intend to be very visible and very aggressive in our approach. It will be a zero-tolerance approach. There’s too much of it going on and way too much of it in Golden Isles.” Yesterday, Rochelle Newbold, director for the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, made an appeal for Bahamians to report those found littering illegally by utilising the ministry’s apps. Officials’ promise to safeguard the nation’s
prized natural resources comes as activists continue to voice concerns about Disney’s Lighthouse Point project. The Progressive Liberal Party, while in opposition, had raised concerns about the multimillion-dollar project and even challenged the transparency of the Disney deal. Asked yesterday if the government intended to reconsider plans for Lighthouse Point and meet with activists on their concerns, Mr Miller replied: “At this time, I’d like to keep it focused on Adelaide and we will have a day and a time to address all of those issues. I’m not the type of minister to duck and dodge. I will not run and hide and I can assure you that we will address them and be very candid and very up front with those issues and concerns.”
246 COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE THIS YEAR THERE were 246 complaints against police from January to September, according to Royal Bahamas Police Force statistics. One hundred and fifty-seven of the cases were civilian complaints against police. Sixty-nine of the cases were police complaints against other officers. Twenty of the complaints concerned accusations of corruption. For the civilian matters, 40 of the cases are under investigation, ten
resulted in conviction, ten had a withdrawn complaint, 33 were found to be unfounded, 14 were found to be sub judice, civil action/warning was advised in 40 cases and eight are pending trial. Two of the cases resulted in compensation. For internal matters, 18 are under investigation, two resulted in discharge/ acquittal, three were withdrawn or had no further action, five saw the officer discharged/resigned or
retired, 13 resulted in conviction, four were found to be unsubstantiated, 21 are before the police tribunal and three resulted in a completed investigation. With respect to corruption matters, 14 are under investigation, one resulted in interdiction, one in the officer being discharged from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, one resulted in the complaint being withdrawn, one is before the tribunal and two were found to be unfounded.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 14, 2021, PAGE 5
Hundreds reincluded in NIB pension payments By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net MYLES Laroda, the minister of state responsible for the National Insurance Board, says the Davis administration has reincluded hundreds of people who would otherwise have stopped receiving a pension because of a recent decision of the institution. Mr Laroda, the state minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, said the matter affects just under 10,000 people. He said he has expressed his displeasure about the issue to the NIB director. “I expressed to him the displeasure of what took place, particularly as it was done when the new
government had taken over,” he told reporters after a tour of NIB headquarters on Baillou Hill Road. “With regards to the resolution, I think all but 850 of those, all are now regularised. The next tranche of payments comes out on the 19th.” Mr Laroda said NIB halted the payments because the recipients did not verify their accounts. He said an NIB official indicated that the plan was for the senior citizens to have their payments halted in July but that plan was postponed twice, with the stoppage only taking effect “after the new government had come to power”. He said most of the accounts have since been rectified.
The new administration’s plan to increase pension for senior citizens was reiterated in the Speech from The Throne earlier this month. No definitive timeline has been provided for when the increase will take effect. Mr Laroda also told reporters he has also directed NIB to suspend various service and employment contracts that were executed near the date of the recent election. “I have had discussions with the managing director with regards to service contracts and contracts of employment,” he said. “Until I have a firm understanding of where that situation is I will just say we are looking into those matters. I gave instructions that there should be a pause.
REHIRING THE RETIRED? THEY GET SALARY PLUS PENSION from page one does not allow reengaged public officers to retain their pension entitlements be rescinded.” Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis criticised the Davis administration’s policy shift yesterday, saying it represents a return to the fiscally imprudent “double dipping” policy that his administration stopped. Dr Minnis also said the new administration is bringing back three senior retired civil servants. He challenged the administration to say whether the men will receive a higher salary than what they got when they initially left the service. He said the policy of his administration was that re-engaged retirees would not receive more money than what they made when they initially left the service. Asked for a response, Fred Mitchell, minister of foreign affairs and public service, said yesterday: “The government’s advice is that someone’s pension is earned and you cannot lawfully deny them the
pension. If you bring someone back, you seek to pay them what they are worth and what they agree to. The snipes from the sidelines by the former prime minister do not justify the pay which he gave the chosen few in the face of and contrary to his own policies. He is not credible.” Mr Mitchell noted that the administration’s policy on the matter is the same as it was during previous Progressive Liberal Party administrations. “It was not we who reversed course,” Mr Mitchell said. Dr Minnis said the policy change is a “slap in the face” to younger people currently in the system. He said: “There are people in the system now who can do the jobs, permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries and undersecretaries. Is this a salt on the young population?” Dr Minnis said the new administration is bringing back former Permanent Secretaries Luther Smith, Colin Higgs and Crestwell Sturrup. The new administration changed its policy, he
claimed, “to facilitate their old cronies”. Former Public Service and NIB Minister Brensil Rolle announced in 2017 that retired civil servants who are re-engaged will have their pensions stopped in order to “unclog” the public sector. He said this was the policy of the last Ingraham administration. “For example,” he said at the time, “if your pension is $50,000 and the position that we’re offering is $70,000, we’ll pay you the difference as opposed to someone getting a salary and a pension. “The primary reason why we are doing that is to not only add some structure to the public service but to make sure those persons who are talented in the service would get an opportunity to be promoted.” The memo seen by The Tribune yesterday also said that Cabinet agreed that all serving statutory board and committee members be invited to resign and that Cabinet ministers be invited to provide recommendations for who should populate the committees.
We look at everything in totality, not just one-offs, with a view of coming up with a fair answer to those. We all know (if) you put on your political hat, what happened at the PLP’s last term, what we were accused of, this is not titfor-tat but there should be certain understandings and I hope that this government of which I am a part of when we are in a position to account will not relive some of the things that we see happening to us by those who had complained (about what) we had done to them.” Mr Laroda said he could not give specifics about the contracts under review. However, he said when the new NIB board is in place, the board will examine the contracts.
MINISTER of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Myles Laroda yesterday. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED IN JEROME AVENUE MASSACRE from page one Renardo Bastian, also known as “Crack Teeth”, Travis Cooper, Maurice Pinder, Kendal Lord, Delano Smith, and Dequant Brown were shot at the intersection of Jerome Avenue and Chesapeake Road when four men opened fire on them, killing them and injuring a 19-year-old woman and a toddler. The April 15 killing is considered to be the deadliest shooting in recent times.
The mass shooting occurred shortly after the men were released from police custody in connection with an investigation into firearm possession, prompting speculation from some about possible police involvement in the fatal shooting. However, Commissioner Rolle has previously stated “there is no information to suggest that the police were in any way involved in this shooting.” He has also said police suspect the incident to be gang-related.
In June, then Assistant Commissioner of Police Solomon Cash told Eyewitness News that five people of interest had been identified to assist police with their investigation. However, it is not clear if those five individuals are the same people believed to have skipped town as noted by Commissioner Rolle yesterday. Anyone with information on the April 15 killing or any other crime is asked to call police at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477).
PAGE 6, Thursday, October 14, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
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Commissioner claims curfews have no effect on crime POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle would have you believe that curfews have had no affect on crime, it would seem – and it’s not the first time he’s tried to convince us of this. In today’s Tribune, you will read how he says overall crime has dropped by two percent. Every drop is of course welcome – but the figures that catch the eye instead of that are that murders are up by 51 percent and crimes against the person up by 26 percent. Rape is up. Robberies are up. Attempted murders are up. But for Commissioner Rolle, he tried to put the focus on the overall drop in crime. “Our most notable highlight for 2021 thus far is a slight overall reduction in crime,” he said, adding: “The men and women of the force performed at an outstanding level to keep communities safe and provide police visibility throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as a major deterrent to crime. This was coupled with daily operations that targeted hotspots and prolific offenders in an effort to offset and interrupt criminal activity.” All well and good – although that effort didn’t deter violent crime and murders, it seems, with their resultant large increases. There are, of course, many factors in tackling crime – and The Tribune rightly wanted to know if the curfews as part of COVID measures had an effect. So our reporter asked him if that was the case. Commissioner Rolle said: “Which curfew are you referring to?” – we would have thought that was obvious, but he went on – “Are you telling me that the work that these officers did day in and day out, that it didn’t have anything to do with that? I don’t accept that.” He continued: “Why don’t we look at the officers and the work that the
officers have done? I have said that the officers have done a tremendous amount of work. I gave you the facts of what we did. I don’t have anything (about) what curfew did because curfew did not give me a report, but I gave you a report about the officers. Let’s just focus on that.” Curfew did not give him a report. No one suggested it had. Feeling defensive, Commissioner? This isn’t the first time Commissioner Rolle has been sensitive to questions about the effect of the curfew. Let’s look back to January this year, when he insisted a 16 percent drop in overall crime was due to the efforts of his officers and not on account of the lockdown. When asked if people being unable to leave their homes because of curfew and lockdown had an affect on crime levels, he called that “nonsense”, and said that the “least that people could do is credit us when we get a reduction”, adding: “This has nothing to do with COVID. I never saw COVID gone out and lock nobody up and I ain’t see COVID on patrol. We were out there.” In this column, we said we would happily credit the police for their work – but they had to be realistic and note the lockdowns were a factor. To see that, we only have to note that as the curfews and lockdowns have eased up, there has been a significant rise in murders and violence. We understand that the Commissioner might wish to praise his officers, and may wish to see the areas where crime has reduced as an endorsement of his efforts as leader of the force – but to pretend hours of being unable to walk the streets has no affect on crime is, to use your own word from earlier this year, “nonsense.” Well done on reducing crime in the areas experiencing a drop. Now tackle that soaring murder rate.
Sledgehammer can’t alter past EDITOR, The Tribune. A THUG with a sledgehammer proclaimed himself judge, jury and executioner on one aspect of our sometimes tortured but by and large glorious history. He is in good company with his dislike of Christopher Columbus, but he is definitely in the rogues gallery for his criminal act of trespassing and vandalism on the grounds of the people’s house. What is most shocking is the applause from some law-abiding citizens for this hooligan. He is innocent until proven guilty, of course, but he was filmed in the act and even owned up to his actions. He may be non compos mentis. We should be shocked and appalled that, whatever his faculties, he could
so casually stroll onto Government House grounds presumably swinging a sledgehammer since this weapon of destruction would be hard to conceal about his person while trying to evade recognition by the guards. Government House is undergoing renovations but it’s hard to think that the banging on a Saturday afternoon didn’t arouse suspicion in the guard house, a few hundred feet away. A majority of Bahamians get to decide if Columbus is to be moved to another location such as onto the beach at Land Fall Park on San Salvador. Love him or loathe him, Columbus is a part of our Bahamian story and lobbing an arm and a leg off the statue doesn’t change history.
The Old World and New World met for the first time here in the Bahamas 529 years ago and changed the course of human history. We should follow the example set by the City of London that decided to keep their statues of rogues and reprobates who participated in the egregious slave trade. They opted to “Retain and Explain”, setting out for all both the good and the evil perpetrated by the men immortalized there in marble. Our plaque could read: Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot in the Americas and subsequently directed the hemisphere’s first genocide. THE GRADUATE Nassau, October 13, 2021
Food for The Punch EDITOR, The Tribune. TWO stories hit me from your Tuesday edition... if there was still The Punch today I am sure Ivan Johnson will have had a totally different spin on those stories. Story one the well known Numbers person and his issues with the US Justice system... trafficking in persons is an exceptionally
serious crime… just how could pre-election a leader of a political party give his recommendation and support to that person’s case for US Court leniency? Exceptional bad judgement, Editor. One of the recipients of National Honours... many, many times the gentleman appeared in The Punch ‘Grapevine’ with serious allegations
of his early life and involvement in questionable areas.....for sure The Punch would have reported on that. National Honours or recommendations for leniency to foreign Governments cannot be flippant actions. J K WILSON Nassau, October 12, 2021.
Facing great expectations EDITOR, The Tribune. NOW that the PLP and the Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, are in charge of the administration of our wonderful nation, there are great expectations on the part of our people. We live in instant society and we tend to expect advances and corrections immediately, regardless of the circumstances. Yes, electoral promises would have been made and we fully expect that they will be delivered on. We have to, however, be realistic. The Davis administration is just settling in and must be given reasonable time to investigate and sort out the true affairs and status of The Bahamas. Ours is not a doll house nation, despite how some of our politicians, across the board sometimes act and behave. Our national debt is off the chart. Our annual deficit is also off the chart and we may have already gone over the fiscal cliff. Hopefully the Davis administration will find a parachute for us to deploy, as a people, so as to cushion the fall. In this vein Bahamians must and should give the Davis administration the proverbial honeymoon. Within the next thirty days or so, the Prime Minister and his crew should have/ would have had ample time to pour over the
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net ‘books’, so to speak. He would then have a better sense of directions as to where we are as a nation and where he proposes to lead us. Great expectations are in place and knowing how some of our people go some may well start to murmur, as some have already started to do, especially within the rump opposition. The PM is well aware that if he wants to be re-elected, he and his administration must come up with some bold and solid plans for national reconstruction and a better build back. Dr Minnis and his people them jacked us right up, in my opinion, from an accountable, fiscal, transparency and responsible positions. Harsh, but true. Billions have been borrowed and/ or donated following the hurricanes and the ongoing pandemic, but there is precious little to show for it. No one, mind you, least of all me, are accusing the former administration of anything sinister, but there must be a forensic audit of all ministries; corporations and other governmental agencies. Great expectations will take real dollars and cents to accomplish. The PM and
his administration cannot, at this juncture even consider raising taxes and or service charges. The average Bahamian has either been out of work or grossly under employed for 18 months and counting. Inflation, the real cost of living is through the roof and getting worse. Yes, I am an optimist and I an a disciple of the PM, so I am persuaded that with The Lord’s help we will get through this rough patch by the first quarter of 2012. With Brave at the helm I am more than confident that all will be well. Having great expectations is a wonderful thing when we reflect that The Lord came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Brave is not able to walk on water, however, and we should be patient in our expectations. He’s been in power less than a month. Let the man complete his governmental roll out and flesh out his legislative programme. The economy; health care and protocols for the ongoing pandemic are critical going forward. Great expectations with a strong dose of reality are at the top of the national agenda. Brave will stand and deliver. ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, October 12, 2021.
Minnis is done EDITOR, The Tribune.
KINDLY consider the publication of this open letter to Dr Hubert Alexander Minnis, Leader of the Official Opposition - FNM party. Dear Dr Minnis, You have had your opportunity to lead The Bahamas, and you have squandered it from day one. It all started with your demagogic position on VAT – leading up to the 2017 general election. Although you were right at the table in the last Hubert Ingraham Administration – between
2007 and 2012 - where the implementation of VAT in The Bahamas was set in motion, and subsequently implemented by the Perry Christie PLP Regime of 2012-2017 at 7.5%, you played brand new and publicly opposed it. Then after the FNM won the 2017 election, you became the Prime Minister and increased the VAT rate to where it is today – at 12%! So, you unwittingly provided all the nails for your political coffin. It was a hugely unforgiving political move, as the Bahamian electorate would let you know in overwhelming fashion in the 2021 election. You did it to
your own self Dr, and you will always be remembered publicly for it. On top of your unbearable VAT increase, came Hurricane Dorian and the Corona. All hell break loose after that. And we, the poor people especially – were waiting patiently on you. You could of felt it, and you knew what was coming down the pipe. That’s why you jumped before you were pushed, and called an early election. Good move bro. You are officially done – in my humble opinion. DENNIS DAMES Nassau, October 8, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 14, 2021, PAGE 7
Pair gave fake MAN DIES IN GB ACCIDENT names when questioned A GRAND Bahama man is dead after a traffic accident on the island on Tuesday. Police said they received a report before 8pm about a traffic accident in the area of Rand Memorial Hospital.
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net TWO men and a teenager who gave police fake names when they were stopped and questioned must complete 100 hours of community service to avoid spending a month behind bars. Police arrested Emmanuel Sturrup, 21, Benjamin Penn, 20, and Daniel Penn, 18, after they deceived a public officer on October 6. The trio owned up to the offence during their hearing before Magistrate Kendra Kelly. The court was told that around 9 o’clock on the night in question, Police Constable 4359 Ingraham was on mobile patrol in the Johnson Road area when they observed a Nissan Cube travelling west at a high rate of speed. As a result, the officers pursued
the vehicle and beckoned for the driver to stop. When he did, they ordered the three male occupants to exit and asked them what their names were. It was at this time that Daniel told the officers that his first name was Jeremiah, while Benjamin told police that his name was Amari Taylor. The court was told that Sturrup also claimed his name was Robert when he was questioned. The prosecution said while the officers did not find anything illegal on the young men, they did come across a debit card bearing Benjamin’s name. When the officers asked the accused if they had a friend or relative with that name, Sturrup and the Penn brothers said that they did not. This resulted in all of them being taken to the Grove Police Station for their identities to be verified. The court heard
WOMAN TOLD TO AVOID WITNESSES By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN accused of grievously harming another woman was yesterday warned not to interfere with any of the witnesses involved in her case leading up to her trial. Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis issued the order to Willneka Demeritte after she denied committing the offence on October 5. After pleading not guilty to one count of grievous harm yesterday, Demeritte was granted $8,500 bail. She returns to court on December 8 for trial.
Once officers arrived on the scene, investigations revealed that a man was driving a blue 2009 Ford Fusion, along with a front seat male passenger, south on East Atlantic Drive when he lost control of the vehicle and ran into
the hospital’s entrance wall. EMS took the driver to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The front seat passenger was not injured. An investigation is ongoing.
sometime later, the men’s mothers came to the station with their passports and NIB cards. When police checked the documents, they realised that they had been lied to. During the hearing, the trio told the magistrate they were sorry for lying to the police. They said they only did so because they were afraid due to the manner in which the police approached them that night. In response, Magistrate Kelly said that lying to a police officer was a serious offence and told the accused they had to take it seriously when they were approached by law enforcement. She subsequently ordered Sturrup and the Penn brothers to each complete 100 hours of community service. She warned them that if they didn’t, they could risk spending four weeks in prison.
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Meanwhile, two women who denied last year harming a man and woman were also granted bail ahead of their trial. Police said Julia Russell and Juliette Neely caused harm to Oliver Curtis and Carla Wallace in July 2020. Russell is also accused of assaulting the man and woman with a screwdriver and mop that same day. When they appeared before Magistrate Kendra Kelly, both of the women denied the allegations brought against them and their case was adjourned to December 10 for trial. In the interim, Russell and Neely were each granted $1,500 bail.
‘STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AFTER $10 COCAINE FIND’ By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net TWO men found with a gram of cocaine were discharged on the agreement that they would stay out of trouble in the future. Police arrested Cairvins Telford, 55, and Henry Noel, 43, after they found $10 worth of cocaine on them on October 3. The prosecution said around 5.25pm that day, officers on mobile patrol near Emmanuel Drive noticed a vehicle that was travelling south causing obstruction. After they stopped the car, they informed its two occupants that they would be searched in reference to dangerous drugs and firearms. During their investigation, officers found a foil wrap with
a powdery substance they suspected to be cocaine. The court was told that when Noel lifted his tennis shoe, officers also found a clear plastic containing another small quantity of cocaine. After Telford and Noel pleaded guilty to simple possession, Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis told them he did not expect the men to be before the court at their ages. He also said he found it surprising that they were still “playing children games” at this stage in their lives. After considering their pleas of remorse, Magistrate Rolle Davis said he would let Telford and Noel go with a warning and urged them to be of good behaviour and exercise better judgment in the future.
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PAGE 8, Thursday, October 14, 2021 A COLLEAGUE cum friend becomes apoplectic when discussing those refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, putting others, including family members, colleagues and strangers at risk of getting gravely sick or dying. Such refusal by scores of individuals harms the greater good. In ethics, individual autonomy is important. But ethics also includes the moral and material needs of others. We are morally responsible and culpable for how our individual choices and behaviour affect others. The public health and economic recovery of the world and The Bahamas depend on higher vaccination rates. Government and corporate leaders are at their wit’s end and fed up with those who are jeopardizing the needs of others because of their refusal to be vaccinated. The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has a population of 97,000. Approximately 37.6 percent of the population is vaccinated, which is higher than the vaccination rate in The Bahamas. The heavily tourismdependent country is in dire economic straits and struggling to pay public sector workers, many of whom refuse to be vaccinated. What is the moral and intellectual calculation and thought process of someone demanding that they continue to receive salaries from the government, while refusing to get vaccinated to help their country earn revenue to pay their salaries and benefits? As noted in the Cayman Compass on September 20, Antigua and Barbuda’s cabinet: “Agreed that all unvaccinated government workers, including those in the public service, statutory corporations and companies in which the government owns majority shares, are required to remain at home…until proof of vaccination is provided.”
SALARIES CEASE
The government decided that the “salaries and wages of unvaccinated government employees will cease from 1 October until they comply with vaccination requirements”. Prior to the announcement, public sector employees had a choice between being vaccinated or getting tested twice a month. But with mounting deaths and an increase in infections, combined with a lack of testing kits and the necessary staff to administer a high number of tests, the government decided that urgent and new mandates were necessary. The vaccine mandates/
requirements state that only teachers and eligible students who are vaccinated may return to in-person learning. All officers and support staff of the Antigua and Barbuda police and defence forces must be vaccinated. So too caregivers and staff at elder care facilities, as well as bus drivers, conductors and taxi drivers. Those transport workers who refuse to be vaccinated will not be allowed to operate. The country now has some of the strictest mandates in the region. The Antigua Observer quoted Prime Minister Gaston Browne: “These mandates are designed to protect the entire population... I believe that, on the basis that these mandates are respected, Antigua and Barbuda will be well on its way to achieve herd immunity before the end of the year. “The mandates will not stop at what we agreed to [in Cabinet], because if we do not achieve herd immunity in the next few months, then additional mandates will be introduced.” There are exemptions to the mandate for health, religious and other approved reasons. Following the government’s announcement, over 700 people rushed to the only vaccination clinic operating on that day. The government also announced a host of new restrictions.
THE TRIBUNE THEN Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis getting vaccinated in March last year. Now Prime Minister Davis has to tackle the issue of increasing the vaccination rate - and that includes the thorny issue of mandatory vaccinations.
VACCINE MANDATES AND REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO SAVE LIVES the tests. One union leader described the requirements at a leading resort as akin to slavery. To compare life-saving measures to the perniciousness of the slave trade is absurd and asinine. Sadly, it is speaks to the abysmally poor quality of some union leaders.
UNDISCIPLINED
Left to themselves, human beings are often undisciplined and cavalier in following rules. The human desire for socialising often trumps common sense. How many people have now died at home and abroad because they went partying, liming or socialising? Euphoria and celebration have led to many people getting sick and dying. Bahamians are often a very slack people. But when required to do something we often fall in line quickly. Faced with relatives and friends dying during the recent surge, coupled with a requirement of vaccination to travel to the United States as of November, Bahamians flocked to vaccination centres. Early in August, Chicago-based United Airlines announced that it was requiring all of its 67,000 US-based employees to be vaccinated. At the time of the announcement, 80 percent of flight attendants and 90 percent of pilots were already vaccinated. But for the smaller percentage of employees who refused to be vaccinated or requested a religious or medical exemption, the carrier decided to place these
PANDERING
employees on unpaid leave. This matter is now before the courts. Other airlines have followed United’s lead, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue. Workplaces requiring vaccines in the US are experiencing vaccination rates of 90 percent or higher. In these environments, even the more hesitant are getting vaccinated. Various workplaces in The Bahamas, especially in our vital tourism industry, have given employees the choice between getting vaccinated or being tested on a weekly or regular basis. Some are now requiring their employees to pay for
Too many union leaders are pandering instead of leading. They are playing a dangerous game. Our tourism economy remains at risk if we fail to increase our vaccination rates. Moreover, their members are at risk of becoming ill or dying. Already, a number of those in the tourism sector, including tour drivers, have already died. More tourism workers will die. Union leaders have a moral obligation to explain to members why vaccinations are critical. In various jurisdictions in the United States, there are strict proof-of-vaccine ordinances for restaurants and other establishments. In Los Angeles County, public employees were required to be vaccinated by October 1. At the beginning of 2021, only 34 percent of adult Americans were eager to get vaccinated.
As of October, 78 percent recommended the vaccine of adults have gotten at for children in sub-Saharan least one shot. More than Africa and other regions 185 million Americans are with high to moderate “P. falciparum malaria transvaccinated. The vaccination cam- mission”. In 2019 alone, paigns in the US have, 409 000 people died from according to an October malaria. What was telling and 7 White House report, “saved over 100,000 lives disturbing is those parents and prevented 450,000 interviewed in Africa who said they would have their hospitalisations.” The report, entitled children immediately vac“Vaccination Requirements cinated against malaria but who themAre Helpselves are ing Vaccinate ‘Too many union still relucMore People, leaders are tant to take Protect Americans from pandering instead a COVID-19 of leading. They vaccine. COVIDDoes this 19, and are playing a sound familStrengthen the dangerous game. iar? Here at Economy”, home, chilnotes that Our tourism dren are additional economy remains required action must for entry to be taken to at risk if we fail schools to be vaccinate tens to increase our of millions vaccination rates.’ vaccinated for a host of who remain diseases, with unvaccinated. A critical part of this parents complying. These are new vaccination vaccine mandates have requirements proposed saved thousands of lives in by the federal govern- The Bahamas, including ment intended to get 100 many adults now refusing a million more Americans COVID-19 vaccine. If we refuse to put in vaccinated. Arguing for these man- place COVID-19 vaccine dates, which are termed requirements, the number “requirements”, the White of deaths will increase, with House plan, which may the disease making ill or be found at https://www. killing those who steadfastly whitehouse.gov/wp-content/ refuse to be vaccinated. uploads/2021/10/VaccinaThe pandemic will linger. There is going to be contion-Requirements-Report. pdf, notes: “Vaccination siderably more avoidable requirements have increased sickness and new surges. vaccination rates by 20+ Many of those still unreapercentage points to over sonably refusing a vaccine 90% in many organisations for now unintelligible rea[and] vaccination require- sons are proving irrational ments have already helped and are acting in a suicidal cut the rate of unvaccinated manner, with the possibility of death on the horizon. Americans by one-third.” University of Michigan If they wish to put their economist Justin Wolfers own lives at risk, despite states in the report: “View- an available free and safe ing [President] Biden’s vaccine, that is their tragic vaccine mandate as simply choice. But, they do not have economic policy, it’s surely the cheapest and most pow- the right to selfishly and erful economic stimulus arrogantly put the lives ever enacted.” of others at risk. A moral In early October, a society has the duty and groundbreaking malaria the obligation to protect vaccination was announced. the greater and moral good The World Health Organi- through vaccine mandates zation (WHO) quickly and requirements.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 14, 2021, PAGE 9
10 years without a US Ambassador
POLL SUGGESTS SCEPTICISM ABOUT GLOBAL LEADER ROLE
M
A
S you may have noticed, ten months into the Biden administration, we still don’t have a sitting American Ambassador here in Nassau. As a matter of fact, for those not keeping score on such matters, within five weeks, it will have been fully ten years since a Senateconfirmed U.S. envoy has overseen the work of the large American Embassy still located on Queen Street downtown until the new U.S. embassy headquarters building is ready for occupancy. Do you remember who was the last American ambassador to The Bahamas? It was Nicole Avant, an African-American music promoter from Los Angeles, the daughter of the founder of Motown Records and wife of a Netflix executive. Many Bahamians will favorably recall her tenure and positive impact on our community despite the fact that the State Department’s own Inspector General criticized her absenteeism from her post here: The IG noted that she was away from The Bahamas for an
NICOLE Avant average of 12 days during each of the 25 months of her tenure. That’s it. Since November 2011, no U.S. ambassador. It’s not as though the Americans are ignoring us or disrespecting us, or singling us out for some kind of special treatment. Over these past ten years, presidents have submitted several nominations to the U.S. Senate for the ambassadorship here. For a variety of reasons, none of them was ultimately
confirmed for the position. Ten years does seem like a long time to continue with no resident ambassador, but it’s helpful to notice that with no American chief of mission, we’re in pretty good company. Other nations with no one yet even nominated for an ambassadorship include Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and South Korea. More regionally, we are in a situation like those of Brazil, Belize, Cuba, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad. In fact, President Biden has celebrated the confirmation of only one ambassador since he was inaugurated. That is former Colorado senator and Obama-era Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Republican obstructionism in the Senate is part of the reason for this dismal record. Overall, Biden’s nomination and success rate is slightly behind that of his predecessor, but the administration is promising to pick up the pace. Like all the others, we’ll need to be patient.
Fortunate after COVID experience
L
aura is slender and fit, tall and intense. She eats carefully and does not drink or smoke. She’s in her early ‘50s. She and her investor husband have raised two handsome sons who are now both off to college. Laura, herself a finance person before her husband’s financial success enabled her to focus on the children and other pursuits, now lives in Baltimore and serves as a yoga instructor and mentor at America’s leading rehabilitation facility for wounded military veterans. Laura takes care of her health. She gets a flu shot every year. Partly because of her position at the hospital, she was vaccinated against the coronavirus in February. She wears a mask in public and has practised social distancing faithfully. She was planning to get her booster shot soon. But that will have to wait. Last Sunday morning, Laura recognized that she had COVID. “It started with the fever,” she recalled. “I felt flush all over my face and neck. My head started to hurt. It seemed like there was pressure from all inside my head. When I touched my forehead, it was burning up. And there was nothing at all wrong with any part of me from the neck down. “My husband had to travel out of town on business, so I drank a ton of fluids and tried to rest after he left on his trip. Sunday afternoon passed and I was able to sleep some. But as soon as I got up, my head began to throb again. I felt dizzy, a bit unsteady on my feet. And again, absolutely no symptoms at all below my neck. “I keep up on reputable
medical websites, and I realized that I probably had COVID. My symptoms perfectly matched what the websites said were COVID symptoms for someone in non-compromised good health who had been vaccinated. I decided I’d better get to the Emergency Room at one of the two hospitals near my home.” There followed eight harrowing hours filled with frustration and growing fear. “I visited both local ERs,” Laura recalled. “At both, I was told I would not be admitted to hospital because I had been vaccinated. There would be a six to eight hour wait to see a physician in the reception area of the ER at either facility because of the crush of patients with COVIDlike symptoms who had not yet been vaccinated. And there were also several people waiting in both ERs with various serious other, non-COVID symptoms and injuries. I didn’t stay at either hospital.” Instead, she went back home, now wondering if she would become an example of someone in good health who did all the right things and nevertheless succumbed to the virus. Further attempts to rest were futile. In the middle
of Sunday night, exhausted and fearful, Laura finally called her family doctor. Fortunately, his practice had a duty physician who soon returned her call. “He told me to take Tylenol and Motrin, alternating each medicine every four hours,” Laura reported. “Within a couple of hours, I began to feel better and could sleep. By Tuesday, I felt fine and was able to resume my normal work schedule.” Reflecting on her experience, Laura realizes how fortunate she is. She lives close to hospitals, and even though they could not help on a busy Sunday, she and her husband can afford the advanced health care offered by her internist’s practice. And because she was vaccinated soon after the vaccines became available, she benefited from the vaccine’s protection and did not need to be hospitalized. Many are not so fortunate, both in the U.S. and in The Bahamas. As our death toll passes 600, we are now ominously approaching a per capita fatality rate uncomfortably similar to the Americans’ 700,000 deaths from the coronavirus. This is certainly not an area where we want to emulate the U.S.
aybe the slow pace of American ambassadorial appointments is symptomatic of something bigger. Several polls and surveys in recent months have pointed to a diminishing faith among surveyed Americans in what is sometimes called American exceptionalism. That’s the notion that the U.S. is somehow preordained to be the world’s shining light, saviour, role model, promulgator of popular culture like films and music, and protector of democracy. While U.S. presidents, including especially incumbent Biden, still push out the narrative of American exceptionalism, there is a growing sense that the appeal among U.S. voters is fading, and with it, commitment to more traditional forms of American engagement abroad. One recent survey revealed a sharp decline in American interest in pursuing extended overseas engagements such as the recently ended 20-year war in Afghanistan. But there also appears to be waning interest in military confrontations with rivals such as China over Taiwan, for instance or Iran for its aggressive interference in
U.S. PRESIDENTS, including especially incumbent Biden (pictured), still push out the narrative of American exceptionalism. conflicts around the Middle percent believe in AmeriEast. can exceptionalism, with According to the results the other 60 percent affirmof one recent poll quoted atively stating that the U.S. by several publications, is no longer an exceptional Americans seem more and nation. more sceptical about not There is obviously a only whether the U.S. can steady and sharp decline or should act as the self- as younger people are appointed global leader, but surveyed. also whether it has a right Maybe it’s just tempoto do so at all. For example, rary fatigue after a period consider how Americans of unprecedented and peranswer when asked whether sistent domestic turmoil they see the U.S. as an and continuous, futile forexceptional nation: eign engagements with Among Americans over neither an evident metric the age of 60, nearly 80 for success nor an inherpercent say yes. For those ently cogent rationale. aged 45 to 60, it’s about 70 But if this trend persists percent. Between ages 30 and becomes permanent, and 44, just over 50 percent the prospects for us and say that is the case. But, for many others may look disthose aged 18 to 29, only 40 turbingly different.
PAGE 10, Thursday, October 14, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Beacon School joins eco programme By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE Beacon School has joined the Eco-Schools programme and is now among eight institutions on Grand Bahama identified as greenflag schools. Island Coordinator of the Eco-Schools programme Olethea Gardiner, co-chairperson for Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee (KGBCC), congratulated the special needs school for joining the growing number of eco-schools worldwide. “Thousands of schools worldwide, with over millions of students, participate in this programme,” Ms Gardiner said. “We are here today to announce that the Beacon School is our newest eco-school.” The KGBCC has served as the island coordinator for the past eight years. It has worked with other schools on the island to meet the programme requirement. The Beacon School is the first special needs institution in Grand Bahama that is an eco-school. Principal Titi McKenzie-Moss said the school
PRINCIPAL Titi McKenzie Moss, right, and Olethea Gardiner, left, of the Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee, which facilitates the Eco-School Programme on Grand Bahama, giving a tour of Beacon School. submitted its action plan Although the students and Fresh Fruit Fridays. and was approved for are not yet back in school She said they will focus the programme over the for face-to-face learning, on four main areas: biodisummer break. Ms Moss said the school versity; no littering/keeping She said that two teach- had already implemented a the grounds clean; backyard ers, a teacher’s aide, and 12 few things last year, such as farming; and using reuschildren would be part of Water Wednesdays where able and recycled materials the programme. students only drink water, and items at their sheltered
workshop facility. “We plan to label all of our trees in the school, and every class has a garden where they grow a different vegetable or herb, which we will use to make and sell salads and wraps at the workshop when we are open to the public on Wednesday and Thursday.” She said that reusable and recycled items collected by the students are used in the workshop to create things for the campus or for sale to the public. Teacher Hazel Adams, the coordinator for the programme at Beacon School, said they decided to participate in the initiative because they want students to know the importance of taking care of the environment. “We all have a responsibility to take care of our environment and our planet. And that was the main reason why we wanted to include our students in the programme,” she said. “We know education promotes action, and once the children are aware of the importance of taking care of the environment we know
that could be transferred into their lives and for them to learn about making responsible choices. How they think and respond and how their actions can affect their planet as a whole,” she stated. Ms Gardiner said other eco-schools on Grand Bahama are the Bishop Michael Eldon Schools, Lucaya International School, Freeport Gospel Chapel, Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Academy, Sunland Baptist Academy, and two public schools – the Holmes Rock Primary and the Maurice Moore Primary Schools. In 1992, eco-schools were developed as a response to the needs identified at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. The Eco-Schools programme was launched in 1994 in Denmark, Germany, Greece, and the United Kingdom with the support of the European Commission. Other schools on Grand Bahama interested in the Eco-Schools programme can contact the Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee.
TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO MAN (HIS AGE) HAS GONE BEFORE VAN HORN, Texas Associated Press
IN this image provided by Blue Origin, William Shatner exits the Blue Origin capsule as he is greeted by Jeff Bezos near Van Horn, Texas, yesterday. Photo: Blue Origin via AP
HOLLYWOOD’S Captain Kirk, 90-year-old William Shatner, blasted into space yesterday in a convergence of science fiction and science reality, reaching the final frontier aboard a ship built by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company. The Star Trek actor and three fellow passengers hurtled to an altitude of 66.5 miles over the West Texas desert in the fully automated capsule, then safely parachuted back to Earth in a flight that lasted just over ten minutes.
“What you have given me is the most profound experience,” an exhilarated Shatner told Bezos after climbing out of the hatch, the words spilling from him in a soliloquy almost as long as the flight. “I hope I never recover from this. I hope that I can maintain what I feel now. I don’t want to lose it.” He said that going from the blue sky to the utter blackness of space was a moving experience: “In an instant you go, `Whoa, that’s death.’ That’s what I saw.” Shatner became the oldest person in space, eclipsing the previous record by eight years.