10152020 NEWS AND SPORT

THURSDAY NEW Spicy McNuggets i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 88ºF LOW 78ºF

The Tribune Established 1903

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

Biggest And Best!

OBITS

VOLUME:117 No.222, OCTOBER 15TH, 2020

OFFICIA

CLASSIFIED TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS & MORE CARS

$1

INSIDE

‘TIME TO TURN THE TAPS OFF’

L SOUR CE

FRONT PORCH

TRUMP IS NOT AN AMERICAN ANOMALY

PAGE EIGHT

Cash-strapped WSC seeking to resume disconnection as debts mount and income falls

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Water and Sewerage Corporation’s executive chairman will today write to Cabinet ministers asking to restart delinquent customer disconnections as the utility grapples with “dire financial straits”.

Adrian Gibson told Tribune Business that the state-owned water supplier has little choice but to “recoup” some of the multi-million dollar sum it is owed given that current cash flows “cannot sustain monthly payments to vendors and [staff] payroll for the balance of 2020”.

He said the corporation

was “going back and forth” with the Ministry of Finance over reclaiming a “roughly $9m shortfall” in residential customer payments as a result of being directed to cease all disconnection activity since late March 2020 due to COVID-19.

With the Water & Sewerage Corporation facing a $30.8m “backlog” on payments due to vendors at end-August 2020, a sum that continues to grow, and a $15m-plus year-over-year decline in revenue for the year to date, Mr Gibson said such “unprecedented challenges” required immediate action to place the entity on “a firmer footing”.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

DAY TWO AND PUPILS STILL CAN’T LOG ON TO LESSONS

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Education’s public school virtual learning platform remained down for the second day yesterday, according to the Bahamas Union of Teachers.

Education officials had to turn to “plan B” which, according to BUT president Belinda Wilson, was strictly initiated by teachers.

On Monday, the Ministry of Education’s system

crashed and students across The Bahamas were either tossed off the system, or could not get on due to non-working passwords.

On Tuesday, the system was still down, but students were taught virtually by another method.

“The Ministry of Education’s virtual learning platform is still not up,” said Mrs Wilson. “So there are some schools who went to alternative plans and most of them are putting together their own Zoom classrooms.

SEE PAGE THREE

TEST DRIVE

AND OUR GUY SHOT THE COVER

BAHAMIAN Stanley Babb has been named one of the top wedding photographers in the world. To find out why, see tomorrow’s Weekend supplement.

‘CURBSIDE ONLY IS KILLING US’ SANDALS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A MANAGER of a local clothing store said curbside restrictions are “killing” the retail sector.

“I think clothing stores are the worst for curbside.

It’s no way we can survive.

Rubin’s (has) been around 92 years and it’s killing us,” said Wanda Cartwright.

of Rubin’s Palmdale Plaza location.

“They (the customers) cannot buy clothes and stuff without looking to see what we have - they cannot. This does not work.

“We’re only here because our bosses asked to come in and see what happens.”

She reasoned that if people can go to supermarkets en masse, then clothing stores should be able to

limit the amount of customers who come into their business in order to operate.

“I don’t know who’s advising him (Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis) but he has a serious problem if he can’t let two people in our shop and the food stores full of people and everywhere else that sells food but they can’t have two at (a time at) our stores.”

SEE PAGE FIVE

AFTER 13 MONTHS, KELLY’S FREEPORT REOPENS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A 55-YEAR “cornerstone” of Grand Bahama’s retail community is hoping the completion of its 13-month Hurricane Dorian recovery will serve as “inspiration” for other firms.

Lynne Fraino, Kelly’s (Freeport’s) marketing

executive, yesterday told Tribune Business it was “full force ahead” after the hardware and home centre retailer opened its revamped store following a 400-day transformation process in the wake of the Category Five storm’s devastation.

The company, which has kept all its 115-strong workforce fully employed throughout both Dorian’s

aftermath and the COVID19 pandemic, overcame the “huge setback” of the hurricane’s storm surge to return its retail store to full business on October 5.

Ms Fraino said: “The storm surge had resulted in flooding throughout the entire store, in the warehouse and all of our offices as well. It was complete devastation.”

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

BLOW TO EXUMAS’ REBOOT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SANDALS’ move to delay re-opening its Emerald Bay Resort until February 1 has dealt Exuma residents a “devastating” psychological blow, the island’s Chamber of Commerce chief warned yesterday.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

STATESIDE HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE THE US TO RECOVER?

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Thursday, October 15, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

‘NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN WOULD HAVE SOFTENED PAIN OF COVID-19’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

GOWON BOWE

A NATIONAL development plan would have softened the blow of

COVID-19, contended a noted banker yesterday, adding a recent regional report applies common sense logic to the way forward.

A recent joint report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Pan American Health Organisation has highlighted that the region is particularly vulnerable because of its high levels of labour informality, urbanisation, poverty, and inequality, and its weak health and social protection systems, in addition to the fact that it has large population groups living in vulnerable conditions and who require special attention.

It further notes that while Caribbean countries have managed to control the pandemic more quickly, in Latin America infection levels continue to rise.

However, its main conclusion is that if the pandemic transmission curve is not brought under control, the countries’ economies will be unable to recover. It also notes that, in order to both control the pandemic and reopen the economy, states must demonstrate effective and dynamic leadership and stewardship through national plans that incorporate health, economic and social policies.

Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief financial officer, said the recommendations make practical sense.

“The context of this is a very practical sense but it may be a bit overstated because ultimately the economy can’t stop the same way health can’t stop,” Mr Bowe said yesterday.

“So, what they are stressing is you have to put the priority on making sure that you are tackling health so that you enable or facilitate economic activity because without one you don’t have the other and the reality is if you don’t have income you can’t tackle health.

“If the government doesn’t have revenue or if an individual doesn’t have

a salary paying for medical facilities or treatment is difficult.

“But what I think is the most critical point they put out is really saying that there has to be dynamic leadership and stewardship through a national plan. I may have been called ‘Mr National Development Plan’ and I will continue to beat that drum.

“If you read the undertone of what they’re saying is those nations that had a national development plan would be addressing it better and let me put it in the context of the Bahamas, I totally agree.

“If you look at the pillars of the national development plan that The Bahamas had embarked upon several years ago you had the economic pillar which everyone knows is fairly easy this is the economy.

“It has a social pillar which included health, education, the family structure, the social safety programme etc and when you read through this report they are talking about income and equality, they are talking about access to education and access to healthcare, but part of the social pillar was national health insurance. Part of the social pillar was the plans for education including getting the largest budget allocation, but not getting the returns from it. So, when you think about just those two pillars you see the interdependence and the third pillar was governance.”

He continued: “So had we been more aggressive in finalising or implementing a national development plan would it have stopped the pandemic hitting the Bahamas? No. Would it have prevented us from suffering with the rest of world? No, but it would have given us a chartered course that we would have been able to follow.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 15, 2020, PAGE 3

Day two and pupils still can’t log on to lessons from page one “So far one or two schools got on. What some of the schools have done is they’ve just switched to Zoom classrooms. I think the Ministry of Education was very disingenuous in its press release saying it has switched to ‘plan B’.

The Ministry of Education never had a ‘plan B’. The teachers are the ones who made a ‘plan B’ by switching to Zoom and Google Classroom. With those platforms, they are able to teach. Eva Hilton and SC McPherson are two examples. They are using the Zoom platform.”

In a press release issued late Monday, the Ministry of Education admitted that the system was having difficulty, that teachers would resort to plan B and also noted that companies responsible for its system were working to restore it.

“As the public may be aware, the Department of Education did experience some technical challenges which prohibited many students from gaining access to our learning management system (LMS),” the ministry said.

“Thankfully, most of our school administrators and teachers were able to implement alternative modes of online instructional

delivery using their ‘plan B. One on One and Amazon Web Services, the companies responsible for hosting our LMS, are working to address the issues experienced today. It is hoped that these challenges will be resolved shortly,” the statement said.

Parents were appreciative that teachers were finding a way to give instruction despite the system issues.

MaKeva Symonette said “plan B” was working for her and her son.

“I don’t have a complaint here,” Ms Symonette said.

“We heard from my son’s teacher and she gave us certain information and that is what he used this morning.

STUDENTS at work at Graycliff and, below, Travis Robinson MP checks in on one of the students.

MP TEAMS UP WITH GRAYCLIFF TO GIVE STUDENTS A PLACE TO LEARN

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

GRAYCLIFF and Bain and Grants Town MP Travis Robinson are facilitating students’ virtual learning at a makeshift school at the popular restaurant.

According to Mr Robinson, the programme, which was launched last week, has 72 students. The students all go to class on a rotation, with 26 of them each day facilitated in the classroom.

Mr Robinson explained the co-owner of the restaurant emailed one night and stated she had an idea she wanted to run by him.

“The next day she and I met and she told me she wanted to partner with the community in any way possible to facilitate (learning) during the COVID-19 time,” he said.

She was able to offer the property free of charge for students who did not have internet or electricity at home and needed a learning space.

“She told me she had an area that possibly can be used for students to learn if need be and so it just happened all at once where she was able to offer the property free of charge for us to use.”

The new learning

environment came about due to COVID-19 restrictions in New Providence, which mandates virtual learning.

He added: “The programme was designed because Bain and Grants Town is a constituency that has many challenges specifically for this case, issues such as electricity, parents whose electricity is still off.

Parents who can’t purchase the tablets and laptop for their children to do online learning and then those parents who have the devices but they don’t have the Wifi or internet access at home.

“Those were the multiplicity of concerns that came to me as the member of Parliament and so I thought about how we can remedy that challenge and what solution can be brought about and that’s where the Bain and Grants Town Virtual School Graycliff Campus came about.”

He described the programme as “a tremendous help” for the “hundreds of parents” in the community.

“Ever since we launched the programme, the word and the news really got out about what’s happening here. I’ve had tons of phone calls and messages from parents who are now trying to get their child to be a part of this programme

as well, particularly because a number them as well are unemployed so they are out there trying to find jobs.

Single parents who may be working a little side hustle.

They can’t leave their three children home who are all under the age five.”

He is now appealing to the private sector to partner with this type of initiative.

The programme is in the process of opening a second location.

Felicia Carey, dean of the Bain Town Virtual School Graycliff Campus, said there are four or five volunteer teachers who will be on rotation for the rest of the school year. She said the students love the learning environment.

“They love the fact they have access to the devices,” she said. “They love the fact that even though maybe there might be some challenges with the Ministry of Education programme, they’re still able to come in a learning environment and still learn.

“They have been responding very well. They actually don’t want to go home. They want to come every day. It’s sad that we can’t accommodate them every day, but on the days that they’re here on rotation they have an amazing time.”

I must say I am a little disappointed with the Ministry of Education. I think officials there had all summer to get their system up and running. That was sufficient time to iron out the kinks.

This is a real black eye on them, I must say.

“I am not interested in the politics of it, but I just think that if officials made such a big deal about this as a safety method for students, then it should be up and running. Thank God there is a backup plan or we would be back at square one with the children basically not being taught anything. These are some scary times and I don’t think the children of

this era would ever be as learned as those who came out of the system before them. It’s real sad.”

In Abaco, parent Andrea Musgrove said the system was not her main worry, as electricity was off at the time she was contacted.

“You’re asking me if the learning system is up and running, in Abaco? How would I know that? You need to first ask me if I have electricity. The lights have been off here since morning so I can’t say if the learning system is working. Abaco is the forgotten island these days, it seems, so anything is possible here,” she said.

“A family member called

me this morning to say her child was online working, so I assume something must be up for her to work on, but I really can’t tell you what is happening on this side here where I am because we have no electricity.”

The Tribune made several attempts to contact Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd and Director of Education Marcellus Taylor to no avail.

In its statement, the Ministry of Education said despite the COVID19 crisis, it is pleased with the progress that has been made since the official start of the 2020 – 2021 academic year on October 5.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 4, Thursday, October 15, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

PLP calls for more testing and tracing

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Progressive Liberal Party wants the government to expand its contact tracing team, provide free COVID-19 testing and create more testing centres, insisting the measures are necessary in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus amid the country’s second wave.

Saying the country is losing its fight against COVID-19, opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday called on the government to follow his party’s recommendations as he released its COVID action plan on curbing the disease’s spread.

In a country where newly confirmed cases average between 500 to 600 weekly, Mr Davis said it is time for the Minnis administration to change its current course and adopt new strategies to better strengthen the country’s fight against the virus.

“We are now many months into this global health crisis,” the opposition leader said during yesterday’s press conference at the PLP’s headquarters.

“Some countries are succeeding, and some countries are failing. Right now, with 500 to 600 new cases on the dashboard every week and the real numbers significantly higher, The Bahamas is failing. But there is no reason we can’t change that.

I want to be very clear on this point. We can succeed.

There is a way forward.”

The measures propose free testing to all Bahamians who have been exposed to the virus, increased testing, expanded testing centres and additional contact tracers — something the PLP has repeatedly called for since the onset of the pandemic.

The party also recommends that healthcare workers and government employees on the front line

OPPOSITION leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. be tested regularly.

Yesterday, the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP added: “If they were to adopt the plans that we are putting forward today, which starts off with the principles and overarching tools of that plan is testing and rapid results, contact tracing and rapid contact tracing, and treatment and isolation, if we start off with those key tools, we think that will be the answer to stopping transmission and getting us back to where we need to be.”

The party’s

recommendations also include the introduction of a national education campaign to better educate Bahamians about the COVID threat.

Mr Davis said while he understands the measures recommended by his party are not inexpensive, preserving life is what’s most important.

“I think that the health crisis that we are now experiencing requires priority over anything else in this country at this time and choices and priority always define a government or a

people,” he replied when asked if he thought more money should be allocated towards testing instead of other projects.

“And if you’re going to choose to dig up sidewalks over the health of your people, it tells you what kind of government you are. I would’ve thought a Brave Davis administration would be paying more attention to its people and its health rather than completing or restoring or building sidewalks.”

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis

announced new restrictions for residents of New Providence and Abaco due to high COVID-19 case numbers on the islands, including a weekend lockdown and stricter curfew hours.

Health Minister Renward Wells told reporters on Tuesday health officials are recommending more stringent measures to prevent further community spread, particularly in New Providence.

Asked yesterday if he would support a stricter lockdown, Mr Davis

replied: “Lockdowns don’t work…The purpose of lockdowns is to ensure that you put in place to give you time and the basic infrastructure to assist you and aid you in testing treatment and isolation.

“That is what lockdowns are for. Lockdowns are not to punish people, it is to give the government and the political directives the opportunity to put in place those infrastructure and tools that are necessary to defeat the virus. We have squandered all the time and look where we are now.”

‘CRITICAL’ MOMENT IN FIGHT

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas has not yet turned the corner in its fight against COVID-19, a senior physician yesterday insisted, adding that at this “critical” juncture the nation’s plan needs reworking.

Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) president Sabriquet PinderButler told The Tribune that given increasing COVID-19 numbers, the population has failed to pull together in a concerted effort to combat the deadly disease.

A proponent for lockdowns, she said the tool will only work when combined with other measures.

According to Dr PinderButler, there is also a need for more contact tracers and additional testing.

“I think we wouldn’t be turning any corners right now because I think the COVID situation in the country as well as globally is still critical,” the CPSA president told The Tribune yesterday. “We’re definitely not seeing any downturns at this point in time. I think we are still seeing increased capacities of cases and over capacities of healthcare institutions at this moment.”

Asked about the public health strategy currently in use, she said: “I think that we agree that we need to refocus and try to restrategise on the best way possible to get our population in general on the same page.

“I think we’re still not seeing a concerted enough effort of all of us in terms of the preventative measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

I think we’re still not doing sufficient in terms of wearing our masks, social distancing, ensuring that we isolate and or quarantine when we know that we have COVID. That is still not happening.

“We’re not being our brothers’ keeper as we should and so as much as we may have restrictions lockdowns and different things along those lines we have to do that simultaneously because even if we have these things and we don’t do the other things we will still continue to have the spread of COVID-19 and I think that’s what’s hurting us the most in our country at this time. “(With) the contact tracing obviously (we need) more capacity with that,” she continued. “We need more numbers especially with the numbers that we’ve seen. Increased testing would obviously be a good thing as well for us to know and confirm persons.

“There are a lot of people who if they don’t get tested they do not feel that they’re having COVID-19 symptoms, but the flip side to that is there are people who you also encourage to get tested and they won’t go to get tested because they don’t believe they have COVID either or they don’t want to consider even knowing what’s happening in the country and in the world that its COVID because they want to continue to go to the store, continue to go out as usual and a lot of them, if they don’t have major symptoms, they don’t feel that there is a need for them to even truly know.

“So, there are so many things that come into play

and that’s why I think it’s important for all of us to appreciate that we have to keep all of the things in line.”

Health professionals are also concerned about reinfections.

Multiple international news agencies are reporting that the US recorded its first case of COVID-19 reinfection.

A man in the United States has reportedly contracted the respiratory virus twice, with the second infection becoming far more dangerous than the first.

The 25-year-old needed hospital treatment after his lungs could not get enough oxygen into his body.

However, reinfections remain rare and the man has now recovered.

In this regard Dr PinderButler said it is important that everyone does their part.

“When we look at the fact that we’re hoping that numbers would start to be on a consistent decline and then you see new cases coming up again it’s like okay, we are hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel, but we might also be having another bout of darkness and flu season is upon us. It is something to be concerned about, which is why I think the main thing we have to do right now is to make sure that we continue to encourage each other as we’re going through these things. Continue to educate the public about COVID and the measures to take to safeguard all of us.

“We are having concerns about that, but we will have to see how best we’ll have to help ourselves as we battle our way through COVID-19.”

Back in August, consultant physicians said they were disheartened by the alarming number of patient deaths related to COVID-19, sparked by an exponential increase in cases when the country reopened its borders in July.

At the time Dr PinderButler said the surge in cases had not only significantly strained medical workers, but main health facilities now have no more space for COVID-19 positive people.

The situation, she said, has stretched teams beyond measure.

THREE DEATHS, 194 NEW CASES THE Ministry of Health said there were 194 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed yesterday and three confirmed deaths from the virus.

28 additional cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Tuesday while another person died from the disease.

Cases rose to 5,385 yesterday. Yesterday’s cases include 172 in New Providence, one in Grand Bahama and one in Andros. A further 20 cases had locations pending. The cases on Tuesday include 27 in New Providence and one in Grand Bahama.

The latest deaths include a 46-year-old woman who died on October 12, a 51-year-old man on October 13, and two deaths yesterday, a 79-year-old woman and a 66-year-old man. All were from New Providence.

Two more non-COVID related deaths were also confirmed while there is one more death under investigation.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 15, 2020, PAGE 5

POLICE on patrol during the weekend lockdown.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

‘CURBSIDE ONLY IS KILLING US’ from page one

“They’re not catching no COVID in clothing stores.

“They let people in the bank. Why can’t they come in here one, two at a time?

(At the most there are) three people in here. They are trying to put everybody out of work.”

For Fine Threads managing director Adam Treco,

being restricted to only curbside sales is almost like being told to close.

With Monday being a national holiday, Tuesday was the first day for many retailers in New Providence to return curbside sales due to new COVID-19 restrictions.

This restriction was last implemented during the first wave of the disease.

“When we did this in

May, sales were down essentially 60-70 percent and when the curbside was attempted again I think after the second lockdown ...it was vaguely similar although not as bad,” he said. “I suspect we’re gonna have a May-like experience this time especially since nobody knows when we’re going to reopen and that puts a lot of uncertainty (out there).

“I mean there’s no real weddings...there’s no real funerals. Restaurants are closed, nobody’s going on a date. So, the real question is what are people buying clothes for unless it’s super mandatory?”

He added it’s a big inconvenience for most people to be asked to do curbside only as customers will have to WhatsApp or call staff first instead of being able to

just show up at the store.

“It is difficult because most people like to try on their clothes if it’s not something they’re hyper-familiar with. So I think most guys who are the corporate clients who do buy from us regularly, they’re relatively comfortable because they know how our stuff fits already.

“Clothes aren’t food,“ he added. “Most people

don’t know what size suit they wear. They might only know ‘medium.’”

New Providence and Abaco are under new restrictive measures, which were announced last Wednesday.

Restrictions now limit retail sales to only allowed by curbside except for food stores. Customers are not permitted to enter stores as relates to all other retail establishments.

Abaco residents seek more relaxation of restrictions

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

DAYS after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis eased some COVID-19 restrictions for Abaco, North and Central Abaco administrator Terrece Bootle-Laing said while most residents welcome the move, some want additional measures to be relaxed.

She was referring to school operations and construction activities during the weekends.

Noting the island is still struggling to recover from Hurricane Dorian, Mrs Bootle-Laing said many locals were left angered and frustrated after Dr Minnis last week announced a full weekend lockdown for the island, ordering the shutdown of nearly all businesses there.

The emergency orders also stated that residents

travelling from mainland Abaco to its surrounding cays would have to submit to a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

However, many of the restrictions have since been eased, with amendments made to certain business operations and inter-travel on the island.

For instance, gas stations and takeaway restaurants are allowed to remain open between 6am and 6pm during the weekend lockdowns. The cays have also been exempted from Abaco’s weekend lockdown and curfew hours, while residents commuting to the cays are no longer required to quarantine.

Yesterday, Mrs BootleLaing said the easing of certain restrictions was welcomed by many residents in the community.

However, she noted that residents are calling for more measures to be

AID’s Wullf Road location was closed yesterday until further notice as the company “investigates the health” condition of its staff.

In a post to its Facebook page, AID said its Mall at Marathon and East Street locations will continue regular operations in the interim.

AID CLOSES WULFF RD STORE

YOUR

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

relaxed, especially as it relates to school operations there, where only virtual learning can be practised.

Yesterday, Mrs BootleLaing acknowledged the challenges associated with that particular learning method for residents on the island, who are sometimes plagued with power outages.

“I know the government schools are entirely on a virtual platform and in North Abaco, as we speak right now, the electricity is off,” she told The Tribune. “So, whatever learning which would’ve been undertaken virtually is disrupted right now. So that is one of the challenges when you look at a virtual platform.

“The electricity in Abaco doesn’t frequently go off but there are times and occasions where it is disrupted like today because they are undergoing upgrades on power lines and phones and so that is expected in an environment like this.”

Before the Prime Minister’s announcement, several private institutions had already resumed school operations, with face-toface instruction for limited numbers of students in classrooms.

Mrs Bootle-Laing said many of those schools had been adhering to the COVID protocols and were shocked when they heard the news.

She added representatives have since appealed to the competent authority to review the current measures in place pertaining to school operations.

“There is an outcry and I believe the Prime Minister, as advised by the medical practitioners, has to review it with consideration of health and safety first,” she told this newspaper.

“Even representatives from the Chamber of Commerce made a presentation in his communication to allow schools to continue their face-to-face learning because a number of schools have just been opened and were adhering strictly to the protocols and parents have also been adhering to the protocols schools would’ve made for face-to-face learning.

“Some of the schools are a combination of virtual and face-to-face and we await to see whether that particular provision will be reviewed.”

Mrs Bootle-Laing said

some residents are also requesting that construction be permitted for certain hours during the weekend lockdown to help facilitate home restoration efforts.

“There are some contractors who are only available for home construction on the weekends because they are on major projects on the cays on the weekends they’re only able to commit their time to home construction and even their personal homes, but, like I said, we have to be guided with what health practitioners are saying.”

Central Abaco chief’s councillor, George Cornish added: “The thing about it is tourism is our main industry in Abaco and in the Bahamas. Most of the resorts here have gotten damaged and you have some resorts that have already set dates for opening or a soft opening.

“How is that going to help them get the tourism industry back up and running if we can’t work on weekends…so for us not being able to work on the weekends is going to put us back and stagnate the process.”

As of Tuesday, COVID19 cases on Abaco stood

at 160 and in the last week very few new cases have been reported. It is unclear how many cases remain active.

Mrs Bootle-Laing said while most residents have been adhering to the new COVID-19 guidelines, there are some people who still choose to disobey the rules.

She said: “We know the lockdown weekend, there seems to be for the most part adherence on the mainland. We saw on social media platforms gatherings on one of the beaches on the cays and that was our fear because that was a safe community (with no COVID cases) where that social media picture emanated from and we hope that after that gathering, that still is the case.”

As it relates to the business community, the island administrator continued: “One or two of the barrooms, I’ve seen a breach in protocols, but the business community for the most part are complying and you see the ‘no entry’, ‘no mask’ signs all around the business community and persons for their own safety are enforcing that rule.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, October 15, 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,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

No easy answer over cutting off water WHERE BPL has gone before, now the Water and Sewerage Corporation is seeking to follow – in cutting off customers whose bills remain unpaid.

Now, obviously, COVID-19 has left the nation in a situation no one wants to be in. Too many are left counting their pennies and holding on tight waiting for the tourism industry to start again and to allow people to pay their bills.

There are two categories of people here – those who can’t pay, and those who won’t pay. Those who can’t include people trying their hardest to make ends meet and struggling with finding enough money to put food on the table. Those who won’t… well, they deserve the wake-up call of a disconnection, especially at a time when revenue is down for agencies such as WSC. The trouble is, which is which? And neither side helps WSC to pay its own bills and keep the water flowing.

No one is under any illusions here – the country is having a rough time. Bills can’t be paid with empty pockets.

What we would hope is that WSC does what BPL did – and call on customers to reach out and make payments where they can, or make arrangements where possible.

If WSC knows you can’t pay, as opposed to won’t, perhaps there are things that can be done to make the payment easier over a longer term. If they know you’re doing all you can but COVID-19 leaves that being just not enough, we hope something can be done to make it easier.

After all, shutting off water will just drive more people out to the public pumps or to the stores for water, and that’s only asking for more opportunity

for COVID-19 itself to spread.

As for Bahamians, well, we should listen too when we hear the executive chairman of WSC, Adrian Gibson, say that the WSC “is in dire straits”. He said: “Our operating cash flow cannot sustain monthly payments for vendors and payroll.”

In other words, the same situation as many customers. Not enough money.

Too much they have to spend.

There’s no easy way through this ongoing crisis – but it all has to start with beating the virus so we can open back up for business. In the meantime, if you’re behind and you know it, contact WSC. They may be able to help – but they can’t help at all if they don’t hear from you.

Kelly’s do it the right way In this time of so much gloom and doom, we are delighted to hear a great story coming out of Grand Bahama.

When Hurricane Dorian ripped through the island, it left Kelly’s in Freeport in a state of “complete devastation”. After 13 months of rebuilding, and the hurdle of COVID-19 to clear along the way, Kelly’s is back.

It took 400 days to get there – but they have done it in the right way. Best of all, they kept all 115 workers fully employed throughout both Dorian’s aftermath and COVID-19. Now that’s a commitment to the community that must be applauded.

In a week in which our national heroes have been saluted, we would like to add one more round of salutes, for all those who made such a comeback possible. Well done, Kelly’s.

Rules make it too hard to plan visit EDITOR, The Tribune.

OUR family are regular visitors to The Bahamas and have enjoyed coming for several weeks during our cold winter. We always enjoy the warm sunny days and the friendly Bahamians who assist us. Our travel agent said that your country is a prime destination and the booking process was completed quickly. It is an easy motor trip to Toronto airport where we take the regular Air Canada service.

However, everything has changed this year. We regularly follow the news and letters to The Tribune.

We agree with the writers from Canada who have expressed their anxiety and distress at all the time consuming requirements for entry.

We were taken aback by some of the rather nasty and unfair comments expressed by Bahamian readers under those letters.

All we want is to come and visit again and we are writing in the hope that the current policies will change to permit us to travel. The officials making these difficult policies are divorced from reality.

It now seems we will need to take three COVID19 tests within 12 days!

Firstly, a great deal of time must be spent in

obtaining a COVID-19 test at a health facility here.

That is difficult as clinics offering such tests for healthy people are few in number and it may require a long journey.

Then after waiting for the result we are to scan the test to Nassau for a Health Visa with no firm idea when that will be sent back. We must be in Nassau within seven days. Then we must take the two further tests at our expense.

The Tourism Minister was suggesting he will force us to purchase your health insurance.

Canadians already purchase such policies before they leave. As a result there are very few flights because people do not have the time or inclination to complete all these requirements.

Where is the common sense? Advertisements for other Caribbean destinations are now regularly shown on the television.

All of them are far easier to enter.

As tourism is so important to the economy why is the Bahamas Government not providing and paying for tests when people arrive at the airport?

This would greatly increase tourism and bring in the necessary foreign exchange and stimulus to the economy. Such a policy would be far more

successful than the current rules which discourage visitors.

People lead busy lives.

They do not want problems when booking a trip. There are far too many other destinations which are hassle free.

There are many Canadians who still want to travel south during the winter and at other times during the year.

If they are not healthy they will not travel anyway.

I fear that The Bahamas will experience a severe economic downturn if those in charge do not have an immediate change to their travel policies.

They have failed to understand the consequences of their actions and all the problems they have created for prospective visitors.

This is especially very upsetting for families such as ourselves who have been coming regularly for many years.

We simply do not want to face the prospect of looking elsewhere for a holiday. Many Canadians own holiday properties in The Bahamas and cannot look elsewhere. We feel very letdown by the current situation.

EDWARD MOSSMAN Ontario, Canada October 10, 2020.

Reckless comments

by Davis EDITOR, The Tribune, IN A story reported in a local daily last week the Hon Philip Davis, PLP Leader, is quoted as saying, “I think it’s an act of punishment” following Prime Minister Hubert Minnis’ address in the House of Assembly where he, among other things, announced new COVID-19 restrictions in order to attempt to arrest the increasing number of infections, particularly in New Providence and Abaco.

What an extremely reckless and highly irresponsible statement by the Leader of the PLP, in the face of the increasing infections and by someone who seeks to lead our beloved country.

Every right-thinking Bahamian and, indeed, any casual observer, as to where we are in this country, given the high daily new infections of COVID19, particularly in New Providence and Abaco, would conclude that direct action needed to be taken and taken as soon as possible to curb the increasing infections.

Absolutely no one wants any new restrictions or lockdowns, including the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, Members of Parliament, Chief Medical Officer Dr McMillian, Deputy CMO Dr Brennen, Senior Consultant Dr Dahl Regis, nor the Bahamian people. But in face of the daily new infections, the Prime Minister, as the Competent Authority, and the Cabinet could rightly be accused of a dereliction of duty if new restrictions and lockdowns were not employed, especially for just the past holiday weekend.

The fact is that many countries around the world are doing the very same thing: employing new restrictions and even lockdowns! We are not alone by far in these circumstances

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net for employing these restrictions.

Many countries around the world are experiencing a second wave and clearly, so are we. Some of these countries include our friends to the north, the United States, several in Europe, among them the United Kingdom and Germany, which has one of the largest economies of the world, also Australia, India and South and Central America and the Caribbean.

In the circumstances, I suppose, the PLP Leader would say that the counties that take similar steps, including the United Kingdom, are also punishing their citizens. It is interesting to note that in the United Kingdom the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Keir Starmer, yesterday called on the government to do at least a two-week “circuit breaker” lockdown in England. And, I suppose Mr Davis would say that many other countries around the world, are also punishing their citizens.

It is stunning, unthinkable and unimaginable that the PLP Leader would suggest or have such outrageous views!

What utter nonsense!

And expressed by the person who desires to lead our beloved country. The comments by Mr Davis suggest just how seriously, or not, the Bahamian people should take his expressed desire.

The reality is that the Prime Minister, as the Competent Authority, and the Cabinet of the Bahamas, are not employing any new restrictions that are not being used around the world to beat back and indeed, defeat, as we will, by the grace of God, this second wave.

Sadly and most unfortunately, the PLP Leader is fully engaged in nothing but pure, unadulterated, one hundred per cent politics! He is playing pure politics with people’s lives, their health and their ability to earn a living!

Rather than talk utter nonsense about “punishment” and even coercion, he properly, in the circumstances, ought to have focused his attention on doing his best to encourage our brothers and sisters, as our Prime Minister did, to follow the health protocols – the life and job saving protocols: Wear a mask Physically distance at least six feet Wash your hands or sanitize them regularly and Do not gather.

One might have thought that, being a responsible Leader of the Official Opposition, one desirous of leading our county, in less than two years and having regard to his recent experience and so many other Bahamians, he would have expressed a more cautionary message to the Bahamian people, especially headed into a three-day holiday weekend.

However, he chose not to do that. Instead, he chose to be purely and unashamedly political during these perilous times and indeed, during a national health crisis, one being experienced around the world.

Right-thinking Bahamians who want better for our beloved country, expect considerably more from the Leader of the Official Opposition during these perilous times and a national health crisis unifying us, not attempting to divide us.

MICHAEL FOULKES, MP Nassau, October 14, 2020.

A

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 15, 2020, PAGE 7

MAN ACCUSED OF THREATENING TO KILL HIS MOTHER DENIED BAIL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

AN Eleuthera man who was accused of threatening to kill his mother and harm two other people was yesterday denied bail ahead of his trial.

Police said Dion Cummings, 36, threatened to harm Idell Johnson in Greencastle, Eleuthera, on July 11. They also said the defendant threatened to kill Herbert McKinney on July 10, and alleged he issued death threats to his mother, Isabel Cummings,

on October 8.

During his hearing before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans yesterday, Cummings denied all of the allegations. As a result, his case was adjourned to December 9 for trial in Eleuthera.

Cummings was denied

bail and remanded in custody until that time. He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

Yesterday, a 33-year-old woman also appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes for similar offences. Tess Pratt was accused of threatening to kill

Glenn Woodside and Geralone Cadet on September 2. She was further accused of damaging Woodside’s $70 cell phone and assaulting him with a pipe that same day.

During her arraignment, Pratt denied the charges and her matter was adjourned to November 19 for trial

before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

After pleading not guilty to all of the offences, Pratt was denied bail.

Her attorney, Bjorn Ferguson, said he was in the process of applying to a judge in the Supreme Court for his client’s release.

Man charged over marijuana

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 24-YEAR-OLD man was charged with marijuana possession in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Morris McKenzie was arrested after officers found six grams of Indian hemp on him on October 8.

The court was told officers, acting on information around 2.15pm on the day in question, went to a residence on Carmichael Road.

Upon their arrival, they noticed McKenzie who appeared to look in their direction before acting in a suspicious manner.

The officers then approached the defendant and informed him he would be searched for dangerous drugs and firearms.

During their investigation, they found eight mini Ziploc packages which all contained a quantity of suspected marijuana in his right hand. The defendant was subsequently arrested and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit where

he admitted to the offence in an interview with police.

During the hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes, McKenzie pleaded guilty.

He was subsequently fined $400 or three months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

In a separate matter, Chris Ferguson, 33, also appeared before Magistrate Forbes for a drug related offence.

Ferguson was arrested after officers found three grams of Indian hemp on him on October 12.

He pleaded guilty and was conditionally discharged after he told the magistrate he had been battling a drug addiction since he was 19 years old.

The prosecution said officers were on mobile patrol near Marshall Road around 10.18 that night, when they noticed Ferguson acting suspiciously.

When the officers stopped and questioned the defendant, he told them he was heading home.

While speaking with Ferguson,

one of the officers noticed how he threw a small silver object from his hand.

When the officer retrieved and examined it, he realized it was a marijuana joint. The prosecution said the officers found two more silver foil wraps, each of which contained a quantity of suspected marijuana, on the ground near Ferguson. He was subsequently arrested and charged with dangerous drug possession.

During the hearing, Ferguson pleaded guilty. He also told the magistrate he had been released from jail recently and had managed to stay out of trouble until now. Ferguson said he had the joints to smoke and said he was battling a 14-year addiction and recognised he needed help.

As a result, Magistrate Forbes accepted his guilty plea and ordered Ferguson to attend drug counselling classes at the Department of Social Services for 12 months. He warned the defendant if he failed to do so, he could risk spending one month on remand.

GROUP ACCUSED OF FAILING TO KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCE ARE DISCHARGED

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAGISTRATE yesterday discharged a group of men who were accused of violating the emergency orders by failing to practice social distancing.

Police arrested Garth Munroe, 60, Collin Stubbs, 48, Sheldon Johnson, 47, Herve Pierre, 36, Craig Cash, 31, Steven Michel, 24, Tony Bowe, 26, and Dion Grey, 26, after they were found congregating in a yard in the Carmichael area around 3.20pm on August 14.

All of the men pleaded guilty to violating the curfew during a hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes yesterday.

The court was told that officers were on mobile patrol in the Pacific Court area when they saw a

group of men gathered in a yard. The prosecution said the gathering violated the amendments that were made to the emergency orders on August 6.

This prompted officers to approach the men and ask them why they were outside congregating. The court was told none of the defendants could give the officers a satisfactory explanation for their actions. As a result, they were all arrested and charged with the offence.

During the hearing, the men were represented by attorney Keith Bell. He told the magistrate all of his clients resided in the Carmichael area or frequented the vicinity quite often. He also noted the emergency orders called for people who did not belong to the same household to practice physical distancing. He argued that although the defendants pleaded guilty in court, they all had on face

masks and were maintaining their social distance at the time of their arrest. Mr Bell also said the property the men were gathered on was enclosed and claimed police summoned Munroe out of the house in the yard to open the gate so they could approach the rest of the defendants.

After listening to Mr Bell’s plea in mitigation, Magistrate Forbes told the defendants the fact that they did not live in the same households meant they were jeopardising their own health, as well as the health of others with whom they came into contact. He said while he understood their desire to socialise, they have to “appreciate the deadly nature of the virus”.

With that in mind, he told the defendants they should avoid taking unnecessary risks. As a result, he discharged the eight men with a warning.

SEVERAL ACCUSED OVER DRUGS AFTER POLICE OPERATION IN GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net SEVERAL people were arrested for possession of dangerous drugs following a police operation in three drug hotspots on Grand Bahama.

According to reports, a team of officers led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashton Greenslade, conducted police operations on Friday, October 9, in the Freeport area.

Shortly after 2pm, they went to Bass Lane where they executed a search warrant at a residence and discovered a number of drug paraphernalia, some

$2,000 in cash, and 43 foil wraps, containing suspected marijuana. Three men were arrested and taken into police custody.

In the second incident, the team went to a residence on Clarke Avenue where they discovered in a vehicle 55 foil wraps of suspected marijuana and over $1,200 cash. One man was arrested and taken into police custody.

Next, officers went to an area on Adventurers Way where they searched an abandoned white explorer vehicle. With the use of drug search dogs, they discovered a ziplock bag, containing 51 packages of suspected marijuana. No arrest was made

in this incident.

Superintendent Terecita Pinder reported that over the holiday weekend police were out in full force ensuring that persons followed restrictions concerning large crowds and gatherings and that the persons were adhering to COVID-19 protocols such as wearing masks and social distancing, and complying with the mandatory curfew. She said that police conducted numerous road checks and vehicle stops and searches.

As a result, nine persons were cited for failure to comply with the emergency orders, and 15 motorists received fixed penalty notices.

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 27-YEAR-OLD man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with attempted murder.

Basil Sears appeared before Deputy Chief

Magistrate Andrew Forbes after he was accused of attempting to kill Colvino Flowers on March 11.

During the hearing, Sears was not required to enter a plea and the case was adjourned to December 2 for service of a

voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

In the meantime, the accused was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

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

A HELPING HAND FOR STUDENTS IN ANDROS SENATOR Jasmin Turner-Dareus distributed tablets and backpacks to her home town in South Andros on Tuesday.

Students and teachers of Burnt Rock Primary School, Mangrove Cay, and Behring Point Primary School, Bowen Sound Primary School, and Fresh Creek Primary School in

Central Andros received new electronic equipment.

Senator Dareus encouraged the staff and students to keep in step with world trends and, during this coronavirus pandemic, obey protective protocols.

She thanked donors, partners and team members that made the initiative possible.

PAGE 8, Thursday, October 15, 2020

AROUND 1997, about 23 years ago during a trip to New York City for a social justice conference, this columnist first met a fellow participant who lived in the city.

The new colleague was a passionate advocate for a host of social concerns, including: racial equality, fair housing, immigrants’ rights and poverty in the one of the richest cities in America and the world.

During an evening break, we visited a gleaming steel city landmark, with an impressive atrium and high-end stores which opened in 1983, with luxury apartments opening in the ensuing years.

What was the relatively

new landmark adorning Midtown Manhattan at 721725 Fifth Avenue, between 56th and 57th Streets?

It was the 58-floor, 664fttall Trump Towers, the corporate headquarters of 37-year-old Donald Trump, an up-and-coming mogul and real estate developer in Gotham, the epicentre of American power, prestige and celebrity.

The colleague loathed Trump, whom he saw as an affront to various values related to economic and social justice.

He regularly joined protests outside the towering heights of Trump’s business headquarters, which was built amid allegations of underpaying contractors

THE TRIBUNE

TRUMP IS NOT AN AMERICAN ANOMALY

and the use of non-legal migrant workers. Trump had filed a lawsuit because the building was not tax-exempt.

According to The Finger Lake Times, Trump sued one of the contractors for “total incompetence”.

Construction was halted twice because of protests condemning “the dearth of minority contract workers”.

The colleague insisted Trump represented a dark side of the American ethos and capitalist enterprise, who was intent on pushing scores of poor people out of the city in his rapacious grab for real estate, which he intended to develop and turn over to the super-rich.

At the dedication of the

building Mayor Ed Koch stated: “This is not your low-income housing project ... of which we need many.

But we also need accommodations, uh, for those who can afford to pay a lot of money and bring a lot of taxes into the city.”

EMBODIMENT

American theologian and pastor Reinhold Niebuhr dissected and exploded this construct in his writings and preaching, forever reminding America of the demands of biblical justice and the conceits of national hubris, which is not an American conceit alone.

Most nations tend to such conceit, though the American Colossus, because of its history and power, promotes a particular form of hubris.

The colleague was convinced Trump was a threat to the poor, the embodiment of an American brand of capitalism harmful to basic social justice in a city and nation with gulfs of Whether Trump, who was ever-growing inequality. formerly pro-choice, is a And he was haunted by man of faith or a charlatan the possibility of Trump who uses faith as a prop to garnering even greater eco- advance his self-interests nomic and political power is irrelevant. For many of in the city and the country. his faith-based fans and To this writer, the sycophants his pretence political prognostications of belief and play-acting seemed hyperbolic and are enough to soothe their over-the-top, his concerns consciences and sometimes exaggerated, his belief that fanatical needs.

Trump could transform There are of course his economic interests and non-religious brands of celebrity into greater politi- American exceptionalism, cal power, which even unfounded many moder‘Whether Trump, and mostly who was formerly ate Americans risible.

He buy into as a was, tragically, pro-choice, is a sort of nationprescient. alistic duty man of faith or Donald and supposa charlatan who J Trump, a edly patriotic uses faith as a narcissistic emblem. child of white prop to advance This excepprivilege, an tionalism his self-interests unabashed includes white suprem- is irrelevant. For beliefs about acist, a many of his faiththe excepcelebrity hucktionalism of ster, a fierce based fans and American sycophants his misogynist democracy who gleefully pretence of belief and system bashes immiof governgrants and and play-acting are ment, which whose admin- enough to soothe they view as istration had their consciences superior. immigrant Ironically, and sometimes children though many, detained if not most fanatical needs.’ behind detenAmericans, tion cages, embodies a evince a natural antipathy deep-seated part of the foun- to the power of the state dational psyche of America. and the federal governHe is not an American ment, most also believe anomaly. He represents America enjoys a superior one of the primordial faces form of government than of America. But he is not most of the world. the only face of America.

The Electoral College, There is another America: a compromise in the then tolerant, compassionate, new slave republic is antialtruistic, internationalist, quated. Were the American hungering for justice, wel- founders alive today they coming of immigrants, would likely be appalled philanthropic. that the system has recently The titanic struggle produced two Presidents between the faces of Amer- (George W Bush in 2000 ica is even clearer in the and Trump in 2016) who 2020 election, which may lost the popular vote, but push the pendulum in a who became President, the certain direction but will former with the help of the not resolve the enduring Supreme Court. struggle for the character The US Senate has of the United States, with become a hidebound club its underlying national enthralled to corporate mythologies. interests, paralysed by the One of these myths is that filibuster and other convenAmerica is essentially an tions, structurally giving “anointed land”, favoured considerable and non-comby the Almighty, ie a white mensurate power to rural Christian God, who has a less populated states. divine plan for America, Despite the tragic level which many Americans of gun violence and deaths believe as an article of reli- in America, and despite gious and civic faith. overwhelming public supJohn F Harris notes: port for certain background “American exceptionalism checks, such legislation is based on divine franchise blocked in the US Congress implies unconquerable des- because of the lobbying tiny, and invites arrogance might of the gun lobby. and feelings of special And despite the glowing entitlement.” rhetoric, the Senate is not The great 20th century the most deliberative body

IRRELEVANT

in the world. A number of other parliamentary democracies are decidedly more deliberative and democratic.

The perennial struggle for the ideological balance on the US Supreme Court and on the federal judiciary, mystifies most of the world, where appointments are typically made by more independent judicial bodies, absent all of the ideological battles and theatre.

ADMIRABLE

There are admirable features in the US system of government, but the country could learn much about democracy from other longstanding democracies and systems.

Were Trump in a parliamentary system such as Canada or the United Kingdom, he likely would already have been removed in a vote of no confidence early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Confidence Man is an episode in the Netflix series, Dirty Money. A review of the episode notes: “Tracing Trump’s developer-hucksterpopulist journey, director Fisher Stevens … argues that our current President is nothing more than a modern American conman, someone who profits off his name to the detriment of the general public and who commands a reptilian awareness of the media.”

Celebrity media shows like Morning Joe, hosted

by Joe Scarborough, eventually rounded on Trump, with some such hosts becoming dedicated critics.

But at the beginning of his rise to the presidency during the 2016 nomination process, they happily gave Trump tremendous airtime because he was good for ratings, despite his unmatched vulgarity, racism and xenophobic broadsides against immigrants, especially Hispanics.

The American media was critical to his accession to political power. In office, Trump has continued to mesmerise and manipulate the media, including right wing and left wing media houses. Much of the media and Trump have incestuously used each other through all manner of intercourse. Bill Pruitt, the producer of The Apprentice noted of the TV series: “What we did, that was a scam. That was an entertainment.” The Trump ascendancy and presidency are like a Mel Brooks production, except the parody and farce has had real-life tragic consequences for America and the world.

How did someone such as Donald Trump relatively easily commandeer the Republican Party and become the American President, who continues to enjoy an unwavering base of support? Why do some so fervently support him? What does he understand about a deep-seated element of the American psyche and experience?

More next week.

How long will it take for the US to recover the ground it’s lost in the eyes of the world?

THE TRIBUNE

“I FEEL sorry for Americans,” a lawmaker in Myanmar told The New York Times recently. From Berlin, another Times reporter wrote that events in the US were “shaking fundamental assumptions in Europe about American exceptionalism”.

Many of those events that are shaking international faith in the US are political. You can choose from among the following and see if they diminish your confidence in the American ability to manage its own affairs or represent a stalwart force for good in the world.

The current American administration stubbornly and overtly continues to put at risk thousands of lives by holding outdoor political rallies where the safety prescriptions of its own experts are minimised.

US President Donald Trump continues to blather on about why “his” Justice

Thursday, October 15, 2020, PAGE 9

Department should investigate and send to prison his predecessor, a supremely dignified man who literally set no foot wrong in eight tumultuous years in the fishbowl of the White House.

And who, by the way, has just announced that he will campaign enthusiastically for Joe Biden.

The Trump administration persists in its attempts to corrupt both the American jurisprudence system by packing federal courts with inadequately qualified loyalists, partly in the hope that the President can somehow steer the upcoming election into the courts for resolution and that his appointees will tilt the election his way.

The Republican Party is one of America’s two major political parties. It continues to abet Trump in his misbegotten efforts to promote himself, while abjectly failing to stand up to his bullying control of the

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

party. The venality of the American political system has rarely been so strikingly exposed.

Congressional efforts to support the sagging US economy are sabotaged by political gridlock in Washington. In the face of continuing high rates of COVID-19 infection and small business failures all around the country, little or no federal assistance to the newly unemployed and pandemic-shuttered businesses is forthcoming.

Trump is not the only reason the world’s confidence in the US seems

shakier than at any time since the Second World War. The Democrats are as guilty as Republicans in creating the partisan, corrupt political mess in Washington. Here’s an example: The change in Senate rules that permitted the GOP to essentially block President Barack Obama’s 2016 Supreme Court nominee was the direct result of actions taken several years earlier by then-Senate majority leader Harry Reid, who was eager to win Senate confirmation for hundreds

HEADY DAYS AHEAD FOR THE HEAT?

MIAMI Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra directs his team during the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

MAFIA DON OR A SOCCER MOM? DOES Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s latest Supreme Court nominee, remind you of anyone?

For some observers, she is the female version of Vice President Mike Pence.

Like the Vice President, Barrett has deep Indiana roots. She appears, like Pence, to have profound and unflinching socially conservative religious beliefs, starting with but by no means limited to her oft-stated objections to legalized abortion and any public funding to support it.

There are a couple of noteworthy things about her public hearings on Capitol Hill. First, she so reflexively and woodenly avoids answering provocative Democratic questions that she reminds some observers of old-time Mafia bosses who invoked the Fifth Amendment of the US constitution to avoid incriminating themselves when they appeared before congressional inquisitors decades ago.

Barrett knows she will be confirmed this month by the pliant GOP majority in the Senate. Then, to listen to liberal pundits, the sky in the US will literally fall on American jurisprudence.

Moaning and hand-wringing prevail among Democratic-leaning commentators. The high American court will soon have a 6-3 conservative majority, with five of the justices adjudged to be true believers in social conservative tenets.

The resignation to Barrett’s inevitable confirmation by Democrats is the other noteworthy element of the current circus of her hearings. Even most of the Democratic women on the Senate Judiciary Committee acknowledge they are powerless to resist Barrett’s inevitable ascension to the nation’s highest court. This represents a sharp contrast to the hearings two years ago of Brett Kavanagh.

Part of the difference is doubtless due to the scandalous allegations that besmirched Kavanagh. Barrett’s personal life appears honourable. Part of the difference may be also due to appearances. Barrett looks like America’s soccer mom.

Kavanagh still resembles the dissolute frat boy he was depicted as being.

But part of the difference may simply be Barrett’s gender. While her judicial opinions reveal her conservative ideology, there is hope that as a woman, she will develop a perspective on the court that permits occasional compassion.

And, as she pointed out the other day, Barrett will be the only justice not to have graduated from Yale or Harvard law schools. A Notre Dame graduate and professor, she noted that while she respects those Ivy League bastions, her alma mater might be able to teach the others a thing or two about football.

A sense of humour isn’t the worst place to start.

FINALLY, how about a little love for the Miami Heat? After their gritty loss to LeBron James and the Lakers in the NBA finals, the Heat are the insiders’ pick to dominate this decade.

With indomitable Jimmy Butler with the team for two more years to partner with emerging young stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, maybe all the Heat need is for league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to come to South Beach.

The Bucks star is a free agent after the upcoming season. Anyone want to bet against Pat Riley and Eric Spoelstra luring him to the land of sunshine and no personal income tax?

of Obama-appointed judges. Now the Republicans are doing the same thing.

And so on. Political power in Washington corrupts its beneficiaries, just like it does in every other capital city in the world.

But because America still sees itself and is seen by many as Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on the hill,” its descent into unseemly public and societal strife is magnified in the eyes of the world.

We seem to be witnessing the end of what has long been called “American exceptionalism,” basically the notion that the US is anointed as naturally special and superior, and that American military, cultural, political and economic power is inherently a force for good in the world. These precepts lead to the conclusion that the US does, and should, enjoy unique rights and responsibilities.

President Trump has shirked American international responsibilities with a sneer and a jibe. While his administration has actually done a reasonably respectable job of managing US international affairs at a working level, Trump has made headlines by flouting convention and acting like a clown far too often while seeming to bow before unfriendly foreign agents like Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Perhaps damage to America’s reputation

abroad will be limited once Trump leaves office, many outside the US may take some convincing that America can truly be again relied upon as a beacon of global hope.

Where did the notion of American exceptionalism come from? While some think it originated in this century, most historians seem to agree the concept got its real start as a justification for American actions in seizing what was left of the Spanish Empire after prevailing in the SpanishAmerican War of 1898.

As the final result of that quick and one-sided contest, Cuba and the Philippines were granted their independence from Spain, and strategic islands like Guam and Puerto Rico were transferred from Spanish to American control. Within 50 years, the US had tilted the military balance in two world wars against the aggression of successive German regimes and their allies. The last half of the 20th Century was America’s golden age.

Now what? Polls seem to show Americans are much less convinced than they were at the end of the Cold War of their nation’s exceptional nature. Faith in government is at or near all-time lows. Commitment to do the right thing internationally seems to be ebbing.

The dismissal from office of Trump in less than three weeks would help somewhat to restore international faith in the US. But the exercise of American power abroad, and its relationship to foreign direct assistance, may take some time to rebuild.

For some nations, that time may be too much time, with consequences as yet unforeseeable but almost certainly most unwelcome.

PAGE 10, Thursday, October 15, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Is the cure worse than the disease? Work that out and then we can decide what to do

By DANNY DORLING Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography, University of Oxford In 1968, at the height of the last great influenza pandemic, at least a million people worldwide died, including 100,000 Americans. That year AMM Payne, a professor of epidemiology at Yale University, wrote: “In the conquest of Mount Everest anything less than 100 percent success is failure, but in most communicable diseases we are not faced with the attainment of such absolute goals, but rather with trying to reduce the problem to tolerable levels, as quickly as possible, within the limits of available resources…”

That message is worth repeating because the schism between those seeking “absolute goals” versus those seeking “tolerable

levels” is very much evident in the current pandemic. On September 21, the British Medical Journal reported that opinion among UK scientists is divided as to whether it is better to focus on protecting those most at risk of severe COVID, or imposing lockdown for all.

One group of 40 scientists wrote a letter to the chief medical officers of the UK suggesting they should aim to “suppress the virus across the entire population”.

In another letter, a group of 28 scientists suggested “the large variation in risk by age and health status suggests that the harm caused by uniform policies (that apply to all persons) will outweigh the benefits”. Instead, they called for a “targeted and evidence-based approach to the COVID-19 policy response”.

A week later, science writer Stephen Buranyi

‘Is the cure worse than the disease?

We would have to know how many people would die of other causes, for example, of suicide (including child suicides) that would not have otherwise occurred, or liver disease from the increase in alcohol consumption, from cancers that were not diagnosed or treated, to determine the point at which particular policies were taking more lives than they were saving.’

wrote a piece for the Guardian newspaper arguing the positions in the letter with 28 authors represent those of a small minority of scientists. “The overwhelming scientific consensus still lies with a general lockdown,” he claimed.

A few days later, over 60 doctors wrote another letter saying: “We are concerned due to mounting data and real world experience, that the one-track response threatens more lives and livelihoods than COVID-lives saved.”

This back and forth will undoubtedly continue for some time yet, although those involved will hopefully begin to see opposing scientific views and opinions as a gift and an opportunity to be sceptical and learn, rather than as a “rival camp”.

SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS TAKES TIME There are issues, such as global warming, where there is scientific consensus.

But consensuses take decades, and COVID-19 is a new disease. Uncontrolled experiments in lockdown are still ongoing, and the long-term costs and benefits are not yet known. I very much doubt that most scientists in the UK have a settled view on whether pub gardens or universities campuses should be closed or not. People I talk to have a range of opinions: from those who accept the disease is now endemic, to those who wonder if it can still be eradicated.

Some suggest that any epidemiologist who does not toe a particular line is suspect, or has not done enough modelling and that their views should not carry much weight. They go on to dismiss the views of other scientists and non-scientist academics as irrelevant.

But science is not a dogma, and views often need to be modified in the light of

increasing knowledge and experience.

I am a geographer, so I am used to seeing such games of academic hierarchy played above me, but I do worry when people resort to insulting their colleagues rather than admit that knowledge and circumstance have changed and reappraisal is necessary.

A GRIM CALCULUS Is the cure worse than the disease? This is the question that currently divides us, so it is worth considering how it might be answered.

We would have to know how many people would die of other causes, for example, of suicide (including child suicides) that would not have otherwise occurred, or liver disease from the increase in alcohol consumption, from cancers that were not diagnosed or treated, to determine the point at which particular policies were taking more lives than they were saving.

And then what value should you put on those lost or damaged lives against the economic consequences?

We do not live in a perfect world with perfect data.

For children, for whom the risk of death from COVID is almost zero and the risks of long-term effects are thought to be very low, it is easier to weigh up the negative effects of not going to school or of being trapped in households with rising domestic abuse.

For university students, who are mostly young, a similar set of calculations could be made, including estimating the “cost” of having the infection now, versus the cost of having it later, possibly when the student is with their older relatives at Christmas.

With older people, though, the calculus – even in a perfect world – would become increasingly complex. When you are very old and have very little time left, what risks would you be willing to take? One elderly man famously claimed: “No

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

pleasure is worth giving up for the sake of two more years in a geriatric home in Weston-super-Mare.”

A recent paper, published in Nature magazine, suggests that even in Hong Kong, where compliance with mask-wearing has been over 98 percent since February, local elimination of COVID is not possible.

If it is not possible there, it may not be possible anywhere.

On the brighter side, elsewhere, elderly people have been protected even when transmission rates are high and overall resources are low. In India, a recent study found that “it is plausible that stringent stay-at-home orders for older Indian adults, coupled with delivery of essentials through social welfare programmes and regular community health worker interactions, contributed to lower exposure to infection within this age group in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.”

However, minimising mortality is not the only goal. For those who don’t die, the outcome can still be prolonged and severe debility. That, too, must be taken into account. But unless you are sure that a particular measure for locking down will do more good than harm, in the round, you should not do it.

In 1970, shortly before he became dean of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, C.E. Gordon Smith wrote: The essential prerequisite of all good public health measures is that careful estimates should be made of their advantages and disadvantages, for both the individual and the community, and that they should be implemented only when there is a significant balance of advantage. In general, this ethic has been a sound basis for decision in most past situations in the developed world although, as we contemplate the control of milder diseases, quite different considerations such as the convenience or productivity of industry are being brought into these assessments.

Current beliefs of where the balance of advantages and disadvantages lie are changing. The “rival camps” rhetoric needs to end. No individual or small group represents the view of the majority.

• Originally published on theconversation.com

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 15, 2020, PAGE 11

Barrett keeps Democrats, Trump at bay in hearing WASHINGTON Associated Press OVER and over, Amy Coney Barrett said she’d be her own judge if confirmed to the Supreme Court. But she was careful in two long days of Senate testimony not to take on the president who nominated her, and she sought to create distance between herself and past positions, writings on controversial subjects and even her late mentor.

Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court to take the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg seems inevitable, as even some Senate Democrats acknowledged in Senate hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday. The shift would cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the court and would be the most pronounced ideological change in 30 years, from the liberal icon to the conservative appeals court judge.

The 48-year-old judge skipped past Democrats’ pressing questions about ensuring the date of next month’s election or preventing voter intimidation, both set in federal law, and the peaceful transfer of presidential power. She also refused to express her view on whether the president can pardon himself. “It’s not one that I can offer a view,” she said in response to a question Wednesday from Sen Pat Leahy of Vermont.

Democrats raised those questions because President

SUPREME Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett speaks during a confirmation hearing in Washington.

Donald Trump has done so himself.

When it came to major issues that are likely to come before the court, including abortion and health care, she repeatedly promised to keep an open mind and said neither Trump nor anyone else in the White House had tried to influence her views.

“No one has elicited from me any commitment in a case,” she said.

Nominees typically resist offering any more information than they have to, especially when the president’s party controls the Senate, as it does now. But Barrett wouldn’t engage on topics that seemed easy to

swat away, including that only Congress can change the date that the election takes place.

She said she is not on a “mission to destroy the Affordable Care Act,” though she has been critical of the two Supreme Court decisions that preserved key parts of the Obama-era health care law. She could be on the court when it hears the latest, Republicanled challenge on Nov. 10.

Barrett is the most open opponent of abortion nominated to the Supreme Court in decades, and Democrats fear that her ascension could be a tipping point that threatens abortion rights.

There was no hiding her

TRUMP ‘A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED’ AS ELECTION DAY NEARS DES MOINES, Iowa Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump yesterday sought to shore up support from constituencies that not so long ago he thought he had in the bag: big business and voters in the red state of Iowa.

In a morning address to business leaders, he expressed puzzlement that they would even consider supporting his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, arguing that his own leadership was a better bet for a strong economy. Later, the president held his third campaign rally in three nights, this time in Iowa, a state he won handily in 2016 but where Biden is making a late push.

Trump claimed to be leading in the most recent poll he saw. “For me to only be up six, I’m a little bit concerned,” he asserted.

Multiple polls have shown a much closer race.

Biden, for his part, held a virtual fundraiser from Wilmington, Delaware, and delivered pretaped remarks to American Muslims. He did not have any public campaign events, unusual for just 20 days out from Election Day. The Democratic nominee used his appearance at the fundraiser to say that Trump was trying to rush

through Amy Coney Barrett, his nominee for the Supreme Court, to help his efforts to repeal the Obama health care law, calling that “an abuse of power”.

Biden was expected to spend much of the day preparing for a town-hallstyle TV appearance in battleground Pennsylvania on Thursday, which was to have been the night of the second presidential debate.

Instead, the candidates will have dueling town halls on network television — Trump’s in Miami and sponsored by NBC News, Biden’s in Philadelphia and on ABC. Trump backed out of plans for the originally scheduled presidential faceoff after debate organizers shifted the format to a virtual event following Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis.

Trump used his economic address yesterday to play up his administration’s commitment to lowering taxes and deregulation of industry, and he didn’t hide his frustration with signs that some in the business community are tilting to Biden.

“I know I’m speaking to some Democrats, and some of you are friends of mine,” Trump said in a virtual address to the Economic Clubs of New York, Florida, Washington, DC, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Sheboygan,

Wisconsin. Should Biden be elected, he continued, “You will see things happen that will not make you happy.

I don’t understand your thinking.”

The former vice president has collected more than $50m in campaign contributions from donors in the securities and investment sectors, according to the private nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. During his decades in the Senate representing Delaware, a center for the credit card and banking industries, Biden built relationships and a voting record in the business sector that has raised suspicion on the left but provides Wall Street with a measure of ease at the prospect of a Biden administration.

After being sidelined by the coronavirus, Trump resumed a breakneck schedule this week, with aides saying he is expected to travel and host campaign rallies every day through November 3.

His trip to Iowa comes as the state this week surpassed 100,000 coronavirus cases and has seen a recent surge in hospitalisations.

The number of people being treated in Iowa hospitals for COVID-19 reached a new high Wednesday of 473 people.

BARRON TRUMP HAD CORONAVIRUS MELANIA Trump said yesterday that her and the president’s teenage son, Barron, tested positive for the coronavirus not long after his parents, but had no symptoms. She made the revelation in a lengthy note chronicling her personal experience with COVID19, including being hit with a “roller coaster” of symptoms that she treated naturally with vitamins and healthy food.

Mrs Trump said she is

now negative and hopes to resume her duties soon.

After she and President Donald Trump tested positive earlier this month, the White House said 14-yearold Barron had tested negative.

Barron later tested positive for the virus but had no symptoms, she said yesterday, adding that he has since tested negative again.

The president, speaking

at a campaign rally last night in Iowa, was cavalier about Barron’s infection, saying, “He had it for such a short period of time, I don’t even think he knew that he had it.”

“Barron is just fine,” Trump added, using his son’s quick recovery as part of his pitch to reopen schools.

“It happens.

People have it and it goes.

Get the kids back to school.

We’ve got to get the kids back to school.”

views in at least three letters and ads she signed over 15 years and her membership in Notre Dame’s Faculty for Life. So Republican senators embraced her stance, proudly stating that she was, in Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham’s words, an “unashamedly pro-life” conservative who is making history as a role model for other women.

Sen Josh Hawley, R-Mo, said there “is nothing wrong with confirming a devout pro-life Christian”.

Barrett refused to say whether the 1973 landmark Roe v Wade ruling on abortion rights was correctly decided, though she signed

an open letter seven years ago that called the decision “infamous”.

In an exchange with Sen Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif, Barrett resisted the invitation to endorse or reject the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s comments about perpetuating “racial entitlement” in a key voting rights case.

“When I said that Justice Scalia’s philosophy is mine, too, I certainly didn’t mean to say that every sentence that came out of Justice Scalia’s mouth or every sentence that he wrote is one that I would agree with,” Barrett said.

She called the Voting Rights Act a “triumph in the civil rights movement”, without discussing the specifics of the earlier challenge to it.

Barrett told California Sen Kamala Harris that she wouldn’t say whether racial discrimination in voting still exists nor express a view on climate change.

Harris asked if she agreed with Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote in a 2013 voting rights case that “voting discrimination still exists; no one doubts that”.

Barrett said she would “not comment on what any justice said in an opinion”.

Asked whether “climate change is happening,” Barrett said she wouldn’t engage because it is “a very contentious matter of public debate”. Barrett did, however, say she believes the novel coronavirus is infectious and smoking causes cancer.

EARTH BREAKS SEPTEMBER HEAT RECORD

EARTH sweltered to a record hot September last month, with US climate officials saying there’s nearly a two-to-one chance that 2020 will end up as the globe’s hottest year on record.

Boosted by humancaused climate change, global temperatures averaged 60.75 degrees (15.97 Celsius) last month, edging out 2015 and 2016 for the hottest September in 141 years of recordkeeping, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday. That’s 1.75 degrees (0.97 degrees Celsius) above the 20th century average.

This record was driven by high heat in Europe, Northern Asia, Russia and much of the Southern Hemisphere, said NOAA climatologist Ahira Sanchez-Lugo. California and Oregon had their hottest Septembers on record.

Earth has had 44 straight Septembers where it has been warmer than the 20th century average and 429 straight months without a cooler than normal month, according to NOAA. The hottest seven Septembers on record have been the last seven.

That means “that no millennial or even parts of Gen-X has lived through a cooler than normal September,” said North Carolina state climatologist Kathie Dello, herself a millennial.

What’s happening is a combination of global warming from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas and natural variability, Sanchez-Lugo said.

SPORTS PAGE 12

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

NAUGHTY’S NFL PICKS WEEK 5 LAST WEEK 7-7 SEASON 57-19-1 EVERY so often there’s a week that just goes absolutely haywire, last week was exactly that kind of week for me, the Cowboys won but we lost our QB Dak Prescott for the year and my NFL Picks took a hit also leaving me a robust 7-7 for the week stuck at .500 Well it’s time to get back on the horse, here’s who I like this week.

Breaking out

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

PRINCE Strachan continues his breakout junior season on the gridiron for John Carroll High School Rams.

Stracahan racked up 10 receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns for the Fort Pierce, Florida powerhouse in their 37-12 win over South Fork High last weekend in Florida.

Through five games thus far, the 6’4” Grand Bahama native has emerged as a deep threat en route to the Rams’ 4-1 record on

the season.

He caught three receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-0 win for his Rams over the Port St Lucie Jaguars in the season opener.

The Golden Rams also won 23-0 over the Okeechobee Brahmans and 47-14 over Avon Park before a 57-28 loss to Treasure Coast.

They look to improve to 5-1 against Fort Pierce Central on October 16.

Strachan relocated from Grand Bahama to John Carroll following Hurricane Dorian last year. He played sparingly as a sophomore and the Rams are were high on

his prospective impact headed into this season.

Prince is the younger brother of University of Charleston Golden Eagles All-American wide receiver, Mike Strachan.

Thus far the younger Strachan has already received an offer from the Golden Eagles.

Mike Strachan, was recently listed among Yahoo! Sports’ top “small school” prospects for the 2021 NFL draft and a preseason All-American.

He was named an NCAA Division II Second Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and to the 2019 Don

Hansen NCAA Division II AllAmerica team.

Both young receivers look to continue the lineage established by their father at the position.

“My dad, Jerome Strachan, He played football at BethuneCookman under head coach Larry Little. He was part of the Dolphins team that went undefeated in the 70’s. My dad learned a lot from him. He also played wide receiver in college,” Mike told NFL Draft Blitz in a recent interview.

“He taught me how to be tough.

The major thing is having the mental toughness.”

McMinns lands coaching role

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

EUGENE McMinns will have the opportunity to continue his football car on the sidelines after he joined the coaching staff of a Canadian collegiate programme.

McMinns was named a wide receivers coach for the Dalhousie Tigers, Nova Scotia, Canada.

A former wide receiver in his collegiate career with the Holland College Hurricanes and Acadia Axemen, McMinns said he looked forward to developing young players at the position.

“Grateful to have the opportunity like this to give back to the game to mentor young football players to being the best they can be on and off the field,” he said in an Instagram post.

The Tigers are one of four teams that play in the Atlantic Football League and returned to competition in 2010 after a 34 year hiatus.

In 2016, the team won the AFL championship with an 8-0 undefeated record, and again went undefeated in 2018, capturing 2 AFL championships in three years.

McMinns began his collegiate career with the Holland College Hurricanes. In two years with the Hurricanes, McMinns developed into one of the team’s top playmakers as they claimed backto-back Atlantic Football League titles in 2013 and 2014. He was named the Holland College male Rookie of the Year as he finished

In his second season, McMinns caught three touchdowns, but saw his season cut short when he was sidelined due to a head injury in the AFL semi-finals.

After two seasons, he transferred to Acadia. In five games he finished with five catches for 101 yards and one touchdown. He had a breakout game with two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown against McGill. And he also led Acadia with three catches for 53 yards in his team’s 27-0 win over Huskies. He spent the 2015 season with the Axemen but left the programme the following year.

In his final collegiate season, McMinns was a part of the Bahamian connection that helped the Axemen win the 2017 Atlantic University Sports (AUS) championship title. At the conclusion of his career he finished second on the Axemen in receptions and yardage with 29 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns.

McMinns ended the regular season ranked third in all-purpose yards in the AUS with a total of 1,232 yards and 154 per game. He was also the second leading punt returner in the division with an average of 14.3 yard per return and one 94 yard touchdown. He also returned 19 kicks for 437 yards and an average of 23 yards per return.

Following his collegiate career, he participated in several combines in an attempt to work his way into the Canadian Football League and also played at the semi-pro level with the Halifax Harbour Hawks.

FROM the field to the sidelines Eugene McMinns pictured in action, above, and embarking on his new career as a coach, right. with 21 receptions for 441 years and two touchdowns. He was also an impact player on special teams with 11 returns for 189 yards.

Following football season, McMinns’ success continued on the track as a sprinter. He was named the Hurricanes’ male athlete of the week after he won both the 60m (7.32s) and the 200m (24.01s) at the Atlantic Indoor Track and Field Championships.

He also won the 60 metre and 200 metre events at the Atlantic Indoor Track and Field Championships in Moncton, Canada.

JONQUEL LEADS THE WAY FOR RUSSIAN FOXES

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JONQUEL Jones continues to lead UMMC Ekaterinburg Foxes in the Russian Championship Premier League.

Jones led a balanced scoring effort with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists in just 28 minutes of a 40 point blowout for her team, 90-50 over Sparta & K Moscow.

She shot 5-7 from the field, 1-2 from three point range and also added two blocked shots. After a closely contested first quarter, UMMC clung to a 17-14 lead, but limited Sparta & K to just 13

points combined over the next two quarters. They outscored them 28-7 in the second and 25-8 in the third to take control for good.

UMMC looks to remain undefeated at 3-0 when they face Spartak Noginsk on October 19.

In the season opener last week, Jones led the Foxes with 35 points and 13 rebounds in an 84-72 win over Nika Syktykar. The veteran forward had a dominant shooting performance, 13-19 from the field (1-2 from three point range) and 6-7 from the free throw line.

She also had two blocked shots on the defensive end of the floor.

A stacked UMMC Ekaterinburg roster also included WNBA stars Brittney Griner and Cortney

Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Alba Torrens and Maria Vadeeva.

The team recently added current WNBA Finals MVP Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm.

Following the Russian Premier League, Ekaterinburg will shift focus to the FIBA EuroLeague.

Qualifiers will played in a single venue hub in single elimination games on October 28 or 29, 2020 The regular season will be played with a new shortened competition system – four groups of four clubs in the Regular Season.

Competing in Group C in the Regular Season UMMC is going to play against Famila Schio from Italy, TTT Riga from Latvia and the Winner of the qualification

round. The top two clubs from each regular season group advance to the quarterfinals.

In 2018 and 2019 seasons, UMMC won the EuroLeague Champion titles. Last season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Jones is in her third season with the club.

They won their second consecutive and fifth EuroLeague title with a 91-67 win over Dynamo Kursk in Sopron, Hungary in April.

Jones appeared in eight games and averaged 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She shot 60 percent from the field, 52 percent from three point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.

SUNDAY BRONCOS vs PATRIOTS It seems these two teams have been missing in action for a while now. The Broncos only resurface to take this ‘L’ on the road against the Patriots.

Patriots 24 - Broncos -13 BROWNS vs STEELERS 4-1 Browns vs 4-0 Steelers in an NFC North showdown....Steelers at home Steelers 31-Browns 24 BENGALS vs COLTS Both teams are coming in off of a loss last week, so somebody’s got to get it right this week. Colts bounce back at home....

COLTS 23 - 20 LIONS vs JAGS This one has been tugging at me all week I see the ‘upset bird’ circling over head .... Lions win in a shootout on the road in Duval County !

LIONS 34 - JAGS 30 TEXANS vs TITANS Big AFC South matchup here the Texans are trying to turn it around while the Titans are trying to build on their early season momentum, and it continues at home in a nail biter!

TItans win, only because it’s in Tennessee.

TITANS 34 - TEXANS 33 WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM vs GIANTS NFC L(E)AST matchup up here, coin flip .... WF win in a tough one.

WFT 31 - GIANTS 24 RAVENS vs EAGLES Steelers last week Ravens this week, the Eagles are plucked again!

RAVENS 34 - EAGLES 17 FALCONS vs VIKINGS Points are going to go up in this one fast and furiously. The Falcons seen snake bitten and the Vikings are injury riddled but at home so Vikings win !

VIKINGS 37 - FALCONS 34 BEARS vs PANTHERS The ‘upset bird’ is hovering over this game also ..... Panthers win on the road and all!

PANTHERS 27 - BEARS 24 JETS vs DOLPHINS Two straight for the Fish at home in this one.

DOLPHINS 38 - JETS 17 PACKERS vs BUCS Rodgers vs Brady!

Two certain Hall of Famers do battle in this one and despite a valiant effort the BUCS fall short at home.

PACKERS 24 - BUCS 21 RAMS vs NINERS The Rams have been the model of consistency so far this NFL season,the Niners not so much, they are still hog tied by injuries.

RAMS 31 - NINERS 27 CHIEFS vs BILLS Two top tier teams battling it out in this one trying to get back on the winning track..... CHIEFS 38 - 31 CARDINALS vs COWBOYS : The ‘Red Riffle’ era begins in this one with the Cowboys winning at home.

COWBOYS 31 - CARDINALS 27

THE TRIBUNE

CHARGERS’ BOSA OFF TO FAST START DESPITE FEELING PRESSURE

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer COSTA MESA, Calif.

(AP) — Joey Bosa thought when he signed his contract extension in July that it would be a relief.

Instead, more money has created a whole new set of problems for the Los Angeles Chargers defensive end.

“For the last 3-4 years I was playing for the contract. I kind of expected it to take pressure off me like, ‘Oh, man, I got the contract. Now I can just play.’ But no, it kind of is even more pressure,” Bosa said Wednesday. “It feels like I just don’t want to let people down. I’m just trying to live up to expectations for myself and the team the best I can.”

Extension Bosa signed a five-year, $135 million extension in late July, making him the league’s highest-paid defensive player. He is off to his best start in five years with four sacks in five games. He is also tied for the league lead among defensive ends in quarterback pressures (18) and hits (10) despite dealing with triceps, ankle and knee issues over the past four weeks.

Bosa suffered the triceps injury in the opener at Cincinnati and it has affected his lifting along with keeping him out of Wednesday practices. He said the bigger issue the past week was the ankle sprain that happened on Oct. 4 at Tampa Bay because it affected turning and cornering during pass rushes.

The good news is that the injuries haven’t sidelined Bosa. The bad news is that he has been part of a unit that has squandered three double-digit leads over the past four weeks.

The Chargers are the first team since the 2003 Atlanta Falcons to blow leads of 17 points or more in consecutive games after last Monday’s 30-27 overtime loss at New Orleans.

The rallies by Tampa Bay and New Orleans the past two weeks have been frustrating.

“I think it really just comes down to execution,” he said. “It’s not want to.

Everybody is giving great effort and everybody wants to win, but we’re not making the plays and not executing the way we have to do to win at the end of the game.”

Besides reviewing tape of recent games, Bosa is using the bye week to heal while hoping some of his teammates can return over the next couple of weeks.

Bosa also noted that his brother, San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa, is spending time with him after having season-ending surgery on his left knee.

Playoffs The Chargers are off to their second 1-4 start in Anthony Lynn’s four years as coach but have a favourable stretch with only one team over .500 over the next five weeks. Los Angeles’ next game is Oct. 25 against Jacksonville.

The last time the Chargers started 1-4, they won eight of their last 11 games and narrowly missed the playoffs.

Bosa is hoping for the same type of turnaround again.

“I think it’s just about taking it one game at a time.

“I think a first goal should be just trying to get to back to 4-4 and be at .500 halfway through the season,” he said. “Everything we want is still in front of us.

“But you know, we have to do things differently. We have to finish at the end of the game.

“And I think once we do and once we prove it to ourselves and to each other that we can, games will start stacking up on each other.”

Thursday, October 15, 2020, PAGE 13

JETS’ GASE SAYS IT WAS ‘BEST THAT WE PART WAYS’ WITH BELL NEW York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell. The New York Jets have surprisingly released Bell, ending a disappointing tenure after less than two full seasons. The team issued a statement from general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday, in which he says the Jets made the move after having several conversations with Bell and his agent during the last few days and exploring trade options. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets’ decision to move on from Le’Veon Bell was a stunner.

For a while now, though, it appeared inevitable.

The star running back never seemed to truly mesh with Adam Gase or his offence during the past season-plus. And Bell made it clear he wasn’t thrilled with his role.

So, his sudden release Tuesday night wasn’t completely a surprise — although the timing was.

Rather than the Jets waiting to try to trade him at the deadline in three weeks, they instead decided to cut ties now with a player for whom there were such high hopes.

“That was kind of the consensus we came to last night,” Gase said Wednesday. “Spoke with him and for us, we just felt like it was best that we part ways.”

Bell was not seen as a long-term part of the Jets’ future, even though he signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the team last offseason. He was likely to be a salary cap cut next offseason, so New York tried to find a trade partner. The Jets also gave Bell and his agent permission to explore trades on their ends, but there were no takers.

Salary Bell’s $8 million injury guarantee for 2021 was a hinderance for some, even with the Jets willing to pick up some of the $6 million remaining on his guaranteed base salary for this year. So, Bell is now a free agent and can sign with any other team after 4 p.m.

Wednesday.

“For us, I want nothing but the best for him and he gets an opportunity to go somewhere else and have success,” Gase said. “It’s

tough. It’s a tough decision to make, but we felt like that was the best for us with where we’re at right now.”

The Jets are 0-5 for the first time since 1996, and will head to Miami to take on the AFC East-rival Dolphins on Sunday. Gase remains squarely on the hot seat, and this move will only further alienate the coach from the frustrated fanbase — which blames him for the team’s struggles on the field and its inability to keep star players happy.

Bell twice used social media this season to express unhappiness about how he was being used. The latest came last Sunday after he returned from missing three games with a hamstring injury. He “liked” a few social media posts that criticised Gase’s use of Bell in the passing game — he caught just one pass on his only target — and another that suggested the Jets trade him.

“For whatever reason, it

didn’t work out,” Gase said.

“Our team moving forward to Miami, that’s our No. 1 concern right now.”

When asked whether he agreed with the perception of some that he misused Bell, Gase said only: “It’s irrelevant at this point.”

Skills In the offseason, Gase insisted he would try to figure out how to maximise Bell’s skills in the offense this season. That never materialised, and mostly because the running back wasn’t on the field much.

“Yeah, I mean, the first game he played a half and got injured, and then he played this last game,” Gase said. “So, it is what it is and it’s the decision we made, and we’ve moved on to this one.”

Bell’s now-former Jets teammates expressed surprise at the move, while also saying it’s just part of

the business of the NFL. “To be honest, I was kind of shocked,” wide receiver Breshad Perriman said.

“I never thought anything like that was coming. But Le’Veon was a great teammate. And I hope wherever he lands, he balls out.”

Added quarterback Sam Darnold: “He’s a good player and obviously we’re going to miss him. It definitely hurts us in some ways.”

With Bell gone, rookie La’Mical Perine will likely see an increased role in the offense and likely get most of the carries over 37-yearold Frank Gore. The Jets also have Ty Johnson on the active roster and Josh Adams on the practice squad.

“Perine’s definitely going to get bigger role,” Gase said. “Frank, you’re not going to lean on him because of where he’s at in his career. Getting Perine involved is going to be critical.”

JETS’ FLACCO TO START AGAIN FOR INJURED DARNOLD VS. DOLPHINS

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Flacco will get his second straight start at quarterback for the New York Jets in place of the injured Sam Darnold.

Coach Adam Gase confirmed Wednesday that the 35-year-old Flacco would be under centre Sunday at Miami against the Dolphins. That comes after Darnold missed last week’s game against Arizona with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder.

Flacco went 18 of 33 for 195 yards and one touchdown in New York’s 30-10 loss.

“I think I’ll probably be in a little bit different state of mind come Sunday,” Flacco said.

“Definitely a lot of new feelings and things like that going through my head come Sunday because it was a little bit different for me.

“I put a lot of things out of my head as much as possible.

“I think this week will be a little easier to relax and get into the flow of the game right away.”

Flacco is 7-0 in his career against the Dolphins, including 1-0 in the playoffs.

“I know, man,” Flacco said with a big smile.

“You’re trying to jinx it.”

Darnold, who was injured in the Jets’ 37-28 loss to Denver on Oct. 1, did not practice Wednesday. Darnold left the game against the Broncos for a few plays but returned and finished the game. He has not practiced since, though, and it’s uncertain when he will return.

“I think he’s better than what he was last week,” Gase said of Darnold. “The more time we give him, the better he’ll feel. He’s just

NEW York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, in East Rutherford. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) taking the steps we need anything but tough. We just Left guard Alex Lewis Miami. him to take to give us an want to make sure that he’s (shoulder) also did not “I’ve been waiting long opportunity into next week. good before we put him out practice Wednesday, but enough,” Perriman said.

We’ll be able to make that there.”

Gase thought he would “It’s always hard sitting out decision when we get there.

Darnold said he’s “pro- be limited Thursday and and watching your team“I think he’s doing a good gressing” and is “slowly but Friday and be ready to play mates play. I feel good. job of communicating and surely” beginning to throw Sunday.

I think Sunday’s looking letting us know how he passes.

Wide receiver Breshad pretty good for me right feels, where it’s not (just) “I feel like the shoulder Perriman (ankle), corner- now.” what I want to hear but he’s is gaining a ton of range of back Bless Austin (calf) and Perriman was catching being honest as far as his motion, which is good,” he defensive linemen Quinnen passes from Flacco again pain tolerance, his range of said.

Williams (undisclosed) and for the first time since their motion, how he feels.”

“But, again, just taking it John Franklin-Myers (foot) days together in Baltimore one day at a time.” were all limited at practice. from 2015-17.

In other injuries, rookie “It felt like old times,” left tackle Mekhi Becton Perriman said. “I feel like didn’t practice with a shoulwe didn’t really miss a beat.

It felt good.”

Gase said Darnold has der injury that sidelined The Jets also desigbeen able to work on his him against the Cardinals.

The fact Perriman is prac“We’ll just kind of see ticing is a positive sign. He nated rookie wide receiver throwing motion a bit the how the week goes,” Gase has been out since getting Denzel Mims, cornerback past few days.

“That’s a real big posi- said. “If there’s an oppor- hurt against San Francisco Arthur Maulet and offentive,” Gase said. “I do tunity there ... I mean, he’s in Week 2. Gase said he’s sive lineman Cameron think he’s a quick healer going through his rehab and hoping Perriman is trend- Clark to return to practice and there’s no doubt any we’re just taking this one ing in the direction of being from IR. New York has 21 of us would ever say he’s day at a time.” able to play Sunday against days to activate them.

Motion

Positive

PAGE 14, Thursday, October 15, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

ERIKSEN GOAL ON 100TH APPEARANCE GIVES DENMARK WIN AGAINST ENGLAND

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer

KYLIAN MBAPPE, right, celebrates with Paul Pogba.

(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

MBAPPE SCORES AS FRANCE BEAT CROATIA 2-1 IN NATIONS LEAGUE ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Star striker Kylian Mbappe scored late as France frustrated Croatia again, winning a closely-contested UEFA Nations League match 2-1 to stay level on points with group leader Portugal.

Croatia have never beaten France, losing the last Nations League encounter and the 2018 World Cup final by the same score of 4-2. They were also beaten 2-1 in the 1998 World Cup semifinals.

After forward Antoine Griezmann put France ahead early, midfielder Nikola Vlasic equalised midway through the second half.

Pass Croatia were starting to get on top when France substitute Paul Pogba floated over a superb pass from the halfway line to Lucas Digne sprinting down the left.

The Everton left back’s volleyed pass fell to Mbappe, who met the ball on the bounce from close range for his 16th international goal.

Andrej Kramaric squandered a chance to level for Croatia in the 90th, running into the left of the area and hitting a tame shot straight at goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Griezmann netted in the eight minute after Croatia’s defence failed to properly clear Ferland Mendy’s cross from the right.

Lurking to the right of the penalty spot, Griezmann smacked a quick shot which hit the underside of the crossbar for his 33rd international goal.

France should have had a penalty in the 19th when Anthony Martial was hauled down by center half Domagoj Vida when through on goal, but referee Bjorn Kuipers waved play on.

Croatia were loudly encouraged by around 7,000 fans present at Zagreb’s Maksimir Stadium.

Frustrated But they were frustrated when Lloris made a good save with his legs from Vlasic’s close-range shot in the 30th.

Croatia improved after the break but did not threaten until Vlasic’s excellent finish from the edge of the penalty area in the 64th.

He controlled Josip Brekalo’s pass with his left foot and stabbed the ball past Lloris and into the bottom corner with the outside of his right.

In the other Group 3 game, Liverpool forward Diogo Jota scored twice as Portugal beat Sweden 3-0 without Cristiano Ronaldo, who tested positive for the coronavirus.

Portugal lead France on goal difference with both teams on 10 points from four games.

They meet in Lisbon on Nov. 14.

LONDON (AP) — Christian Eriksen marked his 100th Denmark appearance by scoring the penalty that clinched a 1-0 victory over England in the UEFA Nations League on Wednesday.

England had already been reduced to 10 men — after Harry Maguire was sent off — by the time a disputed penalty was awarded for Kyle Walker’s challenge on Thomas Delaney in a rare top-level game not using VAR. Eriksen converted the penalty for his 34th international goal in the 35th minute at Wembley, where the Inter Milan playmaker became accustomed to scoring in his Premier League career when it was Tottenham’s temporary home.

Stadium Unlike then, the stadium was empty as fans are still prevented from attending games in England due to a resurgence in coronavirus cases.

Reece James’ first England start ended with him being sent off after the final whistle for dissent toward the referee.

The result leaves Group 2 wide open heading into

DENMARK’S CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN, left, scores his team’s first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and Denmark at Wembley Stadium in London, England, Wednesday. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool via AP)

the final two rounds of matches in November.

England dropped from first into third place behind Denmark and Belgium, who took the lead with a 2-1 victory over Iceland.

Three days after beating Belgium — the world’s top-ranked team — England’s good work was undone.

But it took quick

reflexes from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to palm away Mason Mount’s header and tip over a free kick from Reece James to prevent England levelling in the second half.

It had started to go wrong for England and Maguire after five minutes.

The defender earned his first booking for a sliding tackle on Yussuf Poulsen,

but that didn’t curb his recklessness.

When his overextended left foot caught Kasper Dolberg in the 31st minute, the referee had no option but to show Maguire a second yellow card.

It’s the latest setback for Maguire, who became the world’s most expensive defender when he signed for Manchester United

last year. He was withdrawn by Southgate for last month’s three England games after he was convicted in Greece of assaulting a police officer and attempted bribery while on holiday in August.

Hanging over Maguire is an appeal process against the conviction and suspended 21-month sentence.

PORTUGAL’s Diogo Jota makes an attempt to score during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Sweden at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

JOTA MAKES UP FOR RONALDO’S ABSENCE AS PORTUGAL BEAT SWEDEN LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Diogo Jota scored two goals and set up another as Portugal defeated Sweden 3-0 in the Nations League on Wednesday in its first game since Cristiano Ronaldo had to be dropped from the squad after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Ronaldo went back to Italy earlier Wednesday to finish his isolation period after testing positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

Ronaldo had played in the national team’s 0-0 draw at France on Sunday, and in the 0-0 draw against Spain in a friendly last week.

“We are not better without Ronaldo, but the team

PORTUGAL’S BERNARDO SILVA,left, celebrates with teammate Portugal’s Diogo Jota after scoring the opening goal.

(AP Photo/Armando Franca)

had shown before that it is capable of succeeding without him,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos

said. “We were wellorganised offensively.”

The Juventus forward, who was said to be

asymptomatic, posted a photo on his social media accounts with him wearing Portugal’s jersey in front of a television set with the game on.

“It’s as if I was there,” he wrote.

Jota, who came into the lineup to help make up for Ronaldo’s absence, set up Bernardo Silva’s opening goal in the 21st minute and scored himself in the 44th. The new Liverpool forward finished off the scoring after going past a defender inside the area in the 72nd.

Some 5,000 fans were allowed to watch the match at the José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon. Nearly 2,500 had been in the

stadium for the team’s 0-0 friendly against Spain last week as authorities try to evaluate whether to allow fans back in local soccer competitions.

The victory left defending Nations League champion Portugal at the top of Group 3 with 10 points. France, which won 2-1 at Croatia in the other group match, also reached 10 points, but it has a worse goal difference than Portugal.

Croatia stayed in third place with three points, while Sweden have zero points.

In the next round of matches in November, Portugal visit France and Croatia play at Sweden.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 15, 2020, PAGE 15

FRENCH OPEN CHAMPION SWIATEK ADVISES WORK WITH PSYCHOLOGISTS WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Having a sports psychologist helped Polish teenager Iga Swiatek win the French Open, and she thinks it can help others, too.

The 19-year-old Swiatek said Wednesday she drew a lot of support and strength from her work with sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz, who was with her during the two weeks of the Paris tournament.

“She understands me and she is a sports psychologist, so both on court and off court she is doing, with me, a great job,” Swiatek told The Associated Press.

“The mental side of tennis is really important,” Swiatek said in English.

Victory It played an important role in her victory. Upon returning after the coronavirus stoppage, she put pressure on herself to win.

“I realised that it doesn’t have a good impact on my tennis and I’m not able to play as good tennis on match(day) as on practice (days), so we tried to change that and we did a great job and I’m really happy that the result of that job is (a) Grand Slam,” Swiatek said.

Swiatek became the first Polish tennis player to win the title at Roland Garros on Saturday, and since then “life changed completely.”

NEW ZEALAND CRICKET GREAT JOHN REID DIES AT 92 AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — John Reid, the New Zealand cricket great who captained his country for its first three test victories and was one of the world’s best allrounders in the 1950s and 60s, has died. He was 92.

Reid’s death was announced by New Zealand Cricket on Wednesday.

The cause of death was not disclosed.

A hard-hitting batsman and a pacey seam bowler, Reid played 58 tests for New Zealand — captain for 34 of them. He scored 3,428 runs, including six centuries, and took 85 wickets.

With Reid at the helm, the Kiwis won a test match for the first time when they beat the West Indies in Auckland in 1956. Their second and third wins came against South Africa in a series in 1961-62.

Debut Reid made his debut for New Zealand in 1949, at the age of 19, and is widely regarded to have carried the test team through its early years.

A blunt speaker, Read once said he would have recorded better figures had he played in a stronger team and that opening batsman Bert Sutcliffe was his only teammate capable of scoring a test century.

“You do feel it’s all on you and that can weigh you down,” he said. “But I never thought about it like that at the time. You just get on with it.”

Reid once hit four sixes on the first morning of a test against India in Calcutta and a world record 15 in a first class innings of 296 for Wellington against Northern Districts. Reid was also a capable wicketkeeper.

“John R. Reid was New Zealand cricket’s Colin Meads,” New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said, referring to the country’s rugby great.

“He was, and will remain, a household name in this country, having helped pave the way for everything that has come in his wake.”

Reid was later a New Zealand selector, manager, and also an ICC match referee.

A memorial service for Reid at the Basin Reserve in Wellington is being planned, NZC said.

“I have to get used to this series of new things for me, and I think I’m going to need (a) few more weeks to reflect on it, on (the) whole tournament,” she said.

The success has whetted her appetite for more titles.

Dream “My dream, my longterm goal is to win every Grand Slam and also a medal in Olympic Games, so this is going to be very tough for me,” Swiatek told the AP. The past two weeks “showed that anything is possible” and that “I can actually achieve that and I’m going to do everything to do that.”

At the French Open, Swiatek also reached the semifinals in the women’s doubles tournament.

As a fan of men’s singles champion Rafael Nadal, and speaking at a news conference about possibly playing in mixed doubles tournaments, she said she hoped the Spaniard would “see the potential of this relation.”

Their paths already crossed in Paris this year.

“On the first day of the tournament I was warming up playing football with a Slovenian friend and Rafa’s bodyguard told us to stop, but seeing this he (Nadal) just waved his hand to show we should continue playing and

POLAND’s Iga Swiatek poses with the trophy in the locker room on Saturday after winning the final match of the French Open tennis tournament against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. in two sets, 6-4, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France.

(FFT/Corinne Dubreuil via AP)

I appreciate that very much,” Swiatek told the news conference.

“I just love Rafa’s style of game and I appreciate his dedication and the way he behaves as a sportsman, and I just really respect him,” Swiatek later told the AP. At the French Open, Swiatek lost only 28 games in seven matches and became the first woman to win the title in Paris without dropping a set since Justine Henin in 2007.

She is also the first teenager to win the women’s title at Roland Garros since Iva Majoli in 1997.