10192020 INSIGHT

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020

Science is the way forward

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas, like the rest of the world, should realise by now that COVID-19 and its effects are going to be around for some time and as such we should be finding a way to live with it.

As we come out of yet another weekend lockdown designed to curtail the virus, citizens across the country continue to wonder if these lockdowns are really effective. The answer, according to many health experts - local and international - is lockdowns by themselves are not the answer without mass and continued testing alongside beefed-up contact tracing.

In the first months of the pandemic many countries ability to throw the switch on large scale testing - including our own - was hampered by the lack of testing kits available globally - and the money to buy them.

Suddenly every government wanted the same thing.

Former Health Minister Duane Sands told a local radio station last week: “We were trying to increase testing at time when it was incredibly difficult to get the resources needs, swabs, test kids, etc.

“We were pulling out all the stops to be able to continue the ability to test.”

Journalists covering the initially regular Ministry of Health press conferences frequently questioned officials on the scale of testing and why it wasn’t more widescale.

Two issues were at play.

Firstly, getting control on the numbers within the local population and secondly - and crucially from an economic perspective finding some way to check whether tourists coming into the country were carrying the virus.

As the summer months

arrived - and with numbers Place’ - in simple terms, get relatively low - the gov- to your hotel and stay there. ernment took the fateful Needless to say, there was decision to reopen our bor- little sign of anyone arriving ders. Visitors would have here last Thursday to take to provide proof of being up D’Aguilar’s offer.

COVID-free on arrival.

Significantly, though, it On the face of it, not such was what the government a difficult task but for many announced next which gives countries struggling to meet us hope. their own local demand for Moving on from arriving testing providing such proof here with a COVID-free for people just wanting to certificate, the science has visit The Bahamas wasn’t now advanced to the stage the highest priority. where instead of a 24-hour Locally, the COVID- minimum wait for a laborafree test was available but tory test result the ability only through private facili- has arrived to carry out ties and with a test costing a quick 15-minute “antiaround $200 it put it beyond gen” test which gives a 95 the reach of many people, percent accurate result on particularly those who had the presence of COVID. been laid off or furloughed The Tourism Ministry as a result of COVID. swiftly adapted its rules The situation changed to announce that from again - as we know to our November 1 it would be cost - when Bahamians bringing in the rapid test were allowed to travel out for visitors which would be of the country on July 1, followed up five days after free to return within three arrival to prove the traveldays without any form of ler was still COVID-free. testing to prove they were If that’s acceptable for still virus-free. Within tourists, then why not eveweeks, the virus ryone else? had exploded ‘Once again, Instead of across the being ordered however, science to stay locked country.

As the weeks appears to indoors for ticked by, how- be coming to a fortnight ever, the science because a colin tackling our aid. Israeli league or COVID qui- scientists have relative is etly moved on. now successfully affected, why You can go on couldn’t people Google at any developed a be subjected to point and read “spit test” which the same rapid of advances and at a brings the whole testing in the battle fraction of the against the process down cost demanded virus. Vaccines to a matter of before? are coming out Exactly of the labora- seconds.’ this opportory and into tunity was human testing, possibly seized on as The Tribune we’ll see the first being reported late last month given out by Christmas. when Robert Myers, prinIt is these scientific cipal of the Organisation advances which should give for Responsible Governus hope that there is a way ance (ORG), unveiled the out of this disaster - and new Live with COVID possibly not too long off.

Coalition (LWCC).

When Tourism MinisMeyers said the Coaliter Dionisio D’Aguilar tion has access to some somewhat optimistically 70,000 antigen COVID-19 set October 15 as the first World Health Organisation date for tourists to return. and Federal Drug AdminThe process for that dead- istration approved testing line was dressed up not as kits. Although 70,000 seems quarantine but ‘Vacation in to be a far cry from what

is needed to start up constant and aggressive testing, Meyers said he will use this amount to lead a “faster path to recovery” from the pandemic.

The ORG principal said the coalition’s test will be affordable, providing results within 15 minutes as opposed to the quickest available before this which is results in around 24 hours. The cost will between $13.50 and $18 per go. It is alleged a well-known health official is backing the coalition’s programme.

Then just last week, Dynamic Health Services Ltd, another company, stepped forward hoping to make a difference with testing. It announced it had secured an exclusive agreement with Abbot Rapid Diagnostics and their affiliated partners to be able to distribute millions of PANIBIO COVID-19 Ag RAPID TEST devices to residents and visitors.

DHS touts this test as the way forward to some semblance of normalcy.

“Through its agreement with Abbot, DHS has secured an option to purchase up to six million of these branded rapid antigen tests, and has negotiated a cost that would allow the test to be administered for a price that is affordable for all Bahamians and residents,” said DHS CEO Dr Tyneil Cargill.

The PANBIO device is said to be one of only two “point of use” rapid test kits which have received WHO’s pre-qualification.

The device requires no instrumentation and like the Coalition’s test, the result is available in 15 minutes. Costs are similar - expected to be between $10 and $25 a time. Canada is purchasing some 20 million unites of the PANBIO test.

Compared with “Vacation in Place”, you can see how we are starting to be in a much better place. Practically speaking, however,

there is still some way to go as how long will people’s patience last when they are forced to queue for their turn to take rapid test and then wait 15 minutes for the result before taking their seat in a restaurant, cinema or getting through customs?

Once again, however, science appears to be coming to our aid.

Israeli scientists have now successfully developed a “spit test” which brings the whole process down to a matter of seconds.

The inventor of this test is Virusight Diagnostic, a company owned by Sheba Medical Center and Eli Assoolin. This form of testing is also being carried out in 12 hospitals around the world.

This test is very simple.

A harmless solution is handed to a traveller - or it could be an employee here in The Bahamas. The solution is swished around in the mouth and spat out into a tube which is put in a machine. The results are returned in 20 seconds and are almost 100 percent accurate. If the result is positive, then normal isolation protocols would be implemented.

This test is now being trialled in London’s Heathrow Airport and in countries in Europe.

According to a wellplaced source in the Ministry of Health, the government and the Prime Minister of The Bahamas have been screening companies for the viable way forward when it comes to rapid and consistent COVID-19 testing. They are interested in a multifaceted approach to fighting COVID-19.

“An exercise was carried out recently, where we went to a local restaurant and we carried out COVID-19 tests using various types of tests,” the source said.

“There is no one-solution that fits all criteria. We did the testing to see how it would hold up in a real world scenario. The answer

was that there was some amazing responses that I had not considered. And, that was the emotional release knowing that everyone was able to sit down at the table and take off their masks and be normal.

“The downside of that test was that it took on average 20 minutes. I knew right away that type of test would not work in that type of environment or a movie theatre or a pub. It has its limitations but an antigen test is a good test. Using a test like that at an airport is insane. I would think that the best one is the breathalyzer or the gargle and spit test. They are most accurate.”

Another upside is the result could be uploaded on to a governmentsapproved app which would work like a passport presented to Customs and Immigration showing the passenger is safe to travel and enter the country.

The Health Ministry source continued, “If you don’t have testing, then I call it collective suicide.

I am of the opinion that if The Bahamas wants to open the nation back up, there is only one way we can do it. That way is to make sure we have the necessary testing. In order to make sure that we can do whatever it is we wish to do to open various sectors of the economy.”

The Tribune reached out to the Office of the Prime Minister for commentary, but was ushered to the Ministry of Health. The Minister of Health was then contacted by a message which phone protocols indicated he read, but gave no response.

Whatever the way forward whereas testing in The Bahamas is concerned, time, accuracy and large quantity are the key components to success.

Science - as it has done throughout modern history - also has a giant role to play.

PAGE 2, Monday, October 19, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

WE’LL ALL BE WINNERS IF WE EACH DO WHAT WE CAN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID

By MALCOLM STRACHAN THIS weekend brought us a sight of what could have been us in the continuing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

We did not need to go through the looking glass to find this example of how our fate could have been very different – we only needed to look to New Zealand.

On Saturday, the electorate of that nation cast their votes for who they wanted to lead the country. In the depths of a pandemic, any such vote is going to be steered by how well the electorate feels the leadership has handled the outbreak. Indeed, when Bahamians next go to the polls in our own election, the handling of the pandemic by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will weigh heavily on the minds of voters.

As it is, New Zealand voters chose to return their leader – Jacinda Ardern – to office, and not just by a fine margin, but by a landslide. The opposition National Party won around half the votes of Ardern’s Labour Party.

The social media dissenters were soon out in force.

New Zealand is different, they said, it’s a small country, with a small population and surrounded by water so it’s easier to control entry to the country by air and water.

Does that sound familiar, Bahamas?

We too are a small country – with a population of around 400,000 compared with New Zealand’s 4.8 million. We too are surrounded by water.

However, we have had, at the time of writing, 5,703 confirmed cases compared with just 1,886 in New Zealand, and 128 deaths compared with just 25 over there.

Around the world, New Zealand has been held up as a good example of how to deal with COVID-19.

Truly, there is an element of unfairness in comparing it with land-locked nations with people travelling across borders that are impossible to lock down completely, but there is more to it than that.

Indeed, if one looks at the number of deaths per million people, 48 nations have lower figures than New Zealand – including China and Vietnam, but also including island nations such as the Seychelles, St Lucia or St Vincent and the Grenadines.

It all begs the question – if they can do it, why can’t we?

According to the statistics espoused by our government, the majority of cases we have had to deal with have not been the result of tourists coming in.

That barely notched the figures at all, if we are to believe what we have been told.

JACINDA Ardern’s success in dealing with COVID-19 has seen her party earn a landslide win in the New Zealand elections - will the same be able to be said by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis?

No, rather the responsi- people who are supposed on and encouraged the popbility lies squarely on our to be in quarantine but ulation to go home and stay own shoulders. who are found to be going there for the best part of Some of that falls on the out and about – or even six weeks. Communication government’s shoulders, trying to go to work only was crucial, which seeing absolutely. Earlier this to be turned around and our occasional press confermonth, infectious disease sent home by their bosses. ences and limited number expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes Those are the ones we hear of permitted questions from acknowledged that testing about – we worry about reporters shows a different capacity earlier this year those we don’t and who sit approach from ours. It was “was not what it is today” there quietly spreading the important to win people’s and that in March, when virus to colleagues and cus- hearts and minds, not just The Bahamas had just tomers alike. have them think officials four confirmed cases of the How many times have were saying do as you’re virus, it could have been we seen someone wearing told. more than 100 cases at that a mask below their chin Even so, Bahamians time. instead of covering their know by now what we are But as we acknowledge nose and mouth, leaving supposed to do – we have missteps by our gov- it completely useless. You been told often enough ernment, we must also might as well not be wear- what the simple steps are to acknowledge missteps by ing a mask at all rather than prevent spreading the virus. ourselves. wearing it there. And if we We know about washing The suggestion that a are our brother’s keeper, hands, wearing masks and junkanoo rushout held how many of us have keeping our distance. We after a funeral earlier this spoken up to encourage just don’t do it enough – as month may have become a that person to pull the mask occasions such as that junsuperspreader event for the up properly? kanoo rushout show. virus is deeply saddening – According to officials, a There is one more lesson but what did we think was significant portion of the our own government can going to happen from such cases that sprang up here in surely observe from New an activity?

The Bahamas came about Zealand, which is that if When we see videos because of Bahamians people think you have being circulated of par- flying to visit Florida and done a good job there will ties and get-togethers from other hotspots when we be a political reward. A people clearly not observ- opened the borders the first landslide victory is a fiting the simple steps we time, and bringing the virus ting reward for anyone who need to take to prevent back home. deals with this virus sucthe spread of the virus, is it In short, we did this to cessfully. There is still time any wonder that we cannot ourselves. for Dr Minnis to turn this seem to stop it from taking There are lessons we can around – but he’s going to hold? still learn from the likes need us all to be united if he We’ve all heard the anec- of New Zealand. It went is going to reap his personal dotes on social media of strong on lockdowns early rewards.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, October 19, 2020, PAGE 3

OAS: In danger of undermining the ‘Right to Protect’ A NOTEWORTHY event occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, October 10, that could have implications for nations across the globe. It merits attention.

The Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, issued a statement, indicating that he “designated international human rights lawyer Jared Genser as Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)”. This appointment happened when the OAS is again facing dire financial circumstances and staff contracts are not being renewed.

Still, even in such difficult circumstances, an appointment of someone greatly needed to carry out the organisation’s work would be understandable. The difficulty with this appointment is that it is not a priority identified either by ministers of member states or the Permanent Council of the OAS. Further, R2P is, rightfully, a matter on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly and under the authority of the Security Council.

Consequently, it is intriguing that, in his statement, Mr Almagro said unequivocally: “If existing international mechanisms are not responding to the demands and needs of the victims of mass atrocities in the Americas, at the very least the OAS should try to design and build a regional mechanism that can prevent and respond more efficiently, and in a timely manner, to crimes of this nature in the Western Hemisphere.”

Whether intended or not, this sounds like a dismissal of the UN Security Council and an arrogation by the

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS OAS to act in its place “in the Americas”.

It is important to note R2P was unanimously endorsed by the memberstates of the United Nations at a World Summit in 2005.

The agreement is designed to protect people the world over from four crimes: “genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing”. The question arises, therefore, about the identity of the countries “in the Americas” where Mr Almagro suggests such crimes are being committed and against which action is required “more efficiently, and in a timely manner”.

If such countries exist in the Americas, why have they not been brought before the UN Security Council? And why is this matter not being raised for discussion, with the evidence of atrocities, by member governments of the OAS in appropriate bodies of the organisation?

The way this matter has crawled into the OAS – not in the full light of transparent discussion and decision but in a weekend media statement from the Secretary-General - is why suspicion surrounds the OAS. It is a suspicion with which all its member states are tainted as complicit.

Silence is taken as consent.

A further consideration is that the R2P does not replace the UN Charter;

R2P is a UN-led response to the problem of massatrocity crimes, and actions in furtherance of it require UN Security Council authorisation. Therefore, why would the OAS – a group of only 33 governments – seek to usurp the UN of 193 states, and a 15-state Security Council?

Dr Adrian Gallagher, codirector of the European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, makes the following salient point: “R2P does allow states to consider all coercive and non-coercive measures under Chapters VI, VII, and VIII of the UN Charter when a government is “manifestly failing” to protect its population from the four crimes. Though this does include the use of force, any action taken has to be authorised by the UN Security Council”.

In his statement, Mr Almagro makes another point that merits attention.

He says: “The costs of not having an R2P regional mechanism at the OAS so far have been the continued loss of human lives and the persistence of impunity for mass atrocities crimes.” He continues: “Yet, over time, there have been mass atrocities committed in far too many countries by repressive and undemocratic regimes.”

Sadly, where there have been such instances in the past, in OAS countries,

LUIS ALMAGRO, secretary-general of the Organization of American States. governments of other OAS member states have ignored them for narrow, political reasons. Such politically selective and convenient responses must stop if the OAS is to have any credibility in advancing the principle of R2P. In this regard, another observation by Dr Gallagher is worth recalling: “It is important that those who champion the R2P do not overstate the scale of the crimes being committed.

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro has invoked the Rwandan genocide as a pretext to justify R2P action in Venezuela, but clearly any such analogy is deeply flawed, as there is no pending threat of mass genocide.”

To be clear, the principle of R2P should be embraced by every country in the world. Every government

should uphold the human, civil and political rights of its people, not oppress them and certainly not murder them or eliminate any ethnic group within them. Where governments execute heinous atrocities, the wider international community, particularly neighbouring states, should act to prevent and punish them within the UN agreed framework.

The OAS should be discussing this openly and transparently, paying attention to every country in the Americas, and not just to those where the political or ideological interests of powerful states are served, one way or the other. If the OAS continues the selective path that it has followed, it will reverse every step that it now makes to be regarded universally as a credible and respected organisation.

That is not an OAS that will serve the peoples of the Americas well.

As a regional organisation, the OAS should not seek to supplant global efforts at the UN; it would better serve the region and the world by providing objective and non-discriminatory leadership in upholding and advancing the principle of R2P within the UN agreement of 2005.

• Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com.

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

COVID PROVIDES A FERTILE BREEDING GROUND FOR CORRUPTION AT ALL LEVELS

By UN SecretaryGeneral ANTONIO GUTERRES CORRUPTION is criminal, immoral and the ultimate betrayal of public trust.

It is even more damaging in times of crisis – as the world is experiencing now with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The response to the virus is creating new opportunities to exploit weak oversight and inadequate transparency, diverting funds

away from people in their hour of greatest need.

Governments may act in haste without verifying suppliers or determine fair prices.

Unscrupulous merchants peddle faulty products such as defective ventilators, poorly manufactured tests or counterfeit medicines.

And collusion among those who control supply chains has led to outrageous costs of much-needed goods,

skewing the market and denying many people life-saving treatment.

We must work together to stop such thievery and exploitation by clamping down on illicit financial flows and tax havens; tackling the vested interests that benefit from secrecy and corruption; and exercising utmost vigilance over how resources are spent nationally.

Together, we must create more robust systems for

accountability, transparency and integrity without delay.

We must hold leaders to account.

Businesspeople must act responsibly.

A vibrant civic space and open access to information are essential.

And we must protect the rights and recognize the courage of whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing.

Technological advances can help increase transparency

and better monitor procurement of medical supplies.

Anti-corruption bodies need greater support and empowerment.

The United Nations itself continues to prioritize transparency and accountability, in and beyond the COVID-19 response.

For many people in all regions, corruption has been a long-standing source of distrust and anger against their leaders and governments.

But corruption in the

time of COVID-19 has the potential to seriously undermine good governance around the world, and to send us even farther off-track in our work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

I urge all governments and all leaders to be transparent and accountable and to use the tools provided by the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

As an age-old plague takes on new forms, let us combat it with new heights of resolve.

PAGE 4, Monday, October 19, 2020

THE TRIBUNE