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VOLUME:117 No.230, OCTOBER 27TH, 2020

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

WOMAN: ‘HOW I SURVIVED MY CANCER BATTLE’

‘OUR COVID TACTICS ARE NOT WORKING’

SHINING A LIGHT ON THOSE LIVING WITH BLINDNESS

SEE PAGE EIGHT

Sands and Davis united in condemning road map for dealing with crisis

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE government’s approach to tackling COVID-19 is not working - according to both former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands and Opposition leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis.

Dr Sands said the country should be conducting 1,000 COVID-19 tests daily and seek to build a modular centre where people infected with the virus are concentrated to reverse The Bahamas’ underperformance in handling the pandemic.

Dr Sands said there are challenges with access to medical care — including availability of ventilators

and operating rooms compounded by a manpower shortage. This is due to the splitting of care at health facilities, leaving resources stretched thin.

Dr Sands presented several recommendations at Parliament yesterday, telling members the process over the past six to eight months has not worked.

Meanwhile, official Opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis charged that the country has become a case study of how not to manage a public health crisis.

Mr Davis said failure had become the hallmark of the government’s fight against COVID-19.

SEE PAGE FOUR

‘MAJORITY OF NON-HOTEL STAFF NOW BACK AT WORK’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Labour Dion Foulkes yesterday claimed that the vast majority of Bahamians laid off due to the pandemic are now back at work.

His claim came as it was revealed the government’s decision to extend the temporary lay-off period beyond 13 weeks under the COVID-19 emergency orders was made to accommodate employers who did not have sufficient funds to provide severance packages to their employees.

Mr Foulkes made the revelation during his ministry’s press conference yesterday, but he acknowledged that the workers taken back on do not include those in the hotel industry. Hotel employees have been demanding severance pay from their employers in recent weeks, citing financial challenges and the need for more assistance to make ends meet.

Mr Foulkes said while the government empathises with those hit by the pandemic, officials must strike a balance to meet the needs of the wider Bahamian society.

SEE PAGE FOUR

AND THE WALLS COME TUMBLING DOWN

DEMOLITION under way at Festival Place yesterday as work continued apace on creating the new port complex. The Nassau Cruise Port will see a reimagined arrivals area as part of redeveloping the area.

REVISED LUCAYAN AGREEMENT ‘SERMONS BE HINGES ON NEW HARBOUR DEAL CAN’T CENSORED’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Lucayan’s sale will not close until Royal Caribbean and its joint venture partner have sealed the deal for Freeport Harbour, a Cabinet minister disclosed to Tribune Business.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, Minister of Tourism and Aviation, confirmed ITM Group and the cruise line want to seal “the entire transaction at once” to protect their commercial interests and not hand an advantage to either Freeport Harbour Company or the government.

“We would obviously like to conclude the entire transaction at the same time,” Mr D’Aguilar told this newspaper. “So, yes, ITM wants to conclude the entire transaction at once. They don’t want to close on one part of the deal and the other part of the deal is still pending.”

The minister’s confirmation adds another twist to

THE GRAND Lucayan Resort. long-running negotiations to get an agreement perceived as vital to Freeport’s economic and tourism revival over the line amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ITM Group/Royal Caribbean joint venture, known as Holistica, is understandably reluctant to close the Grand Lucayan’s purchase without first sealing an agreement with Freeport Harbour Company, and its 50 percent shareholder and manager, Hutchison Whampoa.

Securing the hotel without the harbour, and the proposed additional cruise berths and water-based adventure theme park, would hand the advantage to Hutchison. Knowing that ITM/Royal Caribbean will now be desperate to tie down terms for the harbour to complement the Grand Lucayan, Hutchison could seek to alter the deal to its commercial advantage and extract extra concessions from the joint venture.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE head of the Bahamas Christian Council Bishop Delton Fernander said Bahamians must be careful of forming a “sermon censoring” society.

His comment came after popular pastor Bishop Neil Ellis unleashed a scathing sermon from his pulpit on Sunday, chastising Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for extending the country’s state of emergency.

SEE PAGE THREE

BRITAIN AND EU IN TROUBLED WATERS

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Tuesday, October 27, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

OIL found illegally dumped in East Grand Bahama on Wednesday of last week.

Police probe launched over illegal oil dumping

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AN active police investigation is underway in connection with the discovery of illegal oil dumping in the Barbary Beach area of East Grand Bahama.

Supt Terecita Pinder reported that samples were collected to assist police with their investigation to help track down those responsible. She noted that police are following some leads.

“We are not taking this lightly; we are taking it very seriously,” warned Supt Pinder on Monday following last week’s discovery.

Shortly after 11am on Wednesday, October 21, she said the police became aware of a video circulating on social media regarding the indiscriminate dumping of oil in the area of Barbary Beach at Elton Road.

Supt Pinder said officers quickly responded and located the area, and assembled an investigative

team. They also notified Environmental Health and Sanitation Services.

The exact quantity of the oil and when the dumping occurred are not known.

“We do not know what type of oil it is, and samples were taken, so, in due course, we would have that information, and that should also help us in our investigations.

“We cannot say how much oil it was, but it is a large amount of oil that was dumped,” Supt Pinder said.

“We cannot give a definite date, but we believe those bags were not recently placed there; we believe they were there for some time.”

She noted that officers of the Northeastern Division, the Criminal Investigation Department, and the Fire Department are a part of a team that is conducting investigations into the matter.

Officers have visited numerous industrial companies and sub-contractors of those companies as part

of their investigation.

“We are following some leads; we are at this time looking in all avenues. As you know, this dumping has significant environmental effects, and it affects the entire GB community.

The RBPF does not take it lightly, and we are following all leads to find out who the culprit/culprits or company/companies involved,” stressed Supt Pinder.

In terms of criminal charges, the police official said that they would consult with attorneys at the Attorney General’s Office about charges that will be brought against the offenders.

About the cash reward being offered for information leading to the capture of the persons responsible, Supt Pinder said it is not something the police department is offering.

“That is something separate from what we are doing; we are focusing on the investigation itself,” she explained.

“We are aware of persons putting up cash rewards,

and we are asking the public for their assistance in the matter to call the Northeastern Division at 350-3400, CID at 350-3106 through 12, 911, and 919.”

Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, MP for East Grand Bahama, and the Grand Bahama Port Authority condemned those responsible for the illegal act.

Mr Turnquest said that it is a cause for serious concern and impacts the safety of residents and harms the environment and that those responsible will be held accountable.

GB DEVCO has taken steps to clean up the hazardous material.

Lucaya Service Company (LUSCO), a maintenance company of GB DEVCO said there is zero-tolerance for such action.

They are advising residents who require more information about the proper disposal of garbage and waste materials may contact the LUSCO hotline at 350-9016 or email info@ lusco.org.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 27, 2020, PAGE 3

Senior pastor speaks on Golden Gates changes

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE senior pastor of Golden Gates Assembly yesterday said although he had previously stated he could not force the church to do anything, he changed his mind because he did not trust the pastors protesting the appointment of his son as the organisation’s next senior pastor.

His comments came while he was cross-examined by defence attorney Ramona Farquharson-Seymour during a hearing before Justice Ian Winder.

The church is currently embroiled in a disagreement stemming from Bishop Rostin Davis’ recent appointment of his son, Trent Davis, as senior pastor of the church.

Mrs Farquharson-Seymour is representing several pastors, listed as defendants in a lawsuit headed by Bishop Davis, who are protesting his appointment as newly assigned leader.

During the hearing yesterday, Mrs Farquharson-Seymour referenced

BISHOP ROSTIN DAVIS an interview Bishop Davis did with Wendell Jones in 2017, in which she claims he said Golden Gates “belonged to the people”.

She noted when Bishop Davis appeared on Mr Jones’ show, he spoke about the succession plan for the church and said the organisation did not belong to him and his wife since God was the one who called people into ministry. Mrs Farquharson-Seymour said Bishop Davis also said he told Pastor Davis he did not know how much longer he would live, so he needed to come home and get to know the people so he would be

available if they needed a pastor.

Still, she claimed at the time, Bishop Davis said he could not force them to do anything they did not want to do.

When she asked Bishop Davis if he accepted that his statements in the interview differed from his current position which suggested he was the only one who could appoint his successor, Bishop Davis told her he did accept what “she said he had said”. Still, he said when he made those statements, he gave “two conditions” which were if he died or if he became incapacitated.

“It’s true. I have changed my mind,” he said. “I do not trust the persons you represent because they have not been true at all.”

When Mrs FarquharsonSeymour asked Bishop Davis if it was true that only he, his wife and daughter voted in favour of Pastor Davis’ appointment when his son lost in a 10-3 vote among the pastoral board, he said he could not recall. He also denied hosting “sporadic meetings”

after the pastoral board voted against Pastor Davis, and claimed their monthly meetings were not held as often due to “many things”.

Wayne Munroe, QC, heads the counsel for plaintiffs Bishop Davis, Donna Turnquest, Genesta Williams, John Rigby and Joyous Picstock.

They are claiming the pastoral board cannot make resolutions that could determine who is appointed as senior pastor, because they are not a part of the church’s executive committee. They argue only members of the committee – which only the plaintiffs are a part of – can appoint senior pastors.

During her crossexamination, Mrs Farqharson-Seymour counter argued that the church had no executive committee, but rather the pastoral board ran the church spiritually, financially and maintenance wise.

In response, Bishop Davis said the church was governed by an executive council; however, to avoid “dragging on” meetings,

‘SERMONS CAN’T BE CENSORED’ from page one

the sermon, then you don’t agree with the sermon. If you don’t accept it, then you In an excerpt from his should just leave it alone.” sermon, Bishop Ellis of After Bishop Ellis’ Mt Tabor Baptist Church, sermon was circulated on referred to the biblical social media on Sunday, King Nebuchadnezzar who Free National Movement developed a God mental- Chairman Carl Culmer ity. He said the King put called the remarks “out himself on the level of God, of order”. Mr Culmer adding that Prime Minis- later sent out an official ters and Presidents should statement from the party be careful when they “set calling Bishop Ellis’ sermon themselves up in an undem- a vicious, mean-spirited, ocratic fashion because political attack on the sooner or later you become nation’s leader. so big-headed that you “When we get to a place begin to act like a God.” where we are going to have Bishop Ellis also politicians writing to say expressed displeasure on what they liked or didn’t parliamentarians “spine- like about a sermon, it’s a lessly” grumbling on the dangerous place,” Bishop outside, but sitting in Par- Fernander continued. “The liament and “allowing” Dr interpretation – prophets Minnis since March to will always speak to powers extend COVID-19 Emer- that be and preachers will gency Pandemic Orders. always come against one He also hit out at the or all governments and we “dangerous” power that must be grown enough to Dr Minnis held as the com- accept that if it isn’t for you petent authority under then, just let it go.” the emergency orders and Bishop Fernander also appeared to suggest the Kil- touched on Dr Minnis’ larney MP did not believe recent statements on mariin God. juana, reiterating that his When contacted yester- organisation does not supday, Bishop Fernander had port the decriminalisation no concern with Bishop of the drug. He questioned Ellis voicing his opinions if that was all the governfrom the pulpit, but took ment could come up with issue with the reference to while there are so many Dr Minnis’ religious beliefs. issues in the country.

“Well, the only concern “We were very surprised I had, which was clarified, to see that everything that was the conversation about was recommended as a someone’s state with God paper; that from the House and salvation, which was of Assembly, the prime attributed to the Prime minister would have highMinister,” Bishop Fer- lighted something that he nander said. “Bishop (Ellis) has been advocating for has clarified that he has not seemingly his whole tenure. attributed non-Christian- The minister of agriculity to the Prime Minister. ture said he was interested I realise that sometimes in growing hemp, but the when sermons are hard, prime minister said somethere is a need or feeling of thing completely different, a need to censor the voices that he was interested in the of God. decriminalisation, expunge“But we must be ment (of criminal records) reminded that sometimes and legalising marijuana. all sermons won’t fit into “If you decriminalise the nice packages that we marijuana, what would be would like for them to fit the result of that on Bahainto and then when they mian society? Is that what don’t speak the way we we want right now? With all want them to speak. The that we are wrestling with Bible says the prophet is right now, is this the best answerable to the prophet. you can come up with? The We need to be careful that church stands against it and we don’t become a sermon if it is that it will go to a refcensoring society. If it is erendum, the church will go that you don’t agree with wholeheartedly against it.”

BISHOP Neil Ellis during his sermon.

they would have all of the board members meet at the same time. He said there would be meetings to cover all issues, but each board member knew which area they were to work in.

When Mrs FarqharsonSeymour asked Bishop Davis if he could recall when his co-plaintiff, Mrs Turnquest, was appointed to the executive committee, he said he did not remember the details. He also said he did not know exactly when Mr Rigby was appointed, but believed it was sometime last year. He added that Mrs Williams, who serves as the church’s assistant recording secretary, was appointed to the committee “many years ago”.

Mrs Farqharson-Seymour said when the church’s recording secretary died, Mrs Turnquest replaced her because Mrs Williams was “not active in her post and was nowhere to be found”.

Bishop Davis said he did not accept this fact and said Mrs Williams told him and Pastor Davis that she just wanted to be an assistant. As for Mrs Pickstock,

Bishop Davis claimed she was appointed to the executive committee after the lockdown in March.

Yesterday, Mr Munroe also cross-examined Pastor Alan Strachan based on three affidavits he filed on September 1, 9, and 22.

When he asked Mr Strachan to state how many pastors were at Golden Gates, he told him there were 15 pastors, but two had tendered their resignation since the incident had unfolded.

When Mr Munroe asked him if he had taken any steps from 2018 to find out where he fell concerning the committee and council, he claimed it was an “ongoing process”.

Mr Strachan also said he believed he participated in a return to the Registrar’s General Department in July, which stated who the elected officers and directors of the organisation were.

Defendants Cleo Cash, Inez Pinder and Dwight Armbrister are set to be cross-examined by Mr Munroe when the matter resumes on November 25.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, October 27, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

‘Our COVID tactics are not working’ from page one

DR Duane Sands pictured in the House previously.

Dr Sands said while he supports the government, he does not stand behind its intention to extend the state of the emergency to November 30.

“I would say respectfully that the process that we have engaged in over the last six to eight months has not worked,” Dr Sands told the House of Assembly.

“We are underperforming as a nation. We are underperforming relative to all of our peers in the region.

“I spend a lot of time taking care of COVID patients. It is a privilege.

On Saturday I operated on three. Tomorrow I will operate on two. It is something that is my duty as a physician and so when I speak about some of the challenges, it is not to lambaste. It is not to denigrate.

“We need to be talking to each other, listening to each other. Not shouting and rowing and screaming at each other because the lives of the people of the country is at stake. The economy of this country is at stake. We don’t need to (be) bickering and shouting and talking about FNM and PLP and DNA, we need to be working together to solve this problem.”

He also said: “We have challenges with people

accessing healthcare services right now. We have challenges with people getting access to ventilators, challenges getting access to the operating room. Every single person who goes into the hospital should be tested. That does not happen now, Mr Speaker.

Not in the public sector.

Every single person should be tested.”

Regarding testing, Dr Sands said this aspect needed to be increased.

“When we look at testing and yes with the assistance of the private sector and their hard work, the National Reference Lab, we have definitely increased our testing. We did 279 tests the other day, 19 percent of them were positive. That means we’re not testing enough. A positivity rate of 19 percent means you are not testing enough.

“It’s when, if you look (at) the World Health Organisation data, when you get five percent consistently over two weeks you can say with certainty that you are testing enough and if you are testing and you have a positivity rate of five percent or less and your number of positives are not going up, only then can you say that your pandemic is under control.

“And so what is the message for the people of this country? The message is ‘assume every single person

that you come into contact with is COVID positive’.

“Mr Speaker, what we ought to be doing right now is to build a modular COVID facility at a place outside of Princess Margaret Hospital, outside of Doctors Hospital so that we can concentrate the care.

How many beds? I don’t know. Maybe 150 beds. We can ask for direct relief, we can ask some of the other NGOs to assist us in building a modular facility that is robust where we can have an intensive care unit, operating rooms so that we can reduce the splitting of care.

“And what does that do?

It means that the hospital is stretched. It means that the staff is stretched. It means that ordinary people coming in for heart attacks and strokes, diabetes and kidney failure cannot get care. That is happening in this country today.”

Last week, a 28-bed tent facility went into operation on the grounds of Princess Margaret Hospital.

The temporary facility, set up by international NGO Samaritan’s Purse, treats COVID patients.

Other recommendations by the former minister included publishing a plan quickly and educating the public along with “properly” conducting lockdowns.

He said as it stands the current administration of

lockdowns has harmed businesses and caused desperation among citizens.

Further he said there should be an effort to bring back participatory government with a view to ceasing in person Cabinet and Parliamentary meetings, using virtual means instead.

Dr Sands told Parliament he also believed it was time to put an end to the competent authority.

Under COVID-19 Emergency Powers Orders Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is the competent authority, which gives him sweeping powers during the state of emergency.

The Elizabeth MPs said gyms should be reopened, adding the government also needed to tap into the medicinal capabilities of “bush medicine” (herbal remedies).

He said there needed to be an immediate effort to explore this option and have it patented.

There should also be a focus on improving food security and a reversal of the ban on mask importation, so there is access to better quality masks.

“I end by hoping that my brothers and sisters in here understand that this presentation was given on the basis to speak truth in love. Elizabeth will not support the extension, but Elizabeth supports the government of the Bahamas,” Dr Sands said.

DAVIS WANTS ANSWERS ON DATA BEHIND THE DECISIONS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis charged yesterday that the country has become a case study of how not to manage a public health crisis.

Speaking in the House of Assembly, Mr Davis said failure had become the hallmark of the government’s fight against COVID-19.

He called on the government to make public supporting data to justify restrictions it has put in place.

“Have we progressed when in July we had 104 cases, and the latest dashboard has 6,400 plus cases?

Is that progress? The same dashboard of July 1, 2020, speaks to us having 11 deaths. We now have 132 deaths from the first of July to date with 26 of those deaths still not classified,’

Mr Davis told Parliament during debate on a resolution to extend emergency powers orders.

The opposition has said it would not support the move. The Minnis administration wants to extend restrictions until November 30.

Mr Davis told the House: “These emergency orders represent a suspension of some of our most fundamental rights. We can only guess whom the competent authority consults, if he consults anyone and for that matter, we would want to understand the advice and or the data that he relies upon to justify, for example, a 7pm curfew as opposed to a 10pm curfew?

“So, I say where is the data therefore that informs the advice and justifies the 7pm curfew as opposed to a 10pm curfew? Where is the data or the proof that confirmed weekend lockdowns are effective and

that the benefits outweigh the harms? Where is it? Lay that down.

“Where is the scientific evidence that supports closing beaches to Bahamians, when the virus is mainly transmitted inside, not outside, when people are increasingly crowded into homes, when everyone is pushed to their limit and needs a break?

“These matters ought to be debated in Parliament. Let the man who is making these decisions attempt to justify them before the people and their representatives,” he continued. “Notice that the same man, he chooses national addresses instead of press conferences. He wants it his way, even if his way is failing.”

Mr Davis’ speech prompted some majority members to call for points of order and others heckled him as he continued to deliver the remarks.

Among these were Golden Gates MP Michael Foulkes and West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Pakesia Parker-Edgcombe.

Both MPs at several separate times accused Mr Davis of misleading Parliament.

Despite this, Mr Davis maintained the government has failed to arrest the pandemic.

“The tragedy is that our country has become a case study for how not to manage a public health crisis. We continue to rank at the bottom of countries globally when it comes to our country’s response to COVID. “In July, our borders were opened without the resources in place to stop any new cases of the virus from proliferating. And thus a few cases turned into more than 6,000 and counting. This was not inevitable. It did not have to be this bad. This is what

government failure looks like. The government has become expert at pointing to other countries that are also failing to contain the virus. Yet there are many countries, including many developing nations, who are succeeding.

“A strong leader would look to the successful nations, not the failing ones, and be determined to make sure our country was among them.

“Seven months in, he is asking for the continued ability to suspend the constitutional rights of the Bahamian people, even though he has no plan to contain COVID. Lockdowns are not a plan.

Lockdowns are evidence of an ongoing failure to find and isolate the virus to stop the virus from transmitting.”

Mr Davis said it is agonising to see other countries protect their citizens, while the virus spreads in the

Bahamas where people are under siege.

“Our healthcare system is near collapse. Our doctors and nurses are exhausted and need reinforcements.

“More than seven months into this crisis, the government still has not set up adequate protocols to keep non-COVID patients at PMH safe from the virus.”

He said in the meantime, The Bahamas is behind countries like Jamaica and Trinidad in securing therapeutic medicines for COVID patients.

Without a plan to stop COVID, the Progressive Liberal Party leader said, there can be no real economic recovery. He said nations will continue to warn their citizens to stay away and local businesses will continue to buckle under the pressure.

Bahamians need a government that supports them, instead of blaming and punishing them, he said.

‘MAJORITY OF NON-HOTEL STAFF NOW BACK AT WORK’ from page one

“We understand the hardship. We understand the stress both economically and from an emotional point of view,” he said yesterday.

“The government has put in a significant number of measures to assist all laid off workers during this period. The National Insurance Board has made available and the Ministry of Finance millions of dollars to aid and ease the burden being caused by these layoffs.

“We’re doing all that we can to ease the burden to also strike a balance in terms of the realistic, economic necessity of our society. “ During the onset of the pandemic, the government suspended the Employment Act provisions that mandate employers must pay full severance/redundancy to workers who have been furloughed, or sent home, after 90 days/13 weeks or otherwise recall them to work.

This provision is suspended until 30 days after the government’s COVID19 emergency powers

MINISTER of Labour, Transport and Local Government Dion Foulkes pictured giving his national repoprt yesterday.

Photo: Kristaan Ingraham/BIS orders expires, which is currently being debated by Parliament for its extension until November.

Seeking to explain the

government’s decision, Mr Foulkes said: “Emergency orders calls for the suspension of the provisions in the Employment Act which

allows an employer to lay off, to temporarily lay off workers up to 12 weeks or three months. That provision has been suspended pending the end of the emergency orders and 30 days thereafter.

“That was done particularly to address a lot of businesses - small, medium and large businesses that did not have the financial capacity to pay severance pay to all of their employees.

“This is a once a century event that we are experiencing and no economy in the world has experienced an event like this so the government has to balance out all of the demands and all of the needs of the entire society so we are hopeful that the tourism sector will open.”

Noting that some resorts have already made known their intentions to begin their phased reopening in December, the minister said officials are also hopeful that other major hotels will also follow suit allowing for more employees to return to work.

Still, he said discussions are ongoing with some major resorts, particularly Club Med in San Salvador,

concerning its decision to not resume operations until next year.

He said the government is hoping the operator, the largest employer on the island, will revise its projected reopening date.

Mr Foulkes said he was pleased with the progress being made, noting many Bahamian workers have returned to work since the country began its gradual re-opening.

“But I’m happy to report that since the initial lockdown and initial lay off which were thousands of Bahamians, many of them – the vast majority of them are now back to work,” he said.

“The major challenge now is getting all of the hotels operating and the cruise lines. As you know, the retail stores particularly on Bay Street which most of them are now closed are dependent on the cruise lines coming back to the Bahamas and with respect to the hotel workers.”

Asked about the country’s current unemployment rate, the labour minister said he could not give an exact figure, only telling reporters officials won’t know until the Department

of Statistics completes its jobs survey – which has currently been suspended.

He said the country’s workforce comprises about 225,000 Bahamians.

“It is very difficult for us to face a figure on the unemployment rate in The Bahamas at this point and the Department of Statistics is charged with the responsibility to conduct their surveys which they do twice a year which now has been suspended so that the unemployment rate can be ascertained,” he said.

“The Central Bank has indicated that they are of the view that in March, April and May in the initial beginning of the pandemic, that because of all of the layoffs that the unemployment may have been between 30,000 to 40,000 but the bulk of those employees were temporarily laid off. Most of them have gone back to work with the exception of the sectors that I have already mentioned.”

In the meantime, Mr Foulkes urged Bahamians seeking employment to log on to the Ministry of Labour’s website or to visit the Department of Labour to find job opportunities.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 27, 2020, PAGE 5

UNION IN TALKS WITH ZNS OVER HANDLING OF VIRUS CASE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union is in discussion with ZNS management in Grand Bahama over the handling of an incident there when an employee became ill at work and later tested positive with COVID-19.

BCPOU president Dino Rolle told The Tribune on Monday that the union is speaking with management with a view to resolving any differences and concerns the union and employees might have regarding such matters.

Asked yesterday if he was satisfied with the way things were handled at the

ZNS Freeport office, Mr Rolle said: “Well, certainly there are some things that the corporation could be doing differently and we are having that conversation with management in that regard.

“We are in dialogue with them, and until such time as we are able to resolve those differences and concerns of the union and employees would have, it may not be proper for me to preempt that by speaking about it to the media. Let’s give management an opportunity to address those things.”

Mr Rolle confirmed that he had spoken to the deputy general manager at ZNS in Freeport just after he had learned there was the possibility of a case.

Rev Glenroy Bethel,

CLEANING taking place at ZNS in Grand Bahama.

president of Families For Justice (FFJ), has accused ZNS management of failing to follow proper protocols when an employee became ill and later tested positive with COVID-19. That person was subsequently hospitalised on October 14.

The employee was released from the hospital last Wednesday.

He claims that management did not have employees that were exposed to the individual quarantine for 14 days, or tested for COVID-19. The activist also claims the ZNS office was never shut down for sanitisation as is the protocol followed by other businesses whenever an employee has tested positive with the disease.

Rev Bethel claimed that the staff is very concerned about how the situation was handled, but are afraid for their health and that of their families. He also said they are afraid to speak out.

A reliable source who wished to remain anonymous also told The Tribune that ZNS workers are not satisfied with the way the situation was handled by management.

The local activist criticized ZNS management for downplaying the situation by reporting that the staff were comfortable with it, and also criticised the union for remaining silent on the matter.

When contacted last week, Darren Meadows, deputy general manager for ZNS Northern Service, said he had not received

any complaints or concerns from employees. He noted that the staff and the union were satisfied with how the incident was addressed.

Mr Meadows explained that after the employee left work that day, management had the entire facility sanitised as a precaution before that individual tested positive for COVID19 five days later, last week Monday. He also indicated that executive management at ZNS in Nassau, staff, and the union were informed of what had happened. Staffers, he said, were told if they have any symptoms not to come to work and to contact management.

Yesterday Mt Rolle also indicated that the union has not received any complaints either from employees to date concerning the incident.

“The union did have a conversation with management… but because we are in a pandemic, the union

wanted to make sure ZNS, which is a unique creature in terms of its operation, has adopted a policy of how they should be responding to these growing numbers of cases.

“Certainly, I have not received any reports or concerns from members in this particular case in GB, but I would have spoken to the deputy general manager just after I learned there was a possibility of a case,” he said.

“Because the staff member would have spoken to the DGM and expressed her symptoms, and just over the abundance of caution the DGM had taken action and reported to me that he went ahead and did a deep cleaning and communicated to staff in GB. “I certainly have not received any direct complaints from the staff in GB, neither have I received any direct complaints from my reps there on the ground,

the area vice president or shop stewards that there was some deep concern.

“I only received a call from somebody who refers to himself as a community activist, Rev Bethel. I have spoken with the DGM on this matter and Mr Gottlieb, the executive chairman on the board, on how these things are to be handled.”

Mr Rolle said that he finds it hard to believe that employees are afraid to speak out over fear of being fired by management.

“Being afraid to speak out to management; afraid to lose their job, not in a unionised environment.

BCPOU members have never ever been shy about expressing themselves, and certainly out of fear of losing their jobs that is a no, no. Every time I hear that it causes me to get concerned.

No employee in a unionised environment is concerned about losing their job,” he said.

TOTAL CASES

TOTAL DEATHS

NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES MONDAY 36 CASES

LATEST DEATHS

6,502 136

BAHAMAS RANKED LOW ON RESPONSE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas is ranked 182 out of 184 countries in the COVID-19 recovery index, according to one Global COVID-19 Index (GCI).

The country has been given a score of 17.83 out of 100 indicating that it is “struggling to cope with the crisis and…may need to consider maintaining stringent non-pharmaceutical measures.”

The country received 67.23 on the index’s latest severity index, indicating it “may be overwhelmed by the crisis with a high percentage of infections and resulting deaths per population.”

GCI’s forecast for The Bahamas is that the “situation may improve”.

“The GCI Model indicates that the solution has a small probability of recovery but there is insufficient evidence to suggest that the recovery trend will improve significantly in the near future,” the researchers say.

The recovery index

considers active cases per population, recoveries per confirmed case, tests conducted per confirmed case and tests conducted per population. The severity index considers confirmed cases per population and proportionate death rate due to COVID-19.

The index was developed

by PEMANDU Associates in collaboration with Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Sunway Group.

This comes as Dr Sabriquet Pinder-Butler, head of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association, said yesterday that public health facilities are managing as best as they can under the strain of COVID-19.

“We’ve kind of been in strain mode for a little while with the hospitals being over capacity and so everything is pretty much filled up and they’re just trying to make the best with the space situation,” she said.

“It’s not just COVID, and that’s what we’re trying to get everyone to understand.

We already had challenges with spacing and staffing

before COVID. “With us having additional persons with COVID, that certainly adds to a system that was already trying to make best with what was there. Everything is pretty much at over capacity mode. Once someone goes in, you have someone already waiting for that space. Everyone is trying their best.”

Asked if the situation is manageable, Dr PinderButler said: “Manageable is relative in terms of, if you know this is the hands you are dealt with but you’re still going to try your best, then you manage as best as you can. Things can certainly be much better, but we don’t have an ideal situation in the country.”

The Bahamas has had more than 6,400 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Most of these cases were recorded after July 1, when the country reopened its borders to commercial international travel.

On July 28, the GCI Index ranked The Bahamas last among 184 countries on its COVID-19 recovery index.

NEW PROVIDENCE 27 ELEUTHERA 7 GRAND BAHAMA 2

TOTAL TESTS

HOSPITALISED

• 87-year-old woman from New Providence died on October 24 • 63-year-old man from New Providence died on October 25

CASES IN ICU

• 76-year-old man from New Providence died on October 26 • 75-year-old man from New Providence died on October 26

RECOVERED

34,504 101 19 3987 36 NEW CASES AND FOUR DEATHS

THIRTY-SIX additional COVID-19 cases were recorded yesterday along with four more deaths.

The deceased victims include an 87-yearold woman who died on October 24, a 63-year-old man who died on October 25, a 76-year-old man who died on October 26 and a 75-year-old man who died on October 26. These victims are all New Providence residents and their deaths have pushed the nation’s count to 136.

Of the 36 new cases announced yesterday, 27 are in New Providence, two are in Grand Bahama while seven are in Eleuthera. Nineteen of the new cases are female while 17 are male.

Up to press time, 101 cases were in hospital with 19 of those patients in intensive care.

The Ministry of Health said 34,504 tests have been completed so far with 119 of those tests completed yesterday.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, October 27, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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Listen to those who offer a better path SINCE he resigned his post as Minister of Health, Dr Duane Sands has been an increasingly vocal figure commenting on the government’s approach to tackling COVID-19.

Vocal too, of course, has been Opposition leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, who yesterday spoke out again about how The Bahamas has become a case study of how not to manage a public health crisis.

But as we face this ongoing crisis, does all comment have to be taken as criticism?

It would be presumptuous to think that one side is all wise and all knowing, and all other sides are wrong. There are different approaches in tackling this pandemic – and being open to suggestions from outside parties is simply being sensible. That said, not all comments are constructive.

Take the latest comments, for example – Dr Sands says our approach in the past six to eight months has not worked, but offers a suggestion of a way forward, building a modular COVID facility to concentrate care, perhaps with 150 beds. He also suggests testing everyone who comes into the hospital – every single person. He highlights the difficulty non-COVID patients are having with resources stretched when it comes to dealing with heart attacks, or strokes, or dialysis.

These are suggestions from a medic on the ground as well as a former minister with the understanding of the larger system. On the other hand, Mr Davis chiefly took potshots at the reasons for keeping the emergency orders in place, and wanted to see data behind the decisions to close beaches or to choose a certain time for a curfew.

He also cited Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ lack of answering to the public, by giving national addresses rather than press conferences where he can be questioned. Now Mr Davis may have a point in some of this, but he doesn’t offer a path forward. “Lockdowns are not a plan,” he says. Perhaps so, but simply saying that doesn’t conjure up a new plan.

A lack of transparency is a problem for this government, undoubtedly – and eyebrow-raising comments such as Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes yesterday claiming that most non-hotel workers who have been laid off due to the pandemic are now back at work don’t help.

We would be surprised if all the hairdressers and gardeners, the restaurant staff and excursion tour employees, the Bay Street store staff and the Mall workers whose shops are shuttered are back at work. The lack of a reliable figure on unemployment

is also unhelpful – it’s been months of the pandemic now and the news that the Department of Statistics has suspended its jobs survey sounds like a way of hiding bad news more than anything else.

Those in power should not just speak, but also listen. If someone not in a minister’s suit has a good idea, it should be considered and acted upon if it would help.

As Dr Sands says, “We need to be talking to each other, listening to each other. Not shouting and rowing and screaming at each other because the lives of the people of the country is at stake. The economy of this country is at stake. We don’t need to (be) bickering and shouting and talking about FNM and PLP and DNA, we need to be working together to solve this problem.”

If ever there was a challenge that needed to be met with unity, it is this pandemic. We urge all sides to do what they can together to beat it – rather than look for political point scoring.

Lucayan delays

Deal done, deal not done, deal still being negotiated, deal waiting on a harbour purchase… if you’ve been following the long-running saga of the Grand Lucayan, you’ll be forgiven for wondering about its twists and turns.

The purchase now appears to hinge on a conclusion to a deal for Freeport Harbour – so that all parts of the purchase can be done at once.

Commercial sensitivities abound here, of course – the Grand Lucayan buyers don’t want to go through with buying the hotel only to find themselves hung out to dry if something goes wrong with the harbour deal.

The government, of course, wants the Lucayan bought, done, sorted and the clock started on its reopening, complete with the hiring of local staff. There is a new date lined up for the Lucayan completion – December this year – but plenty of such dates have whooshed by already, so don’t put any store on that until the ink is dry on the page.

What we don’t want to see happen is the government being locked in to one purchaser to the extent that it reduces the value of what we get. We don’t want to see the hotel used purely to gain advantage elsewhere. When the deal was signed, it was to the advantage of all – abiding by the spirit of that would still see a win for everyone.

COVID-19 approach EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE whole idea of public health is predicated upon knowledge.

Knowledge based on years of medical understanding. Knowledge of a pandemic. Knowledge of how and who to test, to quarantining, to isolation and lock downs, all of it is knowledge driven.

That is why I am absolutely confused and angered by the stance taken by this government’s COVID Surveillance Unit.

I live on Andros. When I called our local “clinic” yesterday to find out where any of the confirmed COVID19 cases on Andros were, I was told that that information is not available. Our nurse said she too, was frustrated with the lack of information coming from our Ministry of Health.

Our own health clinic here is unable to tell us where these cases are? Though I tried calling the COVID19 Surveillance Hotline number listed in this paper, I could not get an answer after 16 calls.

On one hand, it is important to know if we have come in contact with a

COVID positive person, and yet our government’s surveillance team refuses to disclose who, and where these positive cases are, even to our own health officials here. The operative word here is “refuse”.

If someone has tested positive for COVID-19, I would be in favour of each of those people being required to wear a T-shirt that has a big scarlet “C” on the front anytime they are in public. I don’t give a hoot about stigmatisation.

This isn’t AIDS, where it is sexually transmitted. This is a highly contagious virus.

My job is to protect myself, my family and others I come into contact with. I want to know who has COVID-19. Not just a Brave Davis or a bishop. I want to know who, if someone in my community has COVID-19.

Further, after speaking with a police officer here, they expressed their grave concern they were unable to do their jobs, such as enforcing quarantine measures, if they do not have access to the information.

For the government to withhold information on

who has COVID is, in my mind, a criminal act. That the government feels it has the right to withhold the names and addresses of those who have tested positive is unacceptable.

By withholding this information, they are assuring the public that every other effort made to combat this serious virus is useless. Perhaps this is why we are seeing escalating numbers of cases, hospitalisations, and deaths.

While it was beyond all logic to allow Bahamians to travel to Florida, a known COVID hotspot, and return three days later, without taking a COVID test, this withholding of information tops the cake. And, what good is quarantining people coming to Andros from Nassau, when they are picked up by their relatives, go home to their relatives, and then their relatives are then mingling among the rest of us.

Minnis and company get an “F”. And, if we were truthful about it, it could be said they have blood on their hands.

PORCUPINE Andros, October 21, 2020.

Comments by Bishop Ellis EDITOR, The Tribune.

I CONSIDER Bishop Neil C Ellis to be a spiritual giant in the Bahamian Christian community who is considered a spiritual father to many young clergymen. With a membership in the thousands coupled with an international reach that extends throughout the United States of America and the Caribbean, if there’s one Bahamian preacher of the gospel one would think would have the listening ear of the Free National Movement (FNM) administration and Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, it would be Ellis.

The FNM government, I believe, is currently struggling mightily to beat the COVID-19 pandemic along with its wreckage of the economy. The Bahamian people find themselves on uncharted waters, with thousands unemployed and at their wits end. Thousands of Bahamians are stressed out.

This is where The Bahamas is in urgent need of a prophetic word from the Holy Spirit of God. This is where men of God, like Ellis, those should step in.

What is God saying to The Bahamas, the United States and the rest of the world through this COVID-19 crisis? Obviously, this is judgment on us for failing to obey the Lord. We must repent.

In an October 26 lengthy front-page article in The Nassau Guardian, it was reported that the Mount Tabor Full Gospel Church pastor accused Minnis of developing a “theo ego” like the Old Testament Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. I think a more appropriate Old Testament analogy would have been Darius the Mede, ruler of the Persian Empire, two chapters removed from Ellis’ main text in the Book of Daniel, assuming it was chapter four. Darius had put into law an irrevocable decree mandating that his subjects, inclusive of the prophet and statesman Daniel, pray only to him.

Prayer is a form of worship.

Nebuchadnezzar assumed leadership of the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 605 BC, following the death of his father, Nabopolassor.

The name Nebuchadnezzar means “Nabu protect my son”. Nabu was the

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net patron god of Borsippa, a city which was located in southwest Babylon, in modern-day Iraq.

Being raised in polytheism, Nebuchadnezzar also worshipped Bel-Merodach, the chief Babylonian and Mesopotamian god, who went by the alternative name Marduk. Considered the greatest Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaohnechoh at the historic Battle of Carchemish in 605, in addition to subduing Syria, Phonenicia and Tyre. He would also sack Jerusalem three times, in 605 BC, 597 BC and 586 BC, during the reigns of the Judean King Josiah’s sons.

By all accounts, Nebuchadnezzar was a ruthless autocrat, who, like many of his ancient counterparts, had no concept of democracy and freedom of speech.

According to 2 Kings 25:67, Nebuchadnezzar, after gouging out the eyes of King Zedekiah, executed his sons in his presence at Riblah. The word of Nebuchadnezzar was royal fiat in Babylon.

A nascent form of democracy had originated in the Grecian world in the sixth century BC, within decades of Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 562 BC. Builder of the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, one can see why Nebuchadnezzar “developed a God mentality”. In actuality, however, I don’t believe Nebuchadnezzar attempted to assume God’s position. His issue was pride. As a result of his pride, God judged him with clinical locanthropy.

For seven years he believed that he was a wild animal.

This embarrassing event has been confirmed by Eusebius and Berosus, the Babylonian astronomer and writer.

If Minnis is indeed a Roman Catholic, as claimed by FNM chairman Carl Culmer, it would then mean that he shares the same faith of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

It also dispels the claim of Minnis being an atheist. Ellis, though, might be thinking along the lines of evangelical Christians such

as the writer. The question is, is Minnis a born-again Christian? The answer may be no. But that does not mean we Christians shouldn’t pray for him and his administration.

To the best of my knowledge, not one of our prime ministers, since majority rule, were evangelical Christians. In fairness to the late Sir Lynden O Pindling, father of the modern Bahamas, he was a devout Seventh-Day Adventist shortly before his death in August 2000. With over 6,400 confirmed infections of COVID-19 and a death toll of 132, the emergency measures are obviously not working.

Minnis wants the orders to be extended to November 30, which Ellis and many within the church obviously opposes.

I believe Minnis is sincere, even if he appears to be encroaching on the church’s territory. He really wants to save lives. But he and Ministry of Health officials must come to grips with the reality that COVID-19 is here to stay.

The lockdowns and curfews cannot go on forever. I have said before that of the two poisons called COVID19 and joblessness that Bahamians are forced to pick, they have chosen the former.

Unfortunately, The Bahamas is maxed out financially. We cannot go on without receiving a salary, especially with National Insurance Board unemployment benefits being reduced to $100.

As a pastor, Ellis is acutely aware of the struggles of the Bahamian people. I would assume that many of those who have been impacted by the layoffs at Baha Mar and Atlantis attends his church. I can imagine the strain of attempting to assist hundreds of struggling members.

Minnis and Culmer should extend an olive branch to Ellis and the entire evangelical Christian community, even if he’s offended at what was said on the pulpit at Mount Tabor. Both the government and the evangelical church must work in unison in order to defeat COVID-19.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama.

October 26, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 27, 2020, PAGE 7

Road Traffic to open extra facility to reduce queues

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Road Traffic Department will reopen a satellite agency to make the licensing and inspection process smoother for motorists.

It is not clear when the site will reopen. However, yesterday Transport Minister Dion Foulkes said: “Recognising the importance of servicing motorists in these hard times, we will soon reopen a satellite agency in New Providence for licensing

and inspecting new vehicles. The Road Traffic facility will be located at West Bay Street, adjacent to Clifford Park.”

His comments amid complaints over lengthy wait times at the department concerning the licensing and inspections process, with some observers calling for the government to modernise the process especially during these extraordinary times.

Yesterday, Road Traffic Acting Controller Bradley Sands acknowledged the challenges experienced to be a result of limited

satellite stations. However, with the eventual reopening of a new satellite site, Mr Sands said officials are confident that the process will become much more efficient for motorists.

“Well, I do believe that Road Traffic will be more efficient in the shortest possible time. If you pay attention to what is happening now to the long lines at the traffic departments, that is simply because, one, we don’t have sufficient satellite stations,” he told reporters at a press conference yesterday.

“That is why we are

reopening the office at Fort Charlotte. As soon as we are able to reopen the Carmichael Road Station, we will be able to alleviate the backlog that exists with the long lines. It is all based on the amount of outlets that the Road Traffic Department has.”

Meanwhile, Mr Foulkes added: “There have been many proposals that have been made to the government in respect to modernising and advancing the efficiency and speed of inspections. There’s something circulating on social media now about certain

mechanical establishments getting the exclusive to do inspections.

“I could put that to rest now. That is not so, that is fake news but we are looking at, we are actively examining different ways of doing inspections so that we could make it easier for the motoring public to get their vehicles inspected.”

Asked yesterday when driver’s license examinations will resume, Mr Sands said officials are awaiting to receive the green light from the Ministry of Health.

“You must take into account that the exams are

held in a very closed environment where roughly about five to ten persons can be in the rooms. We have been utilising our thermometers as well as our hand sanitisers and with the increase of the COVID cases, we have to take the necessary precautions to make sure that our staff and their families are not at risk.

“So, in light of that we have suspended the driving exams as well as the written exams until we are given the all clear of the ministry of health or the proper authority that we can resume those operations.”

THREE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER BOATING INCIDENT

THE AFTERMATH of the boating accident that resulted in three people being taken to hospital. The incident took place in the Dover Sound area of East Grand Bahama.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THREE people were taken to hospital with minor injuries following a boating accident in the Dover Sound area of East Grand Bahama yesterday afternoon.

Supt Terecita Pinder reported that the incident occurred around 2pm involving a 19ft Boston Whaler vessel, with two men and one woman on board.

When officers arrived at the scene, she said they discovered that the vessel had run aground at the pond in Dover Sound.

Paramedics were called to the scene and took the boat captain and the two passengers to the

hospital, all three with non-life-threatening injuries.

“Police can say that alcohol seems to be a factor,” Supt Pinder said.

“We are appealing to members of the public that they cannot drink and operate a vessel, the same as driving on the streets. This is a serious incident and lives could have been lost, but thank God it did not happen” in this case.

Supt Pinder also said police are appealing to the boating public not to drink when on the water.

She also noted that none of the persons on board was wearing a life jacket and that the vessel was not registered, both very serious infractions.

In other news, a man

who was missing at sea on a wave runner on the weekend was found alive and well by family members.

The Tribune was told rescue agency BASRA had received reports that a man had reportedly left Fox Town, Abaco, en route to McLean’s Town, Grand Bahama, but did not arrive.

The Tribune was informed that BASRA went searching for the individual, believed to be Peter Davis, but family members had located him first.

When contacted over the weekend concerning the report, Supt Terecita Pinder, the police press officer for the northern region, said on Sunday that officers had received no report of a missing man at sea on a wave runner.

TWO WOMEN AIRLIFTED AFTER CAR CRASH IN ABACO

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

TWO women have been airlifted to New Providence after a car accident in Abaco left them with injuries.

ASP Philip Davis said sometime around 10.28pm on Saturday, police received a call about an accident at Sandy Point.

“We got a call of an accident in that area as a result officers responded.

“Upon their arrival, they met a Dodge Ram truck and a grey Honda Accord which was occupied by the two females,” he said.

“They were transported to the clinic. They received injuries. The truck was also occupied by four other persons.”

The women, ages 29 and 30, were taken to the Marsh Harbour clinic then flown to the capital where they are said to be in stable condition.

Last month, Abaco mother Britney Edgecombe was on her way to work on the morning of September 9 when she was injured in a car accident.

She was taken to New Providence in critical condition.

Although her family successfully fundraised

enough money to repair her spinal cord at a US hospital and cover her rehabilitation costs, the 33-year-old died earlier this month.

As news of Saturday’s accident spread on Facebook, many raised concern of the number of dangerous crashes happening on Abaco.

According to ASP Davis, police are always concerned about any accident.

“This only comes to the highlight because certain people report things on social media, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s an increase,” he said.

A Private Graveside Service & Interment for CHARLES FREDERICK ANTHONY BELLOT, 62 of Edgar Close, will be held on Thursday, October 29th, 2020 at Lakeview Memorial Gardens & Mausoleum, JFK Drive. Officiating will be Monsignor Simeon Roberts.

Due to current Government regulations in respect of Covid-19, attendance at the graveside is limited to ten (10) persons.

Tony is pre-deceased by his parents: Charles Alfred and Agatha Clare Bellot, his brothers, Clarence and Roger Bellot.

Left to cherish his memories are his Wife: Barbara Bellot; Son: Shelbie Bellot; Three Brothers: Stephen, Claude and Derek Bellot; Two Sisters: Heather Hazarian and Alfreda Russell; Uncle: Claude Oscar and family; Aunt: Joan Bellot-Douglas and family; Sisters and Brothers-in law: Catherine, Terri and Esther Bellot, Brenda Cleare, David Hazarian, Joe Russell, and Basil Cleare; Nieces and Nephews: Fiona and Geno Daniels, Charles, Clare, Eryn, Selyna, Michael, Adrienne, Simone Bellot, Ryan Bellot-Hazarian, Isabella Hazarian, Solanje, Yannick, Annique, Tahira, Tatiana, Eugene and Dion Bellot, Travis Russell and Kareem Munroe; Grand Nieces and Nephews: Raegan, Cole and Lance Daniels; Cousins: Kelly Oscar, Andrea, Roy and Roger Oscar, and David Bellot; Numerous Relatives and Friends including: Margaret Lewis (caregiver), Esther Hanna-Culmer and family, Clem, Natasha, Corinne, Glen and Estelle Laville and Families, Frank Benoit and family, Erlin (“Bubba”) Smith and family, Ileen Goodman and Azaria Ferguson, Wesley Ingraham and family, Frank Benoit and Family, Henry and Elsie Matthew, Theresa Kemp, Owen Silvera and Angelika Wallace-Whitfield, Hugh Burke and Family, The Cleare family, Barabbas and the Tribe, Derek Been and family, David Burrows and Family, Alex Roberts and family, Bianca Seymour, Beulah and Breonn Murphy, Marvin Braynen, John Hanna, Susan Haven, Phil Constantine and family, Shawn Thomas and Family, The Butler family, The Garraway family, The Edgar Family, The Benoit Family, Dr. Greg Neil and family, The Barnett family, Keith and Mabel Mason and family, Donald Peters and family, Nigel Burrows, Karen Hall, Sheena Darling, Chris Farquharson, Deidre Dottin, Deidre McPhee, Philip Finlayson, Sheff Rolle, Sharon Pratt and family, The Bahamas RC Model Airplane Club, and The Antique Car Club; Additional extended family and friends dear to Tony’s heart, too numerous to mention.

May His Soul Rest in Peace!

Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street on Wednesday, October 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, October 27, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Shining a light on those living with blindness

FROM left, Jermaine Clarke, Akemi Kenaz Thompson, Rickia Pratt and Bahamas Alliance for the Blind and Visually Impaired president Kendrick Rolle.

AS OCTOBER comes to an end, I wanted to recognise a group that deserves just as much attention as other NGOs celebrating important causes this month.

The Bahamas Alliance for the Blind and Visually Impaired (BABVI) recognises October as Blindness Awareness Month. This year, BABVI celebrates 30 years in existence and 23 years as a legal entity for the blind in The Bahamas.

The fact that members of the alliance are blind or visually impaired have not stopped them from being active this month despite the restrictions of the pandemic.

In fact, members have been more active on social media than ever before.

This was in keeping with this year’s theme: “Our Vision Still Strong; Pandemic or Not!”

Face to Face

By FELICITY INGRAHAM

BABVI president Kendrick Rolle said the organisation launched an aggressive campaign via social media platforms centred on eye care tips, “breaking barriers in blindness, and living with blindness.

There were also media house interviews, talk show appearances and presentations to civic organisations via Zoom.

Since Kendrick has been president, he has brought a lot of young people to the alliance and they, in turn, have been using their social media platforms to

promote their cause.

They celebrated World Sight Day on Thursday, October 8, and International White Cane Day on October 15, pushing the message to friends, family members and followers to get their eyes tested and be conscious of the needs of blind and visually impaired people like them.

The month of celebrations culminated last night with the “Vision 2020 Virtual Summit” which featured presentations from BABVI members along with representatives from the Caribbean Council for

Death Notice

the Blind; Disability Affairs So, his community memDivision; Department of bers, family and friends call Social Services; The Eye on him for all sorts of odd Care Services Department jobs. When he isn’t getting of Public Health and The his hands dirty and earning Erin H Gilmour School for money, Jermaine turns to the Blind. something he loves – music.

“The Alliance remains His passion for music the trailblazers in the has blossomed into country sensitising the another career. Jermaine general public on the is a DJ who specialises in importance of eye protec- events like birthdays and tion, sight preservation weddings. and blindness preven“Challenge me to do tion,” Kendrick said. something and I will find a “Additionally, the organi- way to do it,” he said. sation is still focused on “Anything to feed my its mission and goals as family.” outlined in the ConstituKendrick called his tion, employing members BABVI colleague a great to remain vocal, advocat- supporter of all of the ing for the rights, dignity, organisation’s initiatives, and wellbeing and a “true of the blind in ‘Remain model of a man the Bahamian resilient, press who is blind”. society.”

The spoton towards your This year’s light is also on goals, persevere Rickia Pratt Blindness Awareness for Blindness in these Month highAwareness lights included unprecedented month. Rickia three BABVI times despite has been visumembers: Jer- the emergency ally impaired maine Clarke, all her life.

Rickia Pratt orders.’

She attended and Akemi the Salvation Kenaz Thompson.

Army School for the Blind, Jermaine Clarke is a where she graduated with 6 husband and father of BJCs and 6 BGCSEs. three. He has been blind At the age of ten, for over 25 years. Despite Rickia developed a love this challenge, Jermaine is for foreign languages. independent and is a daily That love blossomed as provider for his family. He she pursued tertiary eduhas been employed at the cation.

She attended Salvation Army’s mop fac- Eastern Washington Unitory for years now. versity and successfully But that’s not all – Jer- pursued a degree in foreign maine is a lumberjack. He is languages. skilled at what he does and When Rickia returned because of it, members of home, her skills were put his community know who to good use. She made to call after a hurricane to history by being the only help with clean up, or just person with disability to be to cut down overgrown accepted into the Ministry trees in their yard. of Tourism’s Foreign LanFor people without any guage Cadet Programme disabilities, holding down in 2008. She was afforded two jobs is quite a feat. the opportunity to attend But being a lumberjack a summer-abroad proand a factory worker only gramme in Costa Rica, one scratches the surface of of many places she has travwhat this talented man can elled to perfect the Spanish do. Jermaine also has skills language. in plumbing as well as auto Rickia is a seasoned liturmechanics. gical dancer. She has been

Angela Treco

8th April, 1924 - 21st October, 2020 Angela Treco, wife of the late Carl G Treco OBE, passed away at Doctors’ Hospital, Shirley Street on Wednesday, 21st October 2020, in the early afternoon.

She is survived by her six children: Madeline (Brian) Barton, Wesley (Juanita), Larry (Paula), Geoffrey (Debra), John (Nancy) and Wayne (Kathleen) Treco; Grandchildren: Lorraine Betts, Tiffany Gilmore, Wesley Ashlin (Nicola) Treco, Candice Treco Viken, Ryan and Kevin Treco, Jennifer Treco Bahm (Aaron), Lindsay Treco, Nicole (Thomas) Knowles, Krystal and Michael Treco; Great Grandchildren: Spencer and Leah Betts, Ariel and Georgia Gilmore , Stella and Sylvia Treco, Hailey Viken, Hunter Bethel, Hannah Bahm, Emma Knowles , Isaiah Treco; Sister: Maisie Jones.

Mom enjoyed a full Life. She was a lifelong Anglican, a faithful member of Christ Church Cathedral, a Lay Reader, a member of the ACW and Altar Guild and an active member of the Long Islanders’ Association.

She is cherished by her adoring family and many loving friends.

YOUR

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

dancing from she was eight years old. Today, Rickia is an activist for local people with disabilities. Her personal motto is: “All things are possible with hard work and determination”.

The youngest to be highlighted this month is Akemi Kenaz Thompson. She is one of the bright stars at the Erin H Gilmour School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Now in her late teens, Akemi was diagnosed at birth with a condition called Hydrocephalus, which is a build-up of fluid within the cavities of the brain. Treatment was administered; however, by sixth grade, Akemi’s condition took a turn for the worse, leaving her with chronic visual impairment, mostly in her right eye.

Despite this, Akemi still continues to thrive and blossom, obtaining four BJCs due to her hard work and dedication to her studies.

She is now attending classes at RM Bailey Senior High School on a quest to obtain her BGCSEs, with a focus on English Language. Akemi has learned to navigate independently with low vision using the white cane, an essential tool for blind and visually impaired people all around the world.

A white cane primarily allows its user to scan their surroundings for obstacles or orientation marks. As an onlooker, it is important to take notice when you see the white cane, so that you can identify the user as blind or visually impaired and take appropriate care. This becomes very important when you are a motorist and someone is using the white cane and crossing the street, for example. For BABVI, white cane also symbolises self-reliance and accomplishment.

Akemi has a love for reading, traveling and experiencing new cultures.

One day, she hopes to be a college graduate and she aspires to become an author. She is confident she can achieve her goals because of her strong support system – her parents and three brothers.

“Congratulations goes out to the Alliance as it celebrates another milestone in the organisations’ life,” Kendrick said in an address to his members.

“Remain resilient, press on towards your goals, persevere in these unprecedented times despite the emergency orders. As our theme suggests… let your vision remain strong, pandemic or not!”

For donations to help the causes of the blind and visually impaired, or for general information, BABVI can be contacted through the Disability Affairs Division, telephone 325-2252 or email babvi.101@gmail. com.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 27, 2020, PAGE 9

IT’S NOT JUST PLASTICS POLLUTING OUR PLANET

THE war against plastic may be overshadowing greater threats to the environment.

In a collaboration with experts from the environmental sciences, engineering, industry, policy and charities, we have written a paper in the journal WIREs Water which highlights concerns that relatively easy action against plastic pollution can conveniently mask environmental apathy, and that people are being misled by alarmist headlines, emotive photographs, and “greenwashing”.

Plastic is an incredibly useful and versatile material on which much of modern society relies, yet it has become one of the most topical environmental issues of the day. Over the past few years, plastic pollution has encouraged action from individuals, organisations and governments at levels similar to some of the greatest threats to the environment, such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

This concern is well founded. Plastic pollution is unsightly, can entangle wildlife, can be ingested and block stomachs and intestines, and may carry harmful chemicals. It can

By THOMAS STANTON, Lecturer in Environmental Science, Nottingham Trent University, MATTHEW JOHNSON Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of Nottingham and PAUL KAY, Associate Professor in Water Quality, University of Leeds break down into small pieces, eventually to microplastics – pieces smaller than 5mm – that can accumulate up the food chain. It has also been found in some of the most remote parts of the world.

But though there is widespread animosity towards plastics, they are a group of materials that we cannot live without, and that we should not live without. We argue that plastics themselves are not the cause of the problem, and that failing to recognise this risks exacerbating much greater environmental and social catastrophes.

SOME POLLUTION IS LESS VISIBLE

The impacts

environmental of some less

visible pollutants are well known. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane contribute to global warming. Fine particles in the atmosphere are associated with respiratory illnesses and are a major component of smog. And radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster continues to impact the wildlife that has taken over its exclusion zone.

But society pollutes the environment in more ways than most people are aware, and has done since long before concern for plastic pollution became prevalent.

Agriculture leads to nutrient over-enrichment and pesticide pollution.

Electronics, vehicles and buildings require a wide variety of toxic metals that leak into the environment at the end of their lives and are blown and washed from where they are mined.

Medicines that are washed down drains and not completely metabolised (used up) by our bodies can also find their way into rivers and lakes.

These lesser known realities of everyday consumption degrade the environment and are toxic to wildlife. As chemicals,

rather than particles like plastic, these pollutants are also far more mobile than plastics and, in the case of toxic metals, more persistent.

Plastic pollution provides a convenient distraction from these inconvenient truths. Starting with political legislation at the very top, high-profile action against plastic pollution has been disproportionate to its environmental impact.

Banning microbeads in cosmetics, for example, addressed only a very small part of the problem. This is not to say that microbeads are not present in the environment or that they do not pose a risk to it.

But those who are in positions of power – scientists, industry, the media, politicians – have an obligation not to mislead their audiences by disseminating research and environmental policy that lacks context.

FOCUS ON THE PRODUCT – NOT THE PLASTIC

Plastic is just one type of anthropogenic material in the environment. Plastic

textile fibres such as polyester or nylon are a prominent form of pollution, but it is natural fibres like wool and cotton that have recently been found to dominate environmental samples.

Though biodegradable, when these natural fibres do degrade they may leach harmful chemicals, such as dyes into the environment.

Glass and aluminium, sometimes promoted as solutions to plastic bottle pollution, can have greater carbon footprints than the plastics they replace. And many of these alternatives will also persist in the environment. Someone who will throw a plastic bottle into a river will not change their behaviour if they have an aluminium can.

The problem is the product, not the plastic. A desire for convenience, industries reliant on overconsumption not informed consumption, and a culture of policies for popularity not progression, are all at the root of the plastic conversation. But the plastic pollution is just the bit you can see.

SO WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

“Plastic” and “plastic pollution” are all too

often confused. Plastic pollution is a visible and easily relatable symptom of unsustainable levels of consumption, inappropriate product design, poor waste management and disingenuous policy.

Greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity losses, exploitative labour practices and chemical pollution either cannot be seen so clearly or their effects develop over a longer period of time.

But once their impacts are visible, it is often too late for the environments they afflict.

That’s why there is a pressing need to raise the profile of the pollution that cannot be seen.

Plastic pollution has mobilised unprecedented levels of environmental action. But to be successful this action needs to focus on the true causes, like the overconsumption of readily disposable items, rather than simply the presence of plastic in the environment.

It should also do a better job of framing plastic pollution within the context of other, more significant pollutants.

• Originally publish on theconversation.com

PAGE 10, Tuesday, October 27, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Britain and Europe still fishing in troubled waters THE PETER YOUNG COLUMN

NO doubt to the consternation of many, Brexit is back in the news again this week. After endless controversy and bickering since the British people voted in the 2016 referendum by a small majority to leave the European Union, most people have become justifiably tired of the issue and anyway probably thought it had been settled. But, the agreed transition period is not yet over. So, over the last months and with comparatively little publicity, there has been considerable activity to secure a trade deal and complete the whole Brexit process.

Following Britain’s formal departure from the EU on January 31 this year, during the transition period which is due to end on December 31 there have been intensive negotiations about the detailed arrangements for the UK’s future relationship with the EU. These are, of course, inherently important and the top priority remains a UK/EU trade deal, though

discussions have also cov- end of the transition period. ered issues like security Having missed that midand fishing rights. How- October deadline, talks ever, these talks have now have now gone into overstalled. drive, producing another The 27-member EU is cliffhanger characteristic of one of Britain’s major trad- EU negotiations, with the ing partners two sides meetwith which, Mr Johnson has ing again over as a newly past weekdug his heels in the independend as well as ent country, it and insisted that, this week after wants a deal. if there is no deal Mr Johnson Clearly, it is in had earlier the interests of before the end called a tempoboth sides to of the transition rary halt to the achieve one. period, the UK talks because But several of the EU’s sticking points will operate on alleged refusal in the nego- World Trade to compromise. tiations remain Organisation At the time of and it now writing, no proappears that, terms from gress has been if these differ- January 1, 2021, made public. ences cannot with tariffs and An obvious be resolved option would soon, there is border checks be to extend a growing pos- in place. the transisibility of the tion period.

British side walking away But Prime Minister Boris without an agreement.

Johnson has ruled that out Both sides had wanted because of fear the negoto secure a deal by Octo- tiations might drag on ber 15 to provide time for indefinitely which could it to be ratified before the even result in abandonment

of Brexit altogether and another referendum. What is more, there is evidence that this is what the EU – in alliance with the so-called ‘Remainers’ in Britain – would prefer. So Mr Johnson has dug his heels in and insisted that, if there is no deal before the end of the transition period, the UK will operate on World Trade Organisation terms from January 1, 2021, with tariffs and border checks in place.

He has a mandate for this tough approach since his overwhelming victory in December’s General Election was based on a pledge “to get Brexit done”.

In studying why the trade talks have stalled, it is interesting to look at the EU’s approach in dealing with the departure of one of its major players. Some commentators suggest its aim is both to punish Britain for its impertinence in challenging the EU’s federalist dogma by voting to leave and also to deter other member states from following suit.

So, they say, in ignoring the democratic will of the British people and thwarting their majority wish for a return to full sovereignty, Brussels has been trying to make the UK’s departure as difficult as possible – and, in the view of many, is seeking to continue to maintain

control over the newlyindependent UK even after it has left the bloc.

One example of that is the EU’s insistence on what it calls a level playing field to ensure fair competition but which is widely seen as an attempt to force the UK to adhere to EU regulations; for example, in relation to financial subsidies. Another is to try to retain a role for EU institutions to settle disputes.

Britain sees such demands as unacceptable to a sovereign country and show the EU’s disdain for the very concept of independence.

The other major sticking point in the negotiations concerns fisheries. Under the Common Fisheries Policy, the Exclusive Economic Zones of EU member states are merged into one large zone which can be accessed by fishermen from all states and regulated by the CFP. Now, the EU wants to keep control over British waters within the CFP. The UK, for its part, insists that as an independent nation it must be in full control of its own waters and, if EU countries want to fish in UK waters, they will have to request access through quotas agreed in annual negotiations. But such a system is opposed by France, in

particular, and remains under discussion with a view to seeking some sort of compromise.

It seems to me that, while the EU has been creating obstacles to an agreement, it must be clear to all that the British government is asking for no more than a trade deal like any other independent nation doing business with the EU and similar to what the Prime Minister has called “nothing more complicated than a Canada-style relationship based on friendship and free trade”.

With fisheries a major stumbling block, Britain has said firmly that failure to be able to take back control of its own waters would be a sellout and has demanded a change in the EU’s negotiating position. There is some sign of movement with a recent statement by Germany’s Chancellor Merkel that the EU must accept the principle that any deal must be in the interests of both parties. Moreover, reportedly, some EU member states are now concerned about a no deal outcome and the effect on their economies of a switch to tariffs under WTO terms. So it remains to be seen whether there will be any progress in the talks this week. But Brexit is certainly back on the front pages.

THANK GOD THIS HAS BEEN A QUIET MONTH IN WRITING last week about the significance of October, there was no space to mention the extraordinary number and range of events of military importance that have taken place during this month over the years.

I found it interesting to do an internet search which turned out to be remarkably revealing. The list is long but a few stand out – for example, the surrender of British general Lord Charles Cornwallis to George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the American War of Independence in 1781; the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805; the famous Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War in 1854; and, more recently, the ill-advised and fateful Suez Canal campaign and invasion of Egypt in 1956.

Finally, there was the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) War in October,

1973 – this was also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, fought by a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria against Israel, at the conclusion of which both sides claimed success after the latter’s victory in the Seven-Day War of 1967.

Significant as all these were, however, perhaps none can compare with what historians regard as the most important event of all – at least in the 20th century; namely, the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 which reached a peak in October that year. After a lengthy standoff with Washington, and under intense pressure from President Kennedy, the Soviet leader, Khrushchev, finally withdrew the medium-range missiles – earlier installed by the USSR in Cuba – which had posed a direct threat to the US mainland.

Although Kennedy had to make concessions like

the withdrawal of the US’s own missiles in Turkey and agreement not to invade Cuba, he was much praised at the time for his handling of the crisis.

In his work published in 2003, one of Kennedy’s biographers, Robert Dallek, wrote that 40 years after the event historians almost uniformly agreed that this was the most dangerous moment in the 45-year Cold War and could have led to nuclear annihilation. The US was on the brink of taking military action against Cuba and, combined with existing conflict over Berlin, this could have led to war with the Soviet Union. In Dallek’s words, Kennedy’s “restraint in resisting a military solution that would almost certainly have triggered a nuclear exchange makes him a model of wise statesmanship in a dire situation”.

the details of his life and work after returning home since they are well documented. But what may be little known is that he contributed much to life at St Catherine’s and established the Adderley Prize – jointly with his son, former Cabinet minister, Attorney General and Acting Governor General of The Bahamas, Paul L Adderley, who also studied at the College. This prize is given annually to recognise St Catherine’s law students for

outstanding performance in their examinations.

In comments marking Black History Month and the start of a new academic year, the Master of St Catherine’s emphasised how much the College appreciated overseas students and mentioned, in particular, Alfred F Adderley and his contribution to the life of the College.

This is a heart-warming tale and many will surely find it uplifting to read about such a fine tribute to the Adderley family.

A FLAG FLIES PROUDLY I AM indebted to a friend for bringing to my attention a memorable story about a famous Bahamian’s involvement in Cambridge University.

On October 1, St Catherine’s College, Cambridge flew the national flag of The Bahamas above the city centre, pictured, to signify the start of a programme of activities to celebrate Black History Month in the UK – and it will be flown again on October 31.

The flag was raised to mark the College’s connections with The Bahamas and, specifically, in honour of its earliest black student on record, Alfred F Adderley, who arrived to study law there in 1912 and who, of course, subsequently had a brilliant career, including becoming Acting Chief Justice of The Bahamas.

Many people are aware of