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VOLUME:117 No.237, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2020

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BAHA MARVELLOUS

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Unions welcome resort reopening Dec 17 with 1,500 staff due to return

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

MEGA resort Baha Mar has announced its reopening in December, which was hailed by a hotel union official as a “good signal” for the tourism industry.

Darrin Woods, president of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union, added that he hopes the move will help “create a domino effect” causing other hotels across the country to follow suit.

Mr Woods’ comments came hours after the Cable Beach resort, in a press statement released yesterday, revealed it will begin its phased reopening starting December 17, allowing for “over 1,500 associates” to return to work in the

first phase.

Resort officials said the phased reopening strategy will begin with the resumption of operations at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, followed

by Rosewood Baha Mar and then SLS Baha Mar. Strict protocols inclusive of enhanced safety and health measures will facilitate this reopening to ensure the safety of both staff and guests, officials added.

“Ensuring safety, health and well-being is our number one priority, and we have built upon the natural strengths and intimate experiences of the resort destination to reintroduce signature and new guest offerings,” said Baha Mar’s president, Graeme Davis.

PRESIDENT Donald Trump was edging closer to losing his re-election bid last night - with Joe Biden nearing the votes he needed to become the 46th US president. See pages 8-9 inside.

SUPER VALUE DIGS DEEP WITH $100K DONATION

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SUPER VALUE donated $100,000 to the Bahamas Feeding Network yesterday to aid families in need.

The donation was made in a ceremony that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis attended.

SEE PAGE THREE

SEE PAGE FOUR

GET-RICH-QUICK PONZI SCHEMES TO BE ILLEGAL

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE Minnis administration passed legislation in the House of Assembly yesterday that seeks to criminalise Ponzi schemes that have over the years defrauded Bahamians of hard-earned money.

Finance Minister Peter Turnquest said the decision to make pyramid, Ponzi and advance-fee schemes illegal came because these ploys have plagued unsuspecting Bahamians for generations.

He said these schemes are fundamentally detrimental to investors and the public.

As a result, the proposed law will not only criminalise hosting such schemes, but makes it a criminal offence

‘LOCKDOWNS MUST CARVE OUT TOURISM’

to promote or market them, empowering the Securities Commission of The Bahamas to dissolve them where warranted.

He made the remarks during debate on the Digital Assets and Registered Exchange (DARE) Bill 2020 and the Financial and Corporate Service Providers (FCSP) Bill 2020. The bills brought to Parliament were debated as a compendium in the House of Assembly yesterday and now move on to the Senate for debate and passage.

The latter of the two bills, according to Mr Turnquest, will not only attract Bahamians engaged in corporate services activity, but it also captures many of the non-bank financial services

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

FIVE SHOT, ONE DEAD

SEE PAGE FIVE

FIVE people were shot as two gunmen opened fire on Peters Street last night, leaving one man dead.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A SHOOTING incident on Peters Street has left one person dead and four others sent to the hospital with injuries.

ASP Audley Peters told reporters at the scene last night that three of the victims are in stable condition.

One was treated already and appeared to have been discharged.

According to preliminary

facts from police, shortly after 7pm officers were alerted to a shooting incident.

“Officers responded and on their arrival their investigations revealed that a group of persons were gathered in front of a residence when a small vehicle approached.

Two men exited the vehicle and produced firearms which they discharged in the direction of the persons gathered,” ASP Peters said.

“Five males were injured,

four of which were transported to the hospital via private vehicle. As a result of one being (lifeless), the EMS service were called and on their arrival, they examined the body and pronounced it unresponsive.”

The vehicle used in the shooting was said to be a Japanese model. Police said there was no evidence to suggest there was a social gathering going on at the time of the incident.

SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday urged that the tourism industry be “carved out” from future COVID-19 lockdowns.

Mr D’Aguilar, said exempting the sector was vital to restoring “stability” and market confidence in The Bahamas.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

FRONT PORCH

BLOCK OUT THE NOISE - THE TRUTH IS WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS

PAGE ELEVEN

PAGE 2, Thursday, November 5, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

TOO SOON TO SAY IF STORM WILL AFFECT BAHAMAS

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

WEATHER officials say it’s too early to say whether Tropical Storm Eta, which was downgraded from a Category Four hurricane, could impact The Bahamas after it moves away from Central America and treks towards South Florida over the weekend.

However, officials say they are keeping a close eye on the system and will update the public accordingly as more concise information becomes available.

This comes after the US National Hurricane Centre on Tuesday included the northwestern Bahamas and South Florida in Tropical Storm Eta’s forecast cone.

Speaking to The

Tribune yesterday, Chief Meteorological Officer at Bahamas Department of Meteorology Arnold King said officials are actively monitoring the situation.

“We are keeping a close eye on it but the Hurricane Centre is saying that it may become a tropical storm as

it goes back into the Caribbean Sea and they expect that it will go across northern Cuba and possibly impact the northwest Bahamas,” he told this newspaper.

“If you look at the chart that the forecast track is giving, they expect that most likely it will go across

northern Cuba and then impact Southern Florida but that still is an early forecast. We are keeping a very close eye on it but officials are expecting it to impact southern Florida as a tropical storm and not a hurricane at that time, but that could change.”

The tropical storm, which made landfall on Nicaragua as a Category Four hurricane on Tuesday, continued its westward trek into Central America Wednesday morning, weakening as it moved through northern Nicaragua.

While more weakening is expected, forecasters predict that it will regain tropical storm strength when it reenters the Caribbean Sea either tonight or Friday.

The restrengthening, weather experts added, is expected to occur before the storm heads towards

Cuba and then nears southern Florida on the weekend.

Asked yesterday about the likelihood of the system impacting The Bahamas, Mr King said while it is possible, it is still too early to tell.

“It’s possible and if you look at the cone of uncertainty, it does cross paths with the northwest Bahamas. It just barely crosses the western part of Grand Bahama,” he told this newspaper.

“But looking at it now, it appears that most likely that if it does reform into a tropical storm after it comes off the coast of Central America then it will move across western Cuba and most likely impact south Florida but we are keeping a close eye on it just in case if it would move more to the east, but at this time it appears that South Florida

will be the most likely path for the storm.

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season, which kicked off in June, ends on November 30.

However, Mr King said it is important that the Bahamian public not let their guard down as it is not uncommon for the country to experience storms outside of the season. “You must always keep your guard up.

There have been storms that have formed outside of hurricane season. We have had December storms before so you must always keep your guard up,” he said.

In August, Hurricane Isaias passed over The Bahamas, packing winds up to 85 miles per hour. It was also the first storm the country experienced since Hurricane Dorian last year.

A TIGER shark in shallow Bahamian waters.

‘IT’S THEIR WORLD, NOT OURS, MR TURNQUEST’

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net A LOCAL conservationist has called statements about protected marine animals made by Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest “backwards”.

As he spoke in the House of Assembly about a constituent who is recovering from a recent shark attack, Mr Turnquest said as the country is protecting sharks, they are now encroaching on fishing areas used by fishermen who are at risk of attack.

He also said sea turtles, another protected marine animal, are now feeding on the country’s already limited conch supply.

“This is an issue that I think we’re going to have to address at some point because fishermen have continuously put the point to me that as we protect the shark and as we protect the turtle, they are now becoming a nuisance and a danger to fishermen,” the East Grand Bahama MP said.

“As the fishermen try to catch the fish with a line, (a) shark comes and takes them. They dive, they are at risk of being injured.

The turtles (are) eating the conch and the lobster.

So it’s becoming quite a challenge.”

Mr Turnquest stressed he did not want to enter into a “conservation argument”, but said this was an issue that needed to be studied at some point, so that humans are not disadvantaged while another species is protected.

When contacted for comment yesterday, Shelly Cant-Woodside, director of science and policy at Bahamas National Trust, hit out at the remarks.

“First of all the comment that sharks are encroaching on us while we are fishing is backwards,” Ms Cant-Woodside said. “It’s really that humans are ever encroaching on their habitat. And, they are the lions and tigers of the ocean so they are always going to be present and do their jobs.

“Unfortunately, fishing is an act that attracts predators. So very similar, if we were walking through the African Savannas, and you’re going hunting, you are going to attract predators. It’s not really related to the sharks being protected, because shark populations basically remain the same, because we never hunted them before the protection of sharks and we don’t hunt them now. So there is no change in population and science has been showing that.”

In a previous interview, Ms Cant-Woodside said that nearly 100 million sharks are fished for the shark fin soup industry annually, but The Bahamas has a ban on shark fishing to keep its shark population intact. In The Bahamas specifically, she said, the protection of sharks has prevented certain companies from reaching into Bahamian waters to fish for sharks.

“With humans increasingly going in the ocean and doing certain activities that will attract them, you are making food easy to locate,” she continued. “If you’re fishing and there is fish blood in the water, then you are going to increase your chances of those interactions with sharks.”

Regarding the East Grand Bahama MP’s remark about sea turtles feasting on the conch population, the BNT policy maker said it is not the turtles to blame, but rather human beings.

“Sea turtle populations are increasing for sure, but to think that they are causing the conch population to decline over say humans, let’s say it’s all about finger pointing,” she said. “Humans are removing more conch out of the water than any sea turtle can. Many people do not understand that there are very few species of sea turtle that eat conch.

“And, they only eat conch at certain life stages as well.

So actually the impact of sea turtles on conchs is minimal. Let’s also remember that the sea turtle population is still only one percent of what their natural population used to be like before the industrial revolution.

“So if it was because of sea turtles then I would say, ‘well how did conch survive back in the day?’ Those are not directly correlated.

Conch populations are in trouble because we are over fishing, point blank.”

Ms Cant-Woodside noted that she “heard” Mr Turnquest’s words, which are in sync with what a lot of fishermen are saying, but unfortunately a lot of those conversations are not guided by science.

“We could ‘unprotect’ all these things, but things would be in a much worse state than they are in today,” she said. “With all species, we need to continue the conversation of conservation, absolutely, but I do think that people have to accept some of the science that is stated and I do think that we have to come up with sensible solutions to help protect both people as well as these resources that we need for our very own survival.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 5, 2020, PAGE 3

Super Value digs deep with $100k donation from page one A delegation of officials also toured the former Island Seafood warehouse on Claridge Road which has been converted into a distribution centre for BFN. Philip Smith, executive director of BFN, praised the donation.

“Before the outbreak of COVID-19, we operated out of a modest cottage on Fox Hill Road where we had an assembly line of these amazing volunteers who came together twice a week to prep, cook, package and distribute hot meals,” he said.

“Since the pandemic, we have had to change the way in which we help ease the

pain of hunger. With social distancing, we fill cartons and parcels for up to 8,900 families every two weeks as part of the National Food Distribution Task Force.

“Instead of having everyone gather as we did before, the parcels are collected by organisations like the Salvation Army and local churches and soup kitchens and they distribute to individuals who depend upon them. Every parcel has to be accounted for so we are collecting a much better database, creating accountability and still trying every day and with all of our God-given strength to meet the need which, until this pandemic is behind us, is unlikely to diminish.”

Speaking about the donation, Super Value owner Rupert Roberts said: “We at Super Value are proud to donate the sum of $100,000 cash to the Bahamas Feeding Network.

“Philip (Smith) came to see me about two years ago and the commitment we made then was to watch and see what work they did. Today, I am happy to... applaud their efforts, which have been almost beyond imagination. Week after week, month after month, they have kept up the good fight, battling this all too real fight of hunger in The Bahamas. We are proud to do our part and to make it possible for others to do their part through donations at check-out.”

THE PRESENTATION of $100,000 to the Bahamas Feeding Network yesterday and, right, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaking at the event.

Photos: Donovan McIntosh

TURNQUEST DISAPPOINTED BY SCOTIABANK MOVE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Peter Turnquest is disappointed by Scotiabank’s decision to close branches at several islands and says the move would bring “hardship” for residents.

While the decision would most likely affect vulnerable communities from a financial inclusion standpoint, the Finance Minister said the government could not force any bank to remain in The Bahamas.

Scotiabank has said the decision came as 90 percent of its transactions were now done digitally.

However, Mr Turnquest said while this may be true in New Providence and Grand Bahama, it was likely “less true” for the

Family Islands.

“We take note of the hardship that this lack of a banking presence has on these now vulnerable communities from a financial inclusion point of view,” the East Grand Bahama MP told Parliament yesterday.

He was leading debate on the Financial and Corporate Service Providers Bill 2020 along with the Digital Assets and Registered Exchange Bill 2020, which are being debated as a compendium. Both bills passed in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“First, let me say that the government of the Bahamas nor the Central Bank of the Bahamas can force any financial institution - international or domestic - to maintain a physical branch presence in any location.

“That is a business decision that is made by the

banks and in respect to the international banks oftentimes it’s not even a local management decision, but a head office decision made somewhere else based upon an objective review of its business performance.

“We are not as a country of the practice of dictating to any financial institution how or where they should be conducting their business. Our obligation is to make sure the financial system of this country is sound and secure, well regulated. That the norms and best practices are being observed and that our people as a whole can count on safety and confidence that the financial services system is well regulated.

“That said we are obviously disappointed that that action has been taken and you would recall a few years ago a similar action

had been taken by another financial institution, which left Bimini and South Andros without banking services. Again, we regret these things, but we also understand from a business perspective what’s driving them.”

He continued: “In the case of the current closures, the institution has indicated that 90 percent of their business is being transacted digitally. That is either online or using an ATM. Now, some of us may or may not believe that, I don’t know.

“I am confident from where I stand that that is true in New Providence. It may even be true in Grand Bahama. It may be less true in the Family Islands.”

When he spoke on the matter, Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper urged the government to

do more, noting some of his constituents had been with the bank since 1968.

Mr Cooper told Parliament he understood the bank’s profit imperative, but the government should have done more on behalf of Bahamians.

He said: “I want to reiterate my disappointment in the recent announcement

by Scotiabank that they will close their branch in Exuma and other Family Islands. As a businessman, I understand their profit imperative. However, I have told the bank that as an MP, I am not a happy man today.

“The constituents of Exuma have been members and clients of this institution, loyally so since 1968, for more than five decades.

“For the record we believe that it’s the government’s job to negotiate on

behalf of the people and we have no way at this stage of being satisfied that adequate efforts were made on behalf of these islands.”

Mr Turnquest took issue with this, telling the House the government had attempted to intervene through the Ministry of Finance and Department of Labour.

He said Scotiabank’s decision had not only led to closures in the Bahamas, but in other parts of the region, adding that it was unfair to say the government had not taken its responsibility seriously.

In late October, Scotiabank (Bahamas) said it had decided to consolidate its operations on four Family Islands — Abaco, Andros, Long Island, Exuma — as well as Paradise Island, into branches on New Providence.

FIVE SHOT, ONE DEAD from page one

A BODY is removed from the scene of last night’s shooting.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh

Police said initial evidence also did not suggest that the incident is gang-related.

When asked if the area was being closely monitored by police, ASP Peters confirmed it is.

He added: “The commander for the area...has deployed a number of persons that have recently had a walkabout a few days (ago) and so I can say with confidence that attention is now placed with this area but also over into the Bain Town area as well.”

Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to call police at 919, 5029991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

PAGE 4, Thursday, November 5, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

BAHA MARVELLOUS from page one

Baha Mar’s announcement comes nearly a week after Atlantis confirmed that its phased reopening will take place this year, with its “first guests” expected to return to the Paradise Island property before year-end 2020.

Atlantis’ president and managing director, Audrey Oswell said last month that further details will be provided shortly on “the milestones Atlantis needs to achieve to bring” its operations back on line.

Yesterday, Mr Woods hailed Baha Mar’s decision to resume operations next month, touting it as a step in the right direction.

He told The Tribune yesterday that even though the union does not represent the resort’s workers, officials still see the move as a good signal as they believe it will send a message to the travelling public that the Bahamas is open for business — sparking tourists’ interest.

“For 2020, we have taken a beating – the industry and the workers in general, but we know that this will not salvage the tourism year anymore because it’s only one more month in the year but if you could get it open, it’s good,” he said.

“So I believe it’s a good signal because what it does too is it also gives some employees some hope and some light at the end of the

tunnel like ‘hey I’m going back to work’ though it may be phased,” he said.

With major resorts already making plans to reopen, Mr Woods said the union is hoping other properties will follow with similar plans, allowing for furloughed tourism workers to soon return to work.

However, the union president said he knows the matter would also depend on tourist demand.

“None of the other properties have indicated when they’re going to reopen,” he told this newspaper. “But we’ve always said if the major hotels begin to open that would send a strong signal to the travelling public that the Bahamas is open for business and we’re here to accept you and then the other hotels will do the same thing.

“The thing is a lot of them feed off the major hotels and we know that there won’t be a rush or ramp up because if you’re familiar with the hospitality industry, around Christmas it’s slow in any event but right after Christmas is when people start to travel.

“But now we need to see the effects of COVID and how people rebound from it because these are the same persons who also maybe unemployed so there’s a lot of mitigating factors and things that have to go into the mix to see what is going to happen and I believe the reason you would see them

to put out dates to kind of test the market to see what the appetite of the travelling public is.”

Still, the union president said he is hoping for the best. And, as more hotels begin to reopen, Mr Woods reminded hotel workers to follow all protocols implemented to safeguard their safety against the COVID19 threat.

“We believe that whatever protocols are put in place, we’re admonishing our people to follow to make sure that there is not a community spread or workplace spread because if you notice a lot of agencies and places, they were saying the spread is in the workplace so if you get that workplace spread then it goes back into the community… So, we want the employees to be safe and do whatever is necessary because we don’t want them walking around and spreading amongst themselves.”

Baha Mar will reopen at a maximum of 60 percent capacity, the resort said.

Guests will be required to take a complimentary antigen test during the check-in process at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. All Baha Mar associates will be tested prior to returning to work and on a weekly basis to maintain the resort’s commitment to health and safety, the resort said.

In this first phase, Baha Mar will be open to resort

guests exclusively, “creating an environment that is believed to enable Baha Mar to operate as safely as possible with a view to fully reopen as soon as possible,” according to a press release.

To ensure confidence in booking future stays during this time, Baha Mar has introduced a flexible cancellation policy, allowing for trip cancellations up to 24 hours before guests’ arrival.

TOTAL CASES

In celebration of Baha Mar’s return, the resort destination is introducing a “Spectacular Awaits” offer. Guests booking three nights stays will receive the fourth night free, the resort said.

TOTAL DEATHS

6,843 150 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES TUESDAY 53 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE 34 GRAND BAHAMA 9 ELEUTHERA 3 EXUMA 3 ABACO 2 BIMINI/CAT CAY 2

LATEST DEATHS • 58-year-old man from New Providence on November 2

TOTAL TESTS

36,815

HOSPITALISED

65

CASES IN ICU

6

RECOVERED

4,701

53 NEW CASES AND ONE DEATH THE Ministry of Health said 53 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Tuesday while another person has died from the disease.

The latest victim is a 58-year-old New Providence man who died on

November 2.

His death pushed the toll to 150.

The country now has 6,843 recorded coronavirus cases.

Of the 53 new cases, 34 are in New Providence, nine in Grand

Bahama, two in Abaco, two Bimini/Cat Cay, three in Eleuthera and three in Exuma.

The Ministry of Health also said 36,815 tests have been taken thus far, with 407 tests completed on Tuesday.

NINE ARRESTED AFTER POLICE SWOOP

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

NINE people were arrested following a police operation launched in Grand Bahama yesterday morning, police reported.

Supt Terecita Pinder reported that the arrests were made in connection with possession of illegal firearms, ammunition, and dangerous drugs.

According to reports, shortly after 3am officers of the Criminal Investigation Department,

Drug Enforcement Unit, Security Intelligence Bureau and Criminal Intelligence Bureau executed a search warrant at a residence on Clive Avenue.

During a search of the residence, a 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol with seven live rounds of ammunition was discovered. Seven people who reside in the home were taken into police custody.

In the second incident, officers went to a residence on Malibu Drive where they arrested a man

in connection with an outstanding warrant of arrest issued by the Freeport Magistrates Court.

Officers also went to a residence on Melbourne Crescent where they discovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. A man was taken into custody.

Police also went to a bushy area on Fawcett Lane where they found a black and chrome revolver with six .357 ammunition hidden under a vehicle. No arrest was made in connection with the incident.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 5, 2020, PAGE 5

Get-rich-quick Ponzi schemes to be illegal from page one activities in which Bahamian entrepreneurs are involved.

These activities include money lending, debt collection, financial leasing and payday and cash advance services, the minister said.

The FCSP Bill will repeal and replace the Financial and Corporate Service Providers Act, 2000.

The East Grand Bahama MP said: “The bill defines for the first time certain criminal financial schemes, making the Bahamas one of the leading jurisdictions to introduce legislation to expressly criminalise this type of activity.

“These may take the form of pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes and advance-fee schemes, among others, and many of them have plagued unsuspecting Bahamians for generations.

Further, these schemes are

fundamentally detrimental to investors and the public.

“The bill criminalises the promotion or marketing of these financial schemes and empowers the Commission to dissolve them where circumstances so warrant. It also empowers the Commission to investigate and enforce against persons engaged in financial schemes.”

One of the deficiencies of the legislation being repealed is its insufficiency in defining financial services.

“This resulted in the Commission in the past having to be creative in its efforts to provide adequate supervision under the 2000 Act,” he said. “In fact, the Commission relied on a policy decision to adopt the World Trade Organisation’s definition of non-bank financial services and public notices publishing its policy, in order to provide some much-needed clarity to the

industry. All this changes with the Financial and Corporate Services Bill, 2020.

The bill defines both corporate services and financial services.”

He continued: “The bill takes an activity specific approach to financial services and clearly defines both corporate services and financial services, for which licensing pursuant to the bill are required.

“These financial services will each have a specific framework developed through the promulgation of rules tailored to the risk and other needs they represent.

“The specific financial services it incorporates are: money lending, money broking, payday and cash advances, credit extension, bill paying services, debt collection, financial leasing, financial and advisory or consultancy services, financial intermediation services, trading in commodities and other financial instruments,

custody of digital assets and wallet services providers.

“I note the last two, custody of digital assets and wallet service providers, dovetail with the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Bill, 2020.

The DARE Bill establishes the legal framework for a new industry, and the Financial and Corporate Service Providers Act 2020 has expressly defined and captured these related services.

They represent specific opportunities for entrepreneurial Bahamian fintech firms to enjoy the credibility of being licensed and functioning under a comprehensive regulatory regime and participate in the fintech industry that is being forged with the DARE Bill.”

Back in September, the Securities Commission reissued warnings against falling victim to Ponzi and pyramid schemes which promise large payouts after a person pays a sum of

money under the guise of an investment plan.

The Commission said it was made aware there is an increasing presence on social media and other internet sites of advertisements or invitations to members of the general public to join purported financial programmes in which an individual pays a certain sum of money to join, then in turn must solicit and encourage other individuals to join in order to receive a large cash pay-out.

The schemes, originated in the US, have made their way to the Bahamas, where people are particularly vulnerable due to the financial downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pyramid schemes are scams where promoters claim they can turn a small investment into large profits within a short period of time. In reality, participants make money

solely by recruiting new participants into the programme.

The scheme gathers momentum until it crashes. Fraudsters behind these schemes typically go to great lengths to make their programmes appear to be legitimate multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes, but the schemes eventually fall apart when it becomes impossible to recruit new participants.

A Ponzi scheme is similar to a pyramid scheme, the primary difference being that a Ponzi scheme involves the scam’s operators persuading other persons to invest sums of money, purportedly involving an investment vehicle of some kind, in return for a greater sum of money or payout. The scheme’s operators normally claim that there is little to no risk to the initial sum invested.

However, there is no investment, no investment vehicle and no investment product.

PROTEST OVER RESOURCES

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A GROUP of people protested outside of the House of Assembly yesterday, calling for more transparency regarding the country’s natural resources.

One of the protestors, former talk show host Lincoln Bain, called on the government to release all documents relating to the country’s natural resources,

specifically aragonite mining.

Mr Bain said for far too long, Bahamians have been disadvantaged by “people we trust” and “we’ve been left out” while few people have benefited.

“You told us that we had no natural resources and we trusted you,” he said, while in Rawson Square.

“We believed you and we thought all we could do is make up some beds and serve some drinks because we had nothing.

“We are calling on the

CYBER SECURITY PROJECT PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHED THE government has announced the execution and commencement of an “historic” National Cyber Security Project in partnership with the International Telecommunications Union.

The ITU is the information and communication technology (ICT) arm of the United Nations. The project will provide technical support to The Bahamas through the assessment of the country’s current cybersecurity capabilities and the development of a national cybersecurity strategy.

The partnership will also assist the government with the establishment of a National Computer Incident Response Team (BSCIRT) which will serve as a single trusted, central coordination point of contact for cybersecurity.

BS-CIRT’s priorities will include identifying, defending, managing and responding to cyber threats.

Currently, the fight against cyber-crime is limited to the resources available in the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Kwasi Thompson, who has responsibility for the Digital Transformation Unit, says it is critical that The Bahamas places a greater focus on cyber-security.

“The government of The Bahamas is engaged in the digitisation of more than 200 government services

over the next five years.

Since the passage of Hurricane Dorian and in our current reality of providing services during the COVID-19 pandemic, government agencies and the private sector entities are conducting more business transactions over the Internet. It is therefore important to minimise the risks associated with operating business online,” Mr Thompson said.

“The implementation of this National Cybersecurity Project is critical to the country’s national digitisation programme. Once implemented, the National CIRT will help identify, protect, and defend against cyber-attacks. The project is very comprehensive and includes building a national strategy, updating our cyber laws, increasing and training of staff, and national education on cyber security.

This will be one of the most significant steps we have taken to defend our country from cyber-attacks.”

Once established, the Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team will protect, detect, respond and recover, and assist The Bahamas in identifying and protecting the country’s critical ICT infrastructure and data. The National CIRT also will be ready to respond to attacks targeting the national critical information infrastructure and will also act as an advisor to the government on all cybersecurity matters.

government to open investigations in this country immediately... as it relates to natural resources, especially our aragonite.

“We call on the FNM, this administration, to release all documents as it relates to our natural resources. We want to see all the leases.

“The companies, according to the law, was supposed to release reports of what they have been mining. By law, we want to see these reports… You promised us transparency.”

THE PROTEST outside the House of Assembly yesterday. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

PAGE 6, Thursday, November 5, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

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Just in time for Christmas IT’S wonderful to report two pieces of good news today.

First of all, we’d like to say many thanks to Rupert Roberts, whose Super Value stores have been a stalwart part of ensuring this nation’s cupboards are kept stocked up throughout the COVID-19 battle.

Not content with that, he’s gone one step further to help those families who find their pockets empty because of the pandemic – and given $100,000 to help feed those in need. Well done, Mr Roberts, we salute you.

Meanwhile, Baha Mar is offering the best Christmas present we could ask for.

The resort is opening its doors again next month – and bringing with it a wave of rehiring, with 1,500 staff returning at first.

The reopening will run in phases – first the Grand Hyatt, then Rosewood, then SLS. It’s a safety first plan, with health protocols being put firmly in place, but it’s very much a sign that the economy is restarting.

Add to that the news that one particular vaccine trial might have a “small chance” of a jab ready by the end of the year, and things are looking up.

It is encouraging too to see the positive reaction from the president of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union – who cautioned workers to make sure they follow all the protocols that will be laid down to reopen safely.

As Darrin Woods said, “We want the employees to be safe and do whatever is necessary because we don’t want them walking around and spreading amongst themselves.”

May his words go to everyone’s ears – because that’s what we still all need to do. The numbers of new cases may

be easing up but we should not ease up on our vigilance. Until that vaccine is available, we need to keep following the safety measures we should all know by now. Wear masks, keep your distance, wash hands, stay home except for essential journeys.

The end is not in sight yet – there’s a distance to go before we reach that – but it’s encouraging to get at least a glimpse of better days.

Value for vote

As we write this column, the US presidential election count goes on.

Joe Biden is edging closer to victory, but there is a good chance as you read this that a final outcome has not been reached.

Instead, we see protests outside ballot counts, with supporters of the same party shouting “Stop the count” at one and “Count every vote” at another.

There are lawsuits being filed and threats of lawsuits being made. There are premature claims of victory and bogus information being spread around social media. It’s all rather exhausting.

Thank goodness our elections here – which certainly have their flaws – are not such a circus as we see going on across the water.

There is one common factor in every election, however – every vote should count. In today’s Tribune, we include a supplement paying tribute to the war veterans of The Bahamas and to the members of the British Legion.

Too many people in this world have given their lives to ensure that your vote counts. Beware of anyone who tells you it shouldn’t.

Two pandemics face the nation EDITOR, The Tribune.

FUNDAMENTALLY there are two forms of criticism – destructive and constructive.

The destructive type is not all helpful and only appeases the sender of the message. The latter type should be welcomed and be favourably considered.

Currently The Bahamas is facing two pandemics – namely Covid19 and Corruption.

Covid-19 is the more recent issue and is an insidious disease. The majority of comments regarding Covid19 are invariably negative and/or anti-Dr. Minnis.

Nobody enjoys or likes lockdowns – look at the rest of the world – USA; UK: France, Spain, Germany, Italy, etc. etc. Isn’t it obvious that nobody in the world knows how to effectively deal with the virus.

Accordingly, why “jump” on Dr Minnis – he is doing the best he can in the given circumstances. No leader has developed a workable solution.

The biggest failing and contributor to this problem is unfortunately the Bahamian people – many of whom still do not wear masks and as for social distancing – forget it. Just look at the photographs in the newspapers outside food stores, pharmacies, National Insurance, and the like – on many occasions people are literally on top of one another and many without masks.

At one time, it was suggested that a certain number of persons be allowed into a store at one time. This suggestion now seems to be ignored with the result that people crowd into stores and crisscross each others paths at will.

Until The Bahamas can get the virus and the people’s behaviour under control, then Tourism – our golden goose – will not restart and develop and grow to where it was.

Which tourist wants to visit the Bahamas and contract COVID-19? Come on my fellow Bahamian citizens and residents let’s work together and not be afraid to call out the person ignoring the prescribed guidelines.

Corruption – the other pandemic - unfortunately has been with us a long time. The current FNM representatives came into power based on the theme that it was the “people’s time”.

They undertook to introduce new legislation which would considerably bring more transparency to the “market place”.

These promises seem to have been forgotten – another situation where deceptive ways lead one to nothing but destructive criticism.

On the positive side, however, the introduction, expansion and development of making The Bahamas a cashless society will help the country considerably

reduce this problem. By way of example let’s start with vehicle inspection, Immigration and other Government departments – make all these functions cashless.

Added to the current banking problems are the current overseas commercial banks, who have handsomely benefitted for many years by their presence in our country, but are now deserting us like rats on sinking ships by withdrawing many of their services.

It seems that their only motivation is profit, profit, profit – the days of moral and ethical obligations have gone. Let’s tell them to leave forthwith and encourage more locally owned banking institutions. Many of the local banks operate in a business-like manner.

Nonetheless we need to eliminate the questionable lending abuses such as those of the Bank of the Bahamas – who used the “people’s money” e.g. direct personal savings or their pension monies courtesy of NIB for funding purposes.

Apparently, “hiding” these bad loans in a specially created subsidiary corporation whose actions are far from transparent.

Let us ALL make a big effort to rid ourselves of both of these pandemics once and for all.

FAIR & BALANCED Nassau, November 3, 2020

GB off the beaten path?

Is that all?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

LAST week, the Government rolled out the “come work or study from the Bahamas for a year” invitation. A commendable idea to stimulate the struggling economy.

However, as part of this initiative I was alarmed to see Joy Jibrilu, our Director General of the Ministry of Tourism proclaim “if you’re seeking serenity or seclusion you can head for Mayaguana or San Salvador or if you’re looking for an off the beaten path stay, you can opt for Grand Bahama, Eleuthera or Long Island.” Holy cow – is this what it has come to?

I was both dismayed and indignant that this is to be the Ministry’s new message to promote Grand Bahama.

But then I thought I might put together a small guide book to be handed to each of these working visitors on arrival to enlighten them of our history and the current status of our beautiful island. It might read something like this: “Welcome to Freeport, Grand Bahama, the country’s second city – population approximately 55 thousand. If you want to explore, head south from downtown to visit the once iconic Xanadu Beach hotel. This crumbling ruin was built in 1968 and was once home to the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes and the playground for Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack. Now closed for over 20 years the battered main structure looks like it might collapse at any moment.

“When driving through the neighbouring Bahamia subdivision, you might get a glimpse of what were two top notch 18 hole golf courses, now completely overgrown and obsolete.

Just up the road on West Sunrise Highway you will see the remains of the Royal Oasis Resort and Casino.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net “For many years these 1000 rooms offered guests vibrant entertainment, and a vast casino with Las Vegas style shows. However having never reopened since the hurricanes of 2014 the Tower features broken windows and gaping holes while the Country Club – opposite – is all but buried in the bushes.

“Its immediate neighbour is the once famous International Bazaar, a five-acre complex showcasing the architecture of half a dozen countries and designed by a Hollywood set director. Its merchants offered goods from around the world in authentic surroundings together with a variety of ethnic restaurants. Its demise finally came in 2012 and most of the buildings have since been vandalised and it is now suggested unsafe to visit.

“Just along on the Mall is Freeport’s only “skyscraper‚” Casa Bahama.

This sad 18-story apartment building was built in the early 1970’s, has been abandoned for years and most residents believe it should be imploded much like the Bazaar and Royal Oasis.

“Take a trip to the east and stop in at Lucaya.

Here on a beautiful beach you will find three closed hotels, two of them for the past four years. These 1300 rooms offered visitors a variety of vacation options which included the Port Lucaya Marketplace just across the street. Once a happening destination with shops, bars, restaurants and a straw market, you will find only a handful open fighting for their survival. Please patronise to help their cause­you will be made to feel very welcome.

“If deserted beaches are your thing, head east to Gold Rock, particularly

spectacular at low tide.

En route you will probably miss the Lucayan Golf and Country Club. This once immaculate 18-hole championship course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and is now an overgrown memory of glories past.

Further down the road is the Garden of the Groves, dedicated to the visionary founder of Freeport, Wallace Groves. Fortunately, this is one of the few ‘attractions’ still in operation and well worth a visit.

Adjacent to it you probably wouldn’t know there was once the spectacular 18-hole Shannon golf course –now just a jumble of weeds and bush.”

“Accommodations”: This might be a challenge.

There are a few gated communities (expensive) and a number of boarded up decaying apartment buildings for sale. The local realtors should be able to guide you. If all else fails, pitch your tent on a beach and hope to pick up wi -fi from a nearby building.

“Getting there”: American Airlines has a daily flight from Miami and Silver Airways a couple of flights a week from Ft Lauderdale. Book early, seats are limited. You will get the ‘island vibe’ immediately you land as formalities with local officials take place in little more than a lean-to shed.

All this might sound a little depressing, but the locals are friendly and appear to be very resilient despite widespread unemployment, countless hurricanes and an economy that has been in decline for over three decades.”

So on reflection Joy Jibrilu is right after all.

Grand Bahama is more than just “off the beaten path” – it’s a former paradise that has been bludgeoned to death.

CHRIS PAINE Freeport, Grand Bahama, November 3, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 5, 2020, PAGE 7

$2,000 compensation order for throwing bucket at girlfriend

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN who threw a plate of food and a bucket at his girlfriend on two separate occasions was yesterday ordered to pay her $2,000 compensation and attend anger management classes.

Alasky Dieuveille, 36, was accused of throwing a bucket at his girlfriend last year and assaulting her with a knife on October 20.

During his hearing before

Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain, Dieuveille pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous instrument.

The court was told that he hit the woman with a bucket around 8.30am on December 22, 2019. The court was also told that the woman reported the second attack to police on October 28. The prosecution said the complainant was at home with Dieuveille when he attacked her.

She claimed the accused threw a plate of food at her,

choked her and pulled a knife on her. As a result of her complaint, Dieuveille was arrested.

In an interview with police he admitted to throwing food at his girlfriend, but denied pulling a knife on her. He also denied throwing a bucket at her last year.

During the arraignment, Dieuveille’s counsel told the magistrate the incidents were unfortunate.

He said the accused and his girlfriend lived together and had been in a

relationship for over three years. He claimed their partnership had become “strained” over time and noted that the complainant was not physically harmed when Dieuveille threw the bucket or food at her.

In response, Magistrate Swain told the defendant’s attorney he could not downplay the victim’s injuries since emotional abuse was just as bad as physical harm. She insisted the incident was not okay and added that she didn’t think

there would still be men who abused women in this day and age.

As a result, she fined Dieuveille $2,000 or one year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. She further ordered him to compensate the complainant another $2,000 and warned him if he failed to do so, he could risk spending an additional 30 days behind bars. Finally, Magistrate Swain ordered Dieuveille to attend anger management classes and banned

him from having any direct or indirect contact with the victim.

Yesterday, a teenager also appeared before Magistrate Swain charged with assault.

The prosecution argued that 19-year-old Maquesha François assaulted and threatened to harm a woman on October 27.

She denied the allegations and the case was adjourned to January 19 for trial.

François was granted $2,000 bail until that time.

MAN FOUND DRIVING WITH GOODS TAKEN FROM WAREHOUSE

SOME of the equipment being donated to students.

CLOSING THE DIGITAL GAP WHAT started as a goal to teach young people and life-long learners about blockchain and artificial intelligence evolved into a mandate to supply electronic tablets.

The lack of access to electronic devices hampered participation in the Blockchain Business School programme and affected public and private school students whose studies had moved online due to COVID-19.

A successful model that was introduced by non-profit, Harness All Possibilities (HAP), the school (www.242bbs.com) was a month-long virtual learning experience.

It was a continuation of the 2019 inaugural Blockchain and AI Conference and Hackathon held at Windsor School and kick-started by HAP, the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas (RCOB), and CryptoChicks.

This year’s focus included closing the digital divide. More than 320 people in The Bahamas, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Cayman, and the US signed on with 286 tablets bought in their countries and donated to

students and households to participate. Those students would also be equipped for the start of their school year.

Rhonda McDeigan-Eldridge, a native of Nassau residing in Connecticut, and founder of HAP, said: “Last November, we started planning our second-year Blockchain event to invite students outside of The Bahamas to join us with plans for a one-week cultural, business, and digital learning experience.

“COVID-19 made us pivot to a 100 percent virtual event, by ‘community for community’ within the five countries.”

She added: “We have seen similar expanded initiatives, one of which most recently by Aliv, a 2019 sponsor. They participated as a donor this year and they recently launched a crowdfunding initiative with Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas and the Ministry of Education at the end of October 2020, with a ‘call for devices campaign’.

“We call others to action so no one is left behind in these unprecedented times.”

PAIR ACCUSED OF HARMING CHILD

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN and a woman were remanded to prison charged with causing grievous harm to the woman’s young child earlier this year.

Lathario Ferguson, 29, and Stanlisha Higgs, 23, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola

Swain after the two were accused of harming Higgs’ three-year-old son sometime between May and October of this year.

The court was told that on the night of October 29, a nurse from the suspected child abuse unit contacted the police to report that the young boy had been brought to the clinic severely dehydrated.

Ferguson did not agree with the prosecution’s facts and as a result, Magistrate Swain adjourned the case to January 19 for trial.

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

They both have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 27-YEAR-OLD man who was caught driving during the weekend lockdown with an assortment of building supplies he could not give an account for was fined $800 yesterday.

Police arrested Wusvel Mytil after they found him on Shirley Street around 6am on Sunday, November 1. He was accused of dishonestly receiving nine bundles of shingles, over $100 worth of tiles and three window screens that morning. The prosecution alleged the items were taken from Robert Baker’s warehouse at #68 Shirley Street.

Mytil pleaded guilty to receiving and violating the curfew during a hearing before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain yesterday.

The prosecution said that morning, officers observed Mytil driving a silver coloured Passo along Shirley Street. When they beckoned for him to stop, they noticed the accused had shingles, tiles and window screens in his car.

When they questioned him about the items, he could not give a “satisfactory account” of how he came about the supplies. As a result, he was arrested and taken to the Central Detective Unit. In an interview with police there, he admitted to the

offences and was subsequently charged.

During the hearing, Mytil was represented by attorney Kevoon Maynard.

He told the magistrate his client was a father of three who was the primary caretaker of his family. He also said the accused “accepted the errors of his ways” and understood the decision he made was “reckless”.

After listening to Mr Maynard’s plea in mitigation, Magistrate Swain accepted Mytil’s guilty pleas and fined him $500 or three months in prison for dishonestly receiving the building supplies. She also fined him $300 or 30 days for violating the curfew. Both sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

PAGE 8, Thursday, November 5, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Winner not unmasked yet

DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden was edging closer to a victory last night - but he was left waiting on some key states.

DEMOCRAT Joe Biden was pushing closer to the 270 Electoral College votes needed to carry the White House, securing victories in the “blue wall” battlegrounds of Wisconsin and Michigan, and narrowing President Donald Trump’s path.

With just a handful of states still up for grabs, Trump tried to press his case in court in some key swing states, It was unclear if any of his campaign’s legal maneuvering over balloting would succeed in shifting the race in his favour.

Two days after Election Day, neither candidate had

amassed the votes needed to win the White House.

But Biden’s victories in the Great Lakes states left him at 264, meaning he was one battleground state away — any would do — from becoming president-elect.

Trump, with 214 electoral votes, faced a much higher hurdle. To reach 270, he needed to claim all four remaining battlegrounds: Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia and Nevada.

With millions of votes yet to be tabulated, Biden already had received more than 71 million votes, the most in history. At an

afternoon news conference Wednesday, the former vice president said he expected to win the presidency but stopped short of outright declaring victory.

“I will govern as an American president,” Biden said. “There will be no red states and blue states when we win. Just the United States of America.”

It was a stark contrast to the approach of Trump, who early Wednesday morning falsely claimed that he had won the election.

Trump’s campaign engaged in a flurry of legal activity to try to improve the president’s chances and cast doubt

on the election results, requesting a recount in Wisconsin and filing lawsuits in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia. Statewide recounts in Wisconsin have historically changed the vote tally by only a few hundred votes; Biden led by more than 20,000 ballots out of nearly 3.3 million counted.

For four years, Democrats have been haunted by the crumbling of the blue wall, the trio of Great Lakes states — Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania — that their candidates had been able to count on every four years. But Trump’s populist appeal

struck a chord with white working-class voters and he captured all three in 2016 by a combined total of just 77,000 votes.

The candidates waged a fierce fight for the states this year, with Biden’s everyman political persona resonating in blue-collar towns while his campaign also pushed to increase turnout among Black voters in cities like Detroit and Milwaukee.

It was unclear when a national winner would be determined after a long, bitter campaign dominated by the coronavirus and its effects on Americans and the national economy. But

Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP even as Biden’s prospects improved, the US yesterday set another record for daily confirmed coronavirus cases as several states posted all-time highs. The pandemic has killed more than 232,000 Americans.

Trump spent much of yesterday in the White House residence, huddling with advisers and fuming at media coverage showing his Democratic rival picking up battlegrounds. Trump used his Twitter feed to falsely claim victory in several key states and amplify unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about Democratic gains as absentee and early votes were tabulated.

PROTESTS OUTSIDE VOTE COUNTS

PEOPLE wanting to be election challengers yell as they look through the windows of the central counting board as police were helping to keep additional challengers from entering due to overcrowding in Detroit yesterday.

Photo: Carlos Osorio/AP

DOZENS of angry supporters of President Donald Trump converged on votecounting centres in Detroit and Phoenix as the returns went against him yesterday in the two key states, while thousands of anti-Trump protesters demanding a complete tally of the ballots in the still-undecided election took to the streets in cities across the US. “Stop the count!” the Trump supporters chanted in Detroit. “”Stop the steal!” they said in Phoenix.

The protests came as the president insisted without evidence that there were major problems with the voting and the ballot counting, especially with mail-in votes, and as Republicans filed suit in various states over the election.

Wearing Trump gear, the Phoenix protesters filled much of the parking lot at the Maricopa County election center, and members of the crowd chanted, “Fox News sucks!” in anger over the network declaring Joe Biden the winner in Arizona.

Rep Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican and staunch Trump supporter, joined the crowd, declaring: “We’re not going to let this election be stolen. Period.”

However, observers from both major political parties were inside the election center as ballots were processed and counted, and the procedure was livestreamed online at all times.

Several sheriff’s deputies blocked the entrance to the building. And the

vote-counting went on into the night, Maricopa County Elections Department spokeswoman Megan Gilbertson said.

Two top county officials — one a Democrat, the other a Republican — issued a statement expressing concern about how misinformation had spread about the integrity of the election process.

“Everyone should want all the votes to be counted, whether they were mailed or cast in person,” said the statement signed by Clint Hickman, the GOP chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, and Democratic Supervisor Steve Gallardo. “An accurate vote takes time. ... This is evidence of democracy, not fraud.”

TRUMP SUES IN THREE STATES AS DEMOCRAT Joe Biden inched closer to the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House, President Donald Trump’s campaign put into action the legal strategy the president had signaled for weeks: attacking the integrity of the voting process in states where the result could mean his defeat.

Democrats scoffed at the legal challenges the president’s campaign filed Wednesday in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia.

In spite of the aggressive move, the flurry of court action did not seem obviously destined to impact the election’s outcome.

The new filings, joining existing Republican legal challenges in Pennsylvania and Nevada, demand better access for campaign observers to locations where ballots are being processed and counted, and raised absentee ballot concerns, the campaign said.

The Associated Press called Michigan for Democrat Joe Biden yesterday.

The AP has not called Nevada, Pennsylvania or Georgia.

The Trump campaign also is seeking to intervene

in a Pennsylvania case at the Supreme Court that deals with whether ballots received up to three days after the election can be counted, deputy campaign manager Justin Clark said.

Trump’s campaign also announced that it would ask for a recount in Wisconsin, a state the AP called for Biden yesterday afternoon.

Campaign manager Bill Stepien cited “irregularities in several Wisconsin counties,” without providing specifics.

Biden said Wednesday the count should continue in all states, adding, “No one’s going to take our democracy away from us — not now, not ever.”

Campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said legal challenges were not the behaviour of a winning campaign.

“What makes these charades especially pathetic is that while Trump is demanding recounts in places he has already lost, he’s simultaneously engaged in fruitless attempts to halt the counting of votes in other states in which he’s on the road to defeat,” Bates said in a statement.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 5, 2020, PAGE 9

IF TRUMP REALLY IS HEADING FOR THE EXIT AS IT APPEARS, HE WON’T BE GOING QUIETLY

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

MAYBE you heard. amazed at the number of Tuesday was election day concerned inquiries he had in the US. It might have the received.

“They all saw the barrimost widely anticipated day in America since the dawn ers around Lafayette Park of the new millennium by the White House, and stores with boarded up nearly 20 years ago.

Across nearly the entire windows nearby, and they transcontinental expanse assumed the whole area was of the US, election day was under threat.” He chuckled, a beautiful weather day. and continued placidly on Remnants of recent hurri- his way to resume his daily cane-fed monsoon rains in schedule at home, where he the East and early season has worked remotely since snow on the Plains and in March.

In a nation as vast and the West gave way to bright sunshine over most of the disparate as is the US, the actual election would have nation.

As you might also have been disappointing to those heard, by late yesterday it who were expecting or even hoping for looked like chaos. We will Joe Biden Fuelled by how the would preincendiary remarks see aftermath of vail, by as few as two elec- by President Trump the election unfolds from toral votes about potential a public safety out of 538 or as many election fraud even perspective.

But rememas nearly as his Republican that 40. Success- agents and lawyers ber cataclysm fully flipping you didn’t Arizona and tried their best to suppress experience returning on January 1, Michigan and votes they feared 2000, because Wisconsin to Y2K turned the Demo- would not favour out to be cratic column the President, largely a nonappeared to Americans were event? This be the deciwary and anxious election was sive results.

Despite as they approached reminiscent of that. In both much pre- this momentous cases, maybe election election. the masfulmination sive advance

by President attention Donald Trump and his allies, the elec- helped to so far avoid tion was carried out potential mayhem and even bloodshed. commendably.

Florida and North CaroOver 100 million Americans had voted early, and lina were touted by the that clearly helped to media as early harbingers, relieve congestion at polling inasmuch as they were supplaces. Fuelled by incendi- posedly swing states whose ary remarks by President early reporting would indiTrump about potential cate whom they would election fraud even as his support.

But it didn’t exactly Republican agents and lawyers tried their best to work out that way. Beginsuppress votes they feared ning a long night ruled would not favour the Pres- by caveat and disclaimer, ident, Americans were commentators, pundits and wary and anxious as they miscellaneous media talkapproached this momen- ing heads blathered on for television audiences until tous election.

Friends and relatives of well after 9pm. Then many people living in big cities, sensible people went to especially in the Eastern bed.

As the nation continued US, were reportedly on the phone and their computers on its weary long day’s jourchecking on the welfare of ney into night and then into their loved ones. One young another largely clear and person in Washington DC, welcoming weather mornwalking casually home ing, a few major things were after casting his ballot, was apparent:

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Anyone proclaiming victory in the presidential contest, as Trump did around 2:30am on Wednesday, was being really premature.

“This is a fraud on the American public,” Trump said. “This is an embarrassment to our country. We were getting ready to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election.”

Those who had forecast a really close race for the top job, including a lot of Republican observers, turned out to be right.

And those who had predicted that the Big Three of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania would again determine the winner also seem to have been largely correct.

As in 2016, polling appears to be less reliable than many had expected.

As was the case four years ago, numerous wellrespected public opinion surveys showed the Democratic candidate with a steady lead through the summer and autumn, and many in the national media joined wary but hopeful Democrats in fantasising about a blue wave election.

That certainly didn’t happen.

While Nancy Pelosi will be able to continue to serve as Speaker of the House, her Democratic majority will almost certainly shrink after all the votes are counted.

Matters in the Senate are on a different course. Belying his own pre-election assessment, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell looks likely to continue as Senate Majority Leader. While Democratic victories in Arizona and Colorado and their defeat in Alabama materialized as was expected, several other results favored continued GOP control of the upper house of Congress.

The race for the nation’s top job was much murkier Tuesday evening and all day long yesterday.

By 6am, Americans

PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House early yesterday. paying attention believed expectations and retained chief executive. Trump and the Senate Republicans will they might not know the their seats.

And what about the fed- largely control the course identity of their new President for many hours, if eral court system? Trump of events in Washington, as not days or even weeks, has been typically transpar- they have been doing for if threatened Republi- ent and outspoken in his the past two years.

It is reasonable for can legal challenges are belief that if the election somehow winds up in the Americans to expect leadraised.

But by 6pm yesterday, the courts to decide, as did the ership from their elected picture had become much 2000 election, “his” three leaders during this “lame clearer. It looked very much Supreme Court appoin- duck” period when Trump tees can deliver the White and several senators will like Biden would prevail. probably be serving their During this 21st Century, House for him.

With the presidential last days in office. But given US elections have often revealed deep, nearly even election again potentially Trump’s truculent response splits in national elections hanging in the balance, to election results yesterbetween candidates and how will the US deal with day, Americans probably such dizzying and agonizing should not expect to actuparties of the left and right. ally see that leadership.

Barack Obama’s big tri- uncertainty?

Catastrophising about The President and his umph 12 years ago stands out as a relative exception, whether this election ulti- associates should move but there were mitigat- mately drags the US into quickly to negotiate and Trumpism deliver further economic ing circumstances in that autocratic case. GOP candidate John or unchecked socialism stimulus assistance to the McCain was dealt a losing won’t change the results, American people and hand in 2008 as he tried whenever they are finally small businesses – not simply obsess about the to run away from the eco- confirmed.

Someone will ultimately election. nomic shambles and foreign Can they do so? What misadventures of predeces- be declared the winner of the presidency. Right now, we see in the next three sor George W Bush. it certainly looks like Biden. months could provide valuNow what?

But in the cities and able insight about whether We already know the US Senate will remain under on the farms, millions of the US and its current politRepublican control. Ameri- Americans will still have ical leadership is sufficiently cans who despise him will their lives to lead and their mature to resume playing a responsible role in the need to adjust to at least families to support.

Their political lead- world. two more years of watchMany other nations in ing decidedly untelegenic ers also have their own Mitch McConnell frustrate responsibilities to uphold, the world will be affected including taking bold steps by how the US navigates most of their aspirations.

The Democrats and to restore some sense of the shoals it will face in the most commentators had economic and societal bal- coming months. Few will looked forward to strongly ance to a nation profoundly experience the effects of competing for control of unsettled by almost too American actions as will we here in The Bahamas. the Senate. That did not many fissures to count.

Meantime, 11 weeks So we should watch. And happen, as Susan Collins in Maine and Thom Tillis remain before the inaugu- keep our fingers firmly in North Carolina defied ration of the next American crossed.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 5, 2020, PAGE 11

Block out all the noise and nonsense and the truth is we are making progress HARROWING

APPROXIMATELY two and a half weeks ago, after Germany recorded its highest daily number of COVID-19 infections (7,830) in a 24-hour period, a startling record since the pandemic began, German Chancellor Angela Merkel sounded the alarm.

Around the same time, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German President, entered quarantine after a bodyguard tested positive for the coronavirus.

Despite the protective bubble around the President and vaunted discipline of Germans, the virus penetrated the tight circle of the head of state of the most prosperous nation in Europe. Measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it is the fifth largest economy in the world.

The news in Germany one of the countries in Europe and internationally that has been praised for handling the virus well unsettled the country and offered a reminder cum warning to the world about the insidious nature of the highly contagious virus that quickly takes advantage of any circumstance it finds to infect and to kill.

Even the most advanced countries in the world, including Germany, with enormous resources and the experienced leadership of Merkel - who has been Chancellor for an impressive 15 years - are highly vulnerable to outbreaks, COVID fatigue, magical thinking by citizens, slippages and indiscipline in following health measures and empty criticism from some critics pursuing narrow and/or personal agendas.

In sounding the alarm to her nation of 83 million, Chancellor Merkel asked Germans to stay at home amidst the dramatic and unexpected rise in infections, which took some governmental officials by surprise, as has been the case in a number of jurisdictions throughout the pandemics.

Officials at home and abroad are still grappling

In some countries, opposition officials have called Given the harrowing for more strenuous health measures than govern- nature of this disease, any ment officials, preferring Prime Minister, whether to be seen as serious about PLP or FNM, should be the pandemic, rather than criticised for failures but seeking to be playing on also encouraged and suppublic sentiment and pan- ported in their efforts to dering to the moment, save lives.

In a weekly podcast, which may well backfire Merkel encouraged and long-term.

Driven by science, beseeched the German advice from medical offi- populace, as have leaders cials and the political around the world, including sense that he needs to be Prime Minister Dr. Hubert seen as responsible in his Minnis: “We have to do everydeclarations and positions on COVID-19 from the thing we can now to ensure British people, the media that the virus does not and scientific and medical spread uncontrollably bodies, Sir Keir has been every day counts. I ask you to refrain from any trip that with the contours and the amateurish, including some careful in his pronounce- is not really necessary, any ments. nature of the virus, with of its ideas on mass testcelebration that At home, its virulent stratagems and ing, which have not passed Mr Davis is not really necit appears Mr relentlessness in exploiting muster when considered essary.

Please often seems Davis can offer ignorance and conspirato- within the context of our stay at home, all manner of more driven rial and magical thinking, national resources and the wherever you statements, including by those who trajectory of the virus in are, whenever some of which by magical continue to downplay its The Bahamas. possible.” thinking rather are dutifully dangers and deadly force.

Mr Davis often seems Merkel reported by the than considered advised Sadly, but no longer sur- more driven by magical that press with often prisingly, only the most thinking rather than conideas, such as her Western little context or egregiously disingenuous sidered ideas, such as some European commentators, journal- of his commentary on lock- response within some of his nation was in a story from ists and certain political downs. Lockdowns and commentary a “very serious health and other figures continue to use the curfews do need to be used on lockdowns. phase” of the government pandemic to pursue their carefully, strategically and pandemic. She officials. narrow agendas or to vent sparingly. confirmed that Tellingly, after publicly their dislikes against various But there are moments “the number of new infecopposing the most recent public officials, including when such measures are tions is increasing by leaps the Prime Minister. absolutely necessary in the extension of the emergency and bounds every day.” orders, Mr Davis and his moment, as most of Europe Merkel also noted why is currently experiencing in colleagues did not even the virus was increasing vote on the extension in what may be a deadly and the House of Assembly, for dramatically: “The comparThroughout the pan- painful winter. atively relaxed summer is demic, Opposition Leader Mr Davis has seemingly which they suffered severe over; now we are facing difPhilip Brave Davis has been more interested in public criticism.

Meanwhile, there are ficult months. How winter been incredibly and excep- offering popular rather tionally disappointing, than well-deliberated ideas. those who seem hell-bent will be, how our Christmas policy-wise and politically. By contrast, in the United on rooting for the gov- will be, will be decided in His policy flip flops and Kingdom Labour Oppo- ernment to fail and who the coming days and weeks. summersaults have been sition Leader Sir Keir selectively and without We all decide that through dizzying and exceedingly Starmer was way ahead context circulate fevered our actions.”

When Dr Minnis says irresponsible. of Prime Minister Boris memes on social media. similar things and asks for Some seem to be rootSome of the press Johnson in calling for the statements and policy current national lockdown ing for failure because of personal and collective their dislike of the Prime responsibility, he is pilloried prescriptions by the Oppo- in his nation. by some in the Opposition Minister. sition have been truly who claim he is blaming the Bahamian people.

Somehow, the irresponsibility of some citizens and the failure to abide by certain measures, is the fault of the Government and Dr Minnis.

When the Prime Minister goes to Parliament for similar emergency powers and measures to help arrest the spread of the virus, as is done through emergency decrees in Germany, throughout Europe and the world, he is asininely and foolishly labelled a “dictator”, including by those who should know better.

When he encourages Bahamians to follow lifesaving health measures, some, including certain celebrities on social media, opine that he needs greater enforcement, even as some disingenuously promote the notion that he is not encouraging citizens enough.

The vast majority of governments in the world are trying to balance the health, economic and social needs of the country as well PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip Davis.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff as find a balance between

DISAPPOINTING

encouragement and enforcement, even more difficult balancing acts in a democracy.

ASSESSMENT

In her podcast, Merkel asked: “What brought us so well through the first half year of the pandemic?” She offered this assessment: “It was that we stood together and obeyed the rules out of consideration and common sense. This is the most effective remedy we currently have against the pandemic and it is more necessary now than ever.”

This is also a core message from Dr Minnis and the Government. Then there are those who are relentless in insisting that certain officials are not being transparent in reporting the health data on COVID-19.

Such commentary is an assault on health officials, including Dr Merceline Dahl Regis, an expert driven by data and science, a woman of enormous integrity, and someone who does not suffer gladly the foolish statements by many, including some journalists.

As was seen in the reporting of HIV/AIDS cases over the years, The Bahamas has a reputation for being transparent when reporting various health data. A number of the countries in the region do not enjoy this reputation.

The Bahamas is reporting COVID-19 positive results from the National Reference Laboratory and private labs. Are there any of our regional neighbours who are not publicly reporting cases from private labs?

The Ministry of Health has revealed a great deal of information during its regular press conferences and on its dashboards. It has consistently reported on the state of hospital beds and ICU bed capacity, the backlog at various labs, the number of deaths and those under investigation, contact tracing challenges etc.

The Ministry has its challenges but it is an unfair assessment to suggest that it or other officials have been purposely withholding information. Globally, a number of countries are counting COVID deaths in a curious and sometimes less fulsome manner.

There may have been difficulties with processing COVID data but reporting has improved. The world is likely only at the end of the beginning of the pandemic, with more waves to come in the many months ahead.

There is still a long way to go in this pandemic. While we are currently making progress, things can change rapidly. But most of our success in fighting this pandemic is overwhelmingly in the hands and behaviour of the Bahamian people.

PAGE 12, Thursday, November 5, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

AUSTRIA SAYS MISTAKES MADE IN DEALING WITH VIENNA ATTACKER

By PHILIPP JENNE Associated Press VIENNA (AP) — Slovakian intelligence told their Austrian counterparts in July that the man who fatally shot four people in a terror attack in Vienna this week had tried to buy ammunition there and mistakes were apparently made in dealing with that information, Austrian authorities conceded Wednesday.

The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Kujtim Fejzulai, had a previous conviction for trying to join the Islamic State group in Syria and had been given early release in December.

In addition to killing the two men and two women, he also wounded more than 20 people in a nine-minute attack before being killed by police on Monday night. Bars and cafes were crowded with people enjoying warm weather and a last evening out before the establishments were due to close under new coronavirus restrictions.

The attacker was armed with an automatic rifle, a handgun and a machete, and wore a fake explosives vest.

A full assessment of copious video evidence has confirmed that he was a lone assailant, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said.

Austrian officials say that Fejzulai, a dual citizen of Austria and North Macedonia, hoodwinked the justice system’s deradicalisation programme after his release. And Nehammer said Wednesday that other things appeared to have gone wrong.

Slovak intelligence informed Austria that Fejzulai was trying to buy ammunition, and “something apparently went wrong with the communication in the next steps,” Nehammer said. He added that he would propose that an independent panel to be set up to examine “where things happened that shouldn’t have happened.”

In neighbouring Slovakia, police said they received information during the summer about “suspected persons from Austria” trying to buy ammunition.

“They failed to make the purchase,” they said.

“We immediately sent the information to our Austrian colleagues.”

Austrian public security director Franz Ruf said Austrian intelligence officials received the information and asked questions of their Slovak counterparts but it’s unclear “whether the process went optimally.”

Detained Fourteen people associated with the attacker were detained Tuesday for questioning. Nehammer said their ages range from 18 to 28 and all have immigrant roots. Some don’t have Austrian citizenship.

Police in the Swiss city of Winterthur said Tuesday two men were arrested there. Swiss daily St. Galler Tagblatt reported that Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter described them as “colleagues” of the attacker.

Ruf said Austrian authorities are in close contact with their Swiss counterparts.

The assailant attended school in Vienna for years and until recently lived with his parents in the city, Ruf said.

In August 2018, he tried to travel to Afghanistan to attempt to join IS, but was turned back because he had no visa. In September of the same year, he traveled to Turkey in hopes of getting to Syria to join the extremist group, but was detained and held for months by Turkey before being returned to Austria in January 2019, where he was arrested at the airport.

Neighbours of the suspect described him as friendly and polite.

“On Monday – the same day he committed the crime – he helped carry a lady carry her bags up the stairs, the grocery bags,” said Herrmann Scheerer, 58.

IS claimed credit for the Vienna attack. The claim of responsibility was published through the militant group’s media arm, Aamaq. It didn’t elaborate on the attacker’s ties to IS and had similar wording to past, opportunistic claims by the group.

SHOPPERS walk along a very busy Regent Street in London, Wednesday, as Britain prepared to join large swathes of Europe in a coronavirus lockdown designed to save its health care system from being overwhelmed. Pubs, along with restaurants, hairdressers and shops selling non-essential items will have to close Thursday until at least Dec. 2. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

RETAIL THERAPY, LAST PINTS: ENGLAND READIES FOR NEW COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Lastminute shoppers in England came out in force Wednesday and thirsty drinkers enjoyed their final freshly poured pints in a pub for the next month before Britain joins swaths of Europe in a coronavirus lockdown designed to save its health care system from being overwhelmed.

All non-essential venues — which in England includes pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, golf courses, gyms, swimming pools, entertainment places and stores selling items like books, clothing and sneakers — must close Thursday until at least Dec. 2. That order came after a sudden change of course last weekend by Britain’s government, which had for weeks been advocating a targeted regional response to the pandemic instead of another national lockdown.

Unlike the U.K.’s spring lockdown, schools and universities in England are remaining open this time, as are construction sites and factories.

In London’s Soho nightlife district, large crowds packed bars and pubs as many took the opportunity to have a drink with friends for the last time before restrictions begin.

Community “For me it was making the most of the last night I can go back to my community and have a night out,” said Phoebe Koor, 27. “I’ve got so many friends that work in hospitality and my heart is absolutely breaking for them that they’re not going to have a job.”

With time running out to get things sorted before the lockdown takes effect, many shops and hair salons extended their hours and reported brisk customer traffic on the last day.

London hairdresser Richard Ward said his team of

RICHARD WARD, owner of Richard Ward Hair & MetroSpa wears a protective face mask as he works in his salon in London, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) around 100 will have worked through 1,400 customers in the three working days since the British government announced the England-wide lockdown. Still, that boost didn’t make up for a 25% weekly loss in income this year as a result of coronavirus restrictions already in place.

“The staff are working back to back, all days off have been cancelled, all holidays have been cancelled,” Ward said. “When you have high overheads like we have here, it’s a numbers game, and you have to take a lot of money in order to pay all these people and pay all the overheads.”

Fears about a devastating economic impact of the monthlong shutdown prompted some lawmakers from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party to vote against approving the lockdown in Parliament on Wednesday. Still, Johnson easily won the vote as most opposition lawmakers backed the move.

“I don’t think any government would want to impose these measures lightly, or any parliament would want

to impose these measures lightly on the people of this country,” Johnson said.

England’s lockdown follows similar restrictions elsewhere in the U.K., which recorded another 492 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, the highest daily number since May. Overall, the U.K. has Europe’s highest official virus-related death toll: 47,742.

It also follows fresh restrictions across the continent amid evidence that the number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 — and subsequently dying — is increasing,

Cases The World Health Organization said European countries recorded a 46% increase in virus deaths compared with the previous week and were responsible for about half the 1.7 million cases reported around the world last week.

In recent days, many European nations — including Belgium, Russia, France, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and the U.K. — have reported

their highest daily virus death tolls in months, and sometimes ever. The pandemic has already caused more than 1.2 million confirmed deaths — over 270,000 of them in Europe, according to a tally

by Johns Hopkins University.

Experts say the true toll, due to missed cases and limited testing, is much higher.

Italy, which suffered badly during the first wave of the pandemic, is facing new curbs on freedom of movement from Thursday, including a nationwide overnight curfew and high schools placed on full-time distance learning.

The country is expected to be carved into three zones of contagion with corresponding restrictions on movement, commercial activities and school openings.

Travel restrictions will prohibit anyone from entering or leaving a hard-hit region and restaurants and shops will close, except for supermarkets and pharmacies.

The northern region of Lombardy, which bore the brunt of the pandemic earlier this year, is reeling under another surge, especially in its financial capital, Milan, and is expected to face

harsher restrictions.

Earlier restrictions appeared, in some locations, to be producing results.

Belgium said Wednesday that new infections and hospital admissions have started to stabilise after measures like closing pubs and restaurants were introduced weeks ago.

“The high-speed train is slowing down,” said virologist Steven Van Gucht of the Sciensano government health group.

Van Gucht said it was important that people don’t let their guard down in a country that has been recording around 1,750 cases per 100,000 people, triple the rates in Italy, Spain or the U.K. “Let there be no doubt that the tough rules need to be maintained,” he said.

In the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said there were signs that closing bars and restaurants was working but that further curbs were needed. Beginning Wednesday night, Dutch cinemas, theaters, museums and pools will be closed.

“It’s not going too bad but certainly not good enough,” Rutte told the country.

“The infection numbers have to go down quicker.”

Pope Francis also urged people to be “very attentive” to the measures to prevent coronavirus infections as he switched his weekly general audience Wednesday back to his private library and livestreamed the event. The move seeks to better protect the 83-year-old pope after someone at a recent public audience tested positive.

Not all countries are taking the lockdown route. Russia has shunned a second lockdown, insisting its health care system is able to cope with the recent surge.

Still, Russia on Wednesday reported 19,768 new infections and 389 new deaths — both records. ___ Associated Press writers around Europe contributed to this report.

ETA BRINGS RAINS, DEADLY MUDSLIDES TO HONDURAS

By MARLON GONZÁLEZ ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESIDENTS wade through a flooded road carrying some belongings, in Progreso Yoro, Honduras, Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Delmer Martinez)

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Eta moved into Honduras Wednesday afternoon as a weakened tropical depression but still bringing the heavy rains that have drenched and caused deadly landslides in the country’s east and in northern Nicaragua.

The storm no longer carried the winds of the Category 4 hurricane that battered Nicaragua’s coast Tuesday, but it was moving so slowly and dumping so much rain that much of Central America was on high alert. Eta had sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) and was moving westward at 7 mph (11 kph). It was 70 miles (115 kilometres) east of Tegucigalpa.

The long-term forecast

shows Eta taking a turn over Central America and then reforming in the Caribbean — possibly reaching Cuba on Sunday and southern Florida on Monday.

Heavy rain was forecast to continue across Honduras through at least Thursday as Eta moved northward through the country toward the capital of Tegucigalpa and northern city of San Pedro Sula.

Before the centre of Eta had even reached Honduras, hundreds of residents had been forced from their homes by floodwaters.

Early Tuesday, a 12-yearold girl died in a mudslide in San Pedro Sula, according to Marvin Aparicio of Honduras’ emergency management agency.

On Wednesday afternoon, confirmation came from Honduras’ emergency

management agency of the death of a 15-year-old boy in the central Honduras town of Sulaco, though details were not immediately available.

That brought the storm’s death toll to at least four in Nicaragua and Honduras.

Aparicio said Wednesday some 379 homes had been destroyed, mostly by floodwaters. There were 38 communities cut off by washed out roads and five bridges in the country were wiped out by swollen rivers.

Among those rescued from their flooded homes were 40-year old Óscar Armando Martínez Flores, his wife and seven children.

Their home near the Lancetilla river in northeast Honduras flooded.

They made it out only with the clothes they were wearing.