VOLUME 16 ISSUE 16

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

Website: www.suntci.com

Email: sun@suntci.com

VOLUME 16 - NO. 16

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DON’T RUSH TO OPEN BORDERS PNP Leader says 2020 tourist season is practically over

by Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

O

pposition Leader Hon. Washington Misick says the Progressive National Party (PNP) opposes “any pressure for a fullscale premature opening” Turks and Caicos Islands’ borders, unless and until a comprehensive strategy is implemented to minimise the fallout from COVID-19.

He said this strategy must be practical, low risk and give confidence to all stakeholders, and he recommend that the Government immediately engage with clinicians, tourism and travel partners and all other stakeholders to determine the way forward.

Noting that the tourism season for 2020 “for all practical purposes is over”, the former Chief Minister said business and people will have to live through December “with very little income”.

“After nearly three weeks of

lock-down, we need to get creative and innovative to safeguard lives and livelihood,” the PNP leader wrote in a document called: “STRATEGIES to SAFEGUARD LIVES & LIVELIHOOD – THE PNP POSITION – Living under the shadow of COVID-19.

“We believe that given the circumstances, there are very few people contemplating a Caribbean holiday. In that regard, to open the border in May to a trickle of potentially sick tourist could result in the worse of both worlds,” Misick stated.

“Turks and Caicos Islands’ current infection rate is low, but if there is a second wave of infections that is much more damaging then we are unlikely to be high on anybody’s holiday list for a long time. For that reason and for the protection of our Islands we believe that the islands should remain under quarantine and our borders closed at least until June 1,” he added.

Misick said the PNP is aware that some resorts have been advertising availability for mid-May, and some airlines have advertised resumption of flying into the destination even before that time.

He added: “Assuming an opening date of June 1, 2020 for TCI airports, TCIG should engage stakeholders in a debate around alternative strategies and methodologies for opening the airport and processing incoming residents and visitors.

The airport should not be open until this is done and a comprehensive protocol agreed. Key to the discussion must be the advice of clinicians. TCI can emerge in the next two weeks with a flat curve base on existing statistics. We should start to market TCI to our property owners and high net worth returning visitor with an earliest return date after June 1.”

The PNP leader said his party believes that the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) government,

Hon. Charles Washington Misick Leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP)

headed by Premier Hon. Sharlene Robinson, “is right to be cautious and not distribute cash indiscriminately at the expense of eroding resources that have been preserved through the collective prudence of recent governments and the sacrifice of the residents of the TCI”.

Continued on page 2

236 TCI deaths from coronavirus in worst case scenario, experts say

Experts from Public Health England said in worst-case scenario of a Coronavirus outbreak in the Turks and Caicos Islands, there would 236 deaths, 760 persons requiring hospitalisation and over 320 critical cases requiring intensive care

Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson made the disclosure during remarks on TCI’s COVID-19 Response on Saturday, 11 April 2020.

She said the Ministry of Health has worked on modeling with the Public Health England team using recognized tools. Based on these models and looking at the country’s population size and demographics, including numbers of persons in each age group, the models also showed projections for the TCI which estimated that based on estimates of 80% of the population being susceptible, this

would mean that 34, 363 persons reduce the burden on our health care system. We are also using these could be expected to be infected.

A significant number of these measures to help protect our most persons would be asymptomatic vulnerable groups, those being the and the most significant morbidity elderly and those with underlying and mortality (deaths) will be in medical conditions. Evidence is older age groups, especially people clear that these individuals are at over 75 years of age. The estimated the greatest risk for poor outcomes including death.” case fatality would be 344 persons. said additional

According to the UK model, She the Premier said, duration of the modeling is being done and we outbreak predicted to be 8-9 weeks will be shared with the public as with 50% of cases expected to be time progresses to help everyone understand the reasoning behind identified in the first three weeks.

Premier Robinson stressed: the strategies being implemented in “This model reflects what could the TCI. “It is so important that happen without the aggressive interventions which have been we continue to practice social implemented in the TCI, namely, distancing, that we stay at home shelter in place, closure of the and that we follow good hygiene borders, education on hygiene tips. We will get through this and protective measures and together and we will be better for it once we follow health’s advice enforcement of social distancing.

These measures are working to help which we have already begun to us avoid these high figures and realise and benefit from. We ask

Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson that you too continue to take this approach. Together we are strongest and we must remain our brother’s keeper. We assure you that health remains our top priority and will continue to drive all decisions. But likewise we are not close minded to the impact that this will have on our local economy,” the Premier added.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

DON’T RUSH TO OPEN BORDERS

Continued from page 1

He stressed that TCIG must be careful not to set the stage for escalating its debt-to-GDP ratio at a time when the GDP itself is bound to take a hit.

He added: “What that hit is forecast to be, the TCIG has not indicated, and we are left to extrapolate from the draft budget itself.

While TCIG must be given credit for its initiative, its response to COVID-19 has been arbitrary. If followed to the letter, the stimulus package will hurt rather than help, especially in the short term when help is most needed.”

Hon. Misick said the PNP has given much thought to this issue and presented “high-level recommendations of a win-win-win stimulus package” that TCIG may do well to review. It is balance, and fair to all, and is cast against the background of the following considerations:

1. The reality is that since the return of elected government, the TCIG has not been able to draw down on the PSIP at a rate equal to the annual appropriation for infrastructure and other development budget funded projects.

At the same time

appropriations for staffing cost and a number of other expenditures proposals from the recurrent budget have not been spent; this means that there are many vacancies in the service that have not been filled for years.

Together these two phenomena have contributed to the significant cash balances over the last seven years.

2. Resort properties and their condominium and villa owners are unlikely to be focused on refurbishment given cash flow challenges arising from COVID-19. We are told that the government’s revenue before now reflected an annual relief of $10 million for refurbishment. An increase of an additional $5 million is not needed, particularly given the requirements of the general public and local businesses. Capital-intensive projects, such as refurbishments, (in a country that imports everything) results in cash being exported out of the country at a time when it is most needed in the local economy.

3. The reduction of stamp duty for the next 90 days will only benefit persons who have already entered into contracts and therefore have implicitly agreed to pay the current rate of stamp

duty. If transactions are going to fall apart they will do so because the buyer is unable or unwilling to expend his/ her limited cash, given that he/she may have just experienced a reduction in his/her stock market investment or 401(k) pension plan. Giving away money that is practically in the bank is ludicrous. That money should be made available to support the local economy.

It is highly likely that property prices will fall due to this crisis, and indeed I know of persons who are waiting for that to happen. Coming out of the lockdown, the TCIG will need to review what incentives will be needed to stimulate Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and amend the TCI investment policy accordingly, instead of knee-jerk reacting and giving away the country’s limited resources to the wealthy rather than use it in the interest of the needy.

The proposed $5m give-away should be used to market the destination and get the country open for business once the all clear is given.

4. Crucially, no one knows how long this crisis will last. Some projections place the peak point of the pandemic to sometime in June.

Therefore, it makes sense to err on the

side of caution in considering when to open the border and lift restrictions.

Under these circumstances, preserving cash is important. Often, when businesses go out of business, it’s because of cash flow problems.

5. One of the most important things for the TCIG to do over the next six months is to increase the internal circulation of money, and the best way to do so is to limit the purchasing of foreign goods and promote spending within the local economy. Most of the funding for the TCIG Capital projects is spent on imported materials rather than on local labour. Pushing through such projects now will drain the local economy of cash activity leading to dead money investments. As a result of the current crisis, only critical infrastructure projects along with those that are labour intensive ought to be undertaken within this financial year. As an alternative, the TCIG should consider a ninety day works program focused on cleaning up the country. The two-fold benefit will result in cash being injected into the economy, with the country receiving a direct and much needed benefit.

Customs officers support Police Force

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) received much-needed assistance thanks to partner agency Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) Customs Department.

The 16 Customs Officers, Alton Scott, Brandy Garland, Dacach Capron, Donnell Hall, Glodeeka Moultrie, Erica Carter, Hayanna Williams, Eustace Fulford Jr., Lyle Simmons, Marie-Belle Williams, Marylee Wilson, Hazel Prospere, Quita Jennings, Gregston Been, Savanna Missick and Standella Smith were sworn in as Special Constables (SC) on Saturday, April 11th, 2020

by Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting.

Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said, “We are again grateful to TCIG for their support.

The additional staffing is critical at this time to support my Police Officers as we work around the clock demonstrated. This is a multi-agency to enforce the curfew given under response from all law enforcement the Emergency Powers Covid19 agencies to keep the Turks and Regulations 2020. I am a firm believer Caicos Islands communities safe. I in partners coming together to am grateful to everyone involved. achieve a common goal and the last A special welcome onboard to couple of weeks we have seen this the Special Constables – let us all

Real Estate and Investment Turks & Caicos Islands Ltd Is looking for a suitably qualified and experience individual to fill the new position of Administrative Assistant. The successful applicant will be responsible for organizing the daily operations of the company, communicating with potential condominium Owners, coordinate and work closely with Contractors and subcontractors. Must be fluent in Chinese language.

Requirements: •Bachelor’s degree in Business administration of equivalent •Strong data analytics skills and a desire to further enhance analytical abilities

•Strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to communicate and write in Chinese •Communicate with clients and manage client requirements in written and verbal form •Attention to detail and flexibility to simultaneously manage multiple tasks Salary: $2,500 per month subject to experience Resumes to be submitted to unit 12 La Vista Azul, Turtle Cove, Providenciales c/o Real Estate and Investment Turks & Caicos Islands Ltd

continue to make the TCI proud.”

Commissioner Botting added, “Whilst swearing-in SC Lyle Simmons, I became aware that today was his birthday so it seems appropriate to publicly wish him a very happy birthday as well as

a warm welcome to the RTCIPF”

The 16 new Special Constables will be supporting the Curfew checkpoints as well as working with the RTCIPF Marine Branch Unit.

TAMIL LANGUAGE TRANSLATOR REQUIRED URGENTLY Translator skills needed as soon as possible translation work (Tamil / English) to be performed by phoneso as to help protect the legal rights of detained individuals.

To start immediately. Contact Tim Prudhoe of the law firm Prudhoe Caribbean via email on tim@ prudhoecaribbean.com

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

The health and safety of our customers and staff remain our top priority during this time, and we thank you for your patience as we work together to stem the spread of Covid-19.

Please be advised— effective 26th March 2020, Provo Water Company's Grace Bay Office on Grace Bay Road will be closed to walk-in customers in response to COVID-19 concerns.

Our Customer Service Department will continue to serve customers remotely from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Customers seeking to establish a new service, reconnection, account changes or queries can contact Customer Service Department at 649-946-5202 or email customerservice@provowater.tc for assistance.

Staff will remain available for emergency assistance, please call

649-231-0705

to report a fault, broken water line

or outage.

We are encouraging customers to utilize our

My Account Portal

either via our website or at https://provo-

myacct.smartgridcis.net to view water bills, make payments, view water usages and update account details.

Customers can continue to make payments via our payment vendors:•

CIBC First Caribbean, Scotia Bank and RBC Caribbean

•

Graceway IGA stores during their hours of operation.

We appreciate your cooperation with these pro-active measures that will remain in place until further notice.

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 5

LOCAL NEWS

No suspected coronavirus cases in TCI

There are currently no suspected cases of coronavirus in the Turks and Caicos Islands, according to the Ministry of Health.

In an advisory issued on April 16th, the ministry stated that the decrease over the past 24hrs was as a result of test results received which confirmed that the lone suspected case was negative for covid-19.

The total number of confirmed positive cases remains at eleven (11). Two confirmed positive cases are currently under hospital care.

The report said quarantine/ observation numbers have decreased to 45. This includes: the

active confirmed cases (patients in been removed from quarantine/ that over the past 24hrs, the TCI has received one (1) test result, the tci that are currently infected) observation status.

According to the ministry, confirming that the suspected case (9), contacts of confirmed cases (16), indirect contacts of confirmed cases also as a result of one individual was negative for covid-19. placed in quarantine/ As it currently stands, (12), person under investigation (1), being relatives/contacts of person under observation status for investigation; the TCI has received a total of investigation (5), and TCI residents relatives/contacts of the individual eighty-three (83) test results, with returning from overseas (2). under investigation have also been seventy-two (72) confirmed to be

Persons under observation/ placed in quarantine/observation negative and eleven (11) positive confirmations. quarantine are either not displaying status.

Persons confirmed not to symptoms or have not meet the On 1st April, 2020 the case case definition for covid-19, stated definition for covid-19 was amended have COVID-19, and their contacts, for TCI, therefore a travel history is were moved from quarantined status the report.

The change in quarantine/ no longer needed to fit the criteria. and asked to continue following observation numbers is as a result of Given the closure of the TCI borders, proper guidelines from the Ministry several factors: test results received, it is likely that new case would be of Health. Those cases confirmed confirming that the lone suspected as a result of local transmission, the positive are in isolation with contact tracing aggressively continuing. case was negative for covid-19 – this ministry stated.

The ministry also noted individual and their contacts have

Sixth murder recorded for 2020 under investigation

Martin Vargas, a 44-year-old native of Dominican Republic, was the sixth murder victim for 2020 after being shot in an apparent robbery around 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13th, 2020. A second man, a 55-yearold was also shot and taken to Hospital.

Police public relations officer Takara Bain said officers responded to the Millennium Highway on the above date where they met two men, an unresponsive male and a second male with gunshot wounds.

Both were taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where Vargas, a long-time resident of the Turks and Caicos Islands, was pronounced dead at 11:26 a.m. and the 55-year-old is currently listed as

stable.

Vargas was a contractor who was also known for selling lottery numbers from his vehicle.

Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said, “It is under extremely terrible circumstances that we are now investigating a Murder on Providenciales. Condolences to the family of the deceased; my thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. These are difficult times for all of us in the Turks and Caicos Islands as we deal with the Covid19 pandemic but to commit such a heinous act and bring an additional strain on the Country’s resources at this time is despicable. Whilst the RTCIPF is committed to its response

to the COVID 19, make no mistake, we are also ready and committed to respond to acts of violence and gun crime”.

Commissioner Botting added, “The details surrounding the shooting this morning is still under investigation and I believe that when we are confronted with tragedies like this in our community, it is important that we work together to bring justice to the community. If you have information relating to this incident, please pass it on to us by reaching out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.”

Anyone with information or tips toward this case can directly contact Crime Stoppers tip line at Martin Vargas 1-800-8477 (TIPS) or call 911.

Information request for potential departures from the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Ministry of Tourism and Tourist Board, with the consent of the Ministry of Health and Turks and Caicos Islands Government are working closely with Provo Air Center and Blue Heron Aviation to facilitate airlift out of the islands for any non –residents, work permit holders, temporary visitors, currently in the Islands and who wish to leave.

Kindly note that you should contact any of the following agencies for potential flight details.

Provo Air Center: debby@ provoaircenter.com or Blue Heron Aviation: concierge@blueheronfbo. com

Please have the following information handy.

• Name • Number of persons in your traveling party • Contact information • Country of origin/destination

The above request is extended to citizens of all countries including (but not limited to) the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom and Caribbean nations.

Please note that during the operation of any flights all Public Health Protocols relating to COVID 19 will be strictly enforced.

Crime Report Male pedestrian hit whilst exercising

Police and ambulance personnel were called to Butterfield Drive, Kew Town Providenciales following reports of a motor vehicle accident around 6:46 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14th, 2020. A male pedestrian in his 20s was taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre after he was struck by a car.

The driver who remained on the scene was arrested and taken into custody.

Aggravated burglary on leeward highway

Officers responded to an aggravated burglary report at an apartment complex along the Leeward Highway, Providenciales on Wednesday April 15th, 2020 around 1:16 a.m.

According to the male complainant, three armed men kicked in his apartment door and demanded money. Taken were an undisclosed amount of cash, and electronics. The suspects escaped on foot.

Anyone who may have information into this matter please call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-8477.

We’re changing the way you bank online.

We’re upgrading our authentication process to improve your security.

Scotia Online customers will now be asked to set up a One Time Password (OTP) to confirm their accounts.

A validation code will be sent to your registered email address once you log into Scotia Online. This code will be used to authenticate and register your selected computer or mobile device. Once you register your device, you will not need to verify it again.

For added security, OTP will also be required for: • Self-Enrollment • Sign-in on untrusted/new device • Reset/Change Password

Coming soon to a phone near you: The NEW Scotia AppTM

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

39 vehicles confiscated since curfew

By Todeline Defralien

Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have confiscated 39 vehicles since the curfew was enforced.

Some 35 of these vehicles were taken on Providenciales, while two cars and a motorcycle were taken on Grand Turk and one vehicle on North Caicos.

Police announced on Tuesday April 7th that all vehicles confiscated will be released at the end of curfew pending $250 towing fee and $25 (per day) storage fee.

All persons who are seeking to retrieve their vehicles after the curfew ends are required to provide an updated driver’s licence, vehicle

registration and insurance.

Police enforced the curfew given under the Turks and Caicos Islands Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 which controls the movement and assembly of residents to control the spread of COVID-19.

The twenty-four-hour curfew was imposed and approved by His Excellency, Governor Nigel Dakin.

During the curfew, officers are placed at strategic locations in communities across the country and vehicles are being stopped by officers Officers of the TCI Police Force stopping motorists during the curfew. and drivers/passengers are being confiscated. Any person who assaults, assault, obstruct, hinder or resist a questioned.

Individuals who violate the obstructs, hinders or resists or uses Police Officer in the execution of his curfew are subject to questioning, any threatening or abusive language duty under this regulation, commits an arrest or have their vehicle or aids or incites any other person to an Offence.

Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Tax Waiver The TCI Government announced a number of measures in response to and contained in its COVID- 19 Stimulus Package.

Under the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (Economic Relief Measures) Regulations 2020 (hereinafter the Regulations), the Government has approved the following: (a) The payment of any tax (accommodation tax) which is due and payable on the 21st April 2020, in accordance with section 13 (1) of the Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Tax Ordinance (hereinafter HRTT) is hereby waived; and (b) The payment of any tax (accommodation tax) which is due and payable on 21st May 2020 and 21st June 2020, in accordance with section 13 (1) of the HRTT has be deferred until 21st July 2020.

Note that under section 4(2) of the Regulations no penalty shall be incurred in respect of the payment of taxes under subregulation (1)(b) if the taxes are paid in full on or before 21st July 2020.

In order to take advantage of the waiver, taxpayers are required to provide the Revenue Department with the following information which has to be submitted to tcirevenuedepartment@gov.tc:

Dominican poacher boat captains charged

The five captains (Dominican Nationals) of the illegal poacher vessels caught by officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Marine Branch and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources on Wednesday, April 8th, 2020 appeared via remote hearing at the Chalk Sound Police Station on Saturday, April 11th, 2020.

They pleaded guilty to the following summary offences charges under the Fisheries Ordinance and the Emergency Powers Ordinance: 1.Taking marine products without a license 2.Usedunlicensed vessel for fishing 3.Used vessel for commercial fishing.

4.Used breathing apparatus to take marine products.

5.Breach of curfew.

The five men, Andres Flores, Richard Lopez, Dublin Jimenez, Luis Miguel Pena Jimenez and Luis Jose appeared before Chief Magistrate Jolyon Hatmin at 10 a.m. where they answered to the said charges. The men are currently remanded to the Detention Centre.

The 5 captains were charged by Officers of the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources.

The other 15 crew (Dominican Nationals)

will be handed over to the Department of Immigration for repatriation.

On Wednesday, April 8th, 2020 around 9:30 a.m., during an Aerial Surveillance Operation, Officers onboard the Police Airwing spotted a large number of vessels fishing near Bush Cay and White Cay, an area within the Fisheries Limits of the Turks and Caicos Islands. They immediately alerted the Marine Branch, who responded with the assistance of Officers from the RTCIPF Tactical Unit, the DECR, and TCI Customs Department.

Subsequently, five (5) illegal fishing vessels were intercepted

Various items of prohibited fishing equipment and a significant quantity of Conch were also seized.

Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said, “This is a great example of excellent work by my Officers both onboard the Police Airwing, Marine Branch and Tactical Unit. I am grateful for your hard work and dedication yesterday. Despite everything associated with COVID-19, we still have a job to do and that is to Police as normal.

The Marine Branch and Air Wing will remain vigilant in patrolling our waters. There is concern about an increase of immigration and poaching but efforts in collaboration with the DECR and TCI Customs has been tremendous”.

1.Completed Tax Waiver Request (TWR-2020) form; 2.Provide proof that a remittance of tax was made during March 2020; and 3.Provide proof of the number of employees currently on full pay, terminated or on reduced hours.

Kindly note, tax data submitted will be subject to Audit verification, by the Revenue Department, at a later date. Additionally, taxpayers will be required to provide a detailed written submission, by the end of July 2020, on how the HRTT waiver provided was utilized.

Lastly, although the waiver and deferral of the HRTT has been granted, Taxpayers are reminded that in accordance with section 24 (1) of the HRTT Legislation taxpayers are still required to remit tax data to the Revenue Department on the monthly return form.

The Revenue Department wishes for you to remain safe during this time and looks forward to your continued cooperation.

The Department is available to answer any queries and can be contacted at tcirevenuedepartment@ gov.tc .

Three persons arrested early Saturday after breaking curfew

Three persons were taken to the Chalk Sound Police Station and arrested for breaching curfew under the Emergency Powers COVID19 Regulations 2020, early morning on Saturday, April 11th, 2020.

According to reports, a 25-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were arrested at 12:43 a.m. They were given bail in the sum of US$1000.00 each and later released. Both

are scheduled to return to the Chalk Sound Police Station on Monday, May 25th, 2020 to be further dealt with.

Officers also arrested a 19-year-old man at 1:12 a.m.

He was also taken to the Chalk Sound Police Station where he was given US$1000.00 bail and released. He is to return to the Chalk Sound Police Station on Monday, May 25th, 2020 to be further dealt wit

Two vehicles were

confiscated. There were no reports of rrests in the sister Islands

The public is reminded that breaking curfew is a Criminal Offence and subject to a fine or time in prison or both.

Vehicles will also be confiscated and released pending a $250 Towing Fee, $25 (per day) Storage Fee, Updated Drivers License, Vehicle Registration and Insurance.

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 7

LOCAL NEWS

Graceway Communities hosting ‘Show Yo’Self’ TCI online talent competition of unsung courage and sacrifice at the moment. We wanted to find a

Community members are way to bring some fun and positivity asked to get their creative juices to curfew and to involve as many flowing and win up to $1,000 with people as we can throughout the Graceway Supermarkets by entering TCI. The idea is: let’s take a moment their ‘Show Yo’Self’ TCI online to focus on the unique, amazing things that make each of us who talent competition.

Graceway Communities we are and let’s remember that, is the umbrella for Graceway although we are isolated right now, Supermarkets’ social and charitable we’re all in this together. Show efforts which have been giving back Yo’Self is an opportunity for people to the Turks & Caicos Islands for to showcase their talents and get involved in voting for the ones they over 20 years.

The “Show Yo’Self TCI” like. Anybody can enter, anybody contest kicks off from April 16th can vote, but please keep the videos -30th, and will be hosted by TCI’s family-friendly.”

Brace added: “We hope very own David Bowen.

Matthew Brace, Committee that Show Yo’Self TCI brings us Member of Graceway Communities together, brings fun and joy to told The SUN, “We know people are the community and can become under a lot of pressure both socially an annual event. We encourage and economically and there is a lot everyone to get involved and get

By Todeline Defralien

creative. Show Yo’Self.” with #ShowyoselfTCI.

From April 16th-30th, Rules and Disclaimers: persons can enter for a chance to entrants may enter one video, win the following prizes: individually or as a group (but keep your social distancing!); must be • 1st $1000 GRACEWAY Supermarkets resident in the TCI; family-friendly gift card videos only; no political videos; • 2nd $500 GRACEWAY Supermarkets Graceway Communities reserves gift card right to remove videos deemed • 3rd $300 GRACEWAY Supermarkets inappropriate or offensive; entrants gift card grant Graceway Communities, Graceway Trading Limited and

The top ten (10) Videos their group companies the rights with the most likes will be to post, re-post, reproduce, edit shortlisted and judged by a panel make use of the videos in print of judges on, uniqueness, difficulty, and online, whether alone or in showmanship, creativity and an anthology. This promotion is audience appeal. in no way sponsored, endorsed,

To enter to win persons must administered by or associated with first follow/like @GracewayTCI on Facebook; entrants completely Instagram or Facebook and secondly release Facebook from any liability upload a video (60 secs or less) or responsibility in relation to this showcasing their talent and tag it promotion.

UNITS FOR SALE

Royal Reef is now selling units starting at $274,000.00.

Purchasers will receive an additional discount of 5% on purchase before 1st to July 1st 2020.

Also take advantage of the 50% discount on the government stamp duty.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

Confirmed COVID-19 patient Daryl Greene speaks out, warns persons to stay home with symptoms to use the Ministry of Health’s hotline and don’t be

Daryl Greene, a positive ashamed to call for help.

COVID-19 patient in Turks and “The longer you stay with Caicos Islands, is the first to speak out that virus, that’s when it’s going to be on his battle with the deadly virus. a problem for you to recover from it.

In a Facebook video recoded It comes like a termite and it’s ready at Interhealth Canada hospital, to eat and destroy everything inside Greene spoke of this experience with of you, so if you want to be around the pandemic which he has been for your family, don’t be scared to call Daryl Greene fighting for a few weeks. the hotline,” he explained. advised the general public that a

He said, “It was not an easy “Ladies and gentlemen call patient who was recently admitted ride,”. “I catch the symptoms very the hotline if you feel any symptoms and under clinical management and bad and then I waited very long to going on in your body. It doesn’t have isolation at Cheshire Hall Medical call the hotline and by that time to be at an advanced rate, so if you Centre has tested positive for it escalated and then by that time I think you have a little fever, cough COVID-19. started to treat myself by taking bush or body ache, call the hotline. The The statement said, “The medicine, but the virus was already in thing about it is, you don’t even have male resident in his 30’s was admitted my body too strong.” to leave your house; they can come to the facility on April 3rd 2020 with

Greene thanked the nurses to you. They come to your house test severe acute respiratory infection and and doctors at Interhealth Canada for you out and check you out and if you has no co-morbidities. He also had no helping him to recover. need medical service they will call the recent travel history. The inpatient

“Bush medicine works ...and ambulance to come and pick you up. was transported to the emergency how can I forget about the doctors It’s no shame to call the hotline or to department via ambulance on the and nurses here at the hospital. These be riding in an ambulance. Trust me, date of admission using established guys are excellent and doing an it saves lives and it saved my own.” protocols. The male met the case awesome job. They bring me back. Greene also encouraged the general definition of COVID-19 and was They treat me and I am good as new public to say home to combat the classified as a suspected case. A and I don’t have no more symptoms; virus. sample was collected and tested. none whatsoever! I’m just here “If the people say stay home, Strict infection prevention and relaxing right now and waiting for stay home! Why are you going on the containment procedures continue to the doctors to give me the al- clear to road for?” he said. be enforced across the medical centre go home.”

On Friday April 10th, the and were followed as a precaution in

He encouraged persons Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital this case.”

By Todeline Defralien

Turks and Caicos Sun

Suite#5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 348-6838 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com Read us online at www.suntci.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Graphic designer Information Technology and Production Manager: Kelano Howell Todeline Defralien Reporter

The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd. We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

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TCC Says Thank You To All Essential Services Staff “While most of us are at home right now, we know there are

Director of Public Relations at The Turks and Caicos Collection,

so many people on the front lines, essential workers who are

Wayne Garland said, “These are extraordinary and challenging

showing up to work every day to help keep us safe and we say,

times and we want to acknowledge and thank all those people

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

in the emergency and essential services industries who are out there doing amazing work. We have never faced a pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the world to a standstill,

of this nature before in our islands and we wish to publicly

and the TCI is no exception. Our streets have gone quiet,

acknowledge and profoundly thank our essential service

businesses and schools have closed, as we isolate ourselves

workers. Your professionalism and commitment to serving our

from each other.

communities is incredibly valued and most certainly make all the difference.

“To all those persons on the front lines, Doctors, Nurses, Ambulance drivers, Police Officers, Supermarket employees,

TCC encourages everyone to stay safe, respect and follow the

Waste Collection workers, - essential workers across the

protocols and restrictions and remember:

spectrum, the entire team at TCC says THANK YOU for your service and bravery. We are all grateful for you and to you.”

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Page 10

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

Construction workers overlooked in Premier’s stimulus package As the world grapples with the point out that this virus has not only consequences of the Novel Corona touched those in tourism; everyone Virus pandemic, we here in the in this country has been affected in Turks & Caicos Islands have not a direct and personal way. Nowhere been spared. In this regard, the will the impact of this crisis be Government in our country rolled felt more than by those persons out its stimulus package which was employed in the construction designed to help businesses and industry as well.

I also cannot help but to residents on the road to recovery until our economic engine could observe that whenever any benefits be cranked up again. But what is are made available in this country the most troubling about the stimulus construction worker seems to always package is perhaps what is left out of be overlooked. Maybe it is because of my intimate involvement in the it rather than what is in it.

This stimulus package is construction industry that I am able geared almost exclusively towards to see firsthand the problems that the tourism and hospitality sector we face. When economies begin to as the employees in it are allocated decline the construction industry is a onetime payment of $1,200. Save always the first to feel the impact for some modest amounts being and it is usually the last to recover allocated small businesses as grants, when things return to normal. it is devoid of anything for the other From the stimulus package segments of our economy and those that is available, the only way a employed in it. construction worker could benefit

Now I am happy that the is if he has one of these small Government sees it fit to address businesses and qualifies for the one the concerns of the tourism industry off grant that ranges from $2,000 because it is so vital to the pulse of to $5,000. The vast majority of our economy. But I must quickly persons in this industry are therefore

rendered ineligible as they are mostly employees rather than the owners of these businesses.

I, therefore, implore the Government to revisit the structure of this stimulus package and while doing so take into consideration those who are the most vulnerable in our society. By doing so, the construction worker would most certainly be captured as invariably many of them in this group are living pay cheque to pay cheque and often the only breadwinner in his home.

They too contribute to keeping this country vibrant when they are employed. They too pay import duties, National Insurance and NHIP just like the people in the hospitality industry do. Their taxes are likewise collected on their telephones and utility bills just like the rest of the labor force in our country.

I urge the Government to look at the needs of our people in a more comprehensive and holistic manner rather than making fish out one group and flesh out of the other.

I continue to encourage all

By Arlington (Chuck) Musgrove, PNP Candidate for the Twin Islands

of you to adhere to the requirements of the curfew and to practice the hygienic standards circulated by the Government. It is my prayer that God will cleanse us of this virus so that we can all return to a state of normalcy soon.

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 11

MANAGE YOUR ENERGY USE AT HOME

The coronavirus pandemic means that many of us will be spending more time at home, and working remotely. And with schools closed and students taking online classes, this extra time at home could mean an increase in energy usage, and added costs to our electricity bills.

But that doesn’t have to be the case. FortisTCI encourages you to practice energy conservation as much as possible.

• Turn off lights when not in use.

• Use energy-efficient compact fluorescent or LED bulbs • Set your air-conditioning thermostat to a comfortable 78 degrees, and use a ceiling fan to help circulate air.

• Turn off televisions and other electronic devices when not in use.

Monitor your daily usage with the My Online Account web portal.

Sign up at www.fortistci.com, where you can also find more energy-saving tips.

THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS.

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Page 12

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

A case for the suspension of jury trials From Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Mabel Agyemang (Health implications of holding jury trials in the Covid-19 season)

The Supreme Court which conducts criminal trials upon indictment is sited in Providenciales and Grand Turk. These trials on information (by indictment) are conducted by judge and jury, as provided in S. 11 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance CAP 3:03; although in S. 57thereof, provision for non-jury trials.

INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE

In Providenciales where the bulk of criminal trials by jury have commenced, there is little room to ensure social distancing by reason of the lack of court infrastructure to accommodate this.

While the Supreme Court at Grand Turk which is purpose-built can accommodate jury trials in the best of times, there is no gainsaying that the nature of the summoning for jury service, the selection of a jury from the pool, and the sitting of a selected jury to hear and deliberate upon the evidence led, all necessarily involve social gathering which will be impossible in the light of the social distancing protocol now in

force by reason of COVID 19.

Our courts lack the infrastructure to hold jury trials without endangering the lives of jurors and court staff who must work with them, and risking in-country transmission.

It is clear that the only court equipped in Providenciales to carry out its duties of conducting a jury trial may be the SIPT courthouse.

Even so, it will be done at some peril to the jury which will have to sit together and deliberate over evidence led.

In these dangerous times during which the science of transmission of COVID 19 continues to be fluid, the court cannot risk infections arising from the jury’s performance of its duty.

It is evident then that until the COVID 19 crisis is declared to be over, and people can move about without fear of contracting a fatal disease, the court cannot conduct jury trials.

said provision prescribes the fair hearing of persons accused of crime, before an independent and impartial tribunal.

Among the things included in this provision is the right to be heard within a reasonable time.

It is trite learning that this right means the right to be heard without undue delay.

In R v HM Advocate and the Advocate General of Scotland [2003] 2 WLR 317, [2004] 1 AC 462, a case in which the prosecution, having regard to the circumstances, accepted that a trial had been subject Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Mabel to unreasonable delay, it was held Agyemang that the right to a fair trial had been infringed and that the prosecution COVID 19 times. had to fail.

It is also settled law NON-JURY TRIALS that criminal prosecution time commences when charges are laid.

The liberty of the individual

In casu, while some of these and his/her right to a fair hearing accused persons held on indictable which is addressed in the offences are out on bail, many of Constitution is what informs this them are held in custody awaiting paper in which I seek to persuade trial. that the way forward, at least in RIGHT TO A FAIR HEARING

The concern at this time is the foreseeable future, is to conduct that due to the volatile nature of this criminal trials without jury, and to

But the woes of this world scourge, the end may be in sight or it vest the determination of fact and notwithstanding, the Judiciary’s duty may not be. In these uncertain times, the law in a judge sitting alone. to provide access to justice, ensure the Judiciary must rise to the task to I have no doubt that our fair hearing among other provisions, provide some normalcy by enabling Supreme Court judges who have continues. trials to continue in order that we been carefully chosen and appointed

The right to a fair trial is may not be found wanting, accused for inter alia, their integrity, will entrenched in S. 6 of the Constitution of breaching fair hearing provisions rise to the occasion to deliver of Turks and Caicos Islands. The of the Constitution even during commendable justice.

Bar Council opposed to suspension of jury trials However, The SUN’s Editorin-Chief, Hayden Boyce, who broke the story about the Chief Justice’s

The Turks and Caicos Islands proposed amendments, defended Bar Council “unequivocally and publishing the document. resolutely opposed” any proposal to “We at The SUN strongly enact legislation that would seek to believe in fact-based and evidencesuspend jury trials in favour of trials strong journalism and we will by judge alone in criminal cases, continue to pursue and publish the its president Mrs. Oreika Selver- truth without fear or favour,” Boyce Gardiner stated in a stern letter to said. her colleagues.

“The mere fact that publishing

“There has been no evidence the Chief Justice’s proposals, even submitted to the Bar Council, or in if much to the chagrin of certain the public domain that suggests that persons, subsequently generated the intent was to deprive this Country public discussion and a rare, joint and individuals of its fundamental response from the Attorney General, civil liberties in criminal trials,” the the Chief Justice, the DPP and Bar Council president said in the now the Bar Council President, correspondence which was obtained demonstrates that democracy and

by The SUN. freedom of the Press are indeed alive

“The fact is, we were and well in the Turks and Caicos entrusted with this information for Islands. Long shall they be!” the purpose of offering some counsel Meantime, in admonishing to the newly appointed Chief Justice. her colleagues, the Bar Council To this end, the Council collated the head stated: “I am disappointed in responses submitted by the Members the Bar’s participation in what has and forwarded them directly to the become an attack on the credibility Chief Justice - as we were asked to and earnestness of the judiciary and do.” by extension the new CJ. Who has

Mrs. Selver-Gardiner, who is shown no evidence of meriting our the first local female attorney to act as mistrust. When we mishandle this a magistrate, registered her objection kind of information, we participate to the information that was shared in reducing the value and trust the with the Bar being “irresponsibly public places in the judicial system transmitted via social media, to the to fairly address and deal with their SUN Newspaper and has become the matters.” subject of malicious voice notes and She added: “I cannot deem perhaps innocent misinterpretations to tell you what to do, or how to - accusing the Chief Justice, the handle information that you have Courts, the Government of being been trusted with, but if we are to underhanded and seeking to destroy continue to enjoy the respect and one of the pillars of this democratic a partnership with the judiciary, society inter alia”.

I would admonish us all to be

by Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

more mindful in the way we share unconfirmed information with the public and news outlets. We are in a precarious time in our nation, where anxiety and uncertainty are at an all-time high; The Bar should not be adding to the chaos and hysteria that is already burgeoning within the community due to the COVID-19 conditions imposed on not just the Turks & Caicos Islands, but the entire globe.”

She noted that last year, a spate of similar vitriolic attacks on the judicial officers led to actual threats of violence being issued by members of the public towards the Justices of the Supreme Court.

“This medium of expressing one’s frustrations is unacceptable and must stop,” she continued. “As Attorneys at Law, if there are issues that arise of grave concern, there are other means of addressing those concerns, such as Judicial Review, Appeals to the Court of Appeal, and or the Privy Council for example.

Use them -Not Social Media. We must lead by example.”

Noting that one of lawyers’ past grievances was that the Bar was not being consulted enough on matters that affect them, she explained that three days ago, the Chief Justice reached out to attorneys “seeking counsel from the Bar on a myriad of draft proposals intended to be sent to the AGs for their assistance with implementation”.

She explained: “We now understand that the timing was to coincide with imminent Cabinet sittings, and April 20 HOA sitting.

Therefore, if any amendments were

Mrs. Oreika Selver-Gardiner, President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Council. to be made to the legislation- it would require the Chief Justice and the Attorney General’s Chambers to act quickly. The proposals that were shared with you were not in their final form, otherwise the Council would have communicated that information to you. The proposals were subject to being amended subsequent to the advice received from the Bar Council and other key heads of Government.”

The Bar Council President said the Chief Justice submitted some sixteen proposals for the Bar to consider; one of the more provocative being the temporary suspension of jury trials until December 2020.

She stated that the 16 items were proposed as a means of protecting the public, jurors and court users against the possible transmission and spread of the COVID-19 on a limited basis.

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 13

LOCAL NEWS

Joint public statement on proposed suspension of trial by jury by AG, DPP and Bar Council The Courts’ response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

On 11th March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic.

Thereafter, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) upgraded the risk of disease transmission to the Caribbean from high to very high.

The TCI Government took early action on 10th March 2020 under the Public and Environmental Health Ordinance to list COVID-19 as an infectious and notifiable disease and put in place measures considered necessary to prevent, control or mitigate the potential impact of COVID-19.

In keeping with the urgency being applied by all countries who are monitoring this pandemic given that the pace of change is rapid, with the number of confirmed cases across the region increasing each day, the TCI imposed further restrictions under the Public and Environmental Health Ordinance on 18th March 2020.

On 20th March 2020 a state of emergency was declared in the Islands and regulations were made to ramp up measures to prevent the spread of COVID19 in the Islands and to manage the fall out of the disease and the measures in the Islands. The rapid transmission rate of COVID-19 required an equally rapid response.

As the TCI continues to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the priority of the Court was to ensure the health and safety of all its stakeholders.

In the face of a national curfew imposed in the Islands on 26th March 2020, the Acting Chief Justice Hon. Mr. Justice Shiraz Azziz issued Practice Direction No. 2 of 2020 (COVID-19 Practice Directions) on 25th March 2020 suspending nearly all matters before the courts and encouraging the use of video and teleconferencing means to continue certain matters but reserving certain other matters for in person appearances, subject to social distancing advice from public health officials.

However, as in many jurisdictions, the Court is constantly reviewing strategies with a view to implementing measures to reduce exposure of judges, magistrates, court personnel and court users while still providing a means for the citizens and residents within the TCI to access justice as an essential service in the Islands.

The new Chief Justice Hon. Madam Justice Mabel Agyemang took up her office on 1st April 2020 and despite the circumstances she met upon her arrival in the Islands, she immediately engaged public and private sector stakeholders (including the Commissioner of Police, the Superintendent of Prisons and us) to provide input on protocols to ensure access to justice by seeking a means of reopening the courts through the use of electronic means and to

Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles, OBE QC, Attorney General

Mr. Eugene Otuonye, QC, Director of Public Prosecutions

Mrs. Oreika Selver-Gardiner, President of the Bar Council

provide access to the administration of justice in the essential areas, even while minimizing risk to the health of members of staff, the jurors, the attorneys, defendants, other members of the public, police and prison officers, probation officers and other representatives of the various agencies who must interact with the Courts for the delivery of justice.

The Hon. Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Bar Council promote the Rule of Law in the TCI.

We recognize that in the resultant state of public emergency that the Government has sought to act in a manner it considered proportionate and necessary to safe guard public health and wellness of the TCI while striking a balance with the rights of the people.

The Rule of Law provides for scrutiny by House of Assembly of the acts of the Government; allows informed criticism and debate without fear or stifling; allows for independence of the Judiciary and the legal profession.

We therefore welcome the fact that although the emergency powers regulations have been made at speed, they have been subjected to Parliamentary scrutiny through the laying and debating of those regulations in the House of Assembly.

We further welcome work to improve access to justice.

It is essential that the Judiciary is able to function and normal due process and access to justice is maintained even as we deal with the pandemic.

Continuing access to speedy justice, to the extent that the state of emergency would permit, is an important right of those who are brought before the Court.

The COVID -19 pandemic should not grind the wheel of justice to a halt. It is in this context that the new Chief Justice has put forward proposals, firstly, to deploy to the largest extent, the use of audio video technology to continue the business of the Court and secondly, in doing so, to avoid unduly exposing persons to the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

In considering the legal framework, the Hon. Chief Justice quickly noted that the current provisions in the TCI, unlike in other Overseas Territories and Commonwealth jurisdictions, only permit the making of Rules and the issue of Practice Directions in so far as provision is not expressly made by the Supreme Court Ordinance, the Civil Procedure Ordinance or the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.

In putting these proposals forward, the Chief Justice sought our views as well as other key stakeholders. She has received constructive and helpful feedback.

By Friday 10th April 2020, having had preliminary feedback from stakeholders showing support in principle for the majority of the proposals to reopen the courts, but not in favour of the option of a blanket suspension of jury trials in criminal matters, the Hon. Chief Justice confirmed to us that she would press ahead with giving effect to those protocols, save for the blanket approach to criminal trials.

Ongoing trials would continue to be adjourned and new criminal trials would be considered on a case by case basis within the terms of the existing statutory regime. The situation as a whole would be kept under review.

The protocols proposed by the Hon. Chief Justice seek to secure

enabling legislation through the use of emergency powers regulations so that rules and practice directions can be made to – (a) facilitate the continuation of court proceedings in the TCI through the filing, service and disposition, of matters which are not presently available under the existing law; and (b) apply to all Civil (including Commercial), Criminal, and Family proceedings before the Courts.

The Hon. Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Bar Council support the Hon. Chief Justice in establishing protocols to ensure that the important principles of the Rule of Law and access to justice are maintained in the Turks and Caicos Islands even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic with maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice and the independence of the judiciary at the core of such decisions.

We appreciate and commend the proactive and consultative approach taken by the Hon. Chief Justice in putting these protocols in place. We will continue to provide feedback to the Hon. Chief Justice and to carry out our respective independent roles to support the proper administration of justice in the Turks and Caicos Islands. *ISSUED ON APRIL 13th, 2020

BY Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles OBE QC, Attorney General, Mr. Eugene Otuonye QC, Director of Public Prosecutions and Mrs. Oreika Selver-Gardiner, President of the Bar Council.

Page 14

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

Reply to the proposal, protocol and schedule attendant thereto of the Chief Justice

Chief Justice Hon. Madam Justice Mabel Agyemang

Chief Justice Hon. Madam Justice Mabel Agyemang is the newly appointed Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands as of the 1st April, 2020.

Immediately before the new Chief Justice was appointed, the former Chief Justice, Honourable Margaret Ramsay-Hale, had expressed concerns about the backlog of court work and the need for additional Judges to be appointed. Therefore, the Honourable Mabel Agyemang has inherited a legacy of challenges which could, speaking quite frankly, have been the product of:i) Administrative inabilities and/or shortcomings within the justice system itself; or ii) Simply an organic growth of work within the developing and expanding jurisdiction of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The truth resides somewhere within those extremes.

When viewed honestly, unfortunately, I discern the circulated Protocols by reference to the tone and phraseology of the documents to read not as purely consultative in intent, but as worded, as appears to convey mandatory intentions: “I am therefore respectfully asking the Attorney General to use all means possible to get these matters provided for: 1.That full criminal trials be conducted by video link.

2.That all trials by jury be suspended until the COVID 19 crisis is declared by WHO to be at an end.

3.That all civil trials be conducted by video link.

4.That all trials/hearing be done using video media such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype or other such media with recording capability approved by the court. …etc. to no. 16”

How so when it is the court users, the legislature of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the people as a whole who need first to have their say? With respect, should it not have been initially a consultative process with the Bar Council, then consultation with the Bar members, then engagement with civil society, then commitment to paper in a public manner, after the varying interests were carefully considered, analysed and then conveyed to the higher legislative and executive authorities for debate and careful consideration: was that done?

Then the SCHEDULE:1.A judge’s duty to observe audi alteram partem rule of natural justice is not to be compromised because of the remote sittings.

2.A judge’s duty to determine matters in a judicial manner in accordance with settled principles of adjudication and in accordance with the Rules of Court and all pertinent Practice Directions is continued.

3.Rules of Evidence must be adhered to except where by the agreement of the court, counsel/ parties, these will be impracticable; the judge/ magistrate will then have recourse to judicial discretion in how to proceed.

4.Counsel, parties and all persons accessing court services should bear with the court as we navigate technological challenges which will no doubt improve with time.”

So, in effect, by reference to Schedule 1 the Audi alteram partem rule is not to be compromised and thus by extension, neither is Part 1 of the Constitution and the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms section existing under the Constitution. Also, should it not be imperative that such provisions not be threatened to be compromised, inclusive of, but not limited to section 6(1): “Provisions to secure protection of law 6. (1) If any person is charged with a criminal offence, then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time

by an independent and impartial court established by law.”

Preservation of the pre-requisites of a fair, transparent and impartial justice system Under British jurisprudence, at its best, there are some fundamental operative safeguards which, I respectfully submit have traditionally operated. i) Trial by jury is a fundamental right which has roots extending along an evolutionary path over some 800 years.

ii) Along that evolutionary path in 1641 Star Chamber was abolished. In a certain way the use of video linked trials sine die the public and with Judge alone, would become an inverse Star Chamber. The Star Chamber was designed to try the powerful and influential for it was thought that the ordinary courts and jurors might be hesitant if not openly reluctant to bring guilty verdicts against such defendants.

By contrast, consolidation of power in the hands of a single Judge sitting as Judge and Jury, serves well to afford opportunity for judicial mischief to be perpetrated especially against the poor or indigent. Do note that to this day any secretive judicial proceedings are sometimes, in both metaphorical and even mocking terms, referenced as ‘Star Chamber proceedings’. It is now the year 2020 and nothing vaguely approximating to that should ever be allowed to emerge and operate here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. iii)Public scrutiny, especially in a Jury Trial, is a cornerstone for ensuring checks and balances operating in the interest of justice. Any experienced Judge or trial lawyer is fully aware of the impact on the trial process of the presence of those in the public gallery or the presence of the press at the trial. Judges are placed on their guard, for it is those observers ( i.e. in the case of the public gallery and the press) – or – the participation of the Jurors as sole deciders as ‘Judges of the facts’ who perform an important function which no video conducted trial can ever substitute as regards the inherent safeguard of the scrutiny and participatory public involvement of the press bringing scrutiny and transparency to the trial process. Here, I speak not merely theoretically but with actual

practical experience gained from my involvement, from start to finish in the ‘Lloyd Rodney affair’ when a practising member of the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar was imprisoned at Her Majesty’s Prison and then shackled to his hospital bed before his release.

Amnesty International told the British Government that if he ( Rodney) was not unconditionally released then he would be declared internationally – ‘a prisoner of conscience’. It was I who advised Rodney, when the TCI Government was sued in civil court, that his only real chance at justice was to obtain a civil jury. Simply stated, no video trial could ever, against all the odds that were faced in this British administered jurisdiction, have otherwise assured a just result. I do not therefore speak merely theoretically or from a mere academic or intellectual position, but with hard earned practical experience.

iv) Any judicial processes which cloister or hide the actual administrative actions of those who seek to administer justice ( such as ‘in camera’ – pardon the pun – hearings) – can serve further to diminish a justice system which historically has itself been repeatedly criticised by lawyers, been placed under question by the public, and which is still facing challenges of not delivering justice in a timely manner ( see: Part 1 of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution - FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL) which cannot be amended and/ or be diminished by dint of administrative decisions. Indeed, confidence in the justice system needs to be restored.

v) A Judge ought not to be, but some factually can be seen to be, not an impartial arbiter but more an extended arm of the state.

Thus, with regard to any Judge who may be predisposed to be the state’s representative and not an impartial adjudicator, the power to decide one’s guilt or innocence via established legal processes being diminished and/or waived or varied for accommodative adaptation to the dictates of technology, is an open invitation to compromise justice itself.

vi)Any suggestion, expressed and/or implied, of the saving of financial resources, by way of adopting the diminishing of enshrined Constitutional protections would be risible.

Continued on page 15

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 15

LOCAL NEWS Continued from page 14

Viewed logically and consistently no Judge and/or lawyer can, by way of waiver or agreement, delimit the protections which the Constitution guarantees. This is not a matter to be left to the oversight provisions of the Court of Appeal or the Privy Council, it is rather a matter of ensuring and protecting and cossetting fair and just practices ab initio in the trial court itself.

The covid-19 issue and public health and safety The Commonwealth, from Scotland, provides precedent and answered similar recommendations as those made by the incumbent TCI Chief Justice and abandoned those ideas for good reason.

No less a person than Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, did express his misgivings and reservations in terms, via Twitter:“@michaelgove Mar 31 Deeply concerning. I applaud the Scottish Government for their generous co-operation in the fight against COVID 19 but is it wise to take this position on Jury trials? I stand ready to help and discuss I make no criticism of colleagues facing difficult decisions but let’s talk” I, for my part, remain unconvinced that it is primarily any public health risk consideration why these proposals arise at this time and I shall state why so.

At some stage the quarantine restrictions will be lifted, and then people will be interacting in the work place, the schools, the hospitals, the grocery stores, the streets, the hotels and so on. If that level of interaction is allowed to take place – then what special health risk category do the Courts fall in so as not to permit normal proceedings of a trial?

The Honourable Chief Justice can, with patience, ensure that justice is dispensed without there being compromise of Constitutional safeguards which, at present are simply not warranted. ‘Mission critical’ cases, such as first appearances, detention hearings, bail applications, terminations of parental rights, issuance of warrants/authorisation of wiretaps, or such other emergency matters as determined by a Judge can be addressed with the assistance of modern technology. That is different than saying that the entire trial process can be addressed with the use of modern technology and video

linked trials.

time of crisis and need can send special urgently needed medical “The liberty of the individual and His Excellency, the Governor, supplies to the US, surely the UK his/her right to a fair hearing can in a proactive manner, most can live up to her responsibilities which is addressed in the definitely ensure that the laws of and legislatively confirmed duty. Constitution is what informs this the United Kingdom be correctly Conclusion paper in which I seek to persuade applied here in a time of crisis, Section 19 of the Constitution that the way forward, at least such as this is. In short order there reads:in the foreseeable future, is to can be executive action taken to “ Lawful administrative conduct criminal trials with(out obtain the necessary equipment action – delete) a jury, and to vest the for testing for covid-19 of the determination of fact and the total population of the Turks 19. (1) All decisions law not in a judge sitting alone. I and Caicos Islands. Inmates, and acts of the Government and have no doubt that our Supreme free citizens, Judges, lawyers – of persons Court judges who have been everyone. Where is the money to acting on its carefully chosen and appointed come from – well – as a matter of behalf must be lawful, rational, for inter alia, their integrity, ( will law under ss. 8 and 9 of the West proportionate and procedurally – delete) may not always rise to the Indies Act 1962 the Government fair. occasion to deliver commendable of the UK imposed and accepted justice.” a financial responsibility for the (2) Every person whose Turks and Caicos Islands, in a interests have been adversely N.B. My insertion of words are situation such as this:affected by such a decision or act highlighted as deemed necessary. has the right “Grants for benefit of certain West to request and be given written I have inserted, based on Indian colonies. reasons for that decision or act.” the reasoned arguments and

submissions I have made, that 8.The Secretary of State may— It would therefore seem that since which rationally seeks to His Excellency, the Governor, question and indeed challenge (a) from time to time make, to has far reaching administrative the Honourable Chief Justice’s the government of any colony powers – and – while many stated position. to which section five of this Act members of the Turks and applies, being a government Caicos Islands Bar Association These are but preliminary whose resources are, in his and indeed Defendants and the observations, questions and opinion, insufficient to enable public at large have doubts, if urgent expressions of initial it to defray its administrative not serious misgivings about concerns to which I trust that expenses, grants of such amounts the Honourable Chief Justice’s the Honourable Chief Justice, as he may, with the approval of proposals, then at a higher level, herself, may apply experience, the Treasury, determine; as with Minister Gove, something wisdom and understanding and … might have to be said and done shall accept these, my comments, (c) from time to time make, of an administrative nature. as no more or less than being to a government of any other from someone who desires form established as aforesaid for Adherence to the most constructive, Constitutional, any colonies, being one whose fundamental principles of Natural lawful, practical and progressive resources are, in his opinion, Justice itself must, of course, be changes while wishing the insufficient to adhered to.

Honourable Judge every success enable it to defray its in the high office now held. administrative expenses, grants So far as the viability and/or of such amounts as he may, with need for the wider measures Looking forward to appearing the like approval, determine. proposed are concerned, may in trials with juries before Her … one respectfully inquire - is there Ladyship. “ Expenses. any British Overseas Dependent Territory or any jurisdiction in 9. The expenses incurred under the Commonwealth (other than the last foregoing section by Scotland which I have already the Secretary of State shall be mentioned) where anything Location: K-105 Ventura Drive, defrayed out of moneys provided approximating to these measures Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

by Parliament, and any increase have been recommended and Is seeking a Sales & Marketing attributable to an Order in Council actually been implemented?

Manager under this Act in sums payable Candidates must have at least 7-10 under any other enactment out I would encourage, the press, the years managerial experience of moneys so provided or out public, the members of the Bar Be able to drive sale and have a of the Consolidated Fund of the and indeed everyone to become proven record of company growth United Kingdom shall be paid out engaged in this necessary debate, of moneys so provided or out of for it impacts all our lives, our Must have a network of clients, that Fund, as the case may be.” rights and freedoms and the agents and vendors to solicit immediate future of justice in Complete understanding of COG Under British jurisdiction, the these Turks and Caicos Islands. pertaining to inventories and welfare and financial provisions purchasing for the people of the Turks and Thus, your humble servant of the Be able to manage teams and form Caicos Islands is ultimately the interest of justice, recommends leadership responsibility of Her Majesty’s that these matters be considered Government. So, those legislative in the appropriate manner and in Advanced computer skills are a must, provisions from Westminster, the appropriate sequence. May I along with accounting and budget should solve any question of most forcefully but respectfully forecasting.

Salary base is 10$/hr, based on the shortfall in the TCI budget modify, as I deem it necessary, experience not being able to facilitate the the words of the Honourable Positions is currently held by a work necessary and immediate solution Chief Justice in her presentation permit holder ( i.e. more Judges to be appointed). entitled, ‘ A case for suspension Please send resume and references to info@lupo.tc or call 431-5876 Why not? If Russia being under of Jury Trials’:Interested Turks & Caicos Islander no legislative obligation to assist applicants must send a copy of their the United States of America in a JURY TRIALS

Lupo

resume to the Labour Board

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Attorney Mark Fulford objects to trial without jury

I oppose the suspension of jury trials and remote court trials. I oppose it and submit humbly: that access to justice being delayed cannot amount to such access being denied.

In his judgement in the Somerset Case in 1772, the great Lord Justice Mansfield started the principle concerning justice and crisis.

He said: “Let justice be done though the heavens fall”. I believe in that principle and from that I conclude: This proposal lacks the constitutional safeguards to ensure a fair trial and undoubtedly requires the accused’s consent, consent which cannot be legislated away under any circumstances.

That is what the rule of law means.

A more measured and systematic approach should be taken. Under this proposal, I submit:

1. First ascertain if there are any defendants in custody who want to plead, if there are such persons, the court should firstly deal with those matters by video if the defendant so consents?

2. The court should then ascertain if there are any defendants in custody who consent to trial without a jury and table those for the remote/ virtual trials. Then all summary cases can be dealt with.

3. Those who are amenable to waiting for jury trials to resume whether in custody or not can make that request and tentative future trial dates can be set for those matters.

The running thread of my proposals is that any system to be implemented during this crisis HAS to be by consent and must take into consideration the wishes of the accused who are the persons to be impacted by any erosion of their constitutionally protected rights; that is also the meaning of the rule of law.

Having optimistically awaited the advent of our new Chief Justice’s, its truly our hope that her first act will not be be to remove the defendants’ right to trial by jury, especially after the landmark case of R v Crayton Higgs has just restored that right and with all the sad unfortunate deaths in the UK - even a risk to the Prime

Minister’s life - no rights of the British people have been limited under a claim of convenience.

Further contemplating the case being made out, I am of the view that having to wait until WHO declares the pandemic over completely ignores the position in individual countries and risks removing this constitutional right almost indefinitely.

As F Chambers’ Scottish Human Rights attorney -Ms. Mair pointed out – “the Scottish authority cited deals with ‘unreasonable delay’ and given the exceptional circumstances the world finds itself in, I expect a good case could be made for a delay being justified and reasonable.

In any event, the Scottish Government removed the provision for allowing for ‘Judge only’ jury trials within the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill due to overwhelming concerns expressed by the legal profession.” I am certain that the same concerns will be expressed by the legal profession here.

One such major concern that I know will be voiced by others is the availability of the technological infrastructure to facilitate the contemplated remote trials.

An accused has the right to attend his own trial. Therfore, can our prison which is already strapped for basic necessities guarantee that a prisoner will have uninterrupted physical and internet access to attend his trial remotely?

How will the Accused be able to break and confer with his Attorney? There are so many unknowns in what has been proposed that such a decision cannot be hurried through the channels without proper and detailed thought as to how what is being proposed will operate in actuality.

Another major issue not addressed in the case made out is an Attorneys’ inability to access their offices and client files without contravening the 24-hour curfew. How will they be able to prepare for trial?

Where it is proven all over the world, that persons imprisoned are more at risk to contract the covid19 virus, shouldn’t the approach be to avoid rushing to incarcerate

offenders, as this virus can be a death sentence in a prison that is already overcrowded and in a country without the necessary facilities and equipment, struggling to address this pandemic?

While I do agree that in the current climate, there is much that can be done by consent due to advances in technology, for example Civil matters as proposed by the Chief Justice, I do also believe effectively removing the right to trial by jury without consent for criminal trials, is a constitutional, social and public outrage.

I do also seek to humbly remind the Bench, that where TWAJO has been introduced it is for specific reasons and with specific safeguards provided and the constitution requires government to give reasons and timelines.

There is no such idea in constitutional law of suspending rights ‘until we see what happens.’ Where are the safeguards here?

Given the history of legislators in this country, be they British Appointed Advisory Council Members or Elected Officials, it has been the predictable outcome that once a case is made by the Bench for a protocol to be enabled, regardless of the Bar’s view against it, it is inevitably “shoved down our throats”.

Same way Legislators have done with many other laws, and the TWAJO is case and point which was made to jail the former Leaders of this country and nothing done by the Bar stopped that legislation from being enacted.

Such precedents are indeed troubling and even moreso, in respect of the present case and this almost non-existent consultation period.

We received the case at 7:47pm on Good Friday and were advised that the deadline for comments was end of day Saturday. I am deeply perturbed, how can such a constitutionally erosive issue be rushed?

In closing I must confess that I find the tenor of the incoming Chief Justice in the Protocols though coached as request to be instructive to the AG.

By Mark Fulford

While I am certain that was not the Chief’ Justice’s intention, it must be highlighted that should it be construed as such, that interpretation would be dangerous for the island’s jurisprudence, the doctrine of separation of powers, the legal profession and the country’s citizens.

One should not put oneself in a position where colloquially one would say something smells in conch ground and it isn’t conch slop?

I consider that approach to be dangerous for the legal profession, the public at large and client’s outcomes.

In this respect, I offer a colloquial expression of caution to the Bar Leaders whose job it is to put its members position forward strongly, “if yinna don’t act, ya goin find out wha lobsta back red for” therefore the boundaries of common respect must be established or else the Bar and by extension its members will continue to be treated with scant regard to any and all matters where consultation is required by the Bench or any other authority.

It would be remiss of me not to ask you all to get your soul right with God, these are the last and evil days. I pray that we all emerge out of this crisis with good health and a saved soul.

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Dealing with some challenges of Covid 19

We are all trying to do the best we can to cope in these uncertain times. We are also doing all we can to try and ensure we are safe and our households are healthy.

However, there are some things we have to look out for as unintended ill effects of our actions as we shelter in place and keep our homes Covid free.

One of the scariest things to develop right now is a cough especially if accompanied by a sore throat or shortness of breath.

However, many of the cleaners we are using can be quite irritating to the respiratory tract, triggering sinusitis and asthma. If you are prone to any of these conditions, you may have already realized this after repeatedly Allergies Triggered spraying your surfaces with bleach cleaners.

Many of us have become One way to minimize this is almost obsessive about washing our to open the windows and doors after hands, using alcohol sprays and a cleaning session. Also, if numerous sanitizing our hands once we have persons live in a household, perhaps touched something. it would be a good idea to purpose Whilst heightened someone who isn’t as affected by hygienic practices are mainstays for noxious fumes and smells, the task preventing the spread of Covid -19, of spraying the surfaces of the home. the constant cleaning can have a toll If you have a history of any on our skin. This is particularly true respiratory conditions, ensure you if you are prone to eczema, naturally have your medications in stock. This have dry skin or allergic to some of is not the time to be running out the cleaning agents. of your asthma inhalers or sinusitis

Wash detergents and any meds. cleaning agents off properly with water. Remember to use a moisturizer Mental Wellness Challenged sometimes after sanitizing as the high alcohol content can dry out As a part of the measures the skin and even lead to an eczema needed to contain the novel especially if harsh chemicals are coronavirus, we have been asked being used. to shelter in place. This can be very

Of note, a hand wash that isolating for persons especially if is moisturizing is just as effective as they live alone. a harsh soap once you are washing Feelings of loneliness, your hands properly, and with the depression and even anxiety may extra cooking comes more dish surface and it is important to realize washing, so moisturize after cleaning that it is a natural and almost the kitchen or washing the dishes. expected reaction to the current

measures.

In fact, there has been over a 30% spike in anti-anxiety medication prescriptions in the United States since the Covid outbreak! One way to mitigate against depression and anxiety is to stay in contact with friends and family.

Take the opportunity to reach out to important persons such as family and old friends that you may have not been able to speak to frequently due to the previous demands of work and life. Stay social by utilizing technology and making video calls and having group chats with friends home and abroad.

This may seem frivolous to some but we are, by nature, social beings so this is important for our general wellbeing. Due to social isolation, some of us may be feeling depressed or simply sad or withdrawn.

Outside of staying connected, we can try to remain active with exercise. Utilize the allotted times for exercise. Not only will you have a change if scene which Is therapeutic when stuck indoors all day, but the exercise will help to release ‘feel good hormones’ called endorphins which have mood boosting properties.

Being outdoors will also help any feelings of claustrophobia you may be experiencing and changing your route during your walks can help break the monotony you might be currently facing.

Remember though to be

By Dr. Marsha Barnett

patient with yourself. We are in unprecedented times, we have lost a lot of the control of daily lives and our life plans and projections are changing.

So be patient and kind to yourself and each other and try not to get too overwhelmed by it all. If anxiety or sadness however becomes a pervasive or consistent feeling it might be time to speak to a counselor, psychologists, or your general physician.

Remember also, that many persons find online counselling services very helpful so you may find help in the comfort of your home.

Stay focused. Stay safe. Stay strong. We may not see it now, but better days are ahead. * Dr. Marsha Barnett is a general practitioner who also specialises in dermatology. For questions or comments, please contact her at drmarshabarnett@gmail. com or at Associated Medical Practices - 946-4242.

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Is COVID 19 a sign of the end times?

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door.” Matthew 24:3233

Due to the global impact of the COVID 19 virus and the fact that this virus suddenly appeared, many people including myself are wondering is this a sign of the end times.

I am not an expert in the Bible for I have a lot to learn.

However, I do believe the COVID 19 is a sign that God is returning soon.

While this may not be the end times, we are surely closer to the end times than ever before.

Precursors of the end times

According to Luke 21:9-11 “But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:11 And great earthquakes

shall be in divers’ places, and The fact that this COVID 19 famines, and pestilences; and fearful has occurred is a sign that the end sights and great signs shall there be times are close and therefore we from heaven.” must be ready because the end times

The things are already will be worse than COVID 19. happening and will continue to This COVID 19 virus has happen. A frequent occurrence of given us an opportunity to repent earthquakes in divers’ places took before our time on this earth expires place in many countries including or before the end times reach. The our neighbours, Haiti, Jamaica good news is when the rapture takes and Cayman. Now the world is place and you are born again, you experiencing a pestilence called will be caught up with God and you COVID 19. While the COVID 19 is will not have to face the tribulation nothing like anything we have seen as described in Revelations 3:10 before, however, there were other “Since you have kept my command pestilences such as Ebola and SARS to endure patiently, I will also keep

The COVID 19 took all of you from the hour of trial that is us by surprise, however, we should going to come on the whole world not be surprised as events such as to test the inhabitants of the earth.” this for pestilences must happened before the end times. According to Conclusion Wikipedia, pestilence means “any highly infectious disease that cause I believe the COVID 19 is a wakeup an epidemic or even a pandemic.” call to remind us that Jesus is coming soon. Even though this may not be The End times the end times, don’t take life for granted. One thing for sure, is that

The end is not here as yet as the Bible is being fulfilled and Jesus confirmed in Luke 21:9 which states will return soon. The writing is on “ But when ye shall hear of wars and the wall. When Jesus returns, be commotions, be not terrified: for prepared. Don’t be unprepared like these things must first come to pass; how many of us were unprepared for but the end is not by and by.”

COVID 19. We were warned many

By Drexwell Seymour

years about a possible pandemic but took no actions. For years we have being warned about the return of the Lord. I believe our eyes are finally open now so don’t get back to your old ways when this crisis is over.

Being a hero in times like these

The Chinese have a phrase, ‘We live in interesting times.”

Indeed we do, and the times are becoming even more interesting, and telling, ranging from the political and social, to natural disasters, and of course the present battles with COVID-19. It is during such times that we really need a hero to transform the situation from one of anxiety to one of hope.

And from being disillusioned to embracing positive possibilities.

But what does a hero do?

He exercises courage in the face of danger, and shows his followers they possess the grit to do the same.

Courage involves being at the forefront and challenging situations that seem overwhelming.

It is seen where the hero exercises judgment, and wisdom to solve critical issues that benefit individuals and the society as a whole. Heroes think of how to better the condition of others, and present a picture of a more enriching life which pulls people up from poverty and injustice, into a situation where they are respected and valued.

We have the example of Alexander Bustamante the first prime minister of an independent Jamaica, who cared for the working class and organised a trade union which exists today that fought for, and is still fighting for the economic rights and social justice of workers.

He was honoured as a national hero of his country because of the transformational work he engaged in.

In present times we are faced

with basically the same problems Sir Alexander dealt with. Some of these are questionable wages, the high cost of living, political favouritism, relative injustice, social disunity, and a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. These factors are endemic to Caribbean societies.

As Caribbean people, we need a hero to refocus us to admire our accomplishments and our current capabilities. We still face many of the issues that cause the break-up of the Federation of the West Indies including island jealousies, racial splits, the vast presence of foreign capital which does not seem to filter down to the have-nots and the powerless, but which is concentrated into the hands of the elites, and their political backers.

We still largely consume what we do not produce, and our development is lop-sided and not balanced. The Caribbean is held hostage to foreign financial institutions which it depends on for bail-outs, and because it exists in a situation where its development and existence are tied up with doing the bidding of its paymasters, the Caribbean remains a dependent area where development is spotty, and not overall, since it does not decide its own destiny, and has little control over making the radical policies that will enable it to assert its sovereignty and national worth.

In such times a hero is needed who is self-assured, selfconfident, and willing to take the measures to reverse and make qualitatively better the current political, economic and social situation that exists.

Which Caribbean country

can bail out another which faces difficulties? The capital it receives as loans results from the contributions of richer, more developed countries.

Why is it that many Caribbean countries do not train a sufficient number of medical personnel to deal with emergencies such as what we face currently with COVID-19? Instead we have to depend on other countries.

Why do many Caribbean students see studying in the developed countries as providing a better education than their own region, giving them higher recognition?

Why are so many of our institutions so understaffed by our own people, and lack critical resources to maintain internationally required standards?

Some of our Caribbean institutions named after the islands where they exist, pattern their programmes on those of other countries to the extent that the local representation is either missing, or miniscule. And the names of the institutions do not match its management and employees.

Why do many so-called independent countries’ citizens still flock to territories linked to the developed countries, and not yet independent? They bring their culture, and ways of behaving, seeing, and interpreting, to assess what they observe, and their conclusions are at odds with the behaviour and perceptions of the host countries. And they often mock the ways, speech and intelligence of the local people, and are often encouraged and supported by some locals themselves.

Where is the hero who will ground such people with a

By Oliver Mills

sense of rekindled nationalism and commitment to their own traditional values?

Being a hero in times like these requires a person who will assume the mantle of service to their homeland and its people. It calls for a hero with a national and international orientation who will face all, and stand tall, challenge historical and current backwardness, and protect and defend the hopes, desires, and social rights of his people.

A hero with such a mindset is needed now. More than ever before.

Who is able and willing to assume such a righteous task?

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A cashless society and e-governance

In every crisis, there is an opportunity. With social distancing and self-isolation via 24-hour curfew being the order of the day, imagine with me for a minute a Turks and Caicos Islands where cash is not needed and a majority of Government processes can be conducted online.

TCIG, statutory bodies, and companies are being forced to figure out ways to collect money remotely or to encourage customers to use long available online platforms. In the days and weeks ahead, if done right this can become the new norm once we come out on the other side of this pandemic.

The NIB has temporarily moved to collecting payments via direct bank deposits online with email contribution confirmation.

NHIB has always had an online contribution payment process. Digicel, Fortis, Flow and other companies allow you to pay via their app or via online banking.

Imagine being able to renew your Business License or Driver’s License by simply filling out a form online and uploading the relevant supporting documents, making payment, then receiving in the mail the original document or being notified when the document is ready for pick up.

The form now being used for stimulus package grants is a simple template that can be modified and used across ministries. The benefits of convenience for the customer and time maximization are immeasurably!

To make this even more

feasible, wireless internet should be offered free of charge across the country to all citizens and residents.

The bandwidth used should allow everyone to check their email, conduct online business, and participate in online learning.

Anything beyond those basis functions such as streaming Netflix, using YouTube, or any data intensive application can be paid for through an internet service provider.

TCIG can either build the system themselves or it can subsidize an existing internet service provider to provide country wide service. The latter can be done as a part of the telephone service contract that is provided annually.

If Estonia can do it, so can we!

Stay blessed and safe TCI,

By Jamell Robinson

* Jamell Robinson is a PNP At Large Candidate

“Together, but apart”

Most would agree, family values should be treasured. Those of us who are more matured in age can appreciate it even more.

It’s described as a thread that easily ties family education and spirituality together.

Very early in my marriage, it became evident to me that I needed to learn more about the important role, and transcendence of values for my family in all stages of life cycle.

As well as find ways to help my family identify who they are so they can eventually pass on their own values.

It is also important to keep in mind that values may change as families travel through the different stages of the family life cycle.

This usually happens as they are confronted with various situations.

As a family, we should try to create meaningful rituals

that help children live out their values. Whether it’s praying before meals, respecting the sabbath, or reframing from using bad language.

We can also find learning moments in every day opportunities—such as watching certain television shows together and discussing what’s being watched. This gives everyone the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings, some of which may not always be favorable to some parents.

There is now widespread concern about the amount of time family members are spending staring at screens, particularly in the home during these trying times.

Many people worried that the mobile devices might have a negative impact on health and well-being of that individual or family bonding. It reduces the face to face interactions and

makes it harder for parents to get a true assessment of the struggles their children might be going through.

“In today’s environment, we are more connected then we have ever been before, but yet so disconnected in a sense”.

Mobile technology in particular has drastically changed the cultural norms and individual behaviors and I truly believe that it decreases family cohesion.

While mobile phones are a great way to stay connected and provide entertainment, experts say they are also having a negative effect on our social skills and manners. Being distracted by your screen during conversations with friends and family is not only disrespectful, but it can put a wedge in your relationships.

There are certainly some other drawbacks as well. Here’s a

major one: although it can help widen your knowledge base if the materials are educational, increased screen time is hard on your eyes.

In fact, studies have shown more and more young people are wearing glasses to correct their nearsightedness.

This trend has prompted optical health experts to determine if the use of electronic devices such as computers, tablets and smart phones is leading to a deterioration in sight that is reaching epidemic proportions.

We are in quite a predicament with finding that balance between technology and embracing family values.

We need to find ways to return to our traditional and cultural attitudes. Why not use this down time to reflect and rekindle those moments, as time is of the essence and we are now living in a technological world.

Britain to the rescue? Not really…

The COVID-19 pandamic us be very clear, if you are waiting has hit the world hard, and its on help and assistance from the adverse impacts are reeking havoc British Government, my history tells me it ain’t gonna come. Let us on the dry and the green.

The Turks and Caicos look at few important times in our Islands, like other nations, are not relationship.

First, when Air Florida went exempt from its ravages. We have made a series of moves, first by belly up, we asked Britain to divert shutting down the country under a British Airways flight that went the Governor’s Power of Emergency into Miami to us, allowing the TCI and, the insistence of social to maintain scheduled airlift to the distancing and the restrictions outside world. Their response was on travel on island and between No Can Do! Second, there was the time that islands.

These are indeed good Art Butterfield Snr was operating measures and are for the most Turks and Caicos National Airlines part, in keeping with best practices. (TCNA).

Though good; however, the The national carrier provided question has to be asked: Are we service between Providenciales, BVI doing our level best? I dare say NO! and Miami. Utilising a BAE 146,

Some good advice has been this aircraft could carry between 80 given to the Governor as well as the to 120 passengers. Depending on Minister for Health, and for whatever the configuration, it could fly to reason, nothing is happening. Let Miami in an hour and thirty five

minutes. What’s more, it also had a large baggage carrying capacity, which suited us just fine, as we like to travel on plane like we are going on the Lew 2 to North Caicos.

What is important to note here, is that this plane was built by BAE Aerospace, a company in which tha British Government was a major shareholder and was guarenteed to be first in line to get a number of planes during the production cycle.

With this in mind, we asked them to move up our request, by giving TCNA one of the lot assigned to them. Their response was that is not By Hon. Dr. Royal S. Robinson, MBE happening.

I said that to say this, if we the Turks and Caicos. It is high time are waiting on Public Health UK to we recognise this. And, as my friend procure the testing machines for us Devon Williams likes to say: “We in relation to COVID-19, then don’t have to cut our own cloth!” hold your breath. History has told us loud and clear, over and under, * Royal Robinson is the Shadow Minister for Health the British do not care for

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Have we lost our moral compass in times of covid-19?

What do we stand for? Are of the press; and we must defend we frozen in silence by fear for our freedoms fundamental to basic lives, and the lives of our families human security, including health and friends by the COVID-19 security. Thus, we cannot stay pandemic? I hope not. While we silent as our governments abandon remain silent, governments are humanitarian principles on the taking advantage of the pandemic expediency of political objectives to dismantle democracy and rule of and economic imperatives. law in a number of countries. Where Who would have thought do we stand? any US government would

I see a lack of empathy and abandon US citizens for weeks, humanitarian concerns by some stranded on board cruise ships in government leaders for those who a state of uncertainty, anxiety and suffer the most from the pandemic. I desperation? At the same time, see some seeking political advantages the Trump administration brags from the sufferings of others. And, I about rescuing American citizens see political leaders attempting to from remote parts of the globe and silence the press which stand in bringing them back to their homes their way. Yet, civil society for the in the US. most part is silent.

I am troubled when the US

Yes, we are preoccupied with government blocks a shipment of surviving a pandemic out of control life saving ventilators to Barbados and no clear end in sight. But, how and the Cayman Islands, small will history judge our silence? countries in the Caribbean with a How do we not speak up when a total population of less than 400,000 government chooses to save one people. class of citizen over another? And, We have become so how can a government rationalize immune to the US president’s having an obligation to save lives maladministration that we are no but shamelessly turn its back on longer surprised when he threatens those who can’t help themselves? to withhold funds from the World Health Organization (WHO) because Morality or lack thereof is what that global organization doesn’t defines who we are. agree with his approach to the battle against the global pandemic. We

In my recent article in know WHO is right, and we know The Ward Post, “Freedom and who is wrong.

Democracy Under Attack in We couldn’t have foreseen any Times of Coronavirus” I raised circumstances under which a challenges posed to freedom and Caribbean government would deny democracy by autocratic and safe harbor to its citizens? autocratic leaning political leaders I am troubled by Jamaica around the world. Some of these denying landing rights on the home political leaders are denying certain soil to its citizens, while ignoring freedoms without adherence to basic their pleas and turning them away rule of law principles required even – refusing the cruise ship on which during times of emergency. they were on board to dock at

I highlighted the egregious Kingston while the ship refueled attacks on democracy and press near Kingston in Jamaica’s territorial freedom in Hungary; I referenced waters. the usurpation of power in Israel; These 45 seafarers, citizens of and I cited the unending attacks on Jamaica, were within the jurisdiction the press in the United States. of Jamaica, and the Jamaican

I also warned against the government had the authority to creeping level of authoritarianism board that ship and exercise its and autocracy in the Caribbean. responsibilities to its nationals as a

We see leaders in weak and sovereign nation should. strong democracies alike, from That includes screening Hungary to the United States, both them for the coronavirus and taking ends of the spectrum, acting contrary appropriate measures to isolate to the natural and legal freedoms to them in quarantine on Jamaican soil. which the body politic is entitled. Instead, the government abandoned I offered disapprobation of these them to an uncertain fate; after leaders and issued a warning of what rejection by Portugal, Jamaican this portends for a post-coronavirus citizens plead with the UK to accept society. them.

At the same time, I While the Jamaican commended those leaders who government denied its citizens, the are meeting the challenges to the Dominican Republic allowed their health and economic well-being of citizens to disembark from the their people and countries while same cruise ship. Elsewhere in the acting within their constitutional Caribbean, we see the government and democratic frameworks. We are of Trinidad and Tobago refuse entry somewhat assured they are in the to its citizens in transit in Barbados majority. from the UK.

At the same time we must We see the government be awake to the challenges to of Barbados offering the refuge democracy and rule of law, and their government had refused protection of the freedoms we have them. Similarly, we saw the Cuban come to cherish, including freedom government offered docking and

evacuation of a cruise ship with hundreds of passengers, none of which were Cuban citizens, that had been turned away from other ports.

Now, we see Jamaica’s so-called hard line defense against opening its borders collapse in one fell swoop by the bullying threat of sanctions from the Trump administration.

The Trump administration demanded that Jamaica and other countries accept their deportees in the midst of a global pandemic. I accept the right of the US to deport non-citizens who have violated US laws; and I accept that countries have a duty to accept their nationals.

But, there are unique challenges in resettling deportees and now is a most inopportune time. This is the same Trump administration which described the Jamaican government as special, and a close friend. Yet, it seeks to overburden the resourcestretched country in times of a pandemic. This betrayal of a ‘friend’ should not be a surprise.

In this global confusion and the ignominy of our governments, we must consider what will be our circumstance post COVID-19. Will we choose to live in a world without compassion and humanitarian considerations?

Will we accept living in a world where our freedoms are curtailed; where principles of democracy and rule of law are replaced by autocracy and authoritarianism? Or, will we hold our leaders to account before they go too far.

When we have the opportunity, we must choose leaders who are guided by a moral compass; leaders who show empathy for all people.

We must judge our leaders’ actions in the context of morality and integrity. And, we should question whether they are running a country, or running down a country.

The latter is a recipe for a more troubled and insecure world.

Lest we forget, the 193 member countries of the United Nations have signed onto the UN Charter and must adhere to its tenets, “We the peoples of the United Nations, determined … to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small…. and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.”

The UN offers us an opportunity, “To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.”

Indeed, we must have the will to rally against global bullying and harmonize our actions in order

By Ambassador Curtis A. Ward

to restore, attain and maintain the principles of good governance, rule of law and democracy, and we must restore empathy for all of the human family beyond the unprecedented challenges we now face.

In the words of the 1975 song Wake up Everybody (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes):

“Wake up everybody, no more sleeping in bed; No more backward thinking, time for thinking ahead; The world has changed so very much, from what it used to be; There is so much hatred, war and poverty; …

The world won’t get no better, if we just let it be; Na Na Na Na Na; The world won’t get no better; We got to change it; Yeah, just you and me.”

Wake up everybody!

• Ambassador Curtis A. Ward is a former Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations with Special Responsibility for Security Council Affairs (1999-2002) serving on the UN Security Council for two years. He served three years as Expert Adviser to the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee.

He is an Attorney-at-Law and International Consultant with extensive knowledge and experience in national and international legal and policy frameworks for effective implementation of United Nations (UN) and other international antiterrorism mandates; the legal and administrative requirements to effectively implement and enforce anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); extensive knowledge of the legal and regulatory requirements for effective implementation and enforcement of United Nations multilateral and U.S.-imposed unilateral sanctions; and the imperatives for Rule of Law and governance.

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LOCAL NEWS

Beaches Resort partner with local charitable organizations to donate food items to community members B

eaches Resort Villages & Spa in Turks and Caicos Islands may be closed, but their heart and hands are wide open to those in need.

Beaches Resort recently partnered with

four local charitable organizations to bring much-needed food items to neighborhoods and families affected by the Coronavirus crisis.

On Saturday April 11th, 2020, the all-inclusive resort donated thousands of

pounds of food items to The TCI Red Cross, Salvation Army, Provo Children’s Home, the TCI Soroptimist International Society and the Catholic Mission for families in the community that needs it the most.

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LOCAL NEWS

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A week of images from th

A

priest delivers a willow branch to a woman’s home in Bucharest, Romania, Over the past week, Jews and Christians around the world observed an attempt to keep an Orthodox Palm Sunday tradition alive despite the their rites largely in isolation because of restrictions imposed to slow the ban on joining religious celebrations. spread of the new coronavirus. Meanwhile, the pandemic marked a number

At Jerusalem’s Western Wall, only a handful of men gather to perform of grim milestones: The worldwide death toll surged past 100,000, according the Priestly Benediction, the customary prayer held during Passover — instead to John Hopkins University. The tally in New York City eclipsed the number of the tens of thousands of worshipers that the blessing usually draws. killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11, and the United Kingdom became

A city worker sprays disinfectant as a man sleeps on the street, in central Mexico City, Monday, April 6, 2020.

A lonely man relaxes in a rubber boat in the middle of the Dnipro River escaping from coronavirus human contacts

A medical worker from China’s Jilin Pro home at Wuhan Tianhe International Airp

A priest blesses an elderly woman after offering her willow branches, an Orthodox Palm Sunday traditio

A volunteer of the Spanish NGO Open Arms pushes in a wheelchair an elderly resident of a nursing home with coro

A walks alongside a mural of Ernesto reflected in the side-view mirror of

An Israeli man stands on his hands on an empty road during a lockdown following government measures to help stop the spread

Medical move a body behind a fence at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, April 9, 2020, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

Medical workers making an emergen moments after they confirmed he died o

Police officers arrive to escort Ahmed Khaled al-Kaabi and his bride Ruqaya Rahim during their wedding in Najaf, Iraq, April 9, 2020

Residents desperate for a planned distribution of food for those suffering under Kenya’s coronavirus-related movement restricti

Soldiers carry boxes with food to del neighborhood on the outskirts of Guatem

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

he coronavirus pandemic the fourth European country to reach 10,000 deaths.

And still the virus raged on. Barcelona’s visiting health care workers and emergency medical personnel went door to door to tend to Spain’s home-bound elderly, who have suffered the most. New York City, faced with a mounting death toll and dwindling morgue space, shortened the amount of time it will hold unclaimed remains before they are buried in the city’s

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public cemetery.

But there were moments of hope, nonetheless. Wuhan ended its 76-day lockdown, allowing residents to again travel without special authorization. Long lines formed at the airport and train and bus stations as thousands streamed out of the Chinese city, where the coronavirus pandemic began.

ovince reacts as she prepares to return port in Wuhan i

A medical worker injects an elderly woman with a flu vaccine inside a church as part of a government vaccination campaign, in

A police officer adjusts a T-shirt as a protective mask for a man they detained for violating the curfew amid coronavirus concern

Che Guevara as other pedestrians are

A woman stands near a fire lit next to her brother’s grave in a cemetery in Herasti, Romania, during a Orthodox Palm Sunday

A worker moves a casket of a COVID-19 deceased into the crematorium oven at the Pontes crematori

ncy home visit walk away from a man, Pastors wearing face masks while maintaining social distancing attend an Easter of severe respiratory proble service at the Yoido Full Gospel C

People gather at the Mount Davidson cross in San Francisco, April 12, 2020.

liver to the poor at the Santa Rosita mala City, Monday, April

Workers bury bodies in a trench on Hart Island, April 9, 2020, in the Bronx borough of New York.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews keep social distancing during the funeral of Israel’s ex-Chief Rabbi Eliahu Bakshi-Doron who died from coron

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ENTERTAINMENT

Disney World furloughing 43,000 more workers due to virus

Walt Disney World plans to stop paying wages to 43,000 workers in about a week while allowing them to keep their benefits for up to a year in what is the largest wave of furloughs since the theme park resort closed in mid-March because of the new coronavirus spread.

Workers will be able to keep their medical, dental and life insurance benefits for the length of the furlough period, or up to a year.

Seniority and wage rates will remain unchanged for the workers whose furloughs start April 19, according to a statement from the Service Trades Council, the coalition of unions The road to the entrance of Walt Disney World has few cars, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The agreement with the to end April 19, Disney officials have representing the Disney World Service Trades Council marked the said, because they don’t know when workers. largest group of workers at Disney the theme park resort will reopen.

“The union agreement World to come to terms on furloughs On Friday, unions provides stronger protections and with the company during the new representing security guards and benefits for 43,000 union workers coronavirus outbreak.

With 77,000 workers involved in facilities and at Disney than virtually any other workers, Disney World is the largest operations reached agreements furloughed or laid-off workers in the United States,” the union said in a single-site group of workers in the under similar terms. nation.

Earlier this week, Disney statement to members. ` Disney World’s theme parks, World and a union representing

About 200 workers will entertainment district and hotels musicians who perform at its theme remain on the job performing closed in mid-March, and Disney parks reached a similar agreement. “essential duties” during the closure, has been paying its workers while

Disney also said it would and they will be offered positions they stay at home.

That is scheduled furlough executive, salaried and based on seniority, the union said.

Former partners say Ayesha Curry has ‘gutted’ their value

A celebrity branding company on Wednesday sued Ayesha Curry, the food and lifestyle personality and wife of NBA star Stephen Curry, seeking more than $10 million for breach of contract.

Flutie Entertainment said in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court that the five years it spent with Ayesha Curry brought “significant and unprecedented results.” Those include helping Curry land a Food Network show and a hosting role on ABC’s “Great American Baking Show,” as well as producing a bestselling cookbook and launching several successful food-based businesses.

But the suit alleges that in the 11 months since terminating the relationship she has denied the company its share of proceeds from the businesses, deliberately slowed down new enterprises, took away a top employee and “essentially gutted and devalued Flutie Entertainment’s interests.”

Curry attorney Michael Plonsker says the suit’s claims are baseless.

“Ayesha Curry terminated her business relationship with disgruntled manager Robert Flutie in early 2019,” Plonsker said in a statement. “We are confident that the legal process will find his accusations nonsensical and completely unfounded.”

Flutie Entertainment’s suit says Curry had a modest following for her social media and food blog and was known primarily as the wife of the star of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors when it began working with her. The Floridabased company, founded by Robert A. Flutie, was “clearly and undeniably instrumental in helping her achieve success.”

The suit asserts that when Curry cut off the relationship, Flutie had done major work with her developing partnerships, sponsors and legal and financial framework for Homemade, in which Curry would offer home meal kits along with other kitchen and lifestyle products, and Yardie Girl, an entertainment production company. The lawsuit alleges Curry and her co-defendants have stalled

Ayesha Curry arrives at the Autism Speaks to LA Celebrity Chef Gala in Santa Monica, Calif. on moving forward with the projects to deny Flutie its share in them.

The suit also names as defendants six Curry-affiliated companies and a former Flutie employee who handled Curry’s business for the company but now works directly with Curry.

It seeks damages of at least $10 million and a ruling that guarantees Flutie’s stake in Homemade and Yardie Girl.

Curry, a 31-year-old native of Canada, was an actress when she married Stephen Curry in 2011, and began doing cooking demonstrations on YouTube in 2014. The couple has three kids.

hourly nonunion employees whose jobs aren’t necessary at this time.

“This agreement provides an easier return to work when our community recovers from the impact of COVID-19,” Disney officials said in a statement about Saturday’s agreement. “We are grateful to have worked together in good faith to help our cast members navigate these unprecedented times.”

Disney’s cross-town rivals, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando, and their sister parks across the country, also closed their gates last month because of the coronavirus. SeaWorld said it had furloughed 90% of its workers.

Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood said this week that they would stay closed through May 31. Full-time employees will be paid at 100% through April 19, but pay and workload for most workers will be reduced to 80% after that, and part-time hourly workers will be furloughed beginning May 3, Universal said. The company said it would continue to provide benefits for employees who already had them.

Chris Cuomo says his wife, like him, has the coronavirus

CNN news anchor Chris Cuomo at the WarnerMedia Upfront in New York.

Chris Cuomo, who late last month revealed he had tested positive for the coronavirus, said his wife Cristina has now also been infected.

The CNN anchor made the announcement on the network Wednesday night during an interview with his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“Cristina now has COVID(-19). She is now positive. And it just breaks my heart,” Chris Cuomo said. “It is the one thing I was hoping wouldn’t happen, and now it has.”

Cuomo has continued to appear on air and has documented his health struggles with the coronavirus. He had quarantined himself at home in Long Island, New York, and said he was staying in the basement to make sure his wife and children did not get it.

Kanye West’s art from high school worth thousands

Drawings by Kanye West ` “I think these pieces High School in 1995 and studied art from when the rapper was a high demonstrate an extraordinary at the American Academy of Art and school student in Chicago are facility as an artist, and I selected Chicago State University. now worth thousands of dollars, this grouping because it shows the Rhonda Levy, who was one of his according to an appraiser. different mediums he was working high school art teachers, said West’s

Art specialist Laura Woolley in,” Woolley said before highlighting two largest works featured on the evaluated five portraits and details of the individual pieces, show were class assignments. She landscapes by West and determined which include works in graphite described West as a talented and that the collection could sell at and scratchboard. supremely confident student. an auction for up to $23,000, the One of West’s cousins “It’s just so weird having Chicago Tribune reported. It was received the artwork after his mother, little Kanye as a freshman, and then featured on an episode of the PBS Donda West, died in 2007. West, now here he is now one of the most series “Antiques Roadshow.”

42, graduated from Chicago’s Polaris famous people on Earth,” Levy said.

Rapper Kanye West watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Los Angeles.

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HEALTHY

LOCAL NEWS

LIFESTYLE

U.S. coronavirus deaths march higher to over 31,000

Family members of JBS USA meat packing plant employee Saul Sanchez watch as his casket is lowered during his funeral after he died of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Greeley, Colorado, U.S., April 15, 2020.

U.S. coronavirus deaths rose above 31,000 on Thursday, according to a Reuters tally, as President Donald Trump prepares to announce guidelines for reopening the economy.

The United States is the world’s worst-affected country with fatalities doubling in just a week and setting a record single-day

increase for two days in a row. since the Great Depression

The governors of nearly a century ago as more Connecticut, Maryland, than 20 million Americans New York and Pennsylvania have sought unemployment began cautiously preparing benefits amid shuttered stores Americans for a post-virus and restaurants. life where residents wear face U.S. cases totaled over masks as they emerge from 635,000 and rose by 30,000 isolation in the coming weeks. on Wednesday, the biggest

The U.S. shutdown increase in five days, has crushed the nation’s according to the Reuters tally. economy to levels not seen

Coronavirus forces U.S. churches to offer Easter Sunday services unlike any before

U.S. church leaders peppered their Easter homilies with references to the coronavirus on Sunday, in masses held online, on television and even in parking lots to people sheltering in cars to maintain social distancing during the pandemic.

For the world’s largest Christian population, the coronavirus pandemic has meant observing an Easter Sunday unlike any Americans have lived through before.

“Today as we hear the Easter bells as a call to solidarity among all the members of our community in the face of the pandemic, we might respond to witness to the power of the Resurrection, the power of love that is stronger than death, and faith in a provident God who can always bring good out of evil,” Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley said in his homily on BostonCatholic.org.

Governors and health authorities across the United States have broadly asked residents to avoid gathering in large numbers, leading to the closure of schools, businesses and churches.

The COVID-19 respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus has claimed more than 21,300 lives across the United States and infected more than 525,000

Empty seats are seen during an Easter service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 12, 2020. people.

Major U.S. religious institutions, including Roman Catholic dioceses and Protestant churches, have found alternatives to safely celebrate the holiest day on the Christian calendar.

In Easley, South Carolina, the 2,200 members of the Rock Springs Baptist Church were among the many U.S. churchgoers who turned to technology and the airwaves for help.

Reverend Jim Cawthon, 46, said he expected hundreds to spend Easter services in their cars in his megachurch’s parking lot, watching the proceedings on big outdoor screens and listening to its broadcast over local radio.

More will likely watch online, which Cawthon said should be easier as the church recently upgraded its video and internet

systems.

“Just prior to this all going crazy, we were already set up,” Cawthon said. “It’s all about the cross and celebrating Easter even in a pandemic.”

Some older adults in retirement communities celebrated Holy Week by playing music and video broadcasts of services.

Some communities held contests, asking residents, for instance, to decorate golf carts for Easter and leave them parked outside for judging, instead of holding annual golf cart Easter parades.

Curtis James, a youth pastor at the Tate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, dreamed up the idea of holding a safe Easter egg hunt for children with the online videogame Minecraft. Other churches have joined in as the plan garnered national attention.

Health care workers are 10%-20% of US coronavirus cases

Medical and physician assistant students wear personal protective equipment as they prepare to screen for possible coronavirus cases at a makeshift camp for the homeless in Las Vegas.

Between 10% and 20% of U.S. coronavirus cases are health care workers, though they tended to be hospitalized at lower rates than other patients, officials reported Tuesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first national data on how the pandemic is hitting doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.

`The data is important new information but not necessarily surprising, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, who is running the federal agency’s response to the outbreak. Medical staff have also been hit hard in other countries, including Italy and Spain.

As of the middle of last week, the CDC had reports of more than 315,000 cases in the U.S. The new report focused on about 49,000 for which researchers had data on whether or not they worked in health care. About 9,300, or 19%, of them were medical professionals.

That included 27 who died.

But the data varied in how complete it was, researchers said. In 12 states that did a better job reporting on whether patients worked in medicine, around 11% of cases were health care workers.

Compared with U.S. cases overall, larger proportions of diagnosed health care workers were women, were white, and were young or middle-aged adults. That’s consistent with the demographics of who works in health care, researchers said.

About 10% of the health care workers were hospitalized with symptoms, compared with 21% to 31% of overall cases. That may reflect the younger age of the workers, as well as prioritization of testing for health care employees, the report said.

Slightly more than half of a group of infected health care workers studied said their only known exposure to the virus was at work, but researchers say it’s hard to know for sure how different people caught the bug.

A second report released Tuesday looked at three health care workers who became infected after treating a patient in Solano County, California, in what was one of the first instances of disease spread to medical personnel in the U.S. Workers didn’t initially know the patient was infected with the coronavirus. All three did not wear eye protection or some other forms of protective equipment at least part of the time they were caring for the person, researchers said.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

NEWS NEWS

Royal Caribbean Cruises sheds 26% of U.S. workers as coronavirus cancellations continue

Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas

Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is reducing its U.S. workforce by 26%, with more than half of those workers in South Florida, the cruise line confirmed.

“We told our employees the difficult news that we were laying off or furloughing approximately 26 percent of our more than 5,000 coworkers in the US,” the company said in a written statement. “We announced the early conclusion of many crew contracts. The circumstances of the pandemic made this action unavoidable, and it hurts to part ways with so many good and talented people.”

Most of the reductions are permanent layoffs, though some are 90-day furloughs with paid benefits.

The coronavirus crisis has docked the cruise industry after outbreaks occurred on several ships. On March 14, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a 30-day “no-sail order” for all cruise lines; that order was extended on April 9 for as much as 100 days. Royal Caribbean has so far canceled cruises through May 11.

The world’s second-largest cruise company has about 4,000 employees in South Florida. The bulk of the others work in call centers in Wichita, Kansas, and Springfield, Oregon.

Among those leaving is Larry Pimentel, CEO of Azamara Club Cruises and a highly respected industry innovator. In a letter that went out Wednesday to employees, Pimentel said he was stepping aside voluntarily to lessen the impact on others, and expressed confidence in the brand’s leadership.

Last year Royal Caribbean began construction on a larger headquarter office at PortMiami to accommodate a growing local workforce. The company put the $300 million project, which was designed to look like a ship, on hold in March.

The action follows a March 11 announcement that the company was shedding 1,000 contractors whose projects were being terminated.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara, and is majority owner of Silversea Cruises.

It also holds a significant stake in European brands TUI Cruises and Pullmantur Cruises.

The company reported a profit of $1.9 billion in 2019.

The cruise industry was left out of the federal coronavirus stimulus bill, signed into law at the end of March, because cruise companies are incorporated overseas and claim exemption from U.S. income taxes. Royal Caribbean is incorporated in Liberia and registers its ships in the Bahamas and Malta.

The company has fully drawn down two of its revolving credit lines as the struggling cruise industry scrambles to stay in business while the coronavirus pandemic leaves ships empty and moored at docks across the world, the company said in a new securities filing.

PAHO warns Caribbean to prepare for full COVID blast

Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) director and the World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director for the Americas, Dr Carissa Etienne, says they neither anticipated nor were they prepared for the magnitude of the current COVID-19 pandemic. She is also warning the region to prepare for a full blast within the next few weeks.

She made the comment during a virtual press briefing on PAHO’s response to the pandemic and the evolving situation of the virus in the Americas.

Eitienne admitted that the rate and magnitude of the transmission surprised PAHO although it began looking at it late last year.

She said in November 2019 the organisation felt it was time to review pandemic planning and called up emergency personnel to ‘dig up’ pandemic plans. In the first week of December 2019, those plans were presented to an advisory group and PAHO’s executive management.

“Our instruction was to go and work with every member state to revise their plans and to begin to plan,” Etienne said.

Noting it was difficult to predict the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, she added, “This pandemic has really surpassed all of the others we have had in terms of its magnitude. I was also surprised by our inability to provide for the resources in terms of PPE’s (personal protective equipment),

“In the short term, there is a dire need to expand ICU capacity in the region,” Etienne said.

Regarding long-term planning, Etienne said countries needed to guarantee that drugs and vaccines that are being developed would be accessible to all in the region, especially in the most vulnerable communities.

Etienne said focusing on social distancing remained countries’ best bet to reducing transmission and slowing the spread of the virus.

Dr. Carissa Etienne

“It prevents hospitals masks and tests. And the almost from being overwhelmed by too market failure concerning those many sick people at the same required resources.” time and it also keeps doctors

At the press briefing, and nurses from having to make which was streamed live a terrible choice about which from PAHO’s headquarters patients receive care and which in Washington, Etienne said patients do not,” she said.

COVID-19 was yet to hit “It is also a way to with full force in the region, buy time for new treatments, particularly in Latin America medicines and vaccines that will and the Caribbean and PAHO allow us to fight COVID-19 and expected it would intensify in recover from it.” the next few weeks.

She added, “There is “The rise in no one size fits all approach. hospitalisations and deaths we It’s impossible to apply the see in countries highlights how same measures from Alaska quickly the situation could to Tierra del Fuego; however, change,” she said. countries need to keep that

“We must act with in mind. They need to ensure urgency before the storm that many of our countries in hits most of our countries, to the region who have already protect ourselves, families and implemented community-wide communities.” social distancing, that they

She stressed the cost of are allowing health services to any inaction at this time could operate within the capacity. This not be greater and immediate is encouraging but it must be action was required to address sustained over a period of time both structured and long-term for it to be effective.” needs.

Anglican Diocese lays off 66 staffers across central administration and schools

The Anglican Diocese repercussions have affected us of The Bahamas and Turks all. Against this backdrop and and Caicos Islands has laid off in light of the dire and extreme 66 workers due to impact of economic forecast globally, we COVID-19 pandemic, with all have sought to exercise the remaining staff in the Diocesan Sacred Heart of Jesus, Christian Office and schools will be charity, sound judgement and clear thinking as a part of our placed on half pay.

The diocese said the good stewardship.”

It continued: After decision will not apply to Bishop Michael Eldon School careful analysis of our Central because the Grand Bahama Administration and educational The Rt. Reverend Laish Z. Boyd, Bishop community is still recovering system, we regret to say that we of the Diocese of The Bahamas and the have taken the difficult decision Turks and Caicos Islands from Hurricane Dorian.

“Like every entity in our to lay off 14 Diocesan Office staff, continue.

It added: “Based on two countries, The Bahamas and and a total of 52 staffers from the Turks and Caicos Islands, three of our schools (St. John’s what is happening in our the Anglican Diocese (Central College, St. Anne’s School and communities, no one should be surprised by these measures, Office, parishes and schools) St. Andrew’s School).

“This approach was or fail to understand the is living under the protocols occasioned by COVID-19, and taken in order to allow all rationale behind same, even has been severely negatively entities to be sustained for though painful. Together, let us impacted by the consequence as long as possible on this continue to pray for the Church, of such protocols,” read a press challenging landscape where for our two countries and for only scarce resources are the world, as we work to help, statement today. heal, encourage and give hope.”

“The financial available but where life must

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Concerns over short term drought in the Caribbean The Barbados-based Caribbean Drought and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CDPMN) says during the first half of the dry season, there is a clear distinction between the wetter northern and drier southern islands of the Eastern Caribbean.

“There is much concern over short term drought that can impact streams and rivers in the southern portion of the eastern chain by the end of June 2020, with similar concerns for Suriname, French Guiana and eastern Belize,” the CPDMN said in its latest Caribbean Drought Bulletin.

It said that concerns over long term drought that can impact large rivers, reservoirs and ground water sources extends to most of the basin

with The Bahamas being an exception.

According to the CDPMN, short term drought for the period ending June 2020, shows that the ABC islands – Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao -as well as Barbados, east central Belize, the Windward Islands, except Dominica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, will have short term drought conditions while long term drought situations will affect a number of countries including some of those now experiencing short term drought situations.

“Areas ending up in long term drought by the end of May may experience significantly reduce water levels in large reservoirs, large rivers and ground water during the dry season,” the Bulletin warned.

It said that over the last three months, mixed conditions prevailed throughout the islands of the Eastern Caribbean, while Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, Martinique and St Croix were normal.

Barbados moderately dry in the extreme southeast to normal on the north western border; St Vincent severe to moderately dry from south to north; St Lucia slightly dry; Dominica mostly exceptionally wet with severe to slightly wet conditions in the north east;

Northern Bahamas was predominantly normal, with a small area which was slightly wet. Belize was predominantly normal, with slight to moderately dry conditions on the western border,’ the CPDMN said.

Police break up COVID-19 quarantine party

Hours after warning residents not to hold any COVID-19 quarantine parties, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith led a bust at one such event early Friday, and has warned that flouting the law will not be tolerated.

As a result of the bust by a team of officers from the Special Operations Response Team (SORT), at Alicia’s Guest House in the capital, 16 people, including eight Venezuelan nationals, were arrested.

The arrests came less than 24 hours after Griffith, at a Ministry of Health media conference on Thursday, warned promoters against hosting COVID-19 quarantine parties.

“If you did not hear, then you would feel. No more warnings. I have informants throughout the country, and we would turn up when these people least expect it. We anticipated this, as there are similar fools in other countries doing same,” the Commissioner said after Friday’s bust.

“There were reports of similar quarantine parties held in cities, such as New York where a number of people died from the virus as a result of attending such parties. Hundreds of similar parties have been shut down in UK on a nightly basis. We know of copycats so we expected

promoters here would try to do the same thing. As I said at the media conference, this health crisis is a ticking time bomb and now is not the time to drop our guard or become complacent.”

SORT officers had gone to the guest house around 12:30 a.m., based on information received from one of the Commissioner’s informants.

According to Griffith, intelligence revealed that 50 businessmen had been planning to attend the party around 1 a.m., but a marked police vehicle had driven pass the guest house earlier and may have rattled the promoters.

As a result, the Commissioner said, he and his team had to move in earlier than planned.

“They arrived at Alicia’s in unmarked vehicles and were able to find the 16 persons around the pool, displaying no form of social distancing, involving Spanish speaking women conducting lewd dancing, and all breaching the regulations as it relates to more than five persons being assembled in the same area,” Griffith said.

The Police Commissioner said the owners of the property would also be questioned.

Of the eight Venezuelans who were arrested, Griffith said

Trinidad and Tobago Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith seven were women, including a 17-year-old, and some of them were scantily dressed.

The 16 detainees, who were in breach of Regulations of the Public Heath Ordinance, implemented in March to fight the deadly COVID-19, were taken to three police stations.

According to Section 3 (1) of the Public Health (2019) Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) (No 7) Regulations 2020, where the number of persons gathered at any time exceed five, on summary conviction, persons are liable to a fine of TT$50 000 and imprisonment for six months.

Bermuda’s Premier David Burt

Fifth person dies as Bermuda extends lockdown to May 2

Premier David Burt has announced that the 24-hour lockdown in Bermuda will be extended for a further two weeks until May 2.

Burt, who also announced the death of a fifth person from COVID-19, made the announcement at a news conference late Tuesday.

He said cabinet had decided to take the shelter-in-place regulations into next month on the advice of the public health emergency response team.

Burt said that he was “keenly aware” of the impact that the extension, which will start on Saturday, would have on the way people live and work.

But he insisted: “As a people, we must make this sacrifice, a sacrifice which is based on compassion for those of us who will die if they contract COVID-19.”

Bermuda has so far had 57 confirmed cases of the virus.

The fifth person to die was an elderly resident at a care home.

Among the 57 cases are a newlywed couple — both in their 70s and now in hospital.

They caught the virus on a cruise ship, whose tour around South America and the Caribbean was aborted.

The 22 Bermuda residents on the ship, the Coral Princess, returned to the island from Miami last week aboard two private jets.

Burt said there would be modifications to the state-of-emergency regulations, including permission for trips to laundromats and to pick up office materials by people forced to work from home.

He also said that a small and medium-sized business relief package, created by the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, would be revealed on Wednesday

He said Finance Minister Curtis Dickinson would also outline measures to help economic recovery “once we come out of this period of challenge”.

Meanwhile, four police officers are in quarantine after a man who claimed he had COVID-19 alleged coughed on them.

Commissioner of Police Stephen Corbishley said the man deliberately coughed on the officers after he was arrested on suspicion of drunk-driving and breach of shelter-in-place regulations.

“Two other officers also became concerned for their safety after the individual sustained an injury as he struggled with them while being processed at Hamilton Police Station.”

Corbishley said all four officers had been forced to go into a 14-day quarantine as a precaution, adding:“Obviously this has an impact on them and their families, costs to police and government time, taking away resources from the front line.”

Among a number of persons arrested for breaking the curfew regulations was a man wearing an electronic monitoring device.

Lawrence Smith, 22, pleaded guilty to three breaches of the regulations and was jailed for a month.

Other offenders have been fined up to US$3,000.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Caribbean Airlines plans new “milk run” routes to connect the islands

The island nations of the Caribbean depend heavily on air connectivity for tourism and commerce. But they’re also small markets and the interisland route networks are far from robust.

Even as the global aviation market struggles to remain in business one Caribbean carrier is planning a regional expansion for later this summer, bridging several islands with new flight opportunities.

Caribbean Airlines, the flag carrier of Trinidad and Tobago, plans to boost its presence at San Juan, Puerto Rico pending government approval. The new daily service will operate as a “milk run,” stopping off at a handful of islands in each direction.

The carrier hopes to support tourism in the Leeward Islands, with a push towards rebuilding capacity to levels last seen prior to Hurricane Maria.

By offering service between Trinidad and Tobago and San Juan on the proposed routes, Caribbean Airlines will offer an alternative route for the thousands of U.S. citizens who visit Dominica and Tortola annually, as well as the other intermediate points in the above three routes.

Moreover, because no other carrier offers direct service on this route, granting this exemption will not have a significant impact on U.S. carriers. With this additional service CAL supports Dominica and Tortola economy by connecting the islands

A Caribbean Airlines ATR 72-600. and dependencies with their most populous diaspora and largest source market for tourism.

The carrier plans three iterations of this new island hopper route, alternating service throughout the week to increase the breadth of connections offered.

The flight will begin in Port of Spain, flying to Dominica and then on to Barbados according to filings made this week with the US Department of Transportation.

From Barbados the routing splits depending on the day of week.

Two days a week will see the flight continue to Antigua, followed by Tortola before terminating at San Juan.

The alternate route sees the flight connect Barbados to St Maarten before continuing to Tortola and then San Juan.

This Caribbean Leader’s Blunt Coronavirus Message To Her Citizens Has Gone Viral

Silveria Jacobs, the prime minister of Sint Maarten, isn’t accepting any of your excuses for leaving your house.

In wake of the threat posed by the global coronavirus pandemic, Jacobs ordered a halt to all nonessential movement in the small Caribbean nation of just 41,000 people.

On April 1, at the end of an hour-long briefing by officials, Jacobs had a simple message for her people about the importance of social distancing.

“We can stop [the spread of the virus],” she said. “Stop moving.

Simply stop moving.”

“If you do not have the type of bread you like in your house, eat crackers. If you do not have bread, eat cereal, eat oats, sardines,” she said.

Jacobs told residents of the small island, which was devastated

by Hurricane Irma in 2017, to treat the pandemic like a natural disaster.

“You’re supposed to have a twoweek supply for hurricanes, and at the beginning of this I said, ‘Prepare your disaster kit as if you were for a hurricane.’”

She told people not to buy water or toilet paper but rather one to two weeks of food in the event of a full lockdown, which would mean grocery stores would close.

The prime minister said she doesn’t want to order a full lockdown, so she is urging people

Screenshot from Silveria Jacobs’s address to practice social distancing and remain home as much as possible.

“If the people of Sint Maarten do not adhere to the measures that the government of Sint Maarten is putting in place for your own safety, then I have no other choice,” she said bluntly.

In contrast to briefings by US officials and President Donald Trump, which even some people in conservative media have found to be not useful, many people found Jacobs’ straightforward tone quite helpful.

Many of the people sharing Jacobs’ video are children of the Caribbean diaspora who could hear echoes of their own mothers and grandmothers in her address.

Others around the world are clamoring for her to-the-point leadership style.

A third option, operating the carrier announced last month other three days of the week, will intention to move its new ATR see the carrier fly from Barbados to aircraft into San Juan and use them St. Kitts, Antigua and Guadeloupe to increase capacity to many of these according to the filing. same markets, though usually with

Even with the multiple stops nonstop service from San Juan, not en route, Caribbean Airlines expects providing the direct connectivity to deliver a significant boost to the between the islands.

San Juan – Dominica market. That Caribbean Airlines is not pairing saw approximately 32,000 the only carrier flying a milk run annual travelers in 2017 and is routing through the Caribbean down 75% today, according to the islands. Air France operates an A320 company. The carrier expects to from Cayenne, French Guyana to double the number of passengers Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Haiti with this new service. before arriving in Miami.

Caribbean Airlines similarly The flights are slated to expects to boost traffic to Tortola and operate on Caribbean Airlines’ ATR to help grow the market connecting 72-600 turboprop with 68 economy San Juan to St. Maarten and Antigua. class seats on board. The carrier

These flights will compete hopes to launch the new service with Silver Airways and its planned at the beginning of August 2020, expansion into the Caribbean pending government approvals and market from its San Juan hub. The a recovery in the global economy.

Grenada gets Opposition Leader for first time since 2013

Grenada’s Opposition Leader Tobias Clement

The vacant seat of leader of the opposition was filled on Tuesday for the first time since 2013 with the appointment of Tobias Clement, a former member of the ruling New National Party (NNP).

The office became vacant in 2013 following the general election of that year when the NNP won all 15 seats in the House.

Before Clement, the leader of the opposition was Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell who held that post from 2008 to 2013.

Clement who is affectionately called “Toby “campaigned as the NNP candidate for the general elections in 2013 and 2018 and won his seat as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of St George’s North East area.

He however he resigned from the party in December 2020 and indicated then that he will

not abandon the people of his constituency.

Early Tuesday, Clement took the oath of office and received his instrument of appointment from Governor-General Dame Cecile La Grenade.

He will be on the only opposition member in the House of Representative and as Leader of the Opposition, he will, among other things be appointed as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, appoint three opposition senators and occupy the office of opposition leader in the Parliament building.

His first task as leader of the opposition was to attend a virtual meeting of the finance committee in which the members are reviewing a revised appropriation bill to facilitate the proposal presented in the COVID-19 stimulus package as announced by Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell in early March.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Rihanna Is Not A Billionaire But She Is Showing Real Heart

Barbados-born singer, actress and entrepreneur, Rihanna is no billionaire, unlike the likes of Jeff Bezos.

But the Bajan beauty is showing more heart amid the global pandemic that has now claimed over 27,000 lives in the US alone, infected over 2 million globally, left millions without a paycheck and many hungry or battling domestic abuse.

Rihanna, whose net worth is put at some US$600 million, way less than Bezos’ US$122 billion, continued her charitable giving Wednesday amid the COVID-19 devastation.

The singer’s Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) announced she was teaming up with JayZ’s Shawn Carter Foundation (SCF) and Twitter/Square CEO Jack Dorsey to issue additional joint grants totaling over $6.2 million that will be dedicated to supporting global COVID-19 rapid response efforts.

The latest funds are earmarked to go towards protecting and serving marginalized populations in the United States, with a focus on New York, New Orleans and Puerto Rico as well as international communities.

Internationally, the grants will help Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, Direct Relief and Team Humanity.

Domestically, the grants

will benefit foundations such as Give Directly, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, Covenant House New Orleans, World Central Kitchen, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans & Acadiana, Total Community Action and The Hispanic Federation.

The announcement comes less than a week after Rihanna and Dorsey unveiled a joint $4.2 million grant to the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, helping domestic violence victims in the city amid the COVID-19 “stay at home” order. Rihanna.

The donation will “provide for her native Barbados as well 10 weeks of support including as helping local food banks, shelter, meals, and counseling accelerating testing in countries for individuals and their like Haiti and Malawi, protective children suffering from domestic equipment for frontline violence at a time when shelters health workers and to help are full, and incidents are on the protect Native communities by rise.” providing them with resources

Additionally, CLF and to fight the virus.

SCF announced $2 million in Her charity work has her grants to coronavirus response so focused that she even snapped efforts in New York City and Los at fans during a livestream on Angeles.

Instagram last Friday after many

And in March, SCF alone kept asking about her ninth donated $5 million to various album. Rihanna snapped: “If organizations assisting with one of y’all motherf—ers asks coronavirus relief efforts. That me about the album one more money went to Direct Relief, time when I’m trying to save the Feeding America, Partners world, unlike y’all president…” in Health, The World Health Rihanna started the Clara Organization’s COVID-19 Lionel Foundation in 2012. The Solidarity Response Fund nonprofit organization, named and the International Rescue in honor of her grandparents, Committee, among others. funds education and emergency Some $700 of the funds were response programs around the earmarked for to buy ventilators world.

Don’t forget sex workers in virus fight, Dominican Republic lawmaker says

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico - The Dominican Republic’s sex workers, especially transgender women, must be included in the nation’s coronavirus relief efforts, given the impact on their livelihoods under tourism restrictions, a top lawmaker said on Thursday.

Sex workers on the Caribbean island are uniquely vulnerable to contracting coronavirus as well because their work depends upon close physical interactions with clients, Jacqueline Montero, a congresswoman with the opposition Modern Revolutionary Party told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Adult prostitution is legal in the Dominican Republic, and the country is known as a hot spot for sex tourism.

But in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the government suspended commercial flights and ships, as well as closing schools and entertainment venues, as of Thursday.

The island of palm trees and beaches attracts about 6 million visitors a year that help drive its economy.

“I’m very worried for the (sex worker) population. Most of them are in public places, so they’re more at risk,” Montero said.

Government authorities “need to give them some kind of food aid so that they’ll at least have something to eat,” she told the Foundation following a news conference the previous day with local reporters.

The virus has spread quickly across Latin America and the Caribbean, where records show at least 1,000 cases reported across the region.

At least 21 infections and one death have been reported in the Dominican Republic, where Senate lawmakers on Wednesday approved a 25-day state of emergency to deal with the crisis.

Newly discovered black iguana species in Caribbean is endangered

Scientists have discovered a new iguana species in the eastern Caribbean. The novel reptile, Iguana melanoderma, was found on the Saba and Montserrat islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Researchers announced their discovery in the journal ZooKeys.

According to the paper, the new species -- the melanistic black iguana -- is severely threatened.

“This new melanistic taxon is threatened by unsustainable harvesting -- including for the pet trade -- and both competition and hybridization from escaped or released invasive alien iguanas,” scientists wrote.

The Lesser Antilles are home to three iguana species, but only one is endemic. The Lesser Antillean iguana, Iguana delicatissima, has lived among the northernmost islands of the Lesser Antilles for thousands of years. More recently, the islands have welcomed a pair of newcomers: the common iguana, Iguana iguana iguana, from South America and the green iguana, Iguana rhinolopha, from Central America.

region and post-hurricane restoration activities, it is very likely that there will be new opportunities for invasive iguanas to colonize new islands inhabited by endemic lineages,” lead study author Frédéric Grandjean, professor at the University of Poitiers in France, said in a news release.

Researchers hope that future analysis of the region’s iguana species will help scientists better differentiate endemic lineages from invasive iguanas.

“Priority actions for the conservation of the species Iguana Scientists discovered a new species of iguana, the melanistic black lizard, or Iguana melanoderma. melanoderma are biosecurity,

Physically, the new species different populations. In some minimization of hunting and habitat is differentiated by a black spot parts of the Caribbean, such as conservation,” said Grandjean. “The located between the eye and its ear Guadeloupe, the common iguana maritime and airport authorities cavity. Juveniles also boast a dorsal and the green iguana have pushed of both islands must be vigilant carpet pattern that darkens as the the Lesser Antillean iguana to about the movements of iguanas, reptiles age. Genetically, the species the brink of extinction through or their sub-products, in either is marked by a series of unique competition and hybridization. direction, even if the animals mitochondrial patterns.

Similar trends are underway on remain within the same nation’s According to the the islands of the Lesser Antilles, territory. Capacity-building and International Union for and scientists worry the newly awareness-raising should strengthen Conservation of Nature, the Lesser discovered melanistic black iguana the islands’ biosecurity system and Antillean iguana remains a species will face a similar fate. could enhance pride in this flagship of least concern, but the group’s Red “With the increase in trade species.”

List fails to differentiate between and shipping in the Caribbean

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

CARICOM leaders hold special emergency meeting via videoconference

Heads of Government of the of the virus in the Region in their This would include proposals for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) presentation while Archbishop joint procurement, - including agreed on a way forward in the Gordon spoke to the social impact of pharmaceuticals and Personal Community’s battle against the of the COVID-19 as well as ideas to Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 Pandemic at a Special alleviate those challenges. sourcing of additional medical Emergency Meeting on Wednesday, Heads of Government agreed personnel. The joint procurement April 15th, via video conference. on a collective approach to the would assist in addressing supply The Leaders received International Financial Institutions constraints being experienced. presentations from the Caribbean in accessing assistance to meet the There would also be Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the financial fiscal challenges arising consideration of a proposal for a University of the West Indies (UWI), from the crisis. They urged that the protocol on re-opening borders the Caribbean Development Bank criterion of GDP per capita not be which all Member States would (CDB) and Archbishop Jason Gordon. the sole consideration in assessing adhere to at the same time when

Dr.Joy St John, Executive the needs of the Community and such a decision is taken.

Director of CARPHA, indicated that that an understanding of each Issues related to Food Security the Region had done fairly well country’s vulnerability is a far would be considered in the context of in its response to the pandemic better measurement to determine the CARICOM COVID-19 Agri-Food which was a direct result of the need especially as we face multiple Risk Management Framework which early implementation of measures challenges. has been circulated to Member States which helped to contain the virus.

They agreed that additional following a meeting of Ministers of She recommended a co-ordinated technical work would be undertaken Agriculture last month. This would approach as the Region prepares for in specific areas to be presented address in particular the production the next phase of the virus. for their consideration at another and supply of food products.

The CDB presented the meeting within two weeks. They The transportation of people economic implications for the would be presented after the relevant and goods by air and sea interCommunity of the pandemic and ministerial councils would have regionally would also come under ideas for stimulating economic reviewed the proposals. scrutiny with particular reference activity in going forward.

Proposals on a Common to the operations of the regional air The UWI researchers Public Health policy would first be carriers which have been adversely included projections for the future presented to the Ministers of Health. affected by the measures adopted to

Congressman Clarke – undocumented Caribbean expats at greatest risk of COVID job loss

Caribbean-American Congress¬woman Yvette D. Clarke has expressed concern for the thousands of undocumented immigrants living in the United States amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The United States has become the epicentre of COVID-19 over the last month, recording more than 25,000 deaths and 611,000 infections.

“Unfortunately, the CARES Act that was passed in the House in the United States Congress and signed by President Donald Trump some two or three weeks ago did not make provisions [for people] who do not have a social-security number.

Their access to direct benefit and support is extremely limited,” Clarke said in a virtual panel discussion hosted by the Jamaican American Youth Alliance (JAYA) yesterday.

The emergency aid deal is valued at US$2 trillion.

“We are working right now to get clarification on whether tax ID numbers may be used in lieu of the social-security number,” she said.

Clarke, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, said that the Trump administration has continued with a “mean-spirited, anti-immigrant campaign which keeps all our communities at risk”.

These families, she said, are at risk of unemployment and food insecurity.

Families have been relying on clergy to be a lifeline for the diaspora and for those who do not belong to congregations, their help has been coming from non-profit organisations.

“We are finding ways to get funding to employers of companies with 500 or less employees, sole proprietors, people who are in the gig economy, people who are self-employed, or they own a mama-and-papa establishment.”

Clarke said when all these employees are combined, “that is the US workforce”.

Various diaspora groups have come to the aid of Jamaicans living, working, and studying in the US.

Northeast USA representative of Global Jamaica Diaspora, Dr Karren Dunkley, shared that expatriates have been balancing educational pursuits and mental health.

contain the virus.

Proposals would also be formulated for building a robust digital architecture, including governance, to facilitate digital commerce and to assist in the fight against the virus.

The Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE), which met last Wednesday 8 April, has been considering the threats to security during the course of the pandemic. Their recommendations would also come before the Heads of Government.

Heads of Government called for the lifting of sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela on humanitarian grounds as all countries must be part of the global effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heads of Government were of the view that it was regrettable that resources for the World Health Organisation were being threatened at a time when all must join in leading the fight against the pandemic.

All fifteen (15) Member States and the five (5) Associate Members were represented at the Meeting

18 more Jamaican workers test positive for COVID-19 The number of Jamaicans whose tests have revealed the presence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) jumped by 20 to 125, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton informed the House of Representatives.

Dr. Tufton said that the 20 additional confirmed cases reported yesterday include five males and 15 females, with ages ranging from two years to 43 years.

Two cases were reported as imported, one is a two-yearold male from St James, and the other a 43-year-old female from St Catherine. The other 18 individuals are related to the ongoing investigation into the presence of cases at Alorica Jamaica, a business process outsourcing (BPO) entity in Portmore., St Catherine.

Fifty-two of the country’s 125 cases are workers at the call centre.

Their ages range from 18 to 34 years and include 41 females and 11 males. There are 47 individuals from St Catherine; three from Kingston and St Andrew; one from Clarendon; and one from Portland.

Despite providing the details on the latest level of penetration from the virus, Dr Tufton, who was grilled for more than two hours by Opposition Members of Parliament, including Drs Morais Guy, Dayton Campbell and Wykeham McNeill, promised increased testing and improved facilities for dealing with the virus over

the next couple of weeks.

He admitted that the management of the Portmorebased call centre breached the protocol that was instituted by the Government when it allowed workers to operate under the conditions which led to the outbreak.

He noted that Prime Minister Andrew Holness had addressed the issue at length on Tuesday, and promised that the matter would be appropriately investigated and appropriate action taken.

According to Dr Tufton, the Government’s decision to close down St Catherine for only seven days, compared to 14 days for Bull Bay, St Andrew, and Cornpiece in Clarendon meant that the situation would be reassessed.

He said that Cabinet made the decision based on advice it had been given, and said his ministry would be using the time to do the contact tracing initially to get to the contacts with the employees of the call centre. Any extension of the time, he said, will be based on the progress made during the initial seven-day lockdown.

He said, too, that the Government has a policy regarding social distancing, which is being constantly promoted.

“What we have is a bigger problem, which is unfortunate, as some citizens [are not] complying with what is being advised [regarding social distancing]. The fact is that too

A policewoman checks the temperature of a motorist on Dyke Road in Portmore, St Catherine. often we find persons breaching what has being advocated, and so the enforcement becomes very important,” he said.

He also told the House that a number of arrests have been made for breaches in terms of gatherings and failing to obey the nightly curfew, and warned that the Government could be forced to introduce additional measures if they are required.

“Too often our indiscipline gets the better of us,” said the health minister.

“The St Catherine Health Department has been actively following this situation at Alorica since Friday, April 10.

So far over 300 interviews have been conducted with workers and quarantine orders have been served on over 800 people,” Dr Tufton said.

The sampling is expected to continue over the next five days and confirmed cases are being placed in isolation facilities.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

NEWS

Cuba working on coronavirus vaccine

Dr. Rolando Pérez Rodríguez, director of Science and Innovation of BioCubaFarma, spoke at the Mesa Redonda television program this Friday about the role of the biopharmaceutical industry in the field of science and innovation against the coronavirus.

He said that the laboratories of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) were working on a vaccine to induce specific protective immunity. “This is a future project that will allow, in a long-term control of the disease, if there is a re-emergence, having a specific vaccine.”

He said that there is also a vaccine candidate produced by the Carlos J. Finlay Institute based on components of the Cuban vaccine against meningitis, which activates the innate immune system and gives some capacity to react against the virus.

He assured that today there are 41 vaccine projects around the world, but that none has shown

effective use, and only five have started the first studies in patients.

“Cuban scientists are in that same race,” he said.

He also spoke about the development of technologies that have allowed access to a set of products for different pathologies, some registered and others under investigation.

Of those projects, he said, nine are in clinical studies or intervention trials in at-risk patients and vulnerable groups. Another six are in the research and development phase in the laboratories of the group’s companies.

He explained that innate immunity, the first line of defense against infection, plays a critical role in the course of COVID-19.

But there are patients in whom the virus escapes that action. When this occurs, he said, high viral particles titers are recorded, triggering lung disease.

In patients suffering from other diseases-the so-called co-

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega reappears after absence

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega reappeared Wednesday after 34 days in which he was not seen in public.

Ortega made a televised address to the nation in which he said Nicaragua had suffered only one death from the coronavirus pandemic and that the country’s three confirmed cases were “imported.”

There had been concerns about the health of the 74-year-old former guerrilla leader, but he appeared well and was not using a mask during his speech.

Ortega has refused to adopt the socialdistancing and lock-down measures used in other countries, and has in fact encouraged Nicaraguans to participate in mass gatherings.

Nicaraguans “haven’t stopped working, because if this country stops working, it dies,” Ortega said. The government did extend Holy Week school vacations to two weeks; classes are scheduled to resume April 20.

Ortega did not comment on how many tests have been carried. Experts suspect there are many undetected cases.

Ortega used the address to criticize the United States, saying it was holding Nicaraguan migrants in poor conditions and couldn’t even provide health care to its own citizens.

“The biggest power on Earth isn’t able to provide for its own citizens in cities in the United States,” he said. “There is a lack of beds and medical equipment, because health care isn’t available to the people, to the poor” in developed nations.

Ortega said the pandemic was “a sign from God” against militarism and hegemony.

“These transnational forces that just want to take control of the planet, that is a sin,” Ortega said. “And the Lord is sending us this signal.”

In a statement Wednesday, the rights group Amnesty International said “the government of President Daniel Ortega is flagrantly ignoring the recommendations of international human rights organizations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, putting at risk the health and lives of thousands of people in Nicaragua.”

morbidity-a hyper-inflammatory reaction is generated that leads to death. “The patient does not die of infection, he dies of an autoimmune reaction,” he said.

He noted that the logic of intervening in the course of the disease is, first, to stimulate immunity in high-risk persons to achieve a mild course of the disease, and, second, to reduce the viral load in the initial stages.

And also to reduce the hyperinflammatory reaction in patients who develop it. In this way, the rate of serious and critical cases must be lowered, as well as the number of deaths.

“For the initial treatment of the disease,” he said, “Cuban interferon, which has antiviral and immunopotentiating activity,” produced by the CIGB, is being used.

For the management of inflammatory reactions, he noted, two products were being assessed: a monoclonal antibody from the Center for Molecular Immunology and a

Positve COVID-19 Test peptide from the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology that stimulates cells that regulate the immune response.

Lastly, he said that five biotech products were being considered for prophylactic use in risk and vulnerable groups, capable of stimulating the immune system.

U.S. may need to extend social distancing for virus until 2022, study says

The United States may need to endure social distancing measures adopted during the coronavirus outbreak until 2022, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.

The study comes as more than 2,200 people died in the United States from the outbreak on Tuesday, a record, according to a Reuters tally, even as the country debated how to reopen its economy. The overall death toll in the U.S. from the virus stands at more than 28,300 as of Tuesday.

“Intermittent distancing may be required into 2022 unless critical care capacity is increased substantially or a treatment or vaccine becomes available”, the Harvard researchers said in findings published Tuesday in the journal Science.

Giving examples of South Korea and Singapore, the

researchers wrote that effective distancing could reduce the strain on healthcare systems and enable contact tracing and quarantine to be feasible.

The study acknowledged that prolonged distancing would most likely have profoundly negative economic, social, and educational consequences.

The study added that even in the case of “apparent elimination”, SARS-CoV-2 surveillance should still be maintained, as a resurgence in contagion may be possible as late as 2024.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that infections had “certainly” not yet peaked. Nearly 2 million people globally have been infected and more than 124,000 have died in the most serious pandemic in a century.

The epicenter has shifted

People wait in a socially distanced line outside of the 14th Street Trader Joe’s grocery store, following Mayor Muriel Bowser’s declaration of a state of emergency due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Washington, U.S., April 14, 2020. from China, where the virus emerged in December, to the United States, which has now recorded the most deaths.

U.S. oil sanctions against Iran are unjust: Rouhani Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said U.S. sanctions against Iran and Venezuela were unjust in a telephone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday and called for the two countries to cooperate together within the OPEC+ group.

Washington reimposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.

Iranian officials have

said the sanctions have hampered efforts to combat a coronavirus outbreak in the country.

“America’s cruel and illegal sanctions on oil production against Iran and Venezuela are against international regulations and human principles,” Rouhani said, according to the official presidency website.

He added, “We need to continue cooperation for reduction of production and the return of stability to prices.”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a meeting, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Tehran, Iran, April 5, 2020.

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Protect women from domestic violence during coronavirus lockdowns: pope

Pope Francis said society had to stand behind women victims of domestic violence, as abuse increased around the world during coronavirus lockdowns.

Francis praised women in frontline roles in helping society weather the crisis, mentioning doctors, nurses, police officers, prison guards and sales staff in stores selling essential goods.

The pope, speaking on a religious and national holiday in Italy and other countries, also praised the many women at home helping children, the elderly and the disabled.

But, speaking from his official library rather than from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Francis said: “Sometimes they (women) risk being victims of violence in a cohabitation that they bear like a weight that is far too heavy.”

“Let us pray for them, so the Lord grants them strength and that our communities support them along with their families,” he said.

Domestic violence has risen as many countries imposed tougher restrictions on people leaving their homes to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

Domestic violence programs across the United States have cited increases in calls for help. The YWCA of Northern New Jersey said domestic violence calls have risen by up to 24%.

In Spain, calls to a helpline for victims of violence increased by 12.4% in the first two weeks of the lockdown compared to the same fortnight last year. Online consultations of the helpline’s website grew by 270%, the Equality Ministry said.

Gun control advocates in the United States, where gun stores have been allowed to remain open, have said they feared increased ownership of firearms during the pandemic could lead to more domestic violence.

In Italy, support groups said they were concerned that a sharp fall in official reports of domestic violence was a signal that women risked being even more exposed to control and aggression by a partner because victims have more difficulty communicating during a lockdown.

Boris Johnson says medics saved his life as UK deaths pass 10,000 mark

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson left hospital on Sunday and thanked staff for saving his life from COVID-19, but his government was forced to defend its response to the coronavirus outbreak as the national death toll passed 10,000.

The sombre milestone came after Britain reported two days in a row of hospital deaths increasing by more than 900. Friday’s death toll of 980 surpassed the highest daily total recorded in Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe so far.

Reflecting the gravity of the emergency, Queen Elizabeth issued the first Easter message in her 68-year reign. “Coronavirus will not overcome us,” the 93-year-old monarch said in her second address to the nation in a week.

Johnson, 55, was taken to St Thomas’ Hospital in London on April 5. He was moved into intensive care the following day and remained there until April 9.

“I have today left hospital after a week in which the NHS has saved my life, no question,” Johnson said in a fiveminute video message posted on Twitter from 10 Downing Street, referring to the state-run National Health Service.

He named and thanked nurses who had cared for him, with a special mention for two of them, Jenny from New Zealand and Luis from Portugal, who he said had stood by his bedside for 48 hours “when things could have gone either way”.

“The reason in the end my body did start to get enough oxygen was because for every second of the night they were watching and they were thinking and they were caring and making the interventions I

needed,” he said.

Johnson wore a suit and tie and spoke in his usual upbeat manner. In characteristic fashion, he made a joke, thanking the doctors who had cared for him, “several of them for some reason called Nick”.

He will continue his recovery at Chequers, the official prime ministerial country residence northwest of London, his office said. Health minister Matt Hancock said there was no advice on when he would return to work and it would be a clinical decision.

“VERY DARK TIMES”

A Reuters photographer saw Johnson and his pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds, 32, who has also suffered from COVID-19 symptoms, being driven out of Downing Street with their dog.

“There were times last week that were very dark indeed. My heart goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick about their loved ones,” Symonds said on Twitter. “Today I’m feeling incredibly lucky.”

While Johnson has been out of action, his ministers have come under pressure to explain why the number of people dying of COVID-19 is rising so fast.

“The UK is likely to be certainly one of the worstaffected if not the worstaffected country in Europe,” Jeremy Farrar, director of health foundation the Wellcome Trust and a member of a scientific panel advising the government, told the BBC.

Asked to comment on Farrar’s prediction during the daily government news conference, Hancock did not dispute it.

“The future of this virus is unknowable as yet because

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson applauds outside 10 Downing Street during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, London, Britain, March 26, 2020. it depends on the behaviour of millions of people,” he said.

MINISTERS UNDER PRESSURE

In his video message, Johnson thanked the public for following social distancing restrictions in place since March 23 and assured them their efforts were paying off.

However, ministers faced a barrage of questions on whether the government had been too slow to impose a national lockdown.

“Different countries have different cycles in terms of where they are in terms of the spread of this pandemic,” Business Minister Alok Sharma told Sky News earlier in answer to that question.

Hancock came under pressure to explain persistent problems such as a lack of personal protective equipment for hospital and care home staff, and low levels of coronavirus testing compared with some European countries.

Brazil likely has 12 times more coronavirus cases than official count, study finds

Brazil likely has 12 times more cases of the new coronavirus than are being officially reported by the government, with too little testing and long waits to confirm the results, according to a study released on Monday.

Researchers at a consortium of Brazilian universities and institutes examined the ratio of cases resulting in deaths through April 10 and compared it with data on the expected death rate from the World Health Organization.

The much higher-thanexpected death rate in Brazil indicates there are many more cases of the virus than are being counted, with the study estimating only 8% of cases are being officially reported.

The government has focused on testing serious cases rather than all suspected cases, according to the consortium, known as the Center for Health Operations and Intelligence.

The center and medical professionals have also complained of long wait times to get test results.

Health Minister Luiz

Homeless people queue to receive food in front of the Sao Sebastiao Cathedral, which is closed amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 12, 2020.

Henrique Mandetta has said that it had around 127,000 suspected cases is difficult to distribute tests in Brazil and carried out just short of 63,000 because of the size of the country but tests, ministry figures indicate. A acknowledges that testing needs to health ministry official on Monday said more than 93,000 tests are still improve.

Officially, Brazil’s coronavirus being processed for results. death toll rose to 1,328 on Monday, Year to date, the number while the number of confirmed of hospitalizations for severe cases hit 23,430, according to health respiratory symptoms has been over ministry data. three times higher than usual for the

As of last Thursday, Brazil had time of year, but only 12% of those

have been confirmed as COVID-19, the severe respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

“The high degree of undernotification could give a false impression about control of the disease, and consequently, could lead to a decline in containment measures,” the center said.

The outbreak has stoked tension in the Brazilian government, with right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro downplaying risks of the virus and urging the country to return to normal, while his health minister, state governors and local officials urge stricter measures.

The center has thus far been accurate in predicting the evolution of the virus in Brazil, with the number of confirmed coronavirus cases through March 30 falling within the range that the researchers previously predicted.

The researchers are now predicting that by April 20 the number of cases will grow to 25,164 in its most optimistic scenario and 60,413 cases in its most pessimistic.

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Joe Biden’s next big decision: Choosing a running mate

Joe Biden faces the most important decision of his fivedecade political career: choosing a vice president.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee expects to name a committee to vet potential running mates next week, according to three Democrats with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal plans. Biden, a former vice president himself, has committed to picking a woman and told donors this week that his team has discussed naming a choice well ahead of the Democratic convention in August.

Selecting a running mate is always critical for a presidential candidate. But it’s an especially urgent calculation for the 77-yearold Biden, who, if he wins, would be the oldest American president in history. The decision carries added weight amid the coronavirus pandemic, which, beyond its death toll, threatens to devastate the world economy and define a prospective Biden administration.

“We’re still going to be in crisis or recovery, and you want a vice president who can manage that,” said Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist who worked for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. The vice president is “always important,” Finney added.

But she pointed to Biden’s role in the Obama administration’s 2009-10 recovery efforts as evidence that a crisis makes the choice of a running mate an even “more important decision than usual.”

Biden faces pressure on multiple fronts. He must consider the demands of his racially, ethnically and ideologically diverse party, especially the black women who propelled his nomination. He must balance those concerns with his stated desire for a “simpatico” partner who is “ready to be president on a moment’s notice.”

The campaign’s general counsel, Dana Remus, and former White House counsel Bob Bauer are gathering information about

prospects. Democrats close to several presumed contenders say they’ve not yet been contacted.

Biden has offered plenty of hints. He’s said he can easily name 12 to 15 women who meet his criteria, but would likely seriously consider anywhere from six to 11 candidates.

He’s given no indication of whether he’ll look to the Senate, where he spent six terms, to governors or elsewhere.

Some Biden advisers said the campaign has heard from many Democrats who want a woman of color. Black women helped rescue Biden’s campaign after an embarrassing start in predominately white Iowa and New Hampshire. Yet there’s no firm agreement that Biden must go that route.

“The best thing you can do for all segments of the population is to win,” said Biden’s campaign co-chairman Cedric Richmond, a Louisiana congressman and former Congressional Black Caucus chairman. “He has shown a commitment to diversity from the beginning. But this has to be based on, like the VP says, who he trusts.”

Biden has regularly praised California Sen. Kamala Harris, a former rival who endorsed him in March and campaigned for him.

When she introduced him at a fundraiser this week, Biden did little to tamp down speculation about her prospects.

“I’m coming for you, kid,” he said.

He’s also spoken positively of Stacey Abrams, who narrowly missed becoming the first African American female governor in U.S. history when she lost the 2018 Georgia governor’s race.

Yet those two women highlight Biden’s tightrope. At 55, Harris is talented and popular with Democratic donors, a valuable commodity for a nominee with a fundraising weakness. But she’s also a former prosecutor who faces the same skepticism among progressives as Biden. Meanwhile, her home state

is already firmly in the Democratic column and could make her an easy target for Republicans eager to blast the party as too liberal.

Abrams, 46, is a star for many younger Democrats, a group Biden struggled to win over in the primary. And she could help turn Georgia into a genuine swing state.

But the highest post she’s ever held is minority leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, a possible vulnerability in a time of crisis.

Paul Maslin, a Democratic pollster based in the battleground state of Wisconsin, said it will be impossible for Biden to please everyone.

“You can ask too much of a vice president pick to bridge everything — ideology, generational gap, gender, race, experience,” he said. “There’s going to be something wrong with every one of these choices.”

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is Democrats’ only nonwhite female governor. Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has reportedly vouched for his state’s Latina senator, Catherine Cortez Masto. Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth is a veteran who lost limbs in combat. She’s of Thai heritage and has notably jousted with President Donald Trump.

And Rep. Val Demings, a black congresswoman from the swing state of Florida, helped lead the House impeachment efforts against Trump.

Yet all four women are relative unknowns nationally.

Biden could go beyond Washington to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, one of the three Great Lakes states that delivered Trump his Electoral College majority in 2016. She’s won plaudits during the pandemic and meshes with Biden’s pragmatic sensibilities, winning her post in 2018 with promises to “fix the damn roads.”

But it’s not clear that a 48-year-old white woman from the Midwest brings Biden advantages he doesn’t already have or can’t find

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks in Wilmington, Del. Biden expects to name a vice presidential vetting committee next week. elsewhere.

It’s a similar conundrum for others, including Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a former rival who fits seamlessly with Biden’s politics.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, meanwhile, could offer a bridge to progressives, but several Democrats said her age, 70, is a bigger liability than potential policy differences with Biden.

Several African American advocates and progressive leaders said the Democratic ticket’s policies and empathetic appeals are what’s most important.

Black voters “have to trust the messenger,” said Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of Black PAC, and “a black woman could stand up and have moral authority to lead on those big issues facing the country right now.”

But she said that doesn’t mean a white, Asian or Latina vice presidential nominee couldn’t “speak to the systemic issues, the structural issues that allow for inequalities to persist.”

Putin says Russia may need the army to help battle coronavirus

President Vladimir Putin said on Monday Russia might need to call in the army to help tackle the coronavirus crisis and warned the contagion was getting worse after the number of confirmed cases rose by a record daily amount.

Russia reported 2,558 new cases on Monday, bringing the overall nationwide tally to 18,328.

Eighteen people diagnosed with the virus died overnight, pushing the death toll to 148. Though rising, the number of deaths remains much lower for now than in countries such as the United States and Italy.

Moscow, the worst-hit area, and several other regions have imposed a lockdown, ordering residents to stay at home except to buy food, seek urgent medical treatment, take out the rubbish, or go to work if absolutely necessary.

Putin criticised what he said was sloppiness in some regions that had allowed local outbreaks to gain a foothold and urged regional leaders to make use of what he said was a

three to four-week lag with Moscow.

“This reserve (of time) can melt quickly, it must not be spent thoughtlessly, it must be used in the most efficient way,” Putin told the officials in a televised meeting held by video link.

“We have a lot of problems, we don’t have anything especially to brag about and we definitely mustn’t relax,” he added.

CALL IN THE TROOPS

Putin urged officials to consider using Russia’s army to help tackle the crisis, noting how it had sent doctors and medical equipment to Italy and Serbia in recent weeks to help.

A similar move to send medical aid to the United States angered Russian critics of the Kremlin, who cast it as a publicity stunt that squandered precious resources lacking in Russia’s own regions. The Kremlin denied that and said Moscow could now expect

ministry, if needed, can and should be involved here,” Putin said.

Putin said the resources deployed by the army were “only a fraction of what the defence ministry has” and that “the main reserves are still in reserve, so you need to keep this in mind”.

Separately, the city of Moscow on Monday launched a new website ahead of a permit system it wants to start operating from Wednesday under which residents will have to seek permission before using public transport or their owns cars or other vehicles.

But the site was only Law enforcement officers wearing protective intermittently available on Monday masks stand guard at a checkpoint set up after morning, a failure authorities blamed Moscow authorities tightened up measures to on malicious hacking attacks, some prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease of which they said originated from (COVID-19), in Moscow, Russia April 13, 2020. abroad. help from the United States in the

Moscow’s crisis response future. centre said authorities had

“You need to use this nonetheless managed to issue almost experience, of course, and bear 1.8 million permits for people to use in mind that all these options, private or public transport to get including the options of the defence around the city.

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Trump has little power to restart U.S. economy

President Donald Trump said on Monday it was his decision when to reopen the U.S. economy, which has been largely shut down to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Republican president also accused the news media of incorrectly saying U.S. governors are largely the ones who decide when normal economic activity can resume.

But legal experts say a U.S. president has quite limited power to order citizens back to their places of employment, or cities to reopen government buildings, transportation, or local businesses.

Here is why.

What does the Constitution say about who makes decisions about public welfare?

The United States is a federalist system, meaning power is shared between a national and state governments.

Under the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, state governments have power to police citizens and regulate public welfare.

In the country’s early years, it was up to state and local authorities to lead the response to the yellow fever epidemic, not the federal government.

Reflecting these principles, “disaster response and aid is typically state-led and federally supported,” said Steve Bunnell, the former top lawyer at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a

partner at O’Melveny & Myers.

This bottom-up, rather than top-down, approach to disaster relief makes sense from a policy perspective, said John Cohen, a former DHS official who teaches at Georgetown University.

“Usually, state and local officials on the ground have the best understanding of the issues affecting people in their states,” Cohen said.

Can a U.S. president override statemandated “shelter in place” orders?

No. The Trump administration can issue nationwide guidance, but it would be unconstitutional for the president to override stay-at-home orders from governors, said Robert Chesney, a professor of national security law at the University of Texas. Mayors or county commissioners are on the same footing as governors, he said.

“This is Federalism 101: The president can advocate to his heart’s content, but he can’t actually commandeer the state governments to make them change their policies,” Chesney said. “He has no such inherent authority, nor is there any federal statute that purports to give him such authority.”

The social distancing policies Trump announced for slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus were merely guidelines, and the same goes for any newer, less restrictive policies he unveils, Chesney said.

“Those are guidelines. He can change his advice,” Chesney said.

“He is free to advocate. And that is an important part of the presidency — the bully pulpit.”

Bunnell said many people look to the president for guidance, so Trump’s advice will still affect the economy.

“The federal government has a role to play in setting recommendations, and the daily press briefings obviously have an effect on how people react,” Bunnell said. “But in terms of legal authorities to override health and safety measures, I’m not sure there are any direct tools that would accomplish that.”

Can a U.S. president order a business to stay open?

A federal agency that’s a subset of DHS deemed some businesses “essential” on March 19.

But the federal memo itself notes that state and local authorities are “ultimately in charge of implementing and executing response activities in communities under their jurisdiction.”

The Defense Production Act, which lets the president “expedite and expand the supply of resources from the U.S. industrial base,” can be used to procure more tests and other medical equipment from companies.

But that represents a fraction of the U.S.’s consumer-driven economy.

What about a U.S. president’s emergency powers?

A federal law known as the National Emergencies Act (NEA)

Irish citizen questioned over €15m mask scam

An Irish citizen has been questioned and bank funds have been frozen in an international investigation into a multi-million euro coronavirus mask scam.

The alleged scam began after a German company tried to buy 10m masks, valued at about €15m (£13m), from online suppliers.

The German buyer unwittingly placed an online order on a fake Dutch website.

Fraudsters put the buyer in touch with an Irish “intermediary”, police say.

The German firm then made a down payment of €1.5m into an Irish company’s bank account, based in County Roscommon, for masks that were not delivered.

An international investigation is now under way involving Interpol as well as police forces in Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany.

Gardaí (Irish police) have since worked with banking authorities to freeze the funds in the Roscommon bank account.

They also interviewed an Irish citizen in Roscommon last Friday in relation to suspected money laundering, but the individual was not arrested.

The person was questioned by detectives from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB), with

assistance from local officers.

A number of electronic devices and documents are currently being examined forensically as part of the investigation.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported that the interviewee was a 48-year-old man from the west of Ireland, but police would not confirm this.

In a statement, Gardaí said the fake Dutch website had been cloned from the website of a legitimate firm based in Holland, without the real company’s knowledge.

The German buyers reached “contractual agreement” with suppliers based in Holland and Ireland, and paid €880,000 into the Dutch fraudsters’ account at the same time as they paid €1.5m into the Irish account.

According to Gardaí, representatives from the German and Irish companies met in Amsterdam on 27 March to oversee the handover of the masks, but the shipment did not arrive.

The German buyers then contacted the offices of the Dutch firm they believed they had ordered the masks from, and were told no order had been placed.

The authorities in Holland managed to recover the €880,000 which had been transferred by the German firm

There has been a worldwide shortage of face masks since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak. into a Dutch account.

They also arrested two men on suspicion of fraud and money laundering in connection with the €880,000 transfer, and the pair appeared in a Dutch court on 9 April.

However, a further €125,000 (£109,000) was paid into another account in Holland as part of the scam.

The masks scam also involves bank accounts in the UK and Nigeria, said Irish police.

They said €498,000 was transferred to a British bank account and then onward to Nigerian account, but this too had been recovered as a result of the international investigation.

There has been a worldwide shortage of face masks since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak and many countries have been unable to provide healthcare staff with sufficient personal protection.

U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions as he addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 13, 2020. gives the president broad powers to respond to national emergencies, including the authority to redirect funds and suspend laws.

Trump invoked the Stafford Act and the NEA on March 13, as he declared a national emergency.

But the NEA is a poor fit for a president trying to encourage business as usual, Cohen said.

“It tends to give the president the authority to be more restrictive, not less restrictive,” Cohen said.

“It does not let the president say ‘disregard the restrictions of your state and local leaders.’”

UK coronavirus death toll could be 15% higher than previously shown

Britain’s death toll from the coronavirus could run some 15% higher than official figures have indicated so far, according to broader data published on Tuesday that include deaths in the community such as in nursing homes.

The Office for National Statistics said 6,235 people in England and Wales had died

by April 3 with mentions of COVID-19 on their death certificates.

“When looking at data for England, this is 15% higher than the NHS numbers as they include all mentions of COVID-19 on the death certificate, including suspected COVID-19, as well as deaths in the community,” ONS statistician Nick Stripe said.

Unlike the daily data published by the government that show only deaths in hospitals, Tuesday’s figures include deaths in the community, such as at nursing homes.

In London, nearly half (46.6%) of deaths registered in Week 14 involved COVID-19, the ONS said.

During the week to April 3, deaths mentioning COVID-19 accounted for 21.2% of all deaths, compared with 4.8% in the previous week.

The latest daily death toll for the United Kingdom published showed a total of 11,329 people had died in hospitals as of Sunday at 1600 GMT across after testing positive for coronavirus.

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Assange fathered two children while holed up in embassy, lawyer says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange fathered two children with a lawyer who was representing him while he was holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London fighting extradition, the lawyer told a British newspaper on Sunday.

The Mail on Sunday said 37-year-old South African lawyer Stella Morris has been engaged to Assange since 2017.

The couple have two sons, aged 1 and 2, both conceived while Assange was in the embassy and kept secret from media covering his case and intelligence agencies monitoring his activity,

the paper said.

It showed pictures of Assange with a baby, identified as the older son, who it said had been smuggled into the embassy to meet him. Both of the children are British citizens, it said. Assange had watched the births on a video link.

The Australian-born Assange was dragged out of the embassy last year after a sevenyear standoff, and is now jailed in Britain fighting extradition to the United States on computer hacking and espionage charges.

His supporters say the U.S. case against him is political and he

cannot receive a fair trial.

Morris said she had chosen to speak out now because she was worried about his susceptibility to the coronavirus in jail.

“I love Julian deeply and I am looking forward to marrying him,” the paper quoted her as saying.

“Over the past five years I have discovered that love makes the most intolerable circumstances seem bearable but this is different – I am now A supporter of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange posts a sign on terrified I will not see him alive the Woolwich Crown Court fence, ahead of a hearing to decide whether Assange should be extradited to the United States, in again.”

London, Britain February 25, 2020.

‘Rice ATM’ feeds Vietnam’s poor amid virus lockdown

A Vietnamese entrepreneur in Ho Chi Minh City has invented a 24/7 automatic dispensing machine providing free rice for people out of work following an ongoing nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Vietnam has reported 262 COVID-19 cases, and no deaths so far, but as a result of a 15-day social distancing programme that began on March 31 many small businesses have been shuttered and thousands of people temporarily laid off from work.

Nguyen Thi Ly’s husband was among those who have lost their job.

“This rice ATM has been helpful. With this one bag of rice, we can have enough for one day,” said the 34-year-old mother of three children. “Now, we only need other food. Our neighbors sometimes gave us some leftover food, or we have instant noodles.”

The machine distributes a 1.5kg (3.3lb) bagful of rice from a small silo to waiting workers, many of whom are street sellers or people who earned a living from cash-in-hand jobs like housekeeping or selling lottery tickets.

Hoang Tuan Anh, the businessman behind the idea, had initially donated a batch of

Notre-Dame

A woman fills a plastic bag with rice from a 24/7 automatic rice dispensing machine ‘Rice ATM’ during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, April 11, 2020. smart doorbells to hospitals in give them a second chance,” he Ho Chi Minh City before turning said. his technological expertise to While many in the food distribution.

Communist-ruled country can

Similar ‘rice ATMs’ have rely on a social safety-net, and been set up in other big cities the government has introduced like Hanoi, Hue and Danang, a stimulus package designed to according to state media. help society’s most vulnerable,

Employees monitoring some people living on the the rice ATM declined to margin, like Ly and her family, comment, but Anh told state have not received enough media he wanted people to feel support. they still had access to food and “I read about this rice resources, despite the current ATM on the internet. I came economic difficulties they found to check it out, and couldn’t themselves in. believe it came out for real. I

“I refer to this machine really hope the sponsors would as a ‘rice ATM’ because people keep doing this until the end of can withdraw rice from it, the pandemic,” said Ly, adding assured that there are still good that her family’s biggest problem people out there who want to was now paying their rent.

Notre-Dame’s great bell tolls once more on anniversary of fire

A year on from the inferno that gutted Notre-Dame de Paris, the cathedral’s great bell rang out across the capital on Wednesday in a tribute to the Gothic landmark’s resilience and to the medics battling the coronavirus epidemic.

The bourdon bell had sounded just once since April 15, 2019, when the blaze broke out that consumed the spire and the roof and, officials say, came within 30 minutes of razing the 850-year-old cathedral to the ground.

Three people wearing hazmat suits and masks to shield themselves from the huge quantities of toxic lead dispersed during the fire took turns to heave on a rope high in the southern belfry to swing the bell’s clapper for five minutes.

The bourdon sounded at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), just as Parisians came out onto their balconies and lent from windows to applaud the frontline medics and carers risking their lives to treat COVID-19 patients.

The outbreak has killed more than 17,000 people in France.

“The restoration of Notre-Dame.. is a symbol of the resilience of our people, of their capacity to overcome hardships, and to recover,” President Emmanuel Macron said.

Twelve months ago, Parisians lined the banks of the River Seine, some holding hands, others singing hymns and lighting candles as the fire ravaged a centuries-old symbol of French identity.

Pope Francis at the time spoke of the sadness he felt for the French people mourning the devastation of Notre-Dame. One such person was local artist Frederique Galey-Jacob who on Wednesday returned to the cathedral to sketch the scene.

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WORLD NEWS Argentine city digs hundreds of graves amid pandemic even as curve flattens

New graves are seen at the San Vicente cemetery, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread, in Cordoba, Argentina April 13, 2020.

A city government in the central Argentine province of Cordoba has dug around 250 graves, anticipating a death toll increase from the coronavirus pandemic, even as a nationwide lockdown appears to be flattening the rise in new cases.

Gravediggers at the cemetery in San Vicente on the outskirts of the provincial capital now plan to add a further 250 burial plots in the coming days, the local union that represents the workers who carried out the job told Reuters.

“They went from digging five or six pits per day, which is the usual amount, to digging more than double that,” said Damián Bizzi, press secretary of the Union of Workers and Municipal Employees of Córdoba.

The labor underscores how countries are bracing for worst-case scenarios and to keep up with the impact of the pandemic, which has led to over 1.8 million confirmed infections globally and caused at least 115,242 deaths.

Argentina itself moved aggressively to combat the spread of the virus, with a nationwide lockdown in place since mid-March. Its closed borders helped to slow the rise in confirmed cases, which now include over 2,200 reports with 95 deaths. (Graphic: reut.rs/2yucH11)

Great-grandmother, 97, becomes Brazil’s oldest coronavirus survivor

When 97-year-old Brazilian Gina Dal Colleto was hospitalized on April 1 with coronavirus symptoms, few could have thought she would survive the deadly virus.

On Sunday, however, Dal Colleto was pushed in a wheelchair out of Sao Paulo’s Vila Nova Star hospital to applause from doctors and nurses, becoming the oldest known survivor of COVID-19 in Brazil, the Latin American country worst-hit by the outbreak.

Her unexpected recovery was a ray of hope in Brazil, where the coronavirus has laid bare a stretched public health system and exposed fierce political debate over how to best tackle the virus’ spread and prop up the country’s economy.

The sole survivor of an Italian family comprising 11 siblings, Dal Colleto lived alone in the port city of Santos, Rede D’Or São Luiz, which controls the Vila Nova Star hospital, said in a statement.

“Even with almost a century of life, Gina has a very active routine and enjoys walking, shopping and cooking,” the statement said. “She has six grandchildren and five great-

97-year-old Brazilian Gina Dal Colleto grandchildren.”

While she was hospitalized, Dal Colleto was put on oxygen and admitted to intensive care, the statement said.

On Sunday, Brazil’s health ministry said 1,223 people had died as a result of the outbreak, 99 more than the previous day’s total. Brazil now has 22,169 confirmed cases.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right former army captain, has chafed at social distancing measures imposed by state governors and even his own health officials. He wants the economy restarted, arguing that extended shutdowns pose a greater risk than a disease he

calls a “little cold.”

However, that stance has cost him in the polls and most nights, in cities across Brazil, quarantined Brazilians are banging pots and pans in protest at his handling of the crisis.

On Sunday, Bolsonaro said he thought that the coronavirus was on its way out of Brazil, although he gave no explanation. In its place, he added, was coming further unemployment.

“It seems that the virus issue is starting to go away, but unemployment is coming ... hard. We must fight these two things,” he said in a televised call with religious leaders.

Detained immigrants plead for masks, protection from virus

Elsy was on the phone in an immigration detention center when guards showed up with face masks and forms to sign.

The asylum-seeker from El Salvador and others had resorted to tearing their T-shirts into face coverings after a woman in their unit tested positive for COVID-19.

But the guards would not give out the masks until the detainees signed the forms, which said they could not hold the private prison company running the detention center in San Diego liable if they got the coronavirus, according to Elsy and two other detainees, including one who read the form to The Associated Press over the phone.

When they refused Friday, the guards took away the masks, said Elsy, who spoke on condition that her last name be withheld for fear of retribution.

While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has started to lower the number of detainees to reduce the risk of people getting sick, those held in immigration jails and their advocates say there’s not enough protective gear, cleaning supplies or space to allow for social distancing. They fear the number of coronavirus cases will sharply rise in the coming weeks as it has in jails and prisons nationwide.

The Otay Mesa Detention Center, where Elsy is held, jumped from one confirmed case last week to 15 on Tuesday. ICE reported 77 detainees in 13 states have tested positive and hundreds of others are quarantined.

Detainees in at least four

said Margaret Cargioli, managing attorney at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center. “This pandemic can only be adequately managed if everyone is healthy and everyone is in a safe environment.”

Andrew Arthur of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors restricting immigration, argued that detainees have constant access to medical care and that ICE and prison companies have an interest in limiting the spread of the virus because “they want to continue that business of detention.”

A central problem is access to protective equipment, which even medical workers have struggled to get. ICE did not respond to questions A sign that reads “Families Belong Together” on a fence outside the Northwest Detention Center about masks. in Tacoma, Wash.

“The officers have masks and we don’t,” a woman detained states say they have been denied flight risk, Ken Cuccinelli, acting at the Montgomery Processing masks, even as the White House has deputy secretary of the Department Center north of Houston said in a urged face coverings in public. of Homeland Security, said Tuesday. video posted by the advocacy group

Private prison company The number of people in ICE RAICES Action.

Another woman in CoreCivic, which operates Otay detention now totals 33,800, down the video holds a sign in Spanish Mesa, denied masks were withheld from about 37,000 a few weeks ago. saying she’s pregnant and fears for unless detainees signed waivers. Though the Trump administration her baby’s life.

Spokeswoman Amanda Gilchrist said has effectively shut down new In Louisiana, which has they were given an “acknowledgment asylum claims during the pandemic, become a hot spot for cases and form” that a mask alone could not it’s still holding people who were where more than 6,000 immigration protect them from the virus. apprehended months or years earlier detainees are held mostly in rural

“It was not the intent of the for civil violations, including over jails, an asylum-seeker said he and previous form to require detainees 5,800 people who passed government others confined to their unit in the to relinquish all rights related to asylum screenings.

Pine Prairie jail pleaded for masks COVID-19,” Gilchrist said Monday, Opponents argue that ICE and more cleaning supplies.

More adding that the company has could release thousands of people than 50 men sleep on bunk beds. stopped using it. “Detainees are only who aren’t accused of a crime, have “We don’t have any social required to initial documentation cleared asylum screenings or won distance within us,” said the evidencing they were issued a mask.” their cases but are being detained detainee from Cameroon who spoke As jails and prisons free some non- while the government appeals. on condition of anonymity for fear violent offenders, ICE has released “Immigrant detainees do of retribution.

“We are just living by 693 people considered medically not need to be in a detention center the grace of God.” vulnerable and not a security or in order to be monitored by ICE,”

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APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

LIFE STYLE

Some people turn to herbal medicine for virus without proof

With no approved drugs for the new coronavirus, some people are turning to alternative medicines, often with governments promoting them.

This is most evident in India and China, densely populated countries with a deep history and tradition of touting such treatments, and where there’s sometimes limited access to conventional medicine.

In India, where a lockdown of its 1.3 billion residents is underway, the government faced criticism after claiming some treatments might help prevent infections. In China, where the pandemic began, officials made unsubstantiated claims that traditional medicine was key to fighting the virus. In Venezuela, where the health care system is severely crimped, President Nicolas Maduro pitched drinking an herbal tea.

The World Health Organization had advised against taking “traditional herbal remedies” on its website. It later acknowledged that some were turning to alternative medicine “to alleviate some of the milder symptoms of COVID-19,” WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said.

Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO’s emergencies chief, welcomed rigorous studies of alternative treatments “like we would of any drug.” He said numerous studies are underway in China, many testing traditional therapies.

“It’s up to the people who make the claim to provide the evidence,” said Dr. Stephen Barrett, a retired psychiatrist who runs Quackwatch, a website about unproven medical therapies.

On Thursday, the U.S. National Institutes of Health warned against alternative medicine — including certain herbal therapies and teas — for treating or preventing COVID-19, saying there was no

evidence they work and some may be unsafe.

Here’s a closer look at the claims: INDIA

India is steeped in Ayurveda, a Hindu system of medicine that revolves around herbal medicines and dietary restrictions.

As the outbreak spread outside China earlier this year, India’s health arm that promotes alternative medicine pushed unproven remedies to “strengthen the immune system,” according to an online post by the Ministry of AYUSH.

Criticism prompted the government to clarify that these remedies were not a cure. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended India’s lockdown and asked citizens to “follow the instructions issued by AYUSH ministry to enhance immunity.”

The government also recommended a single dose of a homeopathic drug, according to Anu Kapoor, who heads a governmentrun homeopathic hospital in New Delhi.

But that hasn’t been shown to work, said Dr. Anant Bhan, a public health specialist. “The same standards should apply. Especially for times like this,” he said.

The Indian government’s push for alternative treatments for COVID-19, combined with bizarre claims by the elected representatives of the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party that cow urine or dung could offer cures, has also resulted in misinformation.

Last month, Modi spoke to alternative medical professionals on the need to counter unsubstantiated claims that they could cure COVID-19. The AYUSH ministry later issued orders to all states “to stop and prevent publicity and advertisement” of promised cures.

A worker fills orders for prescriptions in front of a cabinet of drawers containing ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine preparations at the Bo Ai Tang traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Beijing.

CHINA

The Chinese government has claimed that combining herbal medicine with conventional medicine has helped the country deal with the outbreak.

Last month, China’s National Health Commission issued a document on treating COVID-19 patients that included several herbal medicines claiming to relieve symptoms like weakness and fever.

For infected patients, it prescribed, among other remedies, a “soup for clearing and detoxifying the lungs” and recommended a case-by-case evaluation.

Chinese officials and staterun media have touted treating patients with alternative medicine on health care workers exposed to the virus.

But some published reports in major medical journals of large numbers of patients treated in China make no mention of alternative medicine. Instead, they

note that treatment revolved around established methods such as respiratory support, drugs to help prevent additional infections such as bacterial pneumonia, and other widely accepted therapies.

Zhong Nanshan, an epidemiologist who advised the government, said earlier this year that it’s testing Chinese herbal medicines.

Some of these practices have existed for centuries. But with little or no scientific evidence that they work against COVID-19, attempts have been made to frame it as a cultural issue and not a scientific one.

Promoting treatments “without an adequate scientific basis” was worrying, said Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Some of these preparations can be toxic, harm the liver or interfere with other drugs, and “you need to do the hard work” to prove them safe, he said.

Lonely times to be a new Mum as UK coronavirus lockdown halts normal life

Kimberley Hutton went to hospital to have a baby in the middle of March, stayed for a week, and returned to a world completely changed.

While the 26-year-old single mother was on the maternity ward, Britain had entered lockdown to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.

“We left and there were no cars on the road. There was no one walking on the street. It was really, really bizarre,” she told Reuters in an interview.

Hutton came home with her newborn son and no one could come and visit her to help out.

“It’s been really hard. I’m very lonely.

“Every time there’s something I think isn’t quite right, I can’t just pop him down to see the doctor, because I’m worried that he might be at risk of getting the coronavirus.”

As the virus sweeps across

the country, the lockdown has changed all aspects of Britons’ lives, with social distancing rules enforceable by the police and hospitals pushed to the brink.

A new mother in Britain is usually assigned a health visitor, who comes to the home to offer advice and support as she recovers from the birth and learns how to care for her baby. Hutton said this had been replaced by phone calls.

The British government has categorised pregnant women as being at increased risk from COVID-19, meaning that they are advised to self-isolate most of the time.

In these nerve-wracking times, they are nevertheless still advised to attend antenatal appointments. Any fewer than five of those would put a baby’s health at risk, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a professional body.

Currently, birthing partners

are allowed to be there during the birth itself, but there are coronavirus-imposed restrictions on the wards where women stay afterwards, meaning that fathers may miss out on the first hours with their child.

Stephanie Bowers is eight months pregnant and worried that she won’t be able to have her husband with her during the birth.

“As a soon-to-be first-time mother, everything about it is so unknown,” Bowers said.

Her husband has made playlists for her and recorded himself saying encouraging things in case he is not allowed to accompany her in person.

But with everything from meetings to lessons and birthday parties to pub quizzes taking place over video call, even preparation for childbirth can be done virtually.

The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) has moved its antenatal classes online, with parents making

Stephanie Bowers who is 8 months pregnant poses for a photograph in her lounge, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Manchester, Britain April 9, 2020.

Picture taken April 9, 2020. use of whatever they have to hand, practising putting nappies on cuddly toys for example.

APRIL 17TH, 2020 – APRIL 24TH, 2020

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LIFE STYLE

Virus exposes US inequality.

Will it spur lasting remedies?

The sick who still go to work because they have no paid leave.

Families who face ruin from even a temporary layoff.

Front-line workers risking infection as they drive buses, bag takeout meals and mop hospital floors.

For years, financial inequality has widened in the United States and elsewhere as wealth and income have become increasingly concentrated among the most affluent while millions struggle to get by. Now, the coronavirus outbreak has laid bare the human cost of that inequality, making it more visible and potentially worse.

Congress, the Trump administration and the Federal Reserve have mounted the largest financial intervention in history — a full-scale drive that includes mandating sick leave for some, distributing $1,200 checks to individuals, allocating rescue aid to employers and expanding unemployment benefits to try to help America survive the crisis.

Yet those measures are only temporary. And for millions of newly unemployed, they may not be enough.

The disaster that is igniting what’s likely to be a deep recession also raises the question of what happens once life begins to edge back to normal. Will the U.S. remain an outlier among wealthy countries in providing limited protections for the financially vulnerable? Or will it expand the social safety net, as it did after the Great Depression of the 1930s but largely did not after the Great Recession that ended in 2009?

“Maybe there will be a cultural shift,” said Elise Gould, senior economist at the progressive Economic Policy Institute. “I see it as a great opening to try to (provide) those labor protections that low-wage workers didn’t have before.’’

Gould notes that

The seating area is closed-off at a food court in Assi Plaza during the coronavirus outbreak in Niles, Ill. the government’s suddenly expanded role now in distributing relief checks, expanding health benefits and sick leave and supplementing state unemployment aid would make it easier to extend such programs even after a recession has ended. Doing so could have the longer-term effect of reducing financial inequalities.

Whether the government ends up adopting any long-lasting policy reforms will depend in part on which party controls the White House and Congress beginning in January. In the meantime, the topic is sure to drive much of the campaign rhetoric as the presidential race moves toward the November election.

Alone among advanced economies, the United States doesn’t require employers to grant sick leave and paid time off. America’s system for providing unemployment aid, a patchwork of state programs, isn’t as generous or efficient as European government programs that subsidize wages or provide safeguards to limit layoffs.

America’s minimum wages also lag far behind those in most of Europe, though many states have raised their minimums in recent years. In 2018, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development concluded that the U.S. national minimum wage paid 33 cents for every $1

earned by workers in the middle of the earnings spectrum. That contrasted with 46 cents in Germany, 54 cents in the United Kingdom and 62 cents in France.

The coronavirus has struck at the most vulnerable.

African-Americans account for 42% of the nearly 3,300 COVID-19 deaths that The Associated Press reviewed — twice their share of the population in the areas covered by the analysis. Blacks as a group earn less, endure higher rates of unemployment and have less access to health care than other Americans. They also suffer disproportionately from the underlying conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19: Diabetes, obesity, asthma.

The financial pain, too, has landed hardest on the neediest as the economy locks down to fight the outbreak.

The United States last month lost 713,000 private sector jobs.

Jobs in leisure and hospitality (mostly restaurants and hotels) accounted for 64% of the losses. And those workers earn an average of just $16.83 an hour, 41% less than the average American.

They are people like Alexi Ajoste, who worked at a Panera Bread shop for three years before being furloughed late last month. Ajoste, a 20-year-old from Tempe, Arizona, has filed for unemployment benefits.

Frequent cannabis users are way too high ... in their estimates of cannabinoids

One would think that cannabis enthusiasts attending a marijuana advocacy event would be knowledgeable about cannabinoids.

Not necessarily, according to the findings of a study by researchers from the University at Buffalo and the University of Michigan, who surveyed frequent cannabis users at an annual marijuana advocacy event held on the University of Michigan campus.

The surprisingly low level of knowledge about tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) content, and effective dosages, demonstrated by Hash Bash participants highlights the need for additional public health education and research, according to Daniel Kruger, PhD, the lead author of the study, published online ahead of print today in the journal Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy.

“Even the people who are most enthusiastic have very poor knowledge of cannabinoid content. They greatly overestimated how much THC and how much CBD was in various strains, and what the effective dosages were,” said Kruger, a research associate professor of community health and health behavior in the UB’s School of Public Health and Health Professions. He is also a research investigator with the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan.

Researchers surveyed nearly 500 Hash Bash attendees, asking them to fill out a 24-item questionnaire. Two-thirds of participants reported using cannabis every day, and most said it was for health or medical purposes. More than three-quarters of survey-takers said their knowledge of cannabis came from their own experiences.

The study survey asked participants to fill in, in milligrams, the amounts they considered to be effective doses of THC and CBD. (THC is the principal psychoactive compound and the one largely responsible for the high experienced by users. CBD does not have the same psychoactivity, but has other effects, such as reduction of anxiety.) Participants could also check the box for “I don’t know.”

The majority reported they didn’t know.

Other participants gave average estimates of 91 milligrams for THC and 177 milligrams for CBD. In other words, they were way off.

“The average estimate for an effective dose of THC would actually be fatal in humans,” Kruger said.

One participant even said 1 million milligrams was the effective dose for THC. “That’s a kilogram of THC. That’s enough to fill an entire football stadium full of people and get them all high,” Kruger said.

Facebook to warn users who ‘liked’ coronavirus hoaxes

Facebook will soon let you know if you shared or interacted with dangerous coronavirus misinformation on the site, the latest in a string of aggressive efforts the social media giant is taking to contain an outbreak of viral falsehoods.

The new notice will be sent to users who have clicked on, reacted to, or commented on posts featuring harmful or false claims about COVID-19 after they have been removed by moderators. The alert, which will start appearing on Facebook in the coming weeks, will direct users to a site where the World Health Organization lists and debunks virus myths and rumors.

Facebook, Google and Twitter are introducing stricter rules, altered algorithms and thousands of

fact checks to stop the spread of bad misinformation online about the virus.

Challenges remain. Tech platforms have sent home human moderators who police the platforms, forcing them to rely on automated systems to take down harmful content. They are also up against people’s mistrust of authoritative sources for information, such as the WHO.

“Through this crisis, one of my top priorities is making sure that you see accurate and authoritative information across all of our apps,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page Thursday.

The company disclosed Thursday that it put more than 40 million warning labels in March over videos, posts or articles about the

coronavirus that fact-checking organizations have determined are false or misleading. The number includes duplicate claims — the labels were based on 4,000 fact checks.

Facebook says those warning labels have stopped 95% of users from clicking on the false information.

“It’s a big indicator that people are trusting the fact checkers,” said Baybars Orsek, the director of the International FactChecking Network. “The label has an impact on people’s information consumption.”

But Orsek cautioned that the data Facebook provided should be reviewed by outside editors or experts, and called on the historically secretive company to release regular

updates about the impact of its factchecking initiative.

Orsek’s organization is a nonprofit that certifies news organizations as fact checkers, a requirement to produce factchecking articles for Facebook.

Facebook has recruited dozens of news organizations around the globe to fact check bad information on its site. The Associated Press is part of that program.

Facebook will also begin promoting the articles that debunk COVID-19 misinformation, of which there are thousands, on a new information center called “Get The Facts.” Putting trustworthy information in front of people can be just as useful, if not more, than simply debunking falsehoods.

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BUSINESS &

TECHNOLOGY

Apple, Google plan software to slow virus, joining global debate on tracking

Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google said they will work together to create contact tracing technology that aims to slow the spread of the coronavirus by allowing users to opt into logging other phones they have been near.

The rare collaboration between the two Silicon Valley companies, whose operating systems power 99% of the world’s smartphones, could accelerate usage of apps that aim to get potentially infected individuals into testing or quarantine more quickly and reliably The Apple Inc. logo is seen hanging at the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, than existing systems in much of the New York, U.S. world. Such tracing will play a vital Valley system would require millions on the data. role in managing the virus once of people to opt in the system, The logs will be scrambled lockdown orders end, health experts trusting the technology companies’ to keep infected individuals’ data say. safeguards, as well as smooth anonymous, even to Apple, Google

The planned technology also oversight by public health systems. and contact tracing app makers, the throws the weight of the tech leaders The companies said they companies said. Apple and Google into a global conflict between privacy started developing the technology said their contact tracing system will advocates who favor a decentralized two weeks ago to streamline technical not track GPS location. system to trace contacts and differences between Apple’s iPhones “To their credit, Apple governments in Europe and Asia and Google’s Android that had and Google have announced an pushing centralized approaches stymied the interoperation of some approach that appears to mitigate that have technical weaknesses and existing contact tracing apps. the worst privacy and centralization potentially let governments know Under the plan, users’ phones risks,” Jennifer Granick, surveillance with whom people associate. with the technology will emit unique and cybersecurity counsel for the

“With Apple and Google, you Bluetooth signals. Phones within American Civil Liberties Union, said. get all the public health functions about six feet can record anonymous She added that the companies you need with a decentralized and information about encounters. could have more safeguards such privacy-friendly app,” said Michael People who test positive as specifying that contract tracing Veale, University College London for the virus can opt to send an features would not be used beyond legal lecturer involved in European encrypted list of phones they came the current pandemic. contact tracing system DP3T. near to Apple and Google, which will Centralized solutions such as those trigger alerts to potentially exposed NOT A SUBSTITUTE proposed in Britain and Germany users to seek more information.

FOR TESTING would no longer work under the new Public health authorities would need technology, he said. to sign off that an individual has Apple and Google plan to

To be effective, the Silicon tested positive before they can send release software tools in mid-May to

China McDonald’s apologises for Guangzhou ban on black people McDonald’s in China has apologised after a branch in the industrial city of Guangzhou barred black people from entering.

A video shared on social media showed a notice that read: “We’ve been informed that from McDonald’s said it closed the now on black people are restaurant when it found out not allowed to enter the about the notice. restaurant.”

McDonald’s said that when it found out about the notice it temporarily closed the restaurant.

Tensions have been running high between Africans and local people in the city.

Last week, hundreds of Africans in Guangzhou were evicted from hotels and apartments after online rumours that coronavirus was spreading among African people, community leaders told the BBC.

Guangzhou is a hub for African traders buying and selling goods and is home to one of China’s largest African communities.

The Guangdong provincial government has responded to concerns about discrimination by calling China and Africa good friends, partners and brothers.

It said it attached “great importance to some African countries’ concerns and is working promptly to improve” its way of operating.

contact tracing apps that they and public health authorities approve.

Apps including Private Kit and CoEpi, which had contacted Apple and Google for help a month ago, said the new tools would enable them to drop potentially unreliable workarounds.

Apps will be able to focus on developing a simple interface for users and healthcare workers, with Apple and Google handling Bluetooth and privacy issues, said Dana Lewis, a lead developer of contact tracing app CoEpi.

However, Apple and Google plan to release software updates in the coming months so that users do not need a separate app to log nearby phones.

Google said the tools and updates would not be available where its services are blocked, such as in China or on unofficial Android devices. Apple will distribute the technology as an update to its iPhone operating system.

A median of 76% of people in United States and other advanced economies have smartphones, according to a Pew Research Center study last year, compared with a median of 45% in emerging economies.

Governments worldwide have been scrambling to adopt software meant to improve the normally labor-intensive process of contact tracing, in which health officials go to recent contacts of an infected person and ask them to selfquarantine or get tested.

COVID-19 to send almost all G20 countries into a recession Following the looks set to rise sharply. than that of other eurozone coronavirus outbreak, The The impact on China’s countries, such as France, where Economist has revised growth economy of the Covid-19 typically more resilient domestic forecasts for all countries across outbreak is set to be much deeper consumption represents a larger the world. The results paint a than that of SARS. Assuming driver of growth. bleak picture. Across the G20, all that the virus does not flare up Growth prospects are but three countries will register again, we expect China’s real particularly poor across Latin a recession this year. The global GDP growth to stand at only America.

Argentina (-6.7%), economy will contract by 2.5%.

1% in 2020, compared with an Brazil (-5.5%), and Mexico

The US economy will estimated 6.1% in 2019.

(-6.5%) will all register recessions contract by 2.9% this year. The The slowdown will be this year. administration’s initial response concentrated in the first quarter Mexico is closely reliant to the coronavirus was poor, of the year and will still be felt on trends in the US, and our allowing the illness to spread in the second quarter. Growth expectation that US GDP will quickly. will recover in the second half contract puts a strain on Mexico’s

In addition, just as of the year when China typically economic prospects. Across the economic risks related to produces most of its GDP. the region, business disruption Covid-19 began to mount, the The eurozone will be will cause inward foreign direct agreement between Saudi Arabia one of the hardest hit regions, investment (FDI) to fall sharply. and Russia to cut oil production posting a full-year recession This will be severely collapsed, sending oil prices of 6%. Germany (-6%), France damaging in a region where tumbling. The combination (-5%), and Italy (-7%) will register domestic savings are weak and of the coronavirus epidemic, full-year recessions. In Germany, FDI accounts for 3% of GDP and and the slump in global oil the huge manufacturing sector 15% of total fixed investment. prices, means that investment is highly export-oriented, Meanwhile, for the Southern will contract sharply this year, which means that the country Cone countries, the approach of especially in the energy sector, is particularly exposed to both the southern hemisphere winter and export growth will sag. This supply chain disruption and raises the prospect of a difficult, puts Donald Trump’s re-election weak global demand. The prolonged epidemic. bid at risk, as unemployment country’s recovery will be slower

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY WORLD NEWS

UK economy ‘could shrink by record 35%’ by June

The UK’s independent tax and spending watchdog has warned the coronavirus pandemic could see the economy shrink by a record 35% by June.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said that this was based on an assumption that the current lockdown would last for three months.

Once restrictions are lifted, the OBR expects no lasting damage to growth.

Separately, the International Monetary Fund warned the virus would push the UK into its deepest slump for a century.

The IMF expects the UK economy will shrink by 6.5% in 2020, while the global economy will contract by 3%.

It said the pandemic had plunged the world into a “crisis like no other”.

The OBR’s estimates - which focus on the virus’s impact on the UK economy and public finances is more severe.

It said a three-month lockdown followed by three months of partial restrictions would push up the UK’s borrowing bill to an estimated £273bn this financial year, or 14% of gross domestic product (GDP).

This would represent the largest deficit as a share of GDP since World War Two. While borrowing is expected to jump, the OBR said the government’s unprecedented financial help for workers and businesses would help to limit any long-term damage.

It expects half of the sharp drop in economic growth in the second quarter to be reversed in the three months to September.

While the UK economy is expected to contract by 12.8% for the year as a whole, the UK is expected to get back to its pre-crisis growth trend by the end of 2020.

The OBR expects a more lasting impact on unemployment, which is estimated to rise by 2.1

Mobile-only Quibi sees more than 300,000 downloads on launch day: Sensor Tower

Quibi CEO Meg Whitman speaks during a Quibi keynote address at the 2020 CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., January 8, 2020.

Mobile-only streaming service Quibi racked up more than 300,000 downloads on its launch day, industry site Sensor Tower said on Tuesday, as stay-at-home viewers lapped up its short films starring Hollywood A-listers.

The service is founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg, the former chief of Walt Disney Co’s movie studio and Dreamworks Animation, and headed by former eBay Inc and Hewlett Packard Chief Executive Officer Meg Whitman.

Quibi, rolled out on Monday, stands for “quick bites” and offers slickly produced movies, such as “Hunger Games” actor Liam Hemsworth’s thriller “Most Dangerous Game”, in chunks of 10 minutes or shorter.

The service, currently

available only in the United States and Canada, will also deliver reality shows and news. Basketball superstar LeBron James appears in a documentary about his Ohio school for at-risk youth.

Quibi offers a 90-day free trial and will cost $5 a month with ads, or $8 a month without them, after that period.

Still, the downloads were fewer than Walt Disney Co’s streaming service, Disney+, first day downloads, which stood at 4 million, Sensor Tower data showed.

Quibi will compete with full-fledged streaming services such as Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon’s Prime Video and Netflix, as well as short-form entertainment platforms like TikTok and Alphabet’s YouTube.

Airlines cannot afford to refund cancelled tickets speaking,” IATA

Global airlines cannot financially afford to refund cancelled flights Director General Alexandre because of the coronavirus crisis, De Juniac told an online news said the head of the industry’s conference on Tuesday.

Airlines have been representative body IATA, and carriers are issuing vouchers criticised by consumer groups instead as they conserve cash to for breaking rules over providing survive. refunds within set time limits.

IATA also said that one “The key element for us is to avoid running out of third of global airline employees cash so refunding the cancelled have either been furloughed or ticket for us is almost unbearable lost their jobs.

million to 3.4 million by the end of the March Budget.

June.

However, the OBR said Under this scenario, extra spending by the Treasury to unemployment would hit 10%, support the economy was crucial to from its current 3.9% rate, before limit the economic damage.

“The government’s policy easing to around 7.3% at the end of response will have substantial the year.

The jobless rate is expected direct budgetary costs, but the to remain elevated until 2023, measures should help limit the when it is expected to drop back to long-term damage to the economy 4%, in line with the OBR’s March and public finances - the costs of forecast. inaction would certainly have been higher.”

Lasting impact on

It added that while the public finances lockdown was the main constraint on economic activity, relaxing

The OBR expects UK debt to these measures too soon would remain elevated for years to come, cause greater damage. with extra borrowing expected to “The reason why most of push Britain’s debt share to above the short-term economic impact 100% of GDP this financial year comes from these measures is that under the three month lockdown they are successful in limiting the scenario. spread of the disease.

While this will drop sharply “If the measures were not as the UK economy recovers, public stringent enough to control the debt is expected to remain at 84.9% disease, then the economic impact of GDP in four years time, much from illness would be that much higher than the 75.3% forecast in greater.”

Apple launches site to show how coronavirus lockdowns affect movement

Apple Inc said it would release data that could help inform public health authorities on whether people are driving less during lockdown orders to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

The data is gathered by counting the number of routing requests from Apple Maps, which is installed on all iPhones, and comparing it with past usage to detect changes in the volume of people driving, walking or taking public transit around the world, Apple said.

The information is being updated daily and compared with a date in mid-January, before most U.S. lockdown measures were in place, Apple said. More than 90% of Americans are under stay-at-home orders and various lockdowns are underway in other countries around the globe.

The data would be aggregated so that requests from individual users would not be shown, and it does not track individual users or their locations, the company said.

The information, available on a public website www.apple. com/covid19/mobility , will show changes for major cities and 63 countries or regions, Apple said.

In the San Francisco Bay area, requests for driving directions as of April 12 were down 70% versus Jan. 13, and requests for transit directions plunged 84%, the data showed. In New York City, driving direction requests were down 69% and transit requests were down 89%.

Public health officials in California said April 11 they were using data to track the effectiveness of the state’s lockdown order, although they did not say whether they were using Apple data.

Apple does not provide the absolute number of requests or a specific number of people

moving, instead expressing the data as a percentage of requests compared with its mid-January baseline.

Aggregate data helps to protect identity and still identifies individual travel patterns thus avoiding some of the mistakes of countries like South Korea, criticized for privacy violations, said Jason Farley, professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

Farley, who is an infectious disease-trained nurse epidemiologist, said the data from the app offers insights into movement right now, yet its impact on maintaining social distancing and making public health decision remains unclear.

Apple’s data is more limited than what Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google has made available to public health officials.

Google nearly two weeks ago released data on more than 131 countries, comparing trips in recent weeks to recreational venues, train and bus stations, grocery stores and workplaces with a five-week period earlier this year.

For several countries, Google offers county-level data, which is helpful in countries such as the United States where lockdown orders are issued by county officials.

The Apple data, by contrast, shows only data for some cities, regions and countries and does not show results for entire U.S. states, including those without lockdown orders such as North and South Dakota.

The Apple data also does not capture trips where the user has not asked for directions from the Maps.

Apple said it is continuing to work with public health officials to identify what other data types or trends may be helpful.

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Tokyo has no ‘Plan B’ for another Olympic postponement

There is no “Plan B” for the Olympics if they need to be postponed again because of the coronavirus pandemic, Tokyo organizers said Tuesday.

Masa Takaya, the spokesman for the Tokyo Olympics, said organizers are proceeding under the assumption the Olympics will open on July 23, 2021. The Paralympics follow on Aug. 24.

Those dates were set last month by the International Olympic Committee and Japanese officials after the coronavirus pandemic made it clear the Tokyo Games could not be held as scheduled this year.

“We are working toward the new goal,” Takaya said, speaking in English on a teleconference call with journalists. “We don’t have a B Plan.”

The severity of the pandemic and the death toll has raised questions if it will even be feasible to hold the Olympics in just over 15 months.

“All I can tell you today is that the new games’ dates for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been just set up,” Takaya said. “In that respect, Tokyo 2020 and all concerned parties now are doing their very best effort to deliver the games next year.”

IOC President Thomas Bach was asked about the possibility of a postponement in an interview published in the

Indian Premier League 2020 set to be further delayed after lockdown extended

Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings to win the 2019 IPL title.

A man wearing a face mask walks near the logo of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Tokyo.

German newspaper Die Welt on Sunday.

He did not answer the question directly, but said later that Japanese organizers and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated they “could not manage a postponement beyond next summer at the latest.”

The Olympics draw 11,000 athletes and 4,400 Paralympic athletes and large support staffs from 206 national Olympic committees.

There are also questions about frozen travel, rebooking hotels, cramming fans into stadiums and arenas, securing venues and the massive costs of rescheduling, which is estimated in Japan at $2 billion-$6 billion.

Tokyo organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto addressed the issue in a news conference on Friday. He is likely to be asked about it again on Thursday when local organizers and the IOC hold a

teleconference with media in Japan.

The other major question is the cost of the delay, and who pays.

Bach said in the Sunday interview that the IOC would incur “several hundred million dollars” in added costs.

Under the so-called Host City Agreement, Japan is liable for the vast majority of the expenses.

“This is impossible to say for now,” Takaya said. “It is not very easy to estimate the exact amount of the games’ additional costs, which have been impacted by the postponement.”

Tokyo says it is spending $12.6 billion to organize the Olympics. But a Japanese government audit published last year says the costs are twice that much. Of the total spending, $5.6 billion is private money.

The rest is from Japanese governments.

The 2020 Indian Premier League is set to be postponed further after India extended its lockdown until 3 May to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The Twenty20 competition was due to begin on Wednesday, having been delayed from its original start on 29 March.

India’s prime minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday that the nationwide lockdown will continue.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet proposed a new start date for the event.

On Sunday, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said the organisation would “keep monitoring developments” but that it “can’t say anything” in the current situation.

“It’s just simple common sense that at the moment, nothing is in favour of any kind of sport anywhere in the world, forget IPL,” said the former India captain.

“Practically speaking, when life has come to a standstill everywhere in the world, where does sport have a future in this?”

England players including World Cup winners Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali are due to take part in this year’s IPL.

Under the lockdown in India, only essential businesses, such as groceries and pharmacies, are allowed to remain open.

Swiss prosecutors intend to drop 1 FIFA case against Blatter

In a legal victory for former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, federal prosecutors in Switzerland plan to drop one of two cases open against him for suspected criminal mismanagement.

The Swiss attorney general’s office on Saturday confirmed reports they intend to close an investigation into how Blatter and soccer governing body FIFA awarded World Cup broadcast rights in the Caribbean in 2005.

The decision is the latest example in recent weeks of the Swiss FIFA cases stalling, while the separate and cooperating American investigation sparked back into life with new indictments and fresh allegations of World Cup bid bribery.

The criminal proceeding against Blatter was opened 4 ½ years ago and helped remove him from the presidential office he held for more than 17 years. He is serving a six-year FIFA ban from soccer.

A second criminal proceeding against Blatter — for a $2 million payment he authorized to FIFA vice president Michel Platini in 2011 for uncontracted salary — remains open,

the Swiss prosecution office said.

Prosecutors said in a statement they could not give a timetable for formally terminating the Caribbean investigation.

A spokesman for Blatter was contacted for comment

The investigation was opened in September 2015 after a Swiss broadcaster published a 10-year-old FIFA contract awarding the Caribbean Football Union regional broadcast rights to the 2010 and 2014 World Cups for a combined $600,000.

The CFU was controlled

by Jack Warner, the now disgraced former FIFA vice president. The rights were sold to a Jamaica-based broadcaster for a profit reportedly close to $20 million.

The document appeared to bolster Warner’s claim in 2011, after he left FIFA while implicated in bribing voters to oppose Blatter, that FIFA awarded him cheap World Cup rights in exchange for helping Blatter win presidential elections.

Swiss prosecutors said in 2015 “this contract was unfavorable for FIFA” and suspected Blatter of

acting against the world soccer body’s interest. FIFA later claimed it had a 50-50 profit share with the CFU for the subsequent rights sale.

The Caribbean deal for the 2014 tournament was terminated in 2011 after Warner’s resignation from FIFA. He was banned for life in 2015 after being indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice, and has since fought extradition from Trinidad and Tobago.

American and Swiss prosecutors unsealed their separate but cooperating investigations in May 2015 when several FIFA officials were arrested in hotels in Zurich two days before Blatter won re-election.

In the past month, Swiss investigations have hit problems while in the U.S., which has seen dozens of guilty pleas and convictions, prosecutors published an updated indictment Monday that included further implicating Warner in taking bribes for his vote in World Cup hosting contests.

A first Swiss trial, into an irregular payment between German organizers of the 2006 World Cup and Blatter’s FIFA in 2005, briefly

Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter arrives at a hotel in Moscow, Russia. opened last month. It was adjourned amid problems conducting the process during the coronavirus pandemic in a court close to the Italian border. The trial of four soccer officials faces collapsing this month due to a statute of limitations expiring.

Prosecutors were also reportedly told by a Swiss federal judge last month to provide more evidence to back up criminal charges alleging Qatari soccer and television executive Nasser al-Khelaifi provided a luxury Italian villa to FIFA’s then secretary general, Jerome Valcke.

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Mom of T-wolves star Karl-Anthony Towns dies from COVID-19

Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, the mother of Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, died Monday due to complications from COVID-19 after more than a month of fighting the virus. She was 58.

The Timberwolves made the announcement via the Towns family, which requested privacy. The team intially said Cruz-Towns was 59. Karl Towns Sr., the father of the two-time All-Star player, was also hospitalized with the virus but has since recovered.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Cruz-Towns was a fixture at Timberwolves games from the start of her son’s NBA career. He was the first overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Kentucky.

“Jackie was many things to many people — a wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend,” the statement from the Towns family said. “She was an incredible source of strength; a fiery,

caring, and extremely loving person who touched everyone she met. Her passion was palpable, and her energy will never be replaced.”

The family expressed gratitude to the “warriors” at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia and JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, the hospitals where she received care.

After his parents first felt ill at their home in New Jersey, Towns and his sister urged them to seek immediate medical attention and be tested for the virus. Towns posted an emotional video on his Instagram account on March 24, revealing his mother was in a medically induced coma. She’d been hospitalized, after a high fever and bad cough persisted.

After some improvement, Towns said last month, her situation “went sideways” quickly.

He also, in that video message, made an impassioned plea to people to stay home to help stop the spread

of the virus. The East Coast has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19, with a death toll in New York state alone that has topped 10,000.

“This disease needs not to be taken lightly. Please protect your families, your loved ones, your friends, yourself. Practice social distancing. Please don’t be in places with a lot of people,” said Towns, who donated $100,000 last month to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for COVID-19 testing.

The Timberwolves expressed their condolences for the woman they considered part of their family.

“As Karl’s number one fan, Jackie provided constant and positive energy for him and was beloved by our entire organization and staff at Jacqueline Cruz, the mother of the likely No. 1 NBA draft pick, Karl-Anthony Towns.

Target Center,” the team said.

Kentucky coach John one of the hardest phone calls he’s Calipari, who stayed close to the ever had to take.

“Ms. Jackie was an angel and Towns family after he turned pro, said on Twitter that receiving the we were blessed to have her in our news from Towns and his father was lives,” Calipari tweeted.

Jordan: Winning 6th NBA title with Bulls was ‘trying year’

Michael Jordan described his final NBA championship season with the Chicago Bulls as a “trying year.”

“We were all trying to enjoy that year knowing it was coming to an end,” Jordan told Good Morning America on Thursday. Jordan appeared on the show via video conference from his home in Florida to promote the “The Last Dance,” a 10-part documentary series focused on the final year of the 90’s Bulls dynasty that won six NBA titles in eight years.

“The beginning of the season, it started when (general manager) Jerry Krause told (coach) Phil Jackson that he could go 82-0 and he would never get a chance to come back,” Jordan said. “Knowing that I had married myself to him, and if he wasn’t going to be the coach, then obviously I wasn’t going to play. So Phil started off the season saying this was the last dance — and we played it that way.”

The series will debut Sunday night on ESPN in the United States and on Netflix internationally over five consecutive Sundays through May 17. There will be two hourlong episodes each of those nights.

Jordan said Thursday that after Jackson told the team it was to be the final season together, the Bulls focused on completing the task of a second three-peat.

“Mentally it tugged at you that this had to come to an end, but it also centered our focus to making sure we ended it right,” Jordan said. “As sad as it sounded at the beginning of the year, we tried to rejoice and enjoy the year and finish it off the right way.”

The documentary was

originally scheduled to be released in June during the NBA Finals, but ESPN made the decision to accelerate its release due to the lack of live sports programming because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The series has been billed to include never-before-seen footage from that season, during which the team chased its sixth championship.

But the documentary covers more than just the final season.

The documentary shows Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Jordan arguing about a foot injury he suffered during his second NBA season.

Jordan wanted to play through the injury after doctors told the team there was a 90% chance he would recover.

Reinsdorf, however, did not want the star guard to play for fear it might ruin his career.

“I said to Michael, you’re not thinking about the risk-reward ratio,” Reinsforf said in the clip aired by GMA. “If you had a terrible headache and I gave you a bottle of pills and nine of the pills would cure you and one of the pills would kill you, would you take a pill?”

Jordan replied that “it depends on how (expletive) bad the headache is.”

Reinsdorf ultimately won out; Jordan sat out 64 games that season before returning for the playoffs.

Jordan also talks about his time at the University of North Carolina where he would write his mother asking for money for postage stamps so he could send her letters and to pay his phone bill.

“It’s a little different today,” Jordan said. “I had a phone bill in college that was $60 or less, but I only had $20

Michael Jordan celebra la victoria de sus Bulls de Chicago ante los Trail Blazers de Portland en la serie final de la NBA. in my account. The thing that people will learn, and my kids will laugh about when they see it, is we used postage stamps back in those days. Looking at the video you will see things that people have forgot, that life was this way.

“We didn’t have Instagram or Twitter, so you had to live life as it came. ...

Spending time with friends and family, it wasn’t the phone. It was in presence — and you wrote letters.”

Jordan discussed his parents during the interview with Good Morning America, saying they were the biggest influence in his life. He said he learned many valuable lessons from them, including the ability to learn from the negatives in life and turn them into positives.

He also praised his older brother, Larry.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my brother Larry,” Jordan said. “Larry pushed me.

We used to fight me every day.

But through that fight emerged someone like me. He’s right next to me and supports me.”

Draft date unknown, but NBA presses on with evaluations

There are many unknowns about the NBA draft, though some elements are proceeding as usual and one deadline is looming this week.

The NBA — as per usual — has been sending evaluations to players who are considering leaving college early and entering the draft and will continue doing so to all underclassmen who ask for them before Thursday’s deadline. That task falls to the league’s Undergraduate Advisory Committee, which understands that what it says in these uncertain times may carry even more weight than usual.

“This is a process that’s important, maybe more important this year than ever,” said Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and UAC committee chair. “We’re trying to get the athletes and the schools as much information as we possibly can. It’s important that they have the clearest picture.”

Because of the coronavirus pandemic that has shut down the sports world, including the NBA, nobody knows when the draft will be held, who will have the No. 1 overall pick or how that will be decided. Nobody even knows when or if the draft combine, which is scheduled for mid-May and technically has not yet been changed, will take place.

When underclassmen ask, the NBA sends evaluations with a percentage of likelihood that they will fall into one of five draft-night categories — lottery (picks 1-14), first-round non-lottery (picks 15-30), first half of second round (picks 31-45), second half of second round (picks 46-60), and undrafted.

It’s not an exact science, but the league has pretty good success with it: Since 2016, based on its own evaluation and feedback that the 30 NBA teams share as part of the process, the league has told 66 candidates that they are first-round material and 49 others that they wouldn’t be drafted. They hit on 89% of those first-round projections and 96% of the undrafted projections.

“It is unprecedented times and difficult times for everybody and we try to do our best to make that easier for student athletes as far as navigating that process and understanding that process,” VanDeWeghe said. “This is a time of uncertainty. Even in a normal year, student athletes are very nervous about applying of the draft. But our role in this is to try to give as much information as we possibly can.”

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Delay costs IOC ‘several hundred million’; Japan pays rest

The International Olympic Committee will face “several hundred million dollars” of added costs because of the postponement of the Tokyo Games, the body’s president said.

Thomas Bach spoke in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt on Sunday.

Estimates in Japan put the overall cost of the postponement at $2 billion-$6 billion. Except for the IOC portion, all added costs will be borne by the Japanese side according to an agreement signed in 2013 when Tokyo was awarded the Olympics.

Bach said it was “impossible to say for now” the extent of the added costs for the IOC caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“We agreed with the prime minister that Japan will continue to cover the costs it would have done under the terms of the existing agreement for 2020, and the IOC will continue to be responsible for its share of the costs,” Bach said.

“For us, the IOC, it is already clear that we shall be faced with several hundred million dollars of additional costs.”

Before the postponement, Japanese organizers put the official cost of the games at $12.6 billion. However, a government audit report in 2019 said the costs were at least twice that.

All but $5.6 billion of it is in taxpayer money.

Tokyo said the 2020 Games would cost about $7.3

opportunity for some athletes to violate the doping rules with no threat of testing. Bach countered that the delay could allow new testing methods to be developed.

He also said tests made before the Olympics would be saved for 10 years for retesting.

“No one should feel confident that they don’t get caught,” he said.

Bach was asked about Russia’s status for the Olympics in 2021. Last year, Russia was International Olympic Committee hit with a four-year ban from President Thomas Bach speaks at the international sports — including Australian Olympic Committee annual the Olympics — because of a general meeting in Sydney, Australia. doping scandal. However, many billion when it won the bid Russian athletes were expected to be allowed to compete if they seven years ago.

On Friday, the CEO of could show they were clean.

“The Russia question is the Tokyo organizing committee said the pandemic left some currently under consideration doubts about the games going by the CAS, the independent international Court of ahead next year.

“I don’t think anyone Arbitration for Sport, so it would be able to say if it is going wouldn’t be right for me to to be possible to get it under comment on it,” Bach said.

Bach said he had not control by next July or not,” Toshiro Muto said, speaking decided if he will run for rethrough an interpreter. “We election next year. He also certainly are not in a position to pointed out that the IOC had insurance that covered give you a clear answer.”

Bach was asked about a cancellation, but not a the possibility of another postponement. election will postponement. He did not The answer directly, but said later take place in 2021, and Bach in the interview that Japanese is required to notify of his organizers and Prime Minister intentions six months before Shinzo Abe “made it very clear to the vote. He was first elected in me that Japan could not manage 2013 and is widely expected to a postponement beyond next seek another term.

“There’s still plenty of summer at the latest.”

Bach was also asked time,” he said. if the pandemic provided an

Panthers make McCaffrey highest-paid running back

The Carolina Panthers have rewarded Christian McCaffrey for his production and versatility, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL.

The team agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract extension with McCaffrey on Monday, a person familiar with the contract negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Panthers have not announced the extension.

Details on how much of the contract is fully guaranteed were unavailable.

The $16-million-a-year deal eclipses Ezekiel Elliott’s contract with the Dallas Cowboys that is worth $15 million per season.

The extension keeps McCaffrey, 23, tied to the Panthers through the 2025 season. The coming season would be the final year of his rookie contract, and Carolina had the option to pick up a fifth year in 2021.

It appeared to a matter of when, not if, the extension was coming after Panthers coach Matt Rhule made it clear last week that he viewed McCaffrey

as a vital part of the franchise moving forward.

“I think Christian McCaffrey is a centerpiece player that you can build around,” Rhule said. “And I think he really builds to the culture that you want to have within the building.”

McCaffrey ran for 1,387 yards and posted 1,005 yards receiving last season for the Panthers, joining Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig as the only running backs in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards in both categories in the same season.

The former first-round draft pick has been a spectacular selection for the Panthers, amassing 2,920 yards rushing and 2,523 yards receiving along with 39 touchdowns in three seasons. He is the only player in NFL history with at least 2,500 yards receiving and rushing in his first three seasons.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney hinted last week that a contract extension was coming, saying the team was having “internal discussions.” Hurney said then that “everyone knows what we think of Christian as a player.”

There has been some question about whether the

Carolina Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, in Indianapolis. team has overused McCaffrey the past couple of seasons, with him playing more than 90% of the team’s snaps — by far the most in the league by a running back.

But Rhule expects that new offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who helped lead LSU to a national championship last year, will be an important part of the offense.

“I hired Joe because I know that he’s going to utilize guys to their strengths,” Rhule said last week.

Woods gets emotional talking about Masters win and kids

Tiger Woods hugs his family after winning the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga. His reaction when he won, with his children there, stood out among the other 14 majors Woods has won.

The Masters over, Tiger Woods slipped on the green jacket again on the second Sunday in April.

He just wasn’t at Augusta National this year.

Woods got emotional Sunday after CBS re-aired his victory last year. In a video production from earlier in the week, Woods joined network host Jim Nantz to provide commentary during the final round, the first time in his 15 major victories that he came from behind to win.

CBS re-aired last year’s final round Sunday because the Masters has been postponed until November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the 16th hole, Woods rejoined Nantz on the video screen after his final putt, changing into his green jacket.

His best commentary was talking about the celebration with his two children, his mother, girlfriend and most loyal supporters.

Woods had a lump in his throat at one point said, “Now you’re getting me choked up.”

CBS last year quickly put together backto-back images of Woods hugging his late father, Earl, after his record-setting victory in 1997 when he was 21, and then the embrace with his son, Charlie.

Woods said the embrace with his mother, Tida, was just as special.

“To have mom still there ... people remember the hug with my dad, but my mom is here 22 years later with the same hug,” Woods said. “Special for all of us.”

Woods said he didn’t remember some parts of the celebration, just as thrusting both arms in the air and constantly screaming as the gallery chanted his name.

That wouldn’t be the first time. When he won at Bay Hill in 2008, he slammed his cap to the ground and later said he didn’t realize he had done that.

Watching the end of the Masters from his Florida home, Woods told Nantz, “I don’t remember screaming. I don’t remember putting my arms up. It was one of those blackout moments. ... I do remember my eyes coming back down and seeing people in front of me.

As far as me celebrating? I don’t remember that part.”

He recalls thinking he needed to find Francesco Molinari and Tony Finau and their caddies, and then he was trying to find his own caddie, Joe LaCava.

“I finally found Joey and said, ‘We did it!’” Woods said.

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