VOLUME 16 ISSUE 17

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

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VOLUME 16 - NO. 17

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LEADERS APOLOGIZE AFTER HEATED EXCHANGE Premier and Opposition Leader in war of words during budget debate

By Todeline Defralien

P

remier Hon. Sharlene Robinson and Opposition Leader Hon. Washington Misick both gave national apologies on Thursday, April 23rd, 2020, following a series of heated exchanges that included strong words and namecalling during the 2020 to 2021 Budget Debate in the House of Assembly in Grand Turk over the past few days.

The exchanges reached boiling-point on Wednesday, April 22nd, when the Premier packed said she was adjourning the House, packed her bags and stormed out.

Her actions drew strong criticism from several

persons on social media and praise from some of her supporters.

When the sitting resumed on Thursday, April 23rd, the Premier apologised, stating:

“Mr. Speaker I want to begin this morning by offering an apology to your Chair, to the Leader of the Opposition and my colleagues in this Honorable House and to the people of Turks and Caicos and those who will be listening beyond the Turks and Caicos. Mr. Speaker it is never my intention to bring this House into disrepute or the party or the people or the country that I serve, so please accept my humblest apology.

Continued on page 2

PNP PDM

L-R: Opposition Leader Hon. Washington Misick & Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson.

TCIG should stop funding SIPT corruption trial, says Opposition Leader April 21st, 2020, Misick said there is nothing in the budget that says

At a time during the current exactly how much is budgeted for coronavirus pandemic when many the prosecution team or the judge. residents of the Turks and Caicos “If we are paying someone Islands are struggling to make basic and we cannot tell how much we ends meet, Government should stop are paying them, then perhaps the funding the Special Investigation time has come for us to stop paying and Prosecution Team (SIPT) them,” the Progressive National corruption trial which continues to Party (PNP) leader said. “Mr. be a drain on the public purse.

Speaker, the House (of Assembly)

That’s the view of Opposition cannot in good conscience vote to Leader Hon. Washington Misick who continue funding the trial, when said that the British Government we know that the income from it should instead be funding the trial, is not multiplied in our economy which he estimates has cost the and at the same time our people Turks and Caicos Islands around are wondering how will we feed our children and how will be pay US$150million so far.

While delivering his our rent/mortgage or how would reply to Premier Hon. Sharlene we provide for our children’s Robinson’s 2020 to 2021 budget in education.”

Misick stressed that funds the House of Assembly on Tuesday

By Todeline Defralien

budgeted for the SIPT trial and civil recovery should be diverted towards helping the hard working people of Turks and Caicos Islands who are bottling this coronavirus crisis.

“Mr. Speaker it is my position that all funds budgeted

by TCIG (Turks and Caicos Islands Government) for SIPT trial and civil recovery should be diverted towards helping the hard working people of Turks and Caicos Islands who are battling this crisis,” he concluded.

Misick added: “The Turks and Caicos GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is $1.25million and we’re close to spending $100million...I don’t know the exact numbers but plus or minus $150million in the last ten years on the SIPT trial.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot as a House address any issue that requires to

Opposition Leader Hon. Washington Misick. act in a time in when government revenues are going to be reduced, while at the same time unexpected and unusual demands are being made on public funds, without a fresh look at the continual funding of the SIPT trials and the civil recovery efforts.”

Continued on page 2

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Page 2

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

LEADERS APOLOGIZE AFTER HEATED EXCHANGE

Continued from page 1

But Mr. Speaker that is not to say that I will not respond to what was discussed and raised yesterday.”

Meantime, Misick accepted the Premier’s apology and also apologies for calling her “motor mouth”.

He added: “Mr. Speaker I accept the Premier’s apology and I think the events of this House over the last three days, I don’t know whether the lockdown had anything to do with it but certainly tempers here were high and flared on both sides of the isle. There were misstatements, comments and name calling and any of that was not parliamentary and to the extent that I contributed to it and I would also like to apologise.”

Misick stressed that the Premier does not have the right to adjourn the House, adding that only the Speaker of the House can do that.

“Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day this is your House. This is the people’s House and on this side, we are the Opposition and on the other side is Government. The Premier is responsible for government’s

business in this House, but at the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, I think it is extremely important to point out that the Premier does not run the House and to adjourn the House it’s not her prerogative, it is your prerogative. She can only call for an adjournment and I just wanted to make sure that that is understood going forward, because yesterday she adjourned the House and walked out. She can’t adjourn the House Mr. Speaker it’s your House,” he explained.

On Tuesday April 21st, the Premier Robinson called the Opposition Leader a ‘cry baby’.

Misick said, “Mr. Speaker I am tired of the Premier trying to insult me and I am not taking it anymore and I am depending on you to keep this house in order.”

The Premier said: “Mr. Speaker I have been the subject of name calling by the Leader of the Opposition. This is the second time he has called me motor mouth, I have never called the Leader of the Opposition a name, because I respect him as a senior. He is old. He is an

old man, and he is 70 years old, but Mr. Speaker, let me not let the Leader of the Opposition leave from here making people think as if I insult him.”

Misick replied, “You do it all the time and people know.”

Premier added: “You feel bad, don’t cry about it though.”

Misick replied, “You’re going to make me cry? Is that your intention, then that will never happen. You call me old, (but) I would not insult you based on your age and your femininity. ”

Premier stated, “The Leader of the Opposition has never addressed a man who sits across this way the way he addresses me over the last four years. Yes, Mr. Speaker one time I did say, ‘sit down old man’, but tell me what man will sit over here would endure what the Leader of the opposition has thrown at this chair since I’ve been here? Now let’s be honest. He would have never done this if a male leader was over here, so stop it. Most of the thing you say is recycled anyways! Plenty things.”

Misick replied, “I thought

you said that you were the best man for the job?”

Premier added: “And I am, bigger than any others. I ain’t gone cry though.”

Misick said, “You’re having fun because you said you made me cry. I would like for the people of this country to hear the Premier speaking to the Leader of the Opposition and claiming that she made the Leader of the Opposition cry. You know why?

I cry like Jesus cry over Jerusalem. I cry over this country for what you are doing to this country and that’s what I cry over. You are wrecking this country. You have no idea what you are doing and you are wrecking this country and if I cry that would be the reason and the sole reason.”

The Premier asked, “You want a napkin for your eyes?”

Misick said, “You could laugh at me, you can taunt me about crying or making me cry, but at the end of the day the people of this country know who I am and they will determine what my status is in this House.”

TCIG should stop funding SIPT corruption trial, says Opposition Leader Continued from page 1

The Opposition Leader stated that the “seemingly unending annual funding of the SIPT trials has been a bitter pill for the people of this country to swallow.

“In many quarters it is argued on a daily basis that it is and has always been an unfair burden that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands were being asked to bear. Mr. Speaker, in Sir Robin Auld’s Commission of Inquiry report he indicated that

should a special investigation and trial be undertaken, the United Kingdom should shoulder of the cost. Mr. Speaker, (retired Special Prosecutor) Helen Garlick of the SIPT in her recommendation to the British Government likewise indicated that the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) pays for the cost of the investigation and the trial. Mr. Speaker, it appears that in her good conscience, she too could not justify the costs being paid by the people of Turks

and Caicos Islands,” he explained.

Misick further stated that if the SIPT trial was taking place in the United Kingdom there would be riots.

He continued: “Mr. Speaker at one point 150 plus or minus million dollars, that is 10% of the GDP. Mr. Speaker can you imagine what will happen in the United Kingdom if this was the case? There would be riots! Ten years. Ten years!

Mr. Speakers the SIPT trial has been going on since December 2015

and some persons in the case were charged as far back as November 2011. For all of these years, and even before, during the commission of inquiry stage the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands had been funding this exercise. Mr. Speaker against this backdrop this House cannot consider any response to COVID-19 without taking a look at whether this country and its hard working people can continue to be asked to fund this trial in these changing circumstances.”

Turks and Caicos Tourism launches destination video

In an effort to keep destination Turks and Caicos Islands in the forefront of the minds of potential visitors, the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board has launched a new marketing campaign. The campaign, which is part of a comprehensive promotional strategy, was launched today starting with a destination video titled ‘We Are Turks and Caicos’.

“The promotional campaign will be rolled out in a phased approach over the next six months and is focused on digital marketing through social media, streaming platforms,

redesign of our destination brochure and website, and an updated strategic public relations plan. During this difficult time, while a global health crisis affects the travel and tourism industry, we are using the video to send a message to our industry partners and visitors to remind them that we’re all in this together. We are encouraging them to stay safe and when the time is right the Turks and Caicos Islands will be waiting to welcome them once again to our world class destination,” stated Director of Tourism Pamela Ewing.

The Turks and Caicos Tourist

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 experience

per

month

subject

Board’s new destination video promotes wanderlust for paradise with the use of breathtaking imagery that highlights the ‘Beautiful by Nature’ islands and its hospitable people. The Tourist Board commissioned local media firm Caya Hico to produce the video which showcases the best of the islands including notable experiences such as Flamingo Pond, Island Fish Fry, Mudjin Harbour and an acknowledgment of our friendly dolphin and potcake mascots. The video is available by visiting the following link: https://youtu.be/ UL5_IUXbbBw.

The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board is encouraging the public to share positive images and memorable experiences in the islands using the hashtag #WeAreTurksAndCaicos.

The safety and well-being of Turks and Caicos Islands residents, visitors and industry partners are paramount and the Tourist Board is committed to working with our stakeholders as we navigate uncharted waters and anticipate a grand re-opening of the tourism sector within the islands at the appropriate time.

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

Resumes to be submitted to unit 12 La Vista Azul, Turtle Cove, Providenciales c/o Real Estate and Investment Turks & Caicos Islands Ltd

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

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 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 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 5

LOCAL NEWS

TCIG’s savings ‘can and will disappear’ over the next 3 to 4 months, warns Premier

Although the Turks and Caicos Islands Government boast just over US$170million in liquid cash, Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson has warned that “the reality is that this savings can and will disappear over the next 3, maybe 4 months if things persist as is”.

While delivering the 2020to 2021 budget in the House of Assembly in Grand Turk, the Premier stated that the unaudited results from 2019-20 show that there will be cash balances of approximately, $210.0million, $172.4million of which is liquid cash and approximately $140m of which is unencumbered.

She noted that the $140m is approximately seven (7) months of cash available.

“The plan is to use $73m to fund the budget shortfall for 202021, allowing for just above 90 days of cash to be left in the reserve funds.

Mr Speaker, I pause here to break this down further against reality – the reality is that this savings can and will disappear over the next 3, maybe 4 months if things persist as is,” she added.

She said it is also noteworthy to mention that all debt sustainability indicators that were agreed by the Government of the United Kingdom and TCI will remain in intact, with the exception of the provision for having a surplus budget.

“We are running a deficit Budget of $73m to offer the Stimulus Package of direct cash grants, waivers

and capital injection. Meanwhile Mr Speaker, we are operating a Government that requires $20m each month to pay the 2nd largest group of employees, to bear the cost of many critical services that we are relying on today and for the overall functioning of Government,” she continued.

The Premier revealed that one day last week, (with a system of direct bank deposit for payments that will otherwise be paid in the Treasury),TCIG had only collected $1.5million in revenue.

“(This is)$1.5m against a need of $20m just on monthly obligations. Now, imagine this to be our fate over May and June, which it most likely can be, we will then need to draw a further $19.5 million each month from these same savings, and so between April and June, just to maintain Government and its critical services at this level, we will need to spend a further $58.5million from these same savings where we are already drawing $73million. There then, alone is a total of $131.5m from this same unencumbered $140million in savings. Now, we can have a reduction in the $20million which includes a lowered amount in travel which was cut to fund the stimulus, and a lowered amount in SIPT expenses which too was reduced to fund the stimulus but also may yield a tiny bit from the prolonged closure of offices or the reduced use of same (but, it is unrealistic to think that we can stay locked away

forever),” she continued.

“I paint a picture for us all, the picture that shows the savings which is a blessing buys us more time but will eventually fade. Mr Speaker and I want us to appreciate that those are fixed and somewhat seen costs. But health’s costs are mounting and even yesterday as I mourn over $1.5million in revenue collections, health has asked for an additional $2million. These times are uncertain and we must all do our part to reduce the burden on health but also in managing what we have.”

The Premier said that as she looked around the region where persons compare, she ask that the country compares itself to the following examples, at this early stage.

“One with zero savings is having to borrow almost double our revenue; others have not as yet offered a stimulus package; another is engaging in talks right now of cutting civil servants salaries or another who has had to raise monies for PPEs for their front line staff or another who has had to raise monies to offer what we are offering in our COVID-19 Social Enhancement Program or those who have called on the private sector to support by adopting a family. Turks and Caicos is blessed. No Government can do it all on its own and no Government has the monies to do all that needs to be done. Again, I say we must be grateful to God for what we can do and I make no apologies for it,” she

Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson stated.

The Premier said she would like to make it abundantly clear that the revised revenue targets were prepared using a best case scenario, adding that in the event that, the global lockdown exceeds a 90-day period, government will embark on a few other strategies to mitigate the fiscal risks.

The strategies will include: 1.Additional draw down from the Cash Reserves 2.Cost containment strategies 3.Lines of credit 4.Grant funding 5.Long-term loans.

Operating Deficit/Debt Financing •Operating deficit before loan repayment is forecast at $70.6 million.

•It is estimated that $1.1 million in loans already agreed with the CDB will become available in 2020-21.

•It is being proposed that the deficit will be funded from cash reserves, at a level of $73.0m.

Overseas emergency referrals decrease The National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) is reporting a 22 percent decrease in the number of overseas referrals, a 10 percent decrease in the number of emergency referrals of patients requiring catastrophic care and who had to be transferred overseas via med-evac.

However, there was a 16% increase in the average cost of an overseas referral, which according to Premier Hon. Sharlene Robinson, is “consistent with the global increase in health care costs and the severity/ complexity of the referrals, primarily the emergency referrals”.

‘The NHIB which manages the Treatment Abroad Program along with the TCIG, continues to explore options and implement initiatives to increase revenue generation and reduce expenditure thereby enhancing stability and creating fiscal space for health in TCI,” the Premier stated in her 2020 to 2021 budget address. “During FY 19/20 the NHIP faced challenges and had some success with these endeavors, many of which are still ongoing.”

The Premier told the House of Assembly that during the financial year 2019/20, there was a marked increase (24%) in the number of incountry/local health care service provider encounters by NHIP beneficiaries, compared to financial year 2018/19 and is expected to increase further as a result of COVID-19.

She added that this increase is also reflected in part in the 6% increase

in average monthly pharmaceutical costs, as well as increases in the number of interisland transfers such as ferries, commercial flights and charters for beneficiaries to access care, primarily in Providenciales “Whereas overall there was a 22% decrease in the number of overseas referrals, the bulk of the decrease was in the number of follow-up/repeat overseas referrals, which was almost cut in half (decreased by 40%). This is due largely to enhanced scrutiny, via TCI Hospital, of overseas provider requests for repeat referrals and “onboarding” of some cardiology and ophthalmology services, which are provided at TCI Hospital sites by visiting consultants, during FY 19/20 compared to FY 18/19,” she added.

“Data collection is ongoing to monitor these trends and support ongoing efforts to expand onboarding of services in FY 20/21. Efforts to onboard services, though are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to resume as soon as is feasible. There was a relatively modest decrease (10%) in the number of emergency referrals of patients/beneficiaries primarily requiring tertiary /catastrophic care during this period and had to be transferred overseas via medieval.

Even so, there was a 16% increase in the average cost of an overseas referral. This is consistent with the global increase in health care costs and the severity/complexity of the referrals, primarily the emergency referrals.”

She added that the revenue to monitor the quality of care being collected (excluding subventions received by clients while overseas. from TCIG and NIB Employment It was also stated that Injury) for financial year 2019/2020 telemedicine is increasingly being of $35.2 million reflected a modest used for teleconferences and remote increase of 3.8% compared to consultations among patient care 2018/2019. teams/physicians at TCI Hospital, the During the April 2019 - February TAP Provider Network and NHIP’s 2020, she said, the Compliance Case Management Team.

Department completed 2,508 “ I have found in this assessments valued at $5.13million, FY, this to be very helpful and is of which $1.48million has been expected to be expanded so, despite collected. travel restrictions related to the

The Premier also noted that COVID-19 pandemic, NHIP’s valued there has been a significant increase beneficiaries can continue to receive in registration and utilisation of the necessary specialist attention,” she NHIP since inception with 24,000 added. beneficiaries; increasing to 36,973 The Premier said the NHIP beneficiaries as of 31 March 2020. has overcome many challenges and

This, she said, reflects net has had some notable successes in increase of 2,276 persons (8%) during furtherance of its mission to attain financial year 2019/2020, with a sustainable financing of quality similar (9%) increase in the number health care to optimise health of employers characterized as active outcomes in TCI. at the end of FY 19/20.

“It is anticipated, however,

There is also marked that the global COVID-19 Pandemic, consistency in the monthly will directly and indirectly adversely distribution of registrants among impact global economies, especially categories with the private sector tourism and hospitality dependent accounting and dependents economies such as TCI. Hence, new accounting for about a half (55%) challenges to health services delivery and a quarter (26%), respectively. locally and particularly the access to

She also stated that 12 new and cost of care within our treatment positions were filled during 2019/202. abroad Provider Services Network are The Case Management Team, now forthcoming and will add complexity strengthened with four nurse case and most likely negatively impact managers, has increased clinical initiatives aimed at creating fiscal oversight of clients being treated space for health to ensure the abroad (TAP patients). Additionally, viability and sustainability of the Managed Care Clinical guidelines NHIP in TCI as FY 20/21 is ushered have been procured to enable them in,” she stressed”.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

Immigration has four drones, plans for another radar, new Detention centre

Four drones have been purchased and an additional radar will be sourced to assist the Turks and Caicos Islands in tackling illegal immigration, mainly from Haitian sloops, said Hon. Delroy Williams, Minster of Immigration, Labour and Employment

During his contribution to the 2020 budget debate, Williams said the officers manning the drones have been trained by a local company certified by the Turks and Caicos Islands Civil Aviation Authority.

He said government is presently embarking on a project which would tremendously expand radar coverage which will result in better detection rate of vessels further away from the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“This will include but not limited to an additional radar and other equipment. With this initiative we would see increase detections which would give our marine branch more opportunity to mobilize and intercept these illegal vessels,” he added.

He said the Radar Department continues to provide update of the maritime domain, providing enforcement agencies with notification of suspicious target in order to plan a response.

“I am happy to state that the Radar detection rate remains very high.

Mr. Speaker, joint operations continue to be conducted with Marine Division with detections of illegal sloops attempting to enter TCI Borders. There is a growing trend with power driven vessels being involved in illegal smuggling,” Williams said.

He told the House that the Radar Department is seeing a constant increase in calls from

mariners for assistance and general information about ports.

“It is slowly becoming the center for handling all maritime calls which will be passed on to responding agents for investigation.

The station will eventually become a Radar Department to handle all maritime calls. There is an increase in dialogue with our international partners US coast Guard and Bahamas defense force,” he added

Williams said although no provision has been made in this Budget period, the Department will continue to review the building of a purpose built Detention Centre in the medium to long term.

“The detention of persons who have infringed the laws of this land remains a prime function.

Despite the costs and other issues aligned with detention, we have legal obligations to ensure that the Detention Centre operates at minimum international standards,” the Immigration Minister added.

“A tender has been awarded to upgrade the center, inclusive of creating appropriate user friendly space for families and children. In addition, the fencing and lighting will be included and amenities for recreation. This project is being done at a costs of US$50,000.”

As it relates to repatriation, Williams said the Immigration Department has had its challenges, and with the increasing inflow of illegal migrants to TCI’s borders, noting that the cost of repatriations continues to grow.

“Expenditure on repatriations for the fiscal period April 2019 to March 31, 2020 was $2,070,000. The same period 2,329 illegal immigrants were repatriated from eight (8) landings, fourteen (14) interceptions and one thousand

Poacher boat captains sentenced

The five captains (Dominican Nationals) from the illegal vessels caught by Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) Marine Branch and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) on Wednesday, April 8th, 2020 were sentenced yesterday, Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020.

The men, Richard Lopez, Andres Flore, Dubel Jimenez, Luis Miguel Pena Jimenez and Luis Jose appeared in the Magistrate’s Court 1 before Chief Magistrate Mr Jolyon Hatmin for the following Offences: (1)Taking Marine Products without a License (2)Used or used unlicensed vessel for fishing.

(3)Used or used any vessel for commercial fishing (4)Used a breathing apparatus to take marine products (5)Breach of curfew.

Richard Lopez, Andres Flore, Dubel Jimenez and Luis Miguel Pena Jimenez were sentenced to 30 days imprisonment for each Offence to run concurrently with 10 days credit for time spent on remand, while Luis Jose was sentenced to 45 days imprisonment for each Offence to run concurrently and 10 days credit for time spent on remand.

The men will be deported to the Dominican Republic after their prison sentence.

four hundred and eight six (1,486) on land apprehensions. During the 2019/2020 period there were 914 apprehensions. This increased by 572 represents a significant 62 percent over the previous period.

Mr. Speaker, this target is much in excess of the projected 50 percent as proposed in last year’s budget and the Officers should be applauded for their stellar efforts,” he reported.

“Although the 2019/2020 budget allocation for repatriations will not increase from $2,070,000, it is our intention to increase our enforcement and removal programmes.

We will continue to working with the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force, the US Coast Guard and the Bahamas Defense Force to try and mitigate the illegal vessels from making landfall here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Williams added that the Immigration Department continues to focus on resolving the many issues surrounding the thousands of undocumented immigrants in the Turks and Caicos Islands, those who would like to visit but require a Visitor Visa or those persons seeking Residence Permits through marriage to a Turks and Caicos Islander of British Overseas Territory Citizen.

He said the continued objective of the Department is to remove the bureaucracy where possible and delays that exist in the Department.

He noted that in the 2019/2020 Budget, the Department of Immigration received an allocation of US$5.9million. In the upcoming 2020/2021 budget cycle the Department anticipates $5.7million.

Salaries increased from $2.3million $2.5million, he said, noting that the additional

Hon. Delroy Williams, Minster of Immigration, Labour and Employment $299,915.00 in this year’s budget makes provision for the employment of 10 additional Immigration Officers, and one Senior Immigration Officer.

“This is part of our initiative to strengthen compliance, enforcement and prosecutions. The Uniform and Protective Gear allocation will be increased from $34,493 to $42,988 to accommodate the new recruits and those who require varied uniforms.

The allowance will also increase commensurately to the number of new staff,” he added.

Williams told the House that the Enforcement Unit will be divided into two sections with clearly defined terms of reference. He said the new section will be headed by a Senior Immigration Officer. One section will oversee apprehensions, respond to reports, processing of repatriated persons while the other section will be dedicated to inspections, investigations and human trafficking.

$50,000 fine or 12 months in jail for illegal fishing activity during ‘shelter-in-place’ order

The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) is objecting to individuals who have been seen hunting sea turtle in Thompson’s Cove, Providenciales, and has reminded them that they could be fined $50, 000 or be jailed for 12 months or both.

In a press statement, the Department would like to remind the general public that the Turks and Caicos Islands are currently adhering to a ‘shelter in place’ order as enforced by the Turks and Caicos Islands Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations of 2020.

“As such, fishing is not permitted, unless you have applied for and have received exemption from the Governor as required in accordance with the abovementioned regulations,” the release said.

Furthermore, the general public is reminded of the following regulations as it pertains to fishing, and turtle catch, in particular:

Fisheries Protection Ordinance, Ordinance 5 of 1941, as amended:

Restrictions on taking, processing, etc. marine products without a license 4. (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) any person who, not being the holder of and acting in conformity with the conditions of a license authorizing him so to do – (a) takes or is in possession of any species of marine product; or (b) processes or exports any species of marine product; Commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $50, 000 or to a term of imprisonment of twelve months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Regulations 2014: •Only green and hawksbill

turtles between 18 and 24 inches shell length can be captured; •No capture of hawksbill turtles (closed season) from 1 August to 31 March, each year; •No capture of loggerhead, leatherback, olive ridley and Kemp’s ridley turtles; •No capture of nesting turtles, or collection of turtle eggs; •Captured turtles must be landed live and uninjured; •No export of sea turtle products; •Turtles cannot be kept in captivity unless for rehabilitation and release; •Restriction on the export of queen conch from 15 July to 15 October each year. The restriction does not apply to the export of shells or pearls or pearls or shells worked into jewelry or shell craft items, if the shells or pearls were harvested outside the specified period and are intended for non-commercial or personal purposes.

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

Improved water systems for Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos

repairs to the critical infrastructure in all islands and will enable

To improve the stability the supply and install of a oneand security of water production million-gallon water storage tank, and distribution in Grand Turk, to improve the storage capabilities Salt Cay and South Caicos, the and upgrades to the water mains, department of Water Undertaking in year two, which will improve will receive and estimated increase the consistency in the delivery of in operational budget of $326,693 water to the residents of Grand and some $2.5 million dollars in Turk,” Ewing said. capital allocation.

He reminded the House of This was stated by Hon. Goldray Assembly that the United Nations Ewing, Minister of Home Affairs, General Assembly resolved and Public Utilities and Transport recognized the human right to during his contribution to the water and sanitation, and further 2020 to 2021 budget debate in the deemed clean drinking water and sanitation to be essential to the House of Assembly.

“This funding will secure realization of all human rights.

He also said that officials spare parts for the RO Plants, to improve response times for repairs in his ministry, recognize and and reduce the time for restoration acknowledge the challenges faced of services. Additionally, funding here in maintaining reliable and will enable the much needed dependable distribution of water.

By Todeline Defralien

“I must say that even in the period of curfew, we continue to face challenges with the vandalism of our water infrastructure, which not only inconveniences the residents and businesses in the community, but also costs Government money for the repairs, money that could be spent otherwise,” Hon. Ewing stated.

“We will be investing in the security of our network, but I wish to acknowledge the work of the Water Undertaking Team who came out, even over a weekend to ensure the repairs to the water mains in Grand Turk, and the restoration of services to the communities. The Ministry in collaboration with the Water & Sewerage Board, will continue its efforts toward the development of its legal regulatory provisions, thereby ensuring long-

Hon. Goldray Ewing, Minister of Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transport

term viability and sustainability of public and private water supply and sewerage services across the Turks & Caicos.”

Royal Reef Resort North Caicos

Page 8

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

New prison on new site

A new prison will be built on a new site in Grand Turk, Premier Hon. Sharlene Robinson has announced.

“During this past year, proposals were prepared and submitted to the NSC for consideration as to whether the proposed redevelopment should be a new development of the existing site or the construction on a new site. It was agreed on the erection of a building on a new site based on costings and time of delivery,” she said while delivering the 2020 to 2021 budget debate.

“While we continue the work of rebuilding the Yellow Wing loss to fire during the Hurricanes of 2017, you Government will be carrying out the consultancy for the full construction of a new facility which will be rehabilitative in its focus: physical plant as well as the programs to run.”

The Premier also stated that for the care and safety of staff and prisoners, there will be further improvements to prison facilities that are intended to improve the management of the institution through the provision of critical infrastructure that will facilitate

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 Grand Turk Prison the educational and overall to ensure that they eventually psychological development and become positively contributing improvement of prisoners. citizens within our communities.

She also noted that there “There will be a will be overall improvements to reintroduction of the rehabilitation the security of the prison and the program that assists in providing management of prisoners through inmates with skills that can the introduction of surveillance contribute to their livelihood equipment and the introduction of once released and further reduce methods of mitigating disorder in the probability for the recurrence prison. of offences. There will be active

She said that in this participation in the Chance for upcoming coming financial year, Change program which would assist the Prison will be undertaking some in the successful reintroduction of significant initiatives for the overall ex-offenders into our communities,” care and rehabilitation of offenders the Premier added.

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 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

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Page 9

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

CELEBRATES EARTH DAY

This year, “Earth Day” comes in the wake

Coach Benneth Williams who also joined in the

of

the

Earth Day initiative commented, “Not just on

lockdowns which have impacted the globe.

Earth Day, but everyday everyone should do their

the

coronavirus

pandemic

and

part to care for the world we live in to ensure a Although our movements have been curtailed

more sustainable environment.”

teachers, students and parents of the International School of the Turks and Caicos Islands (ISTCI)

Earth Day, founded by a former United States

celebrated “Earth Day” nonetheless by deciding

Senator, Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, after

to use their allocated morning exercise time to

witnessing the ravages of a massive oil spill in

pick up litter and other unsightly objects from in

Santa Barbara, California in 1969 is now an annual

and around their homes. Mary Jimenez, a teacher

event celebrated around the world on April

at ISTCI said, “We all appreciate our ‘Beautiful By

22 to demonstrate support for environmental

Nature’ Turks and Caicos Islands, and as a school

protection. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970

we are VERY environmentally aware. We love our

and currently observed in more than 193 countries.

Earth!! Happy Earth Day everyone!”

Thank you ISTCI for being ‘earth friendly’, raising awareness and making our small part of the world

ISTCI reminds us that we each have a role to play

a happier, healthier place to live in.

in ensuring that we do not pass on a world that

Happy Earth Day!

is in total disrepair to our children and future generations.

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Page 10

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

Sandals Foundation and Island Routes Partner in ‘Hope For Healing 2020’ Earth Day Campaign

Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International, and Island Routes, the world’s leading Caribbean attraction company have teamed up in an online campaign to spread a message of hope and healing across the world in commemoration of Earth Day, Wednesday April 22, 2020.

The ‘#HopeforHealing2020’ Campaign, which was launched on both companies’ social media platforms, invites persons to light a candle as a symbol of healing and share a message of hope for the planet and each other.

Over the last 50 years, the world has come together on April 22 to mobilize support and action for environmental protection.

This year, in light of the unique reality of the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected more than 2.4 million people in 213 countries, Heidi Clarke, Executive

Director of the Sandals Foundation says this campaign provides the says the campaign honours Mother perfect opportunity for people to Earth even as people stay home to travel across national borders and celebrate the outdoors. stay safe.

“Although we cannot be

“Right across the globe, people are sharing in the emotions outside right now, we can share of fear, anxiety and concern. We in the beauty of the outdoors may not be able to meet each other through photos and send messages outdoors and take part in the usual of gratitude and love for each other group conservation projects, but we in anticipation of the time when can pay homage to the gifts of the we can once again meet and enjoy earth and create a global chain of nature’s beauty.”

Since the introduction of gratitude.”

The partnership is the novel coronavirus on the shores the perfect alignment of both of the Caribbean, Sandals Resorts organizations’ mandates which International and the Sandals is for the Sandals Foundation to Foundation have been executing a “Inspire Hope” by implementing number of projects to strengthen sustainable programmes that local healthcare systems and support improve the lives of Caribbean some of the most vulnerable groups people and for Island Routes to in the region. Additionally, Island connect people to the outdoors Routes has directed proceeds from through immersive experiences their tours to support the elderly in unique to each destination. local infirmaries. This campaign is

Ryan Terrier, VP of an additional way to show solidarity Operations at Island Routes for those working to contain the

virus and those who are serving on the frontlines as essential workers.

To take part in the campaign: 1.Record a video with a message of gratitude, and light a candle as a symbol of healing, OR upload your best nature photo, with a message of gratitude and your hope for the world.

2.Post video or photo on social media on Earth Day – Wednesday, April 22, 2020using hashtag #HopeForHealing2020and make sure to identify what geographic location of the world you are in quarantine.

3.Tagfriends to help spread more words of hope. Persons can also tag the Sandals Foundation (@ sandalsfdn) and Island Routes (@ islandroutes), who will in turn share the personal messages on theirofficial platforms.

Jamaicans outraged as Turks and Caicos Islands patient tests positive for coronavirus there

A cancer patient from the Turks and Caicos Islands who was airlifted to Jamaica for emergency surgery, was found to be positive for the COVID-19 virus after medical officials there tested him “out of an abundance of caution”.

The situation angered Jamaicans, many of whom expressed outrage in the mainstream and social media because two weeks earlier 43 Jamaica workers on board a ship called the Marella Discovery 2, were refused landing in Kingston because of the ban on incoming passengers which was imposed last month as part of the Government’s COVID-19 containment measures.

“How could this be possible given the fact that 43 Jamaican citizens were denied landing a few weeks ago?” one of the ship workers queried of The Sunday Gleaner.

“Why weren’t the protocols followed to obtain the requisite exemption from the order restricting incoming passenger traffic to Jamaica for 43 Jamaican citizens, but it was for someone from the Turks and Caicos Islands?”

The ship worker, whose name is being withheld, expressed sympathy for the TCI patient, but insisted that “we were treated unfairly”.

“The crew members are not carriers of COVID-19 and would not pose any threat to our families or the wider population. However, this foreigner tested positive, putting our healthcare workers at risk,” he stated.

In a joint statement, the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) and Turks and Caicos Hospital said the patient, who was transferred back to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Jamaica on April 16th 2020, was admitted to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for an emergency surgical re-operation, which was life-saving and required

A section of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Jamaica a transfer overseas for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and other tertiary level support not currently available in the TCI.

The press release stated: “An overseas referral was therefore generated and forwarded to the TCI National Health Insurance Board. The overseas medical facility was contacted by the TCI National Health Insurance Board and was provided with the required clinical information on the patient. This information was reviewed, and the patient was accepted by the overseas medical facility. The same process was followed to engage the Air Ambulance companies.”

The statement noted that the Ministry of Health in Jamaica in consultation with other relevant authorities granted the standard approval to accept the critical and time-sensitive medical transfer via the treatment abroad program (TAP).

“There was an obvious reason for the patient’s medical condition and the patient did not meet the case definition for suspected COVID-19 in the Turks and Caicos Islands or Jamaica. Based on the UHWI’s pre-

screening form, there were no clinical suspicions related to COVID-19. The patient was fully isolated shortly after arrival and tested within 12 hours out of an abundance of caution.

The results returned as positive for COVID-19 and all parties involved in the delivery of medical services to the patient have been notified,” the release added.

“While medical teams across the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and Ministry of Health continue to operate with elevated IPC precautions, the TCI Hospital in collaboration with the TCI Ministry of Health is currently reviewing the timelines leading up to the patient’s diagnosis. In addition, contact tracing was immediately activated in collaboration with the public health team to identify anyone who require screening and/or quarantine based on their risk level for exposure.”

According to the joint statement, the overwhelming majority of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 locally and globally present with symptoms in accordance with the case definition established by the World Health

Organization (WHO).

“However, there is increasing scientific speculation into the occurrence of atypical presentations as the global pandemic evolves.

TCI Hospital continues to monitor the latest evidence-based findings related to COVID-19 case definitions, conduct risk assessments and adjust infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures accordingly.”

In a statement, the UHWI said the patient, who was originally being treated at the hospital for “bleeding gastric cancer” on March 16, was released and returned home to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) on March 26, 2020.

It said the patient had an emergency reoperation in the TCI and a request was made for advanced critical care, a service usually provided for all the hospital’s contributing territories.

The hospital added that the critical nature of the patient’s condition was discussed with the Emergency Operation Centre of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ministry of National Security, and the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority.

“On returning to Jamaica on April 16, 2020, the team from the UHWI who received the patient at the airport was in full personal protective equipment.

“The patient was already intubated and had a viral filtration system. Based on the UHWI’s screening form, at no time was the patient considered to be a COVID-19 patient, but out of an abundance of caution the UHWI decided to test the patient.

“The result is positive and the patient remains stable in the COVID-19 ICU. All staff evaluation, assignment and quarantine have been done according to the hospital’s protocol,” the statement read.

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 11

LOCAL NEWS

Huge development plans for Five Cays South Dock and Chalk Sound, says Deputy Premier Sean Astwood

Hon. Sean Astwood, Deputy Premier and MP for Five Cays, South Dock and Chalk Sound, says his “Operation Facelift” will continue to deliver significant development and opportunities for constituents.

“Anyone familiar with my campaign has heard me consistently mention Operation Facelift,” he said during his contribution to the 2020-2-21 budget debate.

“The roads, the upgrades to the community center, the primary health care offering, and the Five Cays Beautification projects are just some of the components of Operation Facelift.

I have made commitments to my constituents and I will continue to work tirelessly until all commitments are delivered.”

Astwood said Operation Facelift has several components, and he can proudly state that he has been busy addressing each of these components from his first year elected as the Deputy Premier and a Minister of Government.

“As I prepare each budget address, I remember sitting in this Honourable House during the years 2012-2016 (during the Dr. Rufus Ewing administration), as a member of the Opposition during budget sessions, and noting that Year after Year after Year after Year, that Five Cays was neglected by the former PNP Government.

That is four years I mentioned Mr. Speaker. As I had said before Mr. Speaker, every Government, if they are fortunate enough to serve their full term, has 4 budgets to bring to the House of

Assembly. Records will show that my constituency of Five Cays was never deemed important enough by the former PNP administration to be included in any of their 4 budgets they passed from 20122016,” Hon. Astwood stated.

“Therefore Mr. Speaker, when the wonderful and hardworking voters of Five Cays demonstrated their confidence in me, and the PDM party on December 15, 2016, on a mandate of change. Mr. Speaker, I can truly say things have changed and continuing to change for the better, in Five Cays!”

Astwood told the House that over the last 3 years and 4 months, he has been “doing the work that the people of constituency sent me here to do”.

He stated: “In my first year I resurfaced the road to Sandbar Street with grading works, and in partnership with a corporate citizen was able to beautify the entrance into Five Cays Proper and Chalk Sound by having proper landscaping installed around the welcome signs that I installed in those areas during my time in opposition. Mr. Speaker, I must state that the welcome to Five Cays sign has became the gold standard as I have seen this design used for various signs throughout the Grand Turk communities and soon will be prevalent in communities throughout Providenciales.”

“During last year’s Budget address, I told my constituents that three of their roads were going to be paved, namely the road to the radar station, Granny

Hill, and Matilda way. I can stand here today and state those roads are 99.9% completed. In addition to those roads, I have addressed a long-standing issue on South Dock Highway where water use to settle resulting in many accidents over the years and tragically the loss of life. That has now been fixed,” Astwood added.

He also reported that with support from the Ministry of Health, the Mobile Clinic has a schedule where it visits the community and addresses the basic health needs of residents requiring their services. There are also persons cleaning the community streets and regular pickups of the garbage.

“The items I have listed so far has resulted in more tourist venturing into Five Cays, more investment into my community by Turks and Caicos Islanders. More entrepreneurs like Katz Kitchen, Papa Cardi, Omar’s beach Hut, and Stephanie’s Kitchen offering their delicious meals. The local economy in Five Cays is on an upward trend. Mr. Speaker, this year’s budget continues to build on the last 3 years and 4 months initiatives. I have many residents reaching out to me asking when will their roads be paved ,and when will they have more street lights, and the simple answer is, as different phases of Operation Facelift continues to be rolled out, every area of Five Cays will be addressed,” Astwood added.

He noted that the PDM government has already spent millions in Five Cays, South Dock and Chalk Sound the last

Deputy Premier and MP for Five Cays, South Dock and Chalk Sound

three plus years and will spend $3million more.

Roads include: the area around the end of the airport, from the Fortis Roundabout to the Entrance of Five Cays, Rigby Hil, Sand Bar Street, Five Cays Cemetery Entrance Wall - $20K, New Block for Enid Capron Primary School $1.9M, A Boat Ramps for our local fishermen - $60K, Chalk Sound Green Park $500K, Jetty for the Felix Morley Community Center. $150K, Sapodilla Bay Beach Access Development, additional Road maintenance works $150K

“I will continue work to fulfill all the phases of Operation Facelift and listen to the suggestions of my constituents to ensure we together continue to improve the image and quality of life in our communities,” he added. “The residents of Chalk Sound and Silly Creek will be happy to hear, the land has been identified and the architectural work has been completed and tender has now been awarded.”

A call for national unity to fight covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has demanded previously unheard of nonpartisan, joint cooperative consultations between government and opposition in the mutual interest of both political entities and most importantly in the national interests of our entire populace.

Mature, genuine and prudent minds would understand the urgency of forward, visionary planning to salvage and restructure a now devastated economy that has forever been fragile and volatile having been based almost solely on tourism.

One would like to think that there are oodles of ideas and recommendations among politicians from both sides, private sector entities, non-

governmental organizations (NGOs) and the general public at large, regarding possible alternate industries that would provide for serious, sustainable economic diversification.

Of course all will not be workable, but obviously some will.

Unless and until such time as we as a Turks and Caicos Islands people, understand that political jostling and self-serving interest amongst politicians are no longer acceptable at this time when our social, economic and local political sovereignty are in serious jeopardy, hence threatening not only the wellbeing of citizens and residents alike, but threatening our very survival.

We need to unite and pool our intellectual resources,

whether they be academic, technical or street wise, for the good of all of us.

Right now, before this pandemic is under control, even the unwise would have realized that we are already living in a different world that will demand different approaches and perspectives; that would demand cooperation among our population beginning at the governmental level.

I am hereby, in all sincerity, calling on our citizens, residents and political parties, to unite and fight this fight together with visionary strategy, with love and mutual respect for our mutual benefit.

May God bless us all as He abundantly blesses our Beautiful

By Nature Turks and Caicos Islands.

By Oswald Skippings Former Chief Minister

Page 12

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

Government purchases National Stadium

By Todeline Defralien

The Turks and Caicos Islands government is now the rightful owners of the National Stadium in Providenciales.

Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson announced the purchase of the National Stadium during a House of Assembly meeting on Tuesday April 21st.

She said, “Some years ago we wanted an imperfect arrangement and invested The National Stadium millions of dollars on someone is no small accomplishment. else’s property. Over the past This is truly now the people’s few months my government stadium.”

The National Stadium has successfully negotiated and purchased, and are now the in Venetian Road, in April 2007 rightful and registered owners hosted what is widely regarded of the National Stadium. This as the best CARIFTA Games.

A dispute has been on-going for several years between the British Collegiate High School (BCHS) and the Government. British Collegiate High School owned the land the Government-funded stadium

was built on in 2007.

The TCI Education Foundation, which manages BCHS, took proprietorship of the stadium some years ago to force an agreement between itself and the Government about ownership and management of the property.

When the dispute arose, the foundation had expressed its wish to put in place a formal and fair arrangement, which recognised the interests of both the public and the foundation, as well as ensured transparent management of the stadium.

It had also announced that such an arrangement would include a provision giving the Government the option to buy the land if it wanted to.

Yello Media Group wins big at Association of Directory Publishers (ADP) Convention

Yello Media Group was honored with the big prize – Publisher of the Year, as well as the Directory Excellence Award for Digital Directory of the Year, at this year’s Association of Directory Publishers’(ADP) annual Convention and Partners Tradeshow, held in Oklahoma City. The ADP annual convention recognizes publishers and partner members for outstanding directory and marketing products and innovations in print, mobile and online.

Commenting on the outcome of the ADP awards, Lisa Beauchamp, Director of Marketing for Yello Media Group stated, “It’s extremely humbling and gratifying to receive recognition from our publishing peers in North America. We submitted entries for multiple categories and the competition to win was tough. So to be awarded two of the most prestigious awards by ADP is a significant achievement. Each directory we publish represents a team effort. So well done Team Yello”.

“Yello Media Group winning Publisher of the Year and Directory Excellence Award for its online directory,

www.findyello.com, is truly an accomplishment and honor,” said Cindi Aldrich, ADP President and CEO. “This annual competition celebrates a tradition of 25-plus years that recognizes the innovative directory covers, creative advertising campaigns and the mobile and online content that showcase the strengths of the directory publishing industry.”

The full listing of Yello Media’s achievements at this year’s ADP Awards are as follows: Winner •Publisher of the Year •Directory Excellence Award for Digital Directory of the Year – FindYello •Excellence in Marketing for 3rd Place •Directory of the Year 50,000 Best Advertiser’s Website – and Under – Guernsey Worthy Park Estate Ltd. •Excellence in Cover Design and Art for Product 2nd Place Branding – •Excellence in Marketing for Jamaica Best Social Media Strategy Yello Media Group •Excellence in Cover Design is the leading provider of and digital media and marketing Art (Print) – Belize solutions operating across •Excellence in Ad Effectiveness and Design – 20 countries in the English Caribbean and Cayman’s Auto Body Works speaking Central & South America. and Paint Ad Their digital solutions and

directory products create seamless connections with businesses and their customers online and offline.

The Association of Directory Publishers (ADP), is the oldest international trade association representing the directory publishing industry since 1898. ADP membership includes print and online publishers, app developers and designers, advertising agencies and suppliers to the directory publishing industry.

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 13

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.

• Limit how often your refrigerator is opened.

• Keep your refrigerator at 37-40 degrees and your freezer at 5 degrees Celsius.

• When using your oven, reduce how often you open to check on food, to save electricity and speed up cooking times.

• Use your microwave to cook as often as you can.

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 14

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

Shaken Pyramids

If you have been a client of mine, or in any of my training sessions, you know that I just about always have Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in my back pocket to pull out at any time to analyze human motivation and behaviors.

This period, as we watch and feel the direct and indirect effects of Covid-19, I can’t help but see how relevant understanding Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is to this time. Understanding it cannot only provide you with insights about your behaviors, but also about the behaviors of your colleagues, your children, community members etc.

Abraham Maslow created a pyramid to highlight that our needs fall on different levels. The first three levels of the pyramid are our basic needs, which relate to our an eye, their pyramid level has been shaken. They went from wanting to physiological and safety needs.

Once these needs are met, set up a play area for their child at an individual begins to move up home, or to have church friends over to the higher needs which relate for lunch, to being unable to interact to love, belonging, esteem and with others, worrying about their self-actualization. Maslow’s theory health, and their ability to provide clearly outlines that satisfying the basic food and water for their family. lower levels of needs are essential Their motivations at the ‘Love and for you to be able to move up to Belonging’ level are light years away the higher levels of needs and must from where they are now at the physiological level. They are now remain present. willing to do whatever they need

Here is a quick breakdown of to do to ensure that their family is each level. taken care of…even if that means Self-Actualization: When one is disobeying curfew to go to the functioning on this level, they are neighbors for some rice, or to the driven by the motivation to be their lady down the road that will provide drinking water on credit. best self.

Take another mental walk Esteem: This level is related to the with me.

For this mental walk, let’s way we see, appreciate and respect discuss a young professional: one ourselves. that has recently returned home to Love and Belonging: On this level a high-power job and is at the top we want to feel as though we are of their game.

They have recently loved and supported and that we can bought a fabulous new condo. provide love and support to others.

They eat, breathe and sleep self Safety: This level refers to our need development and building their to feel physically and psychologically personal brand, as they know where safe.

Physiological: This level is where they want to be, how they want to our basic biological needs such as get there, and by when.

Like the character in our our need for food, water and sleep first mental walk, as Covid-19 reside. makes its way to Turks and Caicos

Now that you have a basic Islands, they begin to get concerned. understanding of this pyramid, Now working from home, they are take a mental walk with me. Let’s working in isolation. No more water imagine an individual functioning cooler chats, no more impromptu at ‘Love and Belonging.’ They have a lunch dates. The beautiful condo relatively good job and can take care that they loved to entertain at, no of the basic physiological and safety longer has anyone to entertain.

They find that when they sit needs of their family. down to work, they cannot focus.

They start to hear about this They are anxious, irritated and begin Covid-19 illness, and they proceed to worry every time they feel a tingle with caution; based on what is in their throat. being seen on the news abroad, this They scroll social media is a serious thing. Then they hear wondering why they feel so that there is a case in the Turks and exhausted, but their peers are Caicos Islands. Then their hours are managing to learn new languages cut at work. and launch new business ideas on

Then within a week, they are IGTV or through their Facebook no longer working. With a blink of

By Yolande Robinson, B.Ed., M.Ed.

lives. This individual is no longer concerned with the behaviors at the ‘self-actualization’ and ‘esteem’ levels, but is now focused on ‘love and belonging.’

For the last few weeks, I have had a lot of questions related to innovative ways to educate during this time, to provide services and basically to take advantage of the captive market as so many individuals are looking for solutions at this time.

Yolande Robinson, the entrepreneur whose children are usually in school, who makes a steady salary and who is normally blessed to have awesome house help…would have been all over that!

The current Yolande Robinson is taking it one day at a time. Although I don’t think my entrepreneur brain ever takes a break, my motivations shift to activities that will provide physical and psychological safety for my family and for those in my tribe.

This Yolande Robinson has no problem abandoning the schedule for a family game of Uno with a side of popcorn, because all the business ideas brewing will not be able to take flight if the bottom three levels of my pyramid are not stable.

My advice during this time is to take things one day at a time. Focus your energy on the now. Be present with those in your household and do what you can.

Be compassionate with others, as many pyramid levels have been hit with the force that Hurricane Irma was felt here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, but moving as slowly as Hurricane Dorian moved over The Bahamas. Let judgement go out the window. Rather than judge behaviors, see how you can help… from a distance of course. How can you add value during this time?

For those of you that have managed to stay on the same level

CONTACT (649)-348-6838 or EMAIL: sun@suntci.com Affordable Rates | High volume traffic | Reliable

of the pyramid, but just feel a little ‘off,’ know that some days you will be more productive than others.

Some days you will be on top of your child’s home learning assignments and super focused in your work Zoom calls, and some days the family may all abandon ‘the right thing to do’ and overdose on technology time.

Take deep breaths, reset daily, work from where you are, and give yourself grace.

Be safe my friends. * Yolande Robinson is the owner of Learn and Lead Educational Center. She possesses a Master of Education in Educational Psychology from McGill University.

Yolande is an educator, workshop facilitator, speaker, coach and consultant helping individuals, locally and internationally, reach their personal and professional potential. She resides in the Turks and Caicos Islands with her husband and three young children.

Lupo Location: K-105 Ventura Drive, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Is seeking a Sales & Marketing Manager Candidates must have at least 7-10 years managerial experience Be able to drive sale and have a proven record of company growth Must have a network of clients, agents and vendors to solicit Complete understanding of COG pertaining to inventories and purchasing Be able to manage teams and form leadership Advanced computer skills are a must, along with accounting and budget forecasting.

Salary base is 10$/hr, based on experience Positions is currently held by a work permit holder Please send resume and references to info@lupo.tc or call 431-5876 Interested Turks & Caicos Islander applicants must send a copy of their resume to the Labour Board

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 15

LOCAL NEWS

Economic plan after lockdown and a new stimulus plan needed

Testing times, call for testing measures. Having consume & digest our government’s stimulus plan, many have come to understand that its lacking in several key areas and has fallen well short of stimulating our economy or assisting the majority of local & vulnerable Turks Islanders and their businesses.

Make no mistake here, the result of a stimulus plan that fails to help the majority of Turks Islanders across all sectors, will result in the emergence of a much different Turks and Caicos post Covid-19 that will not include our local people.

Turks and Caicos run businesses and enterprises will cease to exist. Our government cannot afford to miss the opportunity to protect our people and encourage businesses to operate in order to keep locals on payroll and safeguard against a total collapse of our business sector.

Prior to the Government’s reveal of their stimulus plan, I laid out a road map of 19 suggestions for consideration. Suggestions that would ease the burden of Turks and Caicos Islanders, whether employers or employees, help to stimulate the economy and create new employment opportunities while helping to make us a more self-sufficient nation.

This is the direction we must move in now. The world is changing and we need to progress in order to not only survive but thrive in the midst of adversity.

Our people’s patience has been tested by the stimulus package, which is now being widely regarded as a stimulack package.

It’s a stimu-lack because: i. It outrageously lacks a people centered and business stimulating approach;

iii. It refuses to recognize that almost every single business in this country is in fact tourism related iv. For small business owners; this package lacks the waiver of business license fees for ALL businesses regardless of the categories; as well as it lacks the freezing of NIB, NHIP and crown land payments; Our gov’t has restricted our business owners ability to conduct proper business, however, has not restricted their collection of fees v. For business owners; it lacked the provision(s) for unsecured loans up to $30,000. TCI is only as strong as our local economy. business owners need access to these loans for their economic survival. vi. For landlords; our gov’t’s current package lacks payment of affected employees rent to landlords but the threat issued to landlords have caused confusion for many tenants and landlord who are depending on rental income to feed themselves and their families; vii. For the 3 farms of North Caicos, this disaster could prove a brilliant opportunity to rapidly expand on projects for food self-sufficiency, yet this package lacks any engagement with the three farms on North Caicos- Not only can this save our farms now, it can provide sustainability beyond for years to come…Yet…it is not even mentioned viii. According to the Stimulack, car rental companies and restaurants receive no assistance at all. ix. it lacks a wholesale review of all the industries and it failed to established proactive measures to minimize the economic fall out for all other stakeholders besides the hotel industry prior to declaring the ‘lockdown’ order.

ii. ALL displaced employees are not allowed to collect the $1200.00 cheque; this is NOT all encompassing.

This is It’s not too late to selective. progress this stimu-lack into a

stimulus – There is a solution.

Given that Parliament is the week of the 20th April, Government should revise the stimulus package and address these 9 areas which were neglected.

LOCALS ARE SUFFERING

Many of our longstanding residents live in rural areas, and are unable to get transportation to the only open supermarkets.

Many of them simply cannot obtain minimal grocery items for daily survival because of a lack of required public transportation and no money.

We must remember that none of us caused this pandemic, yet the consequences are dire for many.

I invite the Government to give permission for the mom and pop shops to reopen.

These stores serve their local communities and help sustain our economic system.

They sell small quantity of everyday staples varying from $1 per portion on up that our people badly need to survive.

These local stores are more likely to provide goods on credit to those in their neighborhoods.

Loans and concessions of fees will help assist many in doing this and may even develop growth opportunities otherwise not possible.

Many are saying that HMP inmates are living better than most of us, because we on lockdown cannot afford three square meals per day, nor indulge in any recreational activity.

It’s unconscionable to force another 3 weeks lockdown on us without ensuring that our people and communities have the ability and the financial means to restock groceries for an extended lock-down period in which our people have no say.

TESTING OF OUR ECONOMIC MODEL

By Mark Fulford

Our economic model is currently being tested beyond its limits.

The World Travel and Tourism Council has warned that it will take 10 months, minimum, for the Tourism industry to recover only after the covid19 outbreak has ended.

No one knows when this will be. This is our cold reality of what lies ahead for our economic model.

This must serve as a clarion call for our government to take proactive measures to start diversifying & progressing our economy along the lines I suggested nearly one month ago today.

We have already lost an entire month of growth and prosperity for our islands.

Planning to re-open our economy must begin immediately. I suggest first engaging local business owners in this discussion as this is the only way to ensure meaningful collaborations.

Unless the government takes decisive action to diversify our economy, poverty will increase and our economy will experience violent and disruptive times.

I am truly hopeful that the Government will answer my call and greet the nation with the NEW people’s stimulus plan!

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LOCAL NEWS

Thanks to COVID 19 - It is a different world now Introduction

As a result of the impact of COVID 19, the world will not be the same anymore. The COVID 19 has forced us to do things differently and this may be the way forward on how we live and work. It is no longer business as usual.

We are in a world now where the economic outlook looks bleak.

We are in a world now where we have access to multiple churches simultaneously online. We are in world now where some of us are forced to work remotely.

We are in a world now where the disparity between the haves and have nots may widened.

We are in a world now where there is an increased use of educating individuals online. Despite it being a different world now, it does not mean that your world must fall apart.

It may take a while to get use to this different world, but we will, and we will do so successfully.

Working remotely

Working remotely is not new for some people, however, with the lockdown and curfew measures in place, many of us had no choice but to work remotely. Now that we are

working remotely from home, many of us now need to reevaluate our plans as to whether we really need to expend money on rent or purchase a building to accommodate employees when they can work remotely.

I believe going forward more companies will encourage their employees to work from home.

This will save companies significant amount of money. Unfortunately though, this will not be good news for landlords. However, landlords can be creative and rent office space to companies by the hour or days when the need arises for companies to meet with clients and suppliers.

Of course, working remotely will not be applicable to all companies.

especially for colleges and University.

In TCI, we have two branches for our community college. Perhaps we can implement the online option at our local community college whereby courses can be taught simultaneously for the entire TCI via zoom or any other method. This will reduce the number of teachers needed at both branches thus reducing costs.

Personally, for me, I like

By Drexwell Seymour the traditional form of education whereby you are in the classroom themselves in a worst predicament. and interacting with other students. However, in order to survive we To me this is also education. cannot remain in the have not state However, it is a different word now and so we will have to be creative where every dollar counts and so and think outside of the box in this rather than having multiple college different world. campuses and spending significant money on building new classrooms, Conclusion Online Education perhaps we seriously need to explore online education.

Even though it is a different world

As a result of the closure The Haves and the Have nots now, all is not lost. I know many of of schools due to the COVID 19, us are worrying about what to do most teachers resort to teaching Prior to the COVID 19, we always next given the current circumstances. students via online. Of course, many had the haves and the have nots, the We have to learn to cope in this new Universities throughout the world rich and the poor. Now some of the world and one way to do so is to be already had this option whereby Haves have become have nots and innovative. I encourage many of us students were able to obtain their some of the have nots have gotten to enroll in some classes online and degree through online studies. worst. Many businesses are currently pursue that passion that is bubbling

Now that online education not operational and asa result they up inside of you. We can do this no is in place for elementary, secondary are not able to pay their employees. matter how different the world has and tertiary education, will this be Some of these employees were become. While we may experience trend going forward. It is certainly already living from paycheck to some setbacks in our lives, I believe something we should think about paycheck and so they will find things will get better eventually.

Once the outbreak is better contained, then what?

By Ed Forbes

Grand Turk resident

We should expect to see a number of curveballs. Until a vaccine is discovered and available to the masses, skepticism will continue as to whether or not the threat is truly gone. Each individual country will have to identify and create their own new normal.

TCIG will need to take a close look at gradual easing of restrictions in certain sectors.

Commercial fishing across all islands is one of them. Many citizens are not in a good financial position to afford meats and deli at the grocery stores.

Those persons wanting to acquire such licenses, an expedited process should be set up with

reduced fees. Failure to recognize this need, it will continue to put a strain on the government and further cripple the economy.

Experts have also recommended testing for the presence of antibodies to see who could be immune to the virus.

How about starting with testing of workers on the frontlines.

The aim should be to stop transmission of the virus.

For that reason, enacting a mandatory ordinance requiring the wearing of protective mask in public areas for a short period of time should be considered. This could be part of the solution to easing social distancing.

With having a tourism driven economy such as ours, we have to be very cautious.

These industries thrive on crowds of people coming from various countries which could put our own country at an even higher risk of reinfection.

Once our borders reopens, some kind of airport screening will need to be done on travelers from highly affected countries.

For inter island flights, airlines may need to leave middle spaces open to reduce the number of people on each flight.

It may take a while before the cruise industry get back to smooth sailing. Largely in part, due to the negative publicity associated with the Coronavirus virus outbreaks on several ships during the early days.

Consequently, recreational trips such as cruising for most

vacationers, will be less essential.

Therefore, we have to think outside the box and find alternate solutions to a path forward until the economy bounces back.

Some businesses may need to rethink their business model. For example, a restaurant can start offering family take out meal specials or deliveries. Now an unemployed taxi driver becomes a delivery driver etc.

We will probably see a lot of uneasiness as people still have insecurity about their jobs.

As reality begins to set in and if the economic crunch continues to grow over a long period of time, social equilibrium is critical. If not, law enforcement should brace for a possible uptick in social unrest and crime.

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Placing the Judicial horse before the Executive cart: practical answers for practical challenges in a time of COVID-19

By Courtenay Barnett – Attorney-at-law

Ladyship, the Honourable Chief Justice, Madam Justice Mabel Agyemang, directed to the Attorney General and presented Proposals, a Protocol and a Schedule attendant thereto as directives ( n.b. note the C.J’s own terminology: “ I am therefore respectfully asking the Attorney General to use all means possible to get these matters provided for:” so directed as of 10th April, 2002, which in the main sought the suspension of trial by Jury.

The purpose of this commentary at Part 1, is the examination of consultative, constitutional, statutory and regulatory mechanisms by which the EMERGENCY POWERS (COVID-19) (COURT PROCEEDINGS) REGULATIONS 2020 (Legal Notice 32 of 2020) were effected; Part 11 shall examine what in practical terms might be effective responses to the medical challenges which the C. On the 13th April, 2020 Corona virus impose on the the Attorney General issued a Turks and Caicos Islands. communique stating inter alia: “We appreciate and Chronology commend the proactive and consultative approach taken A. On the 20th by the Hon. Chief Justice in March, 2020, His Excellency putting these protocols in the Governor pursuant to place.” provisions enacted in the Quaere: So on the 10th United Kingdom in 2017 by day of April, 2020, a public Her Majesty’s Government by holiday followed by a weekend way of Order in Council - The including Easter Sunday, and Emergency Powers (Overseas the Chief Justice having asked Territories) Order 2017- His the Attorney General to “get Excellency utilised those these matters provided for” powers to declare a State of finds the Attorney General Emergency in response to et. al. stating that in those the immediate threat of the circumstances there was a Corona virus. “consultative approach taken”.

Quaere: Under what Really – with whom? specific section of the Further, in a Emergency powers Order congratulatory tone, the does the Governor find Attorney General et. al. also jurisdiction to abrogate the state in the same communique: Constitutionally enshrined “She has received constructive fundamental rights – or – is His and helpful feedback.”

Excellency at all empowered to So, from whom did permit the Chief Justice so to the Chief Justice receive do? constructive feedback from

Sections 4(1) and (2), at the 10th April, 2020 and over least on a proper reading seems a holiday weekend up to the to go, so far as relevant to “ (b) 13th April, 2020 when the human illness or injury; “ and communique was released then “(h) disruption of services jointly by the Attorney relating to health.” – thus a bit General, the Director of Public of a stretch to get to amending Prosecutions and the President or suspending the Constitution of the Bar Council? or governing the court itself.

Were the members of

Again, under section 6 the Bar and/or the Bar Council (2), the provision “(a) protecting consulted that weekend; was human life, health or safety;” the public ever consulted?

– or – even “(l)protecting or restoring the performance D. On the 17th April, 2020 of public functions.” cannot by way of a Gazette Notice be construed to confer or the commencement date permit any implied suspension of the Emergency Powers of fundamental rights (Covid-19)(Court Proceedings) provisions conferred under Regulations 2020 was the Constitution: surely the published to be placed in effect Constitution has not been on Monday the 20th April, suspended?

2020.

(Covid-19)(Court Proceedings) Regulations 2020 came into effect.

Quaere: Who drafted the document to which the Powers refer – was it the Chief Justice before the Attorney General – or – did the Governor simply adopt in much the same wording the directives of the Chief Justice which had already been scripted as of 10th April, 2020 with no Regulatory provision yet passed?

• While section 4 of the Emergency Powers Regulations references section 16 of the Supreme Court Ordinance, surely that is not the real issue, for under the Constitution at ss.

6 (1) and 6(9) it is enshrined as fundamental rights, as follows:“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.”

And

“6- (9) All proceedings instituted in any court for the determination of the existence or extent of any civil right or obligation or to try any criminal charge, including the announcement of the decision of the court, shall be held in public.”

My emphasis: So where do either the Governor or the Chief Justice derive jurisdiction from to ignore those Constitutional provisions?

Surely, once the lock-down period ends then persons will on a daily basis be interacting in public places and so – what special category of ‘public place’ do the courts fall in to permit suspension of the foregoing provisions – 6(1) and 6(9) not to operate in unison?

• When viewed honestly is it not that the true position with regards to the Regulations:-

Juridical edict has overriden the Constitution’s provisions – and/or – the professing of the upholding of the rules of Natural Justice is not congruent with an honest B. On the 1Oth day of April, E. On Monday the 20th April, reading of the Constitution’s 2020 ( Good Friday) Her 2020 the Emergency Powers provisions. So, when it is by

way of Executive authority ordered: “ (2) A Judge’s duty to observe audi alteram partem rule of natural justice is not to be compromised because of the remote sittings.”

How so, when the trial is not public - and - s. 5 of the Emergency Powers Regulations make the Natural Justice breaches self-evident?

• How can ‘independence and impartiality’ of the judiciary be proclaimed to be still in effect when the Governor oversteps into the domain of the judiciary having due regard for : Public health considerations –yes – but by what intra vires route does the Governor arrive at judicial edicts?

Note: The document proposed bythe Chief Justice, was delivered before the Governor’s Regulation stating that there was authority conferred upon the Chief Justice via the Regulations, which had not then ( i.e. 10th April, 2020) been effected:“ Rules of Court, direction, etc.

9. The Chief Justice may, for the purposes of these Regulations, make Rules of Court under section 16 of the Supreme Court Ordinance or give direction for regulating the practice, procedure and matters relating to the conduct of civil and criminal business in the court, the execution of the process of the court, and the practice and procedure to be observed by officers of the Court.”

• Yet, it is via section 4 of the Regulations that the Chief Justice derived her powers (vires) to suspend and/or enact changes to statutory provision(s): “ Remote sitting 4. (1) During the period in which these Regulations are in force, the Chief Justice may make Rules and issue such order or direction as deemed necessary notwithstanding anything contained in section 16 of the Supreme Court Ordinance to ensure—…”

Yes, but the Chief Justice had already on the 10th April, 2020 effected said changes, in the circumstances chronicled Continued on page 21

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above, where on the 20th April, 2020 the Governor, belatedly, is conferring a power by way of what actual jurisdiction so to do?

Conclusion

I can already see a field day of arguments and opposition coming from defence Counsel in the S.I.P.T case on similar lines as I have here identified, on the specific issue of remote hearing for continuation of the trial by the presiding Judge.

The narrow legal point is that a ‘remote trial’ conducted via video directly conflicts with the constitutional right of a Defendant to have a trial which “shall be held in public.”

Notwithstanding the extant issues arising above, there are related concerns about the legality and constitutionality of what His Excellency the Governor has effected by way of Regulations, and such concerns relate to the upholding of the principles of English jurisprudence articulated in a case such as Leech - Regina v Secretary of State Home Department, ex parte Leech (No 2): CA. [1994] QB 198, [1993] EWCA Civ 12, [1993] 3 WLR 1125.

I share just a part of the ratio decidendi to make the point: “ Ratio: Prison rules were ultra vires in so far as they provided for reading letters between prisoners and their legal advisers. Every citizen has a right of unimpeded access to the court. A prisoner’s unimpeded access to a solicitor for the purpose of receiving advice and assistance in connection with a possible institution of proceedings in the courts forms an inseparable part of the right of access to the courts themselves.”

It is a short step to our own TCI Constitution to say with logical comparison that the “unimpeded access to the court” as defined as a fundamental right cannot be abrogated by reference to and/ or reliance on the Governor’s Regulations.

By parity of reasoning, I observe that in the United Kingdom, with an unwritten Constitution, where even the common law continues to accord a legislative supremacy to Parliament, even there a

constitutional right can inure, as I discern only if my reading is correct, that there can be no abrogation by the state, except if there is an express and unequivocal provision in an Act of Parliament ( i.e. in the UK).

Alternatively, by way of regulations whose vires is duty bound to refer back to legislation which specifically confers such specific power to abrogate.

It is clear that general words and/or implication and/ or inferences cannot serve the purpose and under proper judicial scrutiny cannot stand.

Since such rights in the UK will be creatures of the common law, since many ‘rights’ as recognised in the UK arose prior to expression being given to them through modern democratic political process ; so, when we get to clear and express fundamental rights in the Turks and Caicos Islands – what then?

The Attorney General might find it instructive to read R. v. Lord Chancellor, ex parte Lightfoot, [1999] All E.R. 583 (C.A.) (in which Simon Brown L.J. accepted the principle of Witham).

The operative principle is that a court should not easily and/or readily interpret an act of Parliament to infringe a fundamental right.

But, to save the day, the Attorney General will have to argue that sometimes an irresistible inference drawn from the statute read as a whole, rather than only from express words, conferred such a power.

But, we in the TCI have a written Constitution – so – how so?

The jurisprudential answer comes that where higher-order principles and statute (or regulations) are irreconcilable, the logical step is that the Court will make a formal declaration and order on the irreconcilability and rule on the established principle.

The established principle is that statutes impacting and/or impinging upon fundamental rights ( most definitely the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands) and now the Governor’s Regulations - must be interpreted to ensure that democratic decision-making

processes are not compromised and neither too the people’s fundamental rights.

The time has now arrived to test this concept in the Court(s) of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Thus, do the existing Regulations, in a situation where the Order in Council did not suspend the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands, not approbate in professing to uphold the rules of Natural Justice, while reprobate in clearly acting unconstitutionally in respect of the ‘Remote sittings’ provisions for any trial without a jury?

Since in England as many as 37,000 pending jury trials (Crown Court) exist, which arise in this time of preand post – COVID (which is not entirely clear) and this excludes the (lower) Magistrate’s Court and still England has no plans to attempt either “remote” jury trials of judge-only trials; and in Scotland the ‘remote jury trial’ idea was abandoned as unworkable if protecting fundamental rights was to be upheld; then why this rush in the Turks and Caicos Islands and in the manner I have accurately described?

There is a serious and urgent need for honest communication. Towards that end the following questions are posed for His Excellency, the Governor, The Honourable Chief Justice, The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General, so that the public can be accurately informed as : 1. From the 10th April, 2020, when the Chief Justice gave directions to the Attorney General regarding suspension of and provisions for ‘remote trials’ until the 13th April, 2020: (i) with whom did the Chief Justice consult before the 10th April, 2020, (ii) with whom was there consultation (all names please) between the 10th April, 2020 to the 13th April, 2020, when in writing the Attorney General confirmed that she (AG) had been consulted?

2. As of the 20th April, 2020 how many part-heard jury trials are there in the TCI?

3. As of the 20th April, 2020 how many criminal trials are trial ready and actually now

are awaiting trial?

4. Subject to the figures provided - then if England can ensure that fundamental rights for trials are upheld and Scotland has found the ‘remote trial’ approach unworkable then why have the Chief Justice and the Governor and the DPP and the AG found it necessary to have this rush to implement ‘remote trials’ via videos?

These questions relate directly to the integrity of process and to the vigilance which civil society needs to exercise to ensure that those in power do not abuse power.

When these basic questions are answered, as an evidentiary matter of general public importance, then the true necessary consultative process with the public might commence.

No less a legal mind than Lord Diplock in the recent Supreme Court case of UNISON, R (on the application of) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51, where it is stated:“77. Another important general statement was made by Lord Diplock in Attorney General v Times Newspapers Ltd at p 309:

“The due administration of justice requires first that all citizens should have unhindered access to the constitutionally established courts of criminal or civil jurisdiction for the determination of disputes as to their legal rights and liabilities; secondly, that they should be able to rely upon obtaining in the courts the arbitrament of a tribunal which is free from bias against any party and whose decision will be based upon those facts only that have been proved in evidence adduced before it in accordance with the procedure adopted in courts of law; and thirdly that, once the dispute has been submitted to a court of law, they should be able to rely upon there being no usurpation by any other person of the function of that court to decide it according to law.”

So too for the Governor’s Regulations in the Turks and Caicos Islands if any part of same be viewed as unconstitutional – then let the Court decide.

Is it the cart pulling the horse; the horse pulling the cart and if so, who actually did all the drafting, when, and in what sequence?

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LOCAL NEWS

Vitamin D – A Balanced Approach

You might have heard that adequate levels of vitamin D has been linked to better Covid-19 outcome when compared to persons who have lower levels of vitamin D in their blood. So, what’s this vitamin and how can you supplement your diet with it or take a supplement?

At this time, many physicians are suggesting that you do.

Vitamin D is found in fatty fish and fortified dairy products.

With the average diet, it’s relatively difficult to get enough from diet alone but your body also makes it from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to sunlight.

The recommended daily intake (RDI) is usually around 400– 800 IU, but many experts say you should get even more than that. It’s estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide have low levels of the vitamin in their blood. According to a 2011 study, 41.6% of adults in the US are deficient.

This number goes up to 69.2% in Hispanics and 82.1% in AfricanAmericans. You are more likely to have a deficiency in this vitamin if you have a dark complexion, are elderly or obese. Of course, if your diet in low in fish and dairy and you live in an area which gets little sunlight, or you stay indoors a lot, your vitamin D levels will tend to be below the optimal range.

Over the past decade or so there has been a lot of buzz surrounding vitamin D deficiency and its link to wellness. As a result,

the sale of these vitamins has skyrocketed and routine vitamin D blood tests are the standard at some medical practices. Despite its’ popularity, many physicians are still not convinced of the need to supplement and do not believe it plays as pivotal a role in wellness as many suggest.

in calcium absorption and bone metabolism. This is particularly important as we get older. Studies have shown a link between low levels of vitamin D in the blood and bone loss leading to osteoporosis, especially in post-menopausal women.

However, supplementation with vitamin D at that point has Is supplementation useful? does not seem to reverse bone loss! It seems therefore that getting

One of vitamin D’s most enough vitamin D throughout life is important roles is keeping your important for preserving bone mass immune system strong. Several and reducing the risk of developing

By Dr. Marsha Barnett large observational studies have osteoporosis. It may even help halt shown a link between a deficiency bone loss at a late stage but does not blood values should be monitored in vitamin D and respiratory tract seem to reverse the damage that has when taking these vitamins long infections like colds, bronchitis and already been done. Low blood levels term. pneumonia. So, if you often become of vitamin D may also be a cause or Too much vitamin D may lead sick, especially with a cold or flu- contributing factor to lower back to kidney injury in both people with like symptoms, low vitamin D levels pain, bone pain, and even chronic healthy kidneys, as well as in those may be a contributing factor. As pain syndromes. with kidney disease. Vitamin D is such supplementing with vitamin D required for calcium absorption and may cause an improvement in your Too much of a good thing? at toxic levels, vitamin D may result immune function. in excessive absorption of calcium.

Vitamin D supplementation Vitamin D is important for Elevated calcium levels in the blood may also improve your energy overall health. Even if you follow a can cause nausea, vomiting, lack levels and mood! In review studies, healthy diet, you may still require of appetite and constipation. Toxic researchers have linked vitamin D supplements in order to achieve levels can cause several potentially deficiency to depression, particularly optimal levels. However, it is possible dangerous symptoms, even affecting in older adults. Although all to have too much of a good thing! the rhythm and function of the physicians are not convinced of this Because this vitamin is heart. as the evidence has been thought fat soluble, unlike water soluble to be inconsistent, some controlled vitamins that your body easily *Dr. Marsha Barnett is a general studies have shown that giving excretes in urine, it can be stored practitioner who also specialises vitamin D to people who are deficient in the body and reach toxic levels. in dermatology. For questions helps improve their symptoms of Therefore, if supplementing you must or comments, please contact depression. avoid excessive doses of vitamin D. her at drmarshabarnett@gmail.

Perhaps the most crucial Generally speaking, 4,000 IU or less com or at Associated Medical role of vitamin D is the one it plays per day is considered safe but your Practices - 946-4242.

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A week of images from th

A

homeless man evicted from a squatters’ camp waited on a bus in Modi sought to make up for lost time by extending the world’s largest New Delhi, India. Another man slept atop a manhole cover in the lockdown to head off the disease’s peak. middle of an empty street in Barcelona, Spain.

Elsewhere, daily life and religious observances carried on, albeit

The coronavirus pandemic has upended countless lives that with many people wearing protective gear. A worker dressed head to toe were precarious even in normal times. India’s homeless population, in blue plastic cleaned windows at a hospital in Lima, Peru. A similarly for instance, was affected when Indian Prime Minister Narendra dressed volunteer carried a cross during a service for Orthodox Good

A body lays on a stretcher next to a bicycle before being prepared for cremation at a funeral home in Manresa, B A man looks on during the Utah Business Revival rally, calling for Utah’s economy to be reopened, in Salt Lake City o

A man sleeps in an empty street during Spain, April 17, 2020.

A woman wearing a mask as a precaution against the spread of the new coronavirus cries from her window while she watch

A worker wearing protective gear cleans inside the intensive care unit for people

FDNY paramedic Elizabeth Bonilla sprays herself with disinfectant after responding to an emergency call during the

Head mortician Jordi Fernandez prepar COVID-19 victim in an underground park

Medical workers pose for photographs as police officers and pedestrians cheer for them outside NYU Medical Center, April 16, 2020,

Nurse Cristina Settembrese fixes two m the COVID-19 ward at the San Paolo hos

A woman waves to a city worker dressed in a hazmat suit as he disinfects the streets in her neighborhood as a precaution against the

Emma Salvador, 84, supplements her oxygen as her son Jose Gonzalez watches over her in a makeshift tent set up at

Javier Flamarique poses for a photograph at his wine store in Pamplona, northern Spain, April 15, 2020.

Sergio Munoz turns the crank on a traditional organ, as his assistant looks for residents in their homes willing to donate a

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

he coronavirus pandemic Friday in Bucharest, Romania.

A body laying on a stretcher in Spain illustrated the strict virus precautions that extend beyond death. Since a state of emergency was declared in mid-March, Spanish funeral homes must follow measures to avoid further contagion. Infected corpses cannot be removed from sealed body bags and are placed straight into coffins.

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In the United States, protesters agitated for a lifting of the restrictions that have brought much of daily life to a standstill.

Demonstrators gathered in Salt Lake City to call for the Utah economy to be reopened. Gov. Gary Herbert says the state aims to reopen restaurants and gyms and resume elective surgeries in early May.

g the coronavirus outbreak in Barcelona,

A volunteer wearing protective gear carries a cross while walking around a church along with priests during the Orthodox

A woman and her brother attend the funeral of their mother who died of COVID-19, at the Poble Nou cemet

s a window as a nurse tends to a patient e infected w

An Indian homeless man sits in a bus as he is being evicted with other homeless people and migrant laborers from the banks of Yamun

Doctor Giovanni Passeri, top left, with his assistant doctor Mariaconcetta Terracina, has 82-year-old patient Mario read his

res a coffin before placing the body of a king garage

Instructor Lu Gomez leads an online yoga class from her home in Caracas, Venezuela, April 18, 2020, during a government-imposed q

Jacqueline Huber wears a face mask as she looks out from a doorway at a care home in Kaysesberg, France April 16, 2020.

masks to her face during her work shift in spital

Rajesh Dhaikar sits idle with children in his small house, in Prayagraj, India, April 5, 2020.

Relatives grieve Benedict Somi Vilakasi at his burial ceremony at the Nasrec Memorial Park outside Johannesburg, April 16, 2020.

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APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

Stuck at home, music producers battle while fans party along

When pioneering producers like DJ Premier and RZA, Ne-Yo and Johnta Austin, and Lil Jon and T-Pain went head-to-head in recent days by playing some of their most impactful songs in battles on social media, in more normal times, it may have answered the hypothetical question many music fans have asked throughout the years: Who is the better beat-maker?

But for Swizz Beatz and Timbaland — Grammywinning legends in their own rights — hosting a friendly competition while fans and artists are homebound due to the coronavirus was about giving back to the people.

“We don’t really like to use the word ‘battle’ — although it’s natural to say battle when two people are playing songs with each other. But this is more of a celebration, an educational celebration,” Swizz Beatz said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Me and Tim’s mission is to bring happiness, to help everybody get past this hard moment because we’re all being affected.”

The digital battles have been extremely popular and are part of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s “Verzuz” series.

Artists typically stream from their homes on Instagram Live, and the acts — a producer, recording artist or songwriter — must have a catalog of at least 20 songs that are considered hits to participate.

“Me and Swizz sit down and we really kind of curate the matches well. We try to do the unpredictable, not what people predict. And that comes with a lot of work on me and Swizz’s part,” said Timbaland. “We have to make a lot of phone calls to get these celebrations lined up.

It’s a process.”

Timbaland rose to prominence producing for artists such as good friend Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Aaliyah, Ginuwine and Nelly

This combination photo shows Timbaland at the 58th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 15, 2016, left, and Swizz Beatz at the 61st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

Furtado. Swizz Beatz has crafted many chart-topping hits for DMX, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Eve and T.I.

Both producers kicked off the series going toe-to-toe in a showdown that lasted five hours, followed by other notable matchups like The-Dream and Sean Garrett, Ne-Yo and Austin, Scott Storch and Mannie Fresh, and T-Pain and Lil Jon, the most-viewed battle-to-date with more than 280,000 live viewers. And while the singular requirement generally limits the celebrations to prolific veteran artists, younger producers such as Hit-Boy and Boi-1da have also participated.

“Before I did this with (Scott Storch), it was a lot of people that didn’t know who Mannie Fresh was — that’s the younger generation,” said Mannie Fresh, the architect of the Cash Money Records sound for artists like Lil Wayne and Juvenile. “It’s a whole other generation that’s growing up on us and that’s appreciating it.”

Ne-Yo, who has written for hits for Beyoncé and Rihanna, said he and Austin — who has won Grammys for penning songs for Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige — approached Timbaland and Swizz Beatz after watching The-Dream and Garrett’s showdown.

“Hip-hop is a little bit more popular than R&B right now, so for us to have roughly

Cast member Idris Elba, center, arrives with his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba, left.

Even though they only had mild symptoms, Idris Elba says he and his wife had 80,000, almost 100,000 people their lives “turned around” after contracting the in there checking us out at that coronavirus, calling the experience “definitely point, I just felt good to know scary and unsettling and nervous.” that it was that many people

“You know, everyone’s sort of feeling the that was there for a strictly kind way we have been feeling, but it has definitely of R&B situation,” said Ne-Yo, been sort of just a complete upheaval,” he told who was shopping and wearing The Associated Press late last week. a protective mask during his

But the British actor feels that there are life video interview with the AP. lessons to be learned, and the pandemic serves as

The next scheduled a reminder that “the world doesn’t tick on your battle is Saturday at 9 p.m. time.”

Eastern, with love song legend “I think that the world should take a week Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds of quarantine every year just to remember this taking on New Jack Swing time.

Remember each other. I really do,” he said. visionary Teddy Riley. The

The British actor and his model wife, original battle was delayed after Sabrina Dhowre Elba, spoke to the AP as they Babyface, 62, revealed he tested began a push with the United Nations to lessen positive for the coronavirus. the impact of COVID-19 on farmers and food

Timbaland and Swizz producers in rural areas.

Beatz say there are plans “People forget that 80 percent of the poor for women to participate in population live in these rural areas.” Dhowre Elba “Verzuz.” Eventually, they want said.

“What we are really worried about at the to take the series global with moment, and why we are launching this fund is musicians from all over the that those people are being forgotten.” world, and they are also open In their new roles as U.N. Goodwill minded about genres. Mannie Ambassadors, Elba and his wife, have joined forces Fresh suggested a Kanye Westwith the United Nations International Fund for Pharrell Williams matchup, or Agricultural Development (IFAD) to launch the DJ Quik battling a legendary East new $40 million fund.

IFAD hopes to raise up to Coast producer. Ne-Yo said it $200 million more from governments worldwide. may be hard to find a challenger

The actor believes people in rural and poor for his choice of Jimmy Jam and areas are likely to suffer more in the pandemic.

Terry Lewis, and a name that is “If you imagine being in a village where no consistently nominated is Sean one even knows the name of your village or your “Diddy” Combs. population, and that you live in a slum where

“You never know whose there is one room and six of you live in it,” he said. life you’re changing ... and this “Social distancing is almost laughable. is the time to inspire people,”

Both Elba and his wife have roots in Africa; Swizz Beatz said. “Let’s flip it Elba’s parents are from Sierra Leone and Ghana, around and celebrate each other while Dhowre Elba is of Somali descent. The pair for real by playing amazing went to Sierra Leone in December with the United songs that changed the world.”

Nations to see how IFAD has assisted people there.

Taylor Swift has canceled all shows, appearances for 2020

Taylor Swift is canceling all of her performances and appearances for the rest of the year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“With many events throughout the world already cancelled, and upon direction from health officials in an effort to keep fans safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, sadly the decision has been made to cancel all Taylor Swift live appearances and performances this year,” Swift’s representative said in a statement released Friday.

Among the shows canceled was a July performance that would have opened SoFi Stadium, the new home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams

Elba and wife, recovering from coronavirus, to help others

Singer Taylor Swift performs on stage in concert at Wembley Stadium in London. franchises in Inglewood, California.

Swift would have become the first woman to open an NFL stadium, organizers said.

Michelle Obama launches online reading series for kids

Michelle Obama launched a series of online video readings for kids with the classic picture book “The Gruffalo,” which the former first lady called the story of a mouse who uses his “wit and imagination” to get the best of a fox and other would-be predators.

“Mondays with Michelle Obama” is part of the PBS KIDS Read-Along series, and will continue through May 11. It can be seen at noon EDT on the Facebook and YouTube pages of PBS KIDS and the Facebook page of Obama’s publisher, Penguin Random House.

The livestream of Obama reading “The Gruffalo” quickly received tens of thousands of likes on Facebook. Other celebrities who have given readings during

Michelle Obama participates in the International Day of the Girl on NBC’s “Today” show in New York. the coronavirus pandemic include Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Garner and Demi Lovato, who also read “The Gruffalo.”

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 25

HEALTHY

LIFESTYLE

More deaths, no benefit from malaria drug in VA virus study

An arrangement of hydroxychloroquine pills in Las Vegas.

A malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals. There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care, researchers reported.

The nationwide study was not a rigorous experiment. But with 368 patients, it’s the largest look so far of hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin for COVID-19, which has killed more than 171,000 people as of Tuesday.

The study was posted on an online site for researchers and has not been reviewed by other scientists. Grants from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia paid for the work.

Researchers analyzed medical records of 368 male veterans hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus infection at Veterans Health Administration medical centers who died or were discharged by April 11.

About 28% who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone. About 22% of those getting the drug plus azithromycin died too, but the difference between that group and usual care was not considered large enough to rule out other factors that could have affected survival.

Hydroxychloroquine made no difference in the need for a breathing machine, either.

Researchers did not track side effects, but noted a hint that hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs. The drug has long been known to have potentially serious side effects, including altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death.

Earlier this month, scientists in Brazil stopped part of a study testing chloroquine, an older drug similar to hydroxychloroquine, after heart rhythm problems developed in one-quarter of people given the higher of two doses being tested.

On Tuesday, NIH issued new treatment guidelines from a panel of experts, saying there was not enough evidence to recommend for or against chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19. But it also advised against using hydroxychloroquine with azithromycin because of the potential side effects.

Many doctors have been leery of the drug.

At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, “I think we’re all rather underwhelmed” at what’s been seen among the few patients there who’ve tried it, said Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control and prevention.

Patients asked about it soon after Trump started promoting its use, “but now I think that people have realized we don’t know if it works or not” and needs more study, said Safdar, who had no role in the VA analysis.

The NIH and others have more rigorous tests underway.

As virus advances, doctors rethink rush to ventilate

When he was diagnosed with COVID-19, Andre Bergmann knew exactly where he wanted to be treated: the Bethanien hospital lung clinic in Moers, near his home in northwestern Germany.

The clinic is known for its reluctance to put patients with breathing difficulties on mechanical ventilators - the kind that involve tubes down the throat.

The 48-year-old physician, father of two and aspiring triathlete worried that an invasive ventilator would be harmful. But soon after entering the clinic, Bergmann said, he struggled to breathe even with an oxygen mask, and felt so sick the ventilator seemed inevitable.

Even so, his doctors never put him on a machine that would breathe for him. A week later, he was well enough to go home.

Bergmann’s case illustrates a shift on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors rethink when and how to use mechanical ventilators to treat severe sufferers of the disease - and in some cases whether to use them at all. While initially doctors packed intensive care units with intubated patients, now many are exploring other options.

Machines to help people breathe have become the major weapon for medics fighting COVID-19, which has so far killed more than 183,000 people.

Within weeks of the disease’s global emergence in February, governments around the world raced to build or buy ventilators as most hospitals said they were in critically short supply.

Germany has ordered 10,000 of them. Engineers from Britain to Uruguay are developing versions based on autos, vacuum cleaners or even windshield-wiper motors.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is spending $2.9 billion for nearly 190,000 ventilators. The U.S. government has contracted with automakers such as General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co as well as medical device manufacturers, and full delivery is expected by the end of the year. Trump declared this week that the U.S. was now “the king of ventilators.”

However, as doctors get a better understanding of what COVID-19 does to the body, many say they have become more sparing with the equipment.

Reuters interviewed 30 doctors and medical professionals in countries including China, Italy, Spain,

Marcelo Larrosa demonstrates the use of a ventilator powered by a motor modeled after a windshield wiper motor, in Montevideo, Uruguay April 9, 2020.

Germany and the United States, who have experience of dealing with COVID-19 patients. Nearly all agreed that ventilators are vitally important and have helped save lives. At the same time, many highlighted the risks from using the most invasive types of them - mechanical ventilators - too early or too frequently, or from nonspecialists using them without proper training in overwhelmed hospitals.

Medical procedures have evolved in the pandemic as doctors better understand the disease, including the types of drugs used in treatments.

The shift around ventilators has potentially far-reaching implications as countries and companies ramp up production of the devices.

“BETTER RESULTS” Many forms of ventilation use masks to help get oxygen into the lungs.

Doctors’ main concern is around mechanical ventilation, which involves putting tubes into patients’ airways to pump air in, a process known as intubation.

Patients are heavily sedated, to stop their respiratory muscles from fighting the machine.

Those with severe oxygen shortages, or hypoxia, have generally been intubated and hooked up to a ventilator for up to two to three weeks, with at best a fifty-fifty chance of surviving, according to doctors interviewed by Reuters and recent medical research.

The picture is partial and evolving, but it suggests people with COVID-19 who have been intubated have had, at least in the early stages of the pandemic, a higher rate of death than other patients on ventilators who have conditions such as bacterial pneumonia or collapsed lungs.

This is not proof that ventilators have hastened death: The link between intubation

and death rates needs further study, doctors say.

In China, 86% of 22 COVID-19 patients didn’t survive invasive ventilation at an intensive care unit in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic began, according to a study published in The Lancet in February. Normally, the paper said, patients with severe breathing problems have a 50% chance of survival. A recent British study found twothirds of COVID-19 patients put on mechanical ventilators ended up dying anyway, and a New York study found 88% of 320 mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients had died.

More recently, none of the eight patients who went on ventilators at the Abu Dhabi hospital had died as of April 9, a doctor there told Reuters.

And one ICU doctor at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta said he had had a “good” week when almost half the COVID-19 patients were successfully taken off the ventilator, when he had expected more to die.

The experiences can vary dramatically. The average time a COVID-19 patient spent on a ventilator at Scripps Health’s five hospitals in California’s San Diego County was just over a week, compared with two weeks at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem and three at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, medics at the hospitals said.

In Germany, as patient Bergmann struggled to breathe, he said he was getting too desperate to care.

“There came a moment when it simply no longer mattered,” he told Reuters. “At one point I was so exhausted that I asked my doctor if I was going to get better. I was saying, if I had no children or partner then it would be easier just to be left in peace.”

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CARIBBEAN WORLD

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

CARIBBEAN NEWS

NEWS NEWS

Caribbean tourism brands advised to put people first during covid-19 pandemic

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados Caribbean tourism brands, including destinations, organisations and businesses, must put people first in order to come out of the global Covid-19 pandemic stronger.

That’s the advice from Carla Santiago, the general manager of the Miami office of Edelman, a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organisations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations.

“It is critical that brands are able to sustain, remain and build their trust during this time. What is most critical that will impact brands in the short and long term is that brands are expected to put people ahead of profits during this pandemic,” Santiago says in a new podcast series produced by the Caribbean Tourism Organization

(CTO), entitled, COVID-19: The Unwanted Visitor.

The series, which is available on several platforms, including Anchor, Google Podcast and Spotify, as well on the CTO’s Facebook page, looks at how the Caribbean tourism sector can cope with, and recover from, the coronavirus crisis.

The first episode, which aired last week, featured clinical psychologist Dr. Katija Khan, who provided insight into how to cope with working from home while dealing with the pandemic.

In this week’s podcast, Santiago makes it clear that the welfare and well-being of both Caribbean tourism industry employees and potential visitors must be given top priority.

She recommends simple acts like compiling free resources to help

St Lucia Cabinet agree to 75% salary cut in face of economic crisis

Saint Lucia’s Cabinet of Ministers has agreed to a 75% salary reduction to help tackle the COVID-19 economic crisis.

Ahead of Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Parliament, Commerce Minister, Bradley Felix, disclosed that discussions regarding pay cuts for parliamentarians were in advanced stages, which would cause the Cabinet of Minister to take home 25% of their salaries.

“The parliamentarians were the first on the block as it relates to that,” Felix told reporters Tuesday, noting, “It is across the board.”

Discussions between the Government of Saint Lucia and trade unions who represent the public sector workers have been making rounds on social media platforms as the various parties negotiate salary payments for workers over the next three months amid the COVID-19 crisis.

According to documents from the Ministry of Finance, which has been circulating in the public domain, government’s monthly revenue has dropped from $110 million monthly to about $30 million over the last 2 months that COVID-19 has been affecting the island.

This has therefore created a cash flow crisis for the Government, which has to pay civil servants salaries of $43 million a month whilst also servicing debt payments of approximately $40 million a month.

Rumours about civil servants taking a 50% pay cut have been circulating, however, the Government of Saint Lucia and the various unions are still in discussion on the matter.

According to a letter sent to the trade unions from the Government, the following is proposed: • Workers in Grades 1-7 receive 100% of their salaries • Workers in Grades 8-18 receive 50% of their salary in cash and 50% in the form of a Government investment bond (For 3 months) • Workers in Grades 19-21 receive 25% of their salary in cash and 75% in the form of a Government bond (For 3 months) • Government pensioners receive 100% of their monthly pension

workers maintain emotional and the entrance of the restaurant and physical well-being or encouraging every single person has to wash their employees to use the time to learn hands before they sit at the table?

Can you provide wipes when they new languages skills.

The global communications sit at the table and people have the expert also stresses the need to give confidence you have sanitised their potential visitors the confidence that space where they are going to enjoy their entire experience is going to be their food? You need to think at that safe by reforming all aspects of the level of detail to provide safety and security for guests,” Santiago stresses. tourism operation.

She predicts that there will be

“You need to put yourself in those [travellers’] shoes. For example, much anxiety among travellers for a when people arrive at a hotel, is there considerable period post-COVID-19 going to be a luggage disinfecting and advises that the recommended zone before that luggage gets carried measures be put in place now in throughout the entire property? Are order to reassure visitors. people going to have to present a “You want to be first to medical certificate? Can you do your show the world you are thinking of entire check-in process with your them for when this [crisis] passes mobile key card and not have to and that you are ready to welcome interact face to face as much? When them before anyone else,” Santiago you show up at a restaurant, have recommends. you built a handwashing station at

Naval buildup in Caribbean not aimed at ousting Maduro, says head of US Southern Command

The top U.S. military commander for Latin America said that the Trump administration isn’t looking to use military force to remove Nicolas Maduro even as it expands counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean.

Adm. Craig Faller, head of U.S. Southern Command, said in an interview that the recent decision to double anti-narcotics assets in Latin America was months in the making and not directly tied to Maduro’s indictment in New York on charges of leading a narcoterrorist conspiracy that sent 250 metric tons of cocaine a year to the U.S.

Faller said economic and diplomatic pressure — not the use of military force — remain the U.S.’ preferred tools for removing Maduro from power.

“This is not a shift in U.S. government policy,” said Faller, who nonetheless celebrated that enhanced interdiction efforts would hurt Maduro’s finances and staying power. “It’s not an indication of some sort of new militarization in the Caribbean.”

The deployment announced this month is one of the largest U.S. military operations in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama to remove Gen. Manuel Noriega from power and bring him to the U.S. to face drug charges.

It involves assets like Navy warships, AWACS surveillance aircraft and on-ground special forces seldom seen before in the region.

Faller said the coronavirus did force some in

The U.S. Navy combat ship the USS Independence the Pentagon to rethink the Costa Rica last week and another timing of the deployment out of 2.1 ton interdiction a few days concern for the safety of service ago. members. While controls to He said growing protect the workforce have been instability in Venezuela is enhanced, it was determined leading to an “uptick” in piracy that over the long term, the U.S. in the Caribbean, although is positioned to take advantage he didn’t cite any statistics or of the disruption in narcotics evidence to back the assertion. supply chains caused by the He said the recent sinking of a virus as drug cartels scramble to Venezuelan naval ship after it source precursor chemical and allegedly rammed an Antarcticother inputs. hardened cruise ship without “We thrive in passengers near Curacao was uncertainty and are going to indicative of the readiness of try and capitalize on that,” said Maduro’s armed forces.

Faller.

“It was a bad day for

He cited two “quick them,” he said. “Their lack of wins” since the start of the seamanship and lack of integrity deployment — a 1.7 metric ton is indicative of how it all played seizure in the Pacific Ocean near out.”

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 27

CARIBBEAN NEWS

NASA spots millions of tons of sargassum in Caribbean

While driving along Seaview Road in East End, motorists with an eye for detail will have noticed isolated batches of orange vegetation floating on the sea before washing onto the dark grey iron shore.

The vegetation is sargassum, a seaweed that grows on the sea surface in the Atlantic Ocean.

Researchers believe the isolated batches could foreshadow what the Caribbean region should expect for the rest of 2020.

Last month, NASA’s satellites captured images which showed almost clear seas in the Western Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. However, photographs paint a completely different picture for the Eastern Caribbean, where a moderate amount of sargassum was recorded.

According to researchers from the University of South Florida, that moderate development of sargassum amounts to more than two million tons of the seaweed which will find its way onto the shores of the Lesser Antilles.

“In March 2020, the sargassum amount increased significantly across the central Atlantic,” according to an information bulletin posted on the USF’s website on 31 March.

The bulletin continues,

Dr. Tomlin Paul A set of NASA satellite images shows sargassum development between March and June.

Jamaican doctor warns of possible second wave of COVID-19

“In all [Caribbean] regions Antilles. combined, the total sargassum “This is alarming for the amount increased from 1.6 coming months,” stated the million tons in February to bulletin. “Looking ahead, the While acknowledging that a COVID-19 [approximately] 4.3 million eastern Caribbean will see large vaccine could be developed in another year, Dr metric tons in March, similar to amounts of sargassum in April Tomlin Paul, dean of the Faculty of Medical March 2015 (4.2 million tons) to June 2020.”

Sciences at The University of the West Indies, and March 2019 (4.7 million USF states that Cayman Mona, is warning against abandoning the practice tons).” and the wider western Caribbean of physical distancing as there could be a “second

For Cayman, which can expect small to moderate wave” of the disease. was inundated last year with amounts of sargassum leading

“It took us five years to get a vaccine sargassum, the crucial difference into summer. for Ebola.

We are optimistic about COVID-19 between 2019’s seaweed Last year, Cayman was — research is well under way and I think we can development and this year’s, is heavily hit by sargassum, with find, within a year, something that is safe... The the location. miles of usually pristine beaches challenge with saying how long before we are safe

In 2019, the majority of and rocky waterfronts buried is that, as we contain the outbreak through social sargassum in the area developed beneath the seaweed. distancing — yes, we can get containment and in the central and western To help combat the reduction in the cases, and we can get to a point Caribbean, putting Cayman at problem, government deployed where we say, ‘Hey, things are under control,’ but the centre of the tidal currents the Public Works Department, at that point you still have a lot of persons who which ferry the seaweed around. which was later reinforced have not gotten the disease who are vulnerable to However, this year the satellite with workers from the National exposure, and so we have the concept of a second images show the development Community Enhancement wave,” Dr Paul, who is also a family medicine in and around the lower Lesser Project to clear the beaches. physician, cautioned.

According to the health care practitioner, the 1918 Spanish flu had three waves.

“So the question of, at what point... should we reduce the social distancing — because as we reduce we become vulnerable again — I would say we are looking for another year or so before we restrictions which Passengers will be able to Regional carrier, travel have a comfort point, at which point the disease LIAT, will be extending the means that passengers are rebook as soon as the airline gets endemic like the flu... It will be quite some resumes passenger services. suspension of passenger unable to travel.” time before we get back to normal,” he pointed services to May 15, in the Reifer-Jones noted, however, R e i f e r - J o n e s out. the Antigua and acknowledged that this was wake of the COVID-19 that

Dr Paul was speaking at a recent forum Barbuda based airline was an extremely difficult time pandemic. hosted by the Caribbean Sociological Association

According to Chief still operating cargo flights to for the airline, its employees to, among other things, examine the fallout and other stakeholders across Executive Officer Julie several destinations. occasioned by the pandemic.

The airline has issued the region.

Reifer-Jones, the extension

In the meantime, the faculty head said While the airline of the suspension was based an updated travel advisory for already the country’s health services would have continues to operate with on a review by the board all affected passengers. learnt some lessons from the COVID-19 experience.

Passengers booked a skeletal staff, she advised of directors and executive

“What the health services recognise is that during the period of that the airline was working management of the airline. our capacity is limited. We don’t have enough

“Several destinations suspension will automatically to resume operations across ventilators, et cetera. But to get some level of have extended their border have their bookings cancelled the LIAT network as soon as management at the health service level, we have closures and instituted strict and will receive full credit. it was feasible to do so. to go to the health system and the public health system, and we have to go to the people.

“The sociology and the behaviour become critical because all these things, social distancing, Caribbean Tourism Launches Caribbean Dreaming Campaign et cetera, if it works, actually helps the health CTO officials also

The Caribbean Tourism comforting images and videos service to manage the thing better,” he stated.

Organization has launched from member countries, but said the CTO UK chapter

“We tend to think disease and infection, launched an eighta campaign to bring tourists nothing that promotes festivals has and we tend to think medicine and injection, #CaribbeanDreaming back - when the time is right. or major gatherings since we week but this response that is called for is very much “We are working with our wish to respect the physical campaign which aims to a behavioural one, it is a psychological one, it is reassure and engage consumers member countries on distancing message. not an injection, at this point in time, that will fix a #CaribbeanDreaming “We use the hashtags and the trade and ensure they this,” Dr Paul added. campaign in which we implore # C a r i b b e a n D r e a m i n g are ready for a rebound once

Responding to concerns about Jamaica’s potential visitors to stay home #OneCaribbean and the COVID-19 outbreak abates. dependency on imports as well as the implications and stay safe, but reassuring #Countr y’snameDreaming, #CaribbeanDreaming is being for research in the Caribbean, he said: “I think we them that when it’s safe to travel or the member country’s promoted via the CTO websites have a role to play. Some of our researchers here again we’ll be ready to welcome preferred hashtag. Several of and social media channels, at the university are involved in an international them and to engage consumers our members and partners featuring a range of resources research drive to do trials and vaccines and so, but and the trade,” officials are also doing their own to inspire consumers and help we have a lot of indigenous materials and plants said. “It’s a simple campaign; #Dreaming campaigns and this agents plan clients’ holidays. and resources that we need to look at to see how it the content is relaxing and complements what they do.” can impact on COVID-19.

LIAT passenger flights further suspended until May 15

Page 28

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

CARIBBEAN NEWS

Branson offers Caribbean island to secure Virgin bailout

Sir Richard Branson has pledged his luxury island resort as collateral to help get a UK government bailout of his stricken airline Virgin Atlantic.

The billionaire Virgin Group boss said in an open letter to staff he was not asking for a handout, but a commercial loan, believed to be £500m.

The airline’s survival was in doubt, and his Necker Island home in the Caribbean could be mortgaged, he said.

It comes as Virgin Group’s airline in Australia enters administration.

Both airlines have been hit hard by the global coronavirus lockdown, and Sir Richard has appealed to governments in both countries for help.

However, he has been criticised for appealing for taxpayer aid rather than drawing on his huge wealth. Sir Richard’s fortune is thought to be well over £4bn. The large US airline Delta owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic.

Sir Richard said in his letter to staff: “Many airlines around the world need government support and many have already received it.” The crisis facing airlines, and the staff

they employ, was “unprecedented,” he said.

Despite his wealth, this did not mean he had “cash in a bank account ready to withdraw”. And he hit back at criticism that he was a tax exile who did not deserve help, saying he and his wife “did not leave Britain for tax reasons but for our love of the beautiful British Virgin Islands and in particular Necker Island”.

He said Necker would be offered as security for any loans. “As with other Virgin assets, our team will raise as much money against the island as possible to save as many jobs as possible around the group,” Sir Richard said.

Government support

In his letter to staff, Sir Richard said: “We will do everything we can to keep the airline [Virgin Atlantic] going - but we will need government support to achieve that in the face of the severe uncertainty surrounding travel today and not knowing how long the planes will be grounded for.

“This would be in the form of a commercial loan - it wouldn’t be free money and the airline would pay it back (as EasyJet will do for the £600m loan the government recently

Sir Richard moved to Necker Island 14 years ago. gave them).”

He pointed out that Virgin Atlantic started with one plane 36 years ago, before adding: “Over those years it has created real competition for British Airways, which must remain fierce for the benefit of our wonderful customers and the public at large.”

Sir Richard offered to inject £250m into the Virgin Group last month, with most of that going to the airline.

Earlier this month, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Heathrow airport and Manchester Airports Group sent letters to the government

Another blow for Vybz Kartel and co-convicts

The Jamaica Court of Appeal has ruled that the sentences handed down to murder convicts Vybz Kartel, Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John shall stand, but shaved 30 months off the time each must serve before they become eligible for parole.

The court handed down the judgement today, saying “save in one respect, the sentences imposed by the judge in this case cannot be said to have been excessive to such an extent as to call for this court’s intervention”.

Lawyers for the four convicts had argued before the Appeal Court that the sentences handed down by Justice Lennox Campbell on April 3, 2014 were excessive. They also questioned the integrity and admissibility of the evidence in the case as well as the conduct of the trial judge among other things.

Kartel, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, was sentenced to life behind bars, following his conviction for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. The judge at the time said he would be eligible for parole after serving 35 years.

His co-convicts were also given mandatory life sentences and have been ordered to each serve 25 years before becoming

eligible for parole.

On April 3 this year, Appeal Court President Justice Dennis Morrison, in handing down the court’s decision on the four men’s challenge to their convictions, said the decision in respect of sentence was further reserved, pending the receipt from counsel, within seven days, of a brief note concerning the time spent on remand by each of the appellants, prior to being sentenced.

Justice Morrison, who appeared with Justice Patrick Brooks and Justice Frank Williams also said the court would render its decision on sentencing in writing within 14 days’ receipt of that note.

Yesterday, the court said having regard to the contents of the note received on April 9, 2020 from Tom TavaresFinson QC, for and on behalf of the attorneys-at-law for all the appellants, the order of the court in respect of sentence is as follows:

Vybz Kartel 2. The period of imprisonment to be served by each appellant before becoming eligible for parole is reduced by two years and six months. Accordingly, the times to be served before being eligible for parole shall be as follows:

a. Mr Campbell - 22 years and 6 months b. Mr Palmer - 32 years and 6 1. Save as indicated in order months number 2 below, the appeals c. Mr Jones - 22 years and 6 of Messrs Campbell, Palmer, months Jones and St John against their d. Mr St John - 27 years and 6 respective sentences are all months dismissed and the sentences are 3. The sentences shall each be affirmed. reckoned to have commenced on 3 April 2014.

highlighting the importance of Virgin Atlantic to the UK’s manufacturing supply chain.

Australia struggles

Meanwhile, Virgin Australia - in which Sir Richard holds a stake of around 10% - is going into administration.

The carrier has been forced to cancel nearly all of its flights during the coronavirus crisis and been unable to restructure its debts.

The Australian government offered some support, but refused a request from the company for a A$1.4bn (£720m) loan.

All of St Lucia’s COVID-19 patients have now recovered

St Lucia’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Sharon Belmar-George has announced that all of the island’s COVID-19 patients have now recovered.

“As of April 22, 2020, Saint Lucia has a total of 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“To date, all of the positive cases of COVID-19 in Saint Lucia have recovered, with the remaining two cases who were in isolation receiving negative COVID-19 test results and since discharged from hospital.

This now places Saint Lucia at a 100 percent recovery of all COVID-19 cases.

Among the 15 cases Saint Lucia recorded were individuals who fell within the category of high risk by virtue of some being elderly as well as living with chronic illness.

They too recovered well with no complications or needed critical care.

Laboratory testing for COVID-19 continues to be conducted both locally and with the support of the Caribbean Public Health Agency Laboratory.

Saint Lucia has modified its testing strategy by testing an increased number of samples from community respiratory clinics; this would assist us in the assessment of COVID-19 locally.

Saint Lucia continues on the partial shutdown and on a 10-hour curfew from 7 pm to 5 am We remain at a very critical position in the implementation of the national response to the COVID-19 threat.

Large scale public health and social measures have been implemented in an effort to break transmission of COVID-19 when incountry transmission was noted.

The public must note that many of these measures need to be sustained in an effort to achieve low COVID-19 levels in country.

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

IMF forecasts difficult times for the Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda’s National Festivals Minister Daryll Matthew.

Antigua Carnival cancelled

National Festivals Minister Daryll Matthew announced Sunday that the twinisland nation’s premier summer festival has been cancelled this year, as COVID-19 continues to grip the world.

He said that Cabinet, during its discussions over the weekend, accepted his recommendation to call off Carnival which was originally scheduled for July 23 to August 4.

“Cabinet looked at the circumstances surrounding the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and agreed that the hosting of the activities at this time would not be in the best interest of the population in maintaining good health, which is the foremost priority of the government,” Matthew said.

“The festival is also expected to be affected by the projected negative economic impact the virus will have on Antigua and Barbuda. It was therefore agreed to cancel the celebrations and advised that the focus should be placed on the planning of Carnival 2021 which will coincide with the hosting of Carifesta XV here in Antigua and Barbuda.”

Matthew also said “the strong belief that the public will have no interest in attending social and entertainment gatherings during and after the COVID-19 pandemic” was another factor contributing to the decision to cancel the 2020 edition of the festival.

He disclosed that the Festivals Commission has produced an Independence schedule for this year which will be released when there has been official clearance that the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.

“We will continue to plan for the Independence celebrations in late October early November in anticipation that the environment would facilitate activities of this nature,” Matthew said.

Independence celebrations are expected to be held in the next six months, from October 24 to November 2.

Antigua and Barbuda has recorded 23 cases of COVID-19, including three deaths and three recoveries.

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The tourism-dependent instruments so it could quickly Grenadines.

Caribbean region is expected deploy resources to countries IMF Managing Director to suffer more than many of under extreme duress like those Kristalina Georgieva said at the its neighbors in Latin America in the Caribbean. press conference to open the as a result of the coronavirus “Now we’re working to meetings on April 17 that the pandemic, the International help them to fund their current fund has already approved loans Monetary Fund (IMF) outlined needs, given the significant for countries in the Caribbean during its 2020 Spring Meetings. shocks through the disappearing and is looking at what else it can

Alejandro Werner, head of tourism in the last four weeks do. of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere and that we continue in the On April 15, the heads department, said in a regional next few month,” Werner said. of government of the Caribbean briefing that he sees a “lost “We will continue to work with Community (Caricom) agreed decade” for Latin American and the region, depending on how to go together to international the Caribbean, and a situation the situation evolves, to find the lenders to borrow money to where Caribbean nations will be best solutions to their problems.” cover fiscal from the crisis. “severely affected.”

In its 2020 World On April 16, Jamaica

About half of the 16 Economic Outlook, the IMF asked the IMF for funding from countries in the Americas said it expects GDP in Latin the rapid financing instrument, seeking emergency assistance American and Caribbean to fall saying the economic spillover from the IMF are in the 5.2% in 2020. Werner said the from the coronavirus pandemic Caribbean, Werner said. decline could be worse in the poses “intolerable balance of

“They need extra Caribbean. payment risks” and threatens to support. That’s why we’re GDP is expected to fall undo seven years of reforms. working extremely fast to try to 5.6% in Jamaica, 4% in Haiti and In November 2019, deploy these rapid emergency 4.5% in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica concluded a reform financing instruments to the according to the report. It is also program with the IMF with a countries in the Caribbean,” he expected to fall 8.5% in St Lucia, $1.66 billion stand-by facility, said.

8.1% in St Kitts and Nevis, 8% bringing down its public debt by

The IMF sought to double in Grenada, 4.7% in Dominica about 50% of GDP from 145%, the size of its rapid financing and 4.5% in St. Vincent and the according to the fund.

Gov’t to repatriate Jamaicans stuck on cruise ships

The Government has bowed to public pressure, announcing yesterday that arrangements are being made to repatriate the 43 Jamaican crew members aboard Marella Discovery 2 who did not make it into the country despite being in Jamaican waters just over two weeks ago.

Speaking during a virtual press conference held at Jamaica House in St Andrew last evening, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith said the Government is in touch with the owner of the cruise line about arrangements to bring the crew members home, along with an additional 30 Jamaicans who have been identified as non-essential crew aboard other cruise ships abroad.

“So we have decided as a Government that we will engage with the owners of the line to bring those persons home.

This does, however, require the cruise line to undertake their obligations under the maritime labour conventions which guide not only Jamaica but they guide The Bahamas to which the Marella Discovery 2 is registered, and as signatory countries we expect international law to be adhered to,” the foreign minister disclosed.

Johnson Smith said meetings have been arranged for today between Jamaica’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom and the chair of the Jamaica Tourist Board on the matter.

She said while the foreign affairs ministry and the cruise

The Marella Discovery 2 on which more than 40 Jamaicans are stuck. industry do not generally relate, the ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and its agencies to find the best solutions possible to bring the workers home.

The Jamaica Observer first reported on April 6 the plight of the crew members, who said a request for them to disembark the ship when it arrived for refuelling in Jamaican waters on April 2 went unanswered by the Government. They are now in Southampton, England.

“So, again, the arrangements that will be made for those workers will be in accordance with the protocols to which the prime minister made reference earlier. There will be a broader discussion as the prime minister has said of the protocols as a whole but we will keep you informed. We, regretfully, have not been in direct touch with the workers.

We have been speaking with the organisation and you must understand that with thousands of workers overseas it would be a difficult thing for us to manage as a Government,” the minister

said Johnson Smith’s announcement followed a disclosure by Prime Minister Andrew Holness that Cabinet has settled on a road map for the “controlled” re-entry of Jamaicans abroad into the country, even as the Government approved the extension of travel restrictions imposed on incoming passengers.

Holness said that the country’s air and sea ports, which were ordered closed on March 24, will remain closed until May 31.

In the same breath, he said that this will be subjected to the controlled re-entry of Jamaicans in accordance with established protocols.

“Previously when we closed the border we allowed limited re-entry via a discretionary application to the minister of national security and then the approval of Cabinet.

Now we will have a protocol in place; the protocol has been established, and that protocol will control the re-entry of Jamaicans,” said Holness.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

CARIBBEAN NEWS

NEWS

U.S. House passes $500 billion coronavirus bill in latest relief package

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill on Thursday, funding small businesses and hospitals and pushing the total spending response to the crisis to an unprecedented near $3 trillion.

The measure passed the Democratic-led House by a vote of 388-5, with one member voting present. House members were meeting for the first time in weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lawmakers, many wearing masks, approved the bill during an extended period of voting intended to allow them to remain at a distance from one another in line with public health recommendations.

The House action sent the latest of four relief bills to the White House. Republican President Donald Trump, who backs the measure, said he would probably sign it into law on Thursday evening.

The Republican-led Senate had passed the legislation on a voice vote on Tuesday. But threats of opposition by some members of both parties prompted congressional leaders to call the full chamber back to Washington for the House vote despite state stay-at-home orders meant to control the spread of the virus.

The House also approved a select committee, with subpoena

and Republican Thomas Massie, known as “Mr. No” for his frequent opposition to spending bills.

“This is really a very, very, very sad day. We come to the floor with nearly 50,000 dead, a huge number of people, and the uncertainty of it all,” Pelosi said during debate on the bill.

Congress passed the last coronavirus relief measure, worth more than $2 trillion, in March, also with overwhelming support from both parties. It was the largest such funding bill ever passed.

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) signs H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program Healthcare Enchantment Act, an additional economic stimulus package that passed earlier in the week by the U.S. Senate, during a signing ceremony on Capitol Hill as the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease pandemic continues, in Washington, U.S., April 23, 2020.

The next step will be harder.

The two parties have set the stage for a fight over additional funding for power, to probe the U.S. response The $484 billion aid bill was state and local governments reeling to the coronavirus. It will have the fourth passed to address the from the impact of lost revenue after broad powers to investigate how coronavirus crisis. It provides funds Republicans refused to include such federal dollars are being spent, to small businesses and hospitals funds in the current relief bill.

Trump has said he supports U.S. preparedness and Trump struggling with the economic toll of administration deliberations. a pandemic that has killed almost more funding for states, and has

Democratic House Speaker 50,000 people in the United States promised to back it in future Nancy Pelosi said the panel was and thrown 26 million out of work, legislation.

Congressional Republicans essential to ensure funds go to those wiping out all the jobs created during who need them and to prevent scams. the longest employment boom in have resisted. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested in a Republicans said the committee U.S. history. was not needed, citing existing A handful of lawmakers radio interview on Wednesday that oversight bodies, and called the opposed the legislation, including states could go bankrupt, but said panel’s creation another expensive Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, later he did not want states to use Democratic slap at Trump. The who represents a severely affected federal funds for anything unrelated committee was approved on a vote area of New York and believes to the coronavirus. of 212-182, along party lines.

Congress should do even more -

Experts react with horror to Trump coronavirus disinfectant idea Doctors and epidemiologists have reacted with alarm to comments from US President Donald Trump that injecting disinfectant and exposure to ultraviolet rays could help people with the coronavirus.

“Trump is absolutely wrong and irresponsible,” Dr Eugene Gu, whose laboratory is involved in coronavirus testing, wrote on Twitter, adding “Clorox, Tide Pods and Lysol will kill coronavirus. No question about it. But if you are infected then the coronavirus is inside your cells. If you use any of those disinfectants to kill the coronavirus in your own cells then you’ll die right along with the coronavirus.”

Trump was speaking at the daily press briefing at the White House, after a discussion on work by government researchers on the effect of heat and sunlight on the coronavirus,

He first mused on whether light could be brought inside the body before moving onto the subject of disinfectant.

TROUBLE AHEAD

If it could “knock out the virus in a minute, one minute” Trump pondered, “Is there a way we can do something like that by injection, inside, or almost a cleaning? It would be interesting to check that.”

Trump has previously touted unproven treatments as cures for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, despite caution among health officials.

A man in Arizona died in late March after taking chloroquine phosphate - a substance used to clean fish tanks - after Trump repeatedly talked about hydroxychloroquine.

The man’s wife told TV network NBC News he had been watching the president’s daily briefings.

Earlier in the briefing, William Bryan, acting head of the US Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate said government researchers had determined that the virus survives best indoors and in dry conditions and loses

potency when temperatures and humidity rise - especially when it is exposed to sunlight.

Heat, humidity “The virus dies quickest in the presence of direct sunlight,” he told the briefing in findings that raised hopes the coronavirus would mimic the behaviour of other respiratory diseases such as influenza, which are typically less contagious in warm weather.

But the coronavirus has also proven lethal in warm, humid countries such as Singapore, raising broader questions about the effect of environmental factors.

On non-porous surfaces like stainless steel, the new coronavirus takes 18 hours to lose half its strength in a dark, low-humidity environment, Bryan said.

In a high-humidity environment, that weakened organism strength dropped to six hours and when the virus was exposed to high humidity and sunlight, it dropped to two minutes, he said.

Sunlight, heat and humidity weaken coronavirus, U.S. official says

The coronavirus appears to weaken more quickly when exposed to sunlight, heat and humidity, a U.S. official said on Thursday in a potential sign that the pandemic could become less contagious in summer months.

U.S. government researchers have determined that the virus survives best indoors and in dry conditions, and loses potency when temperatures and humidity rise - and especially when it is exposed to sunlight, said William Bryan, acting head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate.

“The virus dies quickest in the presence of direct sunlight,” he told a White House news briefing.

The findings could bolster hopes that the coronavirus will mimic the behavior of other respiratory diseases like influenza, which typically are less contagious in warm weather.

But the coronavirus has also proven lethal in warm-weather places like Singapore, raising broader questions about the impact of environmental factors.

President Donald Trump said the findings should be interpreted cautiously, but also claimed vindication for previously suggesting that the coronavirus might recede in summer.

“I once mentioned that maybe it does go away with heat and light. And people didn’t like that statement that much,” he said at the briefing.

Sixteen U.S. states are laying plans to restart their economies and ease regulations designed to slow the spread of the pandemic. Georgia and South Carolina are allowing some businesses to reopen this week - a move that health authorities say could lead to more deaths because they do not have enough tests to assess how many people are infected.

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World on brink of `a hunger pandemic’

The head of the U.N. food agency warned Tuesday that, as the world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, it is also “on the brink of a hunger pandemic” that could lead to “multiple famines of biblical proportions” within a few months if immediate action isn’t taken.

World Food Program Executive Director David Beasley told the U.N. Security Council that even before COVID-19 became an issue, he was telling world leaders that “2020 would be facing the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II.” That’s because of wars in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere, locust swarms in Africa, frequent natural disasters and economic crises including in Lebanon, Congo, Sudan and Ethiopia, he said.

Beasley said today 821 million people go to bed hungry every night all over the world, a further 135 million people are facing “crisis levels of hunger or worse,” and a new World Food Program analysis shows that as a result of COVID-19 an additional 130 million people “could be pushed to the brink of starvation by the end of 2020.”

He said in the video briefing that WFP is providing food to nearly 100 million people on any given day, including “about 30 million people who literally depend on us to stay alive.”

Beasley, who is recovering from COVID-19, said if those 30 million people can’t be reached, “our analysis shows that 300,000 people could starve to death every single day over a three-month period” — and that doesn’t include increased starvation due to the coronavirus.

“In a worst-case scenario, we could be looking at famine in about three dozen countries, and in fact, in 10 of these countries we already have more than one million people per country who are on the verge of starvation,” he said.

According to WFP, the 10 countries with the worst food crises in 2019 were Yemen, Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria and Haiti.

Beasley said in many countries the food crisis is the result of conflict.

But he said he raised the prospect of “a hunger pandemic” because “there is also a real danger that more people could potentially die from the economic impact of COVID-19 than from the virus itself.”

The WFP chief said lockdowns and economic recession are expected to lead to major income losses for the working poor.

He pointed to a sharp drop in overseas remittances that will hurt countries such as Haiti, Nepal and Somalia; a loss of tourism revenue which, for example, will damage Ethiopia where it accounts for 47 percent of total exports; and the collapse of oil prices which will have a significant impact in lowerincome countries like South Sudan where oil accounts for almost 99 percent of total exports.

As the U.N.’s logistics backbone, Beasley said WFP has played a major role in tackling COVID-19 by delivering millions of pieces of protective equipment, testing kits and face masks to 78 countries on behalf of the World Health Organization and by running humanitarian air services to get doctors, nurses and humanitarian staff into countries that need help.

He urged greater humanitarian access, coordinated action to deliver aid, an end to trade disruptions, and accelerated and increased funding including $350 million to set up a network of logistics hubs and transport systems to keep supply chains running worldwide.

WHO warns lifting of coronavirus lockdowns must be gradual

The World Health and health systems along with need to be ready for a new way Organization warned on the epidemic, Kasai told an of living,” he said.

Tuesday that any lifting of online press conference.

While the Western lockdowns to contain the spread “At least until a vaccine, Pacific has in recent weeks of the novel coronavirus must or a very effective treatment, is been much less hard hit by be gradual, and if restrictions found, this process will need to the epidemic than the United States or Europe, there has been were to be relaxed too soon, become our new normal.” there would be a resurgence of G o v e r n m e n t s an increase in cases in Japan infections. considering lifting lockdown and Singapore, among other

Lockdown measures measures should do so carefully countries.

Kasai also warned that have proved effective, and and in stages, and continue people must be ready for a new to monitor the epidemic the epidemic must not disrupt programmes way of living to allow society to situation, he said. So long as vaccination function while the coronavirus the coronavirus is circulating, against other diseases like polio, is being kept in check, said no country is safe from a measles and rubella. Otherwise Takeshi Kasai, WHO Regional potentially overwhelming the Western Pacific could face a new crisis when health systems Director for the Western Pacific. outbreak, he said.

“Individuals and society are already strained, he said.

We must adapt our lives

Trump order temporarily limits U.S. immigration during coronavirus crisis President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered a temporary block on some foreigners from permanent residence in the United States, saying he wanted to protect American workers and jobs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The order, an electionyear move likely to prove popular with his conservative base, is to last for 60 days and then will be reviewed and possibly extended. It is likely to face legal challenges.

Some critics saw Republican Trump’s announcement as a move to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis to implement a longsought policy goal of barring more immigrants in line with his “America first” platform.

“In order to protect our great American workers I have just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States. This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens,” Trump said at his daily news conference about the coronavirus at the White House.

He also said it will “preserve our healthcare resources for American patients” afflicted by the coronavirus.

Trump’s order could block more than 20,000 people per month from obtaining a green card of permanent residence, based on an analysis by the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute.

However, U.S. immigration services abroad and at home have largely come to a halt in the pandemic, which may blunt the immediate effect of the order.

Democrats and immigrant advocates have criticized the new policy as an attempt to distract from Trump’s response to the pandemic. The United States has the most confirmed cases and deaths in the world with at least 821,000

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 21, 2020. people infected and at least 46,000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

The measure would block immigration based on both employment and family ties, but not affect guest workers who enter the United States on temporary visas, such as farm workers and skilled workers in the H-1B visa program.

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals will be exempted, as will other prospective immigrants coming to the country to perform “essential” work to combat the new coronavirus, as determined by federal agencies.

The measure also excludes immigrants applying for the EB-5 visa program, which allows foreigners willing to invest in U.S. projects that create or preserve jobs to obtain permanent residence.

The order blocks the ability of relatives of U.S. citizens to seek permanent residence through their familial connections, if those relatives are outside the United States.

But it makes an exception for spouses of U.S. citizens and unmarried children under the age of 21.

Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties

Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said that while the order is limited in scope, it “will cause real pain for families and employers across the country.”

White House lawyers worked all day to craft the language for the order, prompting some officials to say the signing might have to wait for Thursday. But aides described Trump as eager to sign the document.

Trump won the White House in 2016 in part on a promise to crack down on immigration and has made the issue central to his presidency.

But many of his major moves trying to curb immigration have been challenged in court.

A person familiar with the internal debate at the White House said Trump and his advisers had discussed the executive order over the weekend and that the move was directed at his electoral base.

“He’s wanted this all along,” the person said. “But now under this pandemic he can absolutely do it.”

Trump signaled his intentions in a Twitter post on Monday and immigration attorneys representing businesses argued it would only further depress the economy.

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APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

WORLD NEWS

Empty resorts spell long crisis for Caribbean as coronavirus hits

No one is swimming in the turquoise Caribbean waters of Cuba’s Varadero beach resort, nor lounging on its white, palm-fringed beaches.

Its hundreds of hotels, shops and restaurants stand empty and eerily quiet.

The nearby airport, the lifeblood of Varadero’s economy, closed after Cuba shut its borders two weeks ago to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus.

Now, undisturbed by tourists, lizards scamper around the grounds of the luxurious hotels, on the hunt.

Across the Caribbean, similar scenes of desolation are playing out as the most tourism-dependent region in the world reels from a pandemic that has shut borders, grounded airlines, berthed cruise ships and sent much of the planet into isolation since mid-March.

From the historic towns of the Dominican Republic to the isolated coves of Tobago, tourism employs an estimated 2.5 million people and generates - directly and indirectly - nearly one-third of the region’s economic output, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

As a result, there are few places where the economic impact of the pandemic may be as immediate as the archipelago’s 26 small island states and dependencies, many of them already heavily indebted.

“Almost all my family, all my cousins, work in tourism,” said Maria Elisa Torres, who rents rooms in her

home in Santa Marta near Varadero.

“My cousin is a shopkeeper. She is out of a job. Her husband works in renta-car (company). He is out of job. My brother works with tourists on the beach and is also out of job.”

So far, the Caribbean region of 45 million people has reported only about 7,000 coronavirus cases and 300 deaths, the majority in the Dominican Republic.

Yet millions have already lost their jobs or revenues due to the outbreak.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a U.N. body dedicated to promoting the industry, last month forecast a 20% to 30% plunge in arrivals this year.

The Caribbean Development Bank went further, forecasting a 50% slump if restrictions continue until September and a 100% fall if the policies stay in place all year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts the eastern Caribbean, heavily dependent on cruise lines, will be among the hardest hit.

Carnival Corp (CCL.N) said this week it was canceling all sailings until at least June 26, while Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL.N) suspended trips until June 11 to ensure the safety of guests and crew.

In Barbados, the yellow cranes that line the port of capital Bridgetown stand starkly against a hazy blue sky amid the absence of any cruise ships. Usually six or seven ships would be docked here but the major lines have canceled their trips

well into the peak summer season, said Sheldon Layne, the manager of terminal operations.

‘A SERIES OF UNKNOWNS’

Just a few months ago, the Caribbean Tourism Organization - the local branch of the UNWTO - was in high spirits, citing a robust recovery for the region after many islands were pummeled by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

Now, the organization’s staff is working from home under a lockdown and scrambling to keep up with an unprecedented drop to nearly zero visitors.

Neil Walters, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s acting secretary general, said businesses are focusing on how to integrate new health protocols into travel to allow tourism to resume when restrictions gradually ease.

“We are really in a series of unknowns, searching to find what very well could become the new way that tourism could operate,” Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told Reuters.

In the meantime, authorities are trying to keep their tourism industries afloat and their people safe from the pandemic.

Jamaica has announced an $8.7 million package for tourismrelated business operators and workers, as well as a skills training program for people while they are idle.

A dolphin interacts with its trainer Carlos Padron, amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Varadero, Cuba, April 10, 2020.a

“Businesses do appreciate the government initiatives,” said Robin Russell, owner of the Deja Resort in Jamaica’s Montego Bay, who has applied for aid. He is paying staff half their salaries and using the downtime to do refurbishments.

“But it’s difficult, not knowing your cash flow,” he said.

NO BAILOUT Many Caribbean governments, hammered by the cost of fighting the pandemic amid a collapse in tax revenues, say they need financial help to weather the crisis.

The only Caribbean nation to benefit automatically from debt relief is Haiti, after the G20 group of rich industrialized nations agreed on freezing debt for the world’s poorest countries.

But the IMF said on Thursday that some eight Caribbean countries had already applied for emergency aid.

Gunman kills at least 16 in Nova Scotia in Canada’s worst mass shooting

A gunman who at one point masqueraded as a policeman killed at least 16 people in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia during a 12hour rampage, authorities said on Sunday, in what was the country’s worst modern-era mass shooting.

Among the victims of the shooting spree that spread across part of the Atlantic Canadian province was RCMP officer Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year veteran of the force with two children.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the gunman, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, who worked as a denturist, appeared at one stage to have been wearing part of a police uniform. He had also painstakingly disguised his car to look like a police cruiser.

Police added they had ended the threat posed by Wortman, who was dead, but would not confirm a report by the CTV network that the RCMP had shot him.

Wortman shot people in several locations in Nova Scotia, the RCMP told a briefing. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp the police knew of at least 16 victims, besides the shooter. She added there was no indication at this time that the killings were terrorism-related.

Police said there was no apparent link between Wortman

casualties inside and outside of the home,” said Chris Leather, the Nova Scotia RCMP’s criminal operations officer.

Several buildings in the town were ablaze and police exchanged gunfire at one point with Wortman. Probes subsequently disclosed he had also killed people in several other locations.

“We’re not fully aware of what (the) total might be,” said Leather.

At one point on Saturday evening, Wortman “appears to have been wearing - if not all - then a portion of a police uniform,” Leather said. But he did not specify whether the suspect had been disguised as an officer when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) monitor Portapique Beach Road, as a fire truck travels killings occurred. along it after searching for Gabriel Wortman, who the police describe as a shooter of multiple

“The fact that this individual victims, in Portapique, Nova Scotia, Canada April 19, 2020. had a uniform and a police car at and at least some of his victims. gun control laws than the United his disposal certainly speaks to it They said they had no idea what his States. not being a random act,” Leather motivation might have been.

Nova Scotia, like the rest of said.

“Today is a devastating day Canada, is under a stay-at-home According to the websites of for Nova Scotia, and it will remain order because of the coronavirus the Denturist Society of Nova Scotia etched in the minds for many years pandemic. and the province’s Better Business to come,” said Lee Bergerman, Police discovered the killings Bureau, Wortman operated a commanding officer of the RCMP late on Saturday after multiple denture clinic in Dartmouth, close in Nova Scotia. reports of shots at a house in the to Halifax.

The death toll exceeded small coastal town of Portapique, In response to a question, that of a Montreal massacre in 1989 about 130 km (80 miles) north of Leather said police would look at when a gunman killed 15 women. the provincial capital, Halifax. a possible link to the coronavirus

Mass shootings are relatively “When police arrived on outbreak, which has forced the rare in Canada, which has tighter the scene, members located several closure of non-essential businesses.

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

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WORLD NEWS

Harry and Meghan say they won’t cooperate with UK tabloids

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they will no longer cooperate with several British tabloid newspapers because of what they call “distorted, false or invasive” stories.

Meghan and Prince Harry told the editors of The Sun, the Daily Mail, the Daily Express and the Daily Mirror in a letter that they won’t “offer themselves up as currency for an economy of click bait and distortion.” The couple’s representative released a copy of the letter on Monday.

Harry and Meghan wrote that previous stories the newspapers published based on “salacious gossip” had upended the lives of acquaintances and strangers alike.

They said they would have “zero engagement” with the publications going forward but “believe that a free press is a cornerstone to any democracy.”

Harry, who is a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and sixth in line to the British throne, married the American actress Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in May 2018. The televised ceremony was watched around the world.

The couple later said they found the scrutiny they received from the British media as tipping into harassment and intolerable.

Their decision to freeze out the tabloids came as court papers revealed how Meghan and Harry pleaded with her father, Thomas Markle, to stop talking to the press in the days before their wedding. The pair warned him that speaking to the media would backfire and tried to

help him, according to text messages filed in Meghan’s lawsuit against the Daily Mail’s publisher, Associated Newspapers.

She is suing for invasion of privacy over a 2018 article that included portions of a letter she had written to her father. A hearing in the case is due to be held Friday in a London court. Associated Newspapers denies infringing on Meghan’s privacy.

Thomas Markle was scheduled to walk his daughter down the aisle at the wedding, but pulled out at the last minute, citing heart problems. The former television lighting director has given occasional interviews to the media, complaining in December 2018 that he’d been “ghosted” by Meghan after the wedding.

The court documents included texts in which Harry tried to smooth over a family embarrassment after a Mail on Sunday story revealed that the prince’s future father-in-law helped stage paparazzi pictures of himself preparing for the wedding.

“Tom, Harry again! Really need to speak to u. U do not need to apologize (sic), we understand the circumstances but ‘going public’ will only make the situation worse,” Harry texted on May 15.

“If u love Meg and want to make it right please call me as there are two other options which don’t involve u having to speak to the media, who incidentally created this whole situation. So please call me so I can explain. Meg and I are not angry, we just need to speak to u. Thanks,” he wrote. “Oh any speaking to the

What hospital are you at?”

Markle refused the offer of security, but said he was OK, according to the legal filing.

Meghan said her phone received a missed call at 4.57 a.m. on the morning of her wedding and that she did not speak with him again except in writing.

Harry has long had an uncomfortable relationship with the media, which he blames for the death of his mother, Princess Diana.

She died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.

Harry’s unhappiness with the media increased after he began Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess dating Markle, the star of the TV of Sussex leave after visiting Canada House in legal drama “Suits.” In 2016, he Londona accused the media of harassing his press WILL backfire, trust me Tom. then-girlfriend, and criticized “racial Only we can help u, as we have been undertones” in some coverage of the biracial Markle. trying from day 1.”

In January, they announced

Markle did not reply, but issued a statement through the U.S. they planned to quit as senior royals, celebrity news website TMZ saying seek financial independence and he had been admitted to the hospital move to North America. The split after suffering a heart attack. The became official at the end of March, court documents suggest Meghan and the couple are currently in was not aware he was hospitalized California, where Meghan was raised.

But Ian Murray, executive before TMZ reported it.

“I’ve been reaching out to director of Britain’s Society of Editors, you all weekend but you’re not said “there is no escaping their taking any of our calls or replying actions here amount to censorship to any texts…” she texted her father and they are setting an unfortunate on May 15. “Very concerned about example.”

“By appearing to dictate your health and safety and have taken every measure to protect you which media they will work with but not sure what more we can do and which they will ignore they, no if you don’t respond…Do you need doubt unintentionally, give succor help? Can we send the security team to the rich and powerful everywhere down again? I’m very sorry to hear to use their example as an excuse to you’re in the hospital but need you attack the media when it suits them,” to please get in touch with us…. he said.

‘Cartels are scrambling’: Virus snarls global drug trade

Coronavirus is dealing a gut punch to the illegal drug trade, paralyzing economies, closing borders and severing supply chains in China that traffickers rely on for the chemicals to make such profitable drugs as methamphetamine and fentanyl.

One of the main suppliers that shut down is in Wuhan, the epicenter of the global outbreak.

Associated Press interviews with nearly two dozen law enforcement officials and trafficking experts found Mexican and Colombian cartels are still plying their trade as evidenced by recent drug seizures but the lockdowns that have turned cities into ghost towns are disrupting everything from production to transport to sales.

Along the 2,000-mile U.S.Mexico border through which the vast majority of illegal drugs cross, the normally bustling vehicle traffic that smugglers use for cover has slowed to a trickle. Bars, nightclubs and motels across the country that are ordinarily fertile marketplaces for drug dealers have shuttered. And prices for drugs in short supply have soared to gouging levels.

“They are facing a supply problem and a demand problem,” said Alejandro Hope, a security

analyst and former official with CISEN, the Mexican intelligence agency. “Once you get them to the market, who are you going to sell to?”

Virtually every illicit drug has been impacted, with supply chain disruptions at both the wholesale and retail level. Traffickers are stockpiling narcotics and cash along the border, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration even reports a decrease in money laundering and online drug sales on the so-called dark web.

“The godfathers of the cartels are scrambling,” said Phil Jordan, a former director of the DEA’s El Paso Intelligence Center.

Cocaine prices are up 20 percent or more in some cities.

Heroin has become harder to find in Denver and Chicago, while supplies of fentanyl are falling in Houston and Philadelphia. In Los Angeles, the price of methamphetamine has more than doubled in recent weeks to $1,800 per pound.

“You have shortages but also some greedy bastards who see an opportunity to make more money,” said Jack Riley, the former deputy administrator of the DEA. “The bad guys frequently use situations that affect the national conscience to

raise prices.”

Synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl have been among the most affected, in large part because they rely on precursor chemicals that Mexican cartels import from China, cook into drugs on an industrial scale and then ship to the U.S.

“This is something we would use as a lesson learned for us,” the head of the DEA, Uttam Dhillon, told AP. “If the disruption is that significant, we need to continue to work with our global partners to ensure that, once we come out of the pandemic, those precursor chemicals are not available to these drug-trafficking organizations.”

Cartels are increasingly shifting away from drugs that require planting and growing seasons, like heroin and marijuana, in favor of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which can be cooked 24/7 throughout the year, are up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and produce a greater profit margin.

Meanwhile, the gummed up situation on the U.S.-Mexico border resembles a stalled chess match where nobody, especially the traffickers, wants to make a wrong move, said Kyle Williamson, special agent in charge of the DEA’s El Paso

A tunnel under the Otay Mesa area of San Diego, Calif. field division.

“They’re in a pause right now,” Williamson said. “They don’t want to get sloppy and take a lot of risks.”

Some Mexican drug cartels are even holding back existing methamphetamine supplies to manipulate the market, recognizing that “no good crisis should be wasted,” said Joseph Brown, the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Texas.

“Some cartels have given direct orders to members of their organization that anyone caught selling methamphetamine during this time will be killed,” said Brown, whose sprawling jurisdiction stretches from the suburbs of Dallas to Beaumont.

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TECHNOLOGY

Airbnb secures new $1 Record U.S. jobless claims wipe out post-Great Recession employment gains billion loan on top of A record 26 million Americans sought unemployment benefits over the last five weeks, confirming that all the jobs created during the longest employment boom in U.S. history were wiped out in about a month as the novel coronavirus savages the economy.

The Labor Department said on Thursday 4.427 million more people applied for unemployment benefits for the first time last week, down from a revised 5.237 million the week before. The median expectation among economists in a Reuters poll was for claims to have fallen to 4.2 million last week, although estimates had ranged as high as 5.5 million.

The latest data brings the cumulative unemployment benefits claims to more than 26 million since the week ending March 21, representing about 16% of the labor force. The economy created 22 million jobs during the employment boom which started in September 2010 and abruptly ended in February this year.

Though weekly jobless filings remain very high, last week’s data marked the third straight weekly decline, raising hopes that the worst may be over.

Weekly claims appeared to have peaked at a record 6.867 million in the week ended March 28.

Nonetheless, the report adds to a growing pile of increasingly bleak economic data. It also comes amid rising protests against nationwide lockdowns to control the spread of COVID-19, the potentially

$1 billion bond deal

Small toy figures are seen in front of diplayed Airbnb logo in this illustration taken March 19, 2020.

A woman looks for information on the application for unemployment support at the New Orleans Office of Workforce Development, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in New Orleans, Louisiana U.S., April 13, 2020 lethal respiratory illness caused by the virus.

President Donald Trump, who is seeking a second term in the White House in November’s general election, has been anxious to restart the paralyzed economy. Trump on Wednesday applauded steps taken by a handful of Republican-led states to begin reopening their economies, despite warnings from health experts of a potential new surge in infections.

“The U.S. economy is hemorrhaging jobs at a pace and scale never before recorded,” said Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of the West in San Francisco. “It compares to a natural disaster on a national scale.”

Last week’s claims report covered the period during which the government surveyed business establishments for the nonfarm payrolls component

of April’s employment report.

Economists are forecasting as many as 25 million jobs were lost in April after the economy purged 701,000 positions in March, which was the largest decline in 11 years.

The labor market slaughter adds to collapsing oil prices, retail sales, manufacturing production, homebuilding and home sales in reinforcing economists’ contention that the economy entered recession in March.

The National Bureau of Economic Research, the private research institute regarded as the arbiter of U.S. recessions, does not define a recession as two consecutive quarters of decline in real GDP, as is the rule of thumb in many countries.

Instead, it looks for a drop in activity, spread across the economy and lasting more than a few months.

Airbnb, whose home rental business is suffering as the coronavirus pandemic freezes global travel, has secured a new $1 billion loan just days after closing a $1 billion debt deal, the company said on Tuesday.

Parties to the new loan deal included private equity firms Silver Lake, Apollo Global Management, Sixth Street Partners, Oaktree Capital Management and Owl Rock, several sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters.

Silver Lake, one of the two investors in the debt deal days ago, is “one of the biggest players” in this new deal, said one of the sources.

The terms of the new deal are first lien debt, meaning these creditors would be paid first if Airbnb were to default, the sources said. The loan is for five years, with an interest rate of 750 basis points over the Libor benchmark, they said, adding that it was sold at a slight discount to the loan’s par value which would see investors earn a rate of around 12%.

The sources requested anonymity as the matter is private. Apollo, Oaktree, Silver Lake, Owl Rock and Sixth Street declined to comment.

The advisers on the new deal were Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, Airbnb said.

Last week’s $1 billion bond deal with Silver Lake and Sixth Street included warrants for the two private equity firms that can be exercised at an $18 billion valuation.

That figure is below the $26 billion Airbnb cited as an internal valuation in early March and well below the $31 billion valuation it gained in its 2017 Series F fundraising round.

Apple has a $399 iPhone SE for the budgetconscious as coronavirus stalls economy

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) on the same processor chip as Apple’s remain banned in Apple’s home base Wednesday released a smaller iPhone most advanced phone, the 11 Pro. of Santa Clara County, California, priced at $399, cutting the starting The SE lacks Apple’s facial recognition where public officials ordered the price for the company’s smartphone system to unlock the device, instead first lockdowns in the United States line in a move to broaden its appeal relying on a fingerprint sensor to slow the spread of the novel to budget-conscious customers as similar to older models. While the coronavirus.

Apple’s cheaper phone the coronavirus hobbles the global new iPhone adds features such as the coronavirus-driven economy. wireless charging and a high-end reflects

The lower-cost model could camera, it lacks connectivity for 5G, economic downturn and job loss.

Ben Bajarin, principal analyst also attract more consumers to Apple the next generation of mobile data for consumer market intelligence at services, a growing driver of revenue. networks.

Shares of Apple fell 0.8%, less than The announcement comes Creative Strategies, said that Apple the 2.1% decline of the S&P 500 as the United States and much likely realized many customers index. of the world is reeling from the were buying older models such as

Apple will start taking orders novel coronavirus, although U.S. the iPhone 8 rather than the newer for the phone on its website on Friday, political leaders have begun to iPhone 11 Pro at $999, “and a big with delivery of devices expected to talk about ending stay-at-home part of that is probably price.” Those start April 24. orders and restarting the economy, budget-minded iPhone buyers may

The iPhone SE will start at hoping record deaths and falling have been turned off by the iPhone 8’s aging chips and camera. $50 less than what was previously hospitalizations represent a peak.

Apple is “addressing that the cheapest iPhone available, the Previous iPhones have been iPhone 8, which will be retired. The unveiled in a polished presentation head-on with a device and price that SE comes with a 4.7-inch display and in front of fans, but large events can still get people on the latest

Apple Inc’s second generation iPhone SE is seen in this undated handout photo released on April 15, 2020 by Apple Inc. technology,” he said. “Having a device you’re sure is going to last a long time is exactly what (consumers) want.”

The new aluminum-andglass SE - which comes in black, white and red, looks much like an iPhone 8.

The cheaper phone enters a cut-throat market for value phones, especially in China, where Apple derives about 17% of sales. In China, rivals such as Xiaomi Corp (1810.

HK) last month announced models with 5G features starting at about $425.

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Apple Aims to Sell Macs With Its Own Chips Starting in 2021 ` Apple Inc. is planning to start selling Mac computers with its own main processors by next year, relying on designs that helped popularize the iPhone and iPad, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is working on three of its own Mac processors, known as systems-on-a-chip, based on the A14 processor in the next iPhone.

The first of these will be much faster than the processors in the iPhone and iPad, the people said.

Apple is preparing to release at least one Mac with its own chip next year, according to the people. But the initiative to develop multiple chips, codenamed Kalamata, suggests the company will transition more of its Mac lineup away from current supplier Intel Corp.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Apple’s partner for iPhone and iPad processors, will build the new Mac chips, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private product plans.

The components will be based on a 5-nanometer production technique, the same size Apple will use in the next iPhones and iPad Pros, one of the people said.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment, as did Intel and TSMC.

Apple is designing more of its own chips to gain greater control over the performance of its devices and differentiate them from rivals. Getting Macs, iPhones and iPads running the same underlying technology should make it easier for Apple to unify its apps ecosystem and update its computers more often. The move would also reduce reliance on Intel, which has struggled to maintain the annual increases in performance it once offered.

Read more: How Apple Built a Chip Powerhouse to Threaten Qualcomm and Intel

Current mobile device chips from Apple have multiple processing units, or cores, that handle different types of tasks.

The latest iPad Pro has four cores for performance-intensive workloads and another four to handle low-power tasks to preserve battery life.

The first Mac processors will have eight highperformance cores, codenamed Firestorm, and at least four energy-efficient cores, known internally as Icestorm. Apple is exploring Mac processors with more than 12 cores for further in the future, the people said.

In some Macs, Apple’s designs will double or quadruple the number of cores that Intel provides. The current entrylevel MacBook Air has two cores, for example.

Like Qualcomm Inc. and the rest of the mobile

An MacBook Pro in an Apple retail store. semiconductor industry, Apple designs its smartphone chips with technology from Arm Inc., owned by SoftBank Group Corp.

These components often use less energy than Intel’s offerings. But it in recent years, Arm customers have tried to make processors that are also more powerful.

The transition to inhouse Apple processor designs would likely begin with a new laptop because the company’s first custom Mac chips won’t be able to rival the performance Intel provides for high-end MacBook Pros, iMacs and the Mac Pro desktop computer.

The switch away from Intel is complex, requiring close collaboration between Apple’s software, hardware and component-sourcing teams. Given work-from-home orders and disruptions in the company’s Asia-based supply chain, the shift could be delayed, the people said.

Like with the iPhone, Apple’s Mac processors will include several components, including the main processor, known as a Central Processing Unit or CPU, and the GPU, the graphics chip. Apple’s lower-end computers currently use Intel for graphics, while it has partnered with Advanced Micro Devices Inc. for the graphics cards in its professional-focused offerings.

The Kalamata project has been going for several years.

In 2018, Apple developed a Mac chip based on the iPad Pro’s A12X processor for internal testing. That gave the company’s engineers confidence they could begin replacing Intel in Macs as early as 2020, Bloomberg News reported.

Apple has already started designing a second generation of Mac processors that follows the architecture of chips planned for the 2021 iPhone. That indicates Apple wants to put its Macs, iPhones and iPads on the same processor development cycle.

Despite a unified chip design, Macs will still run the macOS operating system, rather than the iOS software of

the iPhone and iPad. Apple is exploring tools that will ensure apps developed for older Intelbased Macs still work on the new machines. The company also has technology called Catalyst that lets software developers build an iPad app and run it on Mac computers.

Moving macOS from Intel’s chip architecture to an Arm-based design will be a technical challenge. Microsoft Corp. stumbled with a similar effort.

The changes will be a blow to Intel’s prestige. Apple Co-founder Steve Jobs and the late Intel Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini stood on stage in 2005 to announce the first Macs with Intel processors. The decision was praised for several years, resulting in capable computers such as the original Mac Pro in 2006, the secondgeneration MacBook Air in 2010 and the thinner MacBook Pro in 2012.

But in recent years, the pace of Mac upgrades has declined, partly due to a slowdown in Intel’s chip advancements. That sometimes left years between Mac refreshes, upsetting some customers. Intel has also faced manufacturing challenges that Apple has blamed for some recent declines in Mac sales.

Kalamata is Apple’s most ambitious computer chip initiative to date. It currently offers specific chips for Mac features, such as security and power management, that work alongside the main Intel processors.

Apple also aims to stop using Intel cellular modems -chips that connect smartphones to the internet and support calls -- after using them for only four years. The company plans to use 5G modems from Qualcomm in as many as four new iPhone models later this year. Apple last year acquired Intel’s modem business after striking the short-term supply deal with Qualcomm.

U.S. judge blocks Twitter’s bid to reveal government surveillance requests

Twitter Inc will not be able to reveal surveillance requests it received from the U.S. government after a federal judge accepted government arguments that this was likely to harm national security after a near six-year long legal battle.

The social media company had sued the U.S. Department of Justice in 2014 to be allowed to reveal, as part of its “Draft Transparency Report”, the surveillance requests it received. It argued its free-speech rights were being violated by not being allowed to reveal the details.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers granted the government’s request to dismiss Twitter’s lawsuit in an eleven page order filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern California.

The judge ruled on Friday that granting Twitter’s request “would be likely to lead to grave or imminent harm to the national security.”

“The Government’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED and Twitter’s motion for summary judgment is DENIED,” the judge said in her order.

Twitter had sued the Justice Department in its battle with federal agencies as the internet industry’s self-described champion of free speech seeking the right to reveal the extent of U.S. government surveillance.

The lawsuit had followed months of fruitless negotiations with the government and had marked an escalation in the internet industry’s battle over government gag orders on the nature and number of requests for private user information.

Tech companies were seeking to clarify their relationships with U.S. law enforcement and spying agencies in the wake of revelations by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden that outlined the depth of U.S. spying capabilities.

Verizon snaps up Zoom rival BlueJeans for less than $500 million

A man stands next to the logo of Verizon at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 26, 2019

Verizon Communications Inc on Thursday agreed to buy BlueJeans Network Inc, a rival of Zoom Video Communications Inc, for less than $500 million as it looks to tap into the new-found popularity of video-conferencing apps.

Shelter-in-place orders to contain the spread of the new coronavirus have pushed companies to adopt news ways of doing business, leading to a surge in demand for video-conferencing apps such as Zoom, Cisco’s Webex and Microsoft’s Teams.

BlueJeans has about 15,000 enterprise clients and counts Facebook Inc and Standard Chartered among its major customers.

BlueJeans co-founder and Executive Chairman Krish Ramakrishnan said the deal was negotiated during the last three months mainly using the company’s video-conferencing tool.

“This is the new norm,” he said, referring to how the deal was clinched in a virtual setup that also included the use of e-signatures.

The company is already a partner of Verizon, with the meeting app being offered to customers under the telecom company’s unified communications and collaboration services.

“Verizon got a good deal, but BlueJeans had been trying to sell itself for months,” Piper Sandler analyst James Fish said.

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LIFE STYLE

Home gardening blooms around the world during coronavirus lockdowns

Jaime Calder all but gave up on gardening after moving from the fertile soils of Illinois to dusty Texas, but the coronavirus changed her mind.

The magazine editor and her family of five planted collard greens, chard, onions, blackberries, watermelons and peppers this year, expanding their garden while buckling down at home during the pandemic.

People around the world are turning to gardening as a soothing, family friendly hobby that also eases concerns over food security as lockdowns slow the harvesting and distribution of some crops. Fruit and vegetable seed sales are jumping worldwide.

“It’s supplementary gardening,” said Calder. “There’s no way this would sustain a family of five. But we’re amping it up, so we can try and avoid the store a little more in the coming months.”

Russians are isolating in outof-town cottages with plots of land, a traditional source of vegetables during tough times since the Soviet era, and rooftop farms are planned in Singapore, which relies heavily on food imports.

Furloughed workers and people working from home are also looking for activities to occupy their free time, after the cancellations of major sporting events and the closure of restaurants, bars and theaters. Parents too are turning to gardening as an outdoor activity to do with children stuck at home after schools shut.

“Planting a few potatoes can be quite a revelation to a child,” said

Jaime Calder holds her daughter Lucy while her daughter Billie plants some squash in their vegetable garden in Round Rock, Texas, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread in the U.S., April 7, 2020.

Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society, which has seen a five-fold rise in queries for advice on its website during the lockdown. Gardeners without yards are even planting potatoes in trash bags, he said.

Gardening could trim retail demand for produce but trips to the grocery store will still be necessary.

Bert Hambleton, retail consultant for Hambleton Resources, said supermarkets will continue to see an overall increase in produce demand as would-be restaurant-goers eat at home instead of dining out.

SEED BOOM

U.S. seed company W. Atlee Burpee & Co sold more seed than any time in its 144-year history in March as the contagious respiratory virus spread, Chairman George Ball said.

When they cannot find seeds in stores, would-be gardeners

in Britain are seeking advice on how to extract them from tomatoes and squash purchased in supermarkets, Barter said.

In Russia, demand for seeds rose by 20%-30% year-on-year in March, according to online retailer Ozon.

Seed demand typically goes up in tough economic times, said Tom Johns, owner of Territorial Seed Company in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

The company temporarily stopped taking orders over the phone due to a surge in demand and reassigned some phone workers to physically fill online orders, he said.

“It doesn’t take long for people to become very concerned about the food supply - either the cost of food or getting food,” Johns said.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Fairfield, Maine, saw a 270% jump in orders the week of March 16,

U.S. official says he was ousted for urging caution on Trump-touted coronavirus drug

The ousted director the medicines as a “panacea” of a key U.S. agency charged even though they “clearly lack with developing drugs to fight scientific merit.” the coronavirus pandemic Bright has retained said on Wednesday he was a law firm, Katz, Marshall & dismissed because he called for Banks, known for representing careful vetting of a treatment whistleblowers. frequently touted by President The U.S. Department Donald Trump. of Health and Human Services,

Rick Bright said in a which oversees BARDA, said on statement that he was replaced Tuesday that Bright had been as director of the Biomedical moved to a new public-private Advanced Research and partnership under the National Development Authority, or Institutes of Health announced BARDA, and reassigned to a new last week. role because he resisted efforts U.S. top infectious to push hydroxychloroquine disease expert Anthony Fauci and the related chloroquine said on Wednesday he had as cures for COVID-19, the heard that in his new role, respiratory illness caused by the Bright would be responsible for coronavirus. the development of diagnostics,

“While I am prepared a “very, very important” issue. to look at all options and to BARDA officials did not think ‘outside the box’ for immediately respond to a effective treatments, I rightly request for comment on resisted efforts to provide an Wednesday. unproven drug on demand to Bright, an expert in the American public,” Bright vaccines and therapeutics, was said in the statement, reported named BARDA’s director in by multiple U.S. media outlets 2016 before Trump took office on Wednesday. as president.

Bright said the U.S. Trump has repeatedly government has promoted promoted chloroquine

Researchers at the Microbiology Research Facility work with coronavirus samples as a trial begins to see whether malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. March 19, 2020. and hydroxychloroquine as potential treatments for COVID-19, including saying early this month, “I may take it,” even though doctors said the drugs’ effectiveness were unproven and further tests were required.

When asked about Bright’s case at a media briefing on Tuesday, Trump said he was not familiar with the official.

after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the coronavirus.

Canada-based Stokes Seeds, which ships to the United States and Canada, received 1,000 online orders during the weekend of March 21, four times more than normal, President Wayne Gayle said.

“We didn’t have the staff even just to enter them into the system, let alone fulfill them,” he said.

The company temporarily halted all online orders and is prioritizing orders from commercial vegetable growers “to ensure our food security this summer,” according to its website.

‘I GROW TOMATOES, YOU GROW CARROTS’

With so many digging into gardening for the first time, there has also been a push to pool resources and collective knowledge on home food production.

Nathan Kleinman, codirector of Philadelphia-based Experimental Farm Network, said more than 2,000 people signed up and attended weekly calls to discuss gardening best practices as they begin putting seeds in the ground.

“The reaction was overwhelming,” Kleinman said. “It struck a nerve with a lot of people.”

Melanie Pittman, an teacher who lives on 5 acres near Crete, Illinois, said while everyone was stocking up on toilet paper, her partner ran over to the local home improvement store to stock up on seeds and gardening tools.

What U.S. doctors wish they had known before the coronavirus outbreak

“What I did not recognize was the severity of illness that would be seen in patients who are older and the rapidity with which this illness would spread through elderly populations.”

As signs indicate the curve of new cases may be starting to flatten, doctors in the United States shared with Reuters what they wish they had known before the coronavirus outbreak began.

Dr. Anju Goel, an internal medicine specialist in California, said that had practitioners understood how severely the respiratory disease COVID-19 would affect the elderly, more could have been done to protect them from exposure and get them early treatment.

Across the country in New York, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, Mount Sinai Hospital Emergency Department Director Dr. Jolion McGreevy said doctors had learned that some patients benefited from not being immediately intubated, even if their oxygen levels were low.

Others responded well to changing their position every half an hour, he said.

“The sickest of the sick still need to be intubated and that’s just the way it is. But there’s a larger in-term group that we really didn’t understand.”

Flipping patients onto their front allowed the lungs “to open and expand and give better oxygenation,” agreed Dr. Jennifer Haythe, an internist and critical care cardiologist at Columbia University Medical Center. But she said she believed that ventilators were essential.

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SPORTS

Silver: NBA has no timetable to restart

The NBA isn’t close to making any decisions on a potential restart, and it isn’t setting any deadlines, commissioner Adam Silver said Friday.

The league has been shut down since Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 on March 11.

Silver addressed the league’s state amid the coronavirus pandemic in a Friday conference call with media members, but he offered no firm answers regarding the future.

“Based on the reports that we got from varied outside officials, current public health officials ... we are not in a position to make any decisions, and it’s unclear when we will be,” he said.

Regarding what could prompt a decision on a potential resumption of NBA action, Silver said, “I think we’re looking for the number of new infections to come down. We’re looking for the availability of testing on a large scale. We’re looking at the path that we’re on for potentially a vaccine. We’re looking at antivirals.

“On top of that, we’re paying close attention to what the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is telling us on

a federal level and what these various state rules are that are in place.

“There’s a lot of data that all has to be melded together to help make these decisions, but that’s part of the uncertainty. I think we’re not even at the point where we can say, ‘If only A, B, and C were met, then there’s a clear path.’ I think there’s still too much uncertainty at this point to say precisely how we move forward.”

Silver confirmed recent media reports that the NBA has considered the possibility of teams being quarantined and playing games in empty arenas.

“We are looking at all those things right now,” he said.

“I’d say that in terms of bubblelike concepts, many of them have been proposed to us and we’ve only listened. We are not seriously engaged yet in that type of environment because I can’t answer what precisely would we need to see in order to feel that that environment provided the needed health and safety for our players and everyone involved.

“I know it’s frustrating — it is for me and everyone involved that I am not in position to be able to answer the question. ... There is still enormous uncertainty around

NBA commissioner Adam Silver during a pre match press conference the virus as well.”

Silver also said the league could consider adjusting its regular-season or playoff format depending on when play can resume.

“The direction that the league office has received from our teams is, again, all rules are off at this point given the situation we find ourselves in, that the country is in,” Silver said. “If there is an opportunity to resume play, even if it looks different than what we’ve done historically, we should be modeling it.”

Silver quoted Disney executive chairman Bob Iger, who recently spoke to the NBA’s owners, as saying, “From his standpoint, it’s about the data and not the date.”

Joshua says blockbuster Fury fight needed to determine number one status

Anthony Joshua has said a blockbuster fight for the undisputed world heavyweight title with Tyson Fury is needed to determine a single dominant figure in the division.

Joshua, 30, defeated Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr in a December rematch in Saudi Arabia to win back his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO titles while Fury won the WBC title in Las Vegas two months ago with a seventhround stoppage of Deontay Wilder.

“If you really want to say you’re number one, come fight me. Let’s get it on. I’ve got the rest of the belts so it only makes sense,” Joshua told Sky Sports, addressing fellow Briton Fury.

“I’m the unified heavyweight champion of the world, he’s the WBC champion.

What it will prove, me and him fighting? There will be one dominant figure in the heavyweight division that will have all of the belts and become undisputed.

“Logically to prove yourself as number one, I have

‘Big Three’ discussing ways to help lower-level players, says Djokovic

Anthony Joshua celebrates winning his fight against Andy Ruiz Jr. to fight Tyson Fury. He has to who manages Joshua, had fight Anthony Joshua.” floated the idea that a unification

Joshua’s next bout with bout with Fury might take the mandatory IBF challenger priority in the event of a long Kubrat Pulev, which was postponement. scheduled for June 20, was “It would be amazing to postponed due to the novel tell Pulev ‘I think it’s best if you coronavirus outbreak. step aside for now’ and to tell

American Wilder had Wilder ‘we have bigger fish to called for a rematch with Fury fry’,” Joshua added. and that was pushed back from “That fight (with Fury) July 18 to a likely date in October needs to happen because there due to the virus which has shut will never be another time like down sport globally. this again.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn,

Novak Djokovic of Serbia (R) congratulates Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during the trophy ceremony after being defeated in their men’s singles final match at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, June 7, 2015.

Novak Djokovic has been in touch with fellow ATP Player Council members Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal to discuss ways to assist lower-ranked players facing financial struggles amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, the world number one said on Saturday.

Answering a fan’s question during his Instagram live chat with Stan Wawrinka, Player Council chief Djokovic said steps would be taken to ensure that only those players who are most deserving will benefit from any relief plans.

“I spoke to Roger and Rafa a few days ago and we had a conversation about the near future of tennis. How we can contribute to help lower ranked guys who are obviously struggling the most, Djokovic said.

“A majority of players ranked between 250 to 700 or 1,000 don’t have federation support or sponsors and are independent and left alone.”

The tennis season was suspended in early March due to the pandemic, leaving players in the lower tiers who depend solely on tournament winnings without the chance to earn a living.

The plight of players ranked outside the top 100 in singles has prompted the game’s stakeholders — the ATP, WTA, ITF and the organisers of the four Grand Slams — to devise plans to provide some assistance.

“Players hopefully will (also) contribute collectively to the relief fund that the ATP (and others) will distribute using models and criteria,” Djokovic added.

“You want to avoid giving money to player who fits into this category (low ranking) but does not need the money compared to someone else... hopefully between $3-4.5 million will be distributed to lower-ranked players.”

Djokovic, a 17-times Grand Slam champion, said other short-term solutions could include diverting bonus money meant for top players from season-ending events like the ATP Finals into the relief fund.

“If we don’t have any events (in 2020), maybe next year’s Australian Open prize money can be contributed to the fund,” the Serb added.

“I’m glad the tennis eco-system is coming together. Everyone realises the base of tennis. These guys ranked 250 onwards are the ones making the future of tennis.

“We have to show them they’re not forgotten. We also have to send a message to young players that they can live out of tennis when there’s a financial crisis.”

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

WORLD SPORTS U.S. teen Gauff says stronger now after battling depression

American teenager Coco Gauff

American teenager Coco Gauff says she struggled to deal with the hype and mental pressure brought on by her rapid rise in the tennis world and that she had to rediscover her love for the game after becoming depressed.

The Florida-based 16-year-old has enjoyed a sensational run on the professional circuit since July last year when she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in her first major championship appearance.

She also reached the fourth round on her Australian Open debut this year, paving the way to breaking into the top 50 in the WTA rankings — the first 15-year-old to do so in 15 years.

“Throughout my life, I was always the youngest to do things, which added hype that I didn’t want,” Gauff wrote in a post for Behind The Racquet.

“It added this pressure that I needed to do well fast.

“Right before Wimbledon, going back to around 2017/18, I was struggling to figure out if this was really what I wanted. I always had the results so that wasn’t the issue, I just found myself not enjoying what I loved.

“I realised I needed to start playing for myself and not other people. For about a year I was really depressed. That was the toughest year for me so far.”

Gauff said she felt friendless due to her “dark mindset” and considered taking a year off just to focus on life.

“Choosing not to obviously was the right choice but I was close to not going in that direction. I was just lost,” she said. “I was confused and overthinking if this was what I wanted or what others did.

“It took many moments sitting, thinking and crying. I came out of it stronger and knowing myself better than ever.”

Gauff has been already touted as a longterm successor to Serena Williams at the top of U.S. women’s tennis and while she said she was getting used to people viewing her as a role model she did not like being compared to Serena or her sister Venus.

“First, I am not at their level yet. I always feel like it’s not fair to the Williams sisters to be compared to someone who is just coming up,” she added.

“It just doesn’t feel right yet, I still look at them as my idols.

“Of course I hope to get to where they are but they are the two women that set the pathway for myself, which is why I can never be them.

Sport could resume in empty stadiums says top U.S. disease expert

The NFL campaign and an abbreviated baseball season may be possible if games are played without fans and players are kept in lockdown, U.S. President Donald Trump’s leading infectious disease adviser said on Wednesday.

It has been a little over a month since the NBA season was abruptly halted amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, with most professional sports following suit, leaving arenas and stadiums empty amid speculation over when live sport can return.

“There’s a way of doing that: Nobody comes to the stadium, put them (the players) in big hotels, wherever you want to play, keep them very well surveilled,” Anthony Fauci, the leading U.S. health expert said in a Snapchat interview.

“Make sure they don’t wind up infecting each other or their family and just let them play the season out.”

Fauci, who appeared last month in an Instagram live interview with Golden State Warriors sharp-shooter Steph Curry, said he would recommend that athletes should be tested roughly once a week after resuming play.

The prospect of sports going ahead without fans has met with some criticism. Major League Baseball recently damped down talk it would return as soon as May with players competing in an isolation bubble.

Last month, before professional sport was suspended, 16-time NBA AllStar LeBron James called the notion of playing without fans impossible.

“People say, ‘Well, you know, you can’t play without spectators,’” said Fauci. “Well, I think you probably get enough buy-in from people who are dying to see a baseball game – particularly me.

“I’m living in

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci attends the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 13, 2020 Washington, we have the World Champion Washington Nationals, I want to see them play again.”

The NFL regular season is due to kick off on Sept. 10, but there is no date for the MLB to start or for the NBA and NHL to resume. Major League Soccer said on Tuesday its projection to return in mid-May was “extremely unlikely.”

Belichick, Patriots ‘moving forward’ minus Brady

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is ready for turn the page after 20 years with Tom Brady.

Brady signed a twoyear deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, putting the Patriots in unfamiliar and uncertain territory entering the 2020 NFL Draft.

But Belichick, who coached Brady every day of the quarterback’s New England tenure, struck a familiar refrain on Monday when he was asked about the team’s status without the face of the franchise.

“It would be of course impossible to sum up everything Tom did in 20 years into a comment, then or now,” Belichick said. “Right now we’re moving forward and focused on the draft here on this call.”

Brady, 42, said recently he knew before the start of the 2019 season that it would be his final season with the Patriots. He signed a restructured contract that blocked the Patriots from using the franchise tag to retain him. It was Brady’s first foray into free agency.

Brady said in a letter

posted by The Players’ Tribune that he chose to join the Buccaneers because he wanted to be “seen and heard.”

But he said last week in an interview with Howard Stern that he held no ill will toward the Patriots or Belichick.

“No, absolutely not,” Brady said. “No, because this is a part for me, in my life, to experience something very different. There are ways for me to grow and evolve in a different way that I haven’t had the opportunity to do — that aren’t right or wrong, but just right for me.”

Belichick released a lengthy statement on Brady’s departure on March 17.

“Tom and I will always have a great relationship built on love, admiration, respect and appreciation. Tom’s success as a player and his character as a person are exceptional.

Nothing about the end of Tom’s Patriots career changes how unfathomably spectacular it was. With his relentless competitiveness and longevity, he earned everyone’s adoration and will be celebrated forever.

Send us your sports reports and photos to sun@suntci.com And we will publish them at no cost

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick smiles during a victory parade after winning Super Bowl LIII, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., February 5, 2019 It has been a privilege to coach Tom Brady for 20 years,” Belichick said.

How the Patriots eventually define moving forward on the field without Brady remains to be seen.

Jarrett Stidham, drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, is considered the likely starter.

Veteran Brian Hoyer agreed to come back for another tour with the Patriots, but his signing has not yet been made official.

The Patriots have the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft next week but don’t have a second-round pick.

APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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WORLD SPORTS

Too early to worry coronavirus will further delay Tokyo Games

It is premature to think the novel coronavirus outbreak will further delay the Tokyo Olympics, which have already been postponed a year, Brian McCloskey, an expert on global health security and outbreak prevention told Reuters.

Under increasing pressure from athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo Games organisers last month postponed the 2020 Games for one year as the coronavirus spread, shutting down global sport.

Yet as countries try to beat back the pandemic, with experts predicting a vaccine is still 12-18 months away, questions have begun to surface as to whether a year’s delay is sufficient time to stage the Games in a safe environment.

“I think that’s probably a little bit premature in the sense that we’ve got 15 months more of planning and preparing for the Olympics in 2021,” McCloskey said.

“So, I think it’s premature to say it’s unrealistic (that the Olympics cannot be held in 2021).

“Clearly, having a vaccine would be extremely helpful, not just for the Olympics, but for all of us.

But even without a vaccine I think there are other mitigation measures we will look at to make sure we can run the Games safely.

“So, it’s a challenge, but I’d say it’s too soon to say it can’t happen.”

treatment available. So, we just need to think through the options and not jump to too many conclusions too quickly.”

McCloskey’s wait-and-see approach sounds similar to the one taken by the IOC before it decided to postpone the Games amid mounting criticism.

Athletes were angry at being left in a state of limbo by the IOC and Tokyo organisers and while the postponement has provided a cushion, the clock is once again ticking.

Sports leagues and federations around the world are preparing to emerge from the outbreak and return to action with most seemingly resigned to the fact they will be played in empty arenas and stadiums until it is safe for fans The Olympic rings are pictured in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters, to come back. during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 24, 2020.

“So, we can run through to

The number of confirmed needed was more than we could this time next year,” said McCloskey, novel coronavirus cases in Japan ask the Japanese government to looking ahead to a 2021 Summer rose to 10,000 on Saturday, public do when the Japanese government Games. “After that it gets more broadcaster NHK said, just days after needed to be focusing on looking problematic because people have a state of emergency was extended after its population,” said McCloskey, spent a lot of money, athletes have to the entire nation in an attempt to a member of the World Health to make up their mind whether they slow the spread of the virus.

Organization Novel Coronavirus-19 can come or not.

Mass Gatherings Expert Group.

“So, it gets more and more WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH

“But that could well have difficult the closer you get. But I’d changed by next year. So, it’s quite say there’s a willingness and an

Just over 200 people have possible that the outbreak will be at a enthusiasm to make sure it happens died from the virus in Japan. level where it’s manageable without properly.

“This year for Tokyo, it got any particular risk.

“So, people will try hard and to the point where the amount of “Or it may be that the I think they’ll hang on to the last mitigation that would have been vaccine arrives, it may be there’s minute to see whether it’s safe to go.”

Broadcast crews struggling after sports go dark

Greg Calvin believed his job as an audio technician could survive most economic downturns because people will keep watching sports while the networks that air the games still receive advertising revenue.

But that was before the coronavirus pandemic, which has shut down all sports and put Calvin and his fellow technicians out of work and on unemployment.

“I don’t see a time in the near future where they are going to put 45,000 fans in a stadium,” said Calvin, who has been an audio technician in New York since 1989.

The new coronavirus has caused a global pandemic that has sickened at least 1.68 million and killed over 101,000 worldwide, halted sports and forced restrictions on the movement of millions of people in an effort to stop the virus from spreading further and overwhelming health care systems.

The rapid postponement or cancellation of most sports meant those who were booked for events through the spring and summer now have an open calendar. Besides audio technicians, those affected include camera operators, stage managers and producers.

Some networks have paid crews for cancelled games. CBS and Turner paid staffers for lost NCAA Tournament games while NBC paid for all canceled events. ESPN and

A network television camera is seen during a practice session for the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament in Indianapolis.

Fox Sports are paying most of their technical people through the middle of April.

While most technicians at national networks feel like they can weather short-term cancellations, those who work for local or regional networks are feeling the biggest pinch.

AT&T SportsNet, Yes Network and SNY are paying crews for missed baseball home games, but that doesn’t cover those who work on broadcasts for visiting teams.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, the nation’s largest holder of regional sports networks, has only paid crew members through March 15. April is traditionally the biggest month for regional networks with the baseball season getting underway and overlapping with the end of the NHL and NBA regular seasons.

On this day: Born April 16, 1947: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, American basketball player

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is often overlooked in the debate over who is the greatest NBA player of all time as names like Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant dominate the discussion.

Abdul-Jabbar, however, undoubtedly deserves his place in the pantheon of the game’s greats.

His inscrutable nature, which led him to shun the spotlight early in his career, made it easy for some to discount his jaw-dropping on-court production.

Yet when he retired in 1989 he had etched his name into Los Angeles Lakers folklore as the league’s all-time leading scorer who won six championships and a record six MVP titles.

Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was born on April 16, 1947 in New York City and, as a shy fourth grader, began practicing what would later become his unstoppable “skyhook” shot.

The 7-foot-2-inch (2.18m) center gained national recognition in college, where he scored 56 points in his varsity debut at UCLA en route to a 30-0 season and a national title.

That led the NCAA to ban the slam dunk in an effort to contain him.

The rule change only made him better, as he perfected the “skyhook” and won three consecutive national titles.

In 1968 Alcindor stirred

NBA basketball Hall of Famer Kareem AbdulJabaar waves before speaking on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. July 28, 2016. controversy when he boycotted the Olympic Games in an antiracism protest, converted to Islam and privately changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which means “noble one, servant of the Almighty”.

He was selected first overall in the 1969 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and in his rookie season averaged an astonishing 29 points and 15 rebounds per game, an unthinkable feat for any first-year player in today’s game.

In only his second season he led the Bucks to a championship, was named the league MVP and the finals MVP.

Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Lakers in 1975 and had one of the greatest seasons in NBA history in his first year with the team.

Page 42

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APRIL 24TH, 2020 – MAY 1ST, 2020

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