Established October 1895 Rough seas ahead for some fisherfolk

– Page 3

Tuesday February 2, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive ‘DIVERT FUNDS’ PRESIDENT of the Democratic for them, in these uncertain times. From Labour Party (DLP) Verla De Peiza the recent Central Bank Report though, is suggesting that the Government Redeploy money to the cultural 19 entities out of the hundreds that are should reduce the amount of money in Barbados... have taken up the offer. earmarked for the Barbados industries and agriculture That suggests that is very poorly Employment and Sustainable subscribed, and there are funds Transformation (BEST) Programme, out other sectors in the economy. originally allocated to the programme available,” she said during a virtual panel which was introduced to help with She made the suggestion while stating could be better used elsewhere. discussion on the topic the ‘Vision for the re-engagement of workers in the that the figures show that the BEST “In the BEST programme, I believe it Sustainable Development’ on Sunday tourism sector, and divert some of Programme has been undersubscribed was $300 million that was made night. those funds to shore up and build and she is adamant that the money available to the tourism sector as a prop FUNDS on Page 2

Cuba’s Ambassador to Barbados Sergio Jorge Pastrana (left) speaking with the Cuban doctors and laboratory specialists who recently arrived in Barbados to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. More Cuban doctors to help fight coronavirus CUBA has again answered the call of the stations having successfully completed Reeve, symbol of international solidarity all part of the effort within the Caribbean Government of Barbados for assistance their period of quarantine, the healthcare – we come to tell the brothers and sisters to help our brothers and sisters in dealing in its fight against the COVID-19 professionals vowed to carry out their of Barbados, and specially the health with this terrible scourge we are fighting pandemic. mission to the very best of their ability. personnel of Barbados – that we are by against.” Fifteen doctors and laboratory They did so while at the Cuban their side in this fight for life against Ambassador Pastrana also specialists also belonging to the Henry Monument, Paynes Bay,St. James which COVID-19 and against death,” Dr. complimented Barbados’ Government on Reeve International Medical Brigade of was erected in memory of those who lost Alberto Rodriguez Gallardo said. the facility at Harrison Point, St. Lucy Cuba, arrived on island two weeks ago, their lives in the bombing of the Cubana Cuba’s Ambassador to Barbados Sergio describing it as “state-of-the-art”, adding and will join the 99 who since April last Aircraft off the West Coast of Barbados in Jorge Pastrana went on to express, “We that the teams from Cuba are working in year were contributing to the local effort. 1976. must thank Barbados for giving us the excellent conditions. Yesterday, before taking up their “With the name of Brigade Henry opportunity to be part of this, as we are HELP on Page 4 2 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

Barbadians urged to brainstorm new ideas FUNDS from Front Page cultural industries and agriculture. She opportunities and resources are made De Peiza is suggesting that the funds believes strongly that these two sectors available. can be redeployed to such sectors as the can reap tremendous success if greater “To the cultural industries to allow them to get into the technology, to get online with their products, speaking in particular, to those creatives who need a stage, whether it is written, performance, music, whatever context is in need, they need a stage. That means that they need to be able to reach out to people as opposed to people coming to them, as traditionally we understood a concert, a play, going to the theatre; we can’t do that in the same way now. But if they were given funds to allow them to build their creative thoughts, then we can see how they would be able to first make a living for themselves, and then make a contribution to society, and the same applies to agriculture.Agriculture needs technology, especially on an island,” she insisted. Using the example of Singapore, she suggested that Barbados must do as this President of the Democratic Labour fellow small nation has done, and use its Party (DLP), Verla De Peiza. brainpower to come up with different ways of doing things. our creative people, not just the creative “Their agriculture is very, very sector, but our people are creative”. technical.They use a lot of engineering in De Peiza continued, “Government their agriculture, and if those funds were should be an enabling space so that you made available to the agricultural sector can take your idea and run with it. That as well, then we can be off and running is the vision that I am seeing how we and we have land in CLICO lands.Again, can put our own money, because that’s they can be used to facilitate this process. basically what it is for,our own money,to So we have a solution in terms of the work for our own people, and then have space, we have a solution in terms of the that spin off benefit and be able to export capitalisation, and we just need to allow to the region, to the world”. Barbados, several Eastern Caribbean countries receive indicative allocation of COVID-19 vaccine ON January 30, 2021 Barbados, and close to being authorised by WHO several Eastern Caribbean Countries Emergency Use Listing (EUL). Because who signed agreements with the EUL has yet to be granted by WHO in COVAX Facility were informed of the respect of this vaccine, the Facility have for indicative allocation of COVID-19 now only provided an indicative number vaccines. In a written letter to each of doses, covering the next two quarters. ministers of health the COVAX The main objective of this allocation is facility advised that vaccines will be countries are as quickly as possible as delivered effective mid to late they can begin vaccinating their priority February with 357 600 doses of the populations. AstraZeneca AZD1222 vaccine, Astra The members states are advised to take Zenceca vaccine to Barbados, necessary actions in the roll-out and Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, COVID-19 vaccination plans to ensure Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. timely procurement and delivery of the Lucia, and St. Vincent and the vaccines. Furthermore, the timing of the Grenadines. The indicative delivery of doses is subject to PAHO distribution is based on current establishing supply agreements with the communication of estimated manufacturers. availability from manufacturers. The next steps to access the allocation The COVAX Facility has managed to include countries to have the necessary secure significant doses of vaccines from indemnity and liability frameworks, various manufacturers. The allocation including the required legislative was determined by the World Health framework, in place in order to complete Organisation (WHO) panel of experts and an agreement directly with AstraZeneca. GAVI taking a big step towards equal This preparatory work and arrangements access to COVID-19 vaccines.The Facility are important to ensure a successful has informed the countries its vaccine introduction of a COVID-19 vaccine in the allocation for the 1st and 2nd quarter of coming weeks.The PAHO Representative 2021. These are the first of the assigned to Barbados and Eastern Caribbean doses to satisfy COVAX’s agreement with Countries, Dr.Yitades Gebre, encourages the countries. member states to take the required next As communicated by PAHO and the steps as promptly as possible, and not COVAX facility from previous later than the end of February, to avoid communication, the COVAX Facility has idle doses and potential delays in receiving managed to secure significant doses of these vaccines through the Facility and vaccines from various manufacturers. In the PAHO Vaccine procurement addition, these are authorised or very mechanisms. The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 3

Rough seas ahead for some fisherfolk By Marsha Gittens February 3 to 17. cold storage at the Market in Oistins. business was good for them. They stated “It will bother the boats mostly “It is going to affect us a lot because Barbadians over this period visited the VENDORS at the Berinda Cox Fish because they have boats that have ice they had some boats that already take Market in their numbers to stock up on Market anticipate business will be and everything ready to go out but they ice and diesel already.Government isn’t fish. greatly impacted over the next two can’t go. Who had the ice had to get rid reimbursing us the vendors because we “Sales were great over the weekend. weeks when the Market is closed of the ice off the boat or let it stand and have a lot of fish and there is nowhere The morning [Monday] now start so we due to the National Pause. melt. The ones that had ice and went out to put the fish because right now have to wait to see what is going on Speaking to The Barbados had to hustle back here with very little management asking you, whatever fish later, [but]… things will pick up later on Advocate on Monday,fish vendors said catch, so it bothered them a lot and in you have inside the blast freezer and though,” stated Tyrone who at the time some fishermen have already begun to turn, it will bother us because we will the chill room, they are asking you… was going to clean dolphin for a feel the effects of the impending not be able to work but all is for the now to remove the fish out of the Market customer. National Shutdown in their pockets. better,” stated Wilma Hutchinson. today and tomorrow. There is nowhere He added, “On Sundays it’s dead, but Some fishermen have been forced to Not giving her name but echoing for you to store your fish. I think it is yesterday had a lot of people, they had discard ice which they previously similar comments, another vendor said very hard on the vendors and the to shut the gate.” purchased because they will be unable the upcoming National Pause will affect fishermen,” it was pointed out. Some of the top sellers over the to go out to sea or no one will be at the vendors because many are unsure what Though some losses are anticipated, weekend were dolphin, marlin, sword Market to receive their fish from to do with fish they currently have in most vendors said over the weekend fish, flying fish and jacks.

Dolphin was among the hot sellers over the weekend at the Berinda Cox Fish Flying Fish were among the catch on the day purchased by Barbadians who Market. fished the Berinda Cox Fish Market. Andre Worrell: Agriculture push needed GREATER focus should be placed on making agriculture viable. while indicating that he is aware that make it easier for them to get into the developing the agricultural sector in this He is adamant that if more money there are some persons who are yet to be business and not to have to put out so country, given its resilience to external had been allocated to agriculture, like assigned land to work. much cash up front,” he said. shocks and revenue earning potential. what was allocated to tourism, the “If those persons had received those Comparing the performance of the So says Second Vice President of the country would have seen significantly lands, between June of last year and agriculture and tourism sectors, he said Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the higher growth than what actually now, I am sure we would have seen the that tourism only earned $4.13 million party’s spokesperson on agriculture and occurred. Referring to the Farmers agricultural sector grow, not just by 1.9 as its contribution to gross domestic the environment, Andre Worrell. He Empowerment and Enfranchisement per cent, but it could have possibly product, down considerably from made the comments during a virtual Drive (FEED) Programme which seeks doubled that or even tripled that previous years, while agriculture earned panel discussion hosted by the DLP on to train a new cadre of farmers, he said growth,” Worrell maintained. $115 million. the topic, ‘Vision for Sustainable while the initial budget was $2 million, Additionally,Worrell contended that it “If you look across the world, Development’. the money allocated in the 2020/2021 is high time that agriculture is no longer economies which are heavily based on Referring to the recent Central Bank budget dropped to $500 000, which he treated as the “outside child”. He said agriculture are actually performing Report for the last quarter of 2020, said does not indicate that the that subsidies should be provided for better at this time during this COVID Worrell said while the economy in Government is indeed interested in farmers up front, rather than them crisis and Barbados needs to finally get general declined by 18 per cent, empowering and enfranchising farmers having to get it on the backend. the message. Yes tourism has been good agriculture was one of the only sectors in this country. “In this situation where cash is tight, to us and was good to us during good that recorded growth, at 1.9 per cent, Worrell is therefore calling on the to buy drip lines and then have to go to times, but whenever there is a crisis in which he explained was primarily in Minister of Agriculture to state publicly the Ministry of Agriculture and wait for the world economy, tourism always non-sugar agriculture. The DLP the number of farmers who have a rebate does not make sense at this falters, and agriculture is that industry spokesperson is contending that this actually passed through the programme stage... Obviously if you are dealing with which can help us to pay our bills and be growth could have been higher, if there and if there are any who are still waiting a situation where persons lost their jobs sustainable. But we need to start had been a more consistent approach to be allocated land and other resources and they are looking to agriculture as a treating it as such an industry,” he from the current Administration in to get to work. He issued the appeal way of making an income, you need to maintained. 4 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

Research shows Harrison Point lauded as state-of- B-cells remember how to make antibody the-art COVID-19 treatment hospital needed to fight virus HELP from Front Page Barbados.” to be ready to face the COVID-19 RESEARCH from Back Page Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, He also concurred with the Cuban pandemic,” Ambassador Comissiong “And I am sure that as we test David Comissiong on behalf of the Ambassador that Harrison Point is a stressed. St.Vincent and some other places we government and people of Barbados state-of-the-art COVID-19 treatment “The Cuban Ambassador has visited it would see the UK variant in those thanked the medical brigade, “We know hospital. By referring to it as an “isolation and he has assured me that it is a top- countries as well,” she told the panel. that you are here to help save precious centre”, he said “we are really doing a class international quality facility. And Furthermore, Dr.Douglin identified lives and we thank you so much for that. disservice”. the Barbadian people should be made that new research has shown that And we were very moved that you came “It is a state-of-the-art COVID-19 aware of this – when you go there you are people can recover from COVID-19, here at the monument this morning to treatment hospital and much credit to actually getting the very best medical “have a fast response because of the make this solemn pledge to do your very Barbados in constructing that hospital in treatment it is possible to get for COVID- B-memory cells”. best in the service of the people of record time, in approximately one month 19.” (TL) “And actually, the research is showing that people who have recovered from COVID-19 can likely mount a fast and effective response to the virus, if they encountered it again because their B-cells will remember how to make the antibody needed to fight,” she added. (TL)

Cuban doctors and laboratory specialists who recently arrived in Barbados to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic visited the Cuban Monument at Paynes Bay, St. James yesterday. Co-ordinated fight could have ended pandemic IF there was a co-ordinated approach Caribbean session entitled ‘The public education leaves much to be the myriad of environmental challenges to lockdowns around the world, Environmental Dimension of the Covid-19 desired,” she illustrated. we face”. Covid-19 could have been eliminated Sustainable Development Recovery’. Citing a UNEP study showing the She insisted therefore on the necessity of from its landscape. Speaking on the environmental average number of climate change related strengthening the governance and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley challenges facing the region, many caused extreme events have increased by ten to 20 effectiveness of the forum, noting such an lamented that the ability of the world’s by the actions and policies of international per cent over the last three decades in the effort should include the work of the countries to fight the pandemic has been countries, Mottley however pointed to region despite efforts to reinforce levels of interagency technical committee as well as “compromised by the fact that each of us some of its own behaviours, which are climate resilience and to decarbonise the ability to transform the decisions of the has taken individual action rather than causing issues. economies, the PM nevertheless, said,“we forum into tangible action. globally co-ordinated action”. “As we move to end hunger in this part therefore have to forge ahead honouring “The absence of tangible action would “This is the perfect example of why of the world, the use of pesticides has our commitment in the national lead people to believe we are making sport multilateralism must work for our benefit intensified by 12 per cent, our region determined contributions which we make and that we are not seriously interested in if we are to make a difference for our people generates 350 000 tons of food waste every under the UN framework on climate changing the trajectory of the climate across the region,” she stated. day and this brings higher pressure to the change.” crisis,” she said. In addition, Mottley At the time, the PM was chairing the local environment and our region’s Mottley pointed out it was time for suggested a stronger linkage be forged virtual XXII Forum of Ministers of the recycling rates regrettably are amongst fundamental reforms to take place within between the forum and United Nations Environment of Latin America and the the lowest in the world and the level of the forum of ministers “if we are to tackle Environmental Assembly. (JMB) The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 5

Caribbean DPPs virtual conference discusses vulnerabilities DIRECTORS of Public Prosecutions (DPPs) from 18 Caribbean islands came together at a virtual conference January 28-29 to discuss some of the current difficulties and challenges they collectively face, as organised-crime groups exploit structural vulnerabilities and benefit from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Barbados, the OECS countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Belize and the British Overseas Territories were all represented. Conference delegates heard from regional and international experts on a range of issues, including the resumption of trials after COVID-19 and vulnerable witnesses in serious crime and sexual Participants in the virtual conference and the formal virtual background. exploitation cases, recognising the impact on discussion on trials held discussion led by Donna Noting the importance of conference themes echoed to Barbados and the children as online and off- with judges alone, in light Babb-Agard, QC, DPP the conference, he said:“My the Joint Action Statement Eastern Caribbean Sirah line sexual abuse of the ban on jury trials Barbados, including hope is that DPPs can of the 9th Caribbean-US Abraham, whose post is increased. during the pandemic. appeals on points of law identify some of the Security Co-operation funded by the United Justice of Appeal of the DPPs were treated to a during trials and regional best practices in Dialog. He mentioned the States of America and the Supreme Court of Trinidad wellness session on sentencing guidelines. the fight against serious increased attention paid to United Kingdom, lauded and Tobago, Lisa productivity and managing UK Chargé d’Affaires organised crime and protecting the rights of the conference as yet Ramsumair-Hinds and stress by Mathew Brown, Craig Fulton in opening the explore the potential for a vulnerable populations, another demonstration of Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, productivity ‘Ninja’. Legal conference recognised that collaborative approach in such as youth, women and the US’s and UK’s Director of Public and administrative issues the last year had presented policy-making in these minorities and said that commitment to supporting Prosecutions from Belize faced by DPPs were the challenges which areas in the Caribbean.” these were topics of the role of the DPP, presented and led a subject of a roundtable significantly affected DPPs. Matthew V. Cassetta, striking relevance to all at especially in the context of Director INL at the US this moment in history. the challenges posed by the Professor Landis highlights Embassy, noted that the Criminal Justice Adviser COVID-19 pandemic. emergence of cottage industries BUBBLES from Back Kingdom’s Office of bubbles (small social Page National Statistics groups). He noted that the impact publication which He added that children on children’s development examined COVID-19 and teachers would also be is immense and Barbados death rates by profession. in bubbles and there would is now seeing the He noted that the data is be no more than twelve challenges. sound and it supported the children with a teacher.He The tertiary educator idea that teachers are not explained that when the explained that some people at high risk, while being in teachers are isolated, it have no one to take care of the school environment. makes it easier to shut their children while they “When you look at the down a bubble if a teacher are at work. This has [research], there is very or student is exposed to resulted in the emergence convincing data that COVID-19. “[The affected] of cottage industries [teachers] are protected,” go home and the school particularly “day-care said Professor Landis. stays open,” said Professor plus” where these The prominent lecturer Landis. businesses provide a quasi- believes that if schools are The Barbados classroom environment reopened, it would be Advocate asked for the where children will have crucial to manage adult-to- Professor’s thoughts on headphones listening to adult interactions. He international news of their teachers (online). He noted that parents would teachers who got sick with asked what was the point not be allowed in the COVID-19. He noted that of this and reiterated his compound, contractors, based on published position that children suppliers and visitors investigations, in most of should return to the school would be carefully these cases, the teachers environment. monitored and the contracted the virus from a During the interview, teachers’ common rooms social event or interaction Professor Landis referred would be closed and outside of the school to a recent United teachers should be in environment. 6 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

Therapy business suffers major loss due to COVID-19 ONE local therapy sector in Barbados. specific clients in the office. international conference will happen, reduced rates. We would business owner He explained that many Since the beginning of this organisations with which the how, when, and where love to have a conference revealed that the of his clients did not feel year, we have once again we have an affiliation,” are yet to be defined. and do those other things pandemic has comfortable conducting switched to fully virtual said Greaves. Whatever the need that we are known for but negatively affected its sessions virtually from and have lost all the clients In 2020, Greaves spoke though, you can be sure we the priority at the moment operation reporting a home or did not want to we were seeing in person. to The Barbados Advocate will do our best to address is making it through this 90 per cent loss of switch to teletherapy. So it ebbs and flows. about an important it,” said Greaves. pandemic in good mental, clients since the first However, it is not all Generally,our clientele has counselling conference in The marriage and emotional and physical lockdown in 2020. terrible news as Greaves’ remained stable,” said April but with the virus family counsellor said that health; that must be the Earlier this week, The business has also gained Greaves. outbreak, it was cancelled. at this moment, the focus; anything else can Barbados Advocate spoke new clients as people He also noted in the area He said that this year, the business will refocus and come after. We had to to George Greaves of adapted to the online of professional business had intended to concentrate on helping expand our team of Marriage and Family environment and the development, the business host the event in 2021 and Barbadians with their psychologists to meet the Counsellor and co-owner situation remains fluid. had completed considered having a mental health. During this expanding needs. of Life Intervention & “We never switched back certifications and training virtual conference. But time, Greaves and his As we indicated before Support Services about the to full in-office sessions because of COVID-19 that with the uncertainty of team have been working our team is being certified coronavirus’ impact on the and were two-thirds online they would typically do in work and life, he noted it with various or recertified in areas like mental health counselling and only really seeing a year and this was a was important to pause organisations. palliative care, crisis positive. and reassess the business “We have been actively counseling, anger “We have done these plan. involved in small group management therapy,and courses through the “2021 may necessitate a seminars and other areas relevant to Mental Health Academy, completely different focus. presentations and working our current mental the American Whatever is done needs to with various community health crisis brought Psychological Association, be relevant to our organisations to help their on by COVID-19,” said and other reputable community. That specific members/ charges at Greaves.

Land (Title Proceedings) Act, 2011 (Act 2011 – 7)

FORM 3

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR DECLARATION OF OWNERSHIPAND CERTIFICATE OF TITLE IN RESPECT OF ______ALL THAT LAND situate at Farm Road in the parish of Saint Peter containing by admeasurement 362.0 square metres.

SUPREME COURT OF BARBADOS IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

CLAIM NO: LTP 68 of 2020

IN THE MATTER OF THE LAND (TITLE PROCEEDINGS) ACT, 2011 (SECTION 3)

AND IN THE MATTER of ALL THAT land situate at Farm Road in the parish of Saint Peter containing by admeasurement 362.0 square metres as shown on a Plan certified on the 9th day of November 2020 by Mohammed Rafik M.S. Nagdee, Land Surveyor Abutting and Bounding on lands of Farm Road Pentecostal House of Prayer, on lands of Lavinia Broomes, on lands of Sybil Leacock, on lands of Shonn Boyce and on a public road known as Farm Road Public Road which leads in one direction to Speightstown Bypass Road and in the other direction to Warleigh or however else the same may abut and bound.

TAKE NOTICE that PETER ANDERSON LUCAS of Farm Tenantry in the parish of Saint Peter in this Island, ELSWORTH WELLINGTON HOWELL of 20B Harrison’s Plantation in the parish of Saint Lucy in this Island and CYNTHIA EUDORA WOODS of Church Hill Road, Ashton Hall in the parish of Saint Peter in this Island, the Trustees of Farm Road Pentecostal House of Prayer, a Charity registered on the 28th day of October 1997 under the Charities Act Chapter 243 of the Laws of Barbados as Charity Number 363, have applied to the High Court for a declaration of their ownership and a certificate of title in respect of the property described above.

Any persons having any adverse claim, lien or charge or right or interest against the said property should submit the claim duly authenticated on oath to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Bridegtown, on or before the 23rd day of February 2021.

Any other person who has any information relating to the ownership of the said property is invited to give such information in writing to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Bridegtown, on or before the 23rd day of February 2021.

Dated the 29th day of December, 2020.

Tammy L. Bryan Attorney-at-law for the Claimants, whose place of business and address of service is c/o George Walton Payne & Co., Suite 205-207, Dowell House, Cr. Roebuck & Palmetto Streets, Bridgetown. The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 7

Communities try to protect animals amid quarantine “WHEN we conduct nucleic in areas at high or medium risk acid tests on chickens, we of COVID-19. need one person to pinch the Recently, due to the need for beak and the other to reach epidemic prevention and con- into the chicken’s throat trol, three of the worst-hit vil- with a cotton swab. Pigs are lages in Gaocheng district have the most difficult animal to conducted the transfer and iso- test, requiring three or four lation of the entire village popu- people to control their huge lation.After the villagers moved bodies and stick cotton out, the Gaocheng District swabs into their nostrils Animal Husbandry Station sent Residents are about to go to the COVID-19 quarantine centre with their dogs in the Ronghui when they aren’t looking,” a a temporary rescue service residential compound in Daxing’s Tiangongyuan subdistrict, Beijing, capital of China. member of staff engaged in team, responsible for feeding the animal health supervision village’s poultry and livestock busy period, China Youth Daily suffer even greater losses,” Chen farmers on the phone to learn surnamed Chen told the and carrying out epidemic pre- reported. said. about their needs, then going Global Times. vention measures until the vil- Since January 12, 18 members To find out whether animals to each animal shelter to disin- Chen is working in rural lagers return home. of staff from animal health su- carry the coronavirus, these fect and then feed them. Gaocheng district in Shijiaz- As of January 12, 5,435 people pervision centres in several temporary keepers have been They are busy until dark every huang, North China’s Hebei in these three villages had been towns and villages in Gaocheng working with the local CDC to day. Province, which has been hard transferred to designated isola- district, included Chen, have conduct nucleic acid tests. “During our inspections, we hit in the recent outbreak. tion areas, but 48 families been working as temporary At present, nucleic acid sam- also found that many villagers When people leave their among them are engaged in the keepers and animal epidemic pling of animals in these three left their dogs in the yard to homes for designated quaran- livestock industry, breeding prevention coordinators in these villages has been completed. guard the house, so we arranged tine, what happens to the ani- poultry, cattle, sheep and pigs. villages. Both batches of 150 samples a three-person ‘dog feeding mals left behind has become a All the animals faced food short- “There must be someone to tested negative. team,’ carrying steamed buns, pressing problem for both live- ages when the people left, and take care of these animals. If According to Chen, they start water and ladders to feed the stock producers and pet owners this time of year is normally a they starve, the villagers will work at 8 am, first contacting dogs every day,” Chen said. WHO scientists deny restrictions, limitations in investigation THE WHO experts are going to Wuhan in early January 2020. the right places for field studies What we have done well was on the origin of the COVID-19 in reporting these earlier cases and Wuhan, including the Huanan conducting further pathogenic Seafood Market, hospitals where testing, Wang stressed, adding the early patients were treated that it would also be a question and the Wuhan virology lab, for the WHO experts to find out which will be helpful for them to if much earlier cases existed and get a better understanding of whether they were truly domes- the virus, Chinese experts said, tically transmitted. as the team of 13 international Although the Huanan seafood scientists officially started their market has been sealed off, the investigation work on Friday. experts believe that there is still The WHO experts headed to plenty to see and experience the Hubei Provincial Hospital of there. “[We hope to] understand Integrated Chinese and Western the setting, see the places where Medicine on Friday where Dr. cases were linked, reconstruct Zhang Jixian first reported the the initial event there, search cases of “what was then known for records of animals, products as pneumonia of unknown ori- traded there. And possibly talk gin” on December 27, 2019. to some of the merchants who “We were at the hospital were there at that time,” where the first patient was iden- Embarek said. tified in the last week of Peter Daszak, a member of the December 2019. We also met Workers wearing protective suits dispose of garbage after cleaning the rooms of WHO experts team who is also from the US with staff there, and with one of following their quarantine in Wuhan. group EcoHealth Alliance, the earliest known patient,” tweeted on Friday afternoon Peter Ben Embarek, who leads Times and the AFP have been there will be no restrictions or find more information about ear- that “Extremely important 1st the WHO team, told the Global hyping the hypothesis that limitations in working with our lier cases from there is very im- site visit. We are in the hospital Times, calling the visit “very in- China has been taking charge Chinese colleagues or in visit- portant,Wang Guangfa, a respi- that treated some of the first formative.” of this investigation, which may ing places the joint team deems ratory expert at Peking known cases of COVID-19, Visits will include the Wuhan prevent the foreign experts from of interest,” Embarek told the University First Hospital, told meeting with the actual clini- Institute of Virology, Huanan finding the origin of the virus. Global Times. the Global Times on Friday. cians and staff who did this market and the Wuhan CDC An AFP reporter even asked the Letting those experts to three “Though China reported the work, having open discussions laboratory, the WHO said on question that has been repeated places - Huanan market,Wuhan earliest coronavirus case, we’ve about the details of their work.” Thursday, and the experts will for months to the Chinese virology lab and local CDC – rep- seen earlier cases emerge out- Going to the hospitals that also speak to early responders Foreign Ministry on Friday: resents China’s open and trans- side China, and maybe some treated earlier patients would and some of the first COVID-19 “Will China make sure that parent attitude on this matter, other countries took it as a flu,” help experts get to know more patients. these experts could access full as the Huanan market was the said Wang, who was also among patient information, which will However,some Western media relevant data?” place where the earliest case experts of the National Health also be helpful for the investiga- outlets such as the New York “My understanding is that was found, whether we could Commission who had visited tion work, Wang said. 8 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate ‘For the cause that lacks assistance, ’Gainst the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that I can do’ Editorial US president meets Republicans as Red and Democrats push on for virus aid WASHINGTON – to his effort to unify the and other workers on the Speaker Nancy Pelosi President Joe Biden met country. job. said in a joint late yesterday with a The Republican group’s Gone are Democratic statement. White Boost group of Republican proposal taps into bipar- priorities such as a grad- The goal is for approval senators who have pro- tisan urgency to shore up ual lifting of the federal of COVID relief by posed a slimmed down the nation’s vaccine minimum wage to $15 March, when extra unem- EVEN a strong economy could use a boost $618 billion coronavirus distribution and vastly an hour. ployment assistance and from time to time and festive seasons such as aid package – a fraction expand virus testing with Engaging the White other pandemic aid Christmas and New Year’s can lead to a surge of the $1.9 trillion he is $160 billion in aid, House in high-profile bi- expires. in spending as people celebrate. Valentine’s seeking – as congres- similar to what Biden has partisan talks comes The overture from the Day is another such occasion, although sional Democrats vowed proposed. But from there, House and Senate coalition of ten GOP sen- it is a very exclusive holiday by nature to push ahead with or the two plans drastically Democrats announced ators, mostly centrists, is focusing on those who are in romantic without GOP support. diverge. Less focused on they would push ahead, an attempt to show that relationships. Biden greeted the law- economic aid, the GOP’s laying the groundwork at least some in the Efforts should be made to make the day more makers in the Oval $1,000 direct payments for approving Biden’s Republican ranks want to inclusive by promoting gift exchanges among Office, joking that he felt would go to fewer house- package with a process work with Biden’s new family members and friends as well like he was “back in the holds than the $1,400 that won’t depend on administration, rather as providing treats for work colleagues. Senate” as they started Biden has proposed, and Republican support for than simply operating as The fun of the day can be a break from the the private session. He the Republicans offer passage. the opposition in the monotony of the work, eat, sleep and and Vice President only a fraction of what Senate Majority Leader minority in Congress. But repeat cycle for those not romantically Kamala Harris were he wants to re-open Chuck Schumer warned Democrats are wary of involved. hearing the Republicans’ schools. that history is filled with using too much time Locally,Valentine’s Day can be an impetus to pitch for a smaller, more They also would give “the costs of small think- courting GOP support stimulate the economy, but due to the targeted COVID relief nothing to states, money ing.” that may not materialise national pause ahead, plans must be made in package that would do that Democrats argue is “The cost of inaction is or delivering too meagre advance. Small businesses are still offering away with Democratic just as important, with high and growing, and a package as they believe unique gifts which can be purchased priorities but could win $350 billion in Biden’s the time for decisive ac- happened during the in advance for loved ones. Recently there have GOP support and appeal plan to keep police, fire tion is now,” he and 2009 recovery. been few opportunities to celebrate and although this year has started off with some difficulties it has also started with some clear reminders that we should Coup prompts outcry from Myanmar be grateful to reach each milestone and holiday. Supporting small businesses by purchasing local handmade gifts as well as as Biden threatens sanctions sweet treats and food items helps families to pay their bills and have enough funds WESTERN leaders con- Myanmar’s close ties with tion of a coup. Myint and other NLD especially at this time when traditional jobs demned the coup by council member China will However the streets leaders were “taken” in the may not be providing stable income. Myanmar’s military play into any decision. were quiet overnight after early hours of yesterday There are also some business types that rely against Aung San Suu US President Joe Biden troops and riot police morning,NLD spokesman heavily on Valentine’s Day and other special Kyi’s democratically said the coup was a direct took up positions in the Myo Nyunt told Reuters occasions which may have suffered elected government and assault on Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw, and by phone. UN human severely last year. These are businesses such hundreds of thousands of transition to democracy the main commercial rights chief Michelle as florists, bakeries and gift wrapping her supporters took to and the rule of law. centre Yangon. Phone and Bachelet said at least businesses. social media to voice their “The United States internet connections were 45 people had been When carefully examined the history anger at the takeover. removed sanctions on disrupted. detained. of most commonly celebrated holidays are In the early hours of Burma over the past Many in Myanmar questionable at best but the best way to Monday, the Myanmar decade based on progress voiced their anger on Ministers removed celebrate is to make it about you. It is army handed power to toward democracy. The social media. The United Nations led important to show gratitude to friends and military chief General Min reversal of that progress Data on Facebook condemnation of the coup family and also to spend time developing Aung Hlaing and imposed will necessitate an imme- showed more than 334 000 and calls for the release of relationships. The reminders of how fleeting a state of emergency for a diate review of our sanc- people had used the detainees and restoration life is can prompt persons to pay more year, saying it had tion laws and authorities, #SaveMyanmar hashtag of democracy in comments attention to those things that they consider responded to what it called followed by appropriate denoting opposition to the largely echoed by most important. For some people that may be election fraud. action,” Biden said in coup, and some people Australia, the European their career but for many others things like The sudden turn of a statement. changed profile pictures to Union, India, Japan and family and health are at the top of the lists and events derailed years of Min Aung Hlaing, who black to show their sorrow the United States. are often neglected when the drive to efforts to establish democ- had been nearing retire- or red in support of the Prime Minister Boris succeed takes over. racy in poverty-stricken ment, promised a free and NLD, often with a portrait Johnson of Britain, the Each year, vendors can be spotted with Myanmar, also known fair election and a han- of the 75-year-old Suu Kyi, former colonial power in festive Valentine’s merchandise for sale even as Burma, and raised dover of power to the win- the 1991 Nobel Peace Burma, called for the days after Valentines Day has passed. This more questions over the ning party, without giving Prize winner. release of Suu Kyi and year it is hoped that there is still an prospect of how and a timeframe. “We as a citizen of others. “The vote of the opportunity for persons to support each other when a million Rohingya Suu Kyi’s National Myanmar not agree with people must be respected while expressing love to those who are refugees will return to the League for Democracy the current move and and civilian leaders important to them and remaining safe during country. (NLD) party, which won would like to request the released,” he said. the ongoing pandemic. The UN Security a landslide 83% in a world leaders. UN and Consolidating the coup, Essentially it is an exercise in showing love Council will meet today, November 8 election, said the world medias help the junta removed to our fellow man by making small purchases, diplomats said, amid calls that she called on people to our country – our leaders – 24 ministers and named even if they require creativity to make for a strong response to protest against the mili- our people – from this 11 replacements to something that could lead a person to smile. the detention of Suu Kyi tary takeover, quoting bitter acts,” said one oversee ministries This does not mean that you should go wildly and dozens of her comments it said were widely reposted message. including finance,defence, over your usual monthly budget but a tiny political allies, although written earlier in anticipa- Suu Kyi, President Win foreign affairs and interior. token of love can go a long was for everyone involved. Although, it will unfortunately be Telephone: 467-2000 News Fax: 434-1000 News Editor: Dorian Bryan Executive Editor: Allison Downes spent indoors with family or loved ones, have E-mail Address: [email protected] Business Editor: Jewel Brathwaite General Manager: Sandra Clarke Assistant Managing Director: Sean Eteen Website: www.barbadosadvocate.com Sports Editor: Corey Greaves a safe and enjoyable Valentine’s Day filled Publisher: Sir Anthony Bryan with love. @The Barbados Advocate @barbadosadvocate The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 9

Nintendo Switch sales surge past those of the 3DS SALES of Nintendo’s Super Mario 3D World - nine months of 2020. Switch gaming consoles which goes on sale on 12 Nintendo’s president have surpassed those of February - is expected to Shuntaro Furukawa said their predecessor – the provide it with a further that the company had 3DS – despite being avail- boost. sufficient components to able for a much shorter pe- Nintendo ended produc- continue producing the de- riod. tion of its 3DS handheld vices – despite wider in- The firm said 79.87 mil- in September 2020 and dustry shortages – and it lion units had been sold says it sold 75.94 million now expected to sell 26.5 since its March 2017 units over its nine-and-a- million of the consoles over Nintendo has sold about four million more Switch consoles than those of its 3DS. launch. half year lifetime. the financial year as a The figures accompa- The Switch first went on whole. That represents Switch justifies Nintendo’s see the Wii U for example success, it still has some nied the Japanese firm’s sale in 2017, and was 10% more than its previ- decision to stick with its – but when it works it way to go before overtak- financial results, which joined by a lower-cost ous guidance. product strategy of com- tends to result in very suc- ing sales of four of the saw it declare a record model – the Switch Lite – He added that there bining unique and innova- cessful products. firm’s other consoles: 377bn yen ($3.6bn) profit in 2019, which is also in- were no plans to launch a tive dedicated games “Clearly the stand out • Wii - 101.63 million for the April-December pe- cluded in the tally. successor in the near term. hardware with compelling hit is the 30-million-sell- units riod. The firm said demand However, there is contin- first-party games,” Piers ing Animal Crossing: New • Nintendo DS - 154.02 Analysts attribute the for the machines was ued speculation the com- Harding-Rolls from Horizons, a gentle, sociable million units Switch’s success to the 35.8% up on the same pe- pany will unveil a “pro” Ampere Analysis told the game that will be synony- • Game Boy Advance - popularity of Animal riod the previous year, version of the Switch be- BBC. mous with lockdown for 81.51 million units Crossing, among other with a total of 24.1 million fore the end of 2021. “Sometimes this ap- many people.” • Game Boy - 118.69 family-friendly exclusives. units sold over the last “The sales success of the proach misses the mark - Despite the Switch’s million units GameStop investor battle moves on to silver as prices rise SILVER prices have hit What’s being said to “Retail traders who are giants such as asset man- The firm has since re- Regulators say they are an a eight-year high stoke the speculation? just following the herd and ager BlackRock and the ceived commitments for monitoring the trend, after calls to buy the The price of silver is up join the party late may ac- private equity firm Silver fresh cash from investors, while trading platforms metal on social media by almost 20% since cumulate huge losses and Lake. leaving it with around have imposed restrictions sparked a trading Wednesday, when mes- need to be more rational in However, other big in- $8bn in assets, but that is on shares in GameStop frenzy. sages began circulating on their decisions,” Mr Sayed vestors have been ham- still down from $12.5bn at and other companies It comes a week after Reddit forums, encourag- added. mered by the trading the beginning of 2021, ac- caught up in the buying amateur investors piled ing users to buy the metal. frenzy. cording to Reuters. frenzy. into shares in the games Coin-selling websites say Are the Wall Street Hedge fund Melvin retailer GameStop, caus- they are now seeing un- giants on the ropes? Capital – which bet ing them to jump 700%. precedented demand and Despite what some retail heavily that shares in Yesterday silver rose by delays in delivering silver. traders had hoped, some of GameStop would fall – lost as much as 11% to $30 an Reflecting the attitude of the biggest profiteers from 53% of its value towards ounce, while shares in many of those swapping last week’s market action the end of January,accord- some mining firms were up tips on the site, one user were said to be Wall Street ing to media reports. as much as 60%. called RocketBoomGo Small time traders urged fellow traders to BANK RATES swapping tips on Reddit “think about the Gainz” in are thought to be behind a widely circulated post. Commercial bank rates to the public at the close of the trend, as they seek to “If you don’t care about business yesterday by the Central Bank of Barbados. drive prices up. the gains, think about the However, some users of banks like JP Morgan Valid for February 2, 2021 the site dispute this, alleg- you’d be destroying along Notes: ing the “Silver Squeeze” is the way,” they added. Currency Buying Selling secretly being coordinated However,some on Reddit Belizean Dollar 1.00000 1.00000 by big Wall Street firms. expressed scepticism, with Canadian Dollar 1.53918 1.58471 one saying they had East Caribbean $ 0.73704 0.74445 What is going on? analysed comments and Euro 2.36510 2.46470 It is the latest example of posts on the thread Wall Pound Sterling 2.68047 2.79333 apparently small-time Street Silver and found United States Dollar 1.98000 2.02857 traders taking on big Wall that 80% “came from ac- Demand/Sight: Street hedge funds that counts mostly created in Currency Buying Selling Belizean Dollar 0.99688 1.00313 hope to profit when the the last 2 days. Pretty sus- Canadian Dollar 1.54794 1.58331 price of an asset or stock pect.. who do these people East Caribbean Dollar 0.73843 0.74306 falls, but could lose heavily really work for?!” Euro 2.39981 2.44940 if it rises. Hussein Sayed, chief Guyana Dollar 0.00943 0.00949 Tips posted on social market strategist at Pound Sterling 2.71979 2.77600 media sites like Reddit say FXTM, said that amateur United States Dollar 1.99000 2.02768 these so called “short sell- investors would find it Telegraphic Transfer ers” are manipulating the much harder to influence Currency Buying Selling markets. the price of silver than they Belizean Dollar 0.99688 1.00313 And so the amateurs buy did with GameStop. Canadian Dollar 1.55087 1.58331 East Caribbean Dollar 0.73843 0.74306 up the stocks or assets, For one thing, the total Euro 2.40432 2.44940 driving up the price and in- value of silver being traded Guyana Dollar 0.00943 0.00949 flicting losses on the big is about $1.4-$1.6 trillion, Pound Sterling 2.72491 2.77600 players. he said, which is 1,000 United States Dollar 1.99375 2.02768 It began in January times the total value of when amateurs piled into GameStop’s share capital INDICATIVE RATES FOR SOME REGIONAL loss-making retailer before it became the target CURRENCIES AS ADVISED BY THE GameStop and other com- of speculation. RESPECTIVE CENTRAL BANKS panies such as AMC and A large proportion of the N.B.: These rates are not meant to be used for trading. Blackberry. silver market also exists BDS$ Guyana Dollar 0.00946 Now the battle appears “off-exchange”, meaning it Jamaica Dollar 0.01349 to have moved on to silver can’t be bought and sold as T&T Dollar 0.29923 – a far bigger market. easily online. 10 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

COVID-19 and dengue: What’s the difference? hile some may see the two diseases which, barring common symptom of dengue is and pains, as well as or gums; blood in vomit or “national pause”, any underlying conditions, fever, along with aches and nausea/vomiting. However, you stool; and feeling tired, Wwhich begins tomor- can be treated if caught pains (eye pain, typically be- should make note of the restless, or irritable. row, as an inconvenience, it is early. hind the eyes, muscle, joint, or other symptoms that are not For COVID-19, the signs are absolutely necessary at this However, it appears, in some bone pain), nausea/vomiting similar. trouble breathing; persistent point in time. instances, persons are self- and rash. In addition, the CDC urges pain or pressure in the chest; Over the next two weeks, medicating, believing they The known symptoms of persons to look for warning new confusion; inability to health authorities are seeking have one disease when in actu- COVID-19 are fever/chills, signs of both severe dengue, wake or stay awake; and to get two deadly diseases ality they have the other, and cough, shortness of breath or which generally begin with 24- bluish lips or face. under control – the coron- are seeking medical attention difficulty breathing, fatigue, 48 hours after the fever has Despite this, whether your avirus (COVID-19) and too late. This is due to the fact muscle or body aches, gone away, as well as COVID- symptoms for both diseases dengue. The latter has claimed that it is difficult to distin- headache, new loss of taste or 19, and when they develop to are mild or severe, it would be three lives, while in just one guish between the two of smell, sore throat, congestion get medical attention immedi- wise to seek medical attention month, the former has claimed them as they have similar or runny nose, nausea/vomit- ately. In the case of severe as soon as possible – the seven, equalling the number symptoms. ing and diarrhea. As you can dengue, the symptoms are earlier the better. Do not take the country recorded for the According to the Centers for see, the confusion lies in that stomach pain, tenderness; them lightly.And as we enter whole of last year. These are Disease Control and both diseases have symptoms vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 the “national pause”, follow the one too many lives lost to these Prevention (CDC), the most of fever, body or muscle aches hours); bleeding from the nose protocols and stay safe.

Vaccine skepticism lurks in town famous for syphilis study TUSKEGEE, Ala. – Lucenia nity, I would be very untruthful Dunn spent the early days of the if I didn’t say that,” said Frank coronavirus pandemic encourag- Lee, emergency management di- ing people to wear masks and rector in Macon County. Lee is keep a safe distance from each Black. other in Tuskegee, a mostly Health experts have stressed Black city where the government both the vaccines’ safety and ef- once used unsuspecting African ficacy. They have noted that American men as guinea pigs in while the vaccines were devel- a study of a sexually transmitted oped with record-breaking speed, disease. they were based on decades of Now,the onetime mayor of the prior research. Vaccines used in town immortalised as the home the US have shown no signs of of the infamous “Tuskegee serious side effects in studies of syphilis study” is wary of getting tens of thousands of people.And inoculated against COVID-19. with more than 26 million vacci- Among other things, she’s suspi- nations administered in the US cious of the government promot- alone so far, no red flags have ing a vaccine that was developed been reported. in record time when it can’t seem Tuskegee is not a complete to conduct adequate virus testing outlier. A recent survey con- Nurse Marianne Williams administers a COVID-19 vaccine to a woman as a coworker looks on at or consistently provide quality ducted by the communications the county health department in Tuskegee, Ala., Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. The clinic has yet to rural health care. firm Edelman revealed that as of reach its maximum capacity for immunising people in the mostly Black city, the site of the infa- “I’m not doing this vaccine November, only 59% of people in mous ‘Tuskegee syphilis study’, that ended in 1972. right now.That doesn’t mean I’m the US were willing to get vacci- never going to do it. But I know nated within a year with just Fred Gray resulted in a $9 mil- titled “Beyond Tuskegee: Why only more fellow Black residents enough to withhold getting it 33% happy to do so as soon as lion settlement, and then- Black People Must Not Take The could overcome their lingering until we see all that is involved,” possible. President Bill Clinton formally Experimental COVID-19 fears and get the vaccine. said Dunn, who is Black. But skepticism seems to run apologized on behalf of the US Vaccine.” “The study is a huge factor,” The coronavirus immunisation deeper here. government in 1997. But the Gray, now 90 and still practis- Moon said. “I’ve had very quali- campaign is off to a shaky start When Alabama and the rest of damage left a legacy of distrust ing law in Tuskegee, rejects such fied, well-educated people tell me in Tuskegee and other parts of the South were still segregated that extends far beyond comparisons. The syphilis study they are not going to take it right Macon County. Area leaders by race, government medical Tuskegee: A December survey and the COVID-19 vaccine are now.” point to a resistance among res- workers starting in 1932 with- showed 40% of Black people na- completely different, he said. He The Macon County health de- idents spurred by a distrust of held treatment for unsuspecting tionwide said they wouldn’t get believes that enough that he partment, which is administer- government promises and men infected with syphilis in the coronavirus vaccine. Such himself has gotten the vaccine ing two-step Moderna vaccines decades of failed health pro- Tuskegee and surrounding hesitancy is more entrenched and is publicly encouraging oth- in its modern building near grammes. Many people in this Macon County so physicians than among white people, even ers to do the same. downtown, could perform as city of 8 500 have relatives who could track the disease. The though Black Americans have Georgette Moon is on a similar many as 160 immunisations a were subjected to unethical study, which involved about 600 been hit disproportionately hard mission. Hoping to both protect day, officials said. But a maxi- government experimentation men, ended in 1972 only after it by the virus. herself and encourage skittish mum of 140 people received the during the syphilis study. was revealed by The Associated The Chicago-based Black na- friends, the former city council vaccine on any single date during “It does have an impact on Press. tionalist group Nation of Islam is member recently bared an arm the first six days of appoint- decisions. Being in this commu- A lawsuit filed on behalf of the warning away members nation- and let a public health nurse im- ments, with a total of 527 people nity, growing up in this commu- men by Black Tuskegee attorney wide with an online presentation munize her. Now, Moon said, if immunised during the period. The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 11

Saint Lucia preparing for three-phase COVID-19 vaccine rollout

CASTRIES, Saint Lucia – Saint Lucia planning and coordinating the roll out of In the second phase, when supply is in- able towards the end of the first quarter has announced a 3-phase approach the COVID-19 vaccine introduction and creased, the Ministry will work with all of 2021. to its planned vaccine rollout later deployment in country. stakeholders to ensure that all remaining As part of the planning, the Ministry of this year. Saint Lucia’s COVID-19 vaccine Phase 1 are vaccinated and those Health and Wellness has developed a The announcement came yesterday in deployment will have a three-phased targeted under Phase 2 of the pro- communication strategy, using a a statement from Assistant Principal approach, targeting priority groups first, gramme. These include: multi-media approach. Nursing Officer – Tecla Jn Baptiste. based on the level of exposure and risk to • Persons of medium risk – Health Care There continues to be dialogue at all COVID-19. Workers, Firemen, Policemen levels – international, regional, and The statement is reproduced below: In the initial phase of the programme, • Caregivers national.The communication is phased to Saint Lucia, like the rest of the world, is when vaccine supply will be limited, 20% • International agencies personnel align with the phased approach working diligently to access COVID-19 of the general population will be covered. • Persons with Non-Communicable to introduction of the vaccine targeting vaccines that are safe, efficacious, and Hence, the critical population will be Diseases priority groups. of good quality. targeted in the early phases of the During the third phase, when there will There is also value in reaching out to As a member of the COVAX Advanced programme. have adequate vaccine supply to cover the communities, and as such Health market Commitment (AMC) group, the general population, the Ministry of Educators will be working with various St. Lucia will benefit from vaccines to The target group includes: Health and Wellness will focus on vacci- partners at the community level. cover 20% of the population in Phase 1 of • Inpatient and other high-exposure nating the following target population: In the initial phase, the focus will be on the distribution process as the supply Health Care Workers • Low risk Health Care Workers, internal stakeholders such as nurses, of vaccines are still limited. • High risk first responders (Police and Firemen and policemen physicians and other key persons; after The focus is to ensure equitable Fire) • Non-essential workers which there will be engagement with distribution of vaccines. • Persons 65 years and older • Rest of the population external stakeholders. Whilst St. Lucia will receive its initial •Persons in elderly homes and Before vaccines are made available, the The internal sensitisation has supply,the country will procure additional caregivers Ministry of Health must ensure that commenced and will be intensified in the vaccines to ensure everyone who needs • Elderly in the communities the vaccine has gone through a thorough coming weeks. the vaccine receives it. • Persons living with chronic non-com- regulatory process, and is prequalified As St. Lucia prepares to roll out the The Ministry of Health has established municable diseases; prioritizing those 65 by the World Health Organization COVID-19 vaccine introduction in the a COVID-19 Vaccine Committee which is years and older,then those 16 to 64 years. (WHO). next few weeks, it is important to under- To date, the Pfizer vaccine is the only stand the willingness of the population to one which has been prequalified by the be vaccinated against COVID-19, as World Health Organization. Other vac- doubts and misconceptions can negatively cines such as Moderna and Astrazenica, impact the uptake of the vaccine. have received Emergency Use Approval To this end, a survey will be conducted, (EUA), and await the full prequalifica- aimed at gaining an insight into tion from WHO. the attitudes of the population towards According to international agencies, COVID-19 vaccination. such as the Global Alliance of Vaccines While participation is voluntary, and Immunization (GAVI) and WHO, the support is needed from everyone as the regulatory process is in its advanced information provides an opportunity to in- stage, and will be finalized in the coming form efforts and strategies aimed at curb- weeks. ing the spread of the virus and keeping In light of this discussions are ongoing everyone safe. There will be an official regarding which vaccine or vaccines will media launch of the survey in the coming be prequalified for the Caribbean. weeks. Notwithstanding, logistics are in place The Ministry of Health and Wellness to receive and deploy whichever vaccine will continue to provide updates on the is made available. plans towards the COVID-19 vaccine It is expected that vaccines will be avail- introduction and deployment. One new case in Bermuda, Chief Medical Officer of the Cayman Islands, Dr. John Lee. appeal for people to get vaccine THE number of active Covid-19 cases has The latest results mean that the seven- dropped by more than half, health day average of the real time reproduc- officials said yesterday. tion number is now 0.33 and the country Eight travellers positive for The news came as one new case was status remained at “sporadic cases”. recorded out 1,587 results received since Kim Wilson, the minister of health, last Friday. appealed to the public to sign up for the coronavirus in Caymans The number of active cases dropped Government vaccination programme. from 26 to 12 after 15 people recovered Ms Wilson said, “If enough people in GRAND CAYMAN – In the latest release of ing at home is 691. from infection over the weekend. Bermuda are vaccinated, the virus is less Another eight travellers COVID-19 statistics, Chief Meanwhile, 9 143 doses The number of active cases peaked on able to spread as the number of have tested positive for Medical Officer Dr.John of the vaccine have been December 22, when 253 people the susceptible people is lowered.” COVID-19 in the latest Lee said that seven of the administered to just under coronavirus. She told the public,“Getting vaccinated batch of 500 results that eight travellers who tested 7 598 people, with 1 545 A spokeswoman for the health ministry will protect you, and it will also help were released yesterday, positive over the weekend now having received both said that the new case was a resident protect the people you interact with, one of whom is suffering were asymptomatic and doses. who arrived on the BA flight from London especially those at increased risk for se- symptoms of the virus. while one person is show- Public Health officials last Friday and tested positive on arrival. vere illness from Covid-19. Meanwhile, the vaccina- ing symptoms, but that in- said some data still had to A total of eight of the 12 cases are being “Those individuals in higher-risk tion tally has reached dividual is not in hospital. be collated but initial cal- monitored by public health officials and groups include the elderly and those who more than 9 000 and more The number of active cases culations show that four are in hospital, but none are in are extremely clinically vulnerable. than half of Cayman’s sen- among those in isolation is around 46% of the over 60s intensive care. “If you have any questions about iors have now received currently 28 and six have and 57% of those aged over The island has recorded 692 cases, with your vulnerability, please talk with your their first dose and over 1 symptoms of the virus.The 70 years have received at 668 of those infected going on to recover primary care physician.” 500 people have had both number of people in a gov- least their first dose of the since the pandemic hit last March. A ministry spokeswoman added that shots. ernment facility or isolat- Pfizer vaccine. The death toll remains at 12 people. the vaccine was free of charge. 12 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

Brazil Senate elects Bolsonaro ally to head the upper chamber BRASILIA – Brazil’s Though he is a asset sales as it works to Senate voted 57-21 Bolsonaro ally, Pacheco of cut the fiscal deficit. yesterday to elect the centre-right party Before the vote, Pacheco Rodrigo Pacheco, the has said he would not vowed to seek a compro- candidate endorsed by make a priority of privatis- mise between fiscal right-wing President ing Eletrobras, Latin restraints and assistance Jair Bolsonaro, to head America’s largest utility to socially vulnerable the upper chamber for and one of the govern- Brazilians hurt by the Rodrigo Pacheco. a two-year term. ment’s biggest potential coronavirus pandemic.

Mexico investigates possible involvement of officials in ‘migrant’ killings

MONTERREY, Mexico – Mexico is to the United States were among those investigating whether any officials were killed in Tamaulipas. involved in the suspected massacre of 19 A truck found at the scene of the crime people in the northeastern state of had been seized by immigration author- Tamaulipas after a truck reportedly ities in the neighbouring state of Nuevo seized by immigration authorities before Leon in December, local media reported. the killings was found at the scene of Nuevo Leon’s immigration institute did the crime. not respond to requests for comment “We are going to see if there is any re- about the truck’s seizure. Nuevo Leon’s sponsibility on the part of any officials or prosecutor’s office referred Reuters to public servants of the National Migration Tamaulipas’ prosecutor’s office, which on Institute itself,” Mexico’s interior minis- Saturday said the truck had been located ter, Olga Sanchez, said yesterday. at the scene of a “rescue” of 66 foreigners Mexico’s interior minister, Olga Sanchez. State prosecutors have so far geneti- by local police and immigration authori- cally identified two Guatemalans and ties in December. The office said on yes- was aware of the truck and the fact that sternation in Mexico about the perils two Mexicans among the 19 victims, terday it could not confirm the truck’s it may have been in the possession of im- faced by migrants, many of whom come whose bodies were badly charred. subsequent seizure by the immigration migration authorities but said that the from the three violent and impoverished Some Guatemalan families have said agency. matter was still under investigation. Central American countries of they feared loved ones trying to migrate Sanchez said the federal government The killings have caused renewed con- Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Deadly attack on party activists shocks El Salvador violence GUNMEN opened fire on activists from the capital, San Salvador, on Sunday bloodbath”. and its candidate, Salvador Sánchez El Salvador’s main opposition party, afternoon local time in front of one of the In a reference to the country’s Ceren, served as president killing two people, a rare political attack offices of the FMLN party. civil war, San Salvador’s mayor, Neto until 2019. that has shocked one of Latin America’s Party activists had attended a rally Muyshondt, also condemned the attack, In the most recent presidential election, most violent countries. launching the campaign for mayor of calling it a “step back” in El Salvador’s his- however, the FMLN’s candidate lost out to The Farabundo Martí National FMLN’s candidate Rogelio Canales. tory. Nayib Bukele of the centre-right Gana Liberation Front (FMLN) supporters Nidia Díaz, a FMLN lawmaker, said According to a 1993 United Nations party. were returning from a campaign rally she saw the car with the attackers block Truth Commission report, 80 000 people Some FMLN politicians have accused when their lorry came under fire by sus- the path of an open-backed lorry carrying were killed in the conflict, which lasted President Bukele of inciting pects in a car. party supporters. “A man got out with a from 1979 until a peace deal was signed violence against their party and of The attack on the left-wing party came gun in his hand and started shooting,” in 1992. “threatening anyone who doesn’t agree four weeks before legislative and munic- she tweeted. The FMLN party was formed by left- with him”. ipal elections are due to be held. El Salvador’s Attorney General, Raúl wing rebels as part of the peace deal and Bukele tweeted that all those responsi- Three people have been arrested. Melara, called the attack “serious”, saying, quickly became an influential force. ble for the attack would “pay for their The attack happened in the centre of “The electoral battle cannot become a It won the 2014 presidential election acts”.

Partly sunny with a few brief isolated light showers

High: 7:11 a.m. and 7:23 p.m. London: 04°C OVERCAST Yesterday: 0 mm Boston: 01°C OVERCAST/LIGHT SNOW/MIST Low: 12:44 a.m. For the month: 0.0 mm Max: 29.4°C Montreal: -07°C PARTLY CLOUDY and 1:03 p.m. For the year: 126.4 mm Min: 24.8°C Toronto: -04°C CLOUDY New York: -01°C OVERCAST/LIGHT SNOW/ICE PELLETS 6:25 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Miami: 22°C FAIR The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 13

UK must ‘come down hard’ on South African variant THE UK must “come down hard” 11 cases that could not be linked to inter- break the chains of the transmission of was taking place involving the South on the South African coronavirus national travel. this new variant, and we’ve got to bring African variant so that predictions variant, the health secretary has Matt Hancock told a Downing Street this virus to heel.” could be made with “greater said, after cases with no links to news conference yesterday that there Dr. Susan Hopkins, of Public Health robustness”. travel were detected. was “currently no evidence” to suggest England, told the same briefing that Asked how confident the government Residents aged 16 and over in eight the South African variant was “any more three of the vaccines that had been used was that the new variant could be con- areas across Surrey, London, Kent, severe, but we need to come down on it in trials had proven effective against the tained, Hancock warned it was “not Hertfordshire, Southport and Walsall are hard, and we will”. South African variant. straightforward... there may be further being asked to take tests, regardless of Appealing to residents of those areas, She said officials expected other vac- cases we don’t know about yet”. symptoms. Hancock said, “It is imperative that you cines to have “a similar level of effective- He added it was “absolutely vital” that Previous cases in the UK were stay at home, and that you get a test, ness, particularly in reducing hospitali- people in the affected areas “minimise connected to South Africa. even if you don’t have symptoms. sation and death”. all social contact and get a test when the However random checks found “This is so important so that we can Dr.Hopkins added that further testing opportunity arises”. Prince Harry accepts damages from Mail publishers over ‘baseless’ article THE Duke of Sussex has accepted an “Personal attack” Foundation “so he could feel something apology and “substantial damages” from In a short statement at the remote hear- good had come out of the situation”. the publishers of the Mail on Sunday and ing yesterday, the duke’s lawyer Jenny Mail Online over claims he “turned Afia said Associated Newspapers had Mail apology his back” on the Royal Marines. accepted the allegations were false,“albeit On 27 December, the Mail On Sunday Two articles alleged Prince Harry had after considerable damage was already printed an apology, accepting the duke not been in touch with the Marines after done”. had been in touch with the Royal Marines, stepping down as a senior royal. She said Harry was “proud to have and said it had made a donation to the In a statement to the High Court, a served in the British armed forces for ten Invictus Games Foundation, which runs lawyer for Harry called the allegation years in Her Majesty’s name” and “has the competition for wounded, “baseless, false and defamatory”. maintained active links with those forces injured or sick servicemen and women Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. He will donate the damages to the ever since and will continue to do so in set up by Harry in 2014. Invictus Games Foundation, she said. the future”. However Ms Afia criticised the relationship with the media, having Harry sued Associated Newspapers for “The duke’s commitment to the men apology, saying it “used wording which grown up aware of the impact the intense libel over two “almost identical” articles and women who have put their lives on significantly underplayed the seriousness media interest had on the life of his published in the newspaper and online the line, to those who have made the of the accusations made against him”. She mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. last October. ultimate sacrifice for their country,and to also said the Mail on Sunday offered to di- In 2016, the prince accused the media They claimed he had “not been in touch military families, is steadfast and rectly donate the duke’s damages, but of subjecting Meghan – then his girlfriend by phone, letter nor email since his last unquestionable,” said Ms Afia. Harry wanted to do it himself. – to a “wave of abuse and harassment”. appearance as an honorary Marine” “For this reason, the baseless, false and In a separate statement after the The couple have filed several lawsuits in March. defamatory stories published in the Mail hearing, a spokesman for Harry said his against newspapers, and last year told The prince’s lawyer told the court that on Sunday and on the website Mail commitment to the military community the UK’s tabloid press they were ending Harry had in fact made “repeated and Online constituted not only a personal at- was “unquestionable”. all co-operation with them. concerted efforts” to support the Royal tack upon the Duke’s character but also Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of This lawsuit is separate to the case Marines and other parts of the armed wrongly brought into question his service Sussex, formally stepped down as senior brought by Meghan against the publish- services - even though he had been forced to this country.” members of the Royal Family at the end ers of the Mail Online and Mail on Sunday to step back from his ceremonial roles. Ms Afia added that Harry was donating of March last year. over articles that reproduced parts of a his damages to the Invictus Games Prince Harry has long had an uneasy private handwritten letter to her father. ‘Saved by the Bell’ star Diamond dead at 44

DUSTIN DIAMOND, the actor best nius,” Mark-Paul Gosselaar tweeted.“My “Celebrity Boxing 2.” known for playing Samuel “Screech” sincere condolences to his family and He made cameo appearances in films Powers on the beloved coming-of-age friends.Looking back at our time working such as “Made” (2001), “Dickie Roberts: sitcom “Saved By the Bell,” has died. He together, I will miss those raw, brilliant Former Child Star” (2003) and “American was 44. sparks that only he was able to produce. Pie Presents: The Book of Love” (2009). The actor was diagnosed with stage 4 A pie in your face, my comrade.” In December 2013, Diamond appeared on small cell carcinoma cancer last month. “Dustin, you will be missed my man,” an episode of OWN’s “Where Are They The actor’s agent told Fox News that wrote Mario Lopez. “The fragility of this Now?” and became a house member Diamond died on Monday “due to life is something never to be taken for in Season 12 of “Celebrity Big carcinoma.” granted. Prayers for your family will Brother.” “He was diagnosed with this brutal, continue on.” He was not a part of the “Saved” reboot relentless form of malignant cancer only “I am deeply saddened by I the news of on NBC’s streaming platform Peacock. three weeks ago.In that time, it managed my old co-star @realdustindiamond Diamond has also been known to lend to spread rapidly throughout his system; assing,” added Tiffany Thiessen. “Life is his time and resources to those hoping to the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp extremely fragile and it’s something we break out in the acting business and was and swift execution,” Diamond’s agent should never take for granted. God speed a regular among the comedy circuit in Roger Paul said in a statement. Dustin. Los Angeles and New York City. “Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to The actor’s team previously told Fox “Saved by the Bell” aired from 1989 to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are News that Diamond was “undergoing 1993, and its spinoffs included “Saved by grateful.” testing” at an “undisclosed location” for the Bell:The College Years”and “Saved by According to Paul, he last spoke to fear that he would be targeted by the Bell: The New Class,” both of which Diamond on Thursday. paparazzi. Diamond starred in. “That was the last time he was coher- The performer was hospitalised after A sequel was launched on Peacock this ent,” he shared. “He was in a lot of pain. feeling aches and pains throughout his fall featuring many from the original cast, [His health] went downhill from there.” body, TMZ previously reported. including Elizabeth Berkley,Mario Lopez, Some of Diamond’s “Saved By the Bell” Diamond portrayed Screech for 13 Tiffani Thiessen and Mark-Paul co-stars took to Twitter to share their loss. years. He also starred in several reality Gosselaar. Diamond was not included. Dustin Diamond passed away on “Deeply saddened to hear of the passing TV shows including Season 5 of “Celebrity Diamond’s girlfriend was by his side Monday at age 44. of Dustin Diamond, a true comedic ge- Fit Club,” “The Weakest Link” and when he passed away,TMZ reported. 14 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

ACLU elects Black person as its president for first time

NEW YORK – Deborah Archer, a At NYU Law School,Archer is a profes- administration was, but he expects professor at New York University sor of clinical law and director of its Civil daunting challenges ahead. School of Law with expertise in civil Rights Clinic. She has served as chair of “President Trump may be gone but his rights and racial justice, has become the New York City Civilian Complaint toxic legacy on civil rights and civil liber- the first Black person in the 101-year Review Board, which investigates alleged ties is still very much with us,” Romero history of the American Civil police misconduct, and also was assistant said. “It will take years to clean up.” Liberties Union to be elected its counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense “At the top of our agenda is the effort to president. and Educational Fund. redouble this nation’s longstanding but The ACLU announced yesterday that “There is no one better equipped, who frayed commitment to civil rights and Archer was elected over the weekend in best personifies or is more capable to helm racial justice,” he added. “The country a virtual meeting of the organisation’s the future battles for civil rights, needs a president who will be transforma- 69-member board of directors. She civil liberties, and systemic equality than tional when it comes to these issues.” succeeds Susan Herman, a professor at Deborah Archer,” Romero said. Other ACLU priorities, Romero said, Brooklyn Law School who had served as Romero is hopeful that the newly include voting rights, a rollback of the NYU Law Professor Deborah Archer has president since 2008. installed administration of President Trump administration’s get-tough immi- become the 1st Black person in the As the ACLU’s eighth president since Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala gration policies, and joining in efforts to 101-year history of the American Civil 1920, Archer will act as chair of its board Harris will be more attentive to the thwart anti-abortion legislation surfac- Liberties Union to be elected its presi- of the directors, overseeing organisational ACLU’s major concerns than the Trump ing in many Republican-governed states. dent. matters and the setting of civil liberties policies.The fight against racial injustice is expected to be a top priority. The ACLU’s day-to-day operations are managed by its executive director –a post currently held by Anthony Romero. Vietnam’s 76-year-old During former President Donald Trump’s four years in office, the ACLU filed an unprecedented 413 lawsuits and leader gets rare third term other legal actions against his adminis- tration, challenging policies related to im- VIETNAM’S ruling Community Party ernment, does not have a single strong- migrant rights, voting rights, LGBT has re-elected its 76-year-old chief man at the helm. There are four main rights, racial justice and other issues. Nguyen Phu Trong for a rare third jobs that collectively run the show: The The campaign against Trump’s admin- five-year term. Communist Party general secretary, the istration – promoted in a catchy “See You He received an exemption to contest as prime minister, the president and the In Court” ad campaign – fuelled huge in- he was above the age limit of 65. chair of the National Assembly. creases in donations and membership. This makes him one of the country’s The vote for those four jobs moves up- According to Romero, the ACLU national strongest and longest-serving leaders in ward along a pyramid. Every five years, office and its state affiliates received decades. about 1 600 delegates vote some 200 about $175 million in donations in the His leadership will have to look at the members into the Central Committee. three months after Trump’s election, help- crucial next five years amid the coun- That committee then picks the politburo ing to finance a major expansion of staff. try’s largely successful battle against of about 20. Out of those, the four top jobs “The ACLU has proven itself as an Covid-19 and a booming economy. are nominated. invaluable voice in the fight for civil rights Trong is known for his “blazing fur- While this reads like a democratic in the last four years of the Trump era, nace” war against corruption launched in process from the bottom up, there’s usu- and we are better positioned than ever 2016, which saw many high-ranking of- ally extensive political manoeuvring be- to face the work ahead,” Archer said. ficials sent to jail. forehand and the selections are predeter- Early in her career, after graduating His re-election as party general secre- mined. from Yale Law School, she was a legal fel- tary came at a party congress in Hanoi, Vietnam is one of Asia’s fastest grow- low at the ACLU in 1997-98. She has been where delegates from across the country ing economies. While the global pan- a member of the ACLU’s board since held meetings – mostly behind closed demic is expected to pull much of the 2009, and a general counsel and member Vietnam’s 76-year-old chief Nguyen doors. The Congress is held every five world into a recession, the country will of the board’s executive committee Phu Trong has been re-elected for a years. try to retain its growth. since 2017. rare third five-year term. Vietnam, which has a communist gov- Just late last year,the growth target for 2021 was set at an ambitious 6.5%. In 2020, it had slowed to 2.9%, the lowest level in more than 30 years – but the country is still doing better than most of Five dead in Somalia hotel attack the rest of the world.

A GUN battle between militant Islamists panicked, confused,” eyewitness Ahmed lawmakers and senior military officials and Somali security forces at a hotel in Nur was quoted by Reuters as saying. were inside at the time of the attack. South Africa the capital, Mogadishu, is now over. “The operation is over now.Nine people, Footage on social media showed large At least five people were killed in including four attackers, died and over plumes of smoke rising across the city the attack at the Afrik Hotel, which began ten civilians were injured. There is no earlier on Sunday. gets first batch with a car bomb on Sunday. electricity,” a police spokesman told Al-Shabab also targeted the beachside Al-Shabab said it was responsible. reporters from the scene and via Elite hotel last year resulting in a of Covid-19 The group, which is linked to al-Qaeda, Facebook. seven-hour battle with police and security regularly carries out attacks against the Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein in which 17 people were killed. government. Roble said in a statement that among The violent siege comes just weeks after vaccines At least four attackers also died – those killed was a former military former US President Donald Trump according to AFP news agency three were general, Mohamed Nur Galal. ordered the withdrawal of some SOUTH AFRICA has received its first shot and one blew himself up. The militants targeted the Afrik Hotel 700 troops who had been supporting local batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 A car hit the hotel’s front entrance and despite the fact that it is in a heavily security forces against militant groups, vaccines. detonated before gunmen stormed the guarded area near the city’s main including al-Shabab. The one million doses will be given to building, according to officials and others airport. There are fears the withdrawal could healthcare workers who have been at the scene. The hotel is known to be a gathering lead to further instability in the battling the virus in the continent’s “The blast made the hotel tremble as we place for Somali government officials. A country, which is due to hold elections worst-hit country but no date has been sat inside and were talking.We were local police captain said a number of next month. set for the start of the roll-out. The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 15

Tropical cyclones are nearing land more, except in Atlantic TROPICAL cyclones across ting stronger and storms in costliest in Chinese history.“If this westward shift is happen- to human-caused climate the globe, except Atlantic general are getting wetter, you look at the track before the ing. Storms generally move change and that’s a possible hurricanes, are moving closer shifting poleward, moving final landfall, those cyclones east to west because of trade factor in the shift but not to land in recent decades,a slower and are keeping their skirted along the US coast for winds in the tropics, so a something researchers can new study found. power longer after hitting a long time and that certainly greater westward shift usually prove yet, he said. Also called typhoons, tropical land. caused damage. That’s one rea- puts them closer to where the Massachusetts Institute of cyclones generally have been But while the new study son why we look at coastal ac- land is, Wang said. Storms that Technology hurricane expert moving westward by about 18 found storms are getting closer tivity.” form just west of land, such as Kerry Emanuel said the study miles per decade (30 kilome- to land, researchers still It’s mysterious that, unlike in the Pacific off the California is plausible, especially since ters) since 1982, putting them haven’t seen a significant in- other areas, the Atlantic hurri- and Mexican coasts, are usu- scientists have already seen a closer to land and making crease in landfalls, which “is cane basin didn’t show any sig- ally moving away from land al- shift of storms more toward them more dangerous, a study still a puzzle,” said study lead nificant westward shift, but ready, so this shift doesn’t the north and south poles, but in the journal Science said. author Shuai Wang, a cyclone that could be because the spare more land. it raises questions that require Each decade since the 1980s, scientist at Imperial College in Atlantic hurricane zone is Changes in atmospheric cur- follow up, especially why no an additional two cyclones London. more closely surrounded by rents that steer storms tend to corresponding increase in have come within 124 miles “It’s not only the landfall continents, Wang said. The be pushing cyclones farther landfalls has been found. (200 kilometers) of land. that causes damage. When the busiest tropical cyclone basin west, but why is still an open All these strange shifts are Researchers don’t quite cyclone is close enough to land is in the western Pacific, where question, Wang said. He said it taking cyclones out of their know why this is happening, it can also cause damage like there are the most landfalls could be only partly explained preferred environment of but it adds to other ominous Hurricane Sandy and Dorian a and the shift westward is twice by some natural long-term cli- warm tropical waters away trends in cyclone activity. Past few years ago,” Wang said, who as big as the global average. mate cycles. from land, University of Miami studies have found that the also mentioned 2019’s Wang and his colleagues are Other shifts in atmospheric hurricane researcher Brian most intense storms are get- Typhoon Lekima, one of the still trying to figure out why patterns have been connected McNoldy said. US Northeast hit by one of worst winter storms in years NEW YORK The US New Jersey Governor Phil Northeast yesterday awoke Murphy declared a state of under a blanket of snow as emergency on Sunday, a powerful winter storm suspending public bus and pummelled a vast swath commuter rail service for the stretching from entire day yesterday. Pennsylvania through New In New York City, Mayor Bill England, causing wide- de Blasio imposed restrictions spread disruption in New on non-essential travel start- York City and other major ing at 6 a.m. EST (1100 GMT) urban centres in the re- on Monday due to heavy snow- gion. fall and strong winds expected The powerful nor’easter is to batter the city. De Blasio forecast to bring 1 to 2 feet (31 also announced the suspen- cm to 61 cm) of snow across sion of in-person learning at the region through today, the city’s public schools A snowplow removes snow from the walking path of the Brooklyn Bridge during the snow storm according to the National through today. yesterday. Weather Service, and snowfall The state’s governor, Andrew rates could reach 2 to 4 inches Cuomo, later on Monday de- their schedules. ing our vaccination effort and in the snow. (5 cm to 10 cm) per hour clared a state of emergency in All six vaccine mega-sites we need to keep people safe,” Even the giant pandas at during the storm’s peak. the city and in nine other across New Jersey were closed he told a news briefing. the Smithsonian’s National If it achieves its maximum counties due to the storm. on Monday, and vaccine ap- In Boston, health officials Zoo in Washington seemed to potential, it would be the first “This storm is no joke and pointments were rescheduled announced the closure enjoy the winter weather winter storm to generate more the main concern right now is at many state-run sites in Monday of a COVID-19 vac- when it hit the nation’s capital than 2 feet of snow in New that the expected snowfall New York state. Vaccinations cine clinic at the Reggie Lewis on Sunday. York City since 2016, when a rate of 2 inches per hour this and testing were also sus- Centre, an large indoor sports “Slides, somersaults and record-breaking blizzard afternoon creates an ex- pended at New York City pub- centre. pure panda joy. Happy snow dumped 27.5 inches (70 cm) on tremely dangerous situation lic hospitals and health cen- But many Northeasterners day from giant pandas Mei the country’s most populous on our roadways,” Cuomo said. tres. greeted the heavy snowfall Xiang and Tian Tian!,” the zoo city, according to the weather The stormy weather affected De Blasio said that, with the with excitement, taking to so- wrote on Twitter, with a video service. more than just roads and city facing up to 22 inches (56 cial media to share photos of showing the furry black-and- Winter storm warnings and travel as COVID-19 vaccina- cm) of snow, vaccinations streets, parks and backyards white creatures rolling in the weather advisories were in tion sites and testing locations would be cancelled on Tuesday blanketed with the white stuff, fresh powder and sliding down place across the Northeast. were forced to close or change as well. “The storm is disrupt- as well as happy pets playing a snow-covered incline. 16 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

Bennett reveals he has Alzheimer’s ony Bennett has re- vealed that he has Tbeen living with Alzheimer’s Disease for the last four years. The crooner, who is 94, made the announcement in AARP Magazine, which focuses on issues affecting people over the age of 50. The article conveys how the condition has af- fected Bennett’s memory and ability to recognise everyday objects. His wife Susan told the magazine that the star is “not always sure where he is or what is happen- ing around him”. Tony Bennett’s career has spanned 70 years. However, Bennett has so far been spared many Shadow Of Your Smile. with his longtime pianist prior to the pandemic, of the worst characteris- Some of his biggest Lee Musiker. was so much better. And tics of the disease – successes have come in The singer’s neurolo- he’s not alone. So many including the disorienta- the last decade, including gist Gayatra Devi, told of my patients are nega- tion that can cause the chart-topping duets AARP that, prior to the tively affected by the iso- patients to wander from album with Lady Gaga, Covid-19 pandemic, lation, the inability to do home and episodes of ter- Cheek to Cheek, which Bennett’s touring sched- the things that matter to ror, rage or depression. won a Grammy in 2015. ule “kept him on his toes them,” he said. “For In an Instagram post The article says that and also stimulated his someone like Tony directing fans to the arti- the singers have recently brain in a significant Bennett, the big high he cle, Bennett wrote: “Life completed a follow-up, way”. gets from performing is a gift - even with which is due for release “Singing is everything was very important.” Alzheimer’s. Thank you this year. It was recorded to him. Everything,” However, Devi stressed to Susan and my family over two years, with added his wife. “It has that Bennett was still for their support, and Bennett sometimes “lost saved his life many “doing so many things, at @AARP The Magazine and bewildered” during times.” 94, that many people for telling my story.” the sessions. However, the decima- without dementia cannot Bennett has been a However, singing often tion of the live music in- do. star since 1951, scoring helps to subdue the dustry has “been a real “He really is the sym- hits with songs like I symptoms of Alzheimer’s blow from a cognitive bol of hope for someone Left My Heart In San and Bennett continues to perspective,” said Devi. with a cognitive disor- Francisco and The rehearse twice a week “[Bennett’s] memory, der,” he added. Bridge The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 17 SPORTSSPORTS Fidel Edwards targets West Indies comeback after end of Kolpak status

FIDEL EDWARDS has made him- or so, I’ve changed what I do and I’m the self available for West Indies and fittest I’ve ever felt. hopes to return to international “I’ve had my time in England and now cricket for the first time in almost I’ve made myself available to represent ten years. West Indies again. I think I did pretty Edwards celebrates his 39th birth- well in the CPL and I’m keeping my day this week and last represented fingers crossed.” West Indies in 2012. However, Edwards’ availability for both West reasoning he is as fit now as he has Indies and the IPL is due, in part, to ever been, he believes he could play a Brexit. The UK’s departure from the part in West Indies’ T20 World Cup European Union has put an end to campaign later in the year. Kolpak registrations in the county He also hopes he can secure a return game and means that Edwards, who to the IPL. He last played a match in signed such a deal with Hampshire in the tournament in 2009 – he was part 2015, is free to play international of the Deccan Chargers side that won cricket again. And while Kolpak Fidel Edwards hopes to return to international cricket for the first time in almost the tournament – but will put himself registrations were theoretically enti- ten years. into the auction this year. tled to play in the IPL, Edwards was “I have made myself available for obliged to remain available for is possible.” hour (92 miles per hour) and dominated West Indies,” Edwards, who is currently Hampshire for the entire season and Although few 39-year-old fast bowlers the list of quickest deliveries in the representing Delhi Bulls in the was not, therefore, free to enter the win top-level comebacks, Edwards does tournament. He isn’t ruling out playing Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, told auction. have some skills that West Indies – and 50-over or even first-class cricket again, ESPNcricinfo. “I have spoken to Kieron “I enjoyed my time at Hampshire, but some IPL teams, no doubt – may either. Pollard and Phil Simmons and let them that was a big part of me not playing in require. Not least, he can bowl in both “I still love the game,” he says, “and know that, if there’s any opportunity, the IPL,” he says. “But now I’m not with the powerplay and at the death and he I’m still doing what I do best: bowling I’m ready. them, my aim is to put my name back can still generate sharp pace. quickly and taking wickets. You never “Training has always been a big part out there and hopefully get In the most recent CPL season, he know what can happen. But if the of my game but, in the last 18 months another chance to play. Anything was timed at over 148 kilometres per opportunity comes, I’ll be ready. Brathwaite calls for trust in team plan WEST INDIES interim captain Kraigg regional side bowled, as off-spinner the Jamaican pair of Bonner and Brathwaite says the team needs to trust Rahkeem Cornwall picked up five wick- Campbell with the bat. its plans and execute them when the ets in the Bangladesh first innings with “It was very good that Bonner got a first Test match against Bangladesh left-arm slow bowler Jomel Warrican nice score, and I thought John gets underway tomorrow. snaring three scalps. Reifer followed up [Campbell] batted well in both innings Brathwaite was speaking after the his good knock with two wickets and Kyle Mayers, too,” he said. “I don’t team played to a draw against a in Bangladesh’s second innings. want to single out the guys, but I am Bangladesh Cricket Board XI (BCB) confident in all the batters.” in their three-day warm-up game Pleased with team With the Test match just days away, in Chattogram on Sunday. It was the first run out for the Test Brathwaite is hoping that the team can The regional side batted twice and side since arriving in Bangladesh over show the same application when they posted scores of 251 and 291, and then three weeks ago, and Brathwaite was face the senior Bangladesh side. bowled out BCB for 160 in their first pleased with what he had seen over the “I just want to urge them to trust innings and had the hosts at 63 for three days. their plans, it’s as simple as that,” two batting a second time. “I am very happy, I thought the guys Brathwaite said. “Some guys got some The Windies got useful contributions got a good blow out and the batters got good scores, so we know what we did to with the bat from captain Brathwaite, two chances to bat, with some guys get- get those scores, we just have to trust who made 85 in the first innings, with ting some scores, and the fast bowlers that same plan in the Test match.” his opening partner John Campbell also and spinners getting 30 overs in the Brathwaite said that it will be impor- getting decent knocks of 44 and 68. second innings,” he said. “I am quite tant for the batting unit to convert its Jamaican Nkrumah Bonner top- happy that we got 10 wickets in the starts and good scores into three scored in the second innings with 80, first innings which was good, and figures, to help the team to build a de- while wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da I think the guys are ready to go.” cent total. He is also encouraging the Silva chipped in with 46, and Raymon The Barbadian spoke about Rahkeem bowling unit to stick to its plans, and West Indies interim captain Kraigg Reifer totalled an unbeaten 49. Cornwall’s impressive showing with the bowl to its field and create pressure, Brathwaite. Spin once again dominated when the ball, and the application shown from which in turn will bring wickets. 18 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

England squad to leave quarantine Bajans shine as indoor track after negative and field takes centre stage Covid-19 By Corey Greaves ENGLAND’S cricketers have been cleared to leave quarantine in India after TRISTON GIBBONS who is at the the squad returned negative Covid-19 University of Houston won the Shot test results. put with a throw of 18.73m, while The full group will now be able to train Mario Burke opened his indoor together for the first time since arriving athletics season with a third place from Sri Lanka on Wednesday. in the 60m with a time of 6.68 secs. Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Rory It was the third victory for Gibbons in Burns have already begun training, the 2021 season and the latest came on having arrived in India separately after his fifth attempt at the H-Town Speed missing the Sri Lanka series. City Series II at Bill Yeoman Fieldhouse The first Test of the four-match series in Houston. begins in Chennai on Friday. Gibbons won by over two metres from England spinner Jack Leach said six second place Sam Meece who finished days of quarantine is “far from ideal” with a best distance of 16.15m. as preparation, but added, “It’s about His first victory came on January 16 being able to adapt. with a throw of 17.99m at the same “I’ve done some reflecting and bowled venue, however this distance came on a bit in the mirror. his first attempt as he was unable to “We want to play in front of crowds improve during the event. that’s for sure, but it’s got to be safe.” It was at the Aggie Invitational at the Leach said he has got “more to offer” Texas A&M-Gilliam Indoor Track after admitting he was “a little rusty” Stadium that Gibbons recorded his during the victorious Sri Lanka series, in second victory. On January 23, 2021 he which he took ten wickets at an average went over the 18-metre mark on his of 35.5. second attempt with a throw of 18.36m “I want to bring my best and work to and then on his third attempt his win- become the bowler that I want to be,” he ning distance was recorded at 18.58m. added. Burke was competing at the American “Sri Lanka was a good start in moving Track League indoor tour at the Randal in the right direction.” Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, AR on Sunday January 31, 2021. The winner was Maurice Eaddy from the USA in 6.63 secs and Marvin Bracy also from the USA in 6.66 secs. Last week Hannah Connell competing for Iowa Central Community College at the 2021 Jack Jennett Invitational, hosted by University of Northern Iowa won the 60m in 7.56secs. She also was a Triston Gibbons. member of the winning 4x400m women’s team. at the H-Town Speed City Series II. nearly clinched a meet record in the On January 14 at the 2021 Coffeyville At the first H-Town Speed City Series 600 yards on January 30, but he fell just Winter Invite, Connell won the 60m on January 16th he was the winner with two seconds short at DeLoss Dodds hurdles in 8.72 secs and also won the a leap of 15.61m. Invitational inside Ahearn Field House 200m in 25.20 secs. Rivaldo Leacock who is a senior at the as he stopped the clock at 1:11.19 Sarah Belle who is at the University of University of Southern Carolina was for the victory. Houston (UH) was sixth in the 60 hurdles clocked at 48.22 secs to finish 9th at the Gale was also in winning form over at the Aggie Invitational with a time of Bob Pollock Indoor Invitational at the 400m at the Triangular meet when 8.54 secs last weekend (January 23). Clemson-Indoor Track over the weekend. he was clocked at 47.42 secs on January Belle was third at the H-Town Speed City Leacock was seventh in the 400m with 16th and is seventh on the all-time list on January 16 with a time of 8.75 seconds a time of 48.41 seconds at the Carolina of the University. and was part of the second place 4x400m Challenge on January 23 and at the 2021 Earlier on January 9 he won the 300m relay team at the same event. Gamecock Opener at the South Carolina in 34.32 secs and now holds the second In the triple Jump Jadon Brome (UH) Indoor Track & Field Complex fastest time over the distance at K-State. was second in the triple jump with on January 16th he was seventh He clocked this time at the Kansas State a distance of 15.85m on Saturday which in 49.53 secs. Wildcat Invitational and was a member England spinner Jack Leach. was done with his third of five attempts Kansas State Freshman Kyle Gale of the men’s 4x400m winning relay team. Trio shows experience as women’s camp hits high gear

SHEMAINE CAMPBELLE, Stafanie ing to the death over bowling, she 2-30 from eight overs. Fast bowler Shakera Selman and Taylor and Afy Fletcher showed their smashed five fours on her way to In the second innings, Campbelle off-spinner Stafanie Taylor combined experience and skill with some 40 not out. made 50 which included 2-four and a for the one-two punch of seam and spin excellent batting as the West Indies Cherry-Ann Fraser the right-arm six. She shared a 56-run partnership to scalp two wickets a piece. Selman women held their second intra-squad medium pacer bowling from the Sir with Anisa Mohammed to rescue Team finished with 2-13 from eight overs match at the Sir Vivian Richards Andy Roberts was the pick of the Two, led by Deandra Dottin, from 70-6 while Taylor had 2-26 from eight overs. Stadium on Friday. bowlers, with figures of 2-20 from five before Mohammed retired hurt on 26. The West Indies women’s squad is Team One captained by Hayley overs, while Steffi Soogrim with the left- They eventually ended on 154/8 from presently in Antigua for a training Matthews posted 167-9 from their 50 arm spin had the batters in a web once their 50 over. camp under the guidance of Head overs with Taylor playing a patient again, as she picked up 2-22 to follow up Campbelle had a late charge at the Coach Courtney Walsh. The 24 players knock of 42 from 78 deliveries which her three wickets in the first match. target, hitting a lofty blow to cow-corner will play one more match before included four boundaries. Fletcher, Fast bowler Shamilia Connell was for a six but it just was not enough to the training camp wraps up tomorrow, well-known for her leg-spin, took a lik- again in top form and finished with take her team over the line. February 3. The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 19

REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE Cane Garden, St. Thomas Land 7,000 sf to 18,000 sq ft Chelsea owner Private entrance. From $187,681

The Mount, St. George Roman Abramovich Land 6544 sq ft $110,000 ‘appalled’ by Shop Hill, St Thomas Land 11,735 sq ft TEL 572-1452 $258,000 Cel: 253-6319 abuse of right-back 828-4800 Ragged Point, St. Philip Email: Land 8,267 sq ft caribbeanpropertiesltd $166,000 Reece James @gmail.com Rolling Hills, St. George CHELSEA owner Wednesday’s home defeat Land 12,000 sq ft PROPERTIES Roman Abramovich has by Sheffield United. $315,000 (negotiable) written a message of And their United team- Kirtons, St Philip Ocean City, St. Philip support to Reece James mate Marcus Rashford 3 bedroom plus Land 6150 sq ft and the first-team revealed on Saturday that 2 bedroom apt $123,000 players after the right- he was subjected to Land 4,790 sq ft $685,000 back was racially “humanity and social Fortesque, St Philip abused on social media. media at its worst” as he Amity Lodge, Ch Ch Agricultural Land 3 bedroom plus 494,500 sq ft The Russian, 54, also received online racist 1 bedroom apt $1,100,000 REAL ESTATE NOTICES vowed to increase funding abuse. Land 6,646 sq ft to help the club tackle Abramovich added, “I $650,000 Silver Sands, Roebuck Street, discrimination. know that several of our Christ Church Gibbons, Ch Ch Bridgetown “I am appalled by the players have been the Land 7,129 sq ft Shopping Mall/Office space 3 bedroom plus $160,000 racist abuse targeted at targets of hate and 2 bedroom apt $8,100,000 negotiable Reece on social media,” discrimination on social Land 9,835 sq ft $765,000 Bushy Park, St. Philip Batts Rock, St Michael wrote Abramovich. media. Land 24,000 sq ft Guest House, “We cannot allow this to “It shocks me that only Breezy Hill, St Philip $200,000 3 bedroom, 2 bath Land 12,078 sq ft continue unchecked.” days after we $2,850,000 negotiable reduced to $298,000 Apes Hill, St. James James was one of several commemorated Holocaust players to receive racist Memorial Day, we as a Land 31,000 sq ft upward Cane Garden, St Thomas Black Rock, St Michael Large lots at $15 per sq ft abuse on social media society do not seem to have 3 bedroom, 1 bath 3.6 acres approved Roadfront land recently. learned the lessons of our Land 6732 sq ft Mount Wilton, St. Thomas $360,000 $1,650,000 negotiable Last Friday, West Brom shared past and the Land 15,500 sq ft contacted the police over an consequences that hate and 22,066 sq ft Fitts Village, St James Enterprise, Christ Church $300,000 and $220,000 alleged racist message sent and discrimination can 3 bedroom, 2 bath Guest House, 4 Suites Land 6,135 sq ft to midfielder Romaine have. Land 5062 sq ft Union, St. Philip Sawyers, with West “I have directed the $390,000 (reduced) $850,000 negotiable Land 7560 sq ft Midlands Police since board to further increase $150,000 Golf Club Road, Mason Hill Street The City confirming the arrest of one the club’s efforts in this Christ Church 26,500 sq ft with buildings man. area and I will personally Cottage, St George $4,500,000 negotiable 3 bedroom, 1 bath Land 5000 sq ft Manchester United direct more funds towards fixer upper $110,000 players Axel Tuanzebe and this important work. We Land 4,000 plus All enquiries to UNDER OFFER (246) 253 6319/ 828-4800 Anthony Martial were also will be setting out our Morningside, St Philip (246) 572 1452 racially abused on social actions as a club in the Land 4567 sq ft or The Belle, St George $133,000 media after last coming days.” Plantation style House (246) 247 4469 Standing on 4 acres Jupiter Gardens, St Philip UNDER OFFER Land 7312 sq ft NOTICES NOTICES $133,000 Frere Pilgrim, NOTICES LIQUOR LICENCE NOTICE LIQUOR LICENCE NOTICE Christ Church Bagatelle, St. Thomas (Cap. 182) (Cap. 182) 3 bedroom, 2 baths with Land 62000 sq ft into 2 lots FORM R REGULATION two bedroom apartment. $520,000 each 9 Land 4,387 sq ft. $850,000 APPLICANT: Adrian Pad- APPLICANT: Edwin Cum- more mins Marley Vale, St Philip NOTICE OF SITTING OF Hanson Heights, St George Land 21,780 sq ft LIQUOR LICENSING 3 bedroom, 2 baths $275,000 AUTHORITY OCCUPATION: OCCUPATION: Land 8321 sq ft $595,000 Sandford, St Philip LIQUOR LICENCE ACT ADDRESS: In care of Bry- ADDRESS: Spring Farm St. Land 16,356 sq ft CAP. 182 den Stokes Limited, Bar- Thomas Ealing Grove, $305,000 Christ Church barees Hill, St. Michael Notice is hereby given that a PREMISES: A wooden build- 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 baths sitting of the Licensing Land 9320 sq ft COMMERCIAL Authority for District “D” PREMISES: Shop #6, The ing located at Rock Hall, $565,000 Magistrates’ Court will be held Walk, Welches, St. Thomas Freedom Village, St. Thomas Mount Standfast, St James on Wednesday the 10th of Two properties on LOTS FOR SALE February, 2021 at 0900 hours 22,714 sq ft Land. at District “D” Magistrates’ Dated this 22nd day of Janu- Dated this 22nd day of Janu- Asking $1,200,000 Cave Hill Drive, St. Lucy Court of Cane Garden, St. ary, 2021 ary, 2021 Thomas for the purpose of Land 14,876 sq ft. Black Rock, St. Michael $110,000 Granting Licenses,Transferring Warehouse/Factory Licences and Orders for the Signed: Adrian Padmore Signed: Edwin Cummins 4000 sf space Applicant Applicant Bushy Park, St. Philip Registration of Clubs under the Land 23,861 sq ft above mentioned Act. Land 17,000 sq ft $900,000 (reduced) $10 sq ft Application for a grant of a Application for a grant of a Dated at District “D” Foul Bay, St. Philip Retail License will be consid- Retail License will be consid- Inchcape, St. Philip Magistrates’ Court, at Cane ered at Licensing Court to be ered at Licensing Court to be Approved for condos, Garden, St. Thomas on Land 4355 sq ft Land 39,242 sq ft held at Magistrates’ Court held at Magistrates’ Court February 10th, 2021. $ 96,000 $1,600,000. District 'D' Cane Garden on District 'D' Cane Garden on Belle, St. George Mrs. Trotman Wednesday the 10th day of Wednesday the 10th day of Dover, Christ Church February, 2021 at 9 o'clock February, 2021 at 9 o'clock Land 4 acres Hotel 18 rooms fully Legal Assistant at District $400,000 operational $2,950,000 neg ‘D’, Cane Garden am. am.

Haggatt Hall, St. Michael Dalkeith, Christ Church NB: Ruth Trotman (Mrs) Ruth Trotman (Mrs) Land 6336 sq ft Land 17,371 sq ft approved All applications should reach Legal Assistant at District Legal Assistant at District $126,000 for shops and offices this Office at least twenty- “D” Cane Garden “D” Cane Garden $495,000 one (21) days before the above-mentioned date. 20 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

Regular Market BARBADOS STOCK REPORT Security Volume High Low Market Advance/ Price Decline EPPLEY C’BEAN PROP. FUND SCC-DEV FUND 276 $0.16 $0.16 $0.16 -$0.01 February 1, 2021

One security declined as 276 shares traded on the Regular Market, with a total value of $44.16. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund SCC Deposit Security Previous Current Advance/ – Development Fund was the sole security trading 276 shares at $0.16 to close down one ($0.01) cent. Close Close Decline EMERA DEPOSIT RECEIPT $20.63 $20.62 -$0.01

BARBADOSBARBADOS STSTOCKOCK EXCHANGEEXCHANGE SHARE SUMMARY INFORMATION Monday February 1, 2021 INDICES LAST TRADE VOLUME HIGH LOW LAST CURRENT PRICE BID ASK BID ASK TODAY'S TRADING LAST TRADING CHANGES DATE CLOSE CLOSE CHANGE PRICE PRICE SIZE SIZE February 1, 2021 January 29, 2021 Local 2,447.53 2,447.81 (0.28) ABV Investments Incorporated 15-Oct-20 - - - $0.05 $0.05 - $0.02 $0.30 8,080 10,498 Cross-list 933.43 933.43 - BICO Limited 21-Sep-20 - - - $3.10 $3.10 - $3.10 - 70 - Composite 596.37 596.44 (0.07) MARKET CAPITALISATION (in millions) Banks Holdings Limited -+ 09-Dec-19 - - - $4.85 $4.85 - - - - - TODAY'S TRADING LAST TRADING CHANGES Barbados Dairy Industries Limited -+ 04-Oct-19 - - - $3.00 $3.00 - - - - - February 1, 2021 January 29, 2021 Local 4,919.52 4,920.08 (0.57) Barbados Farms Limited 22-Jan-21 - - - $0.40 $0.40 - $0.35 $0.40 1,000 6,561 Cross-list 119.19 119.19 - Composite 5,038.71 5,039.27 (0.57) Cave Shepherd and Company Limited 28-Jan-21 - - - $4.10 $4.10 - $3.50 $4.10 10,000 1,000 MUTUAL FUND FirstCaribbean International Bank 28-Jan-21 - - - $1.80 $1.80 - $1.77 $1.80 2,000 261 February 1, 2021 ENDED NAME OF FUND NAV OFFER BID NAV Eppley Caribbean Property Fund SCC 01-Feb-21 276 $0.16 $0.16 $0.17 $0.16 -$0.01 - $0.16 - 11,434 CHANGE - Dev Fund 29-Jan-21 REPUBLIC CAPITAL GROWTH FUND w 1.1904 -0.0085 29-Jan-21 REPUBLIC INCOME FUND w 1.2676 0.0003 Eppley Caribbean Property Fund SCC 18-Dec-20 - - - $0.57 $0.57 - $0.55 $0.57 1,600 7,427 29-Jan-21 REPUBLIC PROPERTY FUND w 0.6733 -0.0003 -Value Fund 22-Jan-21 FORTRESS CARIBBEAN GROWTH FUND w 6.5660 6.5660 6.5660 0.0118 22-Jan-21 FORTRESS HIGH INTEREST FUND - ACC. w 2.1025 0.0003 Goddard Enterprises Limited 27-Jan-21 - - - $2.17 $2.17 - $2.17 $2.20 26 7,880 22-Jan-21 FORTRESS HIGH INTEREST FUND - DIST. w 1.0235 0.0002 31-Dec-20 ROYAL FIDELITY SELECT BALANCED FUND m 5.5718 5.5718 5.4665 0.1391 Insurance Corporation of B’dos Limited 22-Jan-21 - - - $2.00 $2.00 - $1.78 $2.00 78 9,700 31-Dec-20 ROYAL FIDELITY STRATEGIC GROWTH FUNDm 1.0241 1.0241 1.0036 0.0415 31-Dec-20 ROYAL FIDELITY PREMIUM INCOME FUND m 1.6435 1.6435 1.6106 0.0168 One Caribbean Media Limited 27-Jan-20 - - $1.80 $1.80 - - $1.80 - 375 29-Jan-21 SAGICOR GLOBAL BALANCED FUND w 2.72 -0.04 Sagicor Financial Corporation Pref 6.5% 23-Jun-16 - -- $2.26 $2.26 ---- - 29-Jan-21 SAGICOR SELECT GROWTH FUND w 1.65 -0.03 29-Jan-21 SAGICOR PREFERRED INCOME FUND w 0.99 0.00 Sagicor Financial Corporation Limited -+ 29-Nov-19 - - - $2.80 $2.80 - - - - - * Indicates the Fund is currently ex-div NOTES: QUOTATIONS AND NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE ARE SUPPLIED BY THE West India Biscuit Company Limited 27-Jan-21 - - - $31.55 $31.55 - $31.55 38 - FUND MANAGEMENT. THE OFFERING PRICE INCLUDES NET ASSET VALUE PLUS ENTRY COSTS. Emera Deposit Receipt 14-Aug-20 - - - $20.63 $20.62 -$0.01 $30.00 - 50 - m = monthly valuation, q = quarterly valuation, w = weekly

TOTAL SHARES BOUGHT & SOLD 276 Fixed Income Last Trade Last Current Bid Ask Bid Ask Date Close Close Price Price Size Size * = Security is Trading X-Div GOB Series B 28-Jan-21 $60.00 $60.00 $60.00 $80.00 50,000 34,828 GOB Series D 12-Nov-19 $50.00 $50.00 - - - - *+* = Security is Suspended GOB Series F 03-Nov-20 $89.00 $89.00 - --- ** = Rights Issued GOB Series I 24-Mar-20 $65.00 $65.00 - --- NOTICES NEWS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS West India Biscuit Company Limited - Directors have fixed January 7th, 2021 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Company which will be held on February 12th, 2021. Robinhood FirstCaribbean International Bank - Directors have fixed February 1st, 2021 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Company which will be held on March 12th, 2021. DIVIDEND DECLARATIONS raises another Cave Shepherd and Company Limited – Directors have declared a final dividend of five ($0.05) cents per share to be paid on February 19th, 2021 to Shareholders on record at close of business on February 5th, 2021. Emera Deposit Receipt - Directors have declared a cash dividend of sixty-three point seven five (CDN $0.6375) cents per common $2.4 billion share to be paid on February 16th, 2021 to Shareholders on record at close of business on February 2nd, 2021. Registered holders of depositary receipts ("Depositary Receipts") issued pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated February 2nd, 2016 among Emera, the Barbados Central Securities Depository Inc. and registered and beneficial holders of depositary receipts from time to time, are entitled to receive, in proportion to the number of Depositary Receipts held by them, respectively, a distribution in the amount of any cash received by the Barbados Central Securities Depository Inc. (net of any applicable withholding from investors taxes) in connection with the Dividend (the "Distribution"). BSE NOTICES ROBINHOOD raised an- anger of customers, celebri- COVID-19 PROCEDURAL UPDATE Kindly note that effective January 18th, 2021 the Barbados Stock Exchange Inc. (BSE) and the Barbados Central Securities other $2.4 billion from ties and politicians for curb- Depository Inc. (BCSDI) have recommenced operations at our physical offices. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to shareholders, just days ing the purchase of some hot 4:00 p.m. after existing investors stocks. pumped in $1 billion in The brokerage, which has All persons entering our building must wear a mask and will be subject to a digital temperature check on entry to our offices. While we acknowledge that every person with fever may not be COVID-19 positive and that some individuals may present without symptoms, funding, the online bro- become popular with young please note that any person with a temperature reading of 100˚ F (37.8˚ C) or over, as well as those not wearing masks, will be denied kerage said in a blogpost investors for its easy-to-use entry to conduct business within our offices. yesterday. interface, is at the heart of a The round was led by mania that kicked off last We wish to thank you in advance for your understanding, however, we must emphasize that this is a necessary step for the protection of staff and clients alike. Ribbit Capital, with partici- week following calls by pation from existing in- Reddit thread WallStreet- TRADING SUSPENSION vestors including ICONIQ, Bets to trade certain stocks The Barbados Stock Exchange Inc. (BSE) wishes to advise that due to non-compliance with Section 4.01.3 and subject to Section Andreessen Horowitz, that were being heavily 3.01.5.(1)(b) of the Rules of the Barbados Stock Exchange Inc. trading in the Common Shares of Banks Holdings Limited were suspended effective December 10th, 2019. Sequoia, Index Ventures shorted by hedge funds. The Barbados Stock Exchange Inc. (BSE) wishes to advise that due to non-compliance with Section 4.01.3 and subject to Section and NEA. Sequoia Capital and 3.01.5.(1)(b) of the Rules of the Barbados Stock Exchange Inc. trading in the Common Shares of Barbados Dairy Industries Limited The funding comes after Ribbit Capital came to- were suspended effective December 10th, 2019. Robinhood was strained by gether last week to offer the The Barbados Stock Exchange Inc. (BSE) wishes to advise that to facilitate the closing of the Scheme of Arrangement effected by way high volumes of trading last $1 billion funding, according of Section 99 of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda involving the transfer of all the issued and outstanding shares in Sagicor Financial Corporation Limited to Alignvest Acquisition II, it has suspended trading in the security Sagicor Financial Corporation Limited. week, when it also faced the to a New York Times report. The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 21

22 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate

Williams says Australian Open delay gave her time to get fit SERENA Williams says she may not about, it definitely does give you a sense have been able to play in the of normality,” the 29-year-old said. Australian Open had it not been “We were walking down the street pushed back by three weeks. and there were people queuing up to go The first Grand Slam of the year was into bars and clubs and stuff. At one delayed to allow players to quarantine. point we had to walk through a bit Williams, chasing a record-equalling of a crowd of people and it was interest- 24th major singles title next week, said ing. she “needed the extra time” to fully re- “It felt so nice to not be so worried to be cover from an Achilles injury sustained at around people.” the US Open in September. US Open champion Naomi Osaka and She and Britain’s Katie Boulter won world number two Simona Halep are also their openers as warm-up events began. in the main draw at this event. The two are playing in the Gippsland Top seed Halep advanced to the third Trophy – one of six events running simul- round with a 6-4 6-4 win over Russia’s taneously at Melbourne Park this week Anastasia Potapova. to allow players to prepare for the In the Yarra Valley Classic, Britain’s Australian Open. Francesca Jones lost 6-1 6-3 to French Boulter, playing in just her second Open semi-finalist Nadia Podoroska of WTA main draw match since February Argentina. 2019, beat Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya 6- Venus Williams breezed past Arantxa 1 6-3. Rus 6-1 6-3 to set up a second-round Williams claimed a a 6-1 6-4 victory Serena Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2017. meeting with two-time Wimbledon cham- over Australia’s Daria Gavrilova. pion Petra Kvitova. “I don’t think I would have been here matches in 2020, winning the first before and 47 minutes. World number one Ashleigh Barty will if it was during the regular season,” the being forced to retire against Sofia Kenin British number one Johanna Konta, return to action on Tuesday against Ana 39-year-old American said. in the second round. who had a first-round bye, will play Bogdan. “Achilles are like the worst thing, hon- However, the 24-year-old needed just American Bernarda Pera. Australia’s Barty, who chose not to estly. Oh my goodness, I didn’t realise it 59 minutes to beat Kalinskaya in Konta, who was among a number of travel in 2020 because of the pandemic, would be this long. Melbourne and set up a second-round players allowed out of quarantine to prac- is joined in the main draw by Karolina “I definitely was pushing the limits, meeting with teenager Gauff. tise for five hours a day, said being in Pliskova and Sofia Kenin. but I’m here.” American Gauff, who reached the Melbourne – which has had no locally In the men’s Murray River Open, The fifth seed will play Bulgaria’s fourth round of the Australian Open in acquired cases of Covid-19 for more than British number two Cameron Norrie was Tsvetana Pironkova in the last 16. 2020, battled past Switzerland’s Jil three weeks – was “the closest to feeling edged out 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 by American Boulter’s 2019 season was cut short by Teichmann 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-5). normal that we’ve probably had in al- Tommy Paul. a back injury which she sustained at the Gauff squandered a 4-2 lead in the sec- most a year”. Compatriot Dan Evans will play Pedro Fed Cup in April. ond set and a 4-1 advantage in the third “Having the opportunity to go to Sousa of Portugal in the same event on She played just two WTA main-draw before eventually winning in two hours restaurants, to see more people milling today. The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 •23

P R O HOROSCOPES S A ARIES (March 21-April 19). You long to escape N from it all. You are tired of routine, tired of famil- D iarity and there's a strong desire to explore new places. This would be a good time to book a future C holiday. If there's a need to talk someone close into O going along with your wishes, some gentle persua- N sion should get their willing agreement to go on a S trip soon. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Keep calm if you find yourself faced with having to handle a relative or neighbour's affairs. Any initial anxiety will sub- side once you see that a methodical and practical ap- proach is all that is needed. You have plenty of common sense and you've got what it takes to do this. Z GEMINI (May 21-June 21). All you will want to I do at the start of the day is withdraw and keep in the T background. You won't be keen on anything that re- S quires you to mix with other people. Keep your op- tions open as once the day gets going, you could be surprised by your change of mood. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You've recently al- lowed someone to persuade you to ignore routine chores but now you wish you hadn't. You're sud- denly aware of all you have to do and you just want to clear the decks of outstanding matters and to get back into the swing of things again. R LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There's an air of mystery E surrounding some events but resist the urge to probe X too deeply. Someone may have good reason why they are keeping secrets and if you are too clever, M too curious, or both, you could bring a confidential O matter out into the open when now is not the right R time. G VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Someone's refusal to A discuss a matter which you need answers for is N making you suspicious. You half suspect why they're being so secretive but you don't want to jump to conclusions. You are hoping your suspi- cions are wrong. Give others time and they will open up to you. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). An important meeting will be missed through no fault of your own. A col- P league will deny having made a mistake in arrang- H ing appointments. Important information will have A been carelessly ignored or discarded. Someone in N authority will agree to give you all the help you need T to get a deal signed and sealed. Make time to pour O over the details. M SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The sensitivity and understanding you are showing others will be repaid threefold. Even though you aren't expecting reward or gratitude and you're acting out of the kindness of your heart, people are grateful for your thoughtful- ness. A big talking point in your home is a friend's new romance. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You are well M aware of how your work and efforts have improved A lately and senior colleagues have noticed this too. R You're being awarded some plum assignments. Be Y careful about how much you do take on or you will start to feel the effects of overwork. Try a holistic W therapy if you are suffering from nervous tension. O CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You've been R working hard and your body is telling you it's time T to slow down a little and to enjoy some of the pleas- H ures in life. Friends who know you well will pick up on your mood to take it easy and they could come up with some relaxing suggestions on how to get the most out of your day. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Not knowing how M a new partner feels for you makes it hard to make O plans for the future. You aren't sure whether to en- T courage them to make joint arrangements, or do you H continue to act as you did when you were single? E The only way to decide is to talk. R PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You had been won- dering how you will afford a holiday or social G arrangements that have already been planned. A O part of you wanted to pull out but you don't want to O S disappoint anyone. A small windfall or bonus will E arrive and this will feel like an answer to your prayers. Fidel Edwards targets

WI comeback after end of Kolpak status Page 17

Tuesday February 2, 2021 COVID-19 NO EXCUSE variants ONE university educator believes should be with young children’s risk of dying from coronavirus being low, there UWI Professor explains why he thinks is no reason that children should expected not be attending school. children should still be attending school Immunologist and Chairman of the THE emergence of new severe acute University of the West Indies (UWI) small”. are complaining that their students respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 COVID-19 Task Force, Professor Clive “It is like being struck and killed are suffering academically because they (SARS-CoV-2) variants should come as Landis made this comment during by lightning,” said Professor Landis. are not in the school environment. no surprise. a Zoom interview last week. He added there is only a slight uptick “[Teachers] are teaching online and half According to Public Health Consultant He told The Barbados Advocate to for children in secondary schools of their children are not there.They don’t Dr. Carmeta Douglin, viruses constantly protect the children, there was the and it is also low for students at tertiary have Wi-Fi, they don’t have spaces which change and go through mutation, and new impulse to close schools and this was levels. are conducive for learning, [their home variants of the virus are expected misguided. He explained that when the environment] might be crowded to occur over time. risk to children is examined, children Regional teachers acknowledge the or noisy, it might be inappropriate,” said “All of a sudden we are being alarmed between the ages of 5-10 years of age shortcomings of online learning Professor Landis. as though this is not something that we suffering any symptoms or dying Professor Landis made an example of the knew from the past,” she stressed while of COVID-19 was “astronomically situation in Jamaica where teachers there BUBBLES on Page 5 participating in the COVID-19 related health discussion ‘Love Yourself Enough to Live a Healthy Lifestyle’ hosted by Alexandra School Alumni Association, Saturday night. “I don’t think we should be suddenly alarmed because there is a United Kingdom (UK) Variant; or a South African Variant; or a Brazilian Variant – these things are expected to happen. If we look at the past of pandemics, we would understand that this is the normal, when it comes to viruses”. Dr.Douglin went on to highlight that to date, the UK has detected 77 cases of the South African Variant of COVID-19. The Public Health Consultant therefore explained how travel is con- tributing to COVID-19 variants spread. “The world has become a small place, so globally we are here today, and we are probably in the US tomorrow or the UK or Africa. So, persons are just moving around so as long as there is a variant in one place, it will spread throughout the world”. “As a matter of fact, some scientists have suggested that these new variants will soon become the norm, and they will spread throughout the world and cause more havoc”. “What we are seeing especially with the UK variant – it is more transmissible, so that means that more persons are going to become infected and now recently it is more deadly. So, that means more persons are also going to die from it,” she cautioned. As it relates to the UK COVID-19 DAY CARE NURSERIES CLOSED: As the country heads into its second lockdown tomorrow in an Variant, last week the Caribbean Public effort to reduce the spike in new cases and incidence of community spread, yesterday several government agencies were Health Agency (CARPHA) confirmed its making adjustments for working remotely. Some, like day care nurseries however, have already closed their doors to presence in Barbados. It has also been operations. The Child Care Board announced last Friday that all public nurseries will be closed from Monday February 1 detected in Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, to Friday February 19. St. Lucia, and Cayman Islands. In the event of child abuse emergencies, persons are asked to contact the Board at 256-9664 or 256-9023, or call the Police Emergency Hotline at 211. RESEARCH on Page 4

Printed and published by Advocate Publishers (2000) Inc. Fontabelle, St. Michael. Telephone 467-2000, Fax 434-2020/434-1000