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Gloria is the newest island entertainment Tuesday January 12, 2021 T: 582-7800 www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday instagram.com/arubatoday Page 8 AArruubbaa’’ss OONNLLYY EEnngglliisshh nneewwssppaappeerr U.S. ramps up vaccinations HIGH DOSAGE to get doses to more Americans By LISA MARIE PANE, PATTY NIE- BERG and JULIE WATSON Associated Press The U.S. is entering the second month of the biggest vaccination drive in history with a major expansion of the campaign, opening football stadiums, major league ballparks, fairgrounds and convention centers to inoculate a larger and more diverse pool of people. After a frustratingly slow rollout in- volving primarily health care workers and nursing home residents, states are moving on to the next phase before the first one is complete, making shots available to such groups as senior citizens, teachers, bus drivers, police offic- In this Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, file photo, Medical professionals from Oregon Health & Science University load syringes with ers and firefighters. the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-thru vaccination clinic in Portland, Ore. Continued on Page 2 Associated Press A2 UP FRONT Tuesday 12 January 2021 U.S. ramps up vaccinations to get doses to more Americans Continued from Front say they have received little or no direct communi- "It gives you hope," said cation from local public David Garvin, a New Yorker health officials. who turns 80 next weekend Joyce Ballotti, 85, and her and got a vaccination at a 94-year-old husband went city-run site in Brooklyn on to a vaccination site in Monday, the first day the Pueblo, Colorado, on Mon- state made people over day that was supposed to 75 eligible along with vari- begin at 9 a.m. But around ous front-line workers. "I've 8:45 a.m., they were turned been in my room for six away because it had run months." out of vaccine. In Southern California, "When we saw that exit 41-year-old nurse Julieann locked, we said, 'Uh-oh, Sparks received a shot the city has screwed up through her car window again,'" Ballotti said. at a drive-thru vaccination A police officer managing site that opened in a park- traffic waved them away, ing lot near the San Diego and they received no guid- Padres' baseball stadium. ance on other vaccine "It really truly was a hassle- sites. Ballotti said she is an- free experience," she said. gry and frustrated about After receiving a vaccina- In this Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, file photo, health care workers prepare to give COVID-19 vaccinations the process. tion, drivers had to stay at a former Sears store turned in to a vaccination site, in Rockaway, N.J. "I'm about ready to get it Associated Press there for 15 minutes so that not at all," she said, noting they could be watched for that the couple's son had any reaction. Control and Prevention. Ex- the weekend, California re- for shots at the downtown taken off from work to drive Similarly, in Britain, where a perts say as much as 85% of ported a two-day record TCF convention center, them. "I can't ask my son to more contagious variant the population will have to of 1,163 deaths. Hospitals starting Wednesday. Of- spend his time on fruitless of the virus is raging out be inoculated to achieve are reaching the breaking ficials plan to schedule errands." of control and deaths are "herd immunity" and van- point. 20,000 appointments over There were snags as well in soaring, seven large-scale quish the outbreak. About 584,000 doses have the next month for people Georgia, where the plan vaccination sites opened Many states are respond- been administered in Cali- 75 and older. Police officers to expand access to peo- Monday at such places as ing by throwing open the fornia, or about 1.5% of the and bus drivers can start ple over 65 got off to a a big convention center line to other groups and population. getting vaccinated there rocky start. The websites of in London, a racecourse ramping up the pace of Arizona, with the highest at the end of the week. at least two public health in Surrey and a tennis and vaccinations, in some cas- COVID-19 diagnosis rate in "We do not have the ca- districts crashed Monday, soccer complex in Man- es offering them 24-7. the U.S., began dispensing pacity to answer questions and other districts reported chester. In California, one of the vaccinations Monday in a from people under 75 or overwhelming demand for Across the U.S., where the deadliest hot spots in the drive-thru, round-the-clock non-Detroiters about vac- appointments. outbreak has entered its U.S., the drive-thru opera- operation at the suburban cinations in general," said Florida, the longtime retire- most lethal phase yet and tion outside the San Diego Phoenix stadium that is Detroit's chief operating ment haven with one of the the death toll has climbed ballpark is gearing up to in- home to the NFL's Arizona officer, Hakim Berry. "If you biggest concentrations of to about 375,000, politicians oculate 5,000 health care Cardinals. Shots are being are not eligible, please do elderly people in the coun- and health officials have workers a day. Dodger Sta- offered to people 75 and not tie up the call lines." try, is using Hard Rock Sta- complained over the past dium in Los Angeles will also older, teachers, police and The slow first stage of the dium in Miami Gardens to several days that too many be pressed into service by firefighters. U.S. campaign has been dispense shots. shots were sitting unused the end of the week, with In Texas, vaccine megasites blamed in part on inad- A little over 402,000 doses on the shelves because of officials saying it will be opened at the Alamodome equate funding and guid- have been administered in overly rigid adherence to able to vaccinate 12,000 in San Antonio and on the ance from Washington and Florida since mid-Decem- the federal guidelines that people per day when it is Texas state fairground in a multitude of logistical ber, or just under 2% of its put an estimated 24 million fully running. Dallas. Nearly 4,000 people hurdles at the state and lo- population. health care workers and At the same time, Cali- were vaccinated Saturday cal level that have caused Rather than wait for the first nursing home residents at fornia hit another gloomy at Minute Maid Park, the confusion and disorganiza- designated group of re- the front of the line. milestone, surpassing a home of baseball's Houston tion. cipients under the federal About 9 million Americans death toll of 30,000. It took Astros. As Colorado moves into its guidelines to get their shots, have received their first the state six months to Detroit's call center was next phase of vaccine dis- Gov. Ron DeSantis has shot, or 2.7% of the U.S. record its first 10,000 deaths jammed with more than tribution for people 70 and moved to open up vacci- population, according to but barely a month to go 100,000 calls Monday as older, frustration is building nations to people 65 and the Centers for Disease from 20,000 to 30,000. Over the city took appointments among senior citizens who over.q U.S. NEWS A3 Tuesday 12 January 2021 Data snags cause Trump to miss giving Congress census data By MIKE SCHNEIDER apportionment numbers to unprecedented order by Associated Press the president, due to the the president to exclude The Trump administration pandemic and irregulari- people in the country il- has missed a deadline for ties that were discovered legally from those figures. giving Congress numbers while crunching data from President-elect Joe Biden used for dividing up con- the 2020 census on a short- opposes the order, which gressional seats among ened schedule. was inspired by an influen- the states, as the U.S. Cen- The census not only de- tial GOP adviser who wrote sus Bureau works toward cides how many congres- that excluding them from fixing data irregularities sional seats each state gets the apportionment process found during the numbers- based on population, but would favor Republicans crunching phase of the it also determines the distri- and non-Hispanic whites. 2020 census. bution of $1.5 trillion in fed- Last week, Biden an- President Donald Trump on eral funding each year. nounced that Rhode Island Sunday missed a deadline The earliest date the ap- Gov. Gina Raimondo will for transmitting the appor- portionment numbers will be his nominee for Com- A briefcase of a census taker is seen as she knocks on the door tionment numbers to Con- be ready is Feb. 9, as the merce Secretary, which of a residence Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Winter Park, Fla. A half- gress. Under federal law, Census Bureau fixes anom- would make her responsi- million census takers head out en mass this week to knock on the doors of households that haven’t yet responded to the 2020 the president is required alies discovered during ble for the final 2020 census census. to hand over the numbers data processing, accord- numbers instead of current Associated Press to Congress showing the ing to Department of Jus- Commerce Secretary Wil- number of people in each tice, which is representing bur Ross, if census data- sued the Trump administra- ing the data will compro- state within the first week of the Commerce Depart- processing continues past tion in order to stop the cen- mise its quality. the start of Congress in the ment and Census Bureau in Jan. 20. sus from ending early out of The coalition says Depart- year following a once-a- a lawsuit filed by a coalition Trump’s apportionment concerns that a shortened ment of Justice attorneys decade head count of ev- of municipalities and ad- order was challenged in head count would cause have repeatedly refused ery U.S. resident. There are vocacy groups in federal more than a half-dozen minority communities to be to turn over court-ordered no penalties for missing the court in San Jose, Califor- lawsuits around the U.S., undercounted. documents, and the coali- deadline. nia. but the Supreme Court The coalition of municipali- tion is seeking sanctions of The president’s tardiness If that date holds, the Cen- ruled last month that any ties and advocacy groups $5,000 a day until they do stemmed from the Com- sus Bureau will not finish challenge was premature. currently is seeking data so. The Department of Jus- merce Department, which processing the numbers The San Jose lawsuit was and documents to help as- tice says sanctions are in- oversees the Census Bu- until several weeks after originally brought by a co- sess the accuracy of the appropriate. A hearing in reau, missing a year-end Trump leaves office Jan. alition of municipalities and 2020 census, saying a short- the lawsuit was being held target date for giving the 20, putting in jeopardy an advocacy groups that had ened timeline for process- late Monday.q Bar association seeks Giuliani ban over ‘combat’ remarks By MICHAEL R. SISAK the people calling for the Associated Press bar association to remove NEW YORK (AP) — Rudy Giuliani were U.S. Reps. Giuliani is facing possible Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., expulsion from the New and Ted Lieu, D-Calif., who York State Bar Association send a letter to the organi- over incendiary remarks zation last week saying that he made to President Don- his actions were “abso- ald Trump’s supporters last lutely disqualifying from re- week before they violently maining in good standing.” stormed the U.S. Capitol. The bar association said The organization said Mon- in a statement that Giu- day that it has opened an liani’s words “quite clearly inquiry into whether Giuliani were intended to encour- should remain a member. age Trump supporters un- Its bylaws state that “no happy with the election’s person who advocates the outcome to take matters overthrow of the govern- into their own hands.” The ment of the United States” group condemned the vio- shall remain a member. lence at the Capitol, call- Removal from the bar asso- ing it “nothing short of an ciation, a voluntary mem- attempted coup, intended bership organization dat- to prevent the peaceful ing to 1876, is not the same In this Jan. 6, 2021 file photo former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani speaks in Washington at a transition of power.” rally in support of President Donald Trump, called the “Save America Rally.” as being disbarred and “We cannot stand idly Associated Press banned from practicing by and allow those intent law. That can only be done given a chance to explain president’s spurious fight to perpetuate Trump’s base- on rending the fabric of by the courts. and defend his words and overturn his election loss to less voter fraud claims, our democracy to go un- A message seeking com- actions. Giuliani, the former President-elect Joe Biden, which culminated in fiery checked,” the organiza- ment was left with Giuliani’s mayor of New York City, is a Democrat. The bar asso- remarks last Wednesday in tion said in a statement. spokesperson. The bar as- Trump’s personal lawyer ciation said it has received Washington as Congress The bar association isn’t the sociation said he will be af- and has played a promi- hundreds of complaints met to count Biden’s Elec- only organization reconsid- forded due process and be nent role in the Republican about Giuliani’s work to toral College win. Among ering its ties to Giuliani.q A4 U.S. NEWS Tuesday 12 January 2021 Woman set to die for killing woman, cutting baby from womb By HEATHER HOLLING- to get custody of two of SWORTH their four children. Need- Associated Press ing a baby before a fast- MISSION, Kan. (AP) — approaching court date, Becky Harper sobbed as Montgomery turned her fo- she spoke to a Missouri cus on Stinnett, whom she dispatcher after stum- had met at dog shows. bling across her expect- Montgomery’s lawyers, ant daughter in a pool of though, have argued that blood, her womb slashed sexual abuse during Mont- open and the child she gomery’s childhood led had been carrying missing. to mental illness. Her step- “It’s like she exploded or father denied the sexual something,” Harper told abuse in videotaped tes- the dispatcher on Dec. 16, timony and said he didn’t 2004, during the desperate have a good memory yet futile attempt to get when confronted with a help for her daughter, Bob- transcript of a divorce pro- bie Jo Stinnett, who had ceeding in which he admit- been eight months preg- ted some physical abuse. nant. Her mother testified that Lisa Montgomery, who she never filed a police strangled Stinnett with a complaint because he had rope before performing a This undated file image provided by Attorneys for Lisa Montgomery shows Lisa Montgomery. threatened her and her Associated Press crude cesarean and flee- children. ing with the baby, awaits Stinnett, a 23-year-old dog handed her over to law dress fischer4kids@hotmail. But the jurors who heard the execution Tuesday, just breeder. enforcement. The preced- com that was used to set case, some crying through eight days before the presi- She was arrested the next ing hours had been a blur up the deadly meeting the gruesome testimony, dential inauguration of day after showing off the in which he photographed with Stinnett had been sent disregarded the defense in death penalty opponent premature infant, Victoria Stinnett’s body and spent a from a dial-up connection convicting her of kidnap- Joe Biden. If the lethal in- Jo, as her own. She is now sleepless night looking for at Montgomery’s home. ping resulting in death. jection is carried out as 16 years old and hasn’t clues — unsure of wheth- “I absolutely knew I was Prosecutors argued that scheduled at the Federal spoken publicly about er the baby was dead or walking into the killer’s Stinnett regained con- Correctional Complex in about the tragedy. alive and no idea what she home,” recalled Strong, sciousness and tried to de- Terre Haute, Indiana, Mont- “As we walked across the looked like. saying rat terriers ran fend herself as Montgom- gomery would be the first threshold our Amber Alert But then tips began arriv- around his feet as he ap- ery used a kitchen knife woman executed by the was scrolling across the TV ing about Montgomery, proached her house. Like to cut the baby girl from federal government in at that very moment,” re- who had a history of fak- Stinnett, Montgomery also her womb. Later that day, about six decades. called Randy Strong, who ing pregnancies and sud- raised rat terriers. Montgomery called her Montgomery drove about was part of the northwest denly had a baby. Strong, Prosecutors said her motive husband to pick her up in 170 miles (273.59 kilometers) Missouri major case squad now the sheriff of Nodaway was that her ex-husband the parking lot of a Long from her Melvern, Kansas, at the time. County, where the killing knew she had undergone John Silver’s in Topeka, farmhouse to the northwest He looked to his right and happened, hopped in an a tubal ligation that made Kansas, telling him she had Missouri town of Skidmore saw Montgomery hold- unmarked car with another her sterile and planned to delivered the baby ear- under the guise of adopt- ing the newborn and was officer. He learned while reveal she was lying about lier in the day at a nearby ing a rat terrier puppy from awash in relief when she en route that the email ad- being pregnant in an effort birthing center.q Winter storm coats Southern states with blanket of snow fostered some play time the roads if possible. rain in north Georgia. Snow- for adults and children By Monday morning, a light fall totals of about 4 inches cooped up in the pan- dusting covered grassy and (10 centimeters) were ex- demic. As many as 6 inches elevated surfaces across pected for areas between (15 centimeters) of snow northern Alabama and Center, Texas, and Natchi- fell across parts of south- southern Tennessee. About toches, Louisiana, KSLA-TV ern Texas, the National two dozen public school reported. State govern- Weather Service in Houston systems delayed classes or ment offices in 29 parishes reported Sunday night. The closed in Alabama, and will be closed Monday snow contributed to slick transportation officials re- — including in Caddo Par- roads and power outages, ported wrecks in areas that ish, where Shreveport is lo- Family members hold a snow ball fight beside the skate park at but some families took time received wintry precipita- cated — according to The Rose Park in Abilene, Texas Sunday Jan. 10, 2020. to enjoy the weather in ar- tion overnight. Advocate. Associated Press eas like Austin and College As much as 2.5 inches (6.35 More than 110,000 custom- A winter storm has brought Texas, Louisiana and Mis- Station. The system moved centimeters) of snow fell ers in Texas and over 50,000 snow to parts of the U.S. sissippi the day before. into Louisiana and Missis- northwest of Birmingham, customers in Louisiana South, moving into Ala- The blanket of white falling sippi during the nighttime Alabama, forecasters said, were without power early bama, Tennessee and across the region forced hours, with Louisiana State and bridges were icy in Monday morning, accord- northern Georgia on Mon- some school and govern- Police warning people in spots. The weather service ing to poweroutage.us, a day after blowing across ment office closures, and an online video to stay off said snow could mix with utility tracking website.q WORLD NEWS A5 Tuesday 12 January 2021 Pope says women can read at Mass, but still can’t be priests By NICOLE WINFIELD time the Vatican has ex- Associated Press plicitly and through canon ROME (AP) — Pope Fran- law allowed women ac- cis changed church law cess to the altar. She said Monday to explicitly allow it was a necessary first step women to do more things before any official consid- during Mass, granting them eration of the diaconate access to the most sacred for women. place on the altar, while “This is the first codification continuing to affirm that of allowing women inside they cannot be priests. the sanctuary,” said Zaga- Francis amended the law no. “That’s a very big deal.” to formalize and institu- Noting that bishops have tionalize what is common long called for such a practice in many parts of move, she said it opens the the world: Women can be door to further progress. installed as lectors, to read “You can’t be ordained Scripture, and serve on the as deacons unless you’re altar as eucharistic minis- installed as lectors or aco- ters. Previously, such roles lytes,” said Zagano, an ad- were officially reserved to junct professor of religion at men even though excep- Hofstra University. tions were made. Lucetta Scaraffia, the for- Francis said he was mak- In this file photo dated Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, Pope Francis holds his pastoral staff as he arrives to mer editor of the Vatican’s celebrate Mass, at St. Peter’s Basilica. ing the change to increase women magazine, howev- Associated Press recognition of the “pre- er, called the new changes cious contribution” women the priesthood for men. women in the early church. nance of the church, while a “double trap.” make in the church, while The change comes as Francis has created a sec- also helping address priest She said they merely for- emphasizing that all bap- Francis remains under pres- ond commission of experts shortages in several parts of malize what is current prac- tized Catholics have a role sure to allow women to to study whether women the world. tice, including at papal to play in the church’s mis- be deacons — ministers could be deacons, after a Opponents say allowing it Masses, while also making sion. who perform many of the first one reported on the his- would become a slippery clear that the diaconate is But he also noted that doing same functions as priests, tory of women deacons in slope toward ordaining an “ordained” ministry re- so further makes a distinc- such as presiding at wed- the early church. women to the priesthood. served for men. tion between “ordained” dings, baptisms and funer- Advocates for expanding Phyllis Zagano, who was a “This closes the door on the ministries such as the priest- als. Currently, the ministry the diaconate to include member of the pope’s first diaconate for women,” she hood and diaconate, and is reserved for men even women say doing so would study commission, called said in a phone interview, ministries open to qualified though historians say the give women greater say the changes important giv- calling the change “a step laity. The Vatican reserves ministry was performed by in the ministry and gover- en they represent the first backward” for women.q Snow, heavy rain in Balkans cause floods, disrupt traffic By JOVANA GEC ing water after days of Albania and bridges and Associated Press rain and snow around the roads have been dam- BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — southern town of Leskovac aged, leaving villages iso- Days of heavy rain and and nearby areas. lated and forcing emer- snow across the Balkans left In central and eastern Ser- gency deliveries of water homes and fields flooded bia, thousands of people to hundreds of people. Monday, disrupted traffic were left without electricity Power outages were also on highways and at ports as heavy snow collapsed reported, which meant and caused power out- distribution lines. Serbia’s that some schools could ages. state power company EPS not reopen Monday as In Serbia, authorities on said Monday they were authorities struggled to Monday started clearing working to restore power. handle water levels at the Ducks pass a flooded yard as a dog watches, after heavy up tons of garbage that Authorities urged drivers main hydropower system rainfalls in Obot village, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) was clogging a southwest- not to take to the road un- on the Drini River. The army, northwest of Tirana, Albania, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. ern lake after it was swept less absolutely necessary police and local emer- Associated Press off from landfills by over- because of heavy snow. gency teams stepped in to was flooded and seriously The snow has made the flowing rivers. Emergency Traffic disruptions and assist isolated residents in damaged, but Zabeli said situation even harder for measures were announced speed limits due to snow Shkoder, Lezha and Durres, he was getting little help. residents in central Croa- in the southern Doljevac were reported in Croatia, where major flooding in “No one is interested,” he tia, which was hit by a ma- and Vlasotince municipali- where a bus overturned 2010 caused devastation. complained. “You may suf- jor earthquake on Dec. 29. ties, where rescue teams early Monday on the main In Kosovo, officials were fer a loss here and no one Many people cannot stay helped more than two doz- east-west highway, injuring talking with NATO-led would care.” in their damaged homes en people evacuate their eight people. peacekeepers over how to Slippery roads and strong and have been sleeping in homes. Floods were reported in Al- help flood-hit areas in the winds prompted authorities containers. The state RTS television bania and Kosovo, where west where people have to ban trucks with trailers Heavy rains further south in reported that numerous days of heavy rain mixed been forced to evacuate and double-decker buses Montenegro damaged a homes, barns and fields with snowy weather. their homes. A house in the on some roads, as many fortress wall in the southern were flooded and villages Thousands of acres of land village of Fushe belonging Adriatic Sea ferry connec- town of Ulcinj, near the bor- were left without drink- were flooded in western to 60-year-old Muj Zabeli tions were halted. der with Albania.q A6 WORLD NEWS Tuesday 12 January 2021 China denies coercive birth control measures in Xinjiang BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese statement. China has been official on Monday denied waging a years-long cam- Beijing has imposed coer- paign against what it calls cive birth control measures terrorism and religious fa- among Muslim minority naticism in Xinjiang and women, following an out- the embassy’s tweet refer- cry over a tweet by the enced those polices, say- Chinese Embassy in Wash- ing: “Study shows that in ington claiming that gov- the process of eradicating ernment polices had freed extremism, the minds of women of the Uighur eth- Uygur women in Xinjiang nic group from being “ba- were emancipated and by-making machines.” gender equality and repro- Xu Guixiang, a deputy ductive health were pro- spokesperson for the Xinji- moted, making them no ang regional government, longer baby-making ma- told reporters Monday that chines.” birth control decisions were The tweet cited a study by made of the person’s own Li Xiaoxia, a Xinjiang Acad- free will and that “no orga- emy of Social Sciences re- nization or individual can searcher who has asserted interfere.” that the birth control mea- “The growth rate of the Ui- sures in Xinjiang are volun- ghur population is not only Xu Guixiang, a deputy spokesperson for the Xinjiang regional government, looks up near a slide tary. showing a photo of Uighur infants during a press conference to refute accusations of genocide in higher than that of the Monday’s news confer- Beijing, China. whole Xinjiang population, ence was the latest at- Associated Press but also higher than that tempt by Beijing to deflect of the minority population, Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other years, even as Beijing eas- and other American social rising international criticism and more significantly high- ethnic minorities in Xinji- es birth restrictions on the media platforms. over its policies in Xinjiang, er than that of the (Chinese ang, including IUD fittings, Han population ahead of “China’s fascist govern- particularly over alleged majority) Han population,” contraceptives, and even a looming demographic ment is now openly admit- forced labor and the de- Xu said. “As for the so- abortions and sterilizations. crisis. ting and celebrating its use tention of more than 1 mil- called forcing ethnic mi- The measures are backed Twitter took down the Chi- of concentration camps, lion Uighurs, Kazakhs and nority women in Xinjiang to by the threat of detention, nese Embassy’s Jan. 7 forced labor, forced ster- others in prison-like centers wear IUDs, or undergo tub- with parents with three tweet following protests by ilizations and abortions, for political indoctrination. al ligations or abortions, it is or more children swept groups that accuse Beijing and other forms of torture China says the centers even more malign.” into camps and prisons if of seeking to eradicate to eliminate an ethnic and are intended to combat An Associated Press inves- they’re unable to pay mas- Uighur culture. Users com- religious minority,” Nihad extremism and teach job tigation in June found that sive fines. As a result, the plained the tweet was a Awad, national executive skills, but former residents the Chinese government birth rate in Xinjiang’s mi- violation of rules set by Twit- director of The Council on and rights groups say they was forcing draconian nority regions plummeted ter, which is blocked in Chi- American-Islamic Rela- target Islam and minority birth control measures on by over 60% in just three na along with Facebook tions, said in an emailed languages and culture. q Israel announces new settler homes, risking Biden’s anger in a settlement where an Is- tion with wide international not held substantive peace raeli woman was killed last support. The Palestinian talks in more than a de- month in an attack alleg- Authority’s Foreign Minis- cade. edly carried out by a Pales- try condemned the latest The greatest threat to Ne- tinian assailant. announcement, accusing tanyahu in the coming The announcement will Israel of “racing against vote comes from the right, burnish Netanyahu’s right- time” to build settlements where Gideon Saar, a for- wing credentials in a tough before President Donald mer ally and staunch sup- campaign ahead of March Trump leaves office. porter of settlements, has elections, but it could an- Trump’s administration pro- broken away and vowed ger Biden, who is opposed vided unprecedented sup- to end his long rule. Polls to settlement expansion port to Israel, including by show Netanyahu’s Likud and has clashed with Israel abandoning a decades- winning the most votes but over it in the past. old U.S. policy of opposing falling short of a majority Israel captured the West settlements. U.S. Secretary coalition in Israel’s 120-seat In this Nov. 16, 2020 file photo, workers take a break before Bank and east Jerusalem in of State Mike Pompeo last Knesset, or parliament. European Union officials visit the construction site for Givat the 1967 war, territories the year became the first top The announcement said Hamatos settlement in Jerusalem. Palestinians want for their U.S. diplomat to visit a West 100 homes would be built Associated Press future state. Nearly 500,000 Bank settlement. in Tel Manashe, a West By JOSEPH KRAUSS could strain ties with the Israelis live in settlements Biden has pledged a more Bank settlement where Es- Associated Press incoming administration of scattered across the West even-handed approach ther Horgan, a 53-year-old JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel President-elect Joe Biden. Bank. in which he will restore aid mother of six, was killed last on Monday advanced Prime Minister Benjamin The Palestinians view set- to the Palestinians that was month while jogging in a plans to build 800 new set- Netanyahu’s office an- tlements as a violation of cut off by Trump and work nearby forest. Israel says it tler homes in the occupied nounced the move, saying international law and an to revive peace negotia- has detained a Palestinian West Bank, a move that it would include 100 homes obstacle to peace, a posi- tions. The two sides have suspect in the attack.q WORLD NEWS A7 Tuesday 12 January 2021 Aid agencies fear impact in Yemen after U.S. terror decision By MAGGIE MICHAEL and the rebels have been impli- SAMY MAGDY cated in stealing aid and Associated Press using aid access to extort CAIRO (AP) — Aid agencies concessions and money, as were thrown into confusion well as in a catalog of hu- Monday over the Trump man rights abuses includ- administration’s out-the- ing rape and torture of dis- door decision to designate sidents. In Iran, the Foreign Yemen’s Iranian-backed Ministry spokesman Saeed rebels as a terror organiza- Khatibzadeh said the des- tion, which they warned ignation was “doomed to could wreck the tenuous failure” and the U.S. would relief system keeping mil- eventually have to en- lions alive in a country al- ter negotiations with the ready near famine in the Houthis. world’s worst humanitarian The U.S. designation move disaster. The designation is is part of the Trump admin- to take effect on President istration’s broader effort Donald Trump’s last full day to isolate and cripple Iran. in office, a day before Pres- It also shows support to its ident-elect Joe Biden’s in- close ally, Saudi Arabia, auguration on Jan. 20. Sev- which leads the anti-Houthi In this Oct. 1, 2018, file photo, a woman holds a malnourished boy at the Aslam Health Center, in eral aid groups pleaded on coalition in the war. Saudi Hajjah, Yemen. Monday for Biden to imme- Arabia has advocated the Associated Press diately reverse the desig- terror designation, hoping nation. The Biden transition Houthi rebels have been of the designation, which ther wreck an economy in it would pressure the reb- team has not yet expressed catastrophic for Yemen. would bring sanctions which millions can’t afford els to reach a peace deal. his intentions. Most of its 30 million people against the Houthis. Some to feed themselves. Past rounds of peace talks “Acting on day one can- rely on international aid to were considering pull- The Houthis rule the capi- and cease-fire agreements not only be a figure of survive. The U.N. says 13.5 ing out foreign staff. They tal and Yemen’s north have faltered. speech,” Oxfam America’s million Yemenis already warned that even if the where the majority of the The Saudi Foreign Ministry Humanitarian Policy Lead face acute food insecurity, U.S. grants humanitarian population lives, forcing welcomed the U.S. deci- Scott Paul said. “Lives hang a figure that could rise to 16 exceptions as Secretary of international aid groups to sion, saying that it hopes in the balance.” million by June. State Mike Pompeo prom- work with them. Agencies the designation would Six years of war between a Aid agencies said Monday ised Sunday, the move depend on the Houthis to force the rebels to “seri- U.S.-backed Arab coalition they were struggling to fig- could snarl aid delivery, deliver aid and pay sala- ously” return to negotiating and the Iranian-backed ure out the implications drive away banks and fur- ries to Houthis to do so. Still, table. q Uganda accuses Facebook of ‘interfering’ in tense polls By RODNEY MUHUMUZA Associated Press KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A Ugandan official accused Facebook of meddling in the East African country’s election after several accounts linked to President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign were removed for alleged inauthentic behavior. Presidential spokesman Don Wanyama told The In this Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016 file photo, Uganda’s long-time Associated Press on Mon- President Yoweri Museveni attends an election rally at Kololo Airstrip in Kampala, Uganda. day that Facebook’s ac- Associated Press tion was evidence of what Ugandan authorities see to AP, Facebook said it re- quickly to investigate and as outside support of Bobi moved a network of ac- take down this network.” Wine, the leading opposi- counts and pages that That network is linked to tion candidate in presiden- “used fake and duplicate Uganda’s Ministry of Infor- tial elections scheduled for accounts to manage mation and Communica- Thursday. “Facebook is pages, comment on other tions Technology, the state- interfering in the electoral people’s content, imper- ment said. process of Uganda,” he sonate users, re-share posts Wanyama charged that said. “If people wanted to in groups to make them Facebook had blocked have the evidence of out- appear more popular than the accounts of Museveni’s side interference, now they they were. mobilizers, especially those have it.” Given the impending elec- who communicate in the In a statement e-mailed tion in Uganda, we moved local Luganda language.q A8 Tuesday 12 January 2021 Joe Davis, Managing Director Gloria: “Gloria is an entertainment adventure and the most state-of-the-art movie theater in the Caribbean” EAGLE BACH — Aruba now offers the most entertaining Covid-19 safety protocol in place. Social dard restaurant night movie-going experience with heart-pounding audio, distancing is required, seats are separat- awe-inspiring images and an immersive experience. ed and complete sanitizing is done after The company behind Gloria IMAX is the name. But, there is way more. Grande Dame each movie. Eddie de Veer is the owner of MetaCorp, Gloria is the newest entertainment complex and has 10 a 100% Aruban company existing for 100 cinema theaters: an IMAX, 6 comfort class theaters and Unique points years and owner of Gloria. “Gloria was the 3 VIP theaters. In total offering a capacity of 1132 seats. • Parking with 310 spots, near the hotels first cinema theater we started on Aruba, Gloria invites you to dine at any of its three restaurants. • VIP experience now we do it again and we make the cir- If you prefer, grab something quick at Lettuce Eat, Cold • IMAX super cinema experience cle round. This is spectacular.” If you visit Fusion or the ubiquitous Starbucks. “If you vacation here, • 6 comfort class theaters Gloria, take a look at the short wall video this is your perfect night out with the family,” says Joe Da- • Food Court showing the history of MetaCorp and their vis, Managing Director Gloria. • Mingle with the locals significance to the Aruban community. De • Fun for your teens and small children Veer: “In difficult times like these we do in- Davis manages not only in Aruba but also in Curacao. (Stay & Play) vest in our local economy showing confi- “Gloria is an entertainment destination. We try to create a • Something different than your stan- dence and giving hope.” q place for people not only to watch movies but also have a night out whether that is eating dinner, enjoying drinks, Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA): watching a sport event in one of the bars downstairs or to do something with your family like see a movie and December occupancy was 58% afterwards go to Stay & Play.” You can get pampered in the VIP sections which have a different entrance from lower than a year ago the rest of the complex or just sit and have a coffee. Truly, Gloria has something for everyone. “This is the most state- of-the-art movie theater in the Caribbean.” available room, tourism’s primary in- dicator, dropped by 63% to $86.54. Downstairs • Total revenue dropped by 62%. IMAX is a brand, Gloria agreed to a franchise where they purchased the proprietary equipment and thus offering Occupancy forecast to show movies in that format. Davis: “A larger screen, dy- January OCC 30% namic sound, amazing image that is IMAX.” Upon enter- February OCC 32% ing the complex you encounter a food court offering P.F. Chang’s (Asian food), Italian Mangiamo and the sports Q1 2021 OCC 33% bar Sizzle. Starbucks, Lettuce Eat and Cold Fusion are wel- 2021 Avg OCC 42% coming you and for the children there’s Play & Stay play court. Timeshare ORANJESTAD — The Aruba Hotel & Tour- AHATA’s Timeshare properties experi- VIP ism Association has published the latest enced a 56% occupancy rate in Decem- If you want an upscale experience, use the separate en- hotel performance data reporting that ber and 37% occupancy for the year trance to the VIP theatres. “Here you relax in a full recliner in December the occupancy increased 2020. The forecast for January is 63%. with a particular headrest, your waiter comes into the au- compared to the previous month, how- ditorium and takes your order to serve you there. If you do ever companies that depend on tourism AHATA member hotels: Amsterdam not want to watch a movie and just enjoy your steak and continue to operate at a loss. Manor Beach Resort, Barceló Aruba, seafood we offer a very nice lounge to sit and eat, your Boardwalk Boutique Hotel, Brickell Bay choice. Seats are state of the art, brand-new and super December 2020 Beach Club, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, comfortable with built-in tray tables, illuminated menus • Occupancy: The occupancy rate Courtyard by Marriott, Divi & Tamarijn and a call-button for service,” Davis says. Eventually they was 34.9%; a decline of 58% com- All-Inclusive, Eagle Aruba Resort, Holiday will offer valet parking as well. pared to a year ago. Inn Resort Aruba, Hyatt Regency Aruba, • ADR: The average daily rate (for oc- Hyatt Place Aruba Airport, Manchebo Upstairs cupied rooms) decreased by 19% Beach Resort, Marriott Aruba & Stellaris The escalator brings you to the first floor with IMAX and 6 compared to last year, to $276.05 Casino, Paradera Park, Renaissance comfort class theaters. “Ease in very comfortable leather • RevPAR: The revenue per available Aruba Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Aruba, RIU rockers and enjoy the large and wide screens plus per- room dropped by 66% to $96.39. Palace Aruba, RIU Palace Antillas, Talk of fect sound. IMAX offers wide huge chairs and a screen the Town Hotel. of 22 meters wide (71 feet) and 13 meters tall with a 10.1 2020 average Dolby Surround Sound System, amazing.” Gloria takes • Occupancy: The year’s average oc- AHATA member timeshares: Divi Aruba you inside the movie, you are living it! cupancy is 68% lower than last year, Phoenix, Divi Dutch Village, Divi Village at a rate of 26.9%. Golf, La Cabana, Marriott Ocean Club, Covid-19 safety in place • RevPAR: The year’s revenue per Marriott Surf Club. Because of the current pandemic Gloria has the required LOCAL A9 Tuesday 12 January 2021 Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.): What to expect for 2021 ORANJESTAD — Since the constantly changing situa- There are three Key Indica- The situation is and will re- Obviously the main focus is reopening of our borders tion globally. tors for 2021: Projections for main changing. Aruba on the vaccine for a relief. the Aruba Tourism Author- the recovery of Cruise Tour- opened 2021 with a lock- But, this also will take some ity (A.T.A.) has been work- For North America, which is ism is between 25 % and down of the United King- time. Besides all this, the de- ing on different forecasts of one of the biggest contrib- 50 % for 2021 compared to dom with the consequenc- sire of travelling in our tour- what could be expected utors of Aruba’s tourism, it 2019. The so called Tourism es of cancellations of the ists remains strong amid all on the amount of tourists is anticipated that they will Credits is expected to have Non-Stop flights, which measurements implement- visiting our destination. The continue to be the biggest a recovery of 45 % to 60 % started in December 2020. ed. projection for 2021 is a very contributor with a market compared to 2019 and the Also, more and more coun- A.T.A. would like to thank optimistic, conservative share of 80 %, followed by Average Daily Rates (ADR) tries are requiring a nega- all their partners and or- and cautious one. Europe and Latin America lead to a grade of recov- tive test result prior depar- ganizations working untir- with 5 % and all other coun- ery of 75 % compared to ture of our visitors back to ingly for Aruba’s tourism For 2020 there were three tries and islands with a 3 % 2019. their country. These restric- recovery. Collective and forecasts: Optimistically market share. It is important to remark that tions are limiting our visitors individual responsibility is of seen the year would have the recovery of Aruba’s in their travels. To our main main importance to ensure ended with a 40 % re- For the cautious scenario Tourism will not go to nor- contributor which is North the recovery of tourism and covery of the total visitors a recovery of 45 % is pro- mality for now, the recov- America the amount of in- the economy of Aruba. compared to 2019 and in jected which is a total of ery will happen in stages creasing Covid-19 cases Adhering to all protocols the conservative forecast 515.190 visitors for 2021 and in 2021. The utmost is being is a big challenge and the stated by all departments it would result into a 30 % for the optimistic scenario is done for the speed recov- concerned government concerned is everyone’s recovery. In the worst case a 60 % recovery projected ery but caution and good is taking measurements responsibility only then we scenario a 20 % recovery which is a total of 658,184 behavior of each and ev- which make travelling will be able to overcome was foreseen. The results visitors for 2021. ery one is needed seeing more and more difficult. this virus and help Aruba’s for 2020 are known by that the virus is still around. economy flourish again.q now and you can see that Aruba recovered a 33% of the total visitors compared to 2019. Just a bit over the 30% projected percentage forecasted by the World Tourism Organization (UN- WTO) for the global tourism which forecasted a 70% decrease compared to 2019. Most visitors de- cided to postpone their trip based on the advice given worldwide to avoid travelling and stay home. For 2021 the numbers of 2019 were taken into ac- count to compare this and here we can see that the projections conduct to a tourism recovery for Aruba between 45 % and 60 %. Up till now Aruba is in line with the projected forecast which indicates a 50% recovery for 2021, but off course it all depends on the A10 locAl Tuesday 12 January 2021 Santa Ana church in Noord Episode LXXXVII -87 ORANJESTAD — In 1824 there were two churches in Aru- ba: the Church of Santa Ana in Noord and the Church of San Francisco in Schipau or ship out at Solito (Oranjestad area). Both of these churches were mud constructions or” torto,” adobe”. In 1825 the San Francisco church collapsed after a heavy rain and a new church was built in 1828. During 1831 a stone church was built in Noord which was “modernized” in 1886 and remained as was until 1916 when the current Church of Noord was built at some distance to the previous. Only the Church of San Francisco had a priest, a Francis- can Father Johannes Josephus Pirovano, who in 1813 bap- tizes the church of Oranjestad in honor of Francisco de Assis. During that time the church of Noord did not have its own priest, Father Pirovano came from Oranjestad every Sunday to give mass in Noord. Before his decease Pirovano made a somewhat strange re- quest that he should not be buried before signs of decom- position had become visible. The vice-commander of Aruba consented this and thus Pirovano laid in state for three days, whilst the people were coming from far and near to pray. Documents of that time indicates that when the Priest Pirova- no died he was buried in the middle of the church of Noord from short distance to the altar. At that time the church was known by the name of Iglesia de Monte Calvario and also with the name of Santa Ana which we know up till today. Roi at Noord Three residents of the area had the keys to the church and were responsible for taking care of it. These three inhabitants corded and so we know that Jan Hendrik part of the current Noord area of Koyari of Noord, Jan Hendrik Semeleer, Manuel Wolff and Nicolas Semeleer is the ancestor of all those who and Washington. Tromp, were qualified by the government as “caretakers of bear that surname in Noord. He was born Manuel Wolff, born in Aruba in 1790, was the church” and it was them whom ensured that in 1827 the in Aruba in 1788. He was the son of Maria the son of Jurrian Wolff and Johanna current cemetery was built next to it. Eleonora Semeleer and an unknown fa- Catharina Alvarez, he married Ana Cath- Some information about two of these “church keepers” is re- ther. He had a plantation in the southern arina Silvester and they had eleven children, who were born between 1813 and 1829: George Victorino, Bernardino, Jan Isaak, Domingo Antonio, Jan Hendrik, Caspart Robert, Alexander, Francisca, Nicolas, Lorenzo Jose and Jose de los Santos. Nicolaas Tromp, born 1825, descendant of Daniel Pietersz Tromp born 1808, was the son of Jacobus Tromp born in Aruba on October 3, 1781 and of Johanna Hel- ena Tobel. q To get to know a little more regard- ing Aruba’s and its cultural origins we highly recommend you to book your participation in our cultural encounter session. A mind opening revelation and entertaining island experience. Mail us at [email protected], our facilities and activities take place close to high rise hotels. Oil painting of St. Anna Church