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Volume: 121 No.42, January 23, 2024
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MOMS WEEP AS BLAIR SHOOTING CASE BEGINS Inquest to probe police killing of three men in 2019 By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net THE mothers of three men police killed in Blair Estates in 2019 burst into tears when close-ups of their sons’ bloody corpses were shown in court yesterday after the long-awaited inquest into the matter began. The actions of 12 police officers and three Defence Force marines are under
Pintard says ‘enough is enough’ as murders rise
scrutiny in the Coroner’s Court inquiry, which will examine whether the officers were justified in killing the men. Tony Jamal “Foolish” Penn, Valentino “T-Boy” Pratt and Trevor “Coopz” Cooper were killed on Commonwealth Avenue in the early morning of May 17, 2019. The incident was one of the deadliest single cases of a police-involved
By NEIL HARTNELL and YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporters BAHAMIAN maritime operators yesterday warned the Government “urgently needs to resolve” the fall-out from the “very confusing” suspension of 1,000 percent and greater hikes in boat registration fees. Paul Maillis, the National Fisheries Association’s (NFA) secretary, told Tribune Business he was yesterday informed by the Port Department that the fee “suspension” unveiled by Chester Cooper last Wednesday, in his capacity as acting prime minister, does not apply to all types of boats and vessels.
SEE PAGE FIVE
Boy killed in pinewood sHooting was ‘no Bad Boy’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A GAS tank exploded when gunmen shot up a house in Pinewood on Sunday, preventing the murder victim and his injured friend from evading the shooters, according to a neighbour who hid himself during the ordeal. “They couldn’t see nothing,” Granet Pratt said,
CONFUSION AS NOT ALL BOAT FEES ‘suspended’
adding there was “too much smoke”. “They couldn’t hear nothing after that.” “They didn’t even know which way to run.” Mr Pratt’s nephew was injured during the shooting, but is out of hospital and visited him yesterday morning. However, Eric Morley, 21, was killed while visiting
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
Haitian pastor Helped 20 since demolition of SHANTY TOWNS
SEE PAGE SEVEN
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
Thompson and others addressed it in Grand Bahama. “We’re here because we’re facing the tragedy of so many mothers, fathers, and children grieving for
LEAGUE of Haitian Pastors president Dr Jean Paul Charles said he helped 20 residents affected by recent demolitions in New Providence who needed money and food. Dr Charles told The Tribune most residents who sought help only did so once and have since found living accommodations.
SEE PAGE THREE
SEE PAGE TWO
OPPOSITION leader Michael Pintard during a press conference at the entrance of the Office of The Prime Minister yesterday. Photo: Dante Carrer By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS AND DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporters FREE National Movement leaders held press conferences in New Providence and Grand Bahama yesterday to slam the Davis
administration’s reaction to the soaring murder rate, which FNM leader Michael Pintard said is an epidemic. Mr Pintard and others discussed the matter outside the Office of the Prime Minister while East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
PAGE 2, Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Baha Mar Foundation and govt join to launch the Calvin J Morley Safe School Zone initiative By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
THE aunt of Calvin Morley, Jr, a 13-year-old killed while trying to cross the street on his way home from school in 2012, said his memory will live on through a safe school zone initiative launched yesterday in his honour. In partnership with the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Works and Family Affairs, the Baha Mar Foundation launched the Calvin J Morley Safe School Zone initiative. Charmaine Morley said her family is still hurting since her nephew died in 2012. “It’s just a sad situation, but of the sad situation comes something good to protect others, especially students around The Bahamas,” she said. Baha Mar vice president Robert Sands said the resort contributed $200,000 to the road safety project to enhance pedestrian crossing at primary schools in New Providence and some Family Islands. “When we look at the positioning of most of our schools and schools’ zones, many residential communities have to cross over highly trafficked areas to get to those locations,” he said. “And we felt it very important to be able to provide safe pedestrian crossings that will guarantee the safety of multiple students within the environment of The Bahamas.” Mr Sands noted that some students as young as six walk to and from school. In addition to improving pedestrian crossings, the project aims to increase
visibility, integrate solar technology, and promote a culture of respect among road users. Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting said on Family Islands, some students “walk miles to go to school, and the streets, especially in the islands, can be very dangerous for our children and especially for primary school students.” Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin recalled the shocking death of Calvin, who was a constituent in Englerston. “We have looked at schools throughout New Providence, we have determined where signage needs to go and painting of crossings to revitalize those crossings so that in every school in New Providence, these areas are delineated,” she said. Transport Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said the project would involve installing electronic pedestrian crosses featuring rapid flashing beacon systems with push button activation. The project’s first phase will involve the Martin Town Primary School in Grand Bahama and several New Providence schools, including Yellow Elder Primary School, Thelma Gibson Primary School, Columbus Primary School, EP Roberts Primary School, Stephen Dillet Primary School, Uriah McPhee Primary School and Woodcock Primary School. Mrs Coleby-Davis said officials focused on heavy traffic areas and relied on the National Road Safety Council’s findings to select schools for the first phase. Work is expected to start at the beginning of February.
THE TRIBUNE
13 -Year-old Calvin J Morley Jr was killed crossing the road from school in 2012
L-R: ROBERT SANDS, Baha Mar senor vice-president of government and community relations, Minister of Education Glenys Hanna Martin. Bottom left: Charmaine Morley, aunt of Calvin Morley Jr. Bottom Right Minister of Works Clay Sweeting. Photos: Moise Amisial
HAITIAN PASTOR HELPED 20 SINCE DEMOLITION OF SHANTY TOWNS BEGAN
A CREW works to demolish shanty structures at All Saints Way.
from page one “They’re now doing good,” he said. “Some of them who found a place to stay, we help them with a small portion.” After the government began demolishing structures in the Kool Acres and All Saints Way unregulated communities, concerns have been raised about whether some affected will become homeless. One woman told The
Tribune last week that she and her six children slept outside on the ground after their home was demolished. Government officials have repeatedly said that living accommodations will only be provided to Bahamians displaced by demolition activities. Dr Charles said pastors in the league had helped people with canned goods and other “light” items. “But for shelter, that’s a different ball game,” Dr
Charles said. “There’s no shelter in New Providence, and we encourage those in the community, whoever they can help, to do so.” Asked about his views on the demolition activities, Dr Charles said: “We talk to them and you know, they listen. We cannot say they are not compassionate. We cannot say that but they listen and they told us that this they have to do as a government and we cannot oppose that.”
Pintard says ‘enough is enough’ as murders rise THE TRIBUNE
from page one their loved ones who have died over these many years,” Mr Pintard said. “But especially we look at this month alone, 17 murders have been committed in this month that has not yet ended. Enough is enough.” OPM director of communications Latrae Rahming dismissed the FNM’s talk as “political grandstanding”. He said the administration has an open-door policy and would discuss the murder problem with other political parties. Mr Pintard noted that Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis recently travelled outside the country. He argued the prime minister, the commissioner of police, and the minister of national security are at odds about how to solve the murder issue. “The prime minister has one view on how we ought to combat the gang issues,” he said.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, PAGE 3
“The minister of national security, on the other hand, points out all the legal impediments to the approach that the prime minister has offered. “The prime minister says it’s too much crime. We say it’s a crisis. We say it’s an epidemic. The commissioner of police says they have it under control.” Over the weekend, two men and a woman were murdered, bringing the country’s murder tally to 17. Chief Superintendent of Police Chrislyn Skippings said despite this, the country is still safe. Although Grand Bahama has recorded no murders so far this year, Mr Thompson said it is important that trials happen sooner to prevent those accused of serious crimes from being on bail for too long. Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis focused on residents, saying: “Come forward with information and do not wait until it affects your home.”
THE FNM’s Kwasi Thompson and Iram Lewis also addressed the crime issue in Grand Bahama. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
TWO MEN STABLE AFTER SHOOTING in Cooper’s Town, AbACo Two men have been shot in an incident in Abaco, police reported last night. The incident took place in Coopers Town, police
said. The victims are said to be in stable condition. No further information was available at the time of going to press.
OPPOSITION leader Michael Pintard flanked by Free National Movement deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright, St. Anne’s MP Adrian White, former Senator Darren Henfield and other FNM party members and supporters during a press conference at the entrance of the Office of The Prime Minister yesterday. Photos: Dante Carrer
Coleby-Davis says RTD’s relocation is ‘imminent’ PAGE 4, Tuesday, January 23, 2024
THE TRIBUNE
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
TRANSPORT and Energy Minister JoBeth ColebyDavis said the relocation of the Road Traffic Department is imminent because the staff has reached a boiling point over the poor working conditions at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. The department will be moved into the Summerwinds Plaza off Tonique Williams Darling, which former Cabinet minister Leslie Miller owns. The RTD’s staff in New Providence has repeatedly complained about their working conditions since the headquarters moved to the national stadium after the Clarence A Bain Building was demolished in 2020. Staff have complained about rodents, broken-down ceilings, and other infrastructure issues. Mrs Coleby-Davis said while they are prepared to move, officials met staff and made changes to make the working situation “as comfortable as possible.” “It was really a temporary location for them that went on a little bit longer than it should have,” she told reporters. “We’re working at a really fast pace because we have a number of things that should be happening at the stadium, which causes a bit of disruption. And so all of that is working together for us to get them relocated as fast as possible so there are better conditions.” Mrs Coleby-Davis couldn’t say exactly when the department will be relocated, but said officials hope to make the change by mid-February. The Free National Movement criticised the Davis administration for leasing the Summerwinds Plaza to the department, saying the government should disclose the terms of the deal. Mr Miller told The Tribune last year the government was renting his place for a rate “much better than anywhere else”. He said “nothing amiss” and “no favours” were involved. He noted that lease agreements for the property under the last Christie administration have been tied up in legal wrangling after previous administrations failed to follow them.
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TRANSPORT AND ENERGY MINISTER JOB ETH COLEB Y-DAVIS
Govt committee seeking how to address the prevalance of uninsured vehicles on the roads By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net AFTER a top traffic cop revealed that 50 per cent of cars in accidents last year were uninsured and called for stiffer penalties to address the problem, Transport and Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said yesterday the government is reviewing legislation and discussing connected matters with insurance companies. Chief Superintendent of Police David Lockhart, head of the
traffic division, said last year that it may be time to change laws to let authorities seize uninsured cars. He also said the penalty for driving without insurance should be increased, noting some people have been getting temporary cover notes to insure their vehicles without completing the insurance process. Mrs Coleby–Davis told reporters yesterday: “We have a working committee that is now in discussions with the insurance agencies. We’re also in discussions with government ministries on how we
could do a collaborative effort to ensure that once someone’s insurance falls away from their vehicle, we are notified, the insurance agencies notified, and the police are notified.” She said that officials are strategising on how stakeholders can access information on uninsured vehicles. She also said the Road Traffic Authority Board is reviewing possible updates to traffic legislation, adding she expects CSP Lockhart’s recommendation to be incorporated into what the Office of the Attorney General reviews.
POLICE ARREST MAN IN EXUMA DRUG SEIZURE POLICE in Exuma arrested a 46-year-old man on Sunday in connection with a drug seizure. Preliminary reports said shortly before 10pm officers conducted a routine vehicle stop-and search while in the area of George Town. The search led to the discovery of a large quantity of suspected marijuana inside the vehicle and a significant amount of cash in the driver’s possession. The officers seized both the drugs and cash, leading to the arrest of the suspect. The weight and value of the suspected marijuana is currently unknown.
Moms weep as Blair shooting case begins THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, PAGE 5
from page one
shooting. Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest-Deveaux and jurors heard testimony yesterday from ASP Mario Durell, who photographed the scene and the bodies of the victims. He said when he arrived on the scene at 4.30am, he observed bullet casings scattered across the driveway and lawn leading to the front entrance. He said a silver coloured Nissan Note was parked in a two-door garage. It had extensive gunshot damage and most of its windows were blown out. Inside the car was the body of a man with dreadlocks slumped over the front passenger seat with his head hanging out of the rear passenger door. ASP Durell said a black Glock .40 pistol was in the backseat near the deceased. In a room next to the garage, he saw the body of another man lying face-up with a gun in his hand. He said in a nearby washroom, police recovered a rusty silver coloured pistol. He said after entering the residence, he found the body of a third man lying facedown in the middle of a bedroom doorway on the second floor with a gun found near him in a pool of blood. He said he also saw gunshot damage on the door
POLICE remove one of the bodies from the scene on May 17, 2019 after officers shot three men at a home in Blair Estates. and walls near the corpse. Outside the home, he said he saw a dead grey coloured pit bull with apparent gunshot injuries and its feet in the air. He said police also recovered a black and silver coloured Ruger
pistol in the western yard of the residence wrapped in plastic and submerged in the dirt. He said a grey plastic bucket with wrappings containing marijuana was outside the residence, and two other packages of
marijuana were recovered from a concrete flower pot in the backyard. He said an estimated 22lb of marijuana was confiscated and CSI collected the seized firearms. Although Angelo Whitfield, who is marshalling
the evidence, asked that the bodies of the dead men be blurred, relatives in court allowed the photos to be shown unedited. Two of the mothers became distraught when a closeup of their children’s blood-stained and bruised
faces were shown to the Coroner. K Melvin Munroe represents the 15 officers. Romona FarquharsonSeymour and Ryzard Humes represent the estates of the deceased men.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, January 23, 2024
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Climate instability disrupting polar vortex EXTREMELY cold Arctic air and severe winter weather swept southward into much of the U.S. in mid-January 2024, breaking daily low temperature records from Montana to Texas. Tens of millions of people were affected by dangerously cold temperatures, and heavy lake-effect snow and snow squalls have had severe effects across the Great Lakes and Northeast regions. These severe cold events occur when the polar jet stream – the familiar jet stream of winter that runs along the boundary between Arctic and more temperate air – dips deeply southward, bringing the cold Arctic air to regions that don’t often experience it. An interesting aspect of these events is that they often occur in association with changes to another river of air even higher above the jet stream: the stratospheric polar vortex, a great stream of air moving around the North Pole in the middle of the stratosphere. When this stratospheric vortex becomes disrupted or stretched, it can distort the jet stream as well, pushing it southward in some areas and causing cold air outbreaks. The January 2024 Arctic cold blast fit into this pattern, with the polar vortex stretched so far over the U.S. in the lower stratosphere that it had nearly split in two. There are multiple causes that may have led to this stretching, but it is likely related to high-latitude weather in the prior two weeks. No, cold doesn’t contradict global warming After Earth just experienced its hottest year on record, it may seem surprising to set so many cold records. But does this cold snap contradict human-caused global warming? As an atmospheric and climate scientist, I can tell you, absolutely and
unequivocally, it does not. No single weather event can prove or disprove global warming. Many studies have shown that the number of extreme cold events is clearly decreasing with global warming, as predicted and understood from physical reasoning. Whether global warming may, contrary to expectations, be playing some supporting role in the intensity of these events is an open question. Some research suggests it does. The February 2021 cold wave that severely disrupted the Texas electric grid was also associated with a stretched stratospheric polar vortex. My colleagues and I have provided evidence suggesting that Arctic changes associated with global warming have increased the likelihood of such vortex disruptions. The effects of the enhanced high latitude warming known as Arctic amplification on regional snow cover and sea ice may enhance the weather patterns that, in turn, result in a stretched polar vortex. More recently, we have shown that for large areas of the U.S., Europe and Northeast Asia, while the number of these severe cold events is clearly decreasing – as expected with global warming – it does not appear that their intensity is correspondingly decreasing, despite the rapid warming in their Arctic source regions. So, while the world can expect fewer of these severe cold events in the future, many regions need to remain prepared for exceptional cold when it does occur. A better understanding of the pathways of influence between Arctic surface conditions, the stratospheric polar vortex and mid-latitude winter weather would improve our ability to anticipate these events and their severity. Mathew Barlow, UMass Lowell The Converstion
Centreville community deteriorating EDITOR, The Tribune. KINDLY allow me space in your column to express an opinion on the deterioration of the community of Centreville and the quality of some of the illegal migrants in the area, especially Mount Royal Avenue and its side corners and Mount Rose Avenue and its side corners. I grew up in Centreville. So I think I am overly qualified to comment on the deterioration. Once upon a time when you said, I am from Centreville, people would take notice. Quality individuals resided and
rose out of the community, including Prime Ministers, doctors, lawyers, bankers, athletes, teachers, accountants, among other professions, hard working regular men and women who commanded respect and carried themselves with dignity and poise and grace. I have maintained an office in the community for the past 27 years, but God knows I have never seen it like this. Instead we have been overwhelmed with a mixture of crimes, including murder, break-ins, robberies, a whore-house conducting business where
the entrance to the corner is almost always blocked up for the residents living through the corner. It appears as if a large crowd of degenerates have popped up in the last two decades in the community. In my opinion the quality of many of the residents has sadly sunk to the bottom of the barrel. In closing, decades ago when we should have nipped this in the bud we turned a blind eye. Now the chicken is coming home to roost. PAT STRACHAN Nassau, January 20, 2024.
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MAYA GABEIRA, from Brazil, rides a wave during the Nazare Big Wave Challenge surfing tournament at Praia do Norte, or North Beach, in Nazare, Portugal yesterday. Photo: Armando Franca/AP
Chickens have come home to roost EDITOR, The Tribune. OUR country is running a high fever. Murder, in particular, and a string of other serious crimes have come to rule the day. Inertia, associated trauma, and outright paralysis have seemingly invaded our collective consciousness, and death seems to be lurking behind every abandoned car. Guilt and shame can be seen only in our rearview mirror, while civility and morality seem to be on extended vacation; or even worse, banished. In the name of modernism, personal freedom, personal choices and the like, we have turned God’s law on its head, and now we are paying a hefty price. The chickens have indeed come home to roost! There are any number of underlying societal issues contributing to the crime phenomenon. Teen-age pregnancy which was once frowned upon has now become the norm, and becoming a grandmother at thirty now seems like a thing of pride. Some of our young men seem to have lost all sense of direction and self-worth because there are no fathers in many homes to teach them the do’s and don’ts of manhood. Sociologists and other experts in human behaviour have concluded that in homes where there are fathers, the chances of a young man running afoul of the law might not be totally eliminated, but they are substantially reduced or lessened, as opposed to homes without a father or a father figure. Oh, yes, I am quite aware that there are the exceptions in every
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net situation. Matters of these kinds are not readily discussed for fear of offending this person or the next, or being attacked by one group or another, but I speak truth. I firmly believe that many of the young men in prison had no prior relationship or connection with their fathers. It takes a man to teach a boy how to become a man. Fredrick Douglas an American abolitionist put it best when he said: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”. We must recapture the norms and traditions that once kept us grounded over the years. Parents should take (not send) their children to Sunday school so that they can receive proper training in Christian(not religious) doctrines and principles. Parental involvement is the glue that binds the family. Toys and electric gadgets, like cell phones, are no substitute for expressions of love and personal attention. Simply put, spend time with the children. Insists that your child responds to their elder with “yes, sir” or “yes, m’am”. Teach your child to say “good morning” of “good evening” when passing elderly persons on the streets. Tell them that words like, “I’m sorry”, are not outdated, but it takes a person with a big heart(not literally) to say them. Encourage them to ask for something and not try to
take it by force, because it could lead to unnecessary confrontations. Model the behaviour; let them see you do it, because children remember what they see. Teach them that life is a gift from God, and no one has the right to take it away. Having prayer vigils, building bigger prisons, handing down stiffer penalties, hiring more policemen, buying more police cars and other equipment, are all positive interventions which come into play after the crimes have been committed. These are the things that governments do. They are reactionary, and though they may undoubtedly have some impact, they will not in and of themselves solve the crime problem. They are akin to putting a bandaid on the cancer. We have to get to the root of the problem, which might make many of us uncomfortable. Firstly, we have to fix the family, it’s broken. The blueprint for the family is laid out in the book of Genesis. We have strayed from God’s original law to our own detriment, and called it modernism. Amen? Secondly, we must do a better job raising our children. Until then, the blood bath in our streets will continue, and we will be left with the grim task of updating the murder count almost daily, which is already a sad commentary. Let’s get back to that old land mark, or we perish. I’m just a courier for the truth. ZEPHANIAH BURROWS Nassau, January 20, 2024.
Capital punishment for the poor EDITOR, The Tribune. I SEE that lots of Bahamian politicians are putting their full support behind the resumption of capital punishment in The Bahamas; but capital punishment is Bahamian law already - and has been so for centuries, and the Privy Council rules according to the law! Silly season must be approaching. The political executive
in the land must not be allowed to become the final judges of the law in our beloved Bahamas! The elite advocates of capital punishment in The Bahamas from my standpoint will never allow one of their dear ones to be hung by the state! They want to make it easier – in my humble view, to hang the wretched and poor among us – according to their plan to amend the
law to make it happen. How wicked of them! But not to worry, we will not vote for them next election. So, let us see who the rest of you are and your affirmative position on capital punishment for the poor Bahamian brother and sister, and we shall see you next election. DENNIS DAMES Nassau, January 19, 2024.
Boy killed in Pinewood shooting was ‘no bad boy’ THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, PAGE 7
from page one
New Providence from Grand Bahama to attend the funeral of his brother who was murdered last year. Mr Pratt, a friend of Mr Morley’s mother, insisted the deceased was “no bad boy”. He said Mr Morley’s family is taking his death “very hard”. “That’s her baby –– she loved him very much,” he said, referring to Mr Morley’s mother. “I know him from a young little boy”. “He used to come over here from he was small. We didn’t have no problem with him. He come here, him and my son sit down, they talk. He come here, play with the dogs and whatever here, but he wasn’t no bad boy.” Mr Pratt said his nephew was shocked because they do not know why the incident happened. He said none of the boys had a criminal record or were known to police. “They ain’t do nobody nothing, and people just come here and shoot up the place like that,” he said. Mr Pratt said his family does not feel safe living where they are, noting blood stains from the victim are on his property. “I don’t know if they mistake them for somebody else because this Pinewood and plenty people live in Pinewood,” he said.
THE BODY of Eric Morley being taken from the scene of the double shooting in the Pinewood area on Sunday afternoon. “People say all the Pinewood boys, anytime they see a gathering or something like that, they
think they are in gangs, but they ain’t.” “So when you home and you out in the front
of your yard and you see a car coming through, you always watch the car because you will never
know what is happen.” According to two men in a
Photo: Dante Carrer gonna police, Nissan
vehicle opened fire on Morley and his friend shortly before 2pm on Sunday.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, January 23, 2024
THE TRIBUNE
Davis attends 19th Summit of the Man charged with Non-Aligned Movement in Uganda last week’s murder
at Parkgate Road By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 33-year-old man was remanded in custody yesterday after he allegedly murdered a man who was on bail for murder on Parkgate Road. The victim’s murder trial was supposed to begin on the same day his alleged killer was arraigned. Sidney Hart was charged with murder before acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley. Hart and an accomplice in a white Japanese vehicle pulled up beside 25-yearold Jason Lamm’s vehicle as it was stopped on Parkgate and Village Roads on
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis attended a meeting of the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Uganda over the weekend. During his intervention, he stressed the need for climate reparations and cooperation among countries in the global south. Photos: BIS
January 17. The accused allegedly opened fire on Lamm’s car before speeding away from the scene. The victim was later pronounced dead. Before his death, Lamm was accused of the murder of Antonio Russell on Bernard Road on March 1, 2021. Hart was told that his case would be moved to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He will be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until the higher court grants him bail. The defendant’s VBI is due for service on March 25.
MAN REMANDED ON CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED RAPE OF A WOMAN By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 52-YEAR-OLD man was remanded in custody yesterday after he allegedly tried to sexually assault a woman last week. Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Michael Coleby with attempted rape. Alphonso Lewis
represented the accused. Coleby is accused of forcefully trying to have sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent on January 14 in New Providence. The accused was told that his case would be transferred to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). His VBI is set for service on March 12.
MAN CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER OF TWO PEOPLE By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was granted $10,000 bail yesterday after he was accused of causing the death of two people on a motorcycle in a traffic accident on East Street last October. Magistrate Samuel McKinney charged Michanko Bethell, 30, with two counts of vehicular manslaughter. Bethell allegedly drove a blue 2007 Mitsubishi vehicle south on East Street on October 16, 2023. While attempting to overtake another car, Bethell allegedly crashed into a black Yamaha XTV motorcycle travelling north with a male
driver and two female passengers on it. While Bethell and a female motorcycle passenger were successfully treated for their serious injuries in the hospital, the motorcycle driver, Rhashan Rolle and his other female passenger, Deandre Woodside, died at the scene. After being informed that his matter would be moved to the Supreme Court by a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI), Bethell was granted $10,000 bail with one or two sureties. Under the terms of his bail, the defendant must sign in at East Street South Police Station every Saturday by 6pm. His VBI is due for service on March 25.
SWAIN TAKES THE OATH FOR ACTING VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE BAHAMAS INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL
SUBUSOLA Swain was administered the requisite oath as cting vice-president of the Bahamas Industrial Tribunal by Governor General Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt at the Office of the Governor General, Friday. Photos: Letisha Henderson/AP
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Dr Sharron Neely: Hair care for life THE TRIBUNE
THANKS to lots of activism and education, mental health awareness is on the rise. Mental health refers to emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects the way we think, feel, and act, and it helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. While there are some obvious triggers that lead to the deterioration of mental health, one hair care expert wants the public to know that hair loss is one of the triggers. Dr Sharron Neely has helped thousands of women gain confidence and heal from emotional stress and trauma over her lengthy career in the beauty industry. She has found that hair loss can be debilitating, affecting women and men in areas like self esteem, deportment, and overall mood, leading to depression and other mental health issues. She takes the matter so seriously that she has dedicated her life to helping people reverse hair loss while simultaneously inspiring them to live their best lives. “Hair loss can be so debilitating,” she said. “I consider it to be almost like a handicap. People can become so uncomfortable with the way they look that they refuse to go outside without a wig or hair covering. I have met women who refuse to let their husbands or even their children see them without a wig on. There are many who will shed tears because they are so embarrassed.
Face to Face
By FELICITY DARVILLE
techniques and her great reputation for hair care. She has won international and local hair competitions, and she works on improving her craft daily. Although she accomplished much in the beauty arena, Ronnie wanted more for her clients. She didn’t just want to cover up their hair and scalp issues; she wanted to correct them. With this in mind, she pursued higher education and became skilled in several areas including trichology. Trichology is the paramedical science of the hair, hair loss and associated scalp problems. It includes the study of the diseases of the human hair and scalp, as well as proper assessment and treatment. With this scientific background, Ronnie has been able to get to the root of the cause of her client’s hair problems, creating dramatic results. HAIR PRODUCTS
CARE
Obtaining a PhD in hair care is just one of her accomplishments. Ronnie also wanted to give her clients the best products to use on their hair. This required her to engage in
their hair issues. She asked her lecturers, but they seemed to always recommend products that they were affiliated with instead of products that they were confident would work. “I would ask why are these better, but I was never able to get a satisfactory answer,” she recalls. “I grew up in Andros watching my grammy and her generation lean more to herbs and bushes for remedies. So I wanted to incorporate nature into my practice. I had clients who would test certain products and the results were amazing! We tracked it along the way and the results were beautiful. At first my products were just do-ityourself projects. But after the success, I wanted to be licensed and certified. I enrolled in a formulation school and it changed my life forever!” “I decided to focus on creating products that would eliminate a lot of the side effects associated with haircare products and that would be safe for the consumer. I took into consideration sensitivity issues. I wanted to make sure that these products were comparable to the hair care treatments that I was giving.” TAKING BUSINESS TO BAY STREET
ABOVE: Dr Sharron “Fabulous Ronnie” Neely, cosmetologist, trichologist and product formulator BELOW: Fabulous Ronnie’s hair care product line, manufactured in The Bahamas
It has caused some women to not get married for fear of having to reveal their condition.” “There are also mental health conditions related to the hair such as trichphagia, which is eating hair and trichotillomania, also known as trich, which is when someone cannot resist the urge to pull out their hair.” This community industry leader contends that people like these need professional help, and she is committed to assisting as many of them as she possibly can. She is better known as “Fabulous Ronnie” for her fashion-forward hairstyle
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, PAGE 9
extensive studies in the chemical composition and formulation of hair care products. She used the skills she learned professionally and combined them with the knowledge of plants in The Bahamas to create her own unique hair care line. Precious wisdom passed down from her grandmother, and her own experiments with plants in her home country helped her to formulate a product line she is proud of. When she went to school for hair care, she began to ask herself what products she would give her clients after helping to diagnose
Armed with professional training and a wealth of knowledge, Ronnie set her sights on yet another lofty goal. She wanted to open the very first hair clinic in Downtown, Nassau, serving the needs of Bahamians and tourists alike. Today, she is the proud owner of Fabulous Ronnie’s Hair Restoration Clinic, Bay Street - the first hair restoration clinic and salon in The Bahamas. She incorporates technology and proven techniques to serve both men and women. Patrons can have consultations, examinations and diagnosis, as well as hair care and styling services, making it a one stop shop for anyone who wants beautiful hair. This mother of three earned her Doctorate Degree in Professional Cosmetology from the Texas State Institute of Cosmetology and Barbers, and she has a plethora of professional certificates and awards behind her name. Her professional line of products include a restoration shampoo with rose water and mint, and a restoration conditioner with coconut and honey. She has a special restoration treatment and moisturiser for her clients, as well as a popular hair growth oil. This professional cosmetologist, trichologist and product formulator believes in continuing education, and she keeps herself up to date with the latest in hair care. BRAIDING ON THE FRONT PORCH Ronnie began her journey as a braider, right on her front porch in Elizabeth Estates. Her mother, Enamae Sweeting, was a well known and loved woman in her community. She was an energetic individual who gave of her time and talents to The Bahamas Customs Department. Her father is John Sweeting, whom she refers to as one of the world’s best bartenders, He was once employed at the Atlantis resort for more than 40 years.
A HAIR loss transformation thanks to Fabulous Ronnie’s Hair Restoration Clinic
Her success is backed by strong dedication and commitment. She started out not only doing hair, but answering the phone, cleaning the floors, and anything necessary to make it work. Customer service is vitally important, and she ensures that her staff is committed as well. “This is the era now where you can learn so much on the internet,” Ronnie said when asked how young people aspiring to join the field can begin. Hair care, she said, should be a lifelong journey. For little girls, she encourages them to speak up and let their parents know if their hair is braided too tightly, because it could result in hair loss and other problems in the future. With lace front wigs as popular as they are nowadays, Ronnie advises that these wigs should be carefully removed. The common baby hair fringes, too, she says, required proper washing of products such as edge control on a daily basis to avoid damage. “If you keep abusing the hair, at some point it won’t come back,” she advised. “Take good care of what it is that God gave you!”
FABULOUS Ronnie learned microneedlig and pigmentation as she studied for her doctorate degree
Treating the root of the tree to cure the disease PAGE 10, Tuesday, January 23, 2024
WHEN looking to address any problem it is best to start at the beginning otherwise you will not understand how or why we are at the place we now find ourselves. With our recent and continuing rise in violent crimes – namely murder – it is indeed late to be hoping to address what is happening now. We can only hope that the right people are close enough to those who are in the mindset to continue this violent trend to dissuade them as police currently are only equipped to clean up the mess left in the wake. As is noted in my previous article, the loss of these young men is a tragedy and a stain on our society. The potential they may have had has been not only turned in the wrong direction of crime and violence, but when killed any potential to correct that course is ultimately gone. I also noted that this is a problem we as a country must face, and while the government has its part to play, so do we all. It is notable that what we see occurring is young men been absorbed into gangs and lives of crime, making men the main perpetrators of violent crime in the country. It may often be noted also that these young men tend to come from the poorer communities. This is not a complete view of all the issues, but certainly two pieces of a puzzle that we can easily see. While there needs to be much more study done into the circumstances of life that young men who turn to gangs and crime have
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of the problem of no or a bad role model in life is that it can distort or outright damage the boy’s perception of what it means to be a man. Positive role models can influence behavior, attitudes, and values, helping boys navigate challenges and make better informed decisions. Mentoring would pro-
helping boys set realistic goals, manage their time effectively, and develop a lifelong love for learning. Having a good role model can also provide guidance on making responsible choices, avoiding risky behaviours, and understanding the consequences of their actions and gain valuable insights that contribute to informed
Will there be enough people willing to be the difference? Or will we complain as the problem evolves in worsening ways to the point of no return?
experienced to fully comprehend the problems that need addressing, there are many things we can engage in now to interrupt the course that may lead them to violent ends. One thing that can get to the root is mentorship. Young men involved in these lives of crime are
often missing a strong positive role model or have a poor example that leaves a paucity of choices at hand for them; though choices, they still are. A programme that engages men of integrity and positive values in mentoring young men would bring many benefits. Part
mote working toward personal growth by helping boys develop self-esteem, resilience, and a sense of purpose as they are guided in setting and achieving goals, leading to increased self-confidence and a clearer understanding of their strengths and abilities. It would help boys to develop better social and emotional skills, including improved communication, empathy, and conflict resolution abilities, while also providing a safe space for boys to express their feelings and navigate the complexities of relationships, both personal and professional. Studies also show that mentored boys are more likely to engage positively in their education, leading to improved academic performance. Mentors can offer academic guidance,
decision-making, reducing the likelihood of engaging in harmful activities. Beyond this, mentors can expose boys to diverse perspectives, cultures, and experiences, broadening their understanding of the world helping boys develop cultural competence and a global perspective, fostering open-mindedness and acceptance. With this, mentoring can challenge stereotypes and helps boys redefine masculinity in a positive way; encouraging emotional expression, empathy, and the rejection of harmful societal expectations, promoting a healthy and inclusive understanding of manhood. A young man that was mentored well can become active and responsible members of their communities as mentors instill a
sense of social responsibility, they inspire boys to contribute positively to society, fostering a commitment to service and community engagement. Ultimately, the objective is to have a lasting impact on a boy’s life, influencing his choices, career paths, and relationships well into adulthood. A positive mentoring experience creates a ripple effect, as mentored individuals are more likely to become mentors themselves, perpetuating the cycle of positive influence. Effectively done I believe we can reverse the trend that we see happening now. It will not pay off with results in the extremely near term, but the problem did not just happen overnight either. Patience and persistence in affecting change in the lives of young men will lead to a better future for us all, because a young life saved is a whole life saved. And that same positivity that was poured into their lives will be paid forward. But – and here is the big problem with this idea – we need good men to step up and be a part of the solution. Men who are not looking to be paid for this but are doing this for the sake of the love of our people. Will there be enough people willing to be the difference? Or will we complain as the problem evolves in worsening ways to the point of no return? The choice of the country and society we live in is truly in our hands. There is no change without us one way or the other.
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Tuesday, January 23, 2024, PAGE 11
Families of hostages held in Gaza storm Israel’s parliament meeting demanding deal for their release JERUSALEM Associated Press
DOZENS of family members of hostages held by Hamas stormed a committee meeting in Israel’s parliament Monday, demanding a deal to win their loved ones’ release, as European foreign ministers joined growing international calls for Israel to negotiate on the creation of a Palestinian state after the war. The developments showed the increasing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has dug in on both fronts. He has insisted to the Israeli public that pursuing the devastating offensive in Gaza is the only way to bring the hostages home. At the same time, he has rejected the United States’ vision for a postwar resolution, saying he will never allow a Palestinian state. The dispute over Gaza’s future pits Israel against its top ally and much of the international community. It also poses a major obstacle to plans for postwar governance or reconstruction of the coastal territory, large parts of which have been left unlivable by Israeli bombardment. As fears grow that Israel’s war in Gaza will spark a wider regional conflict, the US and British militaries bombed eight locations in Yemen used by the Houthi rebels. It’s the eighth time the US has bombed Houthi sites since Jan. 12, US officials said late Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a military operation. The Iranian-backed Houthis have attacked shipping in the region’s waterways, saying they aim to end the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. In southern Gaza, Israeli strikes and shelling intensified in and around the city of Khan Younis, sending Palestinian families fleeing south in pickup trucks and donkey carts loaded with possessions. In the city, which has been a battle zone for weeks, people dug graves for the dead inside the yard of AlNasser Hospital as staff struggled to deal with dozens of newly killed and wounded, including children. Health care workers said strikes hit at least four schools sheltering displaced people on the
city’s western edges, including two inside a coastal strip that Israel had declared a safe zone for people fleeing. Gaza’s internet and phone networks collapsed again Monday for the 10th time during the war. The repeated blackouts severely hamper distribution of aid that’s essential for the survival of the territory’s population of 2.3 million, UN officials said. The loss of service also prevents Palestinians from communicating with each other and the outside world. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until “complete victory” over Hamas and to return all remaining hostages after the Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel that triggered the war. In that attack, some 1,200 people were killed and Hamas and other militants abducted around 250 people. Israelis are increasingly divided on the question of whether it’s possible to do either. Around 100 hostages were freed under a weeklong cease-fire deal in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Around 130 remain captive, but a number have since been confirmed dead. Hamas has said it will free more captives only in exchange for an end to the war and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu has ruled out such an agreement, but anger is rising among hostages’ families. Relatives and other protesters set up a tent camp outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, vowing to remain until a deal is reached. On Monday, dozens of family members of the hostages stormed into a gathering of the Knesset’s finance committee, holding up signs and yelling, “You won’t sit here while they are dying there!” “These are our children!” they shouted. Some had to be physically restrained, and at least one person was escorted out. Israel’s offensive has killed at least 25,295 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded more than 60,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says around two-thirds of those killed
A PALESTINIAN man mourns over the body of a child killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis yesterdy. Photo: Mohammed Dahman/AP were women and children. Residents in Khan Younis reported bombardment on all sides of the city. At Nasser Hospital, Ayman Abu Abaid, the head of surgery, told Al Jazeera TV early Monday that at least 50 dead and more than 100 wounded had been brought to the facility. Ashraf Al-Qudra, spokesman for the Health Ministry, said Israeli troops had stormed Al-Khair Hospital and detained the medical staff, the latest hospital that troops have seized during the conflict. The hospital is just inside the safe zone at Muwasi, a rural coastal strip west of Khan Younis, where the Israeli military had said it would not carry out operations. Volunteers with the Red Crescent said strikes hit four schools west of Khan Younis — two of them inside the Muwasi zone — causing an unknown number of casualties. They said the organization’s ambulances couldn’t reach the sites. Families streamed out of Khan Younis along the coastal highway, some walking, some loading blankets and possessions into vehicles.
They headed toward Rafah, the tiny sliver at the extreme southern end of Gaza where well over 1 million people are already crowded, many living in tents that have filled the streets. As he fled Khan Younis with his family, Ahmad Shurrab said he had been displaced multiple times. “Where should I go? Should I go to Rafah? Rafah is like one street. What do they want from us?” he shouted. Some 85% of the Gaza population has been driven from their homes by the war. UN officials say 1 in 4 people in Gaza is starving as the fighting and Israeli restrictions hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid. Only 15 bakeries are working across the Gaza Strip, all of them in either Rafah or the central town of Deir al-Balah, the UN said. The Israeli military says it has killed around 9,000 militants in its offensive, without providing evidence, and blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas because it operates in dense residential areas. The war has also stoked tensions across the region, with Iran-backed groups in
Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen attacking Israeli and US targets. Netanyahu, whose popularity has plummeted since Oct. 7, faces pressure from the US to shift to more precise military operations and do more to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza. The United States is also calling for a reformed Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza after the war and for negotiations to start on a two-state solution. The authority currently governs pockets of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and was ejected from Gaza in 2007 when Hamas took power. Netanyahu has rejected both the entry of the Palestinian Authority and the creation of a Palestinian state. His governing coalition is beholden to far-right parties that want to step up the offensive, encourage the emigration of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza and reestablish Jewish settlements there. At a meeting in Brussels, European Union foreign ministers added their voices to the calls for a Palestinian state, saying it was the only way to achieve peace.
French Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Sejourne said Netanyahu’s rejection of statehood was “worrying. There will be a need for a Palestinian state with security guarantees for all.” “Which are the other solutions they have in mind?” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said of Israel. “To make all the Palestinians leave? To kill them off?” In an interview with CNN late Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said the kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel or contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction without a credible path to a Palestinian state. His comments were notable because before the war, the US had been trying to broker a landmark normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The Palestinians seek a state including Gaza, the West Bank and Israeliannexed east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. Peace talks broke down nearly 15 years ago.
Judge orders the unsealing of divorce case of Trump special prosecutor in Georgia accused of affair GEORGIA Associated Press A JUDGE on Monday ordered court records to be made public in the divorce involving a special prosecutor hired in the election case against Donald Trump and others and accused of having an affair with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The newly unsealed court records, however, didn’t include any references to the affair allegations that have roiled the case that charges Trump and 18 allies of working to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The judge ordered the unsealing of the divorce case involving special prosecutor Nathan Wade after a request brought by a defence attorney who alleges an inappropriate relationship between Willis and Wade. The judge also put off a final decision on whether Willis will have to sit for questioning in the divorce case, but delayed her deposition that had been scheduled for Tuesday. Willis has defended her hiring of Wade, who has little prosecutorial experience, and has not directly denied a romantic relationship. She has accused Wade’s estranged wife of trying to obstruct her criminal election interference case against Trump and
others by seeking to question her in the couple’s divorce proceedings. The affair allegations threaten to taint the prosecution, with the Republican primary front-runner and others seizing on the claims to attack the case and Wade’s qualifications as a prosecutor. Trump has pleaded not guilty, denied any wrongdoing and called the charges politically motivated. Willis was served with the subpoena to sit for a deposition in the divorce case the day that defence attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represents former Trump campaign staffer and onetime White House aide Michael Roman, filed a motion earlier this month alleging the romantic relationship between Willis and Wade. Documents filed in court show Wade bought plane tickets in Willis’ name, and Joycelyn Wade’s lawyer has argued there “appears to be no reasonable explanation for their travels apart from a romantic relationship.” Joycelyn’s Wade’s lawyer, Andrea Dyer Hastings, told the judge on Monday that they believe Willis has some “unique personal knowledge” related to the divorce case and should be subject to questioning. “She’s trying to hide under the shield of her position,” Hastings said of Willis. Cinque Axam, a lawyer
FULTON County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks in the Fulton County Government Center during a news conference, August 14, 2023, in Atlanta. Yesterday a judge ordered court records to be made public in the divorce involving a special prosecutor hired in the election case against Donald Trump and others, and who is accused of having an affair with Willis. The judge put off a final decision on whether Willis will have to sit for questioning in the divorce case, but delayed her deposition that had been scheduled for today. Photo: John Bazemore/AP for Willis, said the issue before the court is how to divide the marital assets, and the determination of how that should be done has nothing to do with Willis, who doesn’t share
any accounts with Nathan Wade and doesn’t determine how he spends money. During a brief hearing in the Cobb County Superior Court, Judge Henry Thompson said he can’t
rule on whether Willis should have to sit for a deposition in the divorce case until after Wade himself is questioned later this month. In ruling that court documents in the divorce
case must be made public, he said a previous judge improperly ordered the case to be sealed without holding a hearing. Joycelyn Wade’s lawyer wrote in court papers filed Friday that Nathan Wade has taken trips to San Francisco and Napa Valley, Florida, Belize, Panama and Australia and has taken Caribbean cruises since filing for divorce and that Willis “was an intended travel partner for at least some of these trips as indicated by flights he purchased for her to accompany him.” The filing includes credit card statements that show Nathan Wade — after he had been hired as special prosecutor — bought plane tickets in October 2022 for him and Willis to travel to Miami and bought tickets in April to San Francisco in their names. It’s one of four cases Trump is facing as he vies to return to the White House. Prosecutors are using a statute normally associated with mobsters to accuse the former president, lawyers and other aides of a “criminal enterprise” to keep him in power. Four people have already pleaded guilty in the Georgia election case after reaching deals with prosecutors. The remaining 15, including Trump and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, have pleaded not guilty.
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Alcaraz sets up Australian Open quarterfinal against Zverev. Four first-timers into women’s last 8
MILNER EDGES CLOSER TO EPL APPEARANCE RECORD BUT BRIGHTON LACKS SCORING SPARK IN 0-0 DRAW
By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer
BRIGHTON, England (AP) — On a night when James Milner went second in the Premier League’s all-time appearances table, his Brighton team was held to a 0-0 draw in a lackluster match at home to Wolverhampton. The 38-year-old Milner made his 633rd Premier League appearance at the Amex stadium yesterday, taking him one clear of Ryan Giggs to sit just 20 matches behind leader Gareth Barry. However, neither Milner nor anyone else was able to break the deadlock on a frustrating night. Facundo Buonanotte saw one early attempt cleared off the line for Brighton but it was a rare moment of excitement in a dull first half. Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele saved well against Matheus Cunha early in the second period and Wolves captain Max Kilman was relieved to see his last-gasp intervention hit the post rather than give Brighton the lead a few moments later. “We didn’t really create enough in the final third,” Milner said. “At home, we have dropped too many points, which is disappointing. A clean sheet is important and that will help us going forward. The firepower we have up front means we usually get on the scoresheet. The clean sheets are really important, we’d have more points if we had kept more earlier in the season.” A win for Wolves would have been its fourth league victory in a row, equalling a run it last achieved in 1972, but it had to settle for a point that left it 11th. Brighton moved into seventh, one place above Manchester United. Liverpool tops the table, five points ahead of Manchester City, which has a game in hand.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will meet Olympic gold medallist Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open quarterfinals and Daniil Medvedev is also back in a last eight that is stacked with the top six seeds. While the men’s competition is playing fairly true to the rankings, the women’s really is a tale of two halves. No. 12-seeded Zheng Qinwen, a quarterfinalist at last year’s U.S. Open, is the highest-ranked player left in the top half of the bracket, where all four women who won yesterday reached the last eight at Melbourne Park for the first time. “The people who arrive to quarterfinals, for sure they’re all feeling really well in this tournament,” Zheng said after her 6-0, 6-3 win over No. 95 Oceane Dodin. “It’s one player against another player, and we will compete.” She’ll next play No. 75-ranked Anna Kalinskaya. No. 50 Linda Noskova, who beat topranked Iga Swiatek in the third round, will meet No. 93 Dayana Yastremska. There’s still three Grand Slam winners in the other half of the bracket. No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, will take on 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova and U.S. Open winner Coco Gauff will play Marta Kostyuk in quarterfinals today. The first of the men’s quarterfinals — 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic vs. No. 12 Taylor Fritz and No. 4 Jannik Sinner vs. No. 5 Andrey Rublev — were set on Sunday, well before Alcaraz completed a Grand Slam set by reaching the last eight in Australia for the first time. The 20-year-old Alcaraz missed the 2023 Australian Open because of injury, but is making up for lost time. He beat Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 in less than two hours to open
CARLOS ALCARAZ, of Spain, plays a forehand return to Miomir Kecmanovic during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Monday’s night session on Rod Laver Arena. “Every match I’m playing, I’m feeling better and better on a court I didn’t play so much,” Alcaraz, the only man to beat Djokovic in a major last year, said of his buildup here. “Hopefully the same as Wimbledon. Yeah, could be the same.” He has dropped just one set. Zverev is into the quarterfinals here for the third time but is coming off some long five-set wins, including a four-hour, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3) fourthround victory over No. 19 Cameron Norrie. It was the 32nd five-set match so far at the tournament, an Open era record in Australia. Their match on Margaret Court Arena was prolonged after being delayed briefly when a protester threw anti-war pamphlets onto the back of the court in the third set. The protester was escorted out by security. No. 3 Medvedev, a twotime Australian Open runner-up, beat No. 69-ranked Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-1 and will next face No. 9 Hubert
ZHENG Qinwen signs autographs yesterday. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Hurkacz, who ended the run of French wild-card entry Arthur Cazaux 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3), 6-4. Some unexpected charges continue in the women’s field. Opportunities are opening up for the likes of Noskova, Yastremska and Kalinskaya to advance to the quarterfinals of a
Grand Slam for the first time. Kalinskaya beat No. 26 Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 6-2 to end a streak of 13 majors that didn’t go beyond the second round. Yastremska beat the 18th-seeded Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, 7-6 (6), 6-4, and No. 23-seeded
Elina Svitolina had to retire after hurting her back when she was trailing Noskova 3-0. “I got a spasm, like a shooting pain,” she said. “Couldn’t do anything, completely locked my back, just very sad. I had some injuries to my back before where it just was tiredness ... but this one was really out of nowhere. I felt like someone shot me in the back.” The 19-year-old Noskova now is the youngest player to reach the Australian Open women’s quarterfinals since 2008. Yastremska saved set points in the first against Azarenka and was down a break in the second but rallied to win six of the last seven games. “I think I need to take a thousand breaths because my heart I think is going to jump out of my body,” Yastremska said. “During the match, I was imagining how I lost already like 25 times. I was losing the tiebreak, second set I was losing, I always felt I was running behind the train. “But because I’m a little bit of a fighter I think I won this match.”
LYDIA KO GETS A NEW YEAR RORY MCILROY WINS OFF TO THE RIGHT START BY DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC WINNING LPGA TOUR OPENER FOR RECORD 4TH TIME By JEFF BABINEAU Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — It took only four rounds for Lydia Ko to put a dismal 2023 LPGA Tour season completely behind her. Ko rediscovered her winning touch Sunday in the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, closing with a 2-under 70 for a two-shot victory over Alexa Pano at Lake Nona. Ko, who finished at 14-under 274, won for the 20th time on the LPGA Tour. The 26-year-old from New Zealand became the seventh woman to win 20 LPGA titles before turning 27. “The win is obviously great,” Ko said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to be back in the winner’s circle, and to be back to the first tournament of the season, it’s pretty cool and so much faster than I could have ever anticipated.” Ko was winless in 20 LPGA starts a year ago, and she now can resume her quest for entry into the exclusive LPGA Hall of Fame. Ko needs 27 points to get there, and the triumph Sunday put her just one point away. Each regular LPGA win is worth one point. She could get there as early as this coming week, at the LPGA Drive On Championship, played just two hours from her home, in Bradenton. Sunday’s final margin was two shots, but Ko remained in control throughout the final round, played
LYDIA Ko holds the winner’s trophy. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski) amid unseasonably cool temperatures that dipped into the 40s. Ko, bogey-free in her second and third rounds, birdied four of her first 15 holes Sunday against a single bogey to leave her pursuers battling for second most of the day. She stretched her lead to five shots early on the final nine. The only anxious moment arrived at the reachable par-5 15th, where Ko tugged her second shot left, toward a hazard. The ball finished in some gnarly rough short of the water and Ko, who displayed a top-notch short game all week, promptly pitched her third shot to 3 feet to set up the fourth birdie of her round. Ko won the unofficial mixedteam Grant Thornton Invitational alongside Australian Jason Day late in 2023, which boosted her confidence. She said winning individually at Lake Nona provides a relief after enduring such a rough year in 2023. What did she learn in a difficult season? “I cry a lot,” Ko said.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy won the Dubai Desert Classic for a record fourth time Sunday, completing a remarkable weekend comeback by reeling in Cameron Young early in the final round, then holding off Adrian Meronk by a stroke. McIlroy closed with a 2-under 70 to retain the title at a tournament he first won in 2009 and has captured more than any other in his career. Among his 35 wins as a professional, he had also won the Tour Championship and Wells Fargo Championship three times. His latest victory at Emirates Golf Club was surely the most unlikely. McIlroy walked to the 18th tee on Friday trailing Young by 11 shots, only to make birdie, shoot 63 on Saturday to get into the final pairing on Sunday and then wipe out the American’s overnight two-stroke lead after just six holes. McIlroy led by three at the turn after birdies at Nos. 8 and 9 — two of the toughest holes at Emirates Golf Club — but came under some pressure from Meronk, who made four birdies on his back nine. The world No. 2 walked down No. 18 leading by one shot — just like at last week’s Dubai Invitational, when he was beaten by Tommy Fleetwood — but this time he didn’t lose it as he closed with a tap-in par for 14-under par overall. McIlroy made eight pars and a bogey on his back nine, capping what he described as a “very controlled round of golf.”
RORY McIlroy poses with his trophy. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) “I held on as best as I could and thankfully no one around the top of the leaderboard made much of a run.” Meronk (71), recently crowned as the European tour’s player of the year for 2023, was alone in second place and Young was third after shooting 74. Playing in Dubai for the first time, the No. 25-ranked American will regard it as a missed opportunity after playing his first 42 holes in 14 under and the last 30 holes in 1 over. McIlroy broke a tie with South African great Ernie Els, who had also won the event three times, and has started 2024 with a second and first in Dubai — a place he once called home and with which he still has a strong affinity. After all, he has been coming to Emirates Golf Club since 2006, when he was an amateur and remembers walking inside the ropes following Tiger Woods, Els and Thomas Björn.
NICK DUNLAP WITHDRAWS FROM TORREY PINES SAN DIEGO (AP) — Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap has withdrawn from the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines to contemplate his options as the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour. Dunlap, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, won The American Express on Sunday by making a 6-foot par putt on the final hole for a one-shot victory. The victory gives him a PGA Tour card through 2026 whenever he decides to turn pro and join the tour. He would be eligible for seven $20 million signature events this year if he turns pro, along with three majors (and still a chance to play the British Open). He posted a statement on X through the PGA Tour that he would return home to Alabama to be with family, friends and Alabama teammates after a “life changing 24 hours.” Dunlap already has received a sponsor exemption to the Farmers Insurance Open. He became eligible to play at Torrey Pines by winning, meaning the exemption could go to someone else. The next signature event starts Feb. 1 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Dunlap already was in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open from winning the U.S. Amateur last summer. His victory Sunday gets him in the Masters and PGA Championship if he were to turn pro, and he would still be exempt for the U.S. Open. The USGA no longer requires the U.S. Amateur champion to stay amateur.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, PAGE 13
Embiid scores 70 to lead 76ers past Spurs, but Towns’ 62 points come in Wolves loss PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored a franchise-record 70 points, the most in the NBA this season, to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 133-123 victory over the San Antonio Spurs last night. Embiid also set a career high with 18 rebounds. He was 24 of 41 from the field, including 1 of 2 from 3-point range, and made 21 of 23 free throws. He broke Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain’s 76ers record of 68 points, set on Dec. 16, 1967, with a layup with 1:41 to play. Chamberlain was playing for the Philadelphia Warriors when he set the NBA record with 100 points. A six-time All-Star and the league’s reigning MVP, Embiid has scored at least 30 points in 21 consecutive games. The 76ers have won six in a row. Rookie Victor Wembanyama had 33 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes in the first matchup between the 7-footers. The rebuilding Spurs fell to 5-19 on the road. HORNETS 128, TIMBERWOLVES 125 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns
scored a franchise-record 62 points, including 44 in the first half, but Charlotte erased an 18-point deficit and stunned Minnesota. Towns managed just four points on 2-for-10 shooting in the fourth quarter, when the Timberwolves were outscored 36-18. He thought he was fouled on a drive to the basket in the closing seconds and Minnesota trailing by one, then was short on a 3-point attempt on the final possession. Miles Bridges scored 28 points and Brandon Miller had 27 for the Hornets. Leaky Black ripped the ball away from Towns on his way to the basket to preserve the Hornets’ 10th victory of the season. Charlotte went ahead for good at 122-121 on P.J. Washington’s floater with 3:21 remaining. LaMelo Ball added 18 points for the Hornets, who had lost seven of their past eight games and had the Eastern Conference’s third-worst mark entering Monday. CAVALIERS 126, MAGIC 99 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Sam Merrill scored 20 of his 26 points in the first
half, and Cleveland beat Orlando for its eighth straight victory. Donovan Mitchell added 25 points and 13 assists for the Cavaliers, who shot 20 for 38 (53%) from 3-point range. Cleveland never trailed and led by 36 points midway through the fourth quarter. The Cavs’ win streak is one short of the NBA’s longest this season (set by the Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers), and all of it has been accomplished without Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, the team’s second- and thirdleading scorers. Jarrett Allen, who didn’t score until the Cavs had a 21-point lead, set a franchise record with his 12th straight double-double, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds. BUCKS 122, PISTONS 113 DETROIT (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double and Khris Middleton added 26 points as Milwaukee pulled away late and beat Detroit. Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists as the Bucks won for the fifth time in six games.
Brook Lopez finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Marcus Sasser led the Pistons with 23 points, and fellow reserve Isaiah Stewart had 19 points and eight rebounds. Jaden Ivey led the starters with 17 points as Detroit lost to Milwaukee for the second time in three nights. GRIZZLIES 108, RAPTORS 100 TORONTO (AP) — Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 16 of his 27 points in the first quarter, Luke Kennard added a season-high 19 points, and Memphis won its fourth straight north of the border, beating slumping Toronto. Vince Williams Jr. had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Santi Aldama scored 10 points before leaving because of a sore right knee as the short-handed Grizzlies won for the second time in their past six games. Jackson finished with a career-high six steals, all in the first quarter, as the veteran big man wasted no time breaking his previous mark of five. RJ Barrett scored 29 points for Toronto, and
Scottie Barnes had 22 points and 12 rebounds. Immanuel Quickley had 10 assists but shot 3 for 13 and scored eight points as the Raptors lost for the eighth time in 10 games. CELTICS 119, MAVERICKS 110 DALLAS (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 38 points and 11 rebounds, Jaylen Brown scored 35 and Boston beat Dallas. The NBA-leading Celtics were never in much trouble because their All-Star pair was more efficient on the second night of a back-toback than the Dallas duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving after four days off. Tatum and Brown combined to go 24 of 43 from the field while Doncic and Irving were 21 of 50. Doncic didn’t make his first 3-pointer until the fourth quarter and finishing 2 of 8 from beyond the arc. Doncic had a tripledouble with 33 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists. Irving scored 23 coming off an unexpected break when a game at Golden State was postponed following the death of Warriors assistant Dejan Milojevic from a heart attack.
BUDDY
FROM PAGE 16 Indiana used a 11-0 run to take a 105-103 lead on Hield’s 3-pointer with 3:20 left, but Durant responded again, this time with a 3-pointer, and the Suns wouldn’t trail again. Durant made 18 of 25 shots, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, putting together a big scoring night without taking a free throw. “He’s a very unusual problem,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “I thought we fought him hard, had some good possessions on him, but his ability to rise up off the dribble and get complete clearance is special.” Beal hit three baskets in the final 2:11 that were crucial in helping Phoenix keep the lead. Booker shot just 9 of 24 from the field, including 1 of 7 from 3-point range, but had a crucial steal with about 25 seconds remaining to seal it. The Durant-BookerBeal trio had a rough start to the season, mainly because of injuries. Beal missed most of the first
TRAIL Blazers centre Deandre Ayton, left, talks with Pacers guards Tyrese Haliburton, centre, and Buddy Hield, right, before an NBA basketball game on Friday, January 19 in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Trail Blazers won 118-115. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman) few months with back that the team’s in the midst game with the spacing out on 9-of-12 shooting. Indiand ankle injuries while of a five-game winning there.” ana’s Jalen Smith — who Booker and Durant have streak. “It’s the definiThe Suns jumped out was drafted by the Suns in also missed a handful of tion of pick your poison,” to a 33-25 lead after one 2021 and part of the roster games. Booker said. “All of us quarter, shooting 62% that made it to the NBA But for the past few coming in with an aggres- from the field, and held a Finals — had 15 points and weeks, the roster has been sive mindset, it’ll be hard 65-61 advantage at half- four rebounds against his whole. It’s no coincidence to stop us. Especially late time. Durant had 20 points former team.
KLAY THOMPSON FROM PAGE 16
overtimes in its first win as a ranked team. Curtis Jerrells scores a career-high 36 points, including 11 in the fifth overtime to lead No. 25 Baylor to a 116110 win over No. 18 Texas A&M. 2010 — Lindsey Vonn makes it five wins in five downhills this season. Her 30th World Cup victory ties her with Croatia’s Janica Kostelic for eighth place on the career list and nearly halfway to Austrian leader Annemarie Moser-Proell’s 62 wins. 2011 — Francesca Schiavone wins the longest women’s match in Grand Slam history — a 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova that takes 4 hours, 44 minutes at the Australian Open. Schiavone saves six match points, then converts on her third match point in the longest women’s match at a major in terms of time in the Open era. 2011 — Aaron Rodgers runs for a touchdown and makes a saving tackle, B.J. Raji returns an interception for a score and Sam Shields has two interceptions to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 21-14 win over the Chicago Bears in the NFC championship game. The Packers, with road wins in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago, become the first NFC No. 6 seed to advance to the Super Bowl. 2011 — The Pittsburgh Steelers advance to their third Super Bowl in six years with a 24-19 victory over the New York Jets. 2012 — Skylar Diggins matches a season high with 27 points and No. 2 Notre Dame routs No. 7 Tennessee 72-44, holding the Lady Vols to their lowest scoring output in modern school history. 2015 — Klay Thompson sets an NBA record for the most points in a quarter, a 37-point third period that powers the Golden State Warriors to a 126-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Thompson makes all 13 shots and finishes with a career-high 52 points. 2022 - Buffalo wide receiver Gabriel Davis scores an NFL playoff record 4 TDs in the Bills’ epic 42-36 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in their divisional-round playoff at Arrowhead Stadium.
NFL Playoff Guide: How to watch the games and betting favourites By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer THREE of the NFL’s heavyweights have made it to the sport’s championship weekend. Then there are the Detroit Lions — who are one win away from their first Super Bowl appearance. The Lions continued their feel-good run with Sunday’s hard-fought win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, advancing to the NFC championship game. They’ll travel to face the 49ers, who needed a rare fourth quarter comeback to beat the Packers. The Chiefs — along with Patrick Mahomes, Taylor Swift and a bare-chested Jason Kelce — are back in the AFC championship game for an impressive sixth straight season after they earned a narrow victory over the Buffalo Bills. They’ll travel to face the one team that didn’t have much trouble last weekend — the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson. The winners of the AFC and NFC championships
RAVENS wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) celebrates his touchdown catch with quarterback Lamar Jackson on Saturday. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) will play for the Vince to FanDuel Sportsbook. Lombardi Trophy in Las The 49ers are a 6 1/2-point Vegas during Super Bowl favourite over the Lions. As for the Super Bowl 58 on February 11. winner, the oddsmakers HOW TO WATCH still like the top seeds. The SUNDAY No. 3 Chiefs at No. 1 49ers are +145 to win it all while the Ravens are at Ravens, 3 p.m. EST, CBS No. 3 Lions at No. 1 +190. Feel like betting on a 49ers, 6:30 p.m. EST, Fox BETTING FAVOURITES longshot? The closest thing Oddsmakers are expect- left is the Lions, who are ing two decent games this at +700 odds to take home weekend but believe it’ll their first Super Bowl title. And — as always — there be a Ravens-Niners Super are the prop bets. Among Bowl. The Ravens opened as a the options: If you feel like 3 1/2-point favourite over one of the coaches has some the defending Super Bowl trickery up their sleeve, champion Chiefs, according there’s +8500 odds that a
QB will catch a TD pass on championship weekend. If any of the four quarterbacks has a mammoth afternoon and throws for more than 500 yards, those odds would pay +15000. THE FORMAT This is the fourth season of the current NFL playoff format. The field was expanded to 14 teams in 2020 when the league added a third wild-card qualifier from both the AFC and NFC. Wild-card round: Jan. 13-15 Divisional round: Jan. 20-21 Conference championships: Jan. 28 Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium: Feb. 11. The four division winners in each conference automatically get the top four seeds, regardless of record, and then the top three teams with the best record that didn’t win their division are the wild-card selections. That’s why it’s fairly common for a wildcard selection to have a better record — but worse playoff seeding — than a
team that finished as a division winner. The No. 1-seeded team in each conference gets a bye into the second round while No. 2 hosts No. 7, No. 3 hosts No. 6 and No. 4 hosts No. 5 during wildcard weekend.
The NFL has a reseeding policy after each playoff round. That means that no matter how the bracket started, the lowestseeded team will always travel to the higher-seeded team in the AFC and the NFC.
PAGE 14, Tuesday, January 23, 2024
THE TRIBUNE
BAISS MEET
FROM PAGE 16
GOOD EFFORT: The Bahamas’ 12-member women’s national beach soccer team returned from the National Beach Soccer League Fort Lauderdale Pro-Am Open 24 over the weekend with a 2-2 win-loss record.
BEACH SOCCER
FROM PAGE 16 Thompson, Gina Stubbs and Alison Ferguson. The team played their first game on Friday, winning 5-4 over Santa Cruz as Karen Wert scored two goals and Jada Thelamour, Taleah Thompson and Karina Almonor got one each. On Saturday, the team played three games. In their first game, they lost 5-4 to SEVWSA with Wert again scoring twice, while Jada Thelamour and Janeka Edey got one apiece. They got shutout in their third game against
has played a number of tournaments here at home at the National Beach Soccer Stadium and overseas, Adderley said she’s glad that the BFA is putting the emphasis on the women’s programme. “Once we started competing in every tournament we’ve gone to, we’ve seen the improvements,” she stated. “Persons have actually come up to us and indicated to us that this is the best women’s national team from the Bahamas that they have seen play. “So with that being said, with the BFA backing the women going to tournaments to compete just like the men, it just shows that the BFA is giving us the opportunity to get better.”
Unconfirmed reports reaching The Tribune indicated that the BAISS had applied to the National Sports Authority for their meet to take place from February 28-29 and March 1. But it was disclosed that the GSSSA was granted permission to stage their meet on the same dates. According to a source at the meeting, who wishes to remain anonymous, the BAISS was given the dates of March 6-8, but they are opting not to take it because it is only one week away from the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ final CARIFTA trials. “With threats of athletes being injured by running several school events, followed by the CARIFTA trials, the principals are considering cancelling their meet to allow the athletes to prepare for the CARIFTA trials,” the source revealed. “Besides potential injuries, there is also the threat that independent track club coaches will determine which events, if any, their athletes will be allowed to compete in for their respective schools.” The 51st edition of the CARIFTA Games are scheduled for March 30 to April 1 at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in Grenada. In the past, the majority of the athletes selected to the Bahamas team have come from the BAISS.
Beach Soccer LA, but came back in their final game to avenge the defeat to SEVWSA 6-4 score as Karen Wert produced another pair of goals and Janeka Edey, Alicia Telle, Rokesia Sands and Jodei Clarke got one each. Playing out of Group C, the Bahamas finished second. Their loss to Beach Soccer LA dropped them into the consolation round where they regrouped for the win over SEVWSA. “We’ve been working for the past year preparing for the tournament,” Adderley said. “Every year, we continue to get better. Our tournament was in March in Mexico and we saw some things we needed to work on.
“We came home and have been working since March on those things. When we played, we executed everything we were working on. There are still some things we need to work on, but to improve on those things, we need to play more games and in tournaments like this.” Adderley, an executive of the Bahamas Football Association, thanked her fellow members, led by president Anya James, for pushing the women’s national team to the forefront. She noted that with their support, the women’s programme can only flourish. Playing against eight other women’s teams, Adderley said the
competition was stiff with every game played very competitive. “Our ladies played exceptionally well. We had some challenges, but we tried to overcome them,” she noted. “Every game, our first period was always our best, but we struggled with the second and regrouped and played better in the third. “We have to work on executing in the second period. But our first and third periods have been exceptionally good. We go to El Salvador in March, so we hope to continue to prepare for that and we play much better than we did in Florida.” Like the men’s national beach soccer team, which
was proud of the way the young guys played and he would continue to go to war with them. Stars 34, Cougars 29: Luciano Rolle scored 10, Shakai Rolle had nine points and Akeem Hamilton had eight to provide a 1-2-3 punch for Bahamas Academy as their junior boys prevailed to improve their record. “This team has a lot of potential. As long as they stay focused and poised, they could go very far,” said Walkes, who had double coaching duties. “They’re a really good team. We felt the pressure when Charles Saunders made a run, but we were able to hold them off and get the win.”
The Stars opened a comfortable 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and pushed their margin to 23-12 at the half. By the end of the third, they were up 29-18, but in the fourth quarter, the Cougars came roaring back, only to fall short, although they outscored their rivals 13-5. For the Cougars, who dropped to 1-5, Marlon Sargent led the way with 15 points, Denzel Rahming had eight and Isaiah Louis had five. “We are rebuilding. The guys didn’t execute in the first half, but they came back in the second half and executed. I am proud of them. I see a lot of potential in them. We just want everybody to look out for CW Saunders. We are coming.”
PLAY ACTION: The Charles W Saunders Cougars senior boys beat the Bahamas Academy Stars 75-23 in Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools senior boys’ basketball action yesterday. Photos: Moise Amisial
Interested players should e-mail “gtctourbah@gmail. com” to get their registration forms. Insurance Management and the Gym Tennis Club encourages fans and those who want to discover the love of tennis, to come come out, cheer, enjoy and even hit a ball or two.” WALK/RUN RACE NIB Road to 50 The National Insurance Board will hold its Road to 50 Fun Run/Walk Race on Saturday, starting at 6:05am from the NIB headquarters on Baillou Hill Road. The event will start at the headquarters on Baillou Hill Road and travel onto Cumberland Street, onto Marlborough Street, onto West Bay Street, onto Nassau Street, onto Thompson Boulevard, onto University Drive onto the Big Pond Highway and back to the finish line. Registration and package collection will begin at 5:15am and a warm-up
session with Macumbia ‘Comby’ Smith will begin from 5:30am until 6am when the competitors will assemble for the start of the event. Free application forms are available at nibfunrunwalk@nib-bahamas. com SOCCER BFA ACTION The Bahamas Football Association will continue its regular season action Sunday at Roscoe Davies Developmental Centre with the following games on tap: 3pm - Western Warriors vs United Football Club. 3:30pm - Cavaliers vs IM Bears. 5pm - Dynamos vs Inter Island. 5:30pm - Baha Jrs vs Futures Stars BASKETBALL GSSSA ACTION THE Government Secondary Schools Sports Association will be back in action with their basketball regular season this week
with the following games on tap: Tuesday DW Davis Gymnasium, starting at 4pm. Anatol Rodgers vs LW Young junior girls and boys. CI Gibson Gymnasium, starting at 4 pm Anatol Rodgers vs RM Bailey senior girls and boys Wednesday DW Davis Gymnasium, starting at 4 pm HO Nash vs AF Adderley junior girls and boys CI Gibson Gymnasium, starting at 4pm Dame Doris Johnson vs CC Sweeting senior boys. Thursday No games - Junior Junkanoo. Friday CI Gibson Gymnasium, starting at 4 pm CH Reeves vs SC McPherson junior girls and boys. DW Davis Gymnasium, starting at 4 pm CV Bethel vs CR Walker senior girls and boys.
COUGARS FROM PAGE 16
“We have to do a better job of rebounding,” he pointed out. “My bigs need more discipline. We are practicing it, but they’re not bringing it to the game. That is something we will have to polish up. “Our free throw shooting was a problem at the beginning of the season, but we’re getting better there. So if we can rebound a lot better, we will definitely play a lot better.” Ladaian McKenzie had 10, Leroy Gray had eight, Treymon Wright had six, Ramiah Strachan five and Dequan Strachan had four. Anfrenee Walkes, in his first year coaching the Stars, noted that they are now 1-5, but it was a matter of not being at full strength against the more experienced Cougars. “We didn’t take care of the basket. They felt the pressure playing the defending champions,” he said. “But apart from that, we have a really young team, but if we put in the work, we can be a force to reckon with next year. “They don’t see it, but I love them. Look at the ones who are actually crying. It means a lot more to them. They will come back better and stronger next year. I promise you. All of them played juniors last year and this is their first year playing seniors.” Walkes said despite missing their more seasoned players, who were on a workforce programme, he
SPORTS NOTES
FROM PAGE 16 TENNIS Inaugural Valentine’s Doubles Classic Open Invite THIS February, during the season of love, Insurance Management and The Gym Tennis Club of Winton invite tennis players in the country to experience the “love of the game” with their inaugural Valentine’s Doubles Classic Tennis Open Invitational. The tournament will begin on February 10 and tennis players from all around the island will converge at the Gym Tennis Club in Winton to battle it out in a “doubles” only tournament featuring four categories, including: Men’s, Ladies, Over 55, and the always entertaining Mixed Doubles category.
BASKETBALL BAISS ACTION The Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools will continue their regular season action this week with the following games on tap: Tuesday’s schedule, starting at 4pm St Augustine’s College at Temple Christian School; St John’s College sat Bahamas Academy; Nassau Christian School at Queen’s College; Aquinas College at Charles W Saunders; St Andrew’s at Kingsway Academy. Wednesday Senor boys, starting at 4pm St Andrew’s at Nassau Christian Academy; St Anne’s School at Queen’s College; Junior girls, starting at 4pm Charles W Saunders at Queen’s College. Thursday Senior boys, starting at 4pm
St Augustine’s College at Jordan Prince Williams; Bahamas Academy at Temple Christian School; Aquinas College at St Andrew’s School. NPVA ACTION The New Providence Volleyball Association will continue their regular season action this week at the DW Davis Gymnasium with the following games on tap: Wednesday 7:30pm - Spikers vs University of the Bahamas Mingoes (L). 9pm- Panthers vs Lady Warhawks (L) Friday 7:30pm - Lady Techs vs Set-Sy Poppers (L) 9 pm Defenders vs Technicians (M) Sunday 3:30pm - Warhawks vs Intruders (M) 5pm - Panthers vs University of the Bahamas Mingoes.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, PAGE 15
A strategy for success JUST one year into his educational journey at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) and Bryan Dillett is already reaping the rewards of studying Information Technology (IT) Management. He boasts of having achieved several certifications including CompTIA IT Fundamentals and Cisco Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT). “I don’t have a degree as yet, but to have certifications is amazing within itself,” said the 17-year-old who aspires to become a Mechanical Engineer but sees IT as fundamental to his career goals. “I intend to incorporate IT into Engineering. I believe IT and artificial intelligence (AI) go together,” said Bryan. An admirer of Lockheed Martin - an American aerospace, arms, defense, information security and technology corporation - Bryan is being strategic about his studies. “I am a history fanatic and I love the military. It may seem farfetched, but Lockheed Martin
The BTVI Story combines my engineering and IT passions with my love of the military and history,” he stated. Bryan then recounted some of the benefits of his BTVI journey. “At first, there were foreign concepts. My brain was like, ‘Whoa! What is this?’ But I’ve learned about different hard drives and setting up several in a computer in case one fails, I’ve learned about the intricacies of different operating systems, navigating command prompts and how to install various operating systems on one unit,” he stated. Bryan said he is being prepared for a dynamic career by great instructors including Craig Albury, who was BTVI’s 2023 Faculty of the Year (New Providence). Mr. Albury is the Certification Exam Procter in BTVI’s Certification Centre, and he teaches IT and Business
look back on the journey, they will be amazed at how far they have come with a little extra help from instructors. I am just trying to humanize our students and encourage them to be the best they can,” said Mr. Albury. Additionally, it was Bryan’s mother, Shianne Rolle, who introduced him to BTVI. Though he has intrinsic motivation, he partially credits her for his drive. “If God says, ‘Let’s give you a new mother’ and showed me a line up, I would choose my mother every time. She sacrifices so much. It isn’t easy raising four kids. She is a praying mother who anoints us with oil. I want to succeed for me, but also for her,” said the mannerly young man.
BRYAN DILLETT courses. “I have some of the best teachers. Mr Albury is funny and a very good mentor. My first semester I was a bit intimidated, but he made me comfortable. He made me feel included. He felt like a father figure in a sense. I have him again this semester, which makes it even better,” said the young man, who
has a 3.4 cumulative grade point average (GPA). Mr Albury spoke of his role beyond the curriculum. “Treating our students with respect is crucial. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple gesture like a pat on the back or a few encouraging words to let the student know, ‘You can do it.’ When they
“The BTVI Story” is a biweekly column which highlights the who, what and why of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), a tertiary institution where individuals ‘Discover the Possibilities’ related to various trades. The column is produced by BTVI’s Office of Public Relations.
HOTLINE LAUNCHED Mentor scheme launched TO TACKLE TRUANCY By FAY SIMMONS jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Education and Technical Vocation launched a school attendance hotline to combat truancy among students. The public was encouraged to assist the Ministry in identifying students that are absent or extremely late for school. The Ministry has also
introduced attendance officers and conducted walkabouts to increase school attendance rates. The number for the hotline is 42-CHILD or 422-4453 and will be operated from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday and will respond to messages left after hours during operation times.
Student Spotlight
DAKODA Ashe is a sixth-grade honour roll student at St Anne’s School. Dakoda enjoys playing sports and participates in track and field and swimming. She also volunteers with the annual Salvation Army Christmas Bell-ringing fundraisers, Matthew’s Angel of Hope which visits and donates to the Princess Margaret Hospital and other programmes. Dakota is an active member of her church and writes poetry and short stories in her spare time. • Do you know a student you’d like to nominate to feature in Student Spotlight? Email details to jsimmons@ tribunemedia.net and celebrate our next generation.
ST MATTHEW’S Anglican Church launched a mentorship programme for youth in the church and the Free Town area last weekend. The programme is named Prepare, Refocus, Educate and Produce or P.R.E.P. the next step and is open to students from age 13 – 18. Father Scott Jepp, director of the programme said that P.R.E.P. strives to engage and empower young persons that may fall victim to negative influences. “We’re aiming to pool resources to engage young people within St. Matthews Church and the wider community it serves to help propel them into the next transformative phase of their life. We want to reach out to the youth that sometimes seem to be forgotten in the community”, he said. The programme will feature lectures from diverse speakers, activities,
FATHER Scott Jupp during the launch of the P.R.E.P. Mentorship Programme at St Matthew’s Church. Photos: Dante Carrer group work, tutoring and job opportunities for participants. Fr Jebb said that the launch was received well by the community and that mentorship programmes like P.R.E.P. can have a positive influence on today’s youth. He said: “We had a good
response with a combination of young people, parents, sponsors, mentors and teachers.” Interested individuals are encouraged to reach out to St Matthew’s Anglican Church for further information on how to partner, contribute, sponsor, donate, teach or mentor.
AN AUTHOR AT THE AGE OF 11 LAVARIA Storr, head girl at Low Sound Primary School, Andros, has published her first novel “A Quilt Called Life” about the challenges that she has faced and the ways that she overcame them. The 11-year-old author also created a “Reading in the Park” initiative, with the assistance of the US Embassy, to provide a monthly all access mobile library for students in Lowe Sound. Lavaria’s book is currently on sale on Amazon.
LAVARIA Storr presents her book to Minister of Education Glenys Hanna Martin.
SPORTS PAGE 16
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024
Cougars senior boys destroy Stars, 75-23 By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
T
he Charles W Saunders Cougars showed the Bahamas Academy Stars why they are the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools defending senior boys’ basketball champions. Charles W Saunders rode into Bahamas Academy on Monday and left with a 75-23 win. But the Stars junior boys’ team avoided a double dose of defeat by beating the Cougars 34-29 in a late game played also at Bahamas Academy. Cougars 75, Stars 23: Raymond Woods exploded for a game high 32 points and Charles W Saunders stayed undefeated in seven games to remain on top of the senior boys’ standings. “Right now, the main thing for me is execution with my team,” said
Cougars coach Dario Seymour. “At the same time, being undefeated, you can get a little ahead of yourself. “But I need to keep them humble and allow them to take every game and every play seriously, no matter the competition. At some point in the season, we will meet some tougher teams and we have to be prepared for them.” The Cougars put up some big scoring quarters with a 20-5 spurt in the first quarter to set the tone for the rest of the game. They used a 23-9 run in the second to post a 43-14 halftime advantage. Then in the third, they outscored the Stars 14-7 and closed it out with a 19-2 surge in the fourth to seal the deal. But Seymour said they can’t be satisfied with the victory because he knows they were not clicking on all cylinders.
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PHOENIX (AP) — The Big 3 is starting to become a reality for the Phoenix Suns. Now the wins are beginning to follow. Kevin Durant scored 40 points, Devin Booker had 26 and the Suns beat the Indiana Pacers 117-110 on Sunday night for their fifth straight victory. Bradley Beal added 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting for Phoenix, which led for most of the night and took a 91-83 advantage into the fourth quarter. It’s the second straight game that the All-Star trio of Durant, Booker and Beal has combined for 91 points. “I felt like they played us straight up,” Durant said. “And when teams
do that, we’re going to be aggressive.” The Pacers made a few runs early in the final period, but Durant seemed to thwart every rally with another mid-range basket. The 35-year-old star made his first five shots of the fourth quarter. Indiana has lost four of five. Chavano “Buddy” Hield led the Pacers with 18 points, and Pascal Siakam — acquired this week from Toronto — had 15 points and seven assists. Hield also contributed four rebounds, three assists and a steal. All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton sat out for the sixth time in seven games because of a left hamstring strain.
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ON THE REPLAY: The Charles W Saunders Cougars senior boys beat the Bahamas Academy Stars 75-23 in Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools senior boys’ basketball action yesterday. Photo: Moise Amisial
THE Bahamas’ 12-member women’s national beach soccer team returned from the National Beach Soccer League Fort Lauderdale Pro-Am Open 24 over the weekend. Even though the team finished with a 2-2 winloss record, losing in the consolation round, head coach Daria Adderley said she was quite pleased with their performances as they were able to show some improvement since they last competed in 2023. Along with Adderley were assistant coach Lashane Dean and team manager Ariell Rolle. The players were Lashane Dean, Ariell Rolle, Karen Wert, Jodei Clarke, Janeka Edey, Alicia Telle, Rokesia Sands, Jada Thelamour, Jade Thelamour, Christabelle Izevbizua, Taleah
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BAISS INTERSCHOOL TRACK & FIELD MEET COULD BE POSTPONED By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
CHAVANO “Buddy” Hield, of The Bahamas, led the Pacers with 18 points against the Suns on Sunday night. Indiana lost 117-110. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
SPORTS CALENDAR
Jan. 2024
Bernard Nottage 5K Fun Run/Walk Race on Saturday, starting at 6am from the Southern Recreation Grounds. The dual event is free of charge. The first three finishers in each category will get trophies and each participant to cross the finish line will get a medal. Portia Nottage, the wife of the late Dr. Nottage, will be on hand to distribute the awards. Competitors will travel from the Southern Recreation Grounds and head onto Cockburn Street, west onto Blue Hill Road, north to Dillet Street, west onto Meeting Street onto Nassau Street to West Bay Street, east onto Market Street and south back to the South Recreation Grounds. Wayde Watson is the Member of Parliament for Bain & Grants Town and Sean Bastian is the race coordinator.
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THERE’S a possibility that the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools may have to either delay or postpone their inter-school track and field meet this year. At the BAISS meet on Monday for the principals, it was being recommended that the meet be cancelled because of conflicting dates with the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association.
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TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: KLAY THOMPSON SETS AN NBA RECORD FOR THE MOST POINTS IN A QUARTER WITH 37 By The Associated Press
BASKETBALL TEAM RANKINGS OSSIE ‘The Sports Insider’ Simmons released his long-awaited National High School Top 10 basketball rankings for the senior boys and top five for the senior girls for 2024. Senior girls 1. CV Bethel. 2. CI Gibson. 3. St Augustine’s College. 4. St George’s (Grand Bahama). 5. CR Walker. Senior boys Sunland (Grand Bahama). 2. CI Gibson, 3. Tabernacle Baptist (Grand Bahama). 4. St George’s (Grand Bahama). 5. Anatol Rodgers. 6. CC Sweeting. 7. Charles W. Saunders. 8. CR Walker. 9. CV Bethel. 10. Kingsway Academy. WALK/RUN RACE Bain & Grants Town The Bain & Grants Town Constituency will hold its fourth annual Dr
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BEACH SOCCER TEAM HOME By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
Buddy Hield scores 18 in loss to Suns By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer
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JANUARY 23 1944 — The Detroit Red Wings defeat the New York Rangers 15-0 to set an NHL record for consecutive goals. 1959 — In the NBA All-Star game in Detroit, St. Louis’ Bob Pettit and Elgin Baylor of Minneapolis become the first co-winners of the MVP award, leading the West to a 124-108 victory. 1979 — Willie Mays is named on 409 of 432 ballots and elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. 1980 — George Gervin of San Antonio scores 55 points in a 144-130 victory over the Indiana Pacers. 1987 — Hana Mandlikova upsets Martina
KLAY THOMPSON Navratilova 7-5, 7-6 to win the Australian Open. 1988 — Steffi Graf wins the Australian Open with a 6-1, 7-6 victory over Chris Evert. 1993 — Mike Gartner of the New York Rangers sets an NHL record when
he reaches 30 goals for the 14th consecutive season. Gartner, with three goals in the Rangers’ 8-3 victory over Los Angeles, surpasses Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull and Wayne Gretzky. 2001 — Sam Cassell scores 22 points and the Bucks hit a franchise record 14 3-pointers to beat the Knicks 105-91 and snap New York’s NBArecord 33-game streak of holding opponents to under 100 points. 2005 — Jennifer Rodriguez becomes the first American woman in nine years to win the World Sprint Speedskating Championship. 2008 — Baylor, which waited 39 years to get back into the Top 25, plays five
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