woman & health
The Tribune
PM seeks consensus on Marital raPe law
‘That was then’ says Davis over cannabis and gaming legislation
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis stressed yesterday that he wants “consensus” to criminalise marital rape and to understand what a cross-section of Bahamians want on the issue, “not just one group”. Critics have noted that successive administrations have changed laws
on divisive issues without requiring consensus. The Christie administration regularised the gaming industry even after a referendum in which most voters opposed it, and the Davis administration changed the cannabis regime despite opposition from some in the religious community.
“That was then; this is now, and my position is
‘CARICOM wOuld nOt engAge In tensIOns between us A nd ChIn A’
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip
The letter suggested that the meeting could enhance the United States’ commitment to diplomatic, energy, economic, and security ties with Caribbean partners,
“Brave” Davis said CARICOM would not engage in geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, responding to a letter from US lawmakers urging the State Department to send a high-level delegation to the upcoming CARICOM Heads of Government meeting to help thwart “coercion” from China.
No trouble - but ‘one or two issues’ were addressed with Pike Electrical
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis denied that trouble is brewing between the government and
partners involved in transforming Bahamas Power and Light, saying “there were no challenges” though “one or two issues” have been addressed. His comment came almost two weeks after
Anthony Ferguson, a BPL board member, denied that Pike Electrical, which is supplying the manpower, materials and expertise to upgrade BPL’s transmission
ChRIst Ie b AC k f OR uR b A n RenewA l RO le
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie will guide and direct the Urban Renewal Authority and its programme, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced yesterday.
“My invitation to him is in recognition of the fact that the programme was birthed by him,” he added.
“There is no one better suited to ensure its effectiveness and success.” His comment came when officials gathered to launch the Urban Renewal Authority, a move he said is a “landmark achievement” that would allow it to be more “efficient, accountable and transparent” through its new status
Detective Corporal Donald Wright was
uled
but
500,000 breakfasts served
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
THE Davis administration is celebrating a milestone of 500,000 breakfasts served since the launch of the National School Breakfast Pilot Programme (NSBPP) in October 2023.
The initiative provides free breakfast to students nationwide.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis served breakfast to students at Yellow Elder Primary School yesterday. The children patiently lined up to receive plates of yellow grits with tuna salad, apples, oranges, and juice. As he handed out meals, Mr Davis chatted and smiled with the students.
The $1m programme was initially launched in New Providence at four primary schools and expanded to four Family Island schools in November 2023. In August 2024, education officials announced further expansion, including Yellow Elder Primary and four additional schools in New Providence.
Vice principal Nakisha Burrows told reporters the programme has contributed to incremental improvements in student academic performance. She believes nutritious meals fuel a child with the energy to focus and participate in the classroom.
Free breakfast is served three days a week, and all 455 students at Yellow Elder Primary can participate as needed. However, when asked whether attendance had improved since the programme’s introduction, she said she had not seen a significant improvement in attendance.
“We see a significant increase in our academic performance,” she said. “We have been incrementally getting better each year because we set a goal every year to increase by five percent, and we have been surpassing that. I can say that it is in part due to the breakfast programme.”
Acting District Superintendent of the Western New Providence Primary District Jermaine Butler highlighted how the programme benefits parents who struggle to prepare breakfast due to time constraints on busy mornings. He said the initiative helps ensure students arrive at school on time rather than stopping to buy breakfast beforehand.
Currently, the breakfast programme operates in 90 schools nationwide, including primary, allage, and comprehensive schools. Officials said that 100 vendors had been hired for the programme.
The programme, in its initial stages, faced criticism on social media after images of some meals were circulated, with some comparing them to “jail food”, prompting pushback from government officials.
Minister of Education Glenys Hanna Martin has repeatedly celebrated the programme’s positive effects as one of the strategies used to promote student attendance and punctuality. In August 2024, she said participant schools in New Providence student attendance at the time had increased by 3.9 percent during the initial months of the programme. Family Island schools recorded an increase of 7.2 percent in attendance.
Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis serves students during a visit to Yellow Elder Primary School yesterday as the National School Breakfast Program celebrates over 500,000 meals served.
Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
PM seeks consensus on marital rape law
that I want consensus,” Mr Davis said yesterday, contrasting how he wants to handle the marital rape issue with the Progressive Liberal Party’s actions on gaming.
“This is a very divisive matter,” he added. “You have arguments on both sides.”
“I will touch it once I get a full understanding of what Bahamians as a whole want and not just one group, one group on either side of the divide. I want to have some consensus as to what has to happen before we move forward.”
In 2022, the Davis administration presented a simple solution for criminalising marital rape, proposing to change the definition of rape in the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act by removing the words “who is not his spouse”.
However, Attorney General Ryan Pinder revealed earlier this month that the administration does not expect to introduce the legislation before the end of its term to criminalise marital rape, suggesting that every administration has grappled with political calculations concerning the issue.
Although the discussion about criminalising marital rape centres around the definition of rape in law, Mr Davis repeatedly questioned why people are using the words “marital rape”.
“In so far as rape is concerned, you don’t describe it,” he said. “Why you want to describe rape? Rape is rape. Marital is descriptive. We all lament and abhor any man who would inflict violence on his wife, and rape is an act of violence. There are laws to deal with it in a particular way. In so far as I said, we do not need to what I call describe rape. When you start describing rape,
you then get into more legal issues.”
Mr Davis also said he invites critics to examine the Protection Against Violence Act to see how the government has addressed issues relating to violence against women. That law does not address rape in a marriage, and government officials have not been forthcoming about the establishment of the Protection Against Violence Commission, which would play a critical role in accomplishing the law’s objectives.
The Tribune’s months-long search for updates on the commission’s status has been fruitless.
“Hopefully, the government is finally looking to address the Protection Against Violence Act and that we will have an authority,” Bahamas Crisis Centre director Dr Sandra Dean Patterson said yesterday, adding the authority is needed to “bring everyone together”.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event launching the Urban Renewal Authority, Dr Dean-Patterson called on the administration to reconsider its stance on criminalising marital rape. However, she acknowledged that the word “marital” creates confusion for some.
“We’re talking violence, we’re talking about savagery, we’re talking about hurt and pain and that no one should have to live in that situation,” she said.
Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard reiterated yesterday that he believes there should be legal consequences for people who commit rape in a marriage.
“While the Progressive Liberal Party cowers in fear of losing votes, the FNM is not afraid to address this issue with the seriousness victims deserve,” he said.
‘CARICOM would not engage in tensions between US and China’
emphasising the need for US engagement to counter China’s influence.
“CARICOM is not going to get involved in the geopolitical issues between superpowers,”
Mr Davis told reporters yesterday. “We have always taken the vision of being non-aligned and respecting those matters.”
Mr Davis noted that when he chaired CARICOM in February 2023, a US delegation of more than 60 people attended, making their presence and influence felt. He said numerous promises were made, and bilateral discussions took place, adding that work must be done to build upon that initial engagement.
For his part, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said in a statement yesterday that the country’s relations with China are based on mutual respect and the investments in The Bahamas are on purely commercial terms, adding there is “no ideological quid pro quo”.
“We are not involved, nor do we see ourselves as engaged in or part of any ideological war or geopolitical brinksmanship,” he said. “To state the obvious, we are 50 miles off the coast of the United States with an importbased economy, where, for example, 90 percent of the food we eat is sourced by the United States.
“We have significant cultural and family ties with the people of the United States. Almost every Bahamian has a family member who is American. We have diplomatic relations with China just as the United States does. We do not interfere in China’s internal affairs and they do not interfere with ours.”
“There is no evidence to support the view that this country is being used as a platform by China to attack the United States. We would not be party to any such effort.”
He expressed the government’s commitment to the “One China” policy, adopted in 1997 to recognise Taiwan as a part of
China rather than an independent state.
Mr Mitchell said The Bahamas welcomes all legitimate investments, which undergo thorough scrutiny to ensure they benefit the Bahamian people and align with regional security interests. He said the government is actively seeking affordable funding for infrastructure projects and is open to US investment if available, with a list of vetted projects ready for financing.
The letter from US lawmakers was signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Congressman Gregory W Meeks, Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke, Congresswoman Stacey E Plaskett, and Ranking Member Stacey E Plaskett Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Congressman Joaquin Castro.
US Charge d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish had previously called on The Bahamas to begin “reducing Chinese influence” and work with regional partners to ensure “mutual economic growth”.
Death Notice for
of Paradise Island, The Bahamas, who died at his daughter residence on Friday 14th February, 2025 will be held at Ebenezer Methodist Church, East Shirley Street, Nassau, on Thursday 20th February, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Reverend Milton Lightbourne will officiate and interment will follow in Ebenezer Methodist cemetery, East Shirley Street, Nassau.
He was predeceased by his wife, Rose-Marie Moree; siblings, Arnold Moree, Harry Moree and Jeanette Leeder and his parents, Eliza Rebecca and Eric Arnold Moree.
He is survived by his son, Jody A. Moree; daughter, Kelli-Beth Redman, grandsons, Alexander Redman and Jack Alexander Moree II; granddaughters, Desiree-Rose Jacobson, Ashley Roberts and Megan Moree, sister, Addie Callender; son-in-law, Gregg Redman; daughter-in-law, Lillian Marie Moree; grandsons-in-law, Darren Roberts and Scott Jacobsob; brother-in-law, Bradley Callender; sisters-in-law, Suzanne Denhart and Nina Moree; great-grands, Candence, Cassidee, Caleigh, Zachary, Quinten Jacobson, Sofia and Saria Roberts and many other relatives and close friends including Roberts and Darnell Darville, Marc and Krystal Serfontein, Kimberly Darville, Carlos Lopez, Gigi Pinder, Denise Roberts, Tony Moree, Justin Leeder, Charlotte Leeder, Matthew Moree and Katie, Sean, Stephan and Megan Callender, Marlena Mayhew, Preston, Myles, Barry Russell and Pat Russell.
THERE WILL BE NO VIEWING.
The family request all who wish to attend to wear Bright Colours.
Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.
one
Prime minister PhiliP ‘Brave’ Davis
Foreign aFFairs minister FreD mitchell
Judge cautioned jurors to remain
and ‘cold’ during the trial of Gibson and others
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A JUDGE cautioned jurors in the criminal trial of Adrian Gibson and others to remain impartial yesterday after the lead defence attorney, Damian Gomez, KC, raised concerns over their quiet, seemingly unprovoked laughter as the lengthy trial continued.
Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson reminded jurors to remain “dispassionate” and “cold”, noting their thoughts should not be reflected in their expressions.
She said she was not suggesting that jurors’ thoughts were obvious but emphasised that even private jokes should not be apparent.
Her remarks followed murmurs from the jury during Mr Gomez’s crossexamination, with some jurors occasionally laughing and covering their mouths.
Mr Gomez told the judge he was unsure what the “comedy” was about and called on her to address the matter.
Cross-examination of Water and Sewerage Corporation general manager Robert Deal continued yesterday concerning
WSC policies, a past audit, and previous communications between WSC officials.
Mr Deal confirmed that he had previously served as deputy general manager for several years. He acknowledged that he was generally copied on communications between the ministry and the general manager.
When Mr Gomez suggested that the corporation’s board of directors issued no Cabinet papers during Mr Gibson’s tenure, Mr Deal denied the claim, adding: “I think they were.”
When asked if he had checked the records to verify, Mr Deal said he had reviewed Cabinet conclusions he had testified about earlier but admitted he had not conducted an exhaustive review of all Cabinet papers from August 2017 to September 2021
Mr Gomez also inquired if Mr Deal recalled reviewing multiple contract awards during that period, to which Mr Deal confirmed. He then asked whether many of these contracts were awarded after 2017, and Mr Deal acknowledged that they were.
Mr Gomez pointed out that when the government needed to borrow funds
for specific purposes, a Cabinet paper and a corresponding Cabinet conclusion were required.
Mr Deal agreed with this statement.
Mr Gomez then asked if contracts related to such borrowing were handled differently from those financed directly by the public treasury.
Mr Deal responded that they were not treated differently.
Mr Gibson, the MP for Long Island, has been on trial since November 2023 alongside former WSC general manager Elwood Donaldson, Jr, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson, and Jerome Missick.
The charges stem from contracts awarded by the corporation while Mr Gibson served as WSC executive chairman.
About ten prosecution witnesses remain to testify in the case.
The defence team includes Mr Gomez, KC, Murrio Ducille, KC, Geoffrey Farquharson, Ian Cargill, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, and Raphael Moxey.
Meanwhile, the Crown’s legal team comprises the Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean, and Rashied Edgecombe.
UB and the Public Managers Union sign new four-year industrial agreement
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
THE University of the Bahamas and the Public Managers Union (PMU) signed a new four-year industrial agreement yesterday on behalf of middle managers.
The agreement will be effective from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029.
Key details of the agreement include overtime compensation and financial increments upon promotions; insurance premium reductions from 40 percent to 30 percent; $6,000 professional leave coverage for airfare, transportation and per diem; and new compensation for middle managers who complete doctoral degrees.
PMU president Leslie Munnings said only one page out of 40 pertains to increases in annual salaries, but the agreement indicates the success of the two institutions “is based on much more than money”.
He said that the agreement “comprehensively outlines” how the union and UB officials should communicate on matters affecting union members or the university’s operations, as well as balancing measurable productivity with reward.
This sentiment was shared by PMU acting secretary general and director of financial aid and scholarships at UB Antona Curry, who hailed the agreement as “a positive shift for the middle management bargaining unit”.
Acting UB president Janyne Hodder admitted that though negotiations were “spirited and frank”, discussions were carried
out professionally with “mutual respect and a clear focus and appreciation for what is best for the institution”.
Chair of UB’s Board of Trustees, Allyson Maynard-Gibson, KC, emphasised that the new industrial agreement is a crucial step in the university’s accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NEACOB).
UB has pursued national and international accreditation to enhance its academic standards and global recognition.
In August 2024, UB submitted its candidacy applications to the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in the United States. Accreditation is expected to facilitate student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and enhance the overall quality of education at UB.
The process involves comprehensive reviews of programmes, policies, practices, and procedures to foster a culture of continuous quality assessment and improvement.
The Bahamian government has demonstrated support for UB’s accreditation efforts, with Prime Minister Philip Davis announcing a planned $12m investment during the 2024/25 Budget Debate to support the university’s initiatives.
AdriAn Gibson
Univeristy of the bAhAmAs oAkes field CAmpUs
No trouble - but ‘one or two issues’ were addressed with Pike Electrical
and distribution network, had temporarily paused its work as it waits for agreements to be concluded.
“Everything is still a go,” Mr Davis told reporters yesterday, adding that officials are working to ensure all sides follow the transition agreement.
“There’s just been some questions raised, but that is now resolved,” he said.
Mr Davis said the government has signed off on everything related to Pike’s involvement, with outstanding issues related to the transition. He said he expects the transition to finish in the coming months.
The Davis administration is transferring New Providence’s energy grid to Bahamas Grid Company, a special purpose vehicle 60 percent majority-owned by undisclosed private investors.
The government has finalised a 25-year agreement with Pike Corporation, via its Bahamian subsidiary Island Grid Solutions, to oversee the upgrade and management of Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) transmission and distribution network.
As part of a joint venture, the government will hold a 40 percent stake in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) named Bahamas Grid Company, with Island Grid Solutions retaining the remaining 60 percent. BPL will contribute its New Providence transmission and distribution assets, valued at $100m, to the SPV in return for a 40 percent ownership stake. Meanwhile, Island Grid Solutions, acting as the T&D manager, will raise $130m from private investors to fund the project, securing the remaining 60 percent share in the SPV.
Christie back for Urban Renewal role
as an independent statutory body.
“The ability to mobilise both private and public funding will make the new Urban Renewal Authority more financially sustainable, and more impactful, than ever before,” he said.
“And that is something to celebrate.”
It was unclear whether Mr Christie would take on an official, salaried role with the authority. Last year, lawmakers passed legislation establishing the authority, empowering it to organise Urban Renewal centres, manage community projects — including clubs, training programmes, and educational initiatives — oversee funds, and acquire or dispose of property.
The authority will be
governed by a board of directors consisting of two co-chairpersons appointed by the minister, a managing director, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry responsible for Urban Renewal, and between five and eight additional members representing civil society organisations, also appointed by the minister.
The board will have the power to establish committees, manage contracts, grant loans for community projects and minor home repairs, and identify and report dangerous or dilapidated buildings to the minister. All people currently serving in the Urban Renewal Commission will be transferred to the authority, with their consent, for one year, pending their acceptance
or refusal of permanent employment with the authority.
Transferred people will receive remuneration on terms no less favourable than those in the Urban Renewal Commission.
Former FNM Cabinet minister Algernon Allen and Dr Dianna Francis, chairs of the commission, will continue as co-chairs of the authority.
Yesterday, Mr Davis discussed the origins of Urban Renewal as a programme birthed by the first Christie administration to address the crime issue that began raging in inner-city communities.
“It was a ray of hope and replenishment then, and it continues to be one of the most effective, results-driven tools in this government’s arsenal,” he said.
Harbour Island All-Age School students share talents at National Arts Festival
Former Prime minister Perry Christie
Prime minister PhiliP ‘Brave’ Davis
harBour Island All-Age School students Mara Augustin and Angel Dean sang gospel songs, while Camyra Curtis performed a monologue and Sandiana Baptiste sang while playing the keyboard, during the E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Adjudications, on February 12, 2025, at the Lighthouse Church of God.
Photos: eric rose/BIS
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
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Why is the PM still seeking other views?
IF you were holding out any hope that this administration will do anything with regard to legislation to stop marital rape, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis gave little encouragement yesterday.
Shortly after his Attorney General, Ryan Pinder, signalled that the Davis administration does not expect to introduce any such legislation before the end of its term, activists went as far as calling the prime minister spineless.
Attorney Marion Bethel said she was incensed by Mr Pinder’s comments, saying it reflected a broader disregard for the safety and rights of women. Equality Bahamas director Alicia Wallace accused the government of siding with rapists over survivors, calling the government “incompetent” and saying it “does not deserve anyone’s votes”.
When asked to speak on the issue yesterday, how did Mr Davis respond? By saying he wants “consensus” on the issue and wants to understand what a cross-section of Bahamians want on the issue, “not just one group”.
He said: “This is a very divisive matter. You have arguments on both sides.”
Perhaps that is true, but only one of those sides is being raped.
Mr Davis went on: “I will touch it once I get a full understanding of what Bahamians as a whole want and not just one group, one group on either side of the divide. I want to have some consensus as to what has to happen before we move forward.”
Mr Davis has been in office long enough now to have gained that understanding – not to have done so shows a lack of willingness to tackle the issue.
And let us be clear – lack of action remains a form of action. By not siding with the group that seeks to criminalise the behaviour when someone is raped by a spouse, it is siding with the group that does not want that behaviour criminalised. It is a deliberate choice.
It is also a choice not to abide by the international agreements The Bahamas has made when it comes to ensuring equality for women.
It is also a choice not to abide by the promises in his own Blueprint for Change offering pledges
to voters ahead of the election that brought him to office. That document pledges that a hallmark of his administration would be “equality for all Bahamians”. Not if you’re married, apparently. It also promised to provide “gender equality and empowerment for women and girls”. Little empowerment on show in this debate.
That comment in the blueprint referred to a promise to be committed to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, one of which (Goal 5) includes eliminating all forms of violence against all women and girls. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) had identified the Sexual Offences Act as an area of discrimination –specifically the section that defines rape, with its clause of “who is not their spouse”.
The debate over marital rape is not new. It has been covered extensively and exhaustively both at home and internationally. In the international arena, The Bahamas has acknowledge and promised to tackle the issues.
How then is the prime minister still seeking other views?
Meanwhile, the FNM leader, Michael Pintard, yesterday restated his view that there should be legal consequences for those who commit rape in a marriage. He said: “While the Progressive Liberal Party cowers in fear of losing votes, the FNM is not afraid to address this issue with the seriousness victims deserve.”
Whichever side of the debate you might fall in, it appears that there is a clear choice between the parties on this issue.
As the clock ticks toward election, the FNM is saying there should be legal consequences, while the PLP vacillates and talks of finding a consensus that will never be reached.
Meanwhile, others note that in industries where money was on the table, gaming and cannabis, there was no need to find any such consensus.
Mr Davis has made clear his lack of will to tackle the issue – despite his party’s own previous promises. That is an election gamble – but in the meantime, those who are actual victims will continue to lack legal protection. The electoral cost is as nothing to the real cost of those suffering without justice.
EDITOR, The Tribune.
PLEASE permit me to share my concerns before the Space X landing. Timelines seem very short. Many environmental professional colleagues and I found out just this past week (February 13) that Elon Musk’s Falcon nine first-stage booster will be landing on a drone ship this month (February 18) with 20 more landings planned for this year. Minister Cooper presented the events as a potential booster for our tourism product. This is less than a month after SpaceX debris fell in Turks and Caicos on January 17th. They had to divert air traffic and have concerns over the potential for hazardous chemicals in the debris.
This is certainly a powerful launch pad for
Handing keys to the unknown No faith in sale of Lucayan
EDITOR, The Tribune.
AM I confident in Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis’ statement that a deal to sell the Grand Lucayan Resort is in the final stages? Remember, Grand Bahamians have been let down twice since March 2019, when the former Free National Movement government announced that there was a deal on the table to sell the beleaguered property to Royal Caribbean and the ITM Group. Three years later, in May 2022, it was announced that Electra America Hospitality Group was set to purchase the resort for $100m. Both deals fell through. An insurance executive at the Grand Bahama Business Outlook conclave said that significant remediation work on the Breaker’s Cay and Sheraton will have to be done. Both properties have been in a state of deterioration since October 2016 after
Bahamian tourism and investment, but is the risk properly measured? How many pounds of rocket fuel and other chemicals will enter the fishing grounds of The Exumas? Discussions surrounding the security of the mission include keeping people out of a 10 to 20 mile swath of ocean. Is five days enough time for fishermen, tour operators, ferries, and aircraft to rearrange their paths and plans? In the event of a disaster, where does the help come from?
As we consider tourism benefits, have we considered the disaster tourism potential for
visiting scientists studying the impacts of space waste on our oldest marine and terrestrial national park in the country and possibly the world? Considering SpaceX’s gross earnings on a US launch according to SpaceInsider are around 30 million dollars, is a one million dollar donation an appropriate market value? Who foots the bill for the RBDF mobilisation and is there a restoration clause in the Environmental Assessment? The Department of Environmental Planning and Protection page is back, but the EIA is not there. It seems we may be handing over the Cays without really knowing the driver.
ANCILLENO DAVIS, PHD Nassau, February 16, 2025.
undergoing significant damage from Hurricane Matthew. That’s nine years ago. At this point I am inclined to believe that the Grand Lucayan Resort will become the next Royal Oasis Resort 2.0. In late January I had the opportunity to visit Baha Mar on Cable Beach. I was thoroughly impressed with the $1.6 billion five star resort. It is worth noting that Baha Mar has announced that it will invest in a brand new luxury hotel at a cost of $350m. I have no reason to doubt that this investment will come to fruition, unlike the many broken promises to the people of Grand Bahama. While at Baha Mar the writer had the opportunity to see the Katsuya, Cinkō, Pizza Lab, Regatta Buffet, The Swimming Pig, Stix Noodle Bar and The Sugar Factory restaurants. Baha Mar has more restaurants than Port Lucaya. The Baha Mar
property is breathtakingly beautiful.
I have told some Grand Bahamians that that Cable Beach resort makes Port Lucaya and Grand Lucayan Resort look like ghettos in comparison. The tourism product on Cable Beach and Nassau is always being enhanced in an effort to remain on the cutting edge of the industry. Conversely, what we see at Port Lucaya is pretty much the same product I witnessed for the first time 32-years-ago when I first visited Port Lucaya. I have opined in the past in this space that Freeport needs at least two massive investments in tourism on the scale of Baha Mar in order to get back to being the socalled Magic City. Baha Mar is all that the Grand Lucayan should be.
KEVIN EVANS
Freeport, Grand Bahama February 16, 2025.
Picture of the day
Family finds comfort in photos and each other months after father drowned
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
SIX months after her father drowned at Dean’s Blue Hole, Nakita Headley still looks at his photos, searching for comfort in his familiar smile, knowing his body remains unrecovered 600 feet below the ocean’s surface.
Douglas McHardy, 50, drowned at the popular Long Island site in August 2024, just hours after attending his mother-inlaw’s funeral. His family had gone to a local restaurant before heading to the beach near Dean’s Blue Hole, unaware that tragedy was about to strike. Despite their prayers for a miracle, his body was discovered days later by an unmanned submersible drone, too deep to be recovered.
Mrs Headley said life without her father has been difficult, but she and her siblings have leaned on each other for strength while supporting their
Judge
grieving mother, who was married to Mr McHardy for 26 years. To keep his memory alive, she surrounds herself with his photos, holding onto the little things that make him feel close.
“I have one that’s sitting right on my dining table that I look at when I eat,” she said. “I know it sounds weird, but it’s comforting.”
Mrs Headley said she often looks at old photos, videos, and items that remind her of her father, finding comfort in having his pictures around her home.
“I have one that’s sitting right on my dining table that I look at when I eat,” she said. “I know it sounds weird, but it’s comforting.”
“I just wore his shirt the other day.”
Though the family couldn’t hold a traditional funeral, they honored Mr McHardy with a memorial at Junky Landing, Deadman’s Cay. Later, they visited Dean’s Blue Hole, where they released white
and blue roses into the water. A plaque was also placed near the site, featuring images of the things he loved most — his family, his tractor, and his music.
“He never wanted the typical funeral where you bury the casket. He always was someone who wanted to be cremated and spread his ashes in the ocean. In a way, I mean, he kind of got his wishes,” she said emotionally.
Mrs Headley said she holds no resentment towards Dean’s Blue Hole but believes there should be more safety guidelines for swimmers. Despite her pain, she takes comfort in knowing that the ocean — one of her father’s greatest loves — is now his final resting place.
Asked about her grieving process, she said she has both good and bad days but constantly thinks about her father. Some days, she shares stories of his lively personality or posts pictures of him online to keep his memory alive.
calls officer’s court absence ‘problematic’
Justice Charles was informed by defence attorney K Melvin Munroe that Wright is expected to appear before Justice Gregory Hilton for arraignment on March 7. Justice Charles said a trial date for both
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of killing Kenneth Neilly on East Street South earlier this month.
Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley arraigned Cedler Ariste, 23, on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
officers will be set later that same day.
The case against the officers follows the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) reversing an earlier decision not to charge anyone in Evans’ death.
squA
Prosecutors allege that Ariste and accomplices conspired to murder on February 2. That day, Ariste allegedly shot Neilly multiple times shortly after he arrived at a tyre shop on East Street South. Neilly was pronounced dead at the scene. Ariste was informed that he was not required to enter a plea at this stage and that his case would proceed to the Supreme
Inspector Wilson pleaded not guilty to the charge earlier this month, during which time Wright was also absent.
Evans’ parents were present for the latest court developments.
Evans, 20, was shot and killed in Mason’s Addition on May 27, 2018.
neilly
Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
Before being remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, he was allowed a brief moment with his uncle in court. Ariste is scheduled to be served with his VBI on April 24.
Alphonso Lewis represented him, while Inspector Deon Barr served as the prosecutor.
Bus driver ch A rGed with Attempted murder
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A BUS driver was charged yesterday with attempting to kill another bus driver in a shooting on Yamacraw Hill Road last week.
Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley arraigned Kadero Munroe, 33, on charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Prosecutors allege that following a verbal altercation, Munroe opened fire on Steven Collie while they were both operating buses near Budget Meat on Yamacraw Hill Road around 8.30am on February 11.
Collie sustained a gunshot wound to his arm, but no passengers were injured as he managed to drive away and evade his attacker.
Munroe was not required to enter a plea and was informed that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
He will remain at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on April 17. Bryan Bastian represented Munroe, while Inspector Deon Barr served as the prosecutor.
ch A rGe of sexuA l A ss Ault of teen Girl twice
By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune
Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 20-YEAR-OLD man was remanded into custody yesterday after being accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl twice last summer.
Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans arraigned Travon Sears on two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. Prosecutors allege that Sears engaged in unlawful sexual relations with the minor on two separate occasions between June 1 and June 30, 2024, in New Providence. Sears was informed that he was not required to enter a plea at this stage and that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was advised that any application for bail must be made to the higher court. The accused will remain at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on May 22. He was represented by Alphonso Lewis.
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of vehicular manslaughter in connection with a traffic accident that claimed two lives on East Street South in October 2023.
Senior Justice Gregory Hilton arraigned Michanko Bethel, 31, on the charges. Prosecutors said that around 2am on October 16, 2023, Bethel was driving a
blue 2007 Mitsubishi south on East Street South near Cavalry Deliverance Church when he attempted to overtake another vehicle. In the process, he collided with a black Yamaha XTV motorcycle carrying three riders travelling north. Bethel and a female passenger from the motorcycle were hospitalised with injuries, but the male driver of the motorcycle and his girlfriend died at the scene. Family members identified the male victim as 27-year-old
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
JUNIOR Achievement’s Grand Bahama Shipyard Squad donated food items to the Urban Renewal Commission on Sunday to help needy families in Grand Bahama.
Marrisa Roberts, company president, said the initiative is about giving back to the community while also supporting local businesses.
As part of their community service project, the donated food items go to seven families selected by the Grand Bahama Urban Renewal Center.
“It is an honour to help ease the burden these families face,” said Ms Roberts. “We also made it
our mission to buy all the food locally, ensuring we support businesses in our community.”
Lloyd Grant, deputy director of Urban Renewal Northern Bahamas, thanked the Junior Achievers for their efforts.
“This is what Urban Renewal is about — helping those in need,” he said.
“The food packages will be distributed across Grand Bahama. We have seven centres in GB; one in High Rock, Sea Horse Village, Marco City, Pineridge, Central Grand Bahama at Lewis Yard, West End and Eight Mile Rock.”
JA Bahamas was established in 1979 in New Providence and expanded to Grand Bahama in 1983.
It is a non-profit organisation that helps high school
students become future entrepreneurs. Achievers are placed in companies, mentored by advisors, and taught valuable life skills such as financial literacy and work readiness. They earn salaries and dividends based on their company’s performance at the end of the JA year.
February is celebrated as Junior Achievement Month, and this year, the annual JA Conference, will take place in Grand Bahama from February 20 to 23. JA Grand Bahama programme coordinator Dequann Carroll stressed that community service is a key part of JA’s mission as they mentor young men and women to be future entrepreneurs.
Deandre Woodside. His sister, Latonya Marshall, described him as a hard worker who had a passion for motorcycles and was known for his lively personality.
The female victim was identified as 37-year-old Rhashan Tatem “Pinky” Rolle.
After pleading guilty to both charges, Bethel was informed that his sentencing would take place on February 22. Sonia Timothy Knowles represented him.
A memoriAl (pictured left) place near Dean’s Blue Hole in memory of Douglas McHardy who drowned at the popluar site. Above is a picture of Mr McHardy.
Junior Achievers of Shipyard Squad presenting a donation of food items to Urban Renewal Commission representatives. Mr Lloyd Grant, deputy director of Urban Renewal Northern Bahamas, (far right) is also seen.
Junior Achievers presents food items to the Urban Renewal Commission on Sunday as part of a community service project. Seen are Mrs Shelley Stewart-Rolle, JA Advisor (far right), and junior achievers of the Shipyard Squad.
Molestation & incest are prevalent, let’s shine a light
I ncest and molestation are real!
In t he Bahamas, we tend to keep quiet about things in our families. We talk about everyone’s business but our own. We criticise everyone without any reason, but envy and jealousy reign supreme in the hearts and minds of the best among us. c hristians, our moral compass, aren’t exempted because they know better but don’t do better.
Memory verses replace good commonsense dialogue that addresses problems and offers sensible solutions. t he “holier than thou” are busy policing everyone without confessing their sins. Preaching damnation and raining fire and brimstone are the methods used to frighten people into the kingdom. Hypocrisy is the norm.
Astonishingly there seems to be an appetite for rape, sexual harassment, incest and domestic violence. Our society has become numb to the devastation caused to the victim. t he courts have trivialized these heinous crimes with a slap on the wrist and no shame from those imposing the sentences. We hide sickness and suffer silently rather than have anyone know about our illnesses. s ignificantly from the Family Islands, where everyone is related, we would die a thousand deaths if people knew that incest had contaminated our D n A pool.
FACING REALITY
By Ivo I ne Ingraham
n o matter what settlement we came from, we are distant relatives and next of kin in many instances, which proves that when individuals of the same blood interact, there is a higher chance of illiteracy and mental illness.
Incest has been allowed to go unpunished for decades because family members know, the church knows, and the authorities know, but it seems like nobody cares. More attention is placed on protecting the monster than the innocent child who had just been killed mentally, emotionally and psychologically. It is unfathomable how anyone could trivialize the slaughtering of babies under the disguise of discretion. Would the sentences for molestation and incest be different if
“...incest, molestation and infidelity are not just personal matters; they are a complete erosion of our social fabric.”
the children were related to someone connected?
Regrettably, molestation and incest are the norm on some islands, so much so that there is no outcry. t his hush-hush practice proves that we condone it from tradition and ignorance while enormous damage is done. t here are devastating effects that victims’ fuses are short, and they have lost the charity needed for a peaceful society because of the seed planted in the recesses of their minds.
t hese issues have become so normalised that even our preachers shy away from addressing them. But incest, molestation and infidelity are not just personal matters; they are a complete erosion of our social fabric. It’s urgent for us to break the silence and have open, honest discussions about these issues.
t herefore, Bahamians have lived and accepted grandfathers imposing their will on their innocent granddaughter. We cannot see the physical, mental and psychological devastation in the minds of the precious, innocent little darlings. Parents aide and abet helping to cover up such heinous crimes while pastors behaved like the cat that swallowed the canary. Unfortunately, the state abandoned the wounded by patting the perpetrator on the back with no remorse.
t he overall repercussions of the hideous behaviours have
contributed to a weakened society and to what’s left of a country that we used to brag about.
Insensitivity is the order of the day. We have become cold and strayed away from being our brothers’ keepers. If the culprit is significant in society, strange manoeuvrings happen so that they are washed clean and disappear in the spin circle. We all know that turning to the church will not solve the problem; it will only perpetuate the silence. Who are we protecting—the perpetrator or the many children who are robbed of their innocence? It’s time for us to take responsibility for our actions. We must hold ourselves accountable for the state of our society. t here are certain family islands where these practices are more prevalent than others. It is time to shine a bright light and call a spade a spade. As parents, we must ask for forgiveness
from our children for not protecting them from the wolves.
t he practice of molestation and incest has caused us to have a weak society with many psychologically wounded people who live every day carrying a burden that cannot be lifted. t hat is why when some crimes are committed, the perpetrator’s root cause must be considered.
People act out of pentup frustration; they vent in many ways and, unfortunately, are numb to pain since they have been victims all of their lives and no one fended for them or stood in the gap for them.
c ould this be why we have so many coldblooded children that are raining terror on society? If possible, we must dig deeper, seek out the victims and use every method to help repair their woundedness. We must, especially in these instances of grave concerns, face reality.
Has Trump brought Putin in from the cold?
Can there be any doubt what to write about in today’s column?
Ukraine is back at the top of the world’s news agenda following the new US president’s precipitate action last week in telephoning Russian president Vladimir Putin. With so much happening in relation to the issue, it might be useful to look at developments in the round.
Whether or not one likes Donald Trump and the way he conducts himself, no one can deny that he has hit the ground running in reshaping the US federal government and identifying corruption and excessive official spending in Washington. His reemergence as president is also having an explosive effect in the wider world with a radical reset of US foreign policy and a new projection of US power overseas.
On the campaign trail he said that he would quickly bring the Ukraine war to an end. He stressed that this was in the interests of all sides. But, most importantly, the perpetrator of the crisis, which had now lasted for the best part of three years, himself now wanted to end it. So a mechanism had to be found to bring Putin to the negotiating table. although people should surely not be surprised any more by Trump’s generally unorthodox approach to governance, apparently no one foresaw that he would take the bull by the horns and start talking directly to Putin on the telephone. This 90-minute call ended the freeze on Western leaders contacting him. So the call itself was something of a victory for Putin who has been isolated since launching his fullscale invasion of Ukraine and has been treated by Western leaders as a pariah in the international
The Peter Young column
wilderness. This was followed by Trump’s separate conversation with President Zelensky which both sides described as “good”, with Zelensky stressing that Ukraine also wanted an end to the war but needed to have security guarantees. as everyone surely knows by now, Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion on February 24, 2022, has resulted in widespread destruction and heavy casualties on both sides; including the deaths of countless Ukrainian civilians whom the Russians have been targeting in the most despicable and shameless manner. Early on, the Un General assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution condemning Russia for its “unlawful use of force against Ukraine”, heavy sanctions were imposed by the West and the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin. Moreover, former president Biden called him a “murderous dictator” and a “pure thug”.
Even though, throughout the crisis, Europe has struggled to speak with one voice, its broad approach has been to keep up the pressure
on Putin on the battlefield through supplying Ukraine with weapons and other military support as well as applying stringent sanctions.
With a couple of blips along the way - notably in the Congress - the US has been similarly supportive and has become the largest of many foreign donors, most of whom have declared that they will continue to help Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
European countries know only too well that the security of naTO countries is threatened by the Russian invasion with, for example, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and countries like Poland being particularly vulnerable to separate attack by Russia, despite being members of the body.
Reportedly, the situation on the battlefield has now reached a stalemate militarily, with Russian forces occupying almost 20 per cent of Ukraine, mainly in the east. Clearly, Trump is looking for an immediate ceasefire but also wants, as Ukraine itself does, a permanent cessation of hostilities and a durable peace. according to the UK press, some people are now saying the only way to persuade Putin to negotiate is to offer him in advance more than might to be sensible in the eyes of Western strategists. But that does not necessarily mean ruling out backtracking selectively once he is locked into talks. That will involve exercising the diplomatic skills required to persuade Putin it is in his own overall interests to continue negotiating even if he does not get everything he wants. It would surely be absurd – even unworkable - not to involve the Ukrainians themselves in the peace negotiations,
US Vice President out of order
THE new american vice
president, JD Vance, President Zelensky and up to sixty world leaders and decision-makers gathered last week for the annual Munich Security Conference against what has become a more fraught and dangerous world security situation than at any time for the last twenty years or more. It was also against a background of a crumbling International Rules-based Order.
The focus of the gathering was supposed primarily to be about how to bring the Ukraine war to an end and how to boost spending on defence by European countries, particularly in accordance with their obligations as members of naTO. Western countries came together to condemn once again the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There was consensus that key topics should be the issue of territory, security and Ukraine’s potential future in naTO.
But JD Vance shocked everybody by ignoring such security issues and mounting a blistering attack on Washington’s allies, including Britain, for alleged misinformation, disinformation and lack of free speech in their countries, all of which eroded liberty. He accused the European governments concerned of retreating from their own values and, in particular, of ignoring their voters’ concerns about uncontrolled immigration. He cited a few examples, some of which people in Britain considered to be hardly illustrative of what he was trying to say. needless to say, Vance’s speech went down like a lead balloon, not only
because it was inappropriate in such a setting which should have been devoted to the new US stance on the Ukraine war but also because it represented interference in the internal affairs of the countries concerned. But what displayed for some the extent of his own lack of judgement was his extraordinary contention that the threat to countries like Britain, whose values were shared by the US, was not external from Russia or China but “from within” as those values were being eroded or had disappeared, in particular the alleged demise of free speech. It seems that for many in Britain that was a judgement too far. Unsurprisingly, these remarks have been soundly rejected already by many in Britain including by a government spokesman. But there are also increasing numbers in the country who dislike the current government, not least for its authoritarianism in dealing with the public. So, inevitably, there are also those who tend to agree with the substance of what JD Vance had to say.
Reportedly, Trump later
given that Ukraine is an independent, sovereign country with the right to determine its own future. It would also be wrong to exclude some sort of representation from other European nations. It may prove to be the case that Trump’s intervention by going straight to Putin himself as the perpetrator of the mayhem will have been the only way to get negotiations off the ground; and this will have depended crucially on offering him concessions in advance –like forfeiture of territory, excluding Ukraine, as well as other European countries, from peace talks and ruling out naTO membership for Ukraine, as a tactic to persuade him to start talking. n onetheless, this approach has been heavily criticised by so-called experts. Reputable commentators in the UK press are saying that it is wrong because it has pulled the rug from under Ukraine’s negotiating position and will only serve to enfeeble the
West and give Putin what he wants before talks have even begun. a ny peace deal will ultimately require Ukraine’s agreement and co-operation and European countries will surely have to be involved in policing it and providing any security guarantees in the longer term – perhaps by providing their own military forces on the ground, as suggested by Zelensky. It is said that some European leaders fear that, if Trump is left alone to secure a peace deal with Putin, the Russian leader could even emerge stronger and be encouraged to seize territory from other countries in the region. That said, it is noticeable that Trump and his colleagues have backed away from some of their original positions immediately after the Trump/Putin phone call, and the composition of negotiators at any peace talks could be a further example to come. But, whatever happens, the bottom line is that meaningful talks about
ending the war cannot happen without Ukraine and Europe being at the table. as for Britain’s stance on this vital issue, its Defence Secretary is quoted as saying that it was the UK’s duty “to make sure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position going into any talks”. That has been reinforced separately by prime minister Keir Starmer. Reportedly, last week, the UK joined with France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland in agreeing that the security of the European continent was “our common responsibility” and that a just and lasting peace in Ukraine was necessary for transatlantic security too. Meanwhile, at the time of writing over the weekend the next step seems to be imminent talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi arabia and an emergency summit meeting in Paris on Monday for European leaders, including the British prime minister, to discuss the next steps.
praised his vice president’s remarks so it looks as though the content of his speech was “orchestrated” in advance. But what many people seem to have found interesting was why he chose such an unlikely forum to express critical thoughts of this nature. For some it was a display of the worst characteristics of an overconfident official america that believes it has a divine right to “rule the world” and even dictate to European countries – with their rich history and huge combined wealth and population - about how they should run their own affairs. On Ukraine, for example, even for Trump to think that he can negotiate with Putin about the future of a sovereign country without even consulting it is, in the eyes of many, unacceptable. Furthermore, it is antithetical to democracy. notwithstanding all that, however, historians remind us how the US came to Europe’s assistance during the Second World War and saved democracy and freedom. So there is surely much for which to be grateful from those across the pond.
Sarajevo now a tourist destination
FOR today’s older generation in particular, the city of Sarajevo in the Balkans is well known historically because it was there that the assassination by a Serbian nationalist of archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir presumptive to the austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife took place in 1914. This terrible deed was considered to have been the incident that sparked the First World War. Since then, Sarajevo has experienced something of a chequered pas. It was under an almost continuous siege for three and a half years at the hands of Bosnian Serbs that cost many lives during the Bosnian War in the 1990s. It was also during that war that the Srebrenica
massacre of Bosnian Muslims took place, which was described as the worst mass killing in Europe since the Second World War. I happened to watch recently a BBC programme about Sarajevo being nowadays a desirable modern destination for visitors, billed by the tourism industry as a “must-see” place for those travelling in the Balkans. The city is now claimed to be thriving as the capital of Bosnia Herzogovina and a prominent cultural centre in the region. Having travelled widely – while on a diplomatic posting in neighbouring Bulgaria - in what was known as Yugoslavia during previous more peaceful times in the 1970s
and beyond and enjoyed visits to the country’s famed Dalmatian coast and Dubrovnik, which is known as the “Pearl of the adriatic”, it is good to learn about the rehabilitation of Sarajevo. In those days, what used to be known as the “fissiparous” state of Yugoslavia was ruled effectively by its strongman leader Josip Tito. But the country later disintegrated and dissolved into its constituent states, as observers at the time feared it would do. Without knowing about the latest political situation in the region, it is not possible to speculate about how long the current stability will last. But the latest news from the tourism specialists is surely encouraging.
US Vice President JD Vance speaking at Munich Security Conference Sunday. Photo: Matthias Schrader/AP
A pAnorAMic view of a town in Sarajevo.
rUSSiAn President Vladimir Putin during a video conference call with Bryansk Region governor on Thursday.
Photo: Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/AP
Delta Airlines flight flips on landing in Toronto, a badly injured child among eight hurt
TORONTO Associated Press
A bAdly injured child is among eight people who were hurt Monday when a delta Airlines plane flipped upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. The airport confirmed on X that an “incident” occurred with the delta flight from Minneapolis and that all 80 passengers and crew are accounted for.
Three of the eight people hurt are critically injured, paramedics said. delta said in a statement the accident happened at 3:30 pm Video from the scene shows the Mitsubishi CRJ-900lR upside down on the snowy tarmac as emergency workers hose it down. The plane was somewhat obscured by snow from a winter storm that hit Toronto over the weekend.
Ornge air ambulance said it was transporting one pediatric patient to Toronto’s SickKids hospital and two adults with critical injuries to other hospitals in the city.
“Emergency teams are responding,” the airport said in a post on the social platform X. “All
passengers and crew are accounted for.”
It is too early to say what caused the plane to flip but weather may have played a factor. According to the Meteorological Service of Canada, the airport was experiencing blowing snow and winds of 32 mph (51 kph) gusting to 40 mph (65 kph). The temperature was about 16.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.6 Celsius).
The US Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the Transportation Safety board of Canada will head up the investigation and provide any updates. The National Transportation Safety board said it is leading a team of US investigators to assist in the Canadian investigation. It is at least the fourth major aviation mishap in North America in the past month. A commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided near the nation’s capital on Jan. 29, killing 67 people.
A medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia on Jan. 31, killing the six people on board and another person on the ground and 10 were killed in a plane crash in Alaska.
delta said in a statement that “initial reports were that there are no fatalities.”
“Several customers with injuries were transported to area hospitals. Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted,” the airline added.
Ontario’s Premier doug Ford said on X he is “relieved there are no casualties after the incident at Toronto Pearson.” Toronto is the capital of Ontario.
“Provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities and will provide any help that’s needed,” Ford said.
Endeavor Air, based in Minneapolis, is a subsidiary of delta Air lines and the world’s largest operator of CRJ-900 aircraft. The airline operates 130 regional jets on 700 daily flights to over 126 cities in the US, Canada and the Caribbean, according to the company’s website.
The CRJ900, a popular regional jet, was developed by Canadian aerospace company bombardier. It’s in the same family of aircraft as the CRJ700, the type of plane involved in the midair collision near Reagan National Airport on Jan. 29.
This image taken from video provided by CTV shows emergency crews responding at Toronto Pearson Airport after a plane crash yesterday.
Photo: CTV/AP
19TH DIANA LYNN-THOMPSON TRACK & FIELD CLASSIC
JUNIOR athletes hit the qualifying mark on the track and field for the 2025 CARIFTA Games at the 19th Diana Lynn-Thompson Classic hosted by the Roadrunners Track and Field Club at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium on Saturday. A few athletes made the CARIFTA standards in the field events while the athletes on the track had to battle with windy conditions.
by Patrick Hanna /BIS
Photos
ON THE REPLAY: Junior athletes in action on Saturday during the 19th Diana Lynn-Thompson Classic hosted by the Roadrunners Track and Field Club at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.
NASSAU DARTS ASSOCIATIONWEEK 17
LIVERPOOL CONTINUES PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE CHARGE AND MAN UNITED’S SEASON KEEPS GETTING WORSE
By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer
LIVERPOOL continued its charge toward the Premier League title on Sunday with a 2-1 win against Wolverhampton. For Manchester United, it just keeps getting worse after a 1-0 loss at Tottenham.
The fortunes of England’s two most successful teams could hardly be more contrasting. Victory for Liverpool saw the club restore its sevenpoint lead over Arsenal at the top of the table and move ever closer to equaling Man United’s record haul of 20 league crowns. United, meanwhile, lost for the 12th time in the league this season and is 15th in the standings after
James Maddison’s first-half strike for Spurs. It is turning out to be another miserable campaign for the club that dominated English soccer under former manager Alex Ferguson. That is a distant memory now, with United’s wait to end its title drought set to extend to 12 years this season. United has not been champion since Ferguson’s final campaign in 2013. Ruben Amorim is the sixth permanent coach since then to be charged with the responsibility of restoring its supremacy, but his early tenure has been fraught with problems. “I am not worried. I understand our fans, what the media think about it. I hate to lose, that feeling is
the worst,” Amorim said. “I am here to help my players. I understand my situation, my job, I am confident on my work and I just want to win games. The place in the table is my worry, I am not worried about me.”
Clash of clubs in crisis
This was Amorim’s ninth defeat in 21 games in all competitions since taking over in November. He has only overseen four league wins in that time. He already claimed in January that this could be the worst United team in the club’s storied history and there is little sign of improvement. Against a Spurs team that is also struggling in the wrong half of the table, Maddison’s goal in the 13th minute at the
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was enough to settle this clash of clubs in crisis. Some Tottenham fans are so dismayed by the state of their club that they staged a pre-match protest against chairman Daniel Levy. But this was the third time their team had beaten United this season. There could yet be a fourth encounter if both teams continue to advance in the Europa League. But the Premier League is Amorim’s primary concern right now — even if a relegation fight remains unlikely. Despite being just three places above the drop zone, United is 12 points above the safety line. That is little to shout about with United eight points off the top half.
Nervous Liverpool Liverpool had to withstand a fightback from Wolves, which included a brilliant long-range goal from Matheus Cunha.
First-half strikes from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah secured the win for Arne Slot’s team, but an unconvincing performance after the break saw the home team fail to register a single shot on target as Wolves dominated the chances.
“Obviously 2-0 at halftime, we know that can be one of the most dangerous results in football. We had to come out and we had to start well – and we didn’t quite do that,” said Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson.
“When they scored, everyone gets nervous. The players get nervous, the crowd get nervous – of course that’s only natural. But it’s a massive win for us and another game down.” Diaz bundled the ball over the line from close range in the 15th minute to give Liverpool the lead. And Salah doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 37th after Diaz was brought down. Liverpool conceded a goal in stoppage time to draw 2-2 with Everton on Wednesday and was pushed again.
Cunha’s drag-back and curled finish from around 20 yards (metres) in the 67th came after a sustained period of pressure from the visitors.
‘VJ’ scores 7 for Baylor in 74-71 win over West Virginia in OT
WACO, Texcas (AP) — Norchad Omier posted his 81st career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds and Baylor did all of its scoring from the free-throw line in overtime as the Bears held off West Virginia, 74-71 on Saturday. Baylor led for more than 30 minutes, but the game featured 10 lead changes and was tied 11 times.
VJ Edgecombe contributed seven points, six assists and eight rebounds in 41 minutes on the floor.
Langston Love gave Baylor the lead in overtime with two free throws and
freshman Robert Wright III added two more with 1:31 left. Hansberry knocked down a jumper with 1:15 left, but Love made two more free throws with just under a minute remaining. Omier made 1 of 2 foul shots with 40 seconds left, and Wright made the first of two to make it 73-69. After Javon Smalls made two free throws for the Mountaineers, Jalen Celestine hit the first of two to set the final margin with :05 left. Amani Hansberry rebounded a miss by Edgecombe with 36 seconds left in regulation, who
committed a foul under the Baylor basket, allowing Hansberry to tie the game with 24 seconds left to force overtime.
Love was 12-for-12 at the line and finished with 17 points for Baylor (16-9, 8-6 Big 12).
Wright finished with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists and Celestine converted 4 of 5 at the line to add 10 points.
Smalls finished with 22 points and six assists to lead West Virginia (15-10, 6-8). Toby Okani added 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
BAHAMAS AQUATICS FEDERATION OPEN WATER INVITATIONAL
SPORTS CALENDAR FROM PAGE 16
OVER 50 competitors braved the chilly waters of Goodman’s Bay on Saturday to try and claim a spot on the Bahamas Aquatics’ five-kilometre open water team to represent the Bahamas at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships. While Malcolm Menzies and Alanna Murray topped the field in the male and female divisions, Bahamas Aquatics, according to president Algernon Cargill, will review the results and those posted in Grand Bahama before they select the open water team that will travel with the swim team to the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Trinidad & Tobago over the Easter holiday weekend. 3pm and will be open to competitors from the under-11 to open categories for men and women. All winners will receive crystals and the top three will earn medals. Athletes can register at redlineathletics242@gmail.com or smnbutler@yahoo.com NPA TRACK CLASSIC THE Noble Preparatory Academy is all set to hold
2025 Track and Field Classic on Saturday, March 15 at the original Thomas
A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium from 9am to 6pm. The registration deadline is March 11. Athletes can register at info@npabahamas.com UNCLE LOU FUN RUN/WALK THE St Augustine’s College and the Alumni Association is inviting the general public to come out and participate in the Uncle Lou Fun Run/Walk. Under the theme: “Paint the streets red,” the event will take place on Saturday, March 15, starting 6am at SAC’s campus off Bernard Road.
The route will leave SAC’s campus and head on Bernard Road, turn onto Soldier Road to Prince Charles Drive, turn east onto Prince Charles Drive and head back to SAC.
The registration fee is $20 for adults and $10 for persons under the age of 20. The first 200 participants will receive road race t-shirts. Persons can register now by logging onto www.saintaugustinescollege.com
Following the race, a health screening will take place. There will also be a souse out with chicken priced at $10, pig feet at $12
and sheep tongue at $15. Drinks will also be on sale. For more information, persons can call 242-324-1511or email Thesacalumni@gmail.com RUGBY GAMES AT WINTON AFTER making some minor repairs to the Winton rugby pitch, the Bahamas Rugby Union is scheduled to play matches on Saturday, February 22, Saturday, March 8 and Saturday, March 22. All ages and all abilities are welcome, including men and women, ‘Golden Oldies’ teams and beginners and seasoned players.
The BRU is also inviting persons to come and try rugby this year. The only equipment needed are tennis/cleats and PE kit. For further information, persons are urged to call (242) 812-0417. BASKETBALL HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS AS the senior boys’
Photos by Chappell Whyms Jr
BAYLOR guard VJ Edgecombe brings the ball up court over West Virginia guard Toby Okani and Sencire Harris, left, during overtime on Saturday in Waco, Texas.
(Rod Aydelotte/ Tribune-Herald, via AP)
PAGE 16
the last of his pair of charity shots to tie the score, 43-43. “We didn’t expect this dog fight, but at the end of the day, whether we win by one or one hundred, it’s still a W,” said Stingrays’ coach Danny Pratt. “So, I kind of appreciated the guys’ efforts. It boiled down to who wanted it the most and we were able to come out and really prove that we deserve to be in this big dance.”
Pratt said he anticipates that every game the rest of the tournament will be a dogfight, but he is confident that he will have his CV Bethel team ready to compete with the rest of the teams.
As for the game, McIntosh finished with a game high 25 points for CV Bethel. He was the only player in double figures as Tayshawn Neely was next with six, Sharvado Wells had five, Denrick Saunders and Jayden Rolle both had three and Darius Pratt added two.
Daniel Munroe led Charles W Saunders with a game high 17 points. McKenzie finished with nine, Sheldon Nelson had six and Davis and Bryson Rolle both had four and Travares Forbes had three.
The Cougars took an early 15-9 lead after the first quarter and held on for a 25-23 margin at the half. The second half was a different ball game for CV Bethel, who used an 11-8 spurt in the third to take the lead. They stayed ahead in the fourth, but got out-scored 15-11, only to hold on at the end.
Comets 43, Mystic Marlins 32
Coming off their tough BAISS championship loss, Queen’s College made their presence felt with their easy win in their tournament opener.
In the first private versus government school matchup, Queen’s College rode the game high 22 points performance from Daniel Rolle and 13 from Tayshaun Taylor as they trailed only after the first quarter.
Talon Higgs had five and Liam Lindsay chipped in with three.
After falling behind 9-7 at the end of the first quarter, Queen’s College surged ahead 21-15 at the half and they never looked back.
Shamal Saunders scored 10 points and both Bradley Wiliams and Stephen Robinson had nine apiece for Doris Johnson. Kevin Davis and Ronald Walcott added two each.
Giants 41, Cherubims 30 Coming off their BAISS championship feat, St John’s continued the
OFFICIALS on day
momentum as they took Teleos Academy. It wasn’t anything extraordinary for the Giants as they stamped their approval on their tournament opener. They didn’t even have a player in double figures as Akai Miller led the charge with nine points.
Leonardo Rolle had seven, Kymani Bowe had six, both Christophe Francis and Ron Demeritte had four, Deveon Allen three and Makelin Darling, Tyler Pratt, Joshual Russell and Deren Moultrie all contributed a pair of points.
“First one out. Just glad to get over it,” said St John’s coach. “We just have to be ready.”
As for the rest of the tournament, he said they are a young team but, if they can keep their poise, they can be a contender. The Giants got off to a
slow start, leading 7-4 at the end of the first quarter. They went up 19-13 at the half. But they surged ahead on a 15-7 spurt in the third and secured the win in the fourth.
Kenny Blankfort paced the Cherubims with nine. Kelsey Thurston had seven, Nicholas Henfield and Deon Rolle both had two.
Diplomats 52, Falcons 45 Jahiem Armbrister and Omar Pierre scored 14 points apiece to pace Westminster past their BAISS rivals St John’s in the first game of this year’s tournament.
The game was keenly contested for the first half as the Diplomats led 23-21 at the break after they battled to a 12-12 tie at the end of the first quarter.
But the Falcons were out-scored 17-10 in the third, only to make a
comeback in the fourth.
The Diplomats managed to milk the clock on their late possessions to seal the deal.
Rasheed Brennen added six and both Michael Jean-Pierre and Trevon Armbrister had three each. Shamaro Taylor added two more.
Coach Gary Kemp said it was good to get his Diplomats back in sync after things didn’t work out in the BAISS playoffs.
“It feels great for us to be able to represent Westminster on this national stage,” said Kemp, a former senior men’s national team player. “We knew there were some things that happened beyond our control in the BAISS, but we’re happy we can display our talent here.”
Kemp said while their goal is to win the title, they will take it one game at a time.
For the Falcons, who were coached by Philip Hanna, Alijah Pierre scored a game high 15 points. Edmond Ferguson had 11, Trevon Clarke 10, Malachi Cadeau five and Andre Tucker two.
Note: The tournament, which also staged its opening ceremony yesterday, will continue today at 4pm.
However, play will start at 9am Wednesday with the teams from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands starting to compete.
BAHAMA PURE WATER AND ICE TENNIS TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS CROWNED
FROM PAGE 16
Girls U16 - Winner: Sarai Clarke.
Runner Up: Tatyana Madu.
Girls U18 - Winner: Jalisa Clarke.
Runner Up: Sarai Clarke.
Boys U14 - Winner: Chase Newbold. Runner Up: Kingston Rees.
Boys U16 - Winner-
Aiden Ritchie
Runner Up- Synaj Watkins
Boys U18 - Winner: Synaj Watkins. Runner Up: Aiden Ritchie.
The BLTA also congratulated the Grand Bahama Tennis Association for completing their first junior event on the BLTA’s 2025 tennis calendar. The year is action-filled with tennis activities as they set their sight on the upcoming Spring Classic where all junior age groups will be allowed to participate.
The Spring Classic will be hosted by the BLTA in March. “We look forward to providing these wonderful opportunities for our young players to grow and develop their tennis game,” the BLTA said.
COACH ROACH ‘MORE THAN PLEASED’ WITH TRIATHLETES
FROM PAGE 16
other competitors through the finish line in under one hour. He took the victory in 58.05, followed by Costa Rica’s team-mates Daniel Nietzen Rivera in 58:58 and Pieter Hoomstra Solano in 59:59:07 for second and third, respectively.
And in the girls’ 18-21 division, Erin Pritchard came in 20th in 1:14.35. She did the swim in 10:55; the bike in 36:42 and the run in 26:00.
Zoe Adam of Puerto Rico won the event in 1:05.22. Camilla Victoria Alcala Rosales of Honduras got second in 1:05.19 and Valeria Arce Nunez of Costa Rica was third in 1:06:11.
At age 17 and 18 respectively, Roach said Pritchard and Duncombe are the bottom of their age groups, but he was still happy with what they did.
“As a federation, I think we just need to improve on the running,” Roach said.
“We are always good at swimming and on the bike, but when it comes down to the running, we are a bit off.
“But I’m very happy with their performances. They are both very young and so we were very happy with it.”
Both competitors noted that they gave it their best shot.
“I personally felt I did well in the race finishing in 13th place,” Duncombe said. “I didn’t really come with any high expectations I just gave thanks to God that he brought me this far and that he will take me further.
“Overall, I enjoyed the race and loved the overall experience and would definitely come back if the opportunity is given to me.” Pritchard added that the entire experience was worth it.
“I am very grateful to be able to represent the Bahamas in Cuba. It was a good experience, and I want to thank Cuba for hosting a wonderful event I will remember forever,” she said.
“Overall, the race went pretty well and even though it didn’t go the way I had hoped, I’m still proud of myself and my teammate. The people here have been very welcoming and supportive. I’ve made some great friends along the way and hope to represent and compete again in the future.”
The team, which was supported by some family members, got a chance to do some sightseeing yesterday and are heading home today.
HUNTER LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING IN
Jaraun “Kino” Burrows, Kenny Isnord, Godfrey Rolle III, Garvin Clarke Jr, Franco Miller Jr, Kentwan Smith, Rashad Davis and Tavario Miller Sr.
“I played with most of these guys before,” said Hunter, who has been playing on the junior national team since he was 17.
“Me and (Nardo) Bridgewater played together since we were on the junior national team and me and Franco (Miller) went to the same school and me and Garvin (Clarke) went to the same school. “I think
it’s good to play with your friends. There’s more camaraderie and not that much selfishness, so I think we are a team who will be very well. Most of the players on this team have played together before.”
Together, Hunter and Bridgewater helped the Bahamas to secure the Caribbean Under-16 Championships and they were on the senior team in a training camp with Miller and Clarke. Hunter also played with Miller Jr at Ole Miss and Clarke at Akron University. Now, playing on their first senior national team
QUALIFIERS
together at home, Hunter said they are looking forward to putting on a display for the Bahamian crown in attendance on Thursday and Sunday. He encouraged the public not to miss the action.
“I know we’re going to be a little small under the basket, but we will make up for it,” he stated. “We expect to win. We don’t expect anything else.”
Last November, the Bahamas fell to Cuba 76-62 and to the USA 91-74. The US leads the group with a 3-1 record, while Cuba is in third at 2-2. The Bahamas is at the bottom of the pile
at 1-3, but will need at least one victory this weekend to keep their hopes alive.
Before coming home, Hunter helped his team KB Trepca in Mitrovica, Kosovo, win another in-season Cup title last week.
“It was good. We won and are still in first place in the league, so it’s going very well,” Hunter said.
In making his professional debut this season, the 24-year-old Hunter said he’s learned a lot in such a short space of time, but he admitted that there is so much more that he has to learn as he moves forward in his career. “It’s good to learn
from the veteran players, who have played high level basketball,” Hunter said. “I just aspire to do what they have done. They have been teaching me a lot too, so it’s been going well.”
So far with the B Trepca, who leads the league with a 14-6 win-loss record, Hunter is averaging about 13 points per game with four rebounds as he learns ways to “manipulate the game at my position. I think I’ve been adapting good to it.” Hunter is one of five foreign players on the team, but he noted that things could change any
day as players come and go, based on a variety of issues, including how well they are playing and if they are not living up to their expectations.
Once the two games are done this week, Hunter said he will return to Europe where he will complete the rest of the season and hopefully his KB Trepca can celebrate with the league championship title.
Tickets for this weekend’s two games can be purchased on line at www. nsa-bahamas.com or at the door. During the game, the BBF will hold a raffle for the fans in attendance.
one of the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic at the AF Adderley Gymnasium. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association crowned its new champions of the Bahama Pure Water and Ice tennis tournament held in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
THE Bahamas’ burgeoning space tourism industry is set to inspire the nation’s youth and create new educational and career pathways.
Aisha Bowe, former NASA rocket scientist and founder and CEO of STEMBoard said young Bahamians are already buzzing with excitement about the impending rocket landings in the country and the possibilities that this innovative partnership with SpaceX can unlock.
“The youth population is pretty stoked. They they’ve been messaging me like, this is the most exciting thing that they never thought the Bahamas would be a part of and I think that that says a lot,” said Ms Bowe.
“Youth is a great portion of this country, and to be able to now say that not only is there the ability to leverage the existing tourism infrastructure, but there’s the ability to introduce the idea that you can now build your own enterprise that can find a way to capitalise on this.”
In addition to the promise of entrepreneurship, Ms Bowe sees this growing industry as a vehicle for
expanding STEM education and providing various career opportunities for Bahamians.
While technical roles in space travel are often in the spotlight, she stressed that the space industry will provide a wide range of career opportunities for youth, beyond technical roles.
“One of the cool things about the rocket industry is it takes all types. They need accountants, they need project managers, they need machinists, they need technical professionals who may go to Bahamas Technical Vocational Institute (BTVI) or may go to University of the Bahamas (UB),” she noted.
Her excitement extends beyond the practical applications of the space tourism industry. She believes that the new framework being established will inspire youth across the country to think big and take risks, which can ultimately lead to new revenue streams and innovative solutions to everyday problems.
“What’s exciting to me about this entire thing is it’s a framework that was created that other people can utilise, that gives a living reminder to the possibility
of what happens when people dare to dream,” she said.
She added, “If you can empower the dream, then you can allow people to create revenue streams by solving problems that they encounter every single day, and the Bahamas does not lack interesting problems to solve.”
Reflecting on how far the country has come in such a short time, Ms Bowe said the space tourism industry will be a “game changer”, not only for the country’s youth but also for the global market.
“Three years ago, when we had this idea, it was inconceivable. For the last 50 years, the United States has almost exclusively owned launches, and now The Bahamas, in partnership with the United States, is able to own a piece of the landings, and that is incredible,” said Ms Bowe.
“That is going to be the type of game changer that is going to open up all sorts of things. Not only do the citizens, the youth, see that the government is daring to dream and is willing to take risks, but the global market is going to wonder, well, how did The Bahamas do that?”
Sharing the love UP, UP AND AWAY
BLENDED Creations and Through the Pages organised the first-ever Con-Funrence, an event aimed at empowering children through discussions and activities focused on self-love, belonging, and worth.
The conference, led by primary, junior, and senior school students, centred around the theme “LOVABLE: Love is in the Heir.”
The event featured a student-led panel with presentations and discussions that resonated with attendees.
The students engaged in activities that encouraged personal reflection, connection, and empowerment, highlighting the importance of selfworth and positive self-expression.
As part of the event, every child present took a personal pledge and signed a contract promising to love themselves, reinforcing their commitment to self-respect and kindness.
A standout moment of the conference was the Artitude Affirmation activity, which invited participants to
create artwork reflecting their positive self-affirmations.
The day concluded with an exciting closing activity where children starred in a musical commercial, showcasing their creativity and newfound confidence.
“We are incredibly proud of how Con-Funrence unfolded,” said B Jane Turnquest of Through The Pages.
“The event gave young people a chance to express themselves and leave with a stronger sense of self-worth.”
Joshua says thanks
Pratt, a proud alumnus of CR Walker High School and son of PTA president Glenn Pratt, has made a significant donation to his former journalism technology class.
The donation, a 65-inch television, is a gesture meant to enhance the learning experience for current students, particularly in media-related studies.
Joshua, who graduated as part of the class of 2024, expressed his hope that this contribution would inspire his peers and other alumni to give back to the school. The donation comes on the heels of a larger fundraising initiative aimed at securing funds for a new bus for the school’s sports teams.
JOSHUA
HUGH CAMPBELL BASKETBALL CLASSIC: DAY
Stingrays take 44-43 victory over Cougars
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
The fans couldn’t ask for a better ending to day one of the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic last night as the CV Bethel Stingrays nipped the Charles W Saunders Cougars 44-43 at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.
It was the most exciting game so far after the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ runners-up Queen’s College Comets prevailed with their 43-32 decision over the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins in the other private-government schools’ showdown. Still in a celebratory mood after repeating as the BAISS champions, the St John’s Giants romped past the Teleos Cherubims 41-30 and the Westminster Diplomats made a statement in their 52-45 triumph over the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons.
Stingrays 44, Cougars 43 With five seconds left on the clock, Drexel McIntosh got fouled, missed the first free throw, but canned the final one to enable CV
Bethel to hold on for the win after Charles W Saunders turned the ball over on the next possession.
The former two-time BAISS champions Cougars, coming from a nine-point deficit in the
fourth quarter, drew within one (43-42) on a basket from Kani Davis. Then with 12 seconds left,
SEE PAGE 14
Coach Roach ‘more than pleased’ with triathletes
By BRENT STUBBS
COACH Dorian Roach said he was more than pleased with Grand Bahamian Livingstone “Launy” Duncombe and Erin Pritchard as they represented The Bahamas at the 2025 Central America and Caribbean Youth Pan American Games Qualifier in Havana, Cuba. According to Roach, they both fell short of qualifying for the Youth Pan Am Games, which allowed only two competitors from each country to qualify in the top 12 spots. After the qualifiers, they were pegged at number 13 on the list.
“Erin had a cough and a cold, but with anti-doping rules, she couldn’t take
anything to make it go away, so she had to suffer through it,” Roach said. “She did well on the bike and in the swimming but suffered on the run.
“Launy did great as well on the swim and the bike, but he pulled his pack and unfortunately he didn’t have anyone working with him on the bike, so he basically did all his work on the bike and suffered on the run as well.”
Duncombe, competing in the boys’ 18-21 division, is listed at number 19 in a time of 1:05.23. He completed the one-lap 750m swim in 9:59, the four-laps 20-kilometre bike in 30:47 and the three-laps 5K run in 23:41.
Marcos Fernandez Gonzalez from Cuba led eight
THE Roadrunners Track & Field Club has done it again. Usually known to be the hottest meet of the season, the 19th installment of the Diana Lynn Thompson (DLT) Track Classic lived up to expectations this past weekend. On Saturday, February 15 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium, the athletes delivered high-energy competition, record-breaking performances and a showcase of future track stars. With 970 athletes taking to the track and field, the level of competition was nothing short of intense and electrifying.
From start to finish, the meet provided thrilling battles across all events, as competitors pushed themselves to new heights - running, jumping and throwing personal bests, earning team spots and even shattering records. One of the standout moments of the meet came when former Olympian and Masters 50+ division athlete, Tim Munnings (58), delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the 400m. Munnings smashed his previous 52.04 mark, clocking an incredible new world-leading time of 51.18.
“I enjoyed the stiff competition and lowering my
world record to 51.18 seconds,” Munnings said.
The DLT Classic was not just a showcase of local talent - teams from Grand Bahama made the journey to compete, further elevating the meet’s intensity.
Among them were the Tazmanian Speed Academy and Grand Bahama Spinners Elite, whose athletes rose to the challenge and left their mark on the competition.
The meet also proved to be a pivotal opportunity for young athletes vying for international qualification, with several competitors securing their
AFTER making his presence felt in the European League, Samuel Hunter is looking forward to returning home to represent the Bahamas at the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers this weekend at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium. The Bahamas Basketball Federation’s team, John Lucas III, Mychel Thompson Jr, Addison Walters and Jordan Walker, will play two games in Group D against Cuba at 8:30pm on Thursday and the United States of America at 7:10pm on Sunday. Hunter, a 6-foot, 4-inch forward, will team up with the following players: Lathaniel Bastian, Eron Gordon, Domnick Bridgewater, Dylan Musgrove,
PAGE 14
Ladanian McKenzie was fouled and he converted
SAMMY Hunter holding up his team in season Cup award. By BRENT STUBBS
FAST BREAK: Charles W Saunders Cougars’ Bryson Rolle on the dribble last night against the CV Bethel Stingrays on day one of the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
ERIN PRITCHARD, left, and Livingstone “Launy” Duncombe representing the Bahamas at the Central America and Caribbean Youth Pan American Games Qualifier in Havana, Cuba.