03092023 NEWS AND SPORT

COURT ORDER FOR FNM LEADERS

Party vice-chairman granted injunction on Pintard and Sands

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Supreme Court has granted an injunction against Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard and party chairman Dr Duane Sands after legal action was filed last year by FNM vice chairman Richard Johnson who was suspended from attending FNM council meetings.

The March 5 ruling states Mr Pintard and Dr Sands are “hereby restrained” from prohibiting and interfering with Mr Johnson as he carries out his duties as FNM vice chairman.

The ruling further notes this includes, but is not limited to, his attendance and participation in all Executive Committee and Central Council meetings organised by the FNM.

In November, Mr Johnson sued Mr Pintard and Dr Sands after he was banned from attending council meetings, which he claimed violated the party’s constitution.

He is also seeking some $500,000 in compensation for general or exemplary damages concerning the suspension which stems from allegations that he “acted contrary to the interests of the party, its

SEE PAGE THREE

DAVIS: RCI WORK TO START SOON

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said Royal Caribbean International will break ground on its $110m beach club project on Paradise Island “almost immediately”, telling reporters his administration approved the project in part because tourists need more attractions.

In 2020, while in opposition, it was reported that Mr Davis declared that a PLP government would cancel any lease granted

FEARS AS ISLANDS TAX ON PROPERTY ‘INEVITABLE’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Family Islands are bracing for the “inevitability” of real property tax being levied on Bahamian owners, it was revealed yesterday, amid “frustration” that preparations for such a move are holding up real estate sales.

Daphne DegregoryMiaoulis, Abaco’s Chamber of Commerce president, told Tribune Business that she and other residents were “preparing” for an imminent end to the decades-long waiver that has exempted all Bahamian-owned property in the Family Islands from paying this tax.

CONTRACTOR ACCUSED OF $10M FRAUD

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

ACCUSATIONS that a foreign contractor may have “fleeced” homeowners in Abaco’s high-end Baker’s Bay community of up to $10m are likely “only the tip of the iceberg” due to the absence of construction industry regulation.

Schumacher Homes Operations, in a complaint filed in the southern Florida federal court on March 2, 2023, alleged that the Bahamian-incorporated contractor and its US-based principal, Brian Dickens, had “stolen millions”.

criticism from the Minnis administration, which was in power at the time.

However, after the Progressive Liberal Party won the 2021 general election, officials said Mr Davis was seeking a compromise in the Crown land row.

to RCI for Crown land to develop a beach club on the western tip of Paradise Island. The pledge drew

Yesterday, Mr Davis said his administration has ensured that Bahamians have more involvement in the controversial project.

“We approved the

SEE PAGE FOUR

Government officials sign book of condolences for George Myers

YESTERDAY government officials signed the book of condolence for the late George Myers, MB, iconic businessman (retired).

The signing was held in the Foyer of Butler’s Funeral Home and Crematorium.

Pictured here are Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Philip ‘Brave’ Davis,

and the Governor General His Excellency Sir Cornelius A Smith who signed the book and also greeted the family, paying respects for Mr Myers. A State-Recognized Memorial Service will be held Thursday, March 9, at Christ Church Cathedral, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Photos: Patrick Hanna /BIS

Court order for FNM leaders

constitution to hear the statement of charges made against the vice chairman.

was filed on November 28, 2022, by Mr Johnson and on March 5, he further filed an ex parte summons with notice to the defendants supported by an affidavit.

But, according to court documents, neither defendant showed up to court.

The Supreme Court ordered that Mr Pintard and Dr Sands were barred “from restraining, prohibiting or otherwise interfering with the plaintiff in the discharge of his functions as a duly elected vice chairman of the Free National Movement under the provisions of the constitution thereof, inclusive of, but not limited to the plaintiff’s attendance at, and participation in all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Central Council of the Free National Movement pending the determination of the plaintiff’s claim herein or further order of this court.”

The ruling also granted an injunction against members of the FNM’s Executive Committee and Central Council who voted or participated in meetings concerning Mr Johnson’s suspension, restraining them from participating in any tribunal convened under the party’s

According to the ruling, this includes Bryan Brown, Jaunianne Dorsett and Clement Penn, Sr.

It adds that they “are hereby restrained from participation in any tribunal convened or to be convened within the meaning of Article 54 of the constitution of the Free National Movement to hear and determine the statement of charge against the plaintiff dated 17th November 2022, or any appeal therefrom to the Central Committee of the Free National Movement, by reason of their actual and/ or apparent bias in relation to, and/or prejudgment of, the allegations against the plaintiff pending the determination of the plaintiff’s claim herein or further order of this court.”

The ruling notes that costs are “reserved pending the determination of the action”. This latest court action comes as the party is already facing the perception of being fractured internally and suffering from infighting.

According to party insiders, there appears to be a rift between those who support former FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Mr Pintard, the party’s current leader.

SANDS: THERE’S NO STIFLING OF SPEECH TAKING PLACE IN PARTY

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE reports that the party’s leadership tried to block former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis from speaking at constituency events, FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands said yesterday there is no stifling of speech taking place.

The chairman spoke generally about allowing persons to speak in line with the party, saying there should be a “consistent” message as officials seek to present a “reformed” FNM image to the public. However, he said, anyone wishing to speak on behalf of the party should be involved with discussions about this new image.

“We welcome any and all persons who wish to speak on behalf of the Free National Movement, to do so expressing the vision and ideas of the Free National Movement so that we don’t confuse the public. The best way for that to happen is through cross fertilisation and discussion,” Dr Sands told The Tribune yesterday.

Dr Minnis spoke at the Garden Hills Constituency Association meeting on Tuesday night despite reported attempts by the FNM’s leadership to prevent him from doing so.

Michael Pintard, the current party leader, was the guest speaker at the Centreville Constituency Association meeting where he called for party unity. Both meetings were held at the same time. Dr Sands and deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright were present at the Centreville meeting.

Former Minister of Works Desmond Bannister attended the Garden Hills meeting. On the sidelines, he said that he cannot be part of something that tries to “stifle any Bahamian”.

“It’s important for voices in the FNM to be heard. Dr Minnis is a former prime minister of this country. He has made immeasurable contributions to our country

and his voice should be heard. As a Member of Parliament - every time he goes in Parliament - he makes contributions that the country needs to hear and what he spoke about tonight, he spoke about a number of issues that impact all of us. So it’s important for him to be heard,” Mr Bannister said.

Asked about complaints about people’s voices being stifled in the party, Dr Sands replied: “There’s no stifling taking place — there’s no interest in stifling.

“We have gone to great lengths to afford opportunities for anybody willing to be a part of the Free National Movement. What we have said repeatedly is that as we seek to present a reformed image of the Free National Movement

to the public that we want to make sure that we have a consistent message,” Dr Sands said.

“And so you know, anyone purporting, wishing to speak on behalf of the Free National Movement should be a part of those conversations and discussions — very simple.”

Peter Outten, chairman of the Carmichael Constituency Association, revealed that Dr Minnis will speak in Carmichael. He said Dr Sands “cannot stop that, will not stop that or it will be war.”

Asked to respond to this threat, Dr Sands said: “I said that I would not dignify that comment but obviously, that language is inconsistent with, you know, a well-functioning political organisation.”

FREE National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands responded to allegations that the party was stifling persons from speaking at constituency meetings.

FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard, and party chairman Dr Duane Sands had an injunction filed against them by Richard Johnson.

Davis: RCI work to start soon

project to ensure that Bahamian participation is maximised, that Bahamian opportunities are maximised,” Mr Davis said on the sidelines of an event. “From the timeline that was given they intend to start breaking ground almost immediately. Hopefully it will be started because part of the challenges that we have in the country today is what we call attractions for tourism.

“Very often on any given day, we could have up to 30,000 tourists in our port and there has to be attractions for them. This will be one of the other attractions that will be available to them and so that is very welcome news for us... and there will be opportunities for Bahamians,” Mr Davis said.

On Tuesday night, Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister who also has responsibility for tourism, investments and aviation, said in a statement that the Davis administration believes it has resolved all “previous objections” to RCI’s plans by ensuring more Bahamian involvement “at all phases” of its construction and operation.

Stating that specific activities at the Royal Beach Club, including water sports, entertainment and food and beverage, will be reserved for local businesses and entrepreneurs, he pledged that Bahamians will also be able to invest in

the project and collectively take a 49 percent equity ownership stake. This would leave Royal Caribbean owning the majority interest.

As for the Crown land being leased to RCI, Mr Cooper said the government planned to also convert this asset into an ownership stake in the development that would be held by the country’s

sovereign wealth fund, now known as the National Investment Fund.

According to Mr Cooper, “the project will cover 17 acres – of which 13 acres represent privately held land and some four acres of Crown land that was included in the lease to RCI by the former administration.”

After news broke

about the approval, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis questioned if Grand Bahama is included in the deal.

While speaking at a Garden Hills Constituency Association meeting on Tuesday, Dr Minnis said a part of the agreement on the table when he was prime minister was that Grand Bahama had to be

included.

“A part of that agreement was Grand Bahama had to be included,” Dr Minnis said. “The hotel in Grand Bahama had to be a part of it so that the Grand Bahamians can benefit. That was the approval.

“Grand Bahama, you cannot allow the PLP to leave you out. You were part of it. You are a part

of The Bahamas and as I sat in that meeting, not only to be signed, but we shook hands and there was an agreement that Grand Bahama, they understood that they could not receive the property, there’s been no agreement unless Grand Bahama was a part of it.

“I saw nothing in such a press release. So Grand Bahama, you must ask them where have you gone? Why are you not a part of it? Grand Bahama as a part of this country, this Bahamas, and when individuals see great benefit for themselves we are not Nassau-centric. If there’s an opportunity to include other islands, then we must take advantage of such an opportunity,” Dr Minnis said.

Both the cruise line and the government had been embroiled in a long-running battle, including in the Supreme Court, with Bahamian entrepreneur Toby Smith who has asserted he has a binding lease for at least two Crown land acres that Royal Caribbean is seeking to use in its project.

However, on February 16, Chief Justice Sir Ian Winder rejected the entrepreneur’s claim that his lease agreement is valid.

In his statement on Tuesday, Mr Cooper said, “It is important to note that the land currently proposed under the project has not been subject to any dispute or litigation.”

DARVILLE ON RCI PI DEAL FEARS THERE WILL BE ‘NOTHING LEFT’ FOR BAHAMIANS

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A LOCAL environmental activist is in fear of the country’s land being sold piece by piece to foreign companies, adding that something must be left for future generations.

Joseph Darville, of Save the Bays and Waterkeepers Bahamas, spoke to The Tribune yesterday after the government on Tuesday night said it has approved Royal Caribbean’s $110m Paradise Island beach club project after negotiating greater Bahamian ownership and entrepreneurial participation in the development.

Chester Cooper, Deputy

Prime Minister who also has responsibility for tourism, investments and

aviation, said in a statement that the Davis administration believes it has resolved

all “previous objections” to the cruise giant’s plans by ensuring more Bahamian involvement “at all phases” of its construction and operation.

The project will span 17 acres — 13 acres of which is privately held land and some four acres of Crown land.

Mr Darville echoed concern about the islands and cays of The Bahamas being constantly sold to foreign companies.

“I worry desperately that there’s going to be nothing left as far as hard land and even land for development down the road 25 or 30 years from now for our native Bahamians to enjoy,” Mr Darville said. “Because we have been basically selling all the cays between Nassau, Long Island, and Exuma, all of those things have been sold to foreign entities.”

He noted foreign companies in the past have promised to advance the country through an economical boost. However, Mr Darville argued

many foreign companies have caused a “considerable” amount of damage to The Bahamas’ natural resources.

The activist said it is “undoubtable” that the massive project will have a serious impact on marine life, coral reefs, and native animals that nest in the area.

“Any development in that area, which is a very narrow point on PI, is going to have a significant impact on the marine life,” he said.

“Any major development where cruise ships are going to come into the development there, undoubtedly, is going to drive away the land animals in that area.”

Several Royal Beach Club activities, including water sports, entertainment and food and beverage will be reserved for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

It was reported that Bahamians will also be able to invest in the project and collectively take a 49 percent equity ownership stake. This would leave

Royal Caribbean owning the majority interest.

Despite Bahamians being able to invest in the multi-million-dollar property, Mr Darville said he was still shaken by the approval of the project.

“My heart sank all the way down into my belly,” he said.

“I couldn’t believe that little pristine spot on the end of PI was going again to be owned by a foreign entity and developed by that entity. It made me actually nauseous and frightened because we are not going to have nothing left for our people.”

Mr Darville added: “I am so afraid that we’re going to sell our country and heritage that belongs to future generations. It must stop somewhere. We have to preserve something for future generations. We cannot always be seduced by these great developers, where there’s a cruise ship or other developers who come in and just eat all of what’s left of this little country.”

ACTIVIST Joseph Darville of Save The Bays and Waterkeepers Bahamas.

MINISTER of Tourism and Aviation Chester Cooper said that the Davis administration has worked to ensure that RCI will have Bahamian involvement ‘at all phases’ of constuction and operation. He said Bahamians will also be able to invest in a 49 percent equity ownership stake.

FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis that when he was prime minister there was a part of the agreement that included the hotel in Grand Bahama so that they could also benefit. “So Grand Bahama, you must ask them [PLP] where you have gone?” he said.

Electrocuted man was father of 4 and ‘was a loving grandson,’ his grandmother said

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A YOUNG father killed in an industrial accident has left behind four young children, none older than six years, according to his grandmother.

Jeremy Culmer, a 29-year-old forklift operator at Executive Marine Management, was electrocuted on Tuesday while on the industrial job site at Freeport Harbour.

Olive Rollins, of Eight Mile Rock, said the news was a shock to the family. Mr Culmer’s two sisters who reside in the United States are not taking the news well and are devastated, she said.

Family and friends have been stopping by her house in Hepburn Town and calling to extend their condolences to the family, she said.

“He has four childrenthree boys and one girl; the

oldest child is six years old,” she said.

Ms Rollins received word of the incident just before noon on Tuesday.

“My son called me and tell me say someone told him that Jeremy just got electrocuted, and he dead,” she said.

According to police, shortly after 11am officers received reports that a male employee at a business at Freeport Harbour’s industrial site was electrocuted while operating a heavy-duty forklift tractor that accidentally touched the power line, which was attached to utility poles. EMS technicians responded to the scene and found no signs of life.

Ms Rollins said her grandson had been employed at EMM for three years as a forklift operator. She described him as a “hard working” young man.

“He was a loving grandson; he was a really nice

boy. Hardworking and helpful to people. He was not a troublesome child,” said the grandmother.

Ms Rollins said that her grandson was always smiling, and would always amuse her when he came by the house.

“He would say, ‘Grammy, what you saying?’ And then say he is ‘the girls’ sugar’ in Hepburn Town.’”

“He was a loving boy,” she recalled. “Everybody is trying to cope with what happened. His mommy was here with me this morning, and she is holding up all right. But, his two sisters in the States are not doing too good.”

Ms Rollins said the family has lost several close relatives, including Mr Culmer’s father who died 13 months ago, her brother, and a cousin of hers.

“This is like a triple tragedy for the family,” she said.

SEYMOUR QUESTIONS TIMELINE FOR PASSING MARITAL RAPE AMENDMENT

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION

Senator Maxine Seymour questioned the timeline of implementation and changes to several pieces of legislation affecting Bahamian women as another International Women’s Day was observed with no amendments passed for the marital rape law.

Ms Seymour spoke to reporters yesterday on the sidelines of an event and questioned the government’s commitment to the fight against gender bias.

Ms Seymour said: “Considering I’m not a lawyer, what I would say is that laws are made in the Parliament of The Bahamas... citizens also have the power to propose, to push and to write to their representatives to say that, ‘look this is what I need.’

“I think in this country politicians get it twisted. You are a servant of the people. And what the people need to do is take their power and say ‘you work for me this is my priority. I’m a woman, I need you right now to pass this, not just table it, but pass it and implement it’,” Ms Seymour said.

Ms Seymour added: “Being a Bahamian citizen should be enough to have equality in your country and that’s not where we are as women. We have a ways to go in terms of implementation of certain outstanding legislation that would bring us on par with other countries around the world.

“Right now we are not where we need to be. We have made strides, and I am proud of the strides we’ve made, but women’s issues need to be a priority and they need to be a priority now,” she said.

Ms Seymour also spoke about issues with laws and policies regarding child support for single parents, especially single mothers.

“The reality is even in terms of parenting, if a child is born it is more likely that. . . upbringing will impact the mother more

significantly than it would the father,” she said.

“So women have to figure out childcare, they have to get back to work, they have to always prioritise the children and in most cases the men go scot-free. The majority of the burden is on single mothers who head households,” Ms Seymour said.

“Even in terms of our child support payments. We need to make sure that those amounts sufficiently cover the cost of living in our country. Inflation has gone up. We have to make sure that what we’re giving the women to support the children is enough to really help with the kids,” Ms Seymour said.

Ms Seymour once again drew attention to the funding from the government allocated to a new women’s shelter, which was announced in the Senate last June. She wanted to know what progress government had made on the development of the shelter from then to now.

“Where are we with it? Are we just going to sit on it? Has land been identified and assigned in terms of this shelter? Has a request for proposals gone out, so that we could get designs and contractors?

“Every day that shelter is not built, you have another

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

woman who is in danger and who needs somewhere safe to stay. And so these things need to be a priority for the government,” she said.

OPPOSITION senator Maxine Seymour

29-Year-old Jeremy Culmer (above) was accidentaly electrocuted when the forklift he was driving touched electrical wires on Tuesday in Grand Bahama. “He was a loving grandson’” his grandmother Olive Rollins (below) said, and was the father of four children.

The Tribune Limited

FNM falls back into internal strife

THE infighting at the FNM has spilled into public view.

First, there was the seeming rift between former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and his successor as FNM leader, Michael Pintard.

There were discussions about whether or not Dr Minnis was allowed to speak to members at events, and the optics of Tuesday night were clear – with the leader speaking at one event and the former leader at another.

In today’s Tribune, we report that an injunction has been granted, restraining Mr Pintard and party chairman Dr Duane Sands from prohibiting and interfering with Richard Johnson in his duties as vice chairman.

Amid talks of Dr Minnis being silenced from speaking at constituency events, Dr Sands said yesterday there was no stifling of speech taking place. He said: “We welcome any and all persons who wish to speak on behalf of the Free National Movement to do so by expressing the vision and ideas of the Free National Movement so that we don’t confuse the public.”

Ructions in the FNM are nothing new, of course. Dr Minnis was no stranger to challenges himself – with the Rebel Seven seeking to oust him only for him to retain party leadership and win the election to become Prime Minister.

His term as leader saw other apparent falling outs – parting with Dr Sands as his Minister of Health at the height of the pandemic.

Then came Dr Minnis’ biggest loss of support – when the electorate roundly

voted his party out of office, choosing the PLP instead.

Mr Pintard took up the role of party leader, but still there seems no unity in the FNM ranks.

The biggest outcome of this of course is that it hinders the FNM in putting pressure on the government in office.

The role of the Opposition, no matter which party it may be, is to serve as a check to the party in office – to ask questions in the public’s name, to press for answers and to hold the government to account.

While internal disputes occupy the time instead, it puts the government under less pressure – at a time when issues such as marital rape legislation, marijuana legislation, taxation, immigration, granting of Crown land and more need the spotlight.

In short, the FNM’s quarrels may be an internal issue, but they ill serve the public purpose.

This far from another general election too, is there any likelihood of the FNM finding its way to unity before it asks the people for another chance in office?

If the leader then is Dr Minnis, will they repeat the landslide they voted him out with last time?

There are many issues facing the FNM – but perhaps the most important for them is that if they fail to demonstrate they can be an effective opposition then they will give no one any belief they can be an effective government.

It is long past time the FNM resolved its internal strife, but it does not look like peace will be breaking out any time soon.

Pintard believes leadership is an entitlement

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I READ the letter in one of the dailies last week entitled, “Pintard’s dictatorial approach to Minnis.”

Let me say at the outset that I am deeply concerned that Pintard seems to be of the view that when he was running for Leader of the FNM — it was a privilege to lead, but having been elected as Leader, for about 18 months — it is now, an entitlement to lead.

Being elected Leader, Deputy Leader or Chairman of a political organisation gives you the — opportunity - to demonstrate in a meaningful way, especially in Opposition, that you are up to the job, that “you ready”, as we say and possibly, well suited, (not perfect), to lead our Nation.

The very last thing, one would have thought is that a newly elected leader of the FNM, for the first time, unproven and without a track record in the post and being in the post

Why the early split in the PLP?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE PLP party with the strategic assistance of Randol Fawkes and Alvin Braynen ushered in Majority Rule in the Bahamas following the general election of 1967.

This historic achievement was the culmination of decades of struggle for political and civil rights by the PLP and its earlier iterations manifested by persons such as Dr Claudius Walker, the leaders of the women’s suffrage movement and the founders of the PLP.

In 1967, the PLP was led by Lynden Pindling who became the country’s first black Premier. The PLP and the UBP both won 18 seats but Randol Fawkes who won his seat as a Labour Party candidate, and Alvin Braynen, an independent member, threw their support behind Pindling and the PLP.

The first PLP cabinet consisted of 11 members highlighted by AD Hanna, Deputy Leader of the PLP as Minister of Education, Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, Chairman of the party, as Minister of Works and Carlton Francis as Minister of Finance.

After this, the relationship only went downhill. Cecil Wallace-Whitfield seemingly began to wage a campaign to undermine Pindling’s leadership. He complained that Jeffrey Thompson and his cabinet colleague Warren Levarity were ineffective and ought to be fired. When Pindling refused to fire his two cabinet ministers WallaceWhitfield threatened to resign from cabinet.

Moreover, WhitfieldWallace made a speech to the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce in which he criticised the reduction in his ministry’s budget allocation. This did not sit well with the majority of the PLP members who called for Pindling to discipline the Minister of Education.

minister firstly to the Prime Minister.

These resignations rocked the PLP as the party found itself in a quandary. The members who walked out with Cecil Wallace had to be disciplined but how do you prevent them from leaving the party and follow Wallace-Whitfield?

The PLP decided on a strategy to suspend the seven from the PLP for two years. This strategy failed as the seven members resigned from the PLP. The seven former PLP members together with Wallace-Whitfield attracted the infamous moniker of the Dissident Eight. They formed themselves into the Free PLP and contested the by election in the Mangrove Cay constituency occasioned by the death of Clarence Bain but were badly beaten.

for such a short time, 18 months, would have exhibited such extreme dictatorial traits.

Dictatorial traits by any leader of a political organisation eventually, by its very nature, creates, encourages and unquestionably fuels discontentment resulting in deep divisions in a party.

Ironically, it was Pintard’s theme of his campaign in November, 2021 that he could and would unite all factions of the FNM, as he then appreciated, they existed. That is what he said. And, on the day of his election he rightly spoke about the need to heal, healing and uniting the party. Those were his words.

Given where we are today, it is dumbfounding, that at the time he even spoke publicly about reaching-out to Loretta Butler-Turner, former party Deputy Leader and Leader of the Official Opposition for the party. By the way, someone who now enjoys

not one but two consultancies (I do not begrudge her), while his current dictatorial traits create deep divisions in the party and could not be more disuniting.

It is sad that Pintard given the great opportunity to truly do what he could, in the best possible way to - as he stated in November, 2021 - offer and bring healing balm to the party, has failed so miserably and spectacularly in that.

It is questionable whether Pintard, as Leader, has done more to send people — in the party - to the sidelines of the organisation, to alienate some, ostracise some, not include some and perhaps, not even communicate with some.

Most disturbingly, Pintard believes, especially after being elected, it appears that leadership is an entitlement and not a privilege.

ROBERT CLARKE Troubled FNM Nassau, March 5, 2023.

Many Bahamians ask the question why after years of blood, sweat and tears, and after less than three years in government did the unity in the PLP fracture so quickly?

Actually the fissure was exposed as early as 1968.

In the first Cabinet, AD Hanna was appointed as Minister of Education and with his $7.2m budget immediately started plans to construct two new high schools, one junior high school and one primary school.

Cecil Wallace-Whitfield was appointed Minister of Works in the first PLP cabinet and he wasted no time in planning for major infrastructure improvements in the country.

However, Lynden Pindling shuffled the cabinet in 1968 and Mr Whitfield was appointed Minister of Education. His education budget allocation was slashed from $7.2m to $5m by Carlton Francis. Mr Wallace-Whitfield complained bitterly about the decrease in his ministry’s budget allocation. He first complained in cabinet and when his complaints fell on deaf ears, he took his grievance the public.

History proved this to be a tragic miscalculation as it publicly exposed a rift in the new government and ruptured irrevocably the relationship between two longtime friends and two leaders of the “quiet revolution”. It also had the potential of irrevocably damaging the new government in its infancy.

Mr Pindling won a vote of confidence at the party’s national convention in 1968. He was emboldened by the vote of confidence and dared Cecil Wallace-Whitfield to resign his cabinet post and the chairmanship of the PLP. Wallace-Whitfield refused to resign.

Astoundingly, Pindling did not fire Wallace-Whitfield who remained in the cabinet for almost another two years. Some dictator!

The wheels came off the wagon at the PLP’s national convention in October, 1970. Lynden Pindling was the keynote speaker at the convention’s opening night. He set the tone for the rest of the convention when he made his famous remarks aimed at his education minister: If you can’t fish, cut bait; if you can’t cut bait get the hell out the boat.

Not to be outdone when it comes to a flair for drama, Cecil Wallace-Whitfield during his convention speech abruptly resigned his cabinet post and his membership in the PLP on the convention floor.

He accused Pindling with exercising a growing culture of dictatorship by not allowing persons to freely express their thoughts. He ended his speech with these words: Free at last, free at last, my soul is dancing.

The resignation of Mr Whitfield started a flight from the PLP. His resignation was followed closely by the resignation of Dr Curtis McMillan as Minister of Health, James Shephard as Chairman of BEC and Dr Elwood Donaldson as Commissioner of Sports.

Moreover, to add insult to injury, Mr Wallace-Whitfield had his resignation letter sent directly to the Governor bypassing the protocol of sending the resignation of a cabinet

On 18th November, 1970, Randol Fawkes moved a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister of the Bahamas. It is instructive to know that Randol Fawkes was not around to vote on his own motion as he was suspended from the service of the House by the Speaker for casting inappropriate aspersions on the chair. Many believe that Mr. Fawkes did so deliberately so as to be suspended to avoid voting on the no confidence motion.

The dissident eight members along with all seven UBP members supported the no confidence motion and final count on the division was 19 to 15 against the motion which was defeated. This was the closest Cecil Wallace-Whitfield ever came to defeating Lynden Pindling.

In 1971, the Free PLPs joined up with the remnants of the disbanded UBP and formed the Free National Movement (FNM).

The question still remains why did the PLP splinter so early after years of struggles for civil rights and political power?

Was Cecil Wallace-Whitfield overly ambitious?

It was no secret that he wanted to be prime minister; was he envious and resentful of Lynden Pindling because of the esteem and admiration of the Bahamian people which greeted him wherever he went? or did he believe that Pindling was an incompetent leader? Did he truly believe that Pindling, was a dictator?

After reading the above article and doing your own research, you make the call. Those of you who may have lived through these momentous events, I implore you to view the events with an open mind.

A WOMAN of the feminist group called “Nuestros Pilares” performs during a demonstration against gender-based violence on International Women’s Day in Santiago, Chile, yesterday.

Photo: Esteban Felix/AP

BPRA says ‘stay tuned’ as gas retailers soon to take action

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association (BPRA) say they intend to soon take action to get government’s attention to their cries for a long-awaited margin increase, arguing that they can no longer afford to operate on the current margin regime due to increasing costs.

Raymond Jones, BPRA’s president, told reporters during a press conference yesterday that the group plans to reduce operating costs to stay afloat, which could mean cutting back on business hours and laying off staff among other things. He urged the public “to stay tuned”.

He spoke after the association convened an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss what their next course of action will be following months of silence from the Davis administration over their renewed requests for a margin increase. Mr Jones said the last time the group met with the government on the issue was earlier this year; however, he said now was the time for action as members have had enough.

“We need to be treated as every other business and every other investor in the country that was afforded the ability to make money to get a return on investment,” he said. “We cannot continue with this anymore.

“The government said the same thing when they imposed and passed on the

cost of electricity last year and we understand why they do that. But we, as investors and operators, entrepreneurs need the same rights and responsibility that we can actually pay our staff, operate our businesses and take some money home to live a reasonable life and that’s why the government introduced the livable wage.

“We need a liveable income from our fuel sales in order to make money from our investment. We have loans to pay. We have overdrafts to meet and we have to meet the needs of our employees and the public that come to our station for service.

“You can’t do that scraping to find money to buy fuel at this fixed margin.”

Last year, petroleum dealers called for a 50

percent increase in their gasoline retail margin which, if granted, would have raised it by 27 cents per gallon, from 54 cents to 81 cents.

However, despite a series of meetings with government officials last year no change in the margins was granted.

Yesterday, Mr Jones said the association is planning to take a series of actions to bring attention to their cries.

But this does not include retailers going on a strike, something Mr Jones said was not an option for them at this time as they were independent operators.

“The next course of action is for us to minimise our costs to operate and that means looking at how we can reduce our operating hours, but you can stay tuned to that because today (Wednesday), we’ve decided what we’re

OFFICIALS PAY TRIBUTE TO MINISTER BETTY THOMPSON

TRIBUTES were paid to the late Minister Betty Thompson, with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis hailing her as “a mighty woman of God”.

Mr Davis said at a service at Faith United Missionary Baptist Church on March 4: “Self-confident, elegant, graceful, virtuous, wise, visionary, humble,

courageous, victorious, and dedicated are just a few adjectives that come immediately to my mind when I reflect on Minister Betty,” he said, at the service held at Faith United Missionary Baptist Church.

Mourners at the funeral of Mrs Thompson, the wife of Rev Dr William Thompson, included former Governor

MORE THAN 100 REPATRIATED

THE Immigration Department repatriated more than 100 migrants yesterday.

Around 8.18am, a Bahamasair chartered flight left Nassau for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with 130 Haitians onboard. This group consisted of 116 men, 12 women and two minors.

General Dame Marguerite Pindling, former Prime Ministers Perry Christie and Dr Hubert Minnis, cabinet ministers, senior government officials, uniformed branch representatives, members of the clergy, family members and well wishers. Prime Minster Davis said that wherever she went, her smile simply “lifted

going to do and we will make the public aware of that it’s at some point in short order,” he continued.

“But we have to reduce our operating costs, because we cannot continue on a 54 cents margin, where the costs of salaries have gone up 24 percent, the credit card fees, while we enjoyed it, the fact that the public is moving to the digital economy. We cannot afford those costs against a fixed margin.”

Some retailers have already decided to lay off staff, this newspaper was previously told. The BPRA president also could not say if the public can expect to see increases in fuel prices in the days ahead.

“I can’t comment on what’s going to happen and I think that happens based on the fuel that’s purchased by all of

the wholesalers and importers so we would like to see if price comes down but none of us here have an impact on that save for what the duties and VAT that’s charged on fuel and whatever the price of the wholesaler obtains in the international market.”

The last time petroleum dealers enjoyed a margin increase was in 2011, when the Hubert Ingraham-led Free National Movement (FNM) government granted a 10 cent increase per gallon of gasoline to take it from 44 cents to 54 cents.

A 15-cent increase per gallon of diesel was also allowed. The government itself currently collects over $1.60 for every gallon of gasoline sold in The Bahamas.

the heart and transmitted joy throughout the room. Minister Betty used those virtues to build the Kingdom of God as a role model for those she now leaves behind,” he said. “She was a mentor in the spiritual, professional and leadership realms.

“The Bahamas is richer because she was here.

At 9.52am, a Southern Air flight left for Cap Haitien, Haiti, with four Haitian nationals onboard: three men and one woman. The department’s deportation and enforcement units led both escorts. All security and health protocols were observed, the department said.

MAN NOT GRANTED BAIL FOR UNLAWFUL SEX

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 37-year-old man was sent to prison yesterday accused of having sex six times with a 14-year-old girl last year.

Davard Ferguson, represented by attorney Miranda Adderley, stood before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on six counts of unlawful sexual intercourse.

It is alleged that between September 1, 2022, and October 15, 2022, Ferguson had sex with the teen on six occasions. As these charges

are indictable offences, the accused was not required to enter a plea. Ferguson was informed that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

The accused was also told that while the magistrate did not have the jurisdiction to grant him bail he had the right to apply for it through the higher court.

Until bail is granted, the accused will be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Service of Ferguson’s VBI is set for July 17.

BAIL FOR MOM WHO BEAT SON WITH PIPE

$7500

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 38-year-old mother was granted bail in court yesterday after being accused of beating her 15-year-old daughter with a pipe.

The woman, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the child, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on a charge of cruelty to children.

It is alleged that on January 28 in New Providence, the accused abused her 15-year-old daughter by beating her with a pipe causing her unnecessary suffering.

In court, the accused pleaded not guilty to the offence. She was granted $7,500 bail with one or two sureties.

The trial in this matter is scheduled for April 27.

MAN FINED $250 FOR THEFT OF CAR BATTERY

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was fined $250 yesterday after he admitted to attempting to steal a woman’s car battery last week.

Justin Gibson, 26, appeared before Senior Magistrate Carolyn VogtEvans on a charge of attempted stealing.

On March 3 on Carib Road, Gibson was caught trying to steal Collinsya Stubb’s car battery, which was valued at $158.80.

In court, the accused pleaded guilty to the charge. In view of this, Magistrate Vogt-Evans fined Gibson $250 for the offence. The accused was further bound over to keep the peace for one year. If he violates this, he faces a twomonth prison term.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and other government officials attend the funeral of the late Minister Betty Thompson.

Photo: Eric Rose/BIS

For Carlson and Fox News their ratings trumped truth

TUCKER Carlson is 53 years old. Born in San Francisco and the graduate of an exclusive prep school in Rhode Island (where he met and later married the headmaster’s daughter) and an exclusive private college in Connecticut, Carlson has a beautiful family, a fat bank account and a lovely house in the Washington, DC, area.

For the past seven years, he has starred in a ratingsdominant prime-time show on the Fox News network.

This morning, he is at the centre of American political life. It’s fair to wonder if there is a bigger story today in the US than Tucker Carlson. There are two principal reasons for this.

First, as more information from within the inner councils of Fox News leaks out into the public arena every day in connection with the huge libel suit filed against the network by voting machine manufacturer Dominion Voting Systems, Carlson’s apparently unedited personal views about former president Donald Trump have been highlighted.

Two years ago, just before the January 6, 2021 assault on the US capitol by Trump supporters, Carlson texted the following to a friend: “We are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. I truly can’t wait. I hate him passionately. ... I can’t handle much more of this.”

Carlson was apparently referring to Trump’s insistence that he had actually won the 2020 presidential election – an election that it was abundantly clear two months afterward that he had in fact lost decisively.

In a different text message, Carlson said “we’re all pretending we’ve got a lot to show for (Trump’s four years as president), because admitting what a disaster it’s been is too tough to digest. But come on. There isn’t really an upside to Trump.”

STATESIDE

Meantime, as has been exhaustively reported, Carlson and his Fox News colleagues were reporting virtually every night on “doubts, stories I’ve heard, etc, etc” about tales of election corruption in almost every corner of the US where Trump lost, especially in close swing states where Joe Biden’s margin of victory was slender. Most Americans by now likely accept the truth of the notion that Fox News was putting out this blather in a conscious effort to prop up its ratings (and healthy advertising revenue) in the face of heavy criticism by Trump of Fox’s heresy in actually having correctly called Arizona first for Biden on Election Night. Imagine that … actually behaving like a responsible news organisation. Shame on Fox News.

It seems that Fox’s loyal viewers began switching to Newsmax and One America News to hear what they wanted to hear about Trump’s election results, perhaps knowing the truth of the matter but unaccepting of it.

If Fox had any doubts about whether or not Trump viewed them as simply a tame, dependent (and free) forum for his bombastic propaganda and campaign, those doubts must have been dispelled by his response to their skillful and honourable call of the Arizona race.

But if he was using Fox, they were using Trump too. Because this man has been, and continues to be, the dazzling sun that eclipses much of the rest of American political life and discourse.

By the way, liberals and Democratic politicians are always available for CNN,

MSNBC and other sympathetic outlets. And while these networks cloak themselves in the comforting mantle of truth tellers, it’s also true that they can and do gloat over any misfortune that befalls Trump, his family, his sycophantic allies like Roger Stone, and Fox News. If you were watching evening cable news broadcasts this week, there was plenty of supporting evidence for this. The second reason for Carlson’s unprecedented role in the spotlight today is his manipulation in a recent TV special report of January 6 riot film footage made exclusively available to him by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in what reportedly might have been a bargain struck with holdout House Republican hardliners during the excruciating process by which he was

chosen as Speaker.

The New York Times opined that in doing so, McCarthy “effectively outsourced the rewriting the history of the riot to the right wing’s favorite news commentator, who has circulated conspiracy theories about the attack”.

While many House Republicans touted Carlson’s reporting, which essentially attempts to dilute the rancid distaste left behind in the wake of the brazen January 6 assault, some GOP Senate leaders pushed back.

Minority leader Mitch McConnell said “clearly the chief of the Capitol Police, in my view, correctly describes what most of us witnessed firsthand on January 6. It was a mistake, in my view, for Fox News to depict this in a way that’s completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official here at the Capitol thinks”.

That official, Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, said of Carlson’s broadcast: “Last night, an opinion programme aired commentary that was filled with offensive and misleading conclusions

about the January 6 attack. The programme conveniently cherry-picked from the calmer moments of 41,000 of hours of video. The commentary fails to provide context about the chaos and violence that happened before or during these moments (in the video record).”

Utah senator Mitt Romney weighed in. “The American people saw what happened on January 6, they’ve seen the people that got injured, they saw the damage to the building,” Romney told reporters. “You can’t hide the truth by selectively picking a few minutes out of tapes and saying this is what went on. It’s dangerous and disgusting.”

While McConnell and Romney have not hidden their distaste for Trump personally, they deserve some praise because both men will face re-election next year, when their antipathy toward Trump could be politically dangerous for them. Carlson may soon empathise.

WHY DO WE ‘SPRING FORWARD’, AND DOES IT STILL MAKE SENSE?

ON Saturday night/Sunday morning, we will again “spring forward” and potentially lose an hour of sleep. The semi-annual ritual of converting our clocks and watches (but not cell phones) to Daylight Savings Time will be repeated anew. In Washington and maybe in Nassau there may again be expressions of mild outrage from politicians and pundits. But here we are. Again.

How did we get to this point? It is widely believed in the United States that Daylight Savings Time was first implemented for the benefit of farmers. Actually, farmers have been one of the most prominent groups pushing back against DST since it was first introduced. Wikipedia tells us that the factors that most significantly influence farming schedules are ultimately dictated by the sun, so the change DST introduces unnecessary challenges to routines such as milking dairy cows.

Several sources attribute the origin of the idea of DST to American founding father Benjamin Franklin, still the greatest hero claimed by the state of Pennsylvania and a renowned “renaissance man” whose creativity and imagination rivalled that of Thomas Jefferson.

In a tongue-in-cheek letter to the editor of The Journal of Paris written in 1784, Franklin suggested that waking up earlier in the summer would save on candle usage; and he figured out that this would create considerable savings for everyone. Over a century later in 1895, a New Zealand

entomologist and astronomer named George Hudson supposedly proposed the idea of changing clocks by two hours every spring. In 1907, an Englishman named William Willett promoted the idea as a way to save energy. Decades later, Sir Winston Churchill championed DST. He said “the opportunities for the pursuit of health and happiness among the millions of people who live in (Britain).”

Retail trade, sports, and tourism sectors in most parts of the world have historically favoured DST, while bars, restaurants and theaters have generally opposed it. This makes sense. More daylight means more practice, shopping and sightseeing time. Shortening the evening hours hurts evening entertainment venues.

DST was apparently first adopted by North America in 1908 in the northwestern Ontario city of Port Arthur, located next to Thunder Bay near the border with Minnesota on Lake Superior.

During the World War in 1916, military planners in Berlin and Vienna saw tactical and logistical benefits to DST (it saved coal and other fuels) and implemented it in the German and AustroHungarian empires. Most nations in northern and western Europe followed suit, including France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Britain converted three weeks later, on May 21, 1916.

The US adopted DST in 1918 and has basically maintained it since.

with Charlie Harper

TUCKER CARLSON, left, and former President Donald Trump, right, react during the final round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, New Jersey, July 31, 2022. A defamation lawsuit against Fox News is revealing blunt behind-the-scenes opinions by its top figures about Donald Trump, including a Tucker Carlson text message where he said “I hate him passionately.”

Photo: Seth Wenig/AP

RENTAL SECTOR ‘BEING TARGETED BY GOVT’

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

PROPERTY owners are disgruntled with the Davis administration’s plans to increase tax earnings from the vacation rental sector, claiming they are being targeted by the government.

The Davis administration is pushing for thousands of vacation rental owners to register their properties with the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR).

The tax authority, in a statement last week, said the initiative was designed to ensure vacation rental properties pay their fair taxation share while also maintaining a high service standard for their guests. Owners are being required to register their properties by April 30, via a newly-launched online portal. To incentivise registration compliance, the government is dangling a variety of financial benefits such as a total exemption from 2023 business licence

$15,000

fees. Registration is being billed as free, and the initiative is also offering “free” promotion and the possibility to access financing via agencies such as the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC).

Tanya Rahming, a vacation rental owner in Treasure Cay, Abaco, questioned why the government wanted vacation rental owners to register their properties, claiming that foreigners who are registered as second homeowners are “raping the system”.

“I’m tired of everything when locals become aware of things and we get into things all of a sudden it’s regulated and then the (foreigners) find another way to do the system,” she told this newspaper yesterday.

Ms Rahming also suggested that the government give the same “concessions” to the vacation rental sector that hotels receive. While adamant that she will remain in the industry, she, however, is

expecting a “break” from the government.

Selena Sweeting, a vacation rental owner in eastern New Providence, questioned the government’s intentions, while noting the lack of attention placed on the “incentive side of businesses”.

While sceptical about the implementation of the portal, Ms Sweeting is urging the government to provide reprieve for business persons who pay taxes.

“At the end of the day, there was some talk about some kind of reprieve for business persons paying taxes, but I’m not seeing that,” she said yesterday.

“I mean, maybe I’m not high enough in the business bracket line, but you know, it just seems like everything is being taken from you and there isn’t a whole lot of effort I think or attention being placed on the incentive side of businesses.”

Since joining the industry in 2018, Ms Sweeting said that she turned her focus

DONATED TO CHARITIES BY COLINA

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting @ tribunemedia.net

THREE community outreach organisations each received $5,000 in donations from Colina Insurance Limited, as a part of the insurance agency’s annual International Women’s Day celebrations.

Colina presented a total of $15,000 in cheques to PACE Bahamas, Bahamas Crisis Centre, and Zonta Club of New Providence in an effort to encourage community outreach and gender equality.

Maxine Seymour, the insurance agency’s corporate communications director, said the donations were given in an effort to recognise the achievements of women across The Bahamas.

“We are thrilled to be able to partner with The Bahamas Crisis Centre and PACE again this year and to include Zonta Club of New Providence. We encourage everyone to embrace equity as we work together to end discrimination and promote gender parity,” she said.

Patrice Miller, principal of PACE Bahamas, said: “It is indeed a pleasure for us to participate and be a part of this occasion. PACE is an institution for teen mothers and it’s not just a school, but it’s also a programme where we have implemented programmes where students learn life skills.”

Ms Miller said more needs to be done to ensure fair treatment of both male and female students in school and as such, PACE is working to develop a programme for male

students as well. “When our students get pregnant, the girls are placed in PACE and the boys are allowed to remain in school. Is that equality? It’s not,” she said.

Cleopatra Christie, administrator for The Bahamas Crisis Centre, said the donation will do much to help the organisation with assisting the community.

“We thank you, Colina. Yes, we have accomplished much and we have done much, but still there is much more to be done,” Mrs Christie said.

Susan Demeritte, vice president of the Zonta Club of New Providence, also said thanks and said Zonta is “about uplifting the status of women”, through scholarships, 24-hour availability for provisions, a workforce readiness programme, as well as assistance for women in prison.

on doing long-term rentals, saying the “sporadic” flow of cash was not beneficial.

“Quite frankly, right now I’m not even in the vacation rental industry,” she told this newspaper yesterday.

“Even though I’m still registered through Airbnb, I’m actually doing longterm rentals in terms of, you know, not vacation rentals, because, you know, the sporadic flow of cash wasn’t really helping me a lot, you know.”

She continued: “But I think perhaps, you know, I don’t know, if the government is going to add incentives to persons who are in that industry then fine, but if it’s just a matter of just identifying you for additional tax purposes, I think you’re going to find a lot of people are not going to want to be registered or even provide.”

Online exchanges on the government’s plans show a largely negative reaction by

vacation rental owners.

One person said: “Average Bahamians finally getting a piece of the tourism pie through ownership. Y’all know it wasn’t going to be long before this tax, tax, tax regime saw that. How else can they continue to increase the travel budget?”

Another person added: “Wiping out the middle class one tax at a time. Can’t catch a break for these humans.”

Veterans testify of ‘catastrophic’ impact of Afghanistan collapse

WASHINGTON

Associated Press

ACTIVE-SERVICE

members and veterans provided firsthand testimony Wednesday about the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing in harrowing detail the carnage and death they witnessed on the ground while imploring Congress to help the allies left behind.

Former Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews testified to Congress about the stench of human flesh under a large plume of smoke as the screams of children, women and men filled the space around Kabul’s airport after two suicide bombers attacked crowds of Afghans.

“I see the faces of all of those we could not save, those we left behind,” said Vargas-Andrews, who wore a prosthetic arm and scars of his own grave wounds from the bombing. “The withdrawal was a catastrophe in my opinion. And there was an inexcusable lack of accountability.”

The initial hearing of a long-promised investigation by House Republicans displayed the open wounds from the end of America’s longest war in August 2021, with witnesses recalling how they saw mothers carrying dead babies and the Taliban shooting and brutally beating people.

It was the first of what is expected to be a series of Republican-led hearings examining the Biden administration’s handling of the

withdrawal. Taliban forces seized the Afghan capital, Kabul, far more rapidly than US intelligence had foreseen as American forces pulled out. Kabul’s fall turned the West’s withdrawal into a rout, with Kabul’s airport the centre of a desperate air evacuation guarded by US forces temporarily deployed for the task.

The majority of witnesses argued to Congress that the fall of Kabul was an American failure with blame touching every presidential administration from George W. Bush to Joe Biden. Testimony focused not on the decision to withdraw, but on what witnesses depicted as a desperate attempt to rescue American citizens and Afghan allies with little US

planning and inadequate US support.

“America is building a nasty reputation for multigenerational systemic abandonment of our allies where we leave a smouldering human refuse from the Montagnards of Vietnam to the Kurds in Syria,” retired Lt. Col. Scott Mann testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

He added, “Our veterans know something else that this committee might do well to consider: We might be done with Afghanistan, but it’s not done with us.”

Vargas-Andrews sobbed as he told lawmakers of being thwarted in an attempt to stop the single deadliest moment in the US evacuation — a suicide bombing that

WOMEN IN TURKEY BRAVE BAN ON

ISTANBUL MARCH, GET TEAR-GASSED

TURKEY Associated Press

WOMEN in Turkey

braved an official ban on an International Women’s Day march in Istanbul, demonstrating for about two hours before police used tear gas to disperse remaining protesters and detained several people.

Thousands converged on a central neighbourhood Wednesday for a protest that combined women’s rights with the staggering toll of the deadly quake that hit Turkey and Syria a month ago.

Organizers had been forbidden - for the second straight year - from marching down the popular Istiklal pedestrian avenue in Turkey’s biggest city where Women’s Day marches were held since 2003. Police blocked demonstrators’ access to the avenue. An Associated Press journalist saw officers detain at least 30 people and use tear gas after the group ended their demonstration at 2100 local time.

Local authorities banned the march, saying the area was not an authorized demonstration site. They also claimed the march could “provoke” segments of Turkish society, lead to verbal or physical attacks, be misused by terror groups and threaten national security - as well as curtailing freedom of movement in the cultural and tourist area.

Metro stations in the vicinity were closed.

Lale Pesket, a 28-year-old theatre student, said that was unfair.

“We are not harming anyone, but unfortunately, we are faced with police violence every time,” she said.

“Our only concern is the emancipation of women, we want free spaces in a world without violence and better economic conditions, especially for women.”

Protesters held banners reading “we are angry, we are in mourning” for the more than 46,000 people who died in Turkey in buildings widely considered unsafe and the hundreds of thousands left homeless in the Feb. 6 quake.

One banner read “control contractors, not women,” referring to contractors

killed 170 Afghans and 13 US servicemen and women.

Vargas-Andrews said Marines and others aiding in the evacuation operation were given descriptions of men believed to be plotting an attack before it occurred. He said he and others spotted two men matching the descriptions and behaving suspiciously, and eventually had them in their rifle scopes, but never received a response about whether to take action.

“No one was held accountable,” Vargas-Andrews told Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, the chairman of the committee. “No one was, and no one is, to this day.”

US Central Command’s investigation concluded in October 2021 that given the worsening security situation at Abbey Gate as Afghans became increasingly desperate to flee, “the attack was not preventable at the tactical level without degrading the mission to maximize the number of evacuees.” However, that investigation did not look into whether the bomber could have been stopped or whether Marines on the ground had the appropriate authorities to engage.

McCaul has been deeply critical of the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal. “What happened in Afghanistan was a systemic breakdown of the federal government at every level, and a stunning failure of leadership by the Biden administration,” he said.

Last month, US InspectorGeneral for Afghanistan John Sopko concluded again that actions taken by both the

Trump and Biden administrations were key to the sudden collapse of the Afghan government and military, even before US forces completed their withdrawal in August 2021.

That includes President Donald Trump’s one-sided withdrawal deal with the Taliban, and the abruptness of Biden’s withdrawal of both US contractors and troops from Afghanistan, stranding an Afghan air force that previous administrations had failed to make self-supporting.

The report blamed each US administration since American forces invaded in 2001 for constantly changing, inconsistent policies that strived for quick fixes and withdrawal from Afghanistan rather than a steady effort to build a capable, sustainable Afghan military.

The witnesses testifying Wednesday urged action to help the hundreds of thousands of Afghan allies who worked alongside US soldiers and who are now in limbo in the US and back in Afghanistan.

“If I leave this committee with only one thought it’s this:

It’s not too late,” said Peter Lucier, a Marine veteran who now works at Team America Relief, which has assisted thousands of Afghans in relocating. “We’re going to talk a lot today about all the mistakes that were made, leading up to that day, but urgent action right now will save so many lives.”

One of those solutions discussed Wednesday would be creating a pathway to

citizenship for the nearly 76,000 Afghans who worked with American soldiers since 2001 as translators, interpreters and partners. Those people arrived in the US on military planes after the withdrawal and the government admitted the refugees on a temporary parole status as part of Operation Allies Welcome, the largest resettlement effort in the country in decades, with the promise of a path to a life in the US for their service.

Congress began a bipartisan effort to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would have prevented Afghans from becoming stranded without legal residency status when their two years of humanitarian parole expire in August. The proposal would have enabled qualified Afghans to apply for US citizenship, as was done for refugees in the past, including those from Cuba, Vietnam and Iraq.

But that effort stalled in the Senate late last year due to opposition from Republicans.

“If we don’t set politics aside and pursue accountability and lessons learned to address this grievous moral injury on our military community and right the wrongs that have been inflicted on our most at-risk Afghan allies, this colossal foreign policy will follow us home and ultimately draw us right back into the graveyard of empires where it all started,” Mann, the retired green beret, said to lawmakers.

HARRY AND MEGHAN’S DAUGHTER CHRISTENED, WILL USE ROYAL TITLE

LONDON Associated Press

PRINCE Harry and his wife Meghan announced Wednesday that their daughter had been christened in a private ceremony in California, publicly calling her a princess and revealing for the first time that they will use royal titles for their children.

who are accused of ignoring building regulations and contributing to the devastation.

“Living as a woman in Turkey is already difficult enough and one of the reasons we are here is ... the earthquake ... and the people who were left under the rubble,” 23-year-old university student Gulsum Ozturk said.

Protest organizers also slammed the government for withdrawing from a European treaty - signed in 2011 in Istanbul and named after the city - that protects women from domestic violence, and “endangering the lives of millions of women.”

Turkey’s We Will Stop Femicides Platform said 328 women were killed by men in the past year.

Princess Lilibet Diana, who turns two in June, was baptized on Friday by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor, Harry and Meghan said in a statement. Lilibet’s title and that of her brother, Archie, who will be four in May, will be updated on the Buckingham Palace website later.

The announcement marked the first time that the children’s titles had been used in public.

The question of the children’s titles took centre stage two years ago during Harry and Meghan’s television interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan, who is biracial, said that when she was pregnant with Archie “they” — presumably the palace — “were saying they didn’t want him to be a prince … which would be different from protocol.”

Meghan suggested that this was because Archie was the royal family’s “first member of colour” and would have marked the first time a royal grandchild

wasn’t given the same title as the other grandchildren. At the time, royal experts said Meghan’s comments appeared to be based on a misunderstanding of the way royal titles are conferred.

Titles are conferred in line with a decree issued by King George V in 1917 that limits the titles of prince and princess to the maleline grandchildren of the sovereign.

As long as the late Queen Elizabeth II was alive, Harry and his older brother, Prince William, were the sovereign’s grandchildren. Harry and William’s children, as great grandchildren, didn’t receive the titles automatically.

But Elizabeth had the power to amend the rules, and in 2012 she decreed that the children of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, would be princes and princesses. This decree didn’t apply to Harry and Meghan.

However, the situation changed when King Charles III ascended the throne on the death of his mother last September. William and Harry are the king’s sons, meaning their offspring are now royal grandchildren and so entitled to be known as prince and princess.

Nonetheless, they have remained a plain “master” and “miss” on the Buckingham Palace website for the past six months.

FORMER Marine Sgt Tyler Vargas-Andrews, who was gravely injured, losing an arm and a leg in a suicide attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, becomes emotional as he recounts his story during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on the United States evacuation from Afghanistan on Capitol Hill in Washington, yesterday.

Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP

A PROTESTER argues with anti riot policemen at the end of the gathering to mark the International Women’s Day in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday. Women in Turkey and their allies converged on a central Istanbul neighbourhood to demonstrate for women’s rights and protest the human-made toll of the deadly quake that hit Turkey a month ago.

Photo: Khalil Hamra/AP

PRINCE Harry and his wife Meghan announced Wednesday, March 8, 2023 that their daughter had been christened in a private ceremony in California, publicly calling her a princess and revealing for the first time that they will use royal titles for their children.

Photo: Matt Dunham

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023

Small businesses come on board for CARIFTA Games

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WEDNESDAY was a very special day for the Local Organising Committee for the Oaktree Medical Centre 50th CARIFTA Games.

Three small businesses, represented by four women, came on board as partners for the games scheduled for April 7-11 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium as they made their commitment during International Women’s Day.

The women - Sieska Adderley, Sonia Brown, Patrece Adderley and Rian Sands - shared the platform with Fern Hanna, the

marketing manager for the LOC during a press conference in the Cultural Village being set up for the games in the eastern parking lot of the stadium.

Sieska Adderley, a former journalist turned public relations officer for Kanoo, said they are proud to be a sponsor of the games and as a digital payment app, it’s their responsibility to connect Bahamians across the archipelago, ensuring that they have financial inclusion.

“A part of that connectivity and a part of what we do is giving Bahamians and residents everywhere the power to progress and there’s no better way to progress than to invest in

our youth, who are going to lead our nation in the next few years,” she said.

“As a proud sponsor, as a young woman, as a professional and as someone who is not athletic, we are proud to be a part of this great initiative and what is more significant is that it is happening in our 50th year of Independence.

“And so I couldn’t be more proud as a woman, as a Bahamian, as a professional to be a part of the great Kanoo team.”

Without going into any details or letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak, Adderley indicated that Kanoo will be gearing their involvement in the games with that of junkanoo as

- DAY 1

Raptors, Knights in the lead

By TENAJH SWEETING

Day one of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) Track and Field Championships ended with the C.H. Reeves Raptors and C.R. Walker Knights ahead of their respective divisions.

On a day where the weather conditions proved unpredictable as the 4x100m relays brought down the showers, the Raptors dominated the other junior schools.

they display their cultural aspect.

Sonia Brown, the principal engineer from Graphite Engineering Ltd, said their company is a mechanical and engineering consultant firm. The mechanical engineer by profession said that while they had the fortune of working on many projects in the Bahamas, they jumped on board when the opportunity came to get involved in CARIFTA.

“We re all on board assisting young people,” said Brown, who indicated that her office is full of young people. “We also know and recognise that through athletics, we are half way

SEE PAGE 18

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MARTIN ‘Pork’ Burrows added another feather to his cap when he was appointed to the COPABE (the Pan American Baseball Confederation) - WBSC Americas Baseball Umpiring Commission.

The Raptors crushed the competition for first place in day one’s overall team rankings by a margin of 139 points.

S.C.McPherson

Sharks capped off the first day of the GSSSA championships with a score of 181.

The H.O. Nash Lions separated themselves from the fourth place finishers, the D.W. Davis Royals, by a margin of four points.

In day one’s finals action for the junior division, the Raptors emerged victorious in the under 13 boys’ 1,200 metres. De’Ante Joseph put on a show for the reigning champions in the long distance race, notching a time of 4:26.41 for a first place finish.

The L.W. Young Eagles’ Kaiden Newbold followed

Soto progresses in Padres camp with optimism for WBC trip

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Baseball Writer

JUAN Soto ran sprints in the outfield, took some big swings in batting practice and signed a few autographs at the San Diego Padres spring training complex yesterday after the early workout to test a left calf that kept him in Arizona.

Soto, who has been dealing with calf tightness, could still join the Dominican Republic team in Miami before it begins group play in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday against Venezuela. He even did some outfield work during his workout.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said the team increased the progression of Soto’s work, and that the outfielder could play in a

“”B” game against Cleveland today.

“If he plays in that, hopefully we can get him cleared ... and optimistic for potentially getting him on the road Friday,” Melvin said. Soto remained in Peoria, Arizona, for treatment when Manny Machado, Luis García and Nelson Cruz left the Padres camp Monday to join the Dominican Republic. The 42-year-old Cruz, trying to make San Diego’s roster as a designated hitter/outfielder, is general manager for his country in the WBC. Melvin said he had spoken to Cruz, who was trying to get a feel for Soto’s status. Cruz also was expected to speak with Padres GM A.J. Preller. Once cleared, there would be no limits on Soto in the WBC.

“The plan is to get him get out in the field and let him play, and hopefully he can play in the field,” Melvin said. “But I think the backup plan would probably be DH.” San Diego obtained the 24-year-old Soto in a

trade-deadline deal last season. The Washington Nationals traded the twotime All-Star and 2019 World Series champion after he turned down a $440 million, 15-year contract.

The appointment, which takes immediate effect, will run through 2025 as Burrows serves on the Umpiring Commission, which was formed by the nominations of the national federations and the evaluations of the executive committee.

Burrows, 57, said he was elated when he got the letter of confirmation from Bahamas Baseball Association secretary general Theodore ‘Teddy’ Sweeting.

“It’s a good achievement, but the work has just began,” said Burrows, who serves as the head of the newly formed Local Umpires Association –Academy (LUA-A).

“I have to keep working hard and pushing hard to get others up there. So I hope now that when the

PSG eliminated by Bayern in Champions League last 16

By J ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer

MUNICH (AP) — Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé will have to wait another year for a chance to win the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain.

Bayern Munich contained the World Cup stars and beat PSG 2-0 yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals 3-0 on aggregate.

After former PSG forward Kingsley Coman scored in the roundof-16 first leg, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting — another former PSG player — doubled the advantage before Serge Gnabry finished

off the scoring at Allianz Stadium.

PSG had dominated the first half of the game and was only denied the lead by a goal-line clearance from Bayern’s Matthijs de Ligt, but Bayern regained its focus in the second half to secure the win.

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann had spoken previously of having a plan to shut down Messi and Mbappé and it seemed to work as Bayern’s defenders gradually squeezed them out of the game. All PSG can win this season is the French league title after being knocked out of the French

PADRES’ BRANDON DIXON, left, celebrates with Juan Soto (22) after scoring on a double by Tim Lopes during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Rangers yesterday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Raptors, Knights in lead after day 1

FROM PAGE 15

behind with 4:31.56. Third place finish belonged to the Sharks’ Gilberto Bain who ran a time of 4:48.66. The Raptors once again prevailed in the under 13 boys 400m run. Travon Moncur brought home the victory as he placed first with 1:05.67. Moncur was joined by fellow school and teammate De’Ante Joseph who came second with 1:10.14. The pair were followed by D.W. Davis Royals’ Marc McCartney who clocked 1.11.65.

Varel Davis, GSSSA president and head coach of the Raptors, credited training and hard work of the athletes for the early day one lead.

“I know that our kids would do pretty well because we have been training for the past month everyday, even over the midterm break we [have] been on the sand a few times, these kids are prepared and ready to compete,” Davis said.

Denim Stuart, winner of the under 15 boys 100m dash, was among the Raptors athletes that were ready to compete. The young athlete placed first in the short distance race, blitzing the competition with a time of 11.99. Patrick Bowe of the Royals came in second with 12.19 and Lavario Ferguson of the leading school placed third.

Stuart kept it short and simple about his goal for the 100m race. He said he came just to win and to do it for his school and himself.

The Raptors athlete was also victorious in the under 15 boys 4x100m relay. The reigning champions took home a first place victory with a time of 49.59. Their relay team consisted of Tyqwon Woodside, Lavario Ferguson, Andrew Rolle, and once again Denim Stuart.

The Sharks and T.A. Thompson’s Scorpions placed second and third respectively.

The A.F.Adderley Tigers were able to snatch a few wins at the GSSSA Track and Field Championships.

Shakinah Lewis edged out the competition in both the under 13 girls 400m run and the 1200m run. In the 400m race, Lewis clocked 1:12.30, leaving the Raptors to fend for second and third place finishes.

Neveah Stuart and Rayniece Gibson finished with a time of 1:16.24 and 1:17.56 apiece. In the 1,200m race the same trend occurred with A.F. Adderley’s Lewis securing a first place win and the Raptors’ Esmaella Pauleon and Tiaqra Wallace finishing second and third.

Gabriel Kemp, winner of the under 15 girls 1,500m race, bested the rest of her competitors to take home first place for the Tigers. The young athlete clocked 6:07.10, finishing long before the rest of her opponents.

In second place was Jasmine Key from the Sharks with a time of 6:22.14. Dina Risque of the Tigers joined her teammate for third place.

In day one’s field action, Andrewinique Smith of the Raptors came out on top in the under 13 girls long jump. She soared with a height of 3.35m. The second best jump came from S.C. McPherson’s Alliyah Coleby and the Tigers’ T’Nesha Bowleg placed third.

One of day one’s star junior track athletes once again emerged victorious in the field events. De’Ante Joseph placed first in the under 13 boys long jump. He bested the Sharks’ Henry Lucien and the Raptors’ Sylvanno Georges with a jump of 3.98m.

With lots of momentum and a big lead going into day two, the Raptors head coach remains confident.

“Tomorrow will be another exciting day. I cannot wait until tomorrow to see what the schools are going to bring,” Davis said.

Senior Division CR Walker Knights in the lead after day one

The C.R. Walker Knights lead the team rankings after day one with a score of 219.

The C.V. Bethel Stingrays will look to close in on the Knights after finishing the day with 161 points for second place.

The R.M. Bailey Pacers hold third place with a score of 134.50, only edging out the C.I. Gibson Rattlers by a margin of 2.50 points.

The Knights came out on top in the under 17 girls 400m run, bringing home first and second place finishes for the senior school. The race belonged to the Knights’ Akaree Roberts and Gabrielle Major who clocked times of 1:00.65 and 1:08.98.

The pair of Knights were followed by Anatol Rodgers’ Gabrielle Seymour who finished third. Roberts talked about their coach’s advice for the 400m race.

“The strategy was to get out hard, keep a good pace, and start moving at the two [200m],” Roberts said.

Her teammate added that she kept a positive mindset throughout the race and was happy about their first and second placement in the race.

The under 17 girls 1,500m race was no different as the Knights once again claimed first and second in the long distance race. Dahjia Mesidor and once again Akaree Roberts captured first and second place for the senior school. The pair edged out the third place Stingrays’ Saniya Bain.

Despite a strong start by the Knights on day one, the Stingrays were able to collect a few wins on the day.

Winning alongside your teammate seemed to be the theme of the senior division as the Stingrays’ Iesha Hanna and Synia Lockhart took home first and second place in the under 17 girls 100m dash.

The dynamic duo edged out C.R. Walker’s Dahjia Mesidor who finished third with a time of 13.05.

Brandon Mackey, winner of the under 17 boys 400m run, added to the momentum of his teammates, securing a first place win. He notched a time of 57.34, beating out the rest of the competitors. Cavalle Ferguson of the C.I. Gibson Rattlers placed second with 58.19 and Jaydian Lewis of the Stingrays finished third.

In the always exciting under 20 boys 100m finals, the Knights’ Carlos Brown not only beat the competition but also the CARIFTA qualifying mark. Brown beat the qualifying time of 10.60 by shaving off 0.10 seconds to end the race with a time of 10.50. The second and third place positions were held by R.M. Bailey’s Samalie Farrington and Doris Johnson’s Terrance Deveaux. Brown talked about his excitement for the win.

CRUISE CONTROL: High school students compete yesterday on day one of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) Track and Field Championships. The C.H. Reeves Raptors and C.R. Walker Knights are leading their respective divisions.

“I feel really good coming off injury [I] wasn’t training for like a month so I felt really good with my time and know I can do better,” Brown said.

Although the Knights and Stingrays were the top competitors on day one of the GSSSA championships, the R.M. Bailey Pacers were able to make some noise.

Melvinique Gibson shined on day one despite the scattered showers at the meet.

Gibson emerged as the winner in the under 20 girls 100m finals with a time of 11.94. She was followed by C.V.Bethel’s Marquell Newbold who clocked 12.21.

Kevanice Hanna came third for the Government High School.

Gibson led the way to victory in the under 20 girls 400m finals. Despite being soaking wet, the young athlete won in convincing fashion. She blew past the competition with a time of

1:01.08. Second and third place belonged to C.C. Sweeting’s Kevanna Miller and C.R. Walker’s Natassia Edgecombe.

The Pacers’ athlete talked about how it felt to win. “It feel good cause I had expected this from long time like I said with God on my side anything is possible,” Gibson said.

In relay action, the Stingrays bested its competitors in the girls under 20 and boys under 17 4x100 relays.

The girls relay team of Celine Mackey, Pasha Johnson, Zaria Fowler, and Marquell Newbold finished with 51.02.

For the under 17 boys, Travanti Oliver, Brandon Mackey, Gee Sene and Darius Pratt ended the race with a time of 45.13.

Both the Raptors and Knights will look to build on day one leads as day two of the GSSSA track and field championships commences at 9:15am this morning.

Photos: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

CARLOS BROWN, winner of the under 20 100 metres.

Tour Daddy Defenders emerge as NPVA men’s volleyball champions

THE Tour Daddy Defenders emerged as the men’s champions of the New Providence Volleyball Association. After losing the first two games of the series, the Defenders wrapped up the title on Sunday at the Anatol Rodgers Gymnasium in backdoor sweep in a 3-2 win over the Warlords. In the clincher in the series, the Defenders won 25-23, 25-19 and 25-21 in a three game sweep. The Defenders join the Panthers, who clinched the ladies’ title over the Johnson’s Spikers in a 3-1 series decision.

SLAP FIGHTING: THE NEXT BIG THING, OR UNSPORTING STUPIDITY?

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP) —

The competitors stand rigidly upright with their hands behind their backs, waiting to absorb a brutal slap to the face.

When the open-handed blow is delivered, there’s a sharp report and the reaction can be dramatic. Some fighters barely move, while others stumble backward or fall to the floor. Some are knocked out.

UFC President Dana White is selling slap fighting as the next big thing in combat sports, putting his money and the resources of one of the world’s foremost mixed martial arts organisations behind the Power Slap League. The Nevada Athletic Commission has sanctioned the league for competitions in Las Vegas.

“It’s a home run,” said White, who is among several UFC officials involved in the league.

Some slap-fighting beatdowns have gone viral, including a video from eastern Europe showing a man who continues to compete even as half of his face swells to seemingly twice its size. Such exposure has led to questions about the safety of slap fighting, particularly the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative brain disease believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head. A former chairman

SOTO

FROM PAGE 15

HURTING TRADE

AC MILAN REACHES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QF WITH 0-0 DRAW AT SPURS

LONDON (AP) —

AC Milan advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after holding 10-man Tottenham to a goalless draw yesterday.

Brahim Diaz’ strike in the first leg of the round-of-16 matchup was enough to separate the teams as even the return of manager Antonio Conte could not inspire a comeback from Spurs.

Seven-time European champions Milan cruised through the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which saw Cristian Romero sent off in the second half.

Harry Kane’s 94th minute header was the closest the home team came to leveling the score on aggregate — before Milan substitute Divock Origi hit the post in a frantic finish.

Conte was back on the sideline for Tottenham after spending two-anda-half weeks in Turin recovering from gallbladder surgery.

of the commission, which regulates combat sports in Nevada, says approving the league was a mistake.

Chris Nowinski, cofounder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, agrees, calling slap fighting “one of the stupidest things you can do.”

“There’s nothing fun, there’s nothing interesting and there’s nothing sporting,” Nowinski said. “They’re trying to dress up a really stupid activity to try to make money.”

White and the competitors remain unfazed, comparing commentary on slapping to the negative reaction the UFC faced in its infancy more than 20 years ago.

“I think it’s definitely overblown with the topics of CTE and the damage that we’re taking,” said Ryan Phillips, a Power Slap League fighter. “I think a lot of people still just don’t understand that it’s still a slap.”

Concerns about concussions leading to CTE, which can cause violent mood swings, depression and memory loss, aren’t confined to combat sports. The disease has shown up in the brains of former rugby players, and the NFL and college football have taken steps to cut down on blows to the head by changing rules regarding tackling and other hits. CTE can only be detected during an autopsy.

Despite the naysayers, White said he believes slap

Frankie Montas said Wednesday his shoulder wasn’t fully healthy when he was acquired by the New York Yankees at the trade deadline last season, but the right-handed starter said he tried to “push through” after joining his new team.

Montas, who went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in eight starts last season after being obtained from Oakland, is recovering from shoulder surgery that will keep him from throwing until at least late May. “I was trying to push through,” Montas told reporters in his first comments since surgery two weeks earlier. “I got traded to a new team and wanted to show what I could do. Things didn’t go the way I was expecting.”

The Yankees placed Montas on the injured list in late September after his second cortisone injection of the year, knocking him out of the AL Division Series. He was on the roster for the AL Championship Series, but pitched only one inning in the opener against Houston.

Montas said he kept experiencing discomfort when trying to begin a throwing programme during the offseason. While he tried to avoid surgery, he said

fighting will follow a similar trajectory to mixed martial arts, which the late Sen.

John McCain referred to as “human cockfighting” in 1996, when the UFC didn’t have weight classes or many rules. McCain’s criticism helped force the organisation to become more structured, leading to its widespread acceptance.

White said the ratings of the TBS reality show “Power Slap: Road to the Title” bear out the early popularity of what to many is still a curiosity.

White said he realised there could be a market for the sport in the U.S. when he clocked the millions of YouTube views of slap fighting videos from eastern Europe in 2017 and 2018. The videos were

that was the best option, and that he is confident that he will pitch this season for the Yankees.

“Trust me, I’m one of the guys that wants to be out there pitching right now and showing what I can do,” he said. “But things didn’t work out that way, so just trying to rehab and come back so I can help with whatever they want me to do.”

New York acquired Montas and reliever Lou Trivino from the Athletics on August 1 in exchange for four prospects.

JUDGE IN LEFT

Aaron Judge played his first game in left field since he was a minor leaguer nearly seven years ago. The record-breaking slugger could end up playing quite a few games there for the New York Yankees this season.

Judge was in left field for the first five innings of the Yankees’ 4-0 exhibition loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, though he had no putouts. Manager Aaron Boone has said he would like to use Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield for 40-60 games this season if the slugger is healthy. That would mean shifting Judge to left at times because Gold Glove winner Harrison Bader, acquired at last year’s trade deadline, is expected to get the bulk of the starts in center.

On way to setting the AL record with his 62 home runs last season, Judge started 74 games in

often poorly produced, the slap matches unregulated. White became convinced that fights with written rules and shot with professional video equipment could convert many internet viewers into dedicated, paying fans.

The Nevada commission gave slap fighting some much needed legitimacy when it unanimously sanctioned the sport in October and a month later awarded White a license to promote it.

But White’s enterprise was hampered when he was captured on video slapping his wife on New Year’s Eve. White apologised, but has acknowledged it damaged efforts to get the league off the ground. White is no newcomer to controversy: Former UFC fighters Kajan

centre field, 54 in right field and 25 more as DH. He signed a $360 million, nine-year contract during the offseason. The last time Judge had played left field before Wednesday was for Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre against Syracuse on August 7, 2016. Judge’s only putout in that game was an eighth-inning flyout by Michael A. Taylor.

JANSEN’s WBC WAIT

Kenley Jansen could still be part of his fourth WBC with the Netherlands team — if it advances to the semifinals in Miami.

“So hopefully we’ll get there to Miami so he can join us from Fort Myers for the final round,” Netherlands manager Hensley Meulens said before the team began pool play in Taiwan on Wednesday. Second-round games would be played in Japan.

Jansen is in his first spring training with the Boston Red Sox after the long-time closer spent last season with the Atlanta Braves.

“At the time we had to put out the roster on February 7, Kenley was not ready to throw at that time,” Meulens said. “He choose to get in shape first and join us later on if we get there. So we honor that decision. He switched teams, as well, but the last two times, also, he never came over here, so he always joined us in the last round.”

Johnson and Clarence Dollaway filed a lawsuit in 2021 against Endeavor, the organisation’s parent company, alleging that UFC takes an inordinate share of the profits. But White is charging ahead.

Three qualifying events have taken place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, ahead of the March 11 telecast on the streaming platform Rumble in which champions will be crowned in four weight classes.

Power Slap fights are typically three to five rounds. The fighters take turns hitting each other in the face with an open hand, and those on the receiving end stand with their hands behind their backs. A fighter has up to 60 seconds to recover and respond after receiving a blow. Fighters can earn up to 10 points based on the effectiveness of the slap and the defender’s reaction.

Fights can end in a decision, knockout, technical knockout or disqualification, such as for an illegal slap. All slaps are subject to video review. Each event has two referees and three judges.

Also present are a supervising doctor and a physician or physician’s assistant, plus three EMTs and three ambulances. White has touted the safety record of the UFC, but has not talked specifically about injuries in the Power Slap League.

PSG

FROM PAGE 15

Cup by Marseille last month. Shortly after having a goal ruled out for offside, and also inadvertently blocking a teammate’s shot, Choupo-Moting scored in the 61st minute to put Bayern on course for the quarterfinals and send PSG — which has never won the Champions League — out of the competition in the last 16 for the second year running.

Leon Goretzka and Thomas Müller teamed up to take the ball off Marco Verratti and Goretzka squared the ball for ChoupoMoting to apply a simple finish with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded.

Two substitutes then linked up to make sure of the win on the counter in the 89th, with João Cancelo surging down the right flank before playing in Gnabry to score.

Games between PSG and Bayern have helped define the career of Choupo-Moting, a latedeveloping 33-year-old forward who until this season was best known as a backup striker for Robert Lewandowski at Bayern.

Choupo-Moting played for PSG against Bayern when the German team won the Champions League final in 2020. After signing for Bayern as a free agent the following season, he scored

But the he could only watch on as his team failed to break down Italian champions Milan, meaning Spurs’ 15-year wait for a trophy goes on, having failed to win any silverware since the League Cup in 2008.

Tottenham is now left to battle for a place in the Premier League top four, which would provide a route back into the Champions League. Milan, meanwhile, can dream of an eighth title in Europe’s elite club competition.

Only Real Madrid has been crowned European champion on more occasions than Milan, which last won club soccer’s biggest prize in 2007.

Few expect Stefano Pioli’s team to break that drought this season, but it heads into the last eight after a defensively resolute performance subdued a Tottenham attack that was short of ideas.

While the finish was thrilling, the rest of the game had provided few chances for either side.

Tottenham had gone into the game on the back of bruising losses to second-division Sheffield United in the FA Cup and Wolverhampton in the Premier League.

While Conte’s return should have provided a boost, there was little sign of it as Spurs allowed Milan to cruise through the first half.

once in each leg in a defeat onaway goals to PSG in the Champions League quarterfinals.

PSG was without Neymar, who played the first leg before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury, but had Mbappé, a substitute in the first game, back in the starting lineup.

The French champion pressed Bayern high up the field from the start, pressuring Bayern’s defense into some rash decisions. Bayern was lucky to escape without conceding when de Ligt made a desperate goal-line block in the 36th to clear Vitinha’s shot on an otherwise unguarded net. The chance came about when goalkeeper Yann Sommer tried to dribble forward under pressure from Achraf Hakimi, only to give the ball away to Vitinha.

Swiss goalkeeper Sommer — signed to stand in for the injured Manuel Neuer — paid tribute to de Ligt, telling broadcaster DAZN that he would reward the defender with “a truck load of Swiss chocolate.”

PSG coach Christophe Galtier blamed the team’s busy schedule and injuries to key players for the loss.

The injury list lengthened when captain Marquinhos went off in the 36th minute with what appeared to be a repeat of the rib pain which limited him in last week’s win over Nantes.

IN this photo provided by Zuffa LLC, Ryan Phillips slaps Rob Perez at a Power Slap event in Las Vegas on March 31, 2022. When the open-handed blow is delivered, there’s a sharp report and the reaction can be dramatic. Some fighters barely move, while others stumble backward or fall to the floor. Some are knocked out. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via AP)

ANTHONY Davis

DAVIS’ 30 POINTS, 22 REBOUNDS LEAD LAKERS PAST GRIZZLIES

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Anthony Davis had 30 points and 22 rebounds, Dennis Schröder added 17 points and nine assists and the Los Angeles Lakers moved into ninth place in the Western Conference with a 112-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves scored 17 points apiece in the sixth win in eight games for the Lakers, who are surging since the trade deadline despite missing LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell to injury.

Jaren Jackson scored 26 points and Tyus Jones had 16 for the Grizzlies, who dropped to 0-2 without Ja Morant with their third straight loss overall.

Morant missed his second straight game since the Memphis superstar apparently took a gun into a strip club on the road and then flaunted it on social media last weekend. The two-time All-Star and the Grizzlies’ leading scorer is the target of two NBA investigations and a reported probe by Denver police.

Suns rout Thunder, Durant injured

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 44 points, Terrence Ross added 24 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 132-101 last night after losing Kevin Durant to an ankle injury during pregame warmups.

Phoenix has won four straight games, but that was almost an afterthought following Durant’s injury.

The game was supposed to be the home debut with his new team. A 13-time All-Star, Durant was added in a blockbuster trade deadline deal with Brooklyn and the Footprint Center was buzzing in anticipation.

But he rolled his left ankle while driving to the basket as he prepared to play.

The 6-foot-10 forward immediately hopped up and was walking, but several minutes later, the Suns confirmed that he would miss the game.

With Durant out, Suns fans had to settle for a scoring show by Booker, who had 30 points during the first half.

The three-time All-Star shot 17 of 23 — making 6 of 10 3-pointers — from the field and received a standing ovation in the fourth quarter when he checked out of the game for the last time.

Ross also was 6 of 10 from 3-point range. Chris Paul has 18 points and nine assists. He made 4 of 5 3-pointers. Oklahoma City played without All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander because of “abdominal strain injury management.” The Thunder were overmatched without him and the Suns pulled away in the second half.

Lindy Waters III led the Thunder with 23 points.

Durant has played three games with the Suns — all on the road and all wins — but this was supposed to be his first game at home in front of a sold out crowd. He averaged 26.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in the three games. His next chance to play at home will be Saturday against the Kings.

Phoenix added Durant and T.J. Warren at the trade deadline, sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and other draft compensation to the Brooklyn Nets.

The Suns pushed to a 34-21 lead after one quarter and had a 60-52 advantage at halftime.

Booker shot 11 of 15 from the field in the first half while Waters had scored 21 for the Thunder.

CELTICS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 93

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and made six 3-pointers and the Boston Celtics beat the Portland Trail Blazers 115-93 last night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Tatum had his 36th game this season with 30 or more points to help the Celtics avoid their first four-game losing streak.

Derrick White added 21 points and five assists. Al Horford finished with 17 points, six rebounds and assists.

Damian Lillard had 27 points and eight assists for Portland.

PELICANS 113, MAVERICKS 106

NEW ORLEANS (AP)

— CJ McCollum scored 13 of his 32 points in the final four minutes and New Orleans held off Dallas.

Dallas star guard Luka Doncic left in the third because of a strained left thigh after scoring 15 points. The Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram left late

in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle after scoring 12 points.

Kyrie Irving had 27 points for Dallas.

HAWKS 122, WIZARDS 120

WASHINGTON (AP)

— De’Andre Hunter’s three-point play with 1:07 remaining put Atlanta ahead to stay, and the Hawks held off Washington despite a career-high 43 points by Kristaps Porzingis.

The teams will finish the two-game set in Washington on Friday night.

Trae Young led Atlanta with 28 points and 10 assists.

Kyle Kuzma had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards.

CAVALIERS 104,

HEAT 100

MIAMI (AP) — Darius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell added 18 and Cleveland assured itself of a second consecutive winning season with a victory over Miami.

The Cavaliers (42-26) are two wins away from matching last season’s win total, with 14 games left.

Jimmy Butler had 28 points for Miami.

CARIFTA

FROM PAGE 15

through the success of many persons as they go on to become professional athletes or they use their athleticism to further their education and become professionals. So we’re very proud to be a part of this.”

Graphite Engineering

Ltd specialise in designs for

air-conditioning, ventilation, water supply, sanitary waste, liquified petroleum gas, medical gas, electrical, fire protection and fire alarm systems and assemble just the right team, best suited to execute the design works.

Patrice Adderley, the sales and operations manager for Lowe’s Wholesale Drug Agency, said as a company celebrating 70 years of existence, they

know what the country is going through with its 50th celebrations and so they are delighted to be a partner of the 50th games as well.

“We represent so many consumer goods and services and that’s why we are here. We’re here to give back to our country,” she said.

“We’re very elated for this opportunity to share in this grand athleticism

in terms of sponsoring our youth.”

And Rian A. Sands, the brand manager for both Clorox and Nutriment, said there’s no better way to service the country by investing in the youth of the nation with the two brands they will be distributing during the games.

She noted that in partnering with the LOC, they will get a chance to provide the Clorox beach to all of

the patrons at the games and at the same time give them some energy boost through four different flavours of the Nutrament drink.

“To our young athletes who were chosen to represent this grand Bahama land, do know that we stand by you, we will be cheering you on and we will be there to support you every step of the way,” said Sands.

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— When Pau Gasol joined the Los Angeles Lakers just over 15 years ago, the Spanish 7-footer banished his ego, redoubled his work ethic and immediately turned this team into contenders who eventually became champions. Gasol and Kobe Bryant did it all together, and their numbers now hang side by side in the Lakers’ arena.

The Lakers retired Gasol’s No. 16 jersey Tuesday night, honouring the genteel big man who spent the best seasons of his 18-year NBA career with Bryant in Los Angeles. The Lakers reached three straight NBA Finals after Gasol’s arrival in February 2008, winning championships in 2009 and 2010.

“I think I’ve done as good as I could to really embrace it and savour it, but tonight really exceeds any dream or expectation that I’ve had,” Gasol said before the game while wearing one championship ring on each hand. “It means so much, and obviously with Kobe up there, it just adds something meaningful and powerful and sad and happy and painful and joyful. It’s a lot of things.”

Gasol’s banner was unveiled during a halftime ceremony that began with Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, introducing a video in which an excited Kobe said he was looking forward to the day when Gasol gave a speech at centre court during his jersey retirement. Gasol choked up while watching the video and standing in that exact spot, wiping tears from his eyes before he spoke to the crowd.

“I’m just overwhelmed to see the faces here, all of you,” Gasol said. “It’s been my honour to wear this jersey, to play for this franchise and to help this team. ... I would have never in a million years believed a day like this could come. It just tells you to never say never. Just push yourself every day to be the best that you can be.”

Gasol’s versatile game complemented Bryant’s scoring prowess perfectly when Gasol decided to be a supporting player to a fellow superstar, and the two also formed a deep off-court friendship that endured to Bryant’s death in 2020.

Gasol thanked Vanessa Bryant during his speech: “Love you, sister. I’m proud to be your brother, and proud to be an uncle to your girls.”

TEXAS, OKLAHOMA COULD COLLIDE IN BIG 12 WOMEN’S TOURNEY

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It seemed almost fitting that Texas and Oklahoma, two schools that so often feel attached at the hip, would share the regular-season Big 12 women’s basketball championship this season.

Sure, the Longhorns and the Sooners have one year left in the league before departing together for the SEC, but it goes beyond that: They’re tradition-rich women’s programs that endured several years of mediocrity, recent coaching changes and quick rebuilds to find themselves back in the upper echelon of college hoops.

“These kids have a fouryear career and I don’t think it’s fair to say, ‘Hey, let’s get through the year and the best is in front of us,’ and all that,” said Texas coach Vic Schaefer, who has led the Longhorns to consecutive Elite Eight trips after replacing Karen Aston. “I think the standard is the standard.”

In Austin, that standard is measured in championships.

The No. 15 Longhorns won their first Big 12 Tournament title in nearly 20 years last season, and will begin defence of it Friday as the top seed against the winner of No. 8 seed Texas Tech and No. 9 seed Kansas State, who play a first-round game today at Municipal Auditorium.

The other first-round game pits No. 7 seed Kansas against 10th-seed TCU with the winner earning a date with the second-seeded and No. 14 Sooners on Friday.

The two quarterfinals will feature No. 4 seed Oklahoma State facing fifth-seeded West Virginia, precariously riding the NCAA Tournament bubble, and No. 3 seed Iowa State playing sixthseeded Baylor.

If the seeds play out, the Longhorns would play the Sooners on Sunday for the championship, having beaten them by an average margin of 21 points in their two meetings during the regular season.

The Sooners’ share of the regular-season title was their first since 2009; their Big 12 tourney drought dates to 2007.

“The goal is always win the Big 12,” Sooners senior guard Taylor Robertson said, “because you want to compete for championships. We we’re able to do that a few years ago. But we kept getting better each year, and we believed in

each other. And we knew if we stayed and we put in the work we’d have a chance to do something like this.”

INJURY OUTLOOK

Oklahoma’s leading scorer, Madi Williams, banged knees with an Oklahoma State player in the regular-season finale last weekend and it’s unclear whether she will play in Kansas City. Williams is averaging 15.7 points.

“I can tell you I know she’s doing everything she can and she really wants to play,” Sooners coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “We’re also keeping her future in mind for everything. She’ll be back at some point. I just don’t know when.”

ONE MORE TIME

This will be the last Big 12 tourney for Iowa State’s Ashley Joens, the league’s player of the year. She could have been a top WNBA pick last season but chose to return for a fifth season that was granted by the NCAA for the COVID19 season.

“We’ve got a lot left to do. It’s kind of a new season,” said Joens, the Cyclones’ career scoring leader. “You have to go out every game and if you lose, you’re done. You give it all you can and leave everything on the court.”

NCAA WATCH The Mountaineers are trying do solidify their spot in the NCAA Tournament with a couple of wins this week. Kansas could also take some of the stress out of

Selection Sunday with a win or two. Kansas State likely needs a run to the title game, and maybe win it, for the Wildcats to have a chance at making the field of 68.

Then there are Texas and Oklahoma, who are trying to earn top-four seeds for the NCAA Tournament. That would give them the opportunity to host firstand second-round games in front of their home fans.

HIGHER EXPECTATIONS

Oklahoma State is poised to return to the NCAA tourney after going 9-20 under Jim Littell last season. But judging by the way the Cowgirls felt after losing to Oklahoma last weekend, their improvement to 20 wins and counting hasn’t been enough.

“We’re a pretty damn good team,” said Jacie Hoyt, who took over after turning Kansas City into a mid-major contender. “We’ve beaten almost everyone and the teams that we haven’t beat, we were right there.”

PICTURED from left to right are Raine A. Sands, Patrice Adderley, Sonia Brown, Scieska Adderley and Fern Hanna,.jpg

TEXAS guard Rori Harmon (3) talks to head coach Vic Schaefer after an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor in Austin, Texas, on February 27. (Aaron E Martinez/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

SUNS guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Thunder forward Lindy Waters III during the first half last night in Phoenix.

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

UMPIRE MARTIN ‘PORK’ BURROWS APPOINTED TO COPABE COMMISSION

FROM PAGE 15

others see this, they will see that hared work pays off and push towards these types of achievements. But when Teddy sent it to me, I was moved by it. I was impressed. It just goes to show that when you work hard, you will be rewarded at the finish line.”

Burrows joins the board that will be headed by the director of umpires Miguel Hernández of Venezuela. Burrows is one four members from COPABE on the commission. The other three are Luis Daniel del Risco from Cuba, Delfín Pérez from the Dominica and Carlos Rey from Puerto Rico.

They will serve with the other members from two others regions, including CONSUBE (the South American Confederation of Baseball), comprising of Carlos Leal from Venezuela, Everaldo Medeiros M. from Brazil, Ismael Pérez Álvarez from Colombia and Diego Salas from Argentina and CONCEBE, which include Edgar Estivenson from Panama, Jairo Mendoza (NCA) and Esteban Puriel and Luis Ramírez, both from Mexico. The Umpiring Commission will have, among others, the following functions:

- Prepare an organisation and operation manual.

- Create a plan training and updating activities for umpires.

- Establish an evaluation system for the umpires of the continent.

- Appointments of umpires for COPABE –WBSC Americas Baseball tournaments.

Through his appointment, Burrows said he will continue to work on assisting the local umpires.

He said he knew this opportunity would come for him, but he didn’t envision it would come this fast.

“We have the new stadium, so we will be having a number of tournaments coming here,” said Burrows, who served as an umpire during the initial COPEBE Caribbean Cup that christened the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium in December.

“It will be costly trying to bring people in. So the more I can get Bahamians qualified to officiate at this level, we can use them and save the money in the country. And they can get opportunities to travel once they are in the system.”

Burrows, who has been officiating for about 30 years and for the past 10-15 years on the international level, thanked God for

providing him with the ability to give back to his fellow Bahamians in order for them to get to the next level as an international umpire.

He also thanked his wife, Lisa Burrows, for sticking with him when he had to make the various journeys overseas to do his certification courses and to officiate in games, as well as when he took some time away from home to even officiate in games here in the country. He noted that it’s all worth it because he’s now sitting on one of the highest boards any Bahamian can attain as an umpire. He noted that the work is just beginning and it’s his goal to see other Bahamians follow in his footsteps.

UMPIRE Martin ‘Pork’ Burrows has been appointed to COPABE (the Pan American Baseball Confederation) - WBSC Americas Baseball Umpiring Commission. The appointment will run through 2025.