03112024 NEWS AND SPORT

‘JUSTIFIED’ RULING

IN TRIPLE KILLING

Jury says shootings by police in Blair case appropriate

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

A

history.

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A DEFENCE attorney asked a key witness in the criminal trial of Long Island MP Adrian Gibson and others why jurors should believe her testimony after she admitted to lying to police during her record of interview.

The finding bucks the recent trend of jurors making a homicide by manslaughter verdict in such cases and is one of the few justified homicide rulings police have got in the last year.

Police killed Tony Jamal “Foolish” Penn Smith, Valentino “T-Boy” Pratt, and

Damian Gomez, KC, continued attacking Tanya Demeritte’s credibility under cross-examination on Friday, citing inconsistencies with her police statements.

Ms Demeritte, who took a plea deal in 2022 after being charged in the case, previously admitted to

Fireman in Abaco dies after fall from fire truck en route to boat fire

RBDF SENT TO HAITI WILL BE SAFE, SAYS MUNROE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe told Defence Force officers yesterday that the government will not make hasty decisions regarding their potential deployment to Haiti and will ensure that any “terms of engagement” are reasonable and safe. He was addressing those

attending the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s annual church service at Mount Tebo Union Baptist church. His comments came as Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis travelled to Jamaica to join CARICOM leaders for another round of discussions on the crisis in Haiti.

A WREATH laying ceremony took place yesterday at the Wall of Remembrance at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base at Coral Harbour. The ceremony honoured the lives of members of the military who have fallen. Photos: Moise Amisial

RBDF sent to Haiti will be safe, says Munroe

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The Davis administration has committed to sending 150 defence force officers to join a multinational team to help stabilise Haiti.

Among other things, Bahamian officers would be expected to help the Haitian Coast Guard with maritime security training.

“I can assure the members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force who the commodore has put on notice, that you will be the instrument of this country in providing assistance, that the prime minister takes the matter seriously, that the deputy prime minister, the current acting prime minister takes the matter seriously and that I as minister of national security take the matter seriously,”

Mr Munroe said yesterday.

“We all have one thing in common, and that’s not being members of the Progressive Liberal Party. The one thing we have in common that can never change is that the three of us were born on a Family Island and have relied on maritime transportation in our daily lives.”

“So, we appreciate what you face in providing security for 100,000 square miles of an ocean state and so rest assured that there will be no hasty actions and there will be no impetuous designs and that we will ensure that any terms of engagement are not only reasonable and

logical, but as safe as can possibly be for the serving men and women for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.”

Haiti has been in a state of emergency since last weekend after fighting escalated when its Prime Minister Ariel Henry left for meetings with CARICOM leaders and Kenya’s president.

Gangs vying for political power have demanded that he resign. They have helped more than 4,000 prisoners escape. Although Kenya has agreed to lead a multinational security force to Haiti, its plans have been stymied in court.

Yesterday, acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that officers are equipped with the resources needed to carry out their mandate. He said craft acquisitions are ongoing, and negotiations are underway for the joint purchase of six additional vessels.

“Your dedication, alongside other national law enforcement agencies and regional and international partners, ensures a safe and stable environment, the very foundations upon which our nation thrives,” he said.

“This collaborative effort fosters an atmosphere conducive to economic growth, tourism development and overall national prosperity.”

‘Why should we believe you?’, key witness asked by lawyer

from page one

making false statements to police out of fear and confusion.

When pressed about that on Friday, she said she could not recall some of the answers she gave police but maintained she was fearful and confused at the time.

“You lied in such facility when you’re confused,” Mr Gomez told her. “Why should the jury believe you now?”

“God knows the truth,” she responded.

“I know I lied to them, but I know I didn’t sign the contracts that the lady showed me the other day.”

Mr Gomez asked the witness why she only remembered certain events, but not other things that happened around the same time.

She said: “Sir, when you have been through so much, it’s confusing about everything. Sometimes you’re trying to forget about this and just move on. You don’t want to relive it.”

She said she would never have gotten involved in “crookedness” if she had known the details beforehand.

Asked about her role as a director of Elite Maintenance, a company that was awarded contracts by the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) under Mr Gibson’s tenure, Ms Demeritte said she assessed

work sites at the request of Alexandria Mackey, Mr Gibson’s former fiancée. Regarding works for WSC’s Blue Hill tanks, she confirmed that R and L Pools was the company that Elite Maintenance subcontracted to carry out maintenance works there. She admitted to signing contracts with R and L Pools, but disagreed when Mr Gomez suggested she negotiated payments with them.

She also denied permitting her signature to be affixed to letters of acceptance from WSC to Elite Maintenance for the work.

“Whoever did it, they know who they are, they shouldn’t have put my signature there,” she added.

Mr Gomez asked her if she found it odd signing contracts with companies Elite Maintenance hired but not the letters of acceptance from the corporation.

“Sir, I don’t know, like I said, the details for these stuff,” she responded.

Mr Gomez pointed to a meeting she and Mrs Mackey had with representatives from R and L Pools, saying: “You all were discussing subcontracts to the very contracts that bear your signature.”

Ms Demeritte replied that she was not involved in those discussions and did not know about Mrs Mackey’s plans.

“I was helping Alexandria out. I didn’t know the extent of what she was doing,” she added.

Mr Gomez suggested she agreed to pay a representative of R and L Pools $40,000 to perform maintenance work at WSC’s Blue Hill tanks, but Ms Demeritte said she couldn’t recall the amount of the contracts.

Mr Gibson, the MP for Long Island, is facing bribery and money laundering charges concerning his tenure as WSC executive chairman under the Minnis administration.

The charges stem from Mr Gibson’s alleged failure to declare his interest in contracts awarded by the WSC.

The FNM politician is charged with four others ––Mr Elwood Donaldson Jr, former WSC’s general manager, Peaches Farquharson, Joan Knowles and Jerome Missick.

Prosecutors recently dropped charges against his cousin, Rashae Gibson, who has agreed to testify in the trial.

Mr Gomez, KC, Mr Murrio Ducille, KC, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, Raphael Moxey, Ian Cargill and Donald Saunders represent the defendants.

The Crown’s lawyers are Ms Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean and Rashied Edgecombe.

NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER WAYNE MUNROE

TANYA DEMERITTE

Fireman in Abaco dies after fall from fire truck en route to boat fire

from page one

before they reached the fire, and then they had to go back and get him.”

Mr Gape said the medical team at Baker’s Bay helped stabilise his cousin until he was taken to the island’s clinic and airlifted to New Providence.

Police did not report the fire, but multiple international agencies said the blaze seriously damaged a 37.8-metre Delta Marine motor yacht.

Videos of the fire circulated on social media. A Baker’s Bay representative declined to comment on the incident yesterday.

Mr Gape said his cousin’s fall was an accident and his family won’t blame anyone for what happened.

“It was a very tragic accident,” he said. “No one is to blame, and nothing is to blame. His head hit the road and he sustained a fracture, and that was really the battle, so we took him to Nassau about 1.30 through an air ambulance and then on Saturday morning, the neurologist looked after him for an analysis and he succumbed to his injuries at 9.50 on Saturday night.”

He said Mr Jenkins, a property manager who moved to Abaco nearly 20 years ago, loved his community and helping people.

“He was definitely community-minded,” he said. “I know he loved living there. He was very much attached to the

community. He’s been there, I think, mussy 20 years.”

“He always helped with the fire department too and all of those things help you become a part of the community. I felt he was very much dedicated to Guana Cay.”

In a statement yesterday, the Hope Town District Council offered condolences to Mr Jenkins’ family, saying he will be greatly missed.

“Jenks had served for many, many years as a volunteer on the Guana Fire and Rescue team,” the council said. “We salute his service and sacrifice as he ultimately met his death while in service to others. Our love and prayers go out to all of his family and friends.”

Island administrator severs his arm in car accident in Abaco

THE senior island administrator for Central Abaco and Hope Town severed his arm during a traffic accident on Abaco over the weekend.

Ricardo Ferguson, a former principal of Patrick J Bethel High School, was the sole occupant of a red 2019 Nissan Frontier that was travelling west along George Albury Boulevard Saturday night when he lost control and collided with a utility pole and an unoccupied unparked vehicle.

Police said he suffered serious injuries, including a severed arm, and was transported to the island’s clinic for medical attention.

He was later airlifted to New Providence for further

medical care. allegedly committed suicide on Friday. Police reported that around 1.30am, hospital authorities informed them that a woman was brought to the facility in an unresponsive state. Efforts to resuscitate her failed.

The woman reportedly ingested an unknown liquid substance. An autopsy will be performed to determine her exact cause of death. after being shot on Saturday. At about 12.30am, police said the victim was with a group of individuals in a vacant lot near McCollough Corner when a gunman approached and fired in

their direction before fleeing. The 19-year-old victim was hit in the upper body and was taken by ambulance to hospital, where he is in stable condition.

two men after an armed robbery on Saturday in Fox Hill at about 8.30pm. The two suspects reportedly entered a home on Armbrister Street, brandished firearms and robbed the occupant of an undisclosed amount of money.

Friday off Market Street shortly after 9pm over a seizure of ammunition. Police searched the 26-year-old on Windsor Lane and reportedly found a quantity of ammunition.

STEPHEN ‘JENKS’ JENKINS

SENIOR ISLAND ADMINISTRATOR FOR CENTRAL ABACO AND HOPE TOWN, RICARDO FERGUSON

‘Justified’ ruling in triple killing

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Trevor “Coopz” Cooper, Jr, on Commonwealth Avenue in the early morning of May 17, 2019.

Twelve police officers and three defence force officers were the subject of the inquest.

The officers appeared tense awaiting the jury’s finding, but relaxed after the decision was read in court.

Meanwhile, relatives of the three men called the result “unfair”.

Outside the courtroom after the finding, Victoria Roberts, Valentino Pratt’s mother, said the finding pained her.

“I am hurt, I am very hurt,” she said. “Justified to shoot someone 28 times and more and it was justified? I am hurt, very hurt.”

Jancimae Smith, Tony Smith’s mother, also expressed dissatisfaction.

“I feel like it wasn’t fair, but God has the last say,” she said. “In spite of what went on, God has the last say.”

Trevor Cooper, Sr, the father of Cooper, Jr, complained that the inquest ended prematurely. He said lawyers were not allowed to cross-examine a firearm expert on the weapons officers used before the matter was called to a close later that afternoon.

“I think it was unfairly, unjustly done,” he said.

“Based on the evidence that was requested we didn’t get sufficient evidence to really move forward in an adequate process. At the end of the day it was rushed, whereas we were supposed to have crossexamination of the ballistic report and all of a sudden she jumped to closing the matter. I feel like that that was programmed.”

Coroner’s Court inquests do not determine criminal liability, but adverse findings against the police could spark criminal prosecutions. The justified homicide finding likely brings an end to the matter.

Earlier Friday, Inspector Henrington Curry of the police firearms section testified that his office received 11 of the 15 guns officers used in this shooting. He said of 11 weapons, only three were found to have been fired on the day of the incident.

The families gasped in disbelief at the size of the M4 rifles Inspector Curry displayed in court.

Coroner Turnquest Deveaux had previously admonished police for their delay in collecting the firearms.

During the closing remarks of Ciji Smith Curry, one of the lawyers for the deceased, she noted that the gun found on Pratt’s left hand was resting on top of his curled fingers and that Pratt’s mother testified that her son was right-handed.

Homicide-by-manslaughter rulings affecting officer’s morale says police’s lawyer

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

POLICE morale is taking a hit from frequent homicide-by-manslaughter rulings in the Coroner’s Court, according to a lawyer who has represented officers in most inquests over the last year.

Once rare, jurors have returned two manslaughter findings this year. On Friday, they returned a justified homicide finding in the case of three men police killed in Blair Estates in 2019.

Yesterday, acting Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier said she has nearly finalised a decision on whether to charge officers who killed Deangelo Evans, 20, in 2018. A jury returned a manslaughter finding in that matter last August, one of several such findings last year.

“Each case has to be accessed and a determination made whether there is criminal liability,” Ms Frazier said yesterday. “Some of them result in criminal charges, some not. The standard is proof beyond a reasonable doubt for each offence. If we can’t make out a prima facie case in respect to the offence, we can’t charge.”

Last Thursday, jurors returned a manslaughter finding in the case of two officers who killed Roy Stubbs and Ernst Foreste near Cowpen Road on January 23, 2018. The men killed in that incident were reportedly suspects in an armed robbery at a KFC on Oakes Field. Stubbs was being electronically monitored for a pending murder trial at the time of his death.

Attorney K Kelvin Munroe, who represented the officers in that case,

expressed disbelief at the inquest finding.

“The finding of homicide by manslaughter in Thursday’s inquest could never be considered sound considering the circumstances and considering the evidence,” he said. “The evidence showed where the officers confronted armed suspects and not only that the suspects were armed, but shot at the officers causing and forcing these officers to engage.

“The evidence was clear.”

Mr Munroe also represented the officers in the Blair Estates matter that concluded on Friday.

He complained that the jury pool in inquests is “tainted”.

“The jury pool is tainted with recycled jurors, and that must be fixed,” he said. “It also appears as if the public don’t have sufficient confidence in the police, which also needs to fix. While an inquest does not determine liability, it still sends a black eye to the force and gives a negative outlook on the officers involved.”

“Policemen now are affected with these type of decisions.”

“Knowing that they followed their training, knowing that they are confronted with armed suspects and not only that the suspects are armed, they are being fired upon by these suspects and all they do is follow their training and engage these suspects, and then to come back to have an inquest for the jurors say that it is unjustified? The question then would be, what should an officer do? Stand up and be shot and killed? What would the verdict be then?”

“It just can’t be right. It has to make sense.”

She referred to the testimony of pathologist Dr Caryn Sands, who said Pratt could have got his injuries while lying down.

Romona Farquharson Seymour, another lawyer for the estates, highlighted what she called deficiencies in the police investigation in her closing remarks. She said police never gave a clear picture of what happened and that there was no clear lead investigator in the matter. She told jurors to ignore allegations that Smith was a “drug man” and focus on whether he did anything that night to justify his death.

Ryzard Humes, the last attorney for the estates, noted there was no arrest warrant for Cooper the night he was killed and said Cooper was only visiting from Grand Bahama when he was shot in the garage.

All three attorneys noted that none of the men had their hands swabbed for potential firearm analysis.

K Melvin Munroe, the attorney for the officers,

used his closing remarks to refute the arguments of the other lawyers.

Mr Munroe asked why Frantina Wilson, Pratt’s girlfriend at the time of the shooting, wasn’t killed if she was in the room at the time of his death.

He claimed Ms Smith fled the room just before Pratt

opened fire on police and was killed. Mr Munroe also said police were acting on a search warrant for a wanted murder suspect. He rejected claims that officers went to the mansion out for blood. He said one of the men on the warrant survived that night because

he posed no threat to the officers. He said the three men were killed because of their actions and that the police only defended themselves. He said officers are what stand between this country and anarchy. Angelo Whitfield marshalled the evidence.

POLICE removing a body from the scene of a police involved shooting that left three men dead in the Blair Estates area in 2017.

SIR

RT

Publisher/Editor

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

PICTURE OF THE DAY

More action needed in fight for equality

those women who need it.

ASP Whyms spoke – strongly and eloquently - of the number of women who are suffering in silence in violent or abusive relationships.

number of them.

There was, for example, the women’s march that took place on Saturday ahead of an expo held throughout the day. BTC celebrated the women on its staff, but also held discussions about the role of women in leadership.

The Tribune itself included a special supplement in Friday’s edition of the paper, highlighting issues and celebrating women from all walks of life – and from different nations. We learned for example what the pop song is that gets the US Chargé d’Affaires, Usha Pitts, going in the morning – along with many other women also sharing their inspirations, their loves and, yes, those songs. That is also now available on The Tribune’s website, www.tribune242.com.

In today’s Tribune, Chinese Ambassador Dai Qingli shares the speech she gave at an event on Friday.

While the primary focus is on the word “Women” in International Women’s Day, it is good to get the breadth of the international perspective. The day serves to bring us together to celebrate women, but also to look to what binds us together regardless of borders.

One of the invitations that came to The Tribune was from Colina, which was donating $5,000 each to the Bahamas Crisis Centre and to PACE – which stands for Providing Access to Continued Education.

Both organisations carry out valuable – in fact, crucial – work, and representatives of each spoke about their work.

The Crisis Centre’s work is well documented, helping women, children and men who are facing domestic violence and abuse. PACE, meanwhile, has a very specific goal of helping teenage mothers who have been unable to complete school due to pregnancy. It serves to help them to be able to complete their education – even down to helping to provide basics such as diapers for their children as the mothers struggle to balance the combination of studying, raising a child, and simply navigating the world as someone who is possibly still a child themselves or a young adult at most.

The other speaker was Assistant Superintendent of Police Kendra Whyms, the director of the domestic violence unit.

As we celebrate women, we must also do more than that – and support

She talked of how often women who came forward were reluctant to do so, saying that they just want their abuser to stop, they do not want action to be taken against them.

Often some might say they were afraid to call for help because their abuser might be an official or connected to someone in a position of power.

The domestic violence unit, she says, is independent within the force for precisely that reason, to ensure that no one needs to fear calling for help because of concerns about retribution.

A new shelter for women is in progress, due to open in the next couple of weeks or so, she said, but beyond resources, ASP Whyms reiterated the need to support women when they reach out for help.

That is not just a situation in the here and now – but a generational matter.

ASP Whyms talked of how she has seen cases where generations of families have been subjected to abuse, which continues because no one speaks out, and a line is not drawn to save others from becoming victims.

She does not blame victims for this, far from it, they are the ones who are scared for their lives, or perhaps scared for their children’s lives in the middle of the situation.

But it does speak to what we need to do, what we need to continue to do, in our society, to make domestic violence completely unacceptable.

In the past, we have heard so-called jokes made in parliament about hitting women. We have seen proposed legislation for gender-based violence stripped of the gender element and promised consultation has seemingly been pushed into the long grass.

New resources such as the women’s shelter are welcomed – but there is more to do.

International Women’s Day must not just be a moment to say look how far we have come, but rather an opportunity to also say look how far we still have to go.

What will we do this year to make the lives of women better by next year? Will it be that further consultation? Will it be action to bring equality on matters of citizenship? It must not simply be a moment to pay lip service to honouring women, it must be a milepost that shows us the distance that remains.

And one thing is clear – there is still a long way to go.

EDITOR, The Tribune. HERE in our wonderful nation a lot of people are up in arms, pardon the pun, over crime and the fear of crime. Basically, despite the perception, crime is NOT out of control. Yes, there are challenges but nothing insurmountable, in my considered view.

The vast majority of the crimes to which people are getting bent out of shape relates to alleged gang warfare and retaliation. Ordinarily the “victims” of such activities are targeted. Sadly there is often some collateral damage or injuries.

Statistics, where they exist and are accessible, would show that our younger people in the 16 years old to perhaps early 30s are more than likely to become so-called gang members or engage in a life of unabated criminal behaviour. We have known this for decades and the glorification of the drug trade. It started out with the pomp and pageantry extended to the late Robert “Bob” Nestor Marley during the then PLP’s sponsorship of The Year of The Child. Marley was greeted like a conquering Lion from the fabled Tribe of Judah complete with a miles long motorcade.

crying out in the political wilderness and akin to a prophet without honour in his own home.

Sir Lynden conceptualised the establishment of a National Youth Service. Without seeking to cast “blame” on any sector of our society, we have ALL failed ourselves and our younger generations. Untold damage has been wrecked on our society and way of life without exception. Almost all households have experienced and lived through the tragedy of the unexpected violent death of a family member, especially the younger males.

loved ones.

I call upon the Hon Prime Minister and his government of and for the unwashed and marginalised Bahamians within our society, to urgently fulfill the dream and vision of the late Sir Lynden, as a legacy in his memory to establish a National Youth Service. The nuclear family has failed; The church and its leaders, basically, are not even checking from a holistic point. They too have failed. The politicians come and they go. So many of them are only in the political game for a short period of time to fill the quota; seek to amass as much wealth as possible and retire or be retired comfortably.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

TOWARDS the end of last year l asked the question: What is happening with the big time expensive PR promised/ plenty talk and fanfare openings of the $15m Golden Yolk Programme throughout our Family of Islands? I asked because hundreds of “biddies” had been given out for free... left, right, and centre to people here and there all around The Bahamas who were supposed to raise the chickens for eggs

to feed our nation... “slash the country’s import bill by $12.5m” and “increase Bahamian egg production from 750,000 to more than 27 million eggs per year”... ya-da ya-da ya-da. However, the new feed mill hadn’t arrived yet, in fact, l don’t know if it had even been ordered at that juncture - which seemed a bit backwards to me - like a “chicken before the egg” situation (pun intended), and so l was wondering if anyone could even verify

how many chickens were still alive, or whether anyone was even checking! So here we are, one year later since the groundbreaking ceremony. Dey gat giant flag banners earmarking the programmes fluttering in the wind, but vey da chickens, and vey dere eggs dem? Inquiring minds would like to know.

PAM BURNSIDE New Providence,

Sometime after that the ingestion of marijuana and other mind altering drugs started to become more societally accepted and viewed as somewhat harmless. The so-called culture of Rasta came out of the closet and became the norm amongst our younger people. The effects, mostly negative, of marijuana consumption coupled with alcohol, which is readily available to school aged children and young adults, literally lit the short fuse and the BOMB has now blown up in our collective faces.

With the advent of the illegal drug culture we witnessed children dropping out of high school, if they made it that far, without graduating. After this, keeping in mind that the majority of them have no marketable skills or work experience. No one paid much attention to this scenario except for people like the late great and deeply lamented Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, the Father of our nation. He was a voice

Our daughters have turned to sexual prostitution because they have nothing to market or sell except themselves. Unwanted and illegitimate children abound with few daddies, where known, are in sight. Like the boys and younger men, many of our younger females would also have dropped out of high school or become pregnant for a no good and deeply lousy young or older male. They themselves would have dropped out of school and have absolutely no marketable skills or training. The results? Generations of happy-go-lucky people without any responsibilities or a care in this world. The females end up with multiple children for different boys/men. The males may well join a gang and start to resort to a life of crime; inclusive of drug dealing; theft; housebreaking; car jacking; male prostitution and hit men/women all in pursuit of ‘earning’ a living by any means necessary. Yes, we have ALL failed ourselves; our children and, for sure, the God Whom most of us serve. There are lots of ‘good’ parents out there but there is an equally number of ‘bad’ or ‘misguided’ parents/guardians. Most parents, even some within the traditional family units are so busy living the life of Riley; sweet hearting; prostituting; raping and robbing that we do not have time for family interaction and the inclination to find out what is happening in the lives of our children and

Our younger generations need to be socialized; trained in marketable skills or disciplines. The suggested National Youth Service, while it should be exposed to military discipline there should be a limit. After all most of our youths allegedly already know how to handle a firearm so we do not wish to develop human walking terrorists. While enrolled, participants would attend classes offered by BTVI and BAMSI in varied disciplines of their aptitude or choice. Three or four days in the classroom and a day or two engaged in community services.

While in the programme participants would be given a reasonable stipend and/ or serve as apprentices in partnership with the government of the day and private businesses. Such partnerships have worked well in industrialized and first world nations. I suggest that the same could work here. Lastly, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ must redouble its efforts and step up to the plate more effectively.

Some religious leaders are so busy seeking mammon that they have little time for Thus Saith The Lord. As a result many people now see the church as one big shake down and regard some of the leaders as gangsters of the first order and spawns from the very pits of hell! To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, March 4, 2024.

ROBERT Downey Jr poses in the press room with the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for “Oppenheimer” at the Oscars yesterday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

A sign of incompetent governance or is it just outright cowardice?

By TYLER MCKENZIE

THE announcement of the increase in National Insurance Board contribution rates last week should have been an example of good planning and wellcoordinated execution – instead it was a sign of governance by ineptitude at best, cowardice at worst. Bear in mind that we have known an increase in NIB has been coming for months. Businesses in particular have been crying out for more details so they can plan ahead. The increase comes on July 1, which means businesses have been wanting to ensure they know how much they have to allocate for such an increase.

So knowing that this was a matter of national attention, for which there had been ample time to plan the rollout of the announcement, you would think the government would have been able to line up the same message across all ministries and departments. Not so.

What we got was a minister standing on his feet in the House saying one thing, then the Office of the Prime Minister hastily sending out a statement saying another. This was a government briefing against itself – within hours, even, in response to the actual ministerial statement rather than any public backlash that had not had time to start up.

Let’s go over it. Alfred Sears is the minister who has NIB in his portfolio. A thankless task, perhaps. He got to his feet for his midyear budget contribution to announce that NIB rates will go up by 1.5 percent on July 1. So far, so straightforward.

By RT HON LORD CAMERON

State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Today, on March 11, some 2.5 billion of us will come together to celebrate the Commonwealth family. 75 years after the London Declaration, I will join this family’s many nations, faiths and communities at a service at Westminster Abbey in London. I am encouraged schools across The Bahamas will be marking and celebrating, too.

I was Prime Minister when the Commonwealth agreed a new Charter, a milestone in our family’s history. For the first time, we had a single document setting out our core values and shared goals. Today, as Foreign Secretary, I want our family of nations working in partnership to uphold these values and fulfil these goals.

I am proud of the work

However, that’s not where it stopped. Mr Sears said: “NIB reform is not a matter of choice, but a matter of necessity. We can no longer delay or ignore this issue, as it affects our present and future welfare. We have a collective responsibility to protect and preserve the National Insurance Board.”

This of course is something we knew. The NIB fund has been steadily dwindling and something has been needed to be done to rescue it for far too long, through several administrations.

Mr Sears went on to say: “Therefore, effective the first Monday of July 2024, the contribution rate for NIB will be increased by 1.5 percent to be shared equally between the employer and the employee, and thereafter a 1.5 percent increase every two years from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2044. Similarly, the same increase will

Commonwealth members do in partnership, including in The Bahamas, in areas ranging from the rule of law to protecting the environment. We are bound together by our many connections and inspired by our incredible diversity. This makes us a strong and respected voice in the world, capable of addressing global challenges. It means all our citizens can benefit from belonging to this family in their daily lives.

Thanks to our strong ties, the cost of trade between

be applied to self-employed persons and voluntarily insured persons.”

An increase every two years which, better accountants than me have worked out, takes the NIB rate from its present 9.8 percent to a total of 26.3 percent by that July 2024 increase. That will be split with 14.15 percent paid by the employer and 12.15 percent paid by the employee, as confirmed by no less than the acting director of NIB, Heather Maynard.

In the same mid-year budget, it should be noted, Mr Davis said that there are no plans to introduce personal income tax or other income-related taxes “at this time”. Well, who needs them when NIB contributions just got flagged to rise to the level of a substantial income tax?

The reasoning behind all this comes from an actuarial review – in fact, for a long time now. Back in

Commonwealth members is more than 20% lower than the costs of trading with non-Commonwealth members.

We have made enormous strides in recent years in empowering women and girls, backing 4000 businesses owned by women across the Commonwealth to become more competitive.

And we are working hard together to promote our values. The Commonwealth came together to stand by Guyana when it was threatened. And Commonwealth missions have observed dozens of elections since we agreed our new Charter.

The bonds our family shares matter all the more as we face great global challenges. I believe this is especially true for our small island members such as The Bahamas. Our Charter recognised their particular needs in building their resilience, especially in the face of climate change. This global challenge impacts

2001, a review said reserves were going to be depleted by 2029. The NIB chairman who received that review back then is now our prime minister, Mr Davis. The estimate is now for it to run out in 2028. The most recent actuarial report, in 2022, suggested an increase of contribution rates by two percent every two years starting in that year and ending in 2036.

So the announcement is based on that reasoning – but then in swoops the Office of the Prime Minister to say hold on, wait a minute.

The statement from OPM said that while an actuarial review “recommended increasing the contribution rate not just this year, but every two years, for years to come. Those recommendations were repeated by Minister Sears”, that this represented “a worst-case scenario”. It concluded: “A decision has yet to be

these states relatively more given their geography.

It is to our families that we turn when we are most in need. I want these states, and the people of The Bahamas, to know they can turn to their Commonwealth family today.

We have a major opportunity this year. The Commonwealth Heads of Government will be meeting in a Pacific island country for the first time, gathering in Samoa this October. This gathering takes place a few months after the once-in-a-decade UN Small Island Developing States Conference in Antigua and Barbuda this May.

These states are already harnessing the power of nature to tackle the causes and impacts of climate change. Just look at Papua New Guinea, protecting some of the world’s most important forests, on which we all depend. Or take the sixteen Commonwealth small island states

made beyond the initial 1.5 percent announced to commence on July 1, 2024.”

Is this incompetence in terms of communication planning or cowardice knowing people would take a deep breath looking at the scale of the increase over the years?

The rollout of an announcement affecting the finances of Bahamians and Bahamian businesses to such a scale should be coordinated from top to bottom. The minister’s office ought to be working very closely with the ministry of finance and the leadership of the administration to coordinate the speech announcing that – if the prime minister himself isn’t the one to tell people of this new burden coming their way. There should be not one single word of that speech that has not been checked, discussed and approved.

By dashing in after the fact to say that a decision has not been made when Mr Sears very clearly suggested that was the plan for future years means one of two things – either the minister misled parliament with what he said, or he was right and the administration panicked.

Now, Mr Sears already has allegations of misleading parliament behind him in this term. When he was Minister of Works, he denied that he was briefed on the BPL fuel hedging plan that ultimately cost Bahamians tens of millions of dollars when the government decided not to go ahead with the proposal and then fuel prices shot up, costing us all in the pocket. He finally admitted that he did indeed receive an email on that and forwarded it to the

working as part of the global coalition committed to protecting at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. We can offer much more support to these efforts. Britain is doubling its provision of international climate finance. And last autumn the Prime Minister made our biggest ever contribution to the Green Climate Fund, the largest global fund to support developing countries in responding to climate change. This will help. But the biggest challenge these states face is accessing the international funding itself. Despite being low emitters uniquely exposed to the threat of climate change, they receive a minuscule proportion of such funding.

So many of these states said to me at COP – “we keep hearing announcements about green finance, but it seems so hard to get hold of the money and get projects financed”. That is what I want to fix. A dedicated

relatives to work.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on bail for manslaughter was fined $2,500 on Friday after he admitted to breaching his curfew five times to reportedly drop family members to work last month.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville charged Lamar Albury, 33, with five counts of violation of

Albury was awaiting retrial for a charge of manslaughter by reason of provacation for his alleged involvement in the death of DeVince Smith around December 21, 2015. During his trial Albury claimed that he killed Smith in self defense after the victim, who was a banker, allegedly made a sexual advance towards him.

The defendant’s initial 20-year-sentence for manslaughter was quashed and a retrial

was ordered by the Court of Appeals in October 2021. The Justice found that the Supreme Court failed to properly state Albury’s defense during his trial.

While out on release Albury failed to obey his court ordered nightly residential curfew five times between February 18 and 25.

After pleading guilty to the charge, Albury claimed that he only breached curfew to drop his

Ministry of Finance and the financial secretary, Simon Wilson, for assessment.

By shooting down the minister’s speech, OPM has called into question the whole plan stated by Mr Sears in Parliament.

Bear in mind, Mr Sears said we can no longer afford to delay or ignore this issue. The review states what needs to be done – and now all we have confirmed is the first step, which will be nowhere near adequate to deal with the shortfall of the fund on its own. So we’re taking a step which is not enough, without confirming what will be done for what is needed. And the government’s position? Oh, we’ve not decided yet.

If that is true, this is abject governance, a failure of the first obligation to do what needs to be done. If instead the decision has been made, but they just don’t want to tell us, then it is cowardice.

And if it is simply that two different sides don’t know what each other is going to say, then this administration is simply clueless when it comes to messaging and communication.

Whichever it is, this government has responded to its own minister in this way. It hasn’t reacted based on opposition response, or community backlash. This is a government arguing with itself, and the outcome is we still do not know what the long-term plan will actually be for NIB. Add in the lack of concrete information about what is happening with the future of BPL – a matter for another article –and it really does seem this government’s words about transparency are just that – words.

Commonwealth hub has helped to mobilise more than $310m of climate finance for our small island members since 2016. This year, as members of the same Commonwealth family, let’s build on this and go much further.

Britain has particular leverage as a major donor to the big multilateral development funds and banks. We are working particularly closely with these banks to scale up by hundreds of billions of dollars the funding they offer developing states. But all members can play a role. Many of us are donors. Others have experience to share in accessing finance from such funds and banks themselves, and making best use of them on the ground.

This October, in Samoa, we have a chance to show them and our other small island members just what the Commonwealth means. An effective association. A unique network. A reliable source of support. In short, a family.

BRITAIN’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

Slow motion

TIME is rather peculiar.

We all live within a vortex of irreversibly sequential events and yet, there are many days when hours feel like seconds.

There are other days, especially on an island, where it feels as if time has been suspended, drifting between a snail’s pace and standing still. On those days, when the world feels like it has stopped spinning, I can’t help but think that I’m living in slow motion.

And while such challenges may be easily psychoanalysed as perception versus reality, this feeling, can persist unabated for an extended period of time. Nowhere is that clock stopped ticking sensation more pronounced than in at the irreversible moment of tragedy. In a world of slow motion, death is at its coldest and most vengeful - and grief most prolonged.

Born in Mississippi in 1946, my patient hereafter referred to as Cookie has endured a lifetime of conflict and challenges. She’s described her latest trial as moving slowly blindfolded,

in a direction that she neither knows nor controls. Her life, she says, is playing out in slow motion which is a far cry from when she was a little girl and the weeks flew by so quickly they seemed to blend into one. But as she shares her life story with me, in a true testament of time’s peculiarity, the events of her youth feel like they occurred just yesterday. When she was just six months old, Cookie’s family moved from Mississippi to Staten Island, New York. In the late 40s, immediately following World War II, New York was booming with prosperity. Cookie’s mother was a dietician and her father was a hospital maintenance worker and they were able to afford a middle-class life for

their family of two girls and two boys. Cookie attended a predominantly white school because that was the district that she was assigned to. She loved school and it wasn’t until she was much older that she realized how pioneering her presence in that classroom would be. She recalls the isolation of being a minority but she was able to make a few friends and it was enough that she looks back at her time there with pride and a pocketful of happy moments. It wasn’t long before she decided that she wanted to go to nursing school. Cookie’s aunt was a nurse and seeing her in her stiff white uniform and cap fascinated her. Her aunt went on to become one of the first black nurse

By DR KENNETH D KEMP

anesthetists in the state of New York. She became hero and role model to Cookie. Surrounded by smart, strong, hard-working women, made her realise what women, particularly women of colour, could do professionally with determination. Cookie studied daily and her hard work eventually paid off. She became a straight-A student and her grades were high enough to get into any nursing college in the country but she was rejected from every single one that she applied to. Her rejection letters all delineated the same sentiment – nursing was not a proper fit for her based on her standardised psychological testing and she would likely fail so they implored her to consider

another career. Determined to forge her own path, despite her initial rejection, Cookie applied to several other nursing schools, some even more prestigious than her initial cohort, but this time she chose not to include a picture with the applications. Unsurprisingly, she was accepted to all but she ultimately chose to stay close to home and matriculate at a nursing school in New Jersey.

After she was accepted, she opted not to go for the interview and pretended to be sick. So, when she showed up at the first day of classes, everyone stared at her in shock. Needless to say, Cookie was the only black person in the entire school and both students and faculty alike were flustered. But it was too late and they couldn’t reject her without breaking newly enacted discrimination laws. Cookie’s plan worked but within hours, she was reassigned to a private dorm room because other students refused to share a room with her. She could feel them staring at her with curiosity and confusion as they quickly looked away and mumbled amongst themselves. Alone in her room she wanted to cry but it wasn’t long before she heard a knock on her door.

Standing there was a wellmanicured and affluent white student. She reached out her hand and introduced herself and said something that Cookie will never forget. Fighting back tears, Cookie vividly remembered her saying her name (hereafter referred to as Linda) and proclaiming defiantly “I’m going to be your friend!”. It was the lifeline that she needed and, in that moment, Cookie’s fears melted away.

But the introduction was more fortuitous than even she could have realised in that moment because this very same white student who became her first and only friend just so happened to be the daughter of the president of a large hospital. Spending time with Linda and her family opened a new world for Cookie. They introduced her to fine dining, exquisite clothing and the etiquette of high society. She would routinely listen in amazement to the business conversations that Linda’s father had and she realized that she was so fascinated with how hospitals are run that she didn’t just want to work at a hospital, she wanted to be involved in making policies that impacted how they operate. Her aspirations were nearly derailed however when just before leaving nursing school, she found out that she was four months pregnant. The stress of school often disrupted her menstrual cycle so when it was delayed, she quickly dismissed the obvious fears. The school policy was to discharge any student who was pregnant. So, with the advice of an advisor, she never told anyone about her predicament and a month later she left school on sick leave. She wasn’t showing at the time. Cookie had her daughter, hereafter referred to as Destiny, in 1967. Destiny’s father was Cookie’s high school sweetheart but they broke up in her second year of nursing school. She never wanted to marry him because she felt he would be a road block to her professional aspirations. Though Cookie never embraced her pregnancy, she instantly fell in love with Destiny from the day she was born and the guilt of leaving her to go to school was near crippling.

Cookie returned to nursing school immediately after she gave birth so no one at her school ever knew. Her aspirations to continue her nursing education subsequently led Destiny’s father to sue for custody of their daughter. While she was away attending school, Cookie’s mother and sister

took care of Destiny and he felt that Cookie was unfit because she chose not to leave school and take care of Destiny herself. Fortunately, Cookie won but the lawsuit took its toll on her.

Cookie obtained her nursing diploma and a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Then with stellar grades and excellent references, she got her masters in Nursing Administration from Hunters College and another masters in Health Administration from Columbia University.

Despite their initial struggles, Cookie encouraged a relationship between Destiny and her father and the two remained very close until he died in his late 30s from pancreatic cancer. Because of societal pressure, Cookie got married when Destiny was eight years old. This was her husband’s third marriage and her first. The marriage lasted 13 years and ended because she preferred working to being a wife. She felt a sense of relief when he started having an extra-marital affair and by the time he passed away later, he was married to his fourth wife.

Personal relationships aside, Cookie’s career soared. She was named hospital administrator for a very prestigious hospital in New York and over the course of her career she was in charge of in-patient care co-ordination focusing on continuity of care and transitioning patients back into the community following hospital discharge. Not long after the AIDS crisis emerged, she was given a grant for a mobile testing unit and she went on to work in the hospital psych unit, urgent care, outpatient treatment and ambulatory facilities, primarily developing treatment centers in urban communities.

Everything went by so quickly until one day in 2022, not long after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Destiny, now in her early 50s, called to say that she was experiencing abdominal cramps so severe she couldn’t go to work. Throughout the course of the day, she took a laxative and pain reliever but continued to experience increasing pain and discomfort. Cookie insisted that Destiny go to the hospital. By 4pm, the pain became unbearable so she did just that. But by midnight Cookie hadn’t heard from her and she instinctively knew something was wrong especially after Destiny’s phone kept going to voicemail.

Panicked and worried, Cookie called around to different hospitals in the vicinity of her daughter’s apartment.

By luck and logical deduction, she called the right hospital emergency room. She stated who she was and asked if her daughter was being treated there. A nurse answered and frantically yelled for a doctor. When he came to the phone, he told Cookie that Destiny was there, it was extremely urgent because she’d been rushed into surgery and he needed her to get to the hospital as soon as possible. As her worst fears were realized, Cookie dropped the phone and made her way to her daughter. Her mind and heart raced frantically but her body felt like it was moving in slow motion. In that moment Cookie knew, despite everything she’d endured, that this would be the start of her greatest trial.

This is The KDK Report be published next Monday, March 18.

Fostering a shared future and a better world for all women

By DAI QINGLI, Chinese ambassador to The Bahamas,

Speaking on International Women’s Day

on Friday

THREE years ago today, on International Women’s Day 2021, a new chapter began for me as I left Beijing to serve as the first woman ambassador of China to The Bahamas.

Reflecting on this tenure,

I am continuously inspired by the formidable women in The Bahamas, whose substantial achievements have not only sculpted their nation’s landscape but have also shone as a beacon of our collective strength and the transformative power we possess when united in purpose and action.

On this International Women’s Day, we have a lot to celebrate, for Bahamian women and for women around the world.

Despite the shared adversities that women across the globe encounter, the historical and cultural challenges that Chinese women had faced had been particularly

profound. I think of my aunt, who was born in 1927 and died many years ago. She had strange, tiny feet called bound feet. Like many other girls of her generation, since she was five or six years old, her feet had been tightly bandaged with a long strip of cloth day and night by her mother, until they became completely deformed and could no longer grow. Girls had to suffer such an ordeal for centuries because of some men’s distorted aesthetic preference. This was the ultimate representation of the oppression of women in China.

Contrastingly, my mother, born 16 years after my aunt, witnessed a groundbreaking

triumph for gender equality in 1949 with the founding of the People’s Republic of China led by the Communist Party of China.

The Communist Party saw the liberation of women as an inherent part of their revolutionary struggle. Chairman Mao Zedong famously said: “Women can hold up half of the sky.” This means that women can do whatever men can.

This empowering statement changed the destinies of Chinese women forever. My mother’s generation reaped the benefits of this emancipation, accessing education and employment opportunities that had previously been unattainable.

Since then, the progress of women’s rights in China has been relentless, propelled by progressive policies, legal guarantees, and economic liberation.

The inaugural legislation enacted by the People’s Republic, the 1950 Marriage Law, dismantled antiquated marital practices such as arranged marriages and male polygamy,and established

a framework for women’s rights within marriage and the family.

Gender equality was written into the first Constitution of New China in 1954, and a further amendment to the Constitution was adopted in 1978 to incorporate equal pay for equal work between men and women. Women also obtained equal rights to inheritance and property, along with many other rights.

China’s burgeoning economic prosperity, spurred by reforms initiated in the late 1970s, marked yet another leap forward for women’s liberation.

These were the formative years of my generation. We were probably the first generation of Chinese women who were liberated from the specter of hunger, were able to get a modern education, and had complete freedom in who to marry, where to go, and what to do for a living.

The unleashed potential of Chinese women, who constitute just under 49 percent of the population, has led to outstanding achievements. Women now represent over

half of the student body in tertiary education and 40 percent of the employed workforce, surpassing many Western nations in terms of labor force participation.

In science and engineering, women have shattered the glass ceiling, with nearly 46 percent of the workforce in these fields being female. A milestone was further celebrated when China sent its first female astronaut into space in 2012.

Much progress has also been made in women’s political participation. In China, almost all cities and provinces have woman in leading positions, and for decades there has been a woman at the deputy prime minister level. Over half of the new recruits in government agencies are women.

The past decade has seen a concerted effort to enhance legal protections and advance human rights for women, with economic plans at all levels of government incorporating gender equality objectives. And all provinces and cities have set up mechanisms for evaluating laws and regulations for compliance with gender equality rules.

The protection of women’s rights has also been bolstered by the emergence of a vast, vibrant national network of women’s organizations led by the All-China Women’s Federation.

Yet, the struggle persists. Deep-seated cultural preferences for male children, systemic barriers, and social issues such as domestic violence and forced marriages continue to pose significant challenges for Chinese women. Globally, the trajectory of women’s development has undergone profound transformations.

I remembered back in 1995 when the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing, I was working as an intern for the UN Information Office. Although too young to have much understanding of women’s issues then, I found the whole atmosphere exhilarating, and I could feel a strong bond of sisterhood with the women delegates, with slogans such as “Women’s rights are human rights.”

Nearly 20 years on, the global environment for women has seen unprecedented changes. Conflict, pandemics, and especially the climate crisis threaten all of us more than ever.

Millions of women and girls

worldwide are struggling in the shadows of war and poverty.

Our world is confronted with a deficit of peace, inadequate development, rising global challenges, and dysfunctional global governance.

China’s answer to these challenges was the vision of building a community with a shared future for humankind articulated by President Xi Jinping ten years ago.

Rather than engaging in strategic competition and economic rivalry, the spirit of community means that it would be much better for countries to join hands in promoting lasting peace, security, prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, and sustainability.

Women worldwide are pivotal in catalyzing this change, promoting unity, and championing progress.

The stronger women are as individuals, the more likely we will be able to drive change. Glass ceilings can only be smashed from within. We need outstanding women to be role models and an inspiration for girls.

We must continue to facilitate legislative, policy, and socio-cultural change, so that there will be new progress for each generation.

We must continue to nurture a global partnership for women to foster a shared future and a better world.

In the past few years, China made donations twice to UN Women, each in the value of 10 million dollars. China has delivered numerous donations, technical assistance, and capacity building projects for women in other developing countries.

Our dedication to fostering international partnerships was exemplified in September 2022 when an online discussion was held between the Vice President of the All-China Women’s Federation and women’s groups in The Bahamas headed by Mrs. Ann Marie Davis, the Prime Minister’s wife. Our Embassy has also facilitated visits to China by women leaders and business talks by women entrepreneurs. These exchanges and cooperative endeavors in areas of mutual interest are just the beginning.

As the battle for gender equality rages on, the resolve of women across nations must not falter. Our concerted efforts today will determine whether our daughters and their girl children could live in a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous tomorrow.

AN INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day forum was hosted by BTC on Thursday at the Fusion Superplex. The event sought to “Inspire Inclusion” - the theme of International Women’s Day. Guests included Prince Blyden, a Health and Wellness representative from the company’s medical insurance partner, CG Atlantic Insurance Company, fitness coach and trainer Marcellus Hall, a panel with Cherrylee Pinder, an executive human resources training coach, on women in leadership, and a keynote address from Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical & Vocational Training.

CHINESE Ambassador to The Bahamas, Dai Qingli.

National School Breakfast pilot programme to be expanded to reach additional 2300 students

THE Office of the Prime Minister said yesterday it would expand the National School Breakfast Pilot Programme to reach an additional 2,300 students, “offering them a healthy start to their day with a free warm breakfast”.

“All of our children deserve the chance to

chase their dreams,”

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis recently said at Albury Sayle Primary School. “A nutritious start to their day is foundational to their health, learning, and overall progress.”

“Our observations confirm that a full stomach

PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS

MAN GETS BAIL WHO ALLEGEDLY INJURED ANOTHER MAN IN A FIGHT

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted $7,000 bail after he was accused of seriously injuring another man in a fight earlier this month.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville charged Omar Adderley, 44, with grievous harm. Adderley is accused of

causing bodily harm to Tanario McKenzie during an argument on March 1 in New Providence. After pleading not guilty to the charges, Adderley was told that under the terms of his bail he must sign in at the East Street South Police Station every Monday and Friday. The defendant’s trial begins on June 14.

MAN ADMITS TO HAVING $130 WORTH OF HEMP FINED $800

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A man was fined $800 on Friday after admitting to having an estimated $130 worth of marijuana on his person last week.

Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged Kenrick Paul, 43, and a 17-yearold male, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, with possession of dangerous drugs with

intent to supply. The pair were reportedly arrested on March 6 in New Providence after they were found with 1.5 grams of marijuana. Paul was the only defendant to plead guilty to the charge. This resulted in Prosecutor Sergeant Wilkinson withdrawing the charge against the teen. Paul was ordered to pay a fine of $800 or risk one year in prison.

COLINA DONATES TO BAHAMAS CRISIS CENTRE AND PACE ON IWD

COLINA made two donations of $5,000 on Friday to mark International Women’s Day. The funds were received by the Bahamas Crisis Centre and PACE (Providing Access to Continued Education). Guest speakers at the event included Assistant Superintendent of Police Kendra Whyms, who is director of the Domestic Violence Unit, Leila Greene, director of the Bahamas Crisis Centre, and Patrice Miller, principal at PACE. See EDITORIAL on PAGE SIX.

makes a significant difference in a child’s ability to learn and thrive in school. This expansion is a testament to our belief in the transformative power of starting the day right.”

OPM said 55,000 breakfasts had been served at schools in New Providence and the Family Islands.

“This expansion means that children attending participating schools, including those in the Family Islands, will now enjoy a free breakfast five days a week,” OPM said in a statement. “The initiative not only aims to address hunger and enhance concentration

and schoolwork but also seeks to alleviate some of the financial pressures faced by families amidst the global inflation crisis and the country’s high cost of living.

“The government extends its gratitude to the many Bahamians who have contributed to

the success of this initiative, working tirelessly to implement the policy and support the nation’s children. As this programme grows, it represents a crucial step in removing barriers to education and setting up the Bahamas’ youngest citizens for a successful future.”

PICTURED, from left, Stefka Wood, Paula Hospedales, Paula Miller, Senator Maxine Seymour and Anatole Bullard.

PICTURED, from left, Sandra Thomas, Leila Green, Patricia Bain and Senator Maxine Seymour.

Equality Bahamas marches on International Women’s Day

THE ANNUAL International Women’s Day March and Expo was held on Saturday, with participants gathering in Eastern Parade before the march, hosted by Equality Bahamas. The expo then followed from 10am with zumba, exhibits from the Bahamas Crisis Centre, Hands for Hunger and the Bahamas AIDS Foundation, as well as a children’s space by Sustainable Me, art exhibitions curated by Sixty 2 Sixty Art Gallery and a collaborative exhibition with Poinciana Paper Press.

Photos: Cochise Thompson/Sky Media Photography

‘COACH YO’ AND OLE MISS REBELS FALL TO LSU IN SEC SEMIFINALS

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

COACH Yolett “Coach Yo” McPhee-McCuin and the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels stepped onto the hardwood at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena riding a seven-game win streak which was snapped by the Louisiana State University Tigers 75-67 on Saturday. In weekend action, the Ole Miss Rebels seemed poised to make a run in the SEC after defeating the Florida Gators 84-74 on Friday night.

However, despite keeping the contest close against the Tigers, the Lady Rebels came up short in the SEC semifinals in Greenville, South Carolina. The 2023 Battle 4 Atlantis women’s champions

were behind 19-12 to close out the opening quarter of the basketball game. After trailing in the first period, Ole Miss was outscored by one (17-16) in the second quarter and went into the break down 36-28.

Grand Bahama native McPhee-McCuin shed some light on what went wrong for the third seeded Lady Rebels in the SEC semifinals. “When you get in these types of settings it is about will and I thought when it really came down to coming down, I thought the national champs reared their head. Angel was relentless.

“Flau’jae was relentless and I thought those two really were like we are not losing tonight and that’s experience. I thought we had chances to win the game. It is just unfortunate

but we will learn from the film,” the decorated coach said.

Angel Reese, the SEC’s Player of the Year, gave the Rebels defence problems

with her dominant doubledouble of 21 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. She was one of four Tigers’ players to score in double digits.

LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson poured in 21 points, three assists and two rebounds.

The Ole Miss Rebels seemed determined to make a push coming out of the locker room. With 6:52 remaining in the third quarter, the Rebels erased the deficit down to just two points. They managed to hang around with LSU but never had enough in the tank to get over the hump. The 23-8 team had their best scoring output of the game, outscoring the Tigers 23-17 to put a lid on the third period behind by two (53-51). The Tigers jumped ahead with a 9-2 run to start the final session

of the game and the rest was history. Battle 4 Atlantis MVP Madison Scott powered her way to a game-high 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Forward Marquesha Davis put up 21 points and 5 rebounds in the loss. The Rebels were outrebounded 37 to 31. Coach Yo said the team will now make preparations for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.

“We take our wins together and we take our losses together. I wish I could have a couple of plays back. I would have done some things differently but we’ll go home, rest up and get ready for the NCAA tournament,” McPhee-McCuin said.

The field will be finalised on Selection Sunday, March 17 at 8pm.

Forbes second female president of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

CRYSTAL Forbes is now sitting in the chair as the second female to serve as president of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation.

Forbes, the incumbent secretary general, replaced Bishop Joseph ‘Joe Mo’ Smith, who opted not to seek another term in office, beating out top official Kirk Farquharson during the election of officers on Saturday.

The elections, conducted by D’Arcy Rahming, one of the first vice presidents of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, was held at the BOC’s office during the federation’s annual general meeting. Assisting Rahming was BOC’s secretary general Derron Donaldson.

In being elected to the top post, Forbes joined Cora Hepburn, now a vice president of the BOC, who was the first female elected as the BVF president in 1995, when under administration, the Bahamas regained the Caribbean Volleyball Championship title in Barbados, a year after losing it to Barbados here at home.

Forbes, who was not actively involved in the federation at the time, noted that she was pleased to win the presidency, although she didn’t expect that it would have been as keenly contested between her and Farquharson.

“The second is just as intense and powerful because I have a legacy to fall on,” Forbes said. “It’s a wonderful feeling actually

CARIFTA SWIM TEAM

FROM PAGE 20

15-17 - Tristin Ferguson, Ellie Gibson, Tristen Hepburn, Asher Johnson, Marvin Johnson and Caden Wells.

18 and over - Jack Barr, Thomas Bowers, Emmanuel Gadson, Joshua Murray, Lamar Taylor, Erald Thompson and Mark-Anthony Thompson.

Open Water Team

Female swimmers

14-15 - Allyssa Burrows, Madison Gilbert and Alexia Zatarain.

16-18 - Giada Bertoldo, Grace Farrington, Alanna Murray and Layla Saidi.

Male swimmers

14-15 - Damari Butler, William Farrington and Myles Saunders.

16-18 - Jack Barr, Daniel Ferguson III, Malcolm Menzies and Donald Saunders.

The management team is comprised of the following: Travano McPhee - Head Coach; Camron Bruney

to be responsible for so much. “It’s an awesome responsibility because I am aware of the challenges and I’m aware of the expectations and the people that I have looking up to me to make things happen, so it’s a powerful feeling and it’s humbling too at the same time because I know I have a big job ahead of me.”

During the elections, Forbes and her entire slate of officers was voted into office. They include Lloyd ‘Ratty’ Davis as first vice president; former president Don Cornish as second vice president; Grand Bahamian Helena Cooper as third vice president; Kurtwood Greene

- Assistant Coach; David Del Cuato - Assistant Coach’ Mancer Roberts Jr. – Open Water Coach’ Allan Murray – Open Water Coach; Karon Pinder-Johnson - Team Manager and Ariel Weech - Female Chaperone.

King’s College School, the leading international school, which will be opening its residential wing in 2025 and is part of Inspired, the world’s leading group of premium schools, collaborated with the Ministry to host and manage the swim meet, gifting use of its 25 metre, 8 lane, certified, competition swimming pool for the CARIFTA swimming trials. The school prides itself on its outstanding facilities, and the campus also boasts a multi-purpose auditorium, outdoor facilities, including its state-of-theart 25-metre competitive swimming pool, tennis and padel courts, a FIFA regulation-size football pitch with 5G AstroTurf, two five-a-side pitches, and expansive adventure playgrounds.

Sr as secretary general; Sydeline Justlien as assistant secretary; Keith Dean as treasurer and Christine Cunningham as assistant treasurer.

“I think this is a pretty powerful team. When I examine them individually, I have a rock and I have firm support and advice from Don Cornish, who served before locally and individually, so he brings a wealth of knowledge to the board,” Forbes said. “Lloyd is a stalwart who has been around. He’s a little battle axe who can get the work done. “Mr Greene is the administrator. He has that post and he will make sure we stay in line.

King’s College School, whose investment in education in The Bahamas nears $80 million, considers the hosting of the CARIFTA game trials as a further opportunity to support the flourishing of young Bahamians across the nation.

Said Nadim Nsouli, founder, chairman and CEO of Inspired: “At Inspired, we appreciate that schools form a vital part of the community.

“By providing first-class educational and sporting facilities to The Bahamas, we support the nurturing of students in a holistic way, enabling them to fulfil their potential and contribute to society as the leaders of tomorrow.

“Likewise, the CARIFTA Games are a pivotal Caribbean event, and a springboard for the many world-class athletes our region has produced, examples of young people striving to reach their full potential.”

Matteo Rossetti, principal of King’s College School, said they were incredibly proud to support the Ministry and host the

“Sydeline is the youngest one. She is new to this. We figure we will bring some new blood. She’s not new to volleyball, but she works with young people at UB, so we expect her to work very well with our young people.

“Keith Dean used to work with basketball, but he’s a banker and an accountant, so we will look for his expertise to help us raise the funds to get some of the things done. I think this is a solid group.”

“The elections were intense. We expected challenges, but we didn’t expect some of the people, who we thought were supporting us, were not supporting us,” she noted. “But be

that as it, we were still victorious and we still have to work with those people regardless and we will still work for those people. It’s our job to serve so we are still going to do what we have to do.”

In May, Forbes said the federation will be sending off an under-19 boys’ team to compete in an international tournament so that will be their first order of business.

This year, the under-19 girls and their youth boys and girls teams will be travelling to various tournaments. The seniors will not be competing until next year as they alternate, so Forbes said there’s time to get them ready.

CARIFTA trials, and “to be able to do so in just our second year of operations is amazing.

“It is a privilege for us to give back to our community in The Bahamas in this way,” Rossetti said. “This is yet another opportunity to support the thriving of young people in our local communities, and we look forward

76ERS ARE PLANNING TO WORK OUT WITH NBA FREE AGENT KAI JONES

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama native Chavano “Buddy” Hield and NBA free agent Kai Jones could potentially join forces in the future as the Philadelphia 76ers want to meet and work out with the 2021 first rounder, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

In a video posted to the X platform, Charania said the 76ers have shown interest in the Bahamian big man in hopes of filling an open roster spot.

“The 76ers are planning to work out and meet with former Hornets first round pick Kai Jones in the coming days, sources tell me. The 76ers are showing an interest in Jones, who was waived by Charlotte in mid-October, and has been working on himself on and off the court in the aftermath and the 76ers do have an open roster spot,” he said.

The 6-foot-11 player was waived by the Charlotte Hornets last October following some questionable posts on social media and a request for a trade.

Since then, Jones has not been picked up by any NBA organisation and remains a free agent.

Despite not suiting up for any NBA teams this season, Jones was selected to represent The Bahamas for the first window of the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers against Puerto Rico.

In the two games played, he averaged 13.5 points per game, eight rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 68.8 per cent from the field. The 23-year-old scored 13 points, seven rebounds and turned in countless highlight reels against Puerto Rico in an 88-77 away win. He followed up this performance with 14 points and nine rebounds in an 86-67 loss at home.

The potential addition of Jones to the 76ers’ roster can be mutually beneficial for both parties involved. For Jones, he is looking to make his return to a NBA roster after being waived by the Hornets organisation.

Meanwhile, the “City of Brotherly Love” is looking to fill the void of losing the league’s reigning MVP Joel Embiid to a knee injury with no expected timetable for his return. Philadelphia has lost their last three games and plummeted to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference after going 6-14 in their last 20 games.

The no.19 pick of the 2021 draft class averaged 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 67 regular season games. He is hoping to find a new home in the Association soon.

TIGER WOODS TO SKIP PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP AS THE MASTERS NEARS

ORLANDO, Florida

(AP) — Tiger Woods is not in the field for The Players Championship next week, opening questions about whether or where the fivetime Masters champion will play before Augusta National.

to continuing doing so, in collaboration with our partners, in the years to come.”

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture expressed gratitude to King’s College School for offering its campus for their use.

The Bahamas last hosted the CARIFTA Aquatics Championship in 2017.

The Players already is missing a bevy of big names from those who joined LIV Golf. Now it’s missing the biggest draw in golf. There was not an immediate reason why Woods chose not to play at the TPC Sawgrass, where he has won twice. He was not listed in the field that the PGA Tour released Friday. Even though injuries have severely limited his schedule, he would be eligible from his five-year exemption from winning the 2019 Masters.

CRYSTAL Forbes

DON Cornish HELENA Cooper KEITH Dean

CHRISTINE Cunningham

KURTWOOD Greene SYDELINE Justlien LLOYD Davis

YOLETT McPhee-McCuin

SWIMMERS in action during the CARIFTA Swimming Trials at King’s College School.

Photo: Moise Amisial

the entire way and wrapped up with 552 points.

SAC head coach Jason Edwards said the win was a testament of true SAC pride and collective effort.

“It is a great feeling. Our kids displayed tremendous heart, tremendous fight and tremendous determination. We have wonderful coaches, we have a village that got this done. All of us came together and we made this happen,” coach Edwards said.

He acknowledged the banter over the last couple months from the school’s rivals but said heart and culture helped the Big Red Machine to run away with a fourth straight BAISS Track and Field title.

“It is amazing. We heard the talk all year about all these people they brought in and everybody saying they were gonna beat us by 100/200 points this year. Not a day like it. Some things you cannot manufacture, that is heart and that is culture,” he said. He added that the difference maker on the final day was that his athletes were willing to go the extra mile.

“They did what we always show and let them know true SAC pride is here. We did what we always do. We dig down deep sometimes, when you come on this track you might be faster but are you willing to hurt as much as us in the 1,500m? Are you willing to run to the line until you can’t feel your legs anymore? Sometimes the person willing to go the furthest ends up going the furthest and having success and that is what it was, true SAC form,” he said.

Meet Records

It was no surprise that meet records were shattered on the final day of competition at the original TAR stadium.

throw bested the previous meet record of 42.00m set by her teammate Kamera Strachan. The distance was also a national record and the farthest throw by any female in the Caribbean for the javelin 500g in this age group. She talked about how it felt to pull off her latest feat in real time.

“I was sticking around 44m the whole season and today I actually felt something different coming for me and I threw a 49m so now I know what I am capable of,” she said.

“I am really excited and I am thankful to God for allowing me to come out here and meet my expectations,” she added. Scott also re-qualified for the CARIFTA Games along with Strachan, who notched 43.01m in the event for second. Keely Deveaux, of Queen’s College, placed third.

Ethan North, of Queen’s College, met the CARIFTA qualifying standard in the U17 boys’ javelin throw with 53.12m. The CARIFTA standard is 44.95m.

SAC’s Kesmor Farriginton took second place while Kingsway Academy’s Kendal Turner was third.

St Anne’s collected third place. The SJC Giants won the U15 boys’

Dior-Rae Scott, representing SAC, was on target in the U17 girls’ javelin throw (500g) with a heave of 49.83m. Her

and BAISS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS @ TAR STADIUM

SAC wins fourth straight FROM PAGE 20 THE QUEEN’s College Comets exchanged leads with the defending champions leading up to the final day but they ended the competition a mere 15.50 points away from first with 1,260 points. The Temple Christian School Suns never relinquished the third position the entire way and wrapped up with 552 points. FOUR STRAIGHT: SAC Big Red Machine won their fourth straight BAISS Track and Field Championship with a score of 1,275.50 at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium on Friday. SEE PAGE 17

and Morgan Moss won the U20 boys’ 4x100m finals in 41.58 seconds for SAC. They dipped under the previous BAISS record of 41.60 seconds set by Christie, Clinton Laguerre, Tumani Skinner and Johnathon time of 3:43.70 set in 2012. The Comets came second in 3:52.47 and SAC finished in third. The Big Red Machine kept rolling in the U15 girls’ 4x100m finals with a new BAISS record of 48.77 seconds. Taree Forbes, Brianna Bootle, Khyla Smith and Daveigh Farrington teamed

Fowler last year. The St John’s College Giants placed second up and bested the previous record of 48.92 seconds set by their school in 2013. The Comets and Blue Waves wrapped up second and third respectively. QC’s Zion Miller, Johathan Harris, Kenny Moxey and Zion Davis paced

Photos by Dante Carrer

competitors with a time of 3:18.28 in the U20 boys’ 4x400m finals. They lowered the previous BAISS record of 3:19.49 set by the Comets in 2019.

SJC earned second and SAC trailed for third.

Existing BAISS records were lowered in the 200m events as well. Bootle, representing SAC, came first in the U15 girls’ 200m, clocking 25.08 seconds well under Nia Richards’ mark of 25.49 seconds. QC’s Brion Ward notched 25.12 and her teammate Zara Fraser finished in 25.94 seconds for third.

Ishmael Rolle, of QC, SAC’s Eagan Neely and the Comets’ Everette Fraser rounded out the top three podium spots of the U17 boys’ 200m finals. All three competitors dipped under the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 22.08 seconds.

Rolle is the new BAISS record holder after posting 21.60 seconds to take down Karlton Rolle’s record of 21.66 seconds set in 2006.

Alexis Roberts, of SAC, came out on top with a BAISS meet record 24.27 seconds, lowering the previous time of 24.48 seconds set by QC’s Jenae Ambrose in 2012. She also was well under the CARIFTA qualifying standard of 24.65 seconds in the U17 girls’ event.

In the U15 boys’ 200m, the Giants’ Mugsrove posted a time of 22.63 seconds to be crowned the winner. He broke the 24-year old BAISS record of 22.74 seconds set by SAC’s Grafton Ifill.

TC’s Tieano Ferguson and The Big Red Machine’s Jahcario Wilson clocked times of 54.17 seconds and 54.30 seconds to

Photos by Dante Carrer

Sprinter Denisha Cartwright falls short of her goals

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT wasn’t the performance that sprinter Denisha Cartwright and jumper Shyrone Kemp expected at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in the Robert W Plaster Center at Pittsburg State.

During the two-day meet over the weekend, Cartwright, coming off her Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Female Track Athlete of the Year, had to settle for one out of three victories for Minnesota State, while Kemp, the NSIC Male Field Athlete of the Year, fell short of the top of the podium in both of his events.

Cartwright, however, closed out her indoor campaign with 14 track and field All-American and five national championship crowns as the Mavericks ended up in third place, totalling 49 points.

It marks the fourth consecutive year that Minnesota State has recorded a top-five finish (second in 2021, first in 2022, second in 2023). The Mavericks

CHARLTON

HOME FROM PAGE 20

younger athletes flourish at the BAISS Track and Field Meet she once thrived at in her younger days. “It feels really good to be back, especially at BAISS. This is really where I got my start in highschool level competition, high stress environments, and it just comes full circle to be back here as a world record holder knowing that this is where I got my start. The energy is just like I remember it. Track meets don’t look like this anymore on the pro level and so it is really interesting for me to be on the other side in the stands, just feeling that energy, watching the meet and watching these kids have fun,” Charlton said.

Before making her return to home soil, the World Indoors gold medallist had the indoor season of her life. She turned heads by breaking the 16-year-old record of 7.68 seconds set by Susanna Kallur with her time of 7.67 seconds in February at the Millrose Games in New York City.

A few days later, American Tia Jones shared the record with Charlton but that would not last long. The Puma athlete took the world indoor record for herself at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, clocking 7.65 seconds for bragging rights and a gold-medal finish in the women’s 60mH.

The latest accomplishment has opened the

SHYRONE KEMP 3RD IN TRIPLE JUMP

finished a point ahead of Grand Valley State. Cartwright is now a 14-time Indoor Track and Field All-American and five-time national champion.

Women’s 60m hurdles

In her speciality, Cartwright had her best showing as she pulled off the victory in the 60m hurdles in 8.04 seconds.

Team-mates Adeyah Brewster, a junior, and

floodgates for support coming in Charlton’s direction from supporters all around the world.

“I just wanna thank everybody for supporting me. These last three weeks have been a little crazy. I have seen all the posts and well wishes and it is things like that that keeps me going.

“I just wanna say how much I appreciate it. Thank you,” a visibly emotional Charlton said.

The six-member team of Charlton, Charisma Taylor, Ken Mullings, LaQuan Nairn, Anthonique Strachan and Donald Thomas finished locked in a sevenway tie for ninth place in the World Indoors medal count.

“I just wanna start by thanking those that made this possible who accompanied the team in Glasgow. Coach Cash, who is an excellent team manager/ coach as well as Nick, who is our therapist, made sure that we were taken care of. I also want to congratulate everybody that competed for Team Bahamas, Charisma, Anthonique, Ken, Donald and LaQuan. I think for a 6-member team we ended up coming away tied for ninth place overall. I think that’s pretty significant,” she said. Drumeco Archer, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), was proud of the way Charlton represented the country.

“There is a reason why we say it is better in The Bahamas. It is better in The Bahamas because we create the best stories of success everyday. We

Roxann Foster, a senior, were second and third in 8.38 and 8.42 respectively.

Cartwright opened her competition as she took the tape in heat one to top the field in the preliminaries on Friday, posting the fastest qualifying time of 8.00.

Women’s 60m

As she opened the final day of competition on Sunday, Cartwright had to settle for second place in the 60m final at 7.30.

Alexis Brown, a sophomore at Lenoir-Rhyne, ran away with the title in 7.18.

Marie-Eloise Leclair, a junior at Simon Fraser, was third in 7.36.

Cartwright won heat two, but had to settle for the second fastest qualifying time of 7.27 to trail Brown, who took the top spot in 7.21 after she won the first heat.

Women’s 200m

In the 200m final on Saturday, Cartwright could only muster a fourth place finish in 23.63.

Brown completed the sprint double in 23.32. Leclair was second in

have produced scientists to Olympic/World medallists and we teach our people to conquer the world. When our athletes compete for our schools and our country, they represent all of us and all of what we believe in - sports, scholarship and love for a big blue Bahamas. We believe that we are the best, we believe that we can change a country and we believe that we can change the world through sports and through Devynne and many others we have,” he said.

Mike Sands, president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC), had the pleasure of watching the world indoor champion blossom into the top athlete she is today and credited her astute dedication for her continued successes.

“Devynne, I have had the pleasure to watch from infancy to today. Devynne has four attributes that make her who she is today. First of all, she

23.46, while Diandrenique Gaines, a junior at Pittsburg State, was third in 23.60.

Cartwright clinched another final spot, this time in the 20m with the fourth best time of 23.82 in winning heat four. The fastest qualifying time was 23.69 by Leclair.

Women’s 400m

Robynn Rolle-Curry, a junior at Minnesota State, was fourth in heat two for 20th in the women’s 400m preliminaries on Friday in 57.61, but it wasn’t enough to get her into the final.

4 x 400m relay

In the 4x400-metre relay, Cartwright and Rolle-Curry joined Eilika Lane and Ross Cramer to a fourth place finish in 3:40.64, marking the fifth time in programme history that the

is very laser-focused but [also] the four d’s - desire, determination, discipline and dedication. Devynne gets into the zone and she knows and means business so I am very pleased to be able to congratulate her and for her to be able to allow the NACAC area to maintain its standing in the world rankings,” Sands said.

The NACAC president acknowledged Charlton’s support system from her parents Dave and Laura Charlton as well as her coach Rolando “Lonnie” Greene, who played an instrumental role in her development over the years.

Sands said it was even more important to recognise Charlton’s notable accolades on International Women’s Day which she felt was very special.

“I think it’s really significant and it is really special because this was once a male-dominated field, sports that is. I think that representation matters. If one little Bahamian girl can see me on the world stage, breaking world records and have the dream to do the same, I think I have done my job,” she said.

Team manager Demarius Cash thanked all officials, executives and Bahamian athletes involved in the success of the six-member team at the World Indoors.

Following an indoor season nothing short of successful, the reigning female Tribune Athlete of the Month is looking forward to the outdoor season headed into the Paris Olympic Games.

Mavericks have received All-American honors in the event.

Men’s triple jump Kemp, in his senior year, wanted to go out with a bang, but closed out his final indoor meet with a third place finish in the triple jump on Saturday as he soared 51-feet, 2 1/4inches or 15.69 metres on his third attempt for third place. During his series of jumps, Kemp’s second best effort was 15.43m on his second try.

Tre Betts, a junior at Pittsburg State, won with a distance of 51-9 3/4 (15.79m) on his second attempt.

Lloyd McCurdy, a senior at Limestone, got second with his best of 51-7 1/4

(51-7 3/4) on his sixth attempt.

Men’s long jump

It was not the position that Kemp wanted to be in with his fourth place in the final of the men’s long jump on Friday. His best leap was 24-feet, 7 1/4-inches or 7.50 metres on his second attempt. On his sixth and final try, he cleared 24-7 (7.49m) for his second best effort.

Jon Watts, a senior at Missouri Southern, took the victory with 24-10 (7.57m) on his third attempt, followed by Markus White, a freshman at Virginia State, who cleared 24-9 14 (7.55m) on his fifth attempt for second. James Gilbert, a senior at Minnesota State, got third with 24-9 (7.54m) on his first attempt.

SACAA CONGRATULATES DEVYNNE CHARLTON

ANASTASIA Brown, the new president of the St Augustine’s College Alumni Association in The Bahamas, extends heartfelt congratulations to Devynne Charlton on her remarkable achievement in setting the world record in the 60-metre hurdles.

“Her outstanding performance is a testament to her exceptional talent and hard work and a source of immense pride for our alma mater,” Brown wrote.

“As a St. Augustine’s College (SAC) graduate, Miss Charlton has exemplified the values of excellence, perseverance and dedication that we strive to instil in all our students.

“Her success on the global stage inspires current and future students, and demonstrates what can be achieved with determination and passion.”

Brown said the SACAA is incredibly proud of Charlton’s accomplishments and the positive representation she brings to her school and country.

“Her journey from SAC to breaking world records is a testament to the transformative power of education and the limitless potential of Bahamian talent,” Brown said. As she continues to reach new heights in her athletic career, Brown said they want Charlton to know that the entire SAC alumni community stands behind her, cheering her on every step of the way.

“May her future endeavours be filled with even greater achievements and continued success,” she continued.

Brown noted that Charlton’s presence at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium last week helped to propel the Big Red Machine to its fourth straight victory over the Queen’s College Comets.

“We believe that Devynne’s rallying a SAC chant ignited a fire within the SAC athletes during the last day of BAISS on Friday, March 8, 2024,” Brown said.

“With Devynne’s words ringing in their ears, SAC athletes took to the track with a renewed sense of purpose, leaving everything they had on the field.”

As the final events concluded and the scores were tallied, St Augustine’s College emerged victorious, reclaiming the BAISS crown with Charlton on the sidelines cheering on the Big Red Machine.

SPRINTER TERRENCE JONES ENJOYS A ‘DOUBLE DOSE OF VICTORY’

FROM PAGE 20

Antoine Andrews, Texas Tech won their first men’s championships at the track at New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts.

Andrews, a Texas Tech sophomore, didn’t get to any of the finals in the two individual events he competed in.

Men’s 200m Jones, the Grand Bahama native, was in a class of his own in the pair of sprint events on Saturday, including lowering the facility record in the process in the 200m race.

The record that McCoy shattered in the preliminaries the day before.

“Right

facility record of 20.23 on Saturday in the preliminaries. McCoy, in lane five, came off the final curve trailing Jones and he slowed down as he ended up walking across the final line in 25.60. Not sure if it was a precautionary measure because of an injury or not. Cheickna Traore, a senior at Penn State and Robert Gregory, a senior at Florida,

took the top two spots in 20.30 and 20.37 respectively for second and third place. On Saturday, McCoy and Jones ran the identical time of 20.23 in the preliminaries, but McCoy was given

first place over Jones, who had to settle for second coming out of the preliminaries on Friday in their respective heat victories. With first place, McCoy held the facility record for

one day as he erased the previous mark of 20.48 that Issam Asinga of Montverde Academy set last year.

Men’s 60m

In the first match-up, Jones emerged as the champion in the men’s 60 metre dash in a time of 6.54. McCoy ended up fourth in 6.60. In between them, Kalen Walker, a junior at Iowa, was the runner-up in 6.59 and Don’Dre Swint, a senior at Texas Tech, was third in 6.60. Jones had the fastest qualifying time of 6.56, followed by McCoy in fourth in 6.60 as they got first and third in the same heat in the preliminaries on Friday. Andrews didn’t advance after he came across the line in seventh in another heat in 6.64 for 12th place.

Men’s 60m hurdles

Andrews, competing in his speciality, finished 13th in 7.78 for seventh in his heat, but it wasn’t enough to get him out of the preliminaries in the 60m hurdles on Friday.

Miller runner-up in Jamaica

Wendell Miller placed second in the men’s 200m at the GC Foster Classic in Spanish Town, Jamaica, on Saturday.

Miller, competing for the MVP Track Club, ran a season’s best of 20.83 to trail Jamaica’s Demish Gaye, who won in 20.71. Also at the meet, Ainsworth Ferguson, competing in the men’s long jump, was 25th with (4.77m).

Emanuel Archibald of Guyana won the event with his best of (7.55m).

BROWN

SPRINTER Denisha Cartwright in action in the 60 metre hurdles.

SHYRONE Kemp in action.

SPRINTER Terrence Jones celebrates with the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

DEVYNNE Charlton speaks during the BAISS Track and Field Championships.

Photo: Dante Carrer

DECODING BASEBALL EXCELLENCE: UNVEILING THE SCIENCE OF SPORTS PERFORMANCE

FROM PAGE 20

agility, acceleration, and speed drills to enhance a player’s effectiveness on the base paths.

Fielding Finesse

The defensive aspect of baseball hinges on a player’s ability to field with finesse.

Stapleton et al.’s exploration in “The Relationship Between Functional Movement, Dynamic Stability, and Athletic Performance Assessments in Baseball and Softball Athletes” illuminates the critical role of functional movement and stability in fielding success.

Training regimens tailored to these aspects become integral to cultivating an agile and stable fielder.

In the pursuit of optimal baseball performance, we delve into the principles of sports performance training, aiming to uncover the key elements that elevate players to elite status. Drawing insights from reputable sports medicine journals, we dissect the intricacies of training methods tailored to enhance specific aspects of the game.

Durability in the Diamond Sustaining peak performance across a gruelling baseball season requires durability. Integrating findings from various studies, including “Relationship Between Performance Variables and Baseball Ability in Youth Baseball Players” and “A Model of Performance Measures in

Baseball,” sports performance training emphasises injury prevention. Strength and conditioning programmes align with the demands of the game, ensuring players endure the season’s physical demands.

In conclusion, the pursuit of excellence in baseball isn’t a one-sizefits-all endeavour. It’s a strategic assimilation of scientific insights and targeted training methods. As we navigate the realms of sports performance training, let us not only seek to improve individual skills but to sculpt complete baseball players – athletes whose performance aligns with the nuanced intricacies of the game. Join me in this exploration of the science that underpins baseball excellence, where every pitch, swing and play is meticulously tuned for success on the diamond.

Bahamian sports medicine physician, sports performance coach, sports nutrition specialist, and founder of Empire Sports Medicine and Performance. Our mission is to empower athletes to reach new heights while safeguarding their health and well-being. We understand the unique demands of sports activities, and we are dedicated to helping athletes prevent injuries, overcome challenges, optimise nutrition and performance.

Contact Empire Sports Medicine at: 242-364-2001

SPORTS

CARIFTA swimming team named

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER the completion of its final trials over the weekend at the King’s College School’s 25-metre pool, Bahamas Aquatics has selected a quality 47-member team on their quest to win a sixth straight CARIFTA swimming championship title.

As host of the championships from March 29 to April 3, hopefully with the completion of the renovations to the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, Bahamas Aquatics will also have seven females and seven males each competing in the open water swim at Long Wharf Beach.

All year long, BA, headed by president Algernon Cargill, has had to

The competitiveness of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Track and Field Championships peaked on the final day as the Big Red Machine hauled away their fourth straight title at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

After multiple appeals, disqualifications and more than an hour of deliberation, St Augustine’s College was crowned the 2024 champions with a total score of 1,275.50.

The Queen’s College Comets exchanged leads with the defending champions leading up to the final day but they ended the competition a mere 15.50 points away from first with 1,260 points.

The Temple Christian School Suns never relinquished the third position

host their meets in 25 metre pools because of the renovations to the only 50 metre pool on the island. Despite the difficulties they experienced, Travano McPhee, who will return as the head coach, commended the swimmers for the effort they made.

“Our swimmers went through a lot but, as always, showed that they will always be champions by swimming outstanding at the CARIFTA trials,” McPhee said. Having served as the head coach for the five straight years that the Bahamas won the title, McPhee said he’s elated to be back with the team for the six-peat.

“I expect us to show as always that Bahamians will always defend their home turf and we will rise to

the occasion and show the Bahamians, the Caribbean and the world that we are true champions and bring home six straight victories as champions.”

McPhee encouraged Bahamians to come out and show their support for

Team Bahamas, which will comprise of the following swimmers named below:

Female swimmers

11-12 - Sienna Campbell, Isabella Cuccurullo, Alissa Ferguson, Taylen Nicolls, Tiah Seymour and Skyler Smith.

13 -14 - Saleste Gibson, Madison Gilbert, Siann Isaacs, Lelah Lewis, DNDN McKenzie, Kimaya Saunders and Jaylah Threadgill.

15-17 - Rhanishka

Gibbs, Katie Goulandris, Kyana Higgs, Seannia Norville-Smith, Mia Patton, Elle Theberge and Zoe Williamson.

18 and over - Grace Farrington, Delaney Mizell, Victoria Russell and Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson.

Male swimmers

11-12 - Blake Comarcho, Christon Joseph, Sean Norville-Smith, Benecio Robinson and Harold Simmons.

13 -14 - Maxwell Daniels, William Farrington, Lenin Hamilton, Dijon Simmons and David Singh.

SEE PAGE 15

DECODING BASEBALL EXCELLENCE: UNVEILING THE SCIENCE OF SPORTS PERFORMANCE

batter’s box.

Running the Bases with Precision In the intricate dance between bases, speed becomes the differentiator. Nakata et al.’s study, “Relationship Between Performance Variables and Baseball Ability in Youth Baseball Players,” delves into the relationship between performance variables and base-running proficiency.

WORLD indoor record holder Devynne Charlton received a warm welcome home by her family members, supporters and students of her alma mater St. Augustine’s College at the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Track and Field Championships on Friday at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

On International Women’s Day, the 60 metres hurdles world indoors champion received her flowers in person courtesy of officials from the BAAA, NACAC and BAISS.

The top hurdler shared how it felt to observe

Mar. 2024

SPARTANS TRACK CLASSIC

THE Noble Preparatory Academy Spartans will hold their annual Track and Field Classic on Saturday, March 16 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The event will run from 9am to 2pm. The registration fee is $15 per athlete. The entry fee will be $15 for adults in the VIP stand and $8 for children. The general admission will be $10 for adults and $6 for children.

BAAA FINAL CARIFTA TRIALS

THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is scheduled to hold its final CARIFTA trials at the original Thomas A Robinson National Stadium March 15-17. The BAAA will

FOUR STRAIGHT: St Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine won their fourth straight BAISS Track and Field Championship with a score of 1,275.50 at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium on Friday.

Photo: Dante Carrer

SWIMMERS in action during the CARIFTA Swimming Trials at King’s College School.

Photo: Moise Amisial

JONES