04042023 NEWS AND SPORT

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

SOCIAL Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe said the Davis administration would not rush the Gender Violence Bill to Parliament, stressing the importance of the Church in discussions about such legislation.

However, Bahamas Christian Council President Delton Fernander said he is unaware of the

bill and that the BCC has not been consulted during his six-year tenure on the legislation. Their comments follow a series of reported violent crimes against women. They also come after former Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson urged the government on Friday to pass the bill, which she said was first drafted ten years ago.

RANDOM BAG SEA RCHES MAY BE ADDED TO PRIMA RY SCHOOLS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

RANDOM bag searches may be introduced in primary schools throughout New Providence to bolster security, Acting Director of Education Dominique McCartney-Russell said yesterday.

Her comment came after police reported on Friday that a nine-year-old student

was found with ammunition at a school.

Mrs McCartney-Russell confirmed that the child is a Stephen Dillet Primary School student. She said officials are still trying to determine how the child got the ammunition.

“The child actually said that they found the bullets and they would have given it to one of the staff members and when (the staff

Mia Mi trip nightM are for MoM and son

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A TRIP to Miami became a nightmare for Christina Colebrooke after she was assaulted

SHANTY TOWN DEMOLITION ‘unlawful’ SAYS KC SMITH

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE possible demolition of shanty town homes by the government is “unlawful”, a Supreme Court Chief Justice was told yesterday by the legal team representing residents.

Arguments were heard before Supreme Court Chief Justice yesterday as residents lodged their case against the pending demolition of their homes. Meanwhile, the government’s attorney pushed for a court order to proceed with the demolition process. Justice Ian Winder heard arguments from Fred Smith,

TAX DODGERS TA RGETED IN CR ACK DOWN

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE authorities are planning “several operations” throughout The Bahamas targeting other suspected tax delinquents, the Ministry of Finance’s top official revealed last night, while their Harbour Island sweep is still not finished.

Simon Wilson, the financial secretary, confirmed to Tribune Business that further raids and asset seizures are being readied by the Department of Inland Revenue, assisted by the police and other agencies, as a wellplaced source suggested the Government believes it can recover $4m in outstanding tax arrears from its Harbour

The family made social media appeals for help finding the pair in posts that were shared hundreds of times. Gilthoneil

Wilchcombe stressed church consultation - but BCC chief says no one has asked him

‘Won’t rush’ on gender violence

Mrs Maynard-Gibson said the bill would make it mandatory for the government to establish shelters, mandate that the police respond promptly to reports of abuse even when the person reporting the matter is not the victim, and give the courts broader powers to issue protection orders, among other things.

After the boyfriend of Heavenly Terveus killed her last year, days after she reported him to police for damaging her car, State Minister for Social Services Lisa Rahming said the bill would be tabled in Parliament “in a few weeks or a few months.” That did not happen.

Asked yesterday about the status of the bill, Mr Wilchcombe said: “The rush of the past in dealing with sensitive issues have failed and caused Bahamians to be sceptical and cynical about what they perceive is haste without complete dialogue with the people. The position of the Church is fundamental and has been in each step taken in the growth and development of our country. We have made progress, and we will soon complete our due diligence.”

Attorney General Ryan

SOCIAL Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe said The rush of the past in dealing with sensitive issues have failed and caused Bahamians to be sceptical and cynical about what they perceive is haste without complete dialogue with the people.

Pinder referred The Tribune to Mr Wilchcombe and said: “It’s being worked on with social services and relevant NGOs (non-governmental organizations). They have been having routine meetings to refine the legislation.”

Bishop Fernander, meanwhile, said: “I am unaware of it. If there was

a consultation, that would have been before my time. I’ve been here for six years.” Calls for implementing the bill follow reports of violent crimes against women.

As recently as Sunday, police reported that two men abducted and sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl

in a bush while she walked near Baillou Hill Road.

A man was sent to prison on March 31 after allegedly assaulting a 19-year-old girl in Exuma after offering her a ride home from a club.

Another man was sent to prison on March 28 after allegedly sexually assaulting a 33-year-old woman.

According to police, reports of rape increased by 15 per cent year-over-year in 2022.

For her part, former Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin yesterday defended the Progressive Liberal Party’s efforts to tackle genderbased violence.

long , but it seems like we are hopefully at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “But, in the meantime, there is still some recourse through some legislation that is in place already and which would have given some peace to some of the issues that (are) faced within marriages as well as relationships generally.”

dra: a aCo de ris site will soon e ‘deMo ilised’ a Mid en ironMenta l ConCerns

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

DISASTER Reconstruction Authority executive chairman Alex Storr said the DRA would “demobilise” the Abaco Spring City and Treasure Cay debris management sites.

However, the timeline is unclear.

Mr Storr’s comment came after a bush fire over the weekend spread to the Treasure Cay debris site, sending toxic fumes billowing into the air, frustrating weary residents.

“We found out that both sites — Treasure Cay and Spring City — were hastily put together,” Mr Storr said. “There was no membrane put down, and there (are issues with) the water table so we are having these demobilised as soon as possible.”

“We have a contract that we’re waiting approval from Cabinet to execute on Treasure Cay that was in place and negotiated a few weeks ago. So that would hopefully be in place within a matter of days and that contractor will then begin.”

Mr Storr admitted the dump sites are too dangerous.

“I know there may have

been a fire at Spring City a few months ago,” he said, “and the contractor moved to have that eradicated quickly, and that is the importance of having a contractor in place at Treasure Cay that would prevent these things.”

“And that’s why they are being deconstructed and (demobilised), and that debris will be moved to other debris sites managed by environmental health, but to leave them the way they are is too dangerous, and some of the shanty towns are feeding off of them.”

“We have issues with the new storm season coming up. We don’t want debris distributed amongst the island again should we have a hurricane pass over the island and then there’s the fact, like I said, that there weren’t proper environmental protections put in place and we need to get those to be from where they are to where they can be properly maintained.”

After the most recent fire, Abaco Chamber of Commerce president Daphne DeGregory-Miaoulis released a statement on Sunday accusing successive administrations of ignoring the issue.

loC Ch a ir M a n sta nds M e penditure

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

LYNDEN Maycock, the CEO of the Local Organising Committee of the 2023 CARIFTA Games, insists he provided accurate figures when he discussed the price tag for the CARIFTA games at an Office of the Prime Minister press conference last week.

Mr Maycock told reporters $3.5m had been spent on operational matters, $2.5m “on the capital side”, and $3m on resurfacing the surfaces of the old and new Thomas A Robinson stadiums.

However, the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture later said Mr Maycock was wrong and that only $839k was spent on resurfacing.

Yesterday, Mr Maycock said the divergent figures represent the different accounting reporting methods used.

“The ministry would have made a statement on a cash basis,” he said. “My statement was on an accrual basis.”

He defended the investment.

“We have legacy work that would have taken place with respect to capital works,” he said. “We

have legacy work that will continue all the way to the World Relays. It started with the Carifta Games, then will continue with the Bahama Games and will be used for the World Relays and for ongoing events that will be used at the national stadium. So it’s not money that was spent only for the CARIFTA games, it’s money that was spent or will be spent for events that will be happening ongoing for the people of The Bahamas.”

“When we came here in September of last year, we were starting from ground zero. If you would’ve come to the stadium you would see the deplorable state that this stadium was in when we came here in September. The stadium was in a total mess. So we are now pretty much starting from ground zero. The stadium was not maintained for the last seven years. Minimum maintenance was being done on this stadium in the last seven years and so we cannot allow persons to come internationally and the place look like a total mess. That’s embarrassing to the country and as a Bahamian, I don’t want The Bahamas to be embarrassed.”

“We warned of exactly this kind of situation occurring, which is likely to have a serious, negative affect on residents’ respiratory health along with unknown damage to the Abaco water well field located less than a mile from the fire,” she said.

“Successive governments are ignoring the issue to the detriment of people’s health, safety and living. We call for immediate response from government to deal with this issue and a similar one also brewing at the Spring City Debris Management Site near Marsh Harbour.”

For his part, Central and South Abaco MP John Pinder blamed the Minnis administration for the problem yesterday, accusing it of choosing the wrong locations as debris management sites and not correctly managing the Treasure Cay site.

“This administration, this Davis-led administration, is coming up with plans to demobilise and to dismantle them, but it is a huge problem that was put there without consultation with the Abaconians, and now we are trying to come up with a safe and proper plan to dismantle them,” he said.

FIRES at the debris management site outside Treasure Cay, Abaco emitting a toxic plume of smoke seen here from a distance, blocking the sun. DRA executive chairman Alex Storr said that the government’s plan is to demobilise the site here and near Spring City in Abaco, but no timeline was given. The sites were set up in the aftermath of Hurrcane Dorian, and have since become problematic as fires lead to unhealthy environments for nearby settlements, as well as having an adverse affect on the watertable and other concerns.

FORMER Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson Friday urged the government to pass the bill during an IDB workshop speaking on women’s issues. She said the bill would aid in establishing shelters, and mandate swift response by police.

Random bag searches may be added to primary schools

from page one

member) looked, it was more than one,” she told The Tribune yesterday.

“It was I think three or four (bullets) the child said that they found, and, of course, they carried him to the office.”

Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president Belinda Wilson said she is disturbed by the report.

“I’ve been in communication with the Acting Director of Education as to what measures will be put in place at the primary school level. Bag searches, metal detectors, random checks, and the police school resource officers — all of these have to be considered at all schools,” she said in a voice note yesterday.

Although she ruled out introducing metal detectors in primary schools, Mrs McCartneyRussell said random bag checks could be on their way — a first for primary schools.

“We would have already discussed the need for random bag checks at the primary school level. That’s not something that we

normally do at the primary school level, but we have determined that we will need to do that for not just that reason that was discovered on Friday but that’s one of the initiatives,” she said.

“In our high schools, our security officers assist

us with bag searches, and they do those bag searches every day. In the primary schools, we will ask our team members to assist. It won’t be every day, but we will seek to do it in all of our schools. We want to ensure that, you know, all of our children

are coming to school, and they are in an environment that is conducive for learning. We don’t want to have to search bags but it has gotten to this point where we really need to ensure that our children are making the best decisions and at

the primary school level they’re being exposed to so many things.”

Mrs McCartney-Russell said officials will connect with parents and teachers before moving ahead with random bag checks.

She added officials will also reintroduce

to be considered,

as

seminars to talk to children about social media, bullying, fighting and other issues.

Chief Superintendent of Police Anton Rahming said yesterday police are still investigating the Stephen Dillet Primary School incident.

MANGROVE RESTORATION REACHES NEARLY 50,000 PLANTED SINCE HURRICANE DORIAN

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY 50,000 red mangroves have been planted to date between Grand Bahama and Abaco since Hurricane Dorian.

The Bonefish Tarpon Trust (BTT) and Waterkeepers Bahamas (WKB) have collaborated with partners to kickstart mangrove recovery on the two islands after significant damage to the plants in 2019 as a result of the storm.

The Mangrove Action Project (MAP) was brought

to Grand Bahama last week to conduct training and spread the message about mangrove conservation and restoration. The week-long sessions were held for bonefish guides, government representatives, students and volunteers at the Rand Nature Centre, Freeport.

Justin Lewis, Bahamas initiative manager at the BTT, invited the MAP team, led by Dr Laura Michie, as part of the ongoing mangrove restoration efforts.

“We are educating Bahamians from all walks of life about the importance of

mangrove conservation and to carry out mangrove restoration appropriately,” he said.

“We are focusing on where and what makes the areas where mangrove live right now feasible for them to live and why we should be planting in those areas, and not just plant wherever; why it should be more targeted than doing it haphazardly.”

BTT has been collaborating with MANG Bahamas Natural Trust, Friends of the Environment, and Waterkeepers Bahamas as part of the Northern

Mangrove Restoration Project. The goal is to plant 100,000 mangroves by the end of 2024.

Rashema Ingraham, executive director of Waterkeepers Bahamas, said last year’s training by MAP was very beneficial.

“It helped us … with understanding what we needed to do to yield higher success rates,” she said.

Sylvie Carey, secretary for the Bahamas Natural Resources Foundation, said: “I wish everybody would eventually do this because it gives you more of an awareness of mangroves.

A lot of people think it is just bush, but it is a nursery for fish and helps sustain the fishing industry in the Bahamas.”

MAP, a US-based nonprofit, collaborates with stakeholders at all levels to preserve, conserve, and restore our world’s mangrove forests. Teams have carried out mangrove restoration projects and trained community leaders worldwide, including in the Philippines, Thailand, and the Cayman Islands. The first Bahamas mangrove training initially took place in April 2022.

Dr Michie, programmed manager for MAP, said: “It is wonderful to be back and see just how much education work has been done, how many community members are involved and the ongoing commitment to the work.”

The success of the mangrove projects has relied on critical collaborations with stakeholders, including The Bahamas National Trust, Forestry Unit, The Nature Conservancy, Department of Marine Resources, Earthcare, bonefish guides, schools, community groups, and volunteers.

BUT president Belinda Wilson said in response to the incident of a nine-year-old being found with ammunition at school that measures need

such

‘bag searches, metal detectors, random checks, and the police school resource officers.’

MEMBERS of the Bonefish Tarpon Tust and Waterkeepers Bahamas have collaborated to plant nearly 50,000 red mangroves in Grand Bahama and Abaco since the passage of Hurricane Dorian, supported by enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers

THE MANGROVE Action Project (MAP) was brought to Grand Bahama last week to conduct training and spread the message about mangrove conservation and restoration. The week-long sessions were held for bonefish guides, government representatives, students and volunteers at the Rand Nature Centre, Freeport.

Son’s disappearance at sea ‘deja vu’ for mother

NAZ’R Robins’ disappearance at sea has conjured the worst kind of deja vu in his mother.

“This isn’t my first time going through this,” Renee Robins said two weeks after her 25-year-old son and his close friend, James Toote, Jr, 31, went missing while travelling from Grand Bahama to Bimini.

“Two decades ago, my brother went missing, so now, I know how my kids feel and I know how my mom felt. So this is like deja vu, going through this all over again. (My brother) was never found. They found the plane, but my brother was never found, nor the pilot.”

Official search efforts for Mr Robins and Mr Toote, Jr, were called off last week, according to Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association Chairman Eddie Whan. The men were reportedly travelling on a 24ft white trimmed blue vessel when they failed to reach their destination.

Ms Robins remains hopeful but acknowledges that some have concluded the two men are likely dead.

“The officer-in-charge here told me point blank that the type of boat they were in and the weather (that) came down

BIMINI

(means) they couldn’t make it because the boat couldn’t take it. So (as) far as he is concerned, my son is dead, but I’m not putting my hopes in that,” she said.

Family members said Mr Robins and Mr Toote have left behind anxious relatives and friends who need closure and are struggling to imagine life without them.

Whitley Brice, Mr Toote Jr’s niece, said her uncle’s fouryear-old daughter would celebrate her birthday on Sunday, a milestone that may now take on a sombre tone.

“If I had one wish, my wish would be for God to bring (him) home; we really miss (him),” she said.

“His oldest son is aware (of what happened), and he is very worried. Every day he’s calling and asking if we found his daddy. He’s posting on his WhatsApp status, please help him find his daddy. The other two girls are young and don’t have a full understanding.”

Ms Brice said she and her uncle, whom she described as “full of life,” were close.

“We would talk on the phone. He would fly to Freeport and stay with me at times,” she said.

After the men were declared missing, rumours circulated on social media that US authorities arrested them. However, the family said representatives of the Bahamas Consulate in Miami had denied this.

TRANSPORT

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

A LOCAL transport and construction company must pay more than $600k to nine former employees after terminating them without pay.

Scuba Bimini Water Taxi Bus & Construction did not respond to a summons or appear for the trial, leaving Deputy Registrar Edmund Turner to largely accept the plaintiffs’ claims without contest.

AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

He ultimately ordered the company to pay nine of the 11 plaintiffs $613,152.47.

The company must also pay $50,000 in legal fees by July 30, 2023.

Deputy Registrar Turner noted that the Employment Act specifies the minimum period of notice a company must give employees when terminating their employment contract.

For regular employees, this includes two weeks notice or two weeks basic pay instead of notice; and

ORDERED TO PAY $600K IN SALARIES OWED

two weeks basic pay for each year up to 24 weeks. For employees in supervisory or managerial positions, this includes one month’s notice or one month’s basic pay in lieu of notice; and one month’s basic pay for each year up to 48 weeks.

Some plaintiffs argued that they were not paid overtime despite working as many as seven days a week for more than 11 hours daily.

In some of their cases, Deputy Registrar Turner

MIAMI TRIP NIGHTMARE FOR MOM AND SON

have endured considerable emotional and physical trauma.

She said relatives launched a full-scale investigation when Ms Colebooke and her son failed to return to New Providence on March 20.

“Long story short, something happened on the 23rd, and she took herself and her son to the hospital and, for whatever reason, she left the hospital,” she said yesterday. “The hospital was not able to reach her and assumed they were homeless, so Child Protection Services took the child.

“On the 25th, she was hit by a car. It was a hit-andrun. Thankfully, they were able to place her in the same hospital that she had

originally gone in. I don’t want anybody to think she abandoned the child. She didn’t. There were other circumstances that I cannot disclose at the moment.”

“Fortunately, she is alive. But her pelvis was fractured in two places, her femur bone was badly broken, she had a broken rib and two fractured ribs, one of which fractured her lung, resulting in her lungs collapsing, so she’s had surgery to fix the collapsed lung and she’s had surgery on her right leg. She has a very badly damaged left leg. She is severely bruised. After her lungs collapsed, she contracted pneumonia, which we understand they are still treating her for now.”

Ms Mackey said her stepdaughter has no recollection of what happened. “She has no clue where

she’s been,” she said. “We are getting tidbits of circumstances I would not wish on anybody for their children so we are starting to piece together some of the dramatic things that happened to her that resulted in all of this.”

She said the family met US officials to remove the child from CPS custody.

“They are preparing to expedite a trial for us (to today) to assist us in getting the child back,” she said.

She said the young boy is doing well and is being taken care of, though he is “somewhat traumatised” by his experience.

“Everybody’s been very supportive and we’re just trying to get her through this,” she said. “The entire family flew (to Florida) and she’s surrounded by people that love her.”

revised the amount of money owed to the plaintiffs upwards above what they asked.

Pietro Burrows, an operator employed from January 21, 2019, to November 28, 2019, is owed $65,527.55.

Roderick Smith, employed from December 17, 2018, to December 1, 2019, is owed $82,085.

Arlington Rolle, an employee from May 17 to November 21, 2019, is owed $46,040.93.

Raymond Rolle, an employee from November

11, 2018, to December 15,

2019, is owed $66,944.54.

Isaac Escamast, an employee from April 9,

2019, to December 10,

2019, is owed $65,211.27.

Derrick Harvey, an employee from May 17,

2019, to November 28,

2019, is owed $83,378.71.

Terrance Stubbs, an employee from January

21, 2019, to December 25,

2019, is owed $63,708.13.

Tiko Rolle, an employee

from November 11, 2018, to November 21, 2019, is owed $55,443.57.

Tavero Rolle, an employee from November 11, 2018, to November 21, 2019, is owed $47,954.

Deputy Registrar Turner noted that payments to two other plaintiffs, Howard Thompson and Danie Rahming, were not determined because they did not provide evidence of their employment and work hours.

NAZ’r Robins (pictured) and James Toote Jr. went missing March 19 after leaving by boat from Grand Baham en route to Bimini.

The Tribune Limited

Slow motion over bill shows women not a priority

SOCIAL Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe says that the government won’t rush the Gender Violence Bill. We are not sure why he felt the need to tell us that – the evidence of our own eyes was enough to see there was no sign of any progress.

The deadline for bringing the legislation is one that has been set by government itself – but it has failed to live up to the expectations it set itself.

In January last year, after Heavenly Terveus was killed by her boyfriend, the State Minister for Social Services, Lisa Rahming, said the bill would be tabled “in a few weeks or a few months”. More than a few of each has passed, and no sign of the bill.

So where is it?

According to Mr Wilchcombe, the role of the Church is prominent, with discussions about the legislation ongoing.

He said: “The position of the Church is fundamental and has been in each step taken in the growth and development of our country. We have made progress, and we will soon complete our due diligence.”

The only trouble is, when The Tribune spoke to the head of the Bahamas Christian Council, that diligence does not sound as if it has been very diligent.

President Delton Fernander said yesterday he is unaware of the bill and that in the six years he has been in office, the council has not been consulted.

What does that say for how advanced this legislation is at this stage? It certainly is not encouraging if Church consultation is so important but the Christian Council has not yet been approached for discussions.

If they have not been approached, exactly who has been?

It is beginning to look like a telling pattern. In yesterday’s Tribune, we reported on calls by former Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson to get on with legislation over equality of citizenship.

Marital rape legislation has been promised by this government with certain dates mentioned that then pass without progress.

Predominantly, the majority of these bills affect women – both in terms of protection and equality, and yet there seems to be a lack of progress. Does that mean women are not a priority for this government?

There is a simple way for the government to prove that women are indeed a priority – and that is to get on with bringing legislation forward.

It brings no comfort and no confidence for the government to miss self-imposed deadlines and then talk about how it will not be rushed.

There is no rush here. We have been dragging our heels over such issues for far too long.

When it comes to gender violence, if these laws are to protect women, then every day without them leaves women without that protection. How long must women wait? Why must women wait?

What takes priority over their safety?

So when Mr Wilchcombe says the government won’t rush, it should not come as a surprise to the government if women take that to mean that they are not the priority – especially when the reason for taking extra time turns out to be consultation that has not even included key figures in our country.

It was last year the government said this legislation would be brought forward. How much longer must we wait?

Te battle is raging

EDITOR,

“I KEEP telling myself not to give up hope to be brave and stay strong because I believe there are people out there who will believe in me and will help me through these hard times”.

When I look back over my life. I believed I would never amount to anything. As a child there was never a positive role model in my life.

My mother whose family is well off was disowned by her parents when she got pregnant with me at the age of fourteen by an eighteen-year-old high school dropout.

For all it’s worth, I have been told I was born under what is called an unlucky star. From birth, I was off to a rough start . My dad left my mom shortly after I was born. Up to this day, I don’t know who he is.

Both of my uncles spend most of their time drinking and getting high.

After being kicked out by my grandparents she moved in with a cousin and from there on it was the downward spiral for her.

Shortly after giving birth to me for a while, she got hooked on crack and was in and out of relationships with lots of men. Resulting in her having three more children. Thank God she has turned her life around and has put her past behind her.

I grew up in a neighbourhood where anything goes. And being exposed to drugs, alcohol, and illicit sexual activities at an early age it was not hard for me

to become a product of my surroundings.

It all started at the age of ten with me stealing foodstuff from the petty shop to feed my brothers and sisters.

It all seemed so easy so I started shoplifting. It wasn’t long before I was placed in a foster home.

While that slowed me down for a while it wasn’t long before I returned to my old ways. Eventually being sentenced to prison for housebreaking.

Prison life is hard, you can’t imagine the things that go on in there. It is no place to be.

So, after I was released, I promised never to go back. But that promise was shortlived because once you’ve been to jail people treat you like you’re nobody.

No one wants to give you a job and if they do once, they find out you’re an ex they either fire you or put on enough pressure that would cause you to quit.

So, I wound up going back to prison this time for armed robbery. So, you see why there are so many repeat offenders.

I don’t care what anyone says once you’ve been to jail the only ones that accept you are people whose lives are the same as yours. Well, not everyone, but the majority.

They will tell you that’s not true, but I know better. Why do you think me and my girl is out here with our princess picking up bottles.

Do you believe we enjoy doing this? We get two dollars a case some days if we’re lucky we make about $10. But we have to eat as you can see both my girl and our daughter is slightly handicapped.

During the COVID pandemic, both of the major liquor merchants closed down their bottle collections. Taking away our primary means of survival. We were devastated and didn’t know what to do. I faced many temptations. But it was my faith in God that helped us survive.

Thank God Jimmy liquor store has restarted the programme with that and my job at the gas station we are on the road to full recovery.

With all of the murders and armed robberies taking place it is only by the grace of God I’m able to be sitting here having this conversation with you.

The battle is raging.

But you know what I’m not going back to prison because I believe one day, I’m going to be able to take my mother, my brother, and my sisters out of that environment.

Thank you for spending this time with me, not many people are interested in my story.

I haven’t seen him in a while, but he used to be on south beach by the pools with his child who is handicapped and his fiancée who is also impeded with a limp from birth collecting bottles.

This is his story.

God bless him. God bless the Bahamas.

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, March 26, 2023.

EDITOR, The Tribune

I THOUGHT in our Constitution there is an Article which guarantees no discrimination on any grounds, including gender, but, sir, what do we see?

A never-ending meeting — function —

on a level playing field be they the smallest business or the largest. Sorry, what I heard from certain Ministers was certainly contrary of that... even indicated deliberate preferences in favour of small business and Family Island businesses.

but

tional

FORMER President Donald Trump waves to supporters upon arriving at Trump Tower in New York yesterday. Trump arrived for his expected booking and arraignment on charges arising from hush money payments during his 2016 campaign.

Photo: Yuki Iwamura/AP

Shanty town demolition ‘unlawful’ says KC Smith

from page one

arguments from Fred Smith, KC, who represents shanty town residents, and Kayla Green-Smith, the government’s representative.

The move comes after the removal of an injunction barring demolition earlier this year. Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson ruled in favour of the government in a case she called “a matter of national importance”. In the latest hearing, Mr Smith argued before the Chief Justice that the injunction covered more than the applicants and suggested that

it applied to all residents of shanty towns. He further said the object of the injunction was to maintain the status quo.

Mr Smith argued that the government had used the recent ruling by Justice Grant-Thompson as a “shortcut” - so that responsibility for any demolition lay with the court rather than government ministers.

He said the government could have properly served notice to the persons facing eviction and found out their names rather than saying “persons unknown” to sidestep court and fast-track demolitions. Mr Smith called the

SHOTSPOTTER AND CAMERAS BROUGHT TO GB IN CRIME FIGHT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SHOTSPOTTER is finally activated in Grand Bahama to assist police in the detection and location of gunfire as it happens - while officers will also be outfitted with body cameras and dashboard cameras.

As of yesterday, Grand Bahama police officers will be outfitted with the body cams, and all police vehicles will have the dashboard cameras fitted.

Inspector Bryant Outten, officer in charge of communications branch for the Northern Bahamas, said the roll out of these technologies is in keeping with the Commissioner’s Policing Plan, with priority six seeking to optimise technology in crime prevention and police operations.

He said ShotSpotter, already in operation in New Providence, works as a 911 (call) for bullets, alerting police to gunshots and

helping to find the location a gun was fired.

“The technology detects and pinpoints the exact location of gunshots anywhere on the island,” Inspector Outten explained.

He said it will also improve evidence collection, response rate, locating witnesses, and more.

The inspector said camera technology provides corroborating evidence of an event and enhances the accuracy of contentious situations for investigations, as well as prosecutions. He said it helps to ease situations between the public and police, and provides a first-hand account of encounters to aid in transparency and building trust.

He said the cameras ensure that officers are alert and hold them accountable.

“It would make sure we conduct ourselves in a manner which upholds the values, integrity and reputation of our police force,” he said.

actions taken so far in this matter “unlawful”.

One shanty town resident, Leslie Smith, said a notice was placed on his door - but that he had complied with orders by the government to upgrade the property in 2017.

In response, Mrs Green-Smith said Craig Delancey, the building control officer in the Ministry of Public Works, was within his rights to serve notices while in the execution of his duties. She said the new application by residents was in breach of the court order. Mrs Green-Smith also said the dismissed injunction carries on to anyone who lived on land

whether they came before or after the injunction was in place. As a result, she said, people in the future may be held in breach.

She added that the building control officer would continue to execute his duties and asked the court to grant an order that the applicants’ premises be demolished.

Chief Justice Winder informed the handful of applicants gathered in court that they could lodge their complaints to Mr Delancey at the Ministry of Works at 3pm yesterday. The Justice then adjourned these matters until April 13 to hear continued arguments from both sides.

JAMAICAN DENIES FIREARM POSSESSION

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A JAMAICAN man with no legal status in the country was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Rick Matthew Crosby, 24, of Jamaica, appeared before Magistrate Laquay Laing in Court Three. He was not represented by counsel.

It is alleged that on March 26, at Freeport, the accused possessed a black magnum revolver and ammunition without a firearm certificate. Crosby

pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor Sergeant Calsey Arthur told the court the accused is not a Bahamian national and that there is no documentation for him to reside in The Bahamas. He said Crosby could be a flight risk if released on bail, and asked for conditions to be imposed, including wearing an electronic monitoring device, and to sign in once week at the police station.

Magistrate Laing asked Crosby if he had status to be in the country.

The accused said he came to The Bahamas on vacation about six weeks ago and was granted a

one-month stay, which expired two weeks ago. He told the magistrate that his “baby’s mother” was putting in for extra time because they are supposed to get married next month.

Magistrate Laing said the charges are serious. He granted the accused $7,000 cash bail, and ordered him to be fitted with an ankle monitoring bracelet and to sign in at the police station once a week between 6am and 6pm. The case was adjourned to June 26 for trial.

In other court news, a man was charged with intentional libel. Sean Dawkins, 46, appeared before Magistrate Laing.

ACCUSED DENIES BAIL VIOLATIONS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on bail for murder was charged in court on Monday for allegedly breaching the conditions of his daily curfew.

Anthon Munroe, 26, stood before Magistrate Shaka Serville on five counts of violation of bail

conditions and a single count of damage.

It is alleged that between January 14 and February 16, while on Supreme Court bail for a pending murder charge, the accused failed to obey his nightly residential curfew on five occasions.

During this same timeframe, it is further alleged that Munroe damaged his

court ordered electronic monitoring device.

He pleaded not guilty. Munroe then told Magistrate Serville he recently had a change of address.

Prosecutor Sergeant Deon Barr raised no objections to the defendant’s bail, which was granted at $3,500.

The trial is due to begin on September 26.

US MAN ADMITS CREDIT CARD FRAUD

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN American man was fined in court yesterday after he admitted to committing credit card fraud while staying at the Sandals resort last month.

Damien Brown, 31, of Los Angeles, California, appeared before Magistrate Kendra Kelly on charges of credit by fraud and possession of a forged document.

Between March 27 and 28, Brown is said to have incurred a $5,600 debt at the Sandals Resort on

West Bay Street after using a forged American Express Credit Card in his name. In court, the accused pleaded guilty and was ordered to fully compensate the resort. He was further ordered to pay a collective fine of $5,000 or risk eight months in jail.

He was not represented by counsel.

It is alleged that on March 20, at Freeport, the accused intentionally published images on WhatsApp to cause damage to a woman’s character.

Dawkins, a subcontractor, pleaded not guilty and elected summary trial in the Magistrate’s Court.

Prosecutor Arthur asked

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings @ tribunemedia.net

OFFICERS confiscated suspected marijuana in two separate incidents and made two arrests over Sunday night and early Monday morning.

In the first incident, sometime around 10.15pm on Sunday, officers in the area of Stokes Beach, off Yamacraw Hill, saw two men in dark clothing on a jet ski, who upon seeing officers fled in a southern direction and escaped.

Police discovered a large suitcase floating in the water with a large quantity of suspected marijuana inside. The drugs weighed over eight pounds and have an estimated street value of $8,500.

In the second incident, shortly around 1pm on Monday, officers attached to Operation Ceasefire and the K-9 Unit, acting on information, executed a search warrant on a residence in the area of Domingo Heights.

Officers found three crocus sack bags containing large quantities of suspected marijuana. A 30-year-old man was arrested and taken into police custody.

• On Saturday, officers found an unlicensed firearm, shortly after 7.45am, officers executed a search warrant on a residence, in the area of Malawi Street. A black high-powered weapon and ammunition were discovered at the back of the home. No arrest was made.

• Police in Bimini arrested two American cruise ship passengers for possession of dangerous drugs on Sunday. Shortly before 10am, officers received reports from cruise ship security that a 46-year-old American man and a 37-year-old American woman were found in possession of seven multi-colour packages containing an assortment of snacks infused with marijuana. The value is unknown at this time.

the court to order the accused not to make contact with the virtual complainant, who the defendant said was a friend, or witnesses.

The magistrate granted him $2,500 bail and ordered Dawkins to report to the Port Lucaya Police Station once a week between 6am and 6pm on Mondays. The matter was adjourned to May 1.

ONE of the body cameras on show in Grand Bahama.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

Hard work, discipline and perseverence on the road to success for Harold Watson

HAROLD L Watson is a visionary Bahamian businessman whose discipline and perseverance resulted in the success of one of the most widely recognised franchises in the country. A proud Long Islander and family man, Mr Watson has taken the principles of hard work, honesty and reliability with him on his journey to success. In this week’s Face to Face with Felicity, I share a heartfelt letter sent to me from the staff and management of AID in his honour: “Successful people do the things that unsuccessful people dislike doing and will not do”.

When thinking of Mr Harold L Watson, executive chairman of AID Ltd, this quote by motivational speaker John Maxwell comes to his children’s mind; not only because he has ingrained it in them, but because his life’s work embodies it.

Born in Gordon’s, Long Island to the late William and Olga Watson, Harold was sent to Nassau at the age of 14 where he finished high school. Like so many industrious Long Islanders of that era (including his siblings Frank H Watson, William, Solomon, Brendon, Agatha and Warren Watson), Harold worked with what he had. While his older brothers navigated towards Customs and construction respectively, he had a knack for mathematics, and took a job at Batelco while attending Nassau Technical College at night, where he studied book keeping.

Soon after receiving a distinction in the subject, Watson went on to work for a US-based steel company called Navios Corporation, which had three subsidiaries in Nassau and one in Freeport. It was here that he greatly developed his accounting skills. He was part of a team that was tasked with ensuring that

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

all financial reporting was sent to the company’s headquarters in Pittsburgh, US, either by courier or fax, no later than three working days following each month end. The procedures, protocols and discipline that he learned here, he would take with him everywhere he went; undoubtedly paving the way for his future success. He then spent several years at Bahamas Tractor, where he greatly assisted in cleaning up the company’s internal controls. In 1979, Watson began his journey at Automotive and Industrial Distributors Ltd, as it was called back then.

During his tenure at AID, Watson continued to take his work seriously, spending countless hours at the office to ensure that the company was a world class operation. He successfully implemented best practice accounting procedures and policies for all of the company’s locations, which at the time included Nassau, Freeport, Marsh Harbour, Rock Sound, and Nicholls Town stores, he also worked closely with the company’s US-based software developer.

Always abreast of what top retail companies were doing world-wide, he knew that the company needed to move away from its manual processes. He worked diligently with the developer to design custom point of sale, general ledger, subsidiary inventory and fixed asset software programmes for the company, including a computerised Bahamas Customs entry programme

that allowed AID to digitally produce its own customs entry; something that was unheard of at the time. The software designed by Watson continues to be the base of the company’s POS and back-office programmes today.

Although he always showed a demand for excellence in the workplace, Watson always led by example. He never expected any personnel to do anything that he would not do. When he wasn’t attending trade shows, seminars, or visiting the company’s Family Island locations, he would often be seen on the retail floor of the company’s Wulff Road store, arranging merchandise on shelves, or in the warehouse assisting with the checking in of shipments. However, it was when he became financial controller of the company in 1982 that he was truly able to demonstrate his leadership skills, and vision for a successful AID.

As an employee himself, Watson believed that the company’s primary asset was a loyal and efficient staff, and that its success was directly related to the character, ability and motivation of its personnel. As a result, to fulfill his vision of leading a company owned by the people who actually made it successful, he implemented an incentive programme whereby all employees would be afforded an opportunity to have a stake in the company that they worked for. At the time, this type of incentive was fairly new. While most companies reserved stock incentives for

Our company has been around gaming for over 30 years and pride ourselves on quality service and customer relationships. We are moving forward in the market and such are looking for hardworking, reliable, people friendly customer services representatives.

Jarol Investments Limited is seeking to fll the following position:

Handyman (Nassau)

Cleaning and maintaining property inclusive of cleaning windows, mopping entrance, light weeding & painting, clearing fences, throwing out garbage daily from offces, keeping yard swept and clean & washing all company’s vehicle on Saturdays.

Janitress (Nassau)

Cleaning offce daily, mopping, sweeping, wipping doornobs, cleaning bathrooms, dusting desks & keeping kitchen area clean.

Performs related duties as assigned by Management.

Interested persons should email their resume to careers@chancesgames.com. or visit our Head Offce on Prince Charles Drive (across from Restview Funeral Home) between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

key management personnel, the programme that Watson developed would benefit all employees, regardless of position; a view that was shared by Sam Walton, founder of Walmart. By 2004, more than 51 percent of the company was owned by its employees - a feat that continues today, and is believed to be unmatched by any other company in The Bahamas.

As Watson celebrates his 73rd birthday, the company would like to honour him and the contributions he continues to make to an establishment that accounting firms tout as one of the top, if not the top run companies in the country. Watson greatly credits his success in business to his Long Island heritage, and when he is not visiting any one of AID’s seven locations, he can be found relaxing at his residence there.

Among countless other philanthropic efforts, Watson’s love for the game of tennis has led the company to donate a tennis court to the National Tennis Centre to aid in the development of the sport. He is past president of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, and the company continues to hold the annual AID Clay Court Tennis Championships which it started 30 years ago.

He and his wife Shirlene have been married for 47 years, and together, they have three children and eight grandchildren. The daily operations of the company are currently being conducted by Watson’s son Jason, who serves as President and Managing Director. His son Harazette manages the company’s Freeport location, and his daughter Janelle serves as a member of the company’s board, and is the chair of its audit committee.

Employment Opportunity

Lyford Cay International School is seeking a . The plays an important role in supporting student learning and leadership effectiveness by ensuring the efficient and accurate management of administrative matters. He or she is the first point of contact campus and helps to provide a memorable, one-of-a-kind experience to campus visitors.

Professional Requirements

3 years of experience in a secretarial, administrative or hospitality-related position

University degree or similar qualification

Ability to establish effective systems for administrative operations

• An analytical, self-directed/proactive, and well-organised approach to task management Proficiency with office technology and equipment (printers, copiers, scanners, computers and software such as Microsoft Office and Google Suite)

A professional and courteous demeanor

Skills and Other Attributes

• Strong task and time management skills

Exceptional problem-solving skills

Strong interpersonal skills to interact well with students, staff, parents, and the public who represent a diverse community of cultures and needs

Fluency in English and the ability to speak an additional language (Spanish/French) is an asset

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

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Start Date:

To apply, please send a résumé and cover letter explaining why you are a match for LCIS to jobs@lcis.bs by Friday To learn more about our school, please visit www.lcis.bs

“Successful people do the things that unsuccessful people dislike doing and will not do”.

HAROLD L WATSON, visonary businessman who showed that hard work and perseverance leads to success, as he proved with his work at Automotive Industrial Distributors (AID).

A STATE visit is a potent symbol. It confirms at the highest level the quality of relations between two countries by demonstrating the strength of their diplomatic, economic and cultural ties. It is a powerful indicator of the overall bilateral relationship.

So, in the vernacular, such occasions are a really big deal and much more so than a prime ministerial visit. They can be groundbreaking by showing attitudes and conveying messages – as was the case, for example, in The Queen’s visit to India in 1961 following its independence more than a decade earlier, her post-apartheid visit to South Africa in 1995 and her bridge-building one to Ireland in 2011.

Thus, the importance of last week’s three-day state visit to Germany of King Charles accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, should not be underestimated. By general consent, it was a huge success. Putting the pomp and glamour aside, it had a political purpose of mending Britain’s frayed ties with its continental partners following the painful process of Brexit. It was the King’s first state visit abroad since becoming monarch and it was the first to Germany since The Queen’s state visit in 2015. He had earlier in London set the tone by meeting the President of the European Commission,

Ursula von der Leyen, after last month’s announcement of the Windsor Framework agreement in respect of EU trade with Northern Ireland post-Brexit.

It is clear that, unlike The Queen whose first overseas trip after her coronation was a tour of Commonwealth countries, the King’s aim was to show, even before his coronation, that Europe is the UK’s diplomatic priority and that there is a need to improve relations after Brexit. He had also been due to travel to France but that part of his tour had to be cancelled because of violent social unrest over pension reforms. Interestingly, Germany’s President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was quoted as saying that

the fact Germany and France had been chosen for the King’s first overseas state visit was an important “European gesture”, adding that, six years after Britain had started its exit from the EU, a new chapter in Anglo-German relations was opening.

King Charles rebuilding bridges The Peter Young column

I imagine the King’s message will have been that even though Britain had left the EU it was not leaving Europe as such and, in particular, it was not leaving the most powerful country in Europe, Germany; nor, indeed, France. So, it looks as though the intended signal was that the importance to Britain of neither country could be questioned. The emphasis now was on rebuilding bridges, not least at a time of pressure over Ukraine and to demonstrate that, despite differences over Brexit, shared long-term interests remained the same. Presumably, too, the British government, which uses the monarchy’s so-called “soft power” to support its own objectives, will hope that giving special attention to the EU’s biggest and most influential member states may also help to normalise relations with the rest of the 27-member bloc which remain important partners and allies.

The King and Queen Consort were given a fine ceremonial welcome and attracted very large crowds. Charles was the first British

GLOBAL BRITAIN BECOMING A REALITY

monarch to give an address to Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag. This was an historic event. In his speech he celebrated the special bond between Britain and Germany and the “enduring value” of the relationship, saying that he wanted to “renew the pledge of friendship between our nations”.

He spoke of the long and remarkable story of the two countries – described earlier by Buckingham Palace as “our shared history, culture and values” - stressing that the next chapters of the relationship should be filled “with the restless pursuit of a better tomorrow”. There was a need, he said, to recast the roles of both countries as European democratic allies responding to war in Ukraine, as he praised the “generosity

of spirit” of the German people in hosting more than one million Ukrainian refugees. The King’s address to the Bundestag, delivered in a mix of German and English, lasted over twenty minutes and earned him a standing ovation. He spoke strongly about the scourge of war –including the Second World War - and emphasised the need for reconciliation in which his mother had played an important role, not least in her first state visit to Germany in 1965.

According to observers, his words came across as heartfelt and personal, and the general feeling was that “he had met the moment”. He also visited the northern port city of Hamburg, the scene of heavy wartime bombing, where again the theme was reconciliation.

There can be little doubt that Britain benefits considerably from the “soft power” provided by members of the Royal Family. The monarch, in particular, plays a central role in how the UK projects this. At the age of 74, King Charles has been a public figure for a long time as Prince of Wales and enjoys a special aura. He is instantly recognisable as a global figure and more famous than other heads of state while, staying above politics, he is not burdened by the same constraints that they face. Many say the theatre of all this matters as much as the substance. But, by any measure, not only was the trip a success but it did indeed mark a new chapter in Britain’s relationship with this important country – and, it is hoped in Britain, with the rest of Europe as well.

A WORLD IN PERPETUAL CRISIS

WHATEVER their political alignment, most people will doubtless agree that the latest developments concerning the indictment of former President Trump have caused widespread alarm. His expected arraignment this afternoon in New York has created endless controversy and deep uncertainty and has been called by some a sad day for America. Self-evidently, it has sent shockwaves through the nation as the rest of the world also looks on with disbelief and trepidation about what it might lead to in relation to Western democracy.

Reflecting on this, I began to think about the broader problem in the modern world of what British historian Dominic Sandbrook has labelled the state of so-called “permacrisis” in which we live – and, interestingly, this is a word which has now found its way into the dictionary. Loosely defined as an extended period of instability and insecurity, usually

deriving from a disaster or series of negative or even catastrophic events, a sense of crisis is created that precipitates ongoing uncertainty and worry for many people. In such conditions, this can turn quickly into hysteria.

Throughout the ages, of course, people have been confronted by myriad political, economic and social problems, but we now seem to be living in an era of unprecedented crisis because bad news travels fast in an interconnected world as a result of the instant communications produced by new technology that changes and develops by the day. The media compete to disseminate news more quickly than competitors, all too often to satisfy commercial sponsors – and through the internet there are no limits on the immediate availability of information.

Furthermore, disasters are happening around the world constantly and all the time there are those who will be suffering in one

A MYRIAD of natural disasters occur often, but in the information age also lead to axiety.

way or another. But many people will admit to being overwhelmed by too much information and, in order to live their own lives in the best way possible, there have to be limits on the vicarious concern required of human beings towards others in distress who are unknown to them. This, of course, raises moral and ethical issues which there is no space to explore today. But, for now, suffice it to say that a state of “permacrisis” will surely be with us forever in this newly interconnected world.

IN last weekend’s UK press, people were being urged to mark March 31, 2023, as the date – in the words of the publicists – ‘Brexit got done”. For that was the date the UK signed a deal to join a trade pact with eleven Asia and Pacific nations, three years after it officially left the EU. It is called the CPTPP – Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – which was established in 2018 and comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The CPTPP is said to account for about sixteen per cent of world trade and comprises a market of some 500 million people in large, developed and growing markets, with economists saying that by 2030 it will be the world’s largest trading system. The UK, which already exports $70bn worth of goods and services to CPTPP countries, is the first European nation to join it and benefit from a cutting of tariffs on a range of its exports and imports together with a boost to its services sector.

It seems that this is being called the final element of Brexit because Britain’s membership of the CPTPP represents its biggest trade agreement since leaving the EU. It is being described

as a monumental deal with an international trade bloc which has nothing to do with the EU. It is being seen as a significant step forward for Britain - the revival of British mercantilism as it re-establishes itself as a major global trading player.

Commentators are already pointing out that, as a result, there is now little or no likelihood of the UK rejoining the EU, as the socalled Remainers are still hoping. Emphasising that Britain is at heart an open and free-trading nation,

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that the deal demonstrates “real economic benefits of our post-Brexit freedoms for, as part of the CPTPP, the UK is now in a prime position in the global economy to seize opportunities for new jobs, growth and innovation”. It is also worth noting that this is the British Prime Minister’s second major trade breakthrough after his recent pact with the EU on Northern Ireland. Henceforward, after having already secured a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, British businesses will enjoy unparalleled access to markets from Europe to the south Pacific.

The CPTPP will not replace EU trade but supplement it as well as deepening access to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The big difference,

of course, from membership of the EU is that the CPTPP is not a political project. It is a group of trading nations who only want to do business, without any institutional political involvement. The UK will now be at the centre of a dynamic and growing group of Pacific economies based on “mutual recognition, equivalence and adequacy” and without being limited by the sort of burdens imposed by EU membership like endless undemocratic restrictive rules, free movement of people and pressure towards political integration.

Britain’s success in joining the CPTPP after talks with the group over the last two years seems to have come as a surprise to many commentators, not least because some doubted Britain would be able to pull it off. But, already it has been described as a seismic event and a wake-up call for Washington following the US’s withdrawal from the then Trans-Pacific Partnership under President Trump in 2017. Britain’s accession to this grouping of trade partners provides an example of Global Britain in action. There are also wider geopolitical implications – and I propose to examine some of these in next week’s column.

GERMAN President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, and his wife Elke Buedenbender, left, welcome Britain’s King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. Photo: Matthias Schrader/AP

BRITAIN’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street to appear before the Commons Liaison Committee in London, March 28, 2023.

Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

First moon crew in 50 years includes woman, black astronaut

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

NASA on Monday named the four astronauts who will fly around the moon late next year, including the first woman and the first African American assigned to a lunar mission.

The first moon crew in 50 years — three Americans and one Canadian — was introduced during a ceremony in Houston, home to the nation’s astronauts as well as Mission Control.

“This is humanity’s crew,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

The four astronauts will be the first to fly NASA’s Orion capsule, launching atop a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center no earlier than late 2024. They will not land or even go into lunar orbit, but rather fly around the moon and head straight back to Earth, a prelude to a lunar landing by two others a year later.

The mission’s commander, Reid Wiseman, will be joined by Victor Glover, an African American naval aviator; Christina Koch, who holds the world record for the longest spaceflight by a woman; and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen, a former fighter pilot and the crew’s lone space rookie. Wiseman, Glover and Koch have all lived on the International Space Station. All four are in their 40s.

“This is a big day. We have a lot to celebrate and it’s so much more than the four names that have been announced,” Glover said. This is the first moon crew to include someone from outside the U.S. — and the first crew in NASA’s new moon program named Artemis after the twin sister of mythology’s Apollo. Late last year, an empty Orion capsule flew to the moon and back in a long-awaited dress rehearsal.

“Am I excited? Absolutely,” Koch said to

last Wednesday. On Monday NASA announced them as the crew who will be the first to fly

cheers from the crowd of schoolchildren, politicians and others. “But my real question is: ‘Are you excited?’ “ she said to more cheers.

The Canadian Space Agency snagged a seat because of its contributions of big robotic arms on NASA’s space shuttles and the space station. One is also planned for the moon project.

Hansen said he’s grateful that Canada is included in the flight.

“We are going to the moon together. Let’s go!” he said.

During Apollo, NASA sent 24 astronauts to the moon from 1968 through 1972. Twelve of them landed. All were militarytrained male test pilots except for Apollo 17’s Harrison Schmitt, a geologist who closed out that moonlanding era alongside the late Gene Cernan.

Provided this next 10-day moonshot goes well, NASA aims to land two astronauts on the moon by 2025 or so.

NASA picked from 41 active astronauts for its first

wwe no longer us t a fa Mil affair a s it oins with ufC

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer

WWE is saying goodbye to existing as a family-run business as it joins with the company that runs Ultimate Fighting Championship to create a $21.4 billion sports entertainment company.

The deal announced Monday between Endeavor and World Wrestling Entertainment, on the heels of its biggest event of the year, catapults WWE into a new era after spending decades under the control of the McMahon family.

Artemis crew. Canada had four candidates. Almost all of them took part in Monday’s ceremony at Johnson Space Center’s Ellington Field, a pep rally of sorts that ended with Wiseman leading the crowd in a chant.

Congratulations came in from retired astronauts, including Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin and Scott Kelly, the first American to spend close to a year in space. “Huge risks, huge commitment, eternal benefits for all. What a crew!” tweeted Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian commander of the space station a decade ago who performed David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” from orbit.

President Joe Biden spoke with the four astronauts and their families on Sunday. In a tweet Monday, Biden said the mission “will inspire the next generation of explorers, and show every child — in America, in Canada, and across the world — that if they can dream it, they can be it.”

Vince McMahon purchased Capitol Wrestling from his father in 1982, and took the regional wrestling business to a national audience with stars such as Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, John Cena and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The company, which changed its name to World Wrestling Federation and later World Wrestling Entertainment, hosted its first WrestleMania in 1985.

McMahon, in an interview with CNBC, addressed doubts among some WWE fans and industry experts that he would ever make a deal for the business. “It’s the right time to do the right thing. And it’s the next evolution of WWE,” he said.

In a presentation after the deal was announced, the WWE and Endeavor said that they will cross promote to drive brand awareness and deepen penetration of their overlapping fan base, more than 700 million UFC fans and 1.2 billion WWE fans worldwide.

Ties already exist talent wise between WWE and UFC, with stars such as Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey crossing over between the two organizations.

A new publicly traded company will house the UFC and WWE brands, with Endeavor Group Holdings Inc. taking a 51% controlling interest in the new company. Existing WWE shareholders will hold a 49% stake.

The companies put the enterprise value of UFC at $12.1 billion and WWE’s value at $9.3 billion.

The new business, which does not yet have a name, will be lead by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. McMahon, executive chairman at WWE, will serve in the same role at the new company. Dana White will continue as president of UFC and Nick Khan will be president at WWE.

“Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Monday. He also provided some idea of where the focus of the new company will be, saying that it will look to maximize the value of combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster their brands.

Confirmation that WWE is being sold comes after McMahon, a majority shareholder of WWE, returned to the company in January and said that it could be on the block with viewership continuing to rise.

Rumors swirled about who would possibly be interested in buying WWE, with Endeavor, Disney, Fox, Comcast, Amazon and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund all in the mix.

McMahon said on CNBC that there were several buyers interested in WWE, but that combining with Endeavor is the right move.

“It makes all the sense in the world for all these synergies that we have to extract all of the value that we can out of the marketplace,” he explained.

Media industry analysts viewed WWE as an attractive target given its global reach and loyal fanbase.

The company held its marquee event, WrestleMania, over the weekend. The two-day spectacular, held at SoFi Stadium in California, topped the existing global viewership record by 28% on the first night. On the second night, it beat the existing global viewership record by 33%. Merchandise sales for WrestleMania

39 climbed 20% from a year earlier. Last year, WWE booked revenue of $1.3 billion.

The company is also a social media powerhouse.

It surpassed 16 billion social video views in the final quarter of last year. It has nearly 94 million YouTube subscribers and has more than 20 million followers on TikTok. Its female wrestlers comprise five out of the top 15 most followed female athletes in the world, across Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, led by Rousey with 36.1 million followers.

WWE had more than 7.5 billion digital and social media views in January and February of this year, up 15% from the same time frame a year ago. And WrestleMania 39 had more than 500 million views and 11 million hours of video consumed over the two days of the event, a 42% increase over last year.

The new company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the “TKO” ticker symbol. Its board will have 11 members, with six being appointed by Endeavor and five being appointed by WWE.

“We like the assets of UFC and also WWE in a world where linear TV is losing market share to streaming, thus live sport content is in high demand,” wrote Jeffries analyst Randal Konik said in a note to clients.

The transaction, which was approved by the boards of Endeavor and WWE, is targeted to close in the second half of the year. It still needs regulatory approval.

Shares of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., based in Stamford, Connecticut, are up 33% this year, but fell nearly 4% in Monday afternoon trading. Shares of Endeavor, based in Beverly Hills, California, slipped more than 7%.

‘son of a sinner’ ell roll reigns at CMt MusiC awards

TENNESSEE Associated Press

“SON of a Sinner” singer Jelly Roll was the big winner at the CMT Music Awards, as the rapper-turned-country singer took home three awards on Sunday as an outsider who won over fans with his confessional songs.

The tattooed singer got emotional during the show in Austin, Texas, which aired on CBS, as he thanked the country radio industry for its acceptance and shouted out to those who felt like him.

“You can be whatever you want to be. I promise you that. I told them that I wanted to be a country singer and I am standing here at the CMT Awards with the male video of the year, baby,” he shouted.

Earlier in the night, he brought a choir out for his prayer-themed song “Need a Favor” and got the crowd to raise their hands to the roof.

The show started off with a somber tone as country singer and co-host Kelsea Ballerini read off the names of six victims of a school shooting killed Monday in Nashville, Tennessee. She noted how she shared their pain, explaining that in 2008 she witnessed a school shooting in her hometown high school cafeteria in

Knoxville and prayed for “real action” that would protect children and families. Earlier in the evening, country artists wore black ribbons on the red carpet to honor victims of the shooting.

Country superstar and five-time Grammy winner Shania Twain was given the Equal Play Award, recognizing her for being a “visible and vocal advocate” for diverse voices in country music. Texas native and Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion introduced Twain and the pair danced and hugged to Twain’s hit, “Man, I Feel Like a Woman.”

Lainey Wilson won twice with female video of the year for “Heart Like a Truck” and collaborative video of the year for “Wait in the Truck” with HARDY. Co-host Kane Brown

took home the last award of the night with his wife, Katelyn, winning video of the year for their duet, “Thank God.”

Country Music Hall of Famer Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBryde performed a cover of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love is” while heavy fog rolled over the stage and into the crowd. Pop singer Stefani performed her No Doubt mid-1990s pop-punk hit “Just a Girl” alongside country singer Carly Pearce. Carrie Underwood, the most-awarded artist in CMT history with 25 awards, performed “Hate My Heart” as fireworks lit up the Austin night. Four-time Grammy winner Clark Jr. performed a tribute to the late Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn at the top of the show. Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd were honored with a tribute performance following the death in March of the last original member, Gary Rossington. ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Slash of Guns N’ Roses and the Allman Brothers’ Warren Haynes and Chuck Leavell wrapped the show with singers Paul Rodgers and Cody Johnson and backup vocals from LeAnn Rimes and Judd.

THIS photo provided by NASA shows, from left, NASA Astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen at the Johnson Space Center in Houston

the Orion capsule, launching atop a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center no earlier than late 2024. They will not land or even go into lunar orbit, but rather fly around the moon and head straight back to Earth, a prelude to a lunar landing by two others a year later.

Photo: Josh Valcarcel/AP

ROMAN Reigns holds up the WWE Universal Championship after defeating Jey Uso during a match on Oct. 25, 2020, in Orlando, Florida.

Photo: WWE/AP

JELLY Roll reacts as he accepts the award for male video of the year for “Son of a Sinner” at the CMT Music Awards on Sunday.

Photo:Evan Agostini/AP

CARIFTA swimming team off to Curacao 3PA stallions’ JASMINE

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

With their bags already packed, the 39-member team is ready to head to Pirate Bay, Curacao tonight to go for their fifth straight CARIFTA Swimming Championship title this weekend.

The team, made up of 36 swimmers and three open water swim competitors, will hold its final practice this morning, and will leave for the games tonight.

Competition is expected to start on Thursday and will wrap up on Monday. The team is scheduled to return home early Tuesday morning.

Following their practice session yesterday at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, two of the four team captains said they are thrilled to be heading the team but are confident that overall they will get the job done as the unprecedented five-peat champions.

As a part of all four championship teams, Keianna Moss, one of the two, said she’s looking forward to making a splash for Team Bahamas in her specialties in the butterfly, backstroke and individual

Bahamas going for 5th straight title

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

COACH Cedricka Rolle feels now that quartermiler Jasmine Mackey has broken the mantle as the first 3PA Stallions Track and Field Club member to make the CARIFTA Games team, she envisions that others will be inspired to follow suit.

Mackey, a 16-year-old member of the club for the past six years, was named to the 80-member team that will represent the Bahamas during the three-days of intense competition during the games from Saturday to Monday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

“I’m very excited, especially to get the opportunity to run against athletes not only from the Bahamas, but the other countries coming in,” Mackey said. “I think it’s going to be extraordinary for me.”

medley events as she tries to earn some more medals as she’s done in the past both individually and as a member of the relay teams.

“The expectations is to come home with the five-peat. This is my last

CARIFTA, so I just want to finish off strong and bring as many points home for the Bahamas,” said Moss, who attends McKendree University.

“We have a very fresh and new team, so I know

they will have some nerves, so I’m just going to try and help them to calm their nerves down and lead us to victory.”

Moss, who along with Rhanishka Gibbs, will serve as the female team

captains, said she always wanted to be in this position and now at the age of 17 in her final appearance, she gets to fulfil one of her long-time dreams for Team

SEE PAGE 14

Having made the qualifying standard as an under-17 competitor, but didn’t get to compete because she was too young, Mackey said she is delighted that she made it this time in the post COVID-19 environment and she intends to make the best of her opportunity.

SEE PAGE 13

HIGH SCHOOLERS JOIN INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL ACADEMY

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH their high school basketball league over and done with, local high school players are now showing their skills in the annual International Basketball Academy Bahamas Developmental League that is currently underway.

IBA Bahamas, headed by Denycko Bowles, play every Friday and Sunday at the Anatol Rodgers Gymnasium. Bowles said they are excited to be hosting their second annual tournament and they are pleased to see the growth and development of the young players in the league.

“The league has been extremely competitive. We have a lot of players who are really hungry and eager

to play, especially after coming off their high school season,” said Bowles of the league that got started on March 17.

“They just want to continue to be active and it has been very competitive to this point. We expect it to be more competitive as we move into our playoffs and championships in June.”

Boys and girls players between the ages of 4-20 years old playing on four junior teams and five senior teams. They were selected to participate on their respective teams through a draft system implemented before the start of the league. “The competition has been very, very good, especially in the junior category. We have those kids who are playing extremely well,” Bowles said. “Each and every day, those players

Late Everton goal earns 1-1 draw with Spurs as two players sent off

LIVERPOOL, England

(AP) — Michael Keane made amends for conceding a penalty by scoring off a long-range thunderbolt in the 90th minute to earn Everton a 1-1 draw with Tottenham in a feisty English Premier League game that saw both teams finish with 10 men yesterday.

Some Everton fans jumped over the advertising hoardings to celebrate Keane’s dipping strike that took their team out of the relegation zone and stopped Tottenham from jumping to third place in its first match since the departure of manager Antonio Conte.

“You won’t believe me,” said Keane, a centre back whose rare goals typically come off headers from set-pieces, “but every now and then I hit the ball like

that in training. To see one come off is amazing but honestly, after giving the penalty away, I was buzzing to score.”

Harry Kane put Tottenham ahead at Goodison Park, converting a penalty past England teammate Jordan Pickford in the 68th for his 22nd goal of the season after a foul by Keane on Cristian Romero.

By that time, Kane, the England captain, was being jeered every time he touched the ball because of his central role in the sending off of Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure in the 58th.

Kane fell to the ground after being struck in the face by Doucoure as the two grappled in an off-theball incident.

Everton manager Sean Dyche likely wasn’t alone

inside Goodison in thinking Kane made too much of an incident that saw Doucoure lash out at the striker after they grabbed each other’s shirts following their meaty challenge.

Tottenham couldn’t take advantage of its extra man, with Everton finishing the stronger — perhaps harboring a perceived sense of injustice — especially when the visitor was reduced to 10 men when substitute Lucas Moura was also shown a straight red card for a studs-first lunge on Keane’s ankle in the 89th.

“The mentality is getting stronger and stronger, and that’ll stand us in good stead going forward,” said Dyche, whose team came from behind twice to draw at Chelsea in its last league game.

Tottenham at least climbed one place to fourth position, the final Champions League spot, but will regard it as two points dropped.

come out and they play. They are eager to play.

“The senior division is just as competitive. We have players who played on their respective school teams coming out and being a part of the league. They feel they have a point to prove and they have been coming out to prove those points.”

While Bowles also coaches in the league, he is joined by Alphonso Brown, the junior boys’ coach at Anatol Rodgers. There are also a number of parents who come out and assist the league by coaching some of the teams.

games played on Sunday:

Wildcats 39, Eagles 29:

Jhaythn Jones led two players in double figures for the winners with a game high 16 points with nine rebounds

and three steals. Demarion Ellis added 10 points with a pair of steals. Marvin Pratt chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and as many steals.

Avery Gomez and Ken Cooper both scored eight points with two rebounds each, while Gomez also had three steals and two assists in a losing effort.

Tarheels 37, Bulls 18: Emmitt Smith and Davaughn Rolle provided a 1-2 punch with 15 points to pace the winners in their junior boys’ matchup.

Smith also had six rebounds, while Rolle added five rebounds with a pair of steals.

Malachi Cadeau led the losers with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Both Owen Saunders and DeQuan

SEE PAGE 14

Verstappen wins in wild finish to F1 Australian Grand Prix

By COURTNEY WALSH Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed his first Australian Grand Prix title on Sunday in remarkable circumstances after a chaotic F1 race filled with drama from the green light to the checkered flag.

Although Red Bull’s first triumph in Melbourne since 2011 was expected, the carnage that unfolded in the latter stages of the race at Albert Park made it an extremely hardfought win.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who drove superbly in his Mercedes, placed second for his first podium of the season, and Aston

Martin’s Fernando Alonso took third spot.

Only 12 of the 20 starters finished the race, after a late rolling start behind a safety car, and the sport’s governing body said it was the first F1 GP in history to feature three red flags.

Australian Oscar Piastri made the most of the disorder to finish eighth and claim his first championship points for McLaren.

Verstappen was pleased to clinch victory but queried the decision by stewards to issue a red flag after a crash on lap 55 of the 58-lap race instead of deploying a safety car Heheld a comfortable lead at that stage but then had to fight to hold the front position from Hamilton when the race was restarted.

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023

TOTTENHAM’s Harry Kane is pushed by Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure during their English Premier League soccer match yesterday. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

GO TEAM BAHAMAS: The Bahamas CARIFTA swim team at St Anne’s Church over the weekend.

YES Giants 2023 NPBA champions

it’s eM iid s donCiC for sCoring title in n a’s final wee

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

FOR the second time, the NBA will have an international player as its scoring champion.

It will be the second time in as many years.

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid — who was born in Cameroon — is on the cusp of becoming a back-to-back scoring champion, though he and Dallas’ Luka Doncic might take that race down to the wire.

Embiid opened up a bit of breathing room on Sunday, when he had 28 points in the 76ers’ loss to Milwaukee while Doncic — who is from Slovenia — scored 28 in the Mavericks’ overtime loss to Atlanta.

Embiid now has 2,110 points in 64 games; that’s an average of 32.97 per game.

Doncic has 2,096 points, also in 64 games; that’s an average of 32.75 per game.

Philadelphia has four games remaining, Dallas

has three. No NBA games were being played yesterday, with the league taking off the day of the NCAA men’s Division I championship game.

Portland’s Damian Lillard is third in the scoring race at 32.2 points per game. He’ll finish at that average, because the Trail Blazers have shut him down for the rest of the season given that they are out of playoff contention.

Technically, Lillard could still move ahead of Embiid and Doncic, but it’s highly unlikely — even if Embiid and Doncic both play in a game and are held scoreless, their averages still wouldn’t dip below Lillard’s.

This could be the closest scoring race in more than a decade. The last time the scoring title was decided by less than a half-point per game was 2011-12, when Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant edged the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant by 0.17 points per

Ayton and Suns face the Spurs tonight on 5-game win streak

(AP) — DEANDRE Ayton and the Phoenix Suns take on the San Antonio Spurs in Phoenix at 10pm tonight EDT.

The Spurs have 20-58 win loss record and are 14th in the Western Conference while the Suns are 43-35 - fourth in the Western Conference.

Deandre Ayton is averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns.

Terrence Ross is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Phoenix.

game; Durant averaged 28.03, Bryant averaged 27.86.

Embiid held off Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo to lead the

league in points per game last season to become the first official international scoring champion. Dominique Wilkins also won a scoring title; he was

born in France but played for the U.S. and is considered an American player.

(It should be noted that Embiid’s average of 30.6 points last season was barely ahead of LeBron James’ 30.3 per game, but James did not officially qualify for the NBA leaderboard because he did not appear in enough games.)

WHO’S IN

East: Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland and New York have secured playoff spots. Brooklyn, Miami and Atlanta have secured no worse than a play-in tournament berth and Toronto is locked into the play-in tournament. Chicago and Orlando still could make the play-in field, though the only way the Magic get there and bump the Bulls out is if they go 4-0 while Chicago goes 0-4.

West: Denver, Memphis and Sacramento have secured playoff spots. Phoenix, the Los Angeles

Clippers and Golden State can’t do worse than making the play-in tournament, and all enter the final week of the regular season in position to secure playoff berths.

WHO’S OUT

Detroit, Charlotte, Indiana and Washington have been eliminated in the East; Houston, San Antonio and Portland have been eliminated in the West.

RACE FOR WEMBY

While we won’t know until May 16 who gets the No. 1 pick in the draft — spoiler alert, unless some incredible trade happens, the lottery winner will select Victor Wembanyama — we do know there’s a 42% chance that the top pick will go to Detroit, Houston or San Antonio.

The Pistons, Rockets and Spurs are assured of finishing in the three bottom spots of the league this season. But there’s still some odds that can be “improved,” in that the team that finishes with the worst record is assured of not leaving the lottery with worse than the No. 5 draft pick.

Detroit is almost assured of having the worst record; the Pistons are 16-62, well “ahead” of Houston (19-60) and San Antonio (20-58).

There’s a lot of jostling that will happen this week for lottery odds as well. Charlotte is locked into finishing with the fourthworst record, but the fifth- through eighth-worst spots are all up in the air — with Portland, Indiana, Washington and Orlando all currently having either 33 or 34 wins.

And the worse a team’s record is, the better chance it has of winning the lottery and the Wembanyama sweepstakes.

3 WITH 32?

Should Embiid, Doncic and Lillard all finish with averages of at least 32 points per game, it’ll make NBA history. There never has been a season where three players had such an average. There have been two players averaging at least 32 points on four previous occasions — Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain did it in 196061, 1961-62 and 1962-63; Bryant and Allen Iverson did it in 2005-06.

0 WITH 60

Unless Milwaukee goes 4-0 this week, there won’t be a 60-win team in the NBA this season.

And that’s relatively rare.

NBA

Sunday,

Jones is averaging 12.5 points and 6.4 assists for the Spurs. Malaki Branham is averaging 13.9 points over the past 10 games for San Antonio.

Phoenix will attempt to continue its five-game win streak with a victory over San Antonio.

The Suns are 28-20 in conference play. Phoenix scores 113.6 points while outscoring opponents by 2.1 points per game.

The Spurs are 8-40 in Western Conference play. San Antonio ranks fifth in the Western

Conference with 27.1 assists per game led by Tre Jones averaging 6.4. The teams square off for the third time this season.

The Suns won 128-118 in overtime in the last meeting on January 29.

Chris Paul led the Suns with 31 points, and Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 34 points.

LAST 10 GAMES

Suns: 6-4, averaging 115.5 points, 42.9 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 6.4 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the

field. Their opponents have averaged 112.9 points per game.

Spurs: 2-8, averaging 114.3 points, 44.1 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.5 points.

INJURIES

Suns: None listed.

Spurs: Jeremy Sochan: out (knee), Keldon Johnson: out (foot), Khem Birch: out (knee), Devin Vassell: out (knee), Charles Bassey: out (patella).

It didn’t happen during Milwaukee’s 2020-21 championship season, when there was a 72-game schedule — and no team had a winning percentage that year that would have been equivalent to a 60-22 “regular” regular season anyway.

After that, the most recent time there wasn’t a 60-win team (or equivalent win percentage in a shortened season) was 2000-01, when San Antonio went 58-24 to lead the league.

Before that, one has to go all the way back to 197879, when Philadelphia went 54-28 to top the standings.

PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) dunks in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams, right, in the first half of an

basketball game

April 2 in Oklahoma City.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

PHILADELPHIA 76ers centre Joel Embiid (21) drives against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, during the first half on Sunday in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

YES

GIANTS

RULE: While the Commonwealth Bank Giants celebrated as the New Providence Basketball Association men’s division one champions, the Your Essential Store YES Giants emerged as the division II champions over the weekend at the AF Adderley Gymnasium. While the Commonwealth Giants swept the Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets in three straight games for the men’s division one title, the YES Giants knocked off the Produce Express Rockets 3-1 in their division II series. Above, members of the YES Giants celebrate with their championship trophy.

Roadrunners have three athletes on CARIFTA team

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THEY’RE not one of the top ranked track and field clubs, but coach Dexter Bodie said they are extremely proud to have three of their athletes making the Bahamas’ 80-member team that will compete at the Oaktree Medical Center’s 50th CARIFTA Games this weekend.

Selected to compete in the under-17 boys’ 100 metres is Trent Ford, while Tamia Taylor will compete in the 400m and Akaree Roberts will be competing in the 800m in the under-17 girls division. All three athletes are making their first appearance on the team, but they are all confident that they will do very well. “I’m very excited because the last time I missed making the team by one second and now I am here and I am very proud of myself,” Taylor said. “I had more

“I really want to show people what I can do and that age really doesn’t matter in this stage of the game,” said Mackey, who was disappointed that she didn’t make it as an under17 competitor. Now that she’s on the team and competing in the under-20 division, Mackey said she’s still feeling the

motivation and I had more of a push. I wanted to make this team and I did.”

Taylor, an 11th grader at St John’s College, goes into the meet from Saturday to Sunday with a lifetime best of 57.25 seconds, but she opted not to put a time on her performance, other than to say “I hope to make the top three and to make my parents, my coaches and my old pace teachers and students proud.”

The 16-year-old said she’s not concerned about any “pressure competing at home.” She noted that she just wants to go out there and perform to the best of her ability and once she does that, she will be “very content. I just want to do my best.”

As the lone male selected to the team, 15-year-old Ford, who has ran a personal best of 11.01 in the 100m and 22.5 in the 200m, said he can’t wait for the games to get started.

“I’ve already put in all of the work, so I just want to go out there and have

jitters from the time she was selected to the team. But the 11th grader from Teleos Christian Academy said she hopes to shake it off once she feels the excitement from the crowd.

Coach Rolle said she’s confident that Mackey will perform very well for the Bahamas.

“She has been working really hard. Since COVID19 when we had that lag, she got a bit out of shape, but she managed to work

fun,” he said. “I’m looking forward also to the competition from the rest of the Caribbean Islands.”

From a mental perspective, Ford said he’s there, but he’s still working on his physical aspect in time for the competition.

“With the crowd here at home cheering us on, I think it will give me more motivation,” he pointed out. “So I have to go out there and perform for the home crowd.”

Ford, an 11th grader at St Augustine’s College, said he wants to thank the people in Roadrunners who made him what he is today and he advised the Bahamian public to “come gold with us.”

Roberts, who will turn 16 on May 8, said her goal is to break two minutes and 16 seconds when she competes.

“I feel honoured and I’m very excited,” said Roberts, an 11th grader at CR Walker Secondary High. “It’s been a good experience so far. I got to meet

and interact with some new people. I hope that I can meet some more new friends from the other countries and enjoy the competition.”

As for the team, she noted that she feels pretty pleased with her teammates and she’s hoping that they all “perform to the best of our abilities.”

Bodie, who coaches all three athletes, thanked God for allowing the club to prepare the athletes for this transition in their

youthful lives. He mentioned coaches Shawn Lockhart, Edwina Missick, Christian Black, Stephanie Stubbs, Cephas Whylly, Sara Mackey and Mildred Adderley for their efforts in assisting the athletes.

“At the end of the day, hard work pays off and we know they are going to do extremely well,” Bodie stated.

“I’m expecting Tamia in the 400m and Akaree in the 800m to really go out there and perform.

herself to the point that she was able to make the team.

So we are all excited about her accomplishments so far.

“She’s excited and she’s put in the work and I am pretty much confident that she will go out there and give it her best shot.”

As the first member of 3PA Stallions out of the gate as a member of a Bahamas national team, Rolle said she will only inspire a lot of the younger athletes or “babies”, as a

“I have high hopes for both of them, along with Trent.” Bodie said all of the efforts of the athletes could not have been achieved without the tremendous support of their sponsors, including You Buy We Sell, D’Albenas Agency, Harrison Petty and the Colony club, William Delancy, Summit Insurance and Pastor Dianna Francis of First Baptist Church, for their investment in their young athletes.

lot of people refer to them, and as they grow into the junior division, they hope to groom them to follow in Mackey’s footsteps.

“There are two others, Dahjia Mesidor and Zante Ferguson, who are shadowing Jasmine. They are really excited for her and it’s a good encouragement for them going into next season where they hope to compete at the trials and hopefully make the CARIFTA team.”

UCONN WINS MARCH MADNESS WITH 76-59 SMOTHERING OF SDSU

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer

HOUSTON (AP) —

UConn topped off one of the most impressive March Madness runs in history last night, clamping down early and breaking it open late to bring home its fifth national title with a 76-59 victory over San Diego State.

Adama Sanogo had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Tristen Newton also had a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards for the Huskies (31-8), who became the fifth team since the bracket expanded in 1985 to win all six NCAA Tournament games by double-digits on the way to a championship.

They won the six games by an average of an even 20 points, only a fraction less than what North Carolina did in sweeping to the title in 2009.

UConn built a 16-point lead late in the first half, only to see the Aztecs (32-7) trim the lead to five with 5:19 left.

But Jordan Hawkins (16 points) answered with a 3 to trigger a 9-0 run and the only drama left was whether UConn would cover the 7 1/2-point spread and go six for six with double-digit wins.

Keshad Johnson had 14 points for San Diego State, which came up one win shy in this, its first trip to the Final Four.

UConn set the stage for this one over an 11:07 stretch in the first half during which the Aztecs didn’t make a single basket. Unable to shoot over or go around this tall, long UConn team, they missed 14 straight shots from the floor.

They went from leading by four to trailing by 11, and when they weren’t getting shots blocked (Alex Karaban had three and Sanogo had one) or altered on the inside, they were coming up short — a telltale sign of a team that was out of hops after that draining 72-71 buzzer-beater win over Florida Atlantic two nights earlier.

UConn fan Bill Murray was one of the few celebrities on hand to watch the

Huskies make it five for five in title games in one of the most unexpected Final Fours in history.

This one marked the last that Jim Nantz would call after 37 years behind the mic.

He’s had a lot of UConn stories to tell, though this certainly wasn’t the most dramatic.

Even with that brief bout of uncertainty midway through the second half, UConn never truly let the Aztecs, who overcame a 14-point deficit in the semifinal, start thinking about any more last-second dramatics.

This was a team built strictly for 2023 — replenished by coach Dan Hurley, who went to the transfer portal to find more outside shooting after back-toback first-round exits in the tournament.

And yet, there was something decidedly old-school about the way the Huskies took care of business in the early going. They didn’t even think much about 3-point shooting at the start, instead skip passing into Sanogo on the post and wearing down SDSU while building the early lead.

The Aztecs were too good a team to cave and an over-pursuing defence is what triggered the late run to within five. A team built on defence only shot 32% from the floor. And after its late run, they started getting burned and Hurley and Co. were hugging it out on the bench before the buzzer. UConn’s latest coronation makes Hurley the third coach to bring a trophy home to Storrs, Connecticut. He joins Jim Calhoun (1999, 2004, 2001) and Kevin Ollie (2014).

3P Stallions’ coach Cedri ka Rolle with Carifts track team member Jasmine Mackey.

ROADRUNNERS coach Dexter Bodie poses with CARIFTA track team members Tamia Taylor, Trent Ford and Akaree Roberts.

CONNECTICUT guard Tristen Newton celebrates after their win against San Diego State during the men’s national championship college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament last night. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

CONNECTICUT guard Tristen Newton celebrates during the net cutting after their win against San Diego State in the men’s national championship college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Kingsway and SAC crowned as first high school flag football champions

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Youth Flag Football League (BYFFL) hosted the country’s inaugural high school flag football tournament this past weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

The flag football-filled day featured St Augustine’s College, Kingsway Academy, St John’s College and Queen’s College on the field. The competition was separated into an under and over 14 division. The Big Red Machine took home the championship win for the under-14 division after defeating Kingsway 29-6.

However, Kingsway returned the favour in the over-14 division as they earned a demanding 28-12 win over SAC to end the event as champions.

Jayson Clarke, programme director for the event, talked about how impressed he was with the athletes from the schools in the competition.

“I am very impressed with the athletes from the various schools, the training with them and the coaches went a whole lot better than I had anticipated. We have seen a showcase of talent in terms of the competition going on and we have a lot of fan support from the schools so I am very happy with what we have going on today,” Clarke said.

He said the teams were very prepared to play and the players definitely stepped up their games in the elimination rounds and championship matchups.

Also, he added that from the school talent pool, he is hoping for a number of the kids playing to join their league to really improve the league’s talent as well. In the under-14 standings, SAC went into the playoffs with an unblemished 2-0 record. Kingsway

was second in the standings with 1-1. The Comets were winless in the under-14 standings after playing two games. In the over-14 standings, Kingsway went into the playoffs with a 4-0 undefeated record. The SAC ‘B’ team were second with 3-1 and SJC’s ‘A’ team followed behind with an even 2-2 win-loss record. Meanwhile, their B team went winless on the day after four matchups.

Michael Moss, head coach of SAC, said it felt awesome to win the first high school flag football tournament championship in the under-14 division. His message to his players was short and simple: - play hard and play smart which helped them to emerge victorious.

Quarterback Ayden Moss and wide receiver Desarian Smith led the way for SAC. The two young athletes led the way by making big plays on the field.

The quarterback said it honestly felt great to win, especially over the Kingsway team. He said his strategy was to play smart, make short passes and look for the openings in the defence.

Smith said winning the first high school flag tournament for SAC felt great and he shared a similar strategy to his teammate, saying he played smart, tried not to get nervous and remained humble.

BYFFL will now look to expand their league and to integrate flag football into the high school curriculum.

The schools involved can expect to receive the adequate flag football equipment to facilitate the new sport after funds raised at this year’s inaugural event.

The youth league will be hosting a free youth camp April 22 and 29 at the TAR stadium for kids aged 6-17.

THE SAC Big Red Machine under-14 division champions at the first high school flag football tournament.

CARIFTA SWIM TEAM OFF TO CURACAO

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Bahamas. “I’ve always looked up to the captains on the team and I always wanted to be one, so having been given this role, I’m really excited about this role and to have kids look up to me,” she stated.

“It’s very inspiring so I just want to be there for anything that they need.”

Marvin Johnson, a 17-year-old student at McCollie University, said he is also back for his fourth appearance on Team Bahamas.

“I feel great. This team is really good.

“Being the captain and seeing all of them work is really good. “The way the team is set up, I believe we will get this five-peat faster than everybody expects because this team is full of dogs. This team is full of young swimmers who are really hungry and they want to win this championships.”

EPL

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Tottenham interim manager Cristian Stellini was disappointed at the way his players managed the game after going ahead.

With his workload ahead of him, having to compete in the 1,500 and 200 freestyles, 50 and 100 butterfly, 1,500 and 200 backstrokes, he said he’s looking forward to adding to his array of medals already won in the past.

“Since I first got on the team, I always wanted to be the captain and now the time is finally here,” said Johnson, who will serve as head of the men’s team along with Jack Barr.

“I hope to have the same impact that the other guys who were before me had on me and the rest of the team.”

Even though that he will be back for his final appearance at the games when the Bahamas hosts CARIFTA swimming next year, Johnson said he just wants to be that “big brother to the younger swimmers because this is a family” and “I want them to look up to me and be able to come and

“My feeling now is that we have lost two points this evening because with 11 men against 10, we have to control the game much better.

“We try to but not the way I expect. “After our red card, the power of the game was with them. They

talk to me no matter what is going on.”

Coach Travano McPhee, who was a part of Team Bahamas’ success in the previous four straight title runs, concurred with the team captains. “Our eyes are set on the five-peat. We are trying to bring home the championship trophy for the fifth

find an amazing goal and they draw the game. We have to do much better.”

Spurs are on the same number of points as thirdplaced Newcastle and fifth-placed Manchester United but have played two games more than both rivals.

consecutive year,” he said. “We have a very organiaed team. The team captains are Keianna Moss, Marvin Johnson, Rhanishka Gibbs and Jack Barr, are great leadership for the younger swimmers. “So we hope to go down there and take the lead on the first day and hold onto it the rest of the way over the four days of competition. We also have open water swim on the fifth day, so we hope our three swimmers will stay focused throughout the meet and do their jobs at the end of the competition.”

Once they arrive in Curacao, McPhee said the team will take to the new pool for their first workout on Wednesday before they start competing on Thursday. Team members making the trip to Curacao are the following:

Females

Age 11-12 - Alissa Ferguson, Saleste Gibson,

Everton climbed three places to 15th but was only a point above the bottom three with nine games remaining in a tight race to avoid the drop.

“I’m not looking at the table — it’s the one at the end of the season that matters,” Dyche said.

IBA

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Madyson Julien, DNDN McKenzie, Kimaya Saunders, Skyler Smith, Jaylah Threadgill.

Age 13-14 - Lelah Lewis, Alanna Murray, Trinity Pratt, Zoe Williamson and Alexia Zatarain.

Age 15-17 - Rhanishka Gibbs, Katie Goulandris, Kyana Higgs, Keianna Moss, Seannia NorvilleSmith, Mia Patton and Elle Theberge.

Males

Age 11-12 - Christon Joseph, Alexander Murray, Trace Russell, Harold Simmons, David Singh and Kaylan Williams.

Age 13-14 - William Farrington, Michael Fox, Tristen Hepburn, Donald Saunders and Dijon Simmons.

Age 15-17 – Jack Barr, Nigel Forbes, Emmanuel Gadson, Ellie Gibson, Marvin Johnson and Caden Wells.

Play was paused midway through the first half so the three Everton players participating in Ramadan

— Doucoure, Amadou

Onana and Idrissa Gueye

— could break their fast. During Islamic holy month, fasting Muslims don’t eat or drink during daylight hours.

Hepburn contributed three points.

Wildcats 75, Mustangs 54 Stephano Farrington paced a balanced scoring attack with a game high 25 points and 11 rebounds in their win for their senior boys’ team.

Carlan Cleare had 20 points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists and Jefferson Lightbourne helped out with 13 points and two rebounds.

Parish Simmons had 15 points with three assists for the losers. Jordan McKenzie had `12 points and Omar Lewis ended up with 11 points.

Bulls 69,

Eagles 61 Lavardo Saunders poured in a game high 27 points with eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals, while Oben Dalestin had 14 points, five rebounds and two assists and Shanton Hamilton had 13 points to assist.

In a losing effort, Derrick Edgecombe had 24 points with two rebounds and as many assists, Lyron Elliott had 18 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks and Elton Pickstock added 11 points with nine rebounds, two assists and two steals.

TWO of the four captains of the Bahamas swim team Keianna Moss and Marvin Taylor.

KINGSWAY Academy emerged as the over-14 division champions after going undefeated in the inaugural tournament.

THE BAHAMAS Youth Flag Football League’s (BYFFL) first high school tournament featured Queen’s College, St Augustine’s College, St John’s and Kingsway Academy.