04282023 NEWS AND SPORT

POLICE QUIZ MP KIRK CORNISH

Representative for North Abaco released last night after being in custody

LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

NORTH Abaco MP

Kirk Cornish was released by police last night after turning himself into officers in Grand Bahama for questioning earlier yesterday.

Chief Superintendent of Police Chrislyn Skippings, the press liaison for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, said the PLP MP turned himself in at around 5.25pm and was accompanied by his lawyer.

Last night, sources confirmed that the MP had been released from custody. Police have not said whether they intend to charge him with a crime.

Mr Cornish, 48, recently announced plans for a “Grill and Chill” event in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, due to be held tomorrow.

He has recently attended House of Assembly sittings and other government events. A first-time parliamentarian, he defeated Senator Darren Henfield in the September 2021 election and is the parliamentary secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister in Abaco. He previously worked at the Water and Sewerage Corporation as a senior serviceman.

Although he has kept a low public profile as an MP, he has been vocal about shanty towns on Abaco, calling them a cause for concern.

Laroda says nib not facing L iquidity crisis

MYLES Laroda, state minister with responsibility for the National Insurance Board, wants to assure the public that the NIB fund is not facing a liquidity crisis.

Mr Laroda contacted The Tribune yesterday to clarify comments he made during a Progressive Liberal Party Elizabeth constituency branch meeting on Tuesday night.

At the meeting, the minister told party supporters that the NIB fund is “basically running on fumes” and can only be stabilised when

PH a reP ort: woman w H o died was ‘acutely ill’

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Public Hospitals

Authority said a woman who complained in a viral video about her rapidly deteriorating platelet count was “acutely ill” and died “despite all the efforts by the clinical team, including nursing, physicians, and laboratory staff”.

The PHA said tests concluded the woman — Kenise Symonette-Darville —had B cell lymphoblastic leukaemia, an aggressive and fast-growing cancer

taxi drivers to get ‘code of conduct’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

TRAFFIC authorities are planning a shake-up of the taxi industry’s regulatory regime that will require drivers to sign-up to, and abide by, a “code of conduct” with an announcement on fare changes due as early as next week.

Lanecia Darville, the Road Traffic Authority’s chairman, told a Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) board of directors meeting that the regulator agreed with the sector’s call for professional standards to be imposed on taxi franchise holders and drivers - with unspecified penalties for violations - as part of the drive to improve the transportation experience for visitors.

FULL Story - SE E BUSINESS

the contribution rate is increased by 1.5 per cent for the third or fourth time in the future.

He said extending the retirement age, cutting benefits, or combining these two options would not address the problem.

Mr Laroda said while he stands by his earlier remarks, he also doesn’t want people to get the wrong idea and believe that

A RESIDENT stands in a pothole through the corner of the burial ground off East Street to highlight how deep it is.

Photographer Valden Fernander has been taking to the streets to record some of the worst examples of potholes on our roads - and will be returning to see if the Ministry of Works has taken action. You can nominate your own examples of potholes that need fixing by emailing a picture and location to fixmystreet@tribunemedia.net.

READERS have been nominating their own worst potholes on the streets - Bruce Raine submitted these pictures of, above, a pothole on Eastern Road at Windwhistle and, below, another on Eastern Road 100ft west of Fox Hill creek. If you have your own nominations, send a picture and details of the location to fixmystreet@tribunemedia.net.

Photos: Valden Fernaner READY to break an axle at the top of the hill on East Street in front of Mortimers Candies store.

MACKEY Street across from the Emporium power tool rentals store.

BCA president says Davis administration ‘more focused’ on dealing with illegal labour

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Contractors Association president

Leonard Sands said the Davis administration has supported its tough talk on work permit laws with action.

Labour Minister Keith Bell told contractors on Wednesday to follow the law.

He told them to ensure people work according to their work permit guidelines and not let people who are hired for farm work on construction sites.

Mr Sands said yesterday: “I think that this administration has been seemingly more focused on doing the job that they were tasked to do in respect to labour and immigration matters and in reference to work permits. What we saw in the past is very little to nothing being done. There seemingly was no interest or desire to ensure that the policies and laws on immigration in that fashion was addressed at all.”

Mr Sands said enforcement of work permit laws should have a positive impact on his sector.

“I think it’s going to impact the industry significantly, but by impacting it doesn’t mean that the persons can’t resubmit and get their filing correct. And I think that would be the response to

greater enforcement, and I think that’s the desire.”

He said stricter law enforcement would indirectly increase the number of Bahamians hired.

“It will force greater adherence to existing policy, while it probably will reduce the amount of applications moving forward, which in turn has,

you know, a twofold effect on increasing the number of persons who may then be employed locally. It doesn’t help if you say, we have 10,000 labour

permits and then when you go on the farm, and we actually have 15,000 persons on the construction site. That doesn’t help anyone.”

Mr Bell said on Wednesday that amendments may be required to increase penalties for people who violate the laws.

MOE t O addr E ss M arginalisEd studEnts thrOugh diplOM a variatiOns

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION

Minister Glenys Hanna-

Martin said variations to the Bahamas High School Diploma programme would be announced soon to address issues that marginalise students.

A committee formed in July 2022 to review the programme has completed its work.

During an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing yesterday, Mrs Hanna Martin said she would return to Cabinet to address one issue before revealing plans for the programme.

“I believe that I will be able to shortly announce the variations or reforms that we will be implementing for the high school diploma because we know that they were anomalies,” she said.

“We know that it led to marginalisation of many young people. We also know that education has a much broader spectrum than a purely academic spectrum and so we’re looking at the range of learning without reducing standards.”

“So to answer your question, the work is complete. And we expect to

announce within the next few days the final construct of the new high school diploma, which I believe will incentivise young people to excel and

PHA reP ort: wom A n w Ho died wA s ‘Acutely ill’

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that affects certain cells in the immune system.

The PHA reported what happened in a letter to the woman’s husband, Jerard Darville. He provided a copy to The Tribune yesterday.

Officials investigated his wife’s death after she accused hospital officials of moving slowly to treat her. As her platelet count dropped to dangerously low levels, the woman complained in a video that staff did not order additional platelets as they said they would. After the woman died, PMH faced withering criticism from the public.

The PHA’s letter to Mr Darville – dated March 8, 2023 – does not directly address the women’s claim about the additional platelets. The letter suggests the woman died because she was extremely sick. There is no report of shortcomings in how the staff treated her.

Dr Ismae Whyms, the deputy director of the Quality & Patient Safety Department, signed the letter.

According to the document, Mrs SymonetteDarville was admitted to A&E on January 22 after complaining of lower back pain for three weeks. She was diagnosed as having a “likely leukaemia vs leukaemia reaction” after an initial assessment.

“Mrs Symonette-Darville’s screening revealed her blood grouping as O-negative,” the letter said. “A physician order was completed for Mrs Symonette-Darville to commence blood transfusions. She received several transfusions of platelets, packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma totalling 19 units. Simultaneously, while the hospital sought to access O-negative blood, Mrs Darville was encouraged to reach out to family and friends to donate blood on her behalf, which is a normal process as patients have a wider reach in accessing donors among family and friends.”

According to the letter, the woman was admitted to the female medical ward on January 4, 2023, where she was nursed with minimal

complaints. She was also diagnosed with Cytomegaly Virus.

“Mrs Symonette-Darville expressed the desire to go home at that time but was advised by her medical team of doctors that her platelets were very low and required hospitalisation,” the letter said. “Mrs Symonette-Darville was advised of the need to have a Flow Cytometry, which was reported on January 23, 2023.”

The PHA said a routine assessment on January 11th found the woman tested positive for COVID-19, so she was transferred to a private surgical ward.

“This was to ensure she could be reverse barrier nursed in an isolated space to protect her from others due to Leucopenia,” the letter said. “While being nursed with oxygen via nasal cannula, Mrs Symonette-Darville complained of ‘not being able to breathe with feeling of wanting to die’. Mrs Symonette-Darville became very distressed, and humidified oxygen was increased to ten litres via a non-rebreather

face mask.”

As the woman’s condition deteriorated even more, she was transferred to the Legacy Unit by Emergency Medical Staff for close monitoring.

The letter said she was conscious, awake, alert, and breathing on 15 litres via a non-rebreather mask when she was transferred to the Legacy Unit by ambulance around midnight on January 18, 2023.

“On assessment around 6.50am, Mrs SymonetteDarville was noted to be unresponsive, with no pulse, and no signs of breathing,” the letter said.

“A medical code was called, and Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocol commenced. Unfortunately, the code was unsuccessful, and Mrs Symonette Darville was pronounced dead at 7.07am on January 19, 2023.”

“Despite all efforts by the clinical team, including nursing, physicians and laboratory staff, her receiving 19 units of blood, Mrs Symonette-Darville was acutely ill, resulting in bleeds and a rapid

do well which is what we hope to do.”

Mrs Hanna Martin

had previously highlighted flaws with the programme, such as how a student receiving an F grade in grade 10 could be excluded from getting a diploma later.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education hosted a town hall meeting last night on strengthening school attendance for learning recovery.

She said students from 140 schools participated in a test that assessed learning loss connected to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

She said 35,000 students were tested.

“(Teachers) now have scientific data for every child in that classroom” she said. “So the teacher now is able to, ‘okay, now I understand to the T what is happening with this child.’

“In terms of the actual results, I’m not able to speak globally, but I can tell you that we have found issues with literacy in a number of cases and say that where a child should be probably reading up here, they’re really here.”

“So the question is how do we now get them where they need to (be)?”

KENIsE Symonette-Darville posted a viral video of bad conditions at PMH where she would pass away not long after.

deterioration in her condition. Additionally, a final diagnosis could not be confirmed until the hospital received her Flow Cytometry Results, which we did not receive until after her demise … The analysis is not available in The Bahamas and was transported to a reference laboratory internationally.”

Yesterday, Mr Darville said the PHA’s report “is more like a book story” than an investigation.

“They tried to tell me the

history of my wife being treated in the hospital; it wasn’t an investigative report that outlined any investigative findings or inconsistencies,” he said. “The report doesn’t quite say anything, if you read it. They are not saying they are culpable of anything. They mainly try to say they are not taking fault. They are trying to say that my wife was too sick and they did all they could to save her.”

Bahamas Contractors Association president Leonard Sands said, ‘I think that this administration has been seemingly more focused on doing the job that they were tasked to do in respect to labour and immigration matters and in reference to work permits.’

EDUCaTION Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said variations to the Bahamas High School Diploma programme would be announced soon to address issues that marginalise students. The ‘final construct’ of the new variations will ‘incentivise young people to excel’ she said.

Photo: austin Fernander

Darville emphasizes citizen health and wellness at health research conference

HEALTH and Wellness

Minister Dr Michael Darville yesterday welcomed health professionals and policymakers from the region during the opening of the CARPHA’s 67th Annual Health Research Conference at Atlantis, telling the group it is his hope that they connect, communicate and collaborate.

In his remarks, Dr Darville highlighted the need for Caribbean governments to ensure that its residents have equal access to proper healthcare services, water resources among other things.

“Member states can have the finest tourism agriculture and financial products in the world but if our people are unwell or if their basic health needs are compromised, then the expected economic and social progress for all of our countries will not be realised,” he told those gathered.

“Health professionals, research, policymakers, students and other participants - as you communicate, connect and collaborate throughout this 67th annual research conference, remember that it is the mandate of the health community to use evidenced based research to

promote health and wellness for our people in this region and to provide policy recommendations and programme activities that will help to guide our country to development and long-term stability.”

This year’s conference is being held under the theme “Caribbean Health and Tourism: Pathways to Recovery and Resilience”. It ends tomorrow.

Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis also offered well wishes to those attending the conference. In a virtual address, he agreed that a healthy citizenry is the greatest asset any country can have.

“Regardless of its relationship with income, however, good health can be thought of as a goal in its own right and given the rise of non-communicable diseases in our region, it is certainly an urgent one,” he said.

The prime minister also highlighted the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in The Bahamas and raised concern that the Bahamian diet was pushing the population toward an unhealthier state.

“At present, more than 50 per cent of Bahamians eat fried food up to three times a week, undoubtedly contributing to the NCD crisis,” Mr Davis

continued. “We have to put the sugary drinks aside, my friends and opt for water instead. We have to cut down on the spoonful of sugar in our tea and coffee and the need to incorporate more

fruits in our diet.”

“The individual efforts will go a long way, but they won’t be sufficient. The government has an important role to play in ensuring the health of its citizens and we surely

recognise that.”

The collaboration between CARPHA and the Ministry of Health seeks to bring research to disseminate and to discuss public health in the Caribbean region.

The conference will analyse research that will assist in protecting health tourism and also cover issues such as child health, maternal health, infectious disease, and public health topics of interest.

Laroda says nib not facing L iquidity crisis

from page one

NIB is having a “liquidity problem”.

He gave an assurance that pensioners will still be paid as scheduled after concerns were raised over the issue following The Tribune’s publication of Mr Laroda’s remarks.

“While we all know that the actuarial report says that the fund, if matters are not addressed, will be depleted by 2028, at this time and (in the)foreseeable future, NIB has no liquidity issues and are able to meet their obligations,” he said.

“The point I was making is that its dire and when you look at a fund that’s supposed to be liquid for 30 to 40 years, when you compare that to the statement of the actuarial report that says that five years from now, the fund would collapse. I was referencing that in the big picture (and) not at this point that National Insurance (will not be able) to meet their obligations.”

Colour Guard of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force paraded the National Flag of The Bahamas, CARICOM, and CARPHA during the Official Opening Ceremony of the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s Annual Health Research Conference in the Imperial Ballroom of Atlantis Resort, yesterday.

Photo: Patrick Hanna/BIS

Government Officials attend the Official Opening Ceremony of CARPHA’s Annual Health Research Conference at Atlantis, yesterday.

Pictured are the Lisa Rahming, Minister of State for Social Services & Urban Development; and Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical & Vocational Training.

Photo: Patrick Hanna/BIS

minister of Health and Wellness speaks at the CARPHA conference yesterday.

Photo: moise Amisial

Transgender woman moved to Canada to find a better life

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

FEAR and discrimination forced a 21-year-old transgender woman to flee

The Bahamas for Canada.

Desiree Monet Johnson told The Tribune she moved to Canada in March when discrimination began to take a toll on her mental health.

She said she spent many days locked inside her home because she feared being judged or physically harmed.

“It was days where I wouldn’t even want to step outside,” she said.

“Because every time you go somewhere, it’s people criticising you, judging you, (or) a person wanting to fight you for who you are. That’s just the public. Then you have to go home and deal with homophobic family. It’s a lot, you know? I wasn’t accepted on no side, mother (or) father.”

Transgenderism has become a significant source of political debate in the United States recently, with conservative states moving to curb rights for people who identify as transgender. Before using hormone pills to transition from a man to a woman, Ms Johnson

said she occasionally dressed up like a woman. She said she loved expressing herself through hair, makeup, and fashion.

However, when men attracted to her discovered she was transgender, she said they often tried to fight her.

“In November, I was walking somewhere. This guy pulled up on me thinking I was a woman. When he turned his car around, he noticed that I was a guy. He came out and wanted to fight me,” she said.

Ms Johnson said when she shared her experience on social media, some people encouraged her while others bashed her.

She said she was forced to move from house to house because family members disapproved of her.

She claims she was raped years ago by a jet ski operator.

“My family doesn’t know that,” she said. “That’s something I lived with every day. My mother died not knowing that. So it’s like they are judging me and don’t really know my story.”

She said being raped at 11 years old, not being accepted by her family, and losing her mother at 15 took a toll on her mentally.

She said the events caused her to suffer manic episodes, eventually forcing her to enter Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in 2020. She said after leaving Sandilands, she moved to

Desiree Monet Johnson left for Canada after discrimination took a toll on her mental health. She experienced homophobia from family members and men, judging and wanting to fight her. Knowing she wouldn’t be accepted in The Bahamas she has found comfort and a better life in Canada.

Canada for a better life.

“(Transitioning) is something I always wanted to do,” she said. “I love to feel pretty, gorgeous and dress up. It’s something I really wanted to do for a long time, and I was in denial for

a while thinking that I didn’t want to become a woman. But that’s because I know it wouldn’t be accepted in The Bahamas. And I know I wouldn’t be comfortable living as a woman in The Bahamas.”

The Tribune Limited

UN urges Taliban to reverse bans on women

THE UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to swiftly reverse their increasingly harsh restrictions on women and girls, which range from very severely restricting education to banning women from most jobs, public spaces and gyms.

The council condemned the Taliban’s ban on women working for the UN, a decision the resolution calls “unprecedented in the history of the United Nations”.

The unanimous 15-0 vote, with the United States, Russia and China all in favor, was a sign of the widespread global concerns over the Taliban’s actions. It was a rare moment of unity on a high-profile issue at a time of steep international divisions over the Ukraine war, although both Russia and China criticized the United States after the vote for its past role in Afghanistan and for refusing to return all $7 billion in frozen Afghan government funds.

The Security Council never considered sanctions against the Taliban but the strong rebuke by the UN’s most powerful body is a blow to the prestige of Afghanistan’s rulers, who are trying get credibility on the global stage – including formal recognition by the United Nations as Afghanistan’s legitimate government.

When the Taliban seized power in August 2021 as US and NATO forces were pulling out of Afghanistan after two decades of war, they initially promised a more moderate rule than during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.

But there has been a growing international outcry as Taliban leaders have gradually re-imposed their severe interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, on women and girls.

During the 20 years after the Taliban were ousted in 2001 for harboring al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden, who masterminded the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, schools and universities were opened for girls and women entered the workforce and politics, and became judges, ministers and professors.

US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told the council after the vote, “Today, the Security Council has sent a clear. unanimous message to the Taliban and to the world: We will not stand for the Taliban’s repression of women and girls.”

The resolution, co-sponsored by the United Arab Emirates and Japan, expresses “deep concern at the increasing erosion of respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban” and reaffirms their “indispensable role” in Afghan society.

It calls on the Taliban to swiftly restore their access to education, employment, freedom of movement and equal participation in public life. And it urges all other UN member nations to use their influence to promote “an urgent reversal” of the Taliban’s policies and practices toward women and girls.

Under Taliban rule, girls have been barred from school beyond the sixth grade and women are now virtually confined to their homes, unable to go out and travel without a male guardian. In late December, the Taliban banned national and international aid groups from employing Afghan women and on April 4 they extended that ban to Afghan women working for the United Nations.

UAE Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh said over 90 countries from around the world co-sponsored the resolution including many Muslim nations and some from Afghanistan’s neighborhood “which makes our fundamental message today even more significant: the world will not sit by silently as women in Afghanistan are erased from society”.

Pressure mounted for a legally binding Security Council resolution addressing the Taliban’s crackdown on women and girls after the UN ban.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the

UN ban, calling it “a violation of the inalienable fundamental human rights of women” and Afghanistan’s obligations under international human rights law, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Female staff members are essential to executing life-saving UN operations on the ground, Dujarric said, stressing that out of Afghanistan’s population of about 40 million people, “we’re trying to reach 23 million men, women and children with humanitarian aid.”

The UN has warned that the ban could cripple desperately needed aid deliveries, and lead to a UN pullout from Afghanistan.

Since April 5, the 3,300 Afghans employed by the UN — 2,700 men and 600 women — have stayed home, but Dujarric has said they continue to work and will be paid. The UN’s 600strong international staff, including 200 women, is not affected by the Taliban ban.

Roza Otunbayeva, a former president and foreign minister of the Kyrgyz Republic who heads the UN political mission in Afghanistan known as UNAMA, responded to the Taliban’s ban on Afghan women working for the 193-nation world body by ordering an operational review of the UN’s presence in the country, which will last until May 5.

Before the review is completed, secretary-general Guterres will host an international meeting on Afghanistan in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on May 1-2. UN spokesman Dujarric said last week that the closed meeting will be attended by envoys on Afghanistan from various countries with the aim of seeking a “durable way forward” for the country.

His announcement followed an April 17 speech at Princeton University by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who led a high-ranking UN delegation to meetings with Taliban ministers in January, previewing the Doha meeting.

“Out of that, we hope that we’ll find those baby steps to put us back on the pathway to recognition (of the Taliban), a principled recognition,” Mohammed said. “Is it possible? I don’t know. (But) that discussion has to happen. The Taliban clearly want recognition, and that’s the leverage we have.”

The UAE’s Nusseibeh said the resolution sends a clear signal to the Doha meeting from the international community and the Security Council: Women and girls play an essential role in every society, including Afghanistan, humanitarian access must not be gender-based, and political engagement and dialogue are the only way forward.

While the resolution focuses on the Taliban crackdown on women and girls, it also underscores that it is critical for all Afghan parties, the region and the wider international community to hold talks to reach a political settlement and restore peace and stability “in the country, the region and beyond”.

The resolution reaffirms the UN’s support for “a peaceful, stable, prosperous and inclusive Afghanistan” and for an “inclusive Afghan-led and Afghanowned determination of the country’s political future and development path”.

It also recognises the many challenges Afghanistan faces, stresses the urgent need to address “the dire economic and humanitarian situation” in the country, and reiterates that women are essential to the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The Taliban have ignored numerous appeals from the UN and many countries, including the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to restore the rights of girls and women. But Japan’s UN Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane said “we need to keep reaching out to them” so the message can start resonating.

Nusseibeh said at some point the Taliban will want to be part of the international community, and when they do

“I think it’s clear what the conditions and the requirements are.”

By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press

Bahamas in top ten for death penalty

EDITOR, The

THE recent slayings of two men on bail in New Providence passes the smell test of retaliatory killings which have become all too common in the capital.

The last state sanctioned execution in The Bahamas was in January 2000 -- over 23 years ago during the second consecutive term of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

Since then, the state has pandered to the Londonbased Privy Council. This negligence has left a gaping void which has been filled by Bahamian and Haitian hitmen, who have been hired by grieving family members to exact revenge on those they believed had harmed either them or their loved ones.

It wouldn’t be too farfetched to suggest that The Bahamas now averages over 50 revenge killings annually.

These hired hitmen are really serving as proxy

executioners for the state that has failed to carry out its biblically mandated obligations.

This negligence is, at the very least, partially responsible for otherwise ordinary Bahamian citizens becoming murderers.

Moreover, a legitimate argument could be made that The Bahamas is a top ten country in the death penalty.

The Amnesty International 2021 report listed China, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Yemen, the US and South Sudan in the top ten in the death penalty.

According to the report, China executed over 1,000; Iran 314; Egypt 83; South Sudan 65 and Syria 24. The 2021 report is probably a reference to the executions implemented in the previous year.

I sincerely believe that the number of executions carried out in The Bahamas far exceeds the 24 state sanctioned executions in Syria.

Accordingly, The Bahamas should have been included in this list behind China, Iran, Egypt and South Sudan, with it having the fifth highest death penalty rate in the world, albeit carried out by private citizens.

Individuals on bail for murder, rape and other violent crimes are being gunned down at an alarming rate and I’ve seen nothing to suggest that this trend will slow down anytime soon.

Small wonder that so many Bahamians are no longer dismayed when known murderers are granted bail by the judiciary.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama. April 26, 2023.

Contractors and fronting

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I READ with interest the article concerning the statements from Hon Keith Bell, Minister of Labour relative to the contractors, with concerns about fronting and the appointment of a board that the Ministry of Labour can consult.

The Architects Act and Board has been in place from 1994 and successive governments have come and gone ignoring the board’s existence. We still have suitcase architects coming in and

practising in New Providence and the Family Islands with impunity. Many major projects have been planned and developed and built without any input from local professionals.

I am not sure what architects have done to deserve this type of treatment, but I do hope that the contractors fare better than what we have received.

I see major projects with ground breaking and public ceremonies with no local architects mentioned or in sight.

We have to do better as all Bahamian professionals matter, and as the Minister says we should be included from the very beginning when the initial concepts are being outlined.

This year marks 29 years of our official existence. I hope that we see a change from the top and an all-inclusive approach to development.

A FLASHBACK for today’s Picture of the Day - to when American swimming star and actress Esther Williams was enjoying a holiday in Andros in 1958.

Senator: PM should apologise to woman over claim on charges

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FNM Senator Reuben Rahming wants Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis to apologise to a woman who made claims about a sitting MP for comments he made about the allegations last week.

Mr Davis drew criticism after telling reporters on Saturday that he heard the alleged victim was not pressing charges.

However, the woman has since denied the claim and recently retained attorney Bjorn Ferguson to represent her in the case.

In the Senate yesterday, Mr Rahming said he was “devastated” to learn that a “seasoned individual” would’ve spoken publicly falsely about something so sensitive.

“I was devastated by that when it was actually stated by a seasoned individual that persons who would’ve made accusations against rape would’ve withdrawn a matter and it was not so,” he said.

Mr Rahming said people need to be cautious when speaking publicly on matters without having all the facts, adding that “we are disadvantaging persons going before justice when we state things as facts that aren’t founded”.

“I want us to be very careful of everything that we say. We cannot interfere with matters. We cannot speak on matters that we don’t know factually in these cases because these are sensitive cases, and Madame President, quite frankly, I believe an apology is due because in my mind, just the pure statement of that set back a whole matter.”

“I know this because I’ve been impacted with the grief as it relates to persons being raped and I’ve seen it and witnessed it across the board, but we got to be disciplined.”

In a statement sent to The Tribune, Mr Ferguson, the woman’s lawyer, decried the Prime Minister’s remarks and said at the appropriate time, they will address all commentary surrounding the investigation, including the handling of it.

Yesterday, Bahamas Christian Council President Delton Fernander addressed the matter.

He said: “Everybody is subject to being innocent until proven guilty. We take rape seriously. It must be investigated. It must be to the fullest extent of the law and then whatever the results, the persons must face the consequences.”

SENATOR Reuben Rahming said he was “devastated” to learn that a “seasoned individual” would’ve spoken publicly falsely about something so sensitive. He added that the Prime Minister ‘Brave’ Davis should apologise; he said ‘I believe an apology is due because in my mind, just the pure statement of that set back a whole matter.’

MAN SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS JAIL FOR FONDLING 4-YEAR-OLD TO APPEAL RULING

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 44-year-old man was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he was found guilty of fondling a fouryear-old girl in 2021.

Christopher Rahming was charged with indecent

assault before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

On June 4, 2021, in New Providence, the accused inappropriately touched the female toddler’s privates. After he was convicted, Magistrate McKinney ordered Rahming to be sentenced to 18 months at the

Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

He was further ordered to financially compensate the complainant $5,000 or risk an additional month in prison.

Rahming said he would appeal his sentencing before being arrested and imprisoned.

CORONER’S INQUEST STARTS FOR SHOOTING OF BLIND MAN BY POLICE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE BROTHER of a blind man killed in a policeinvolved shooting in 2018 testified yesterday that he never saw his brother with a firearm.

Sergeant S Braynen shot Courtney Elvardo Thompson in the back of his head on January 26, 2018, on Plantol Street off East Street. A Coroner’s court inquest into the killing began on Wednesday.

Police claimed one of two men fleeing on a motorbike had aimed a firearm in their direction.

After the incident, angry residents swarmed the area, shouting that police had killed a blind man.

Lawrence Thompson, the

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE owner of a purported medical school that is unregistered with the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council (NAECOB) partially reimbursed four women who sued him after taking an unaccredited course.

Shavante Brown, Keisha Jones, Rashae Watkins, and Patricia Pedican sued Elwood Rolle, the Bahamas Medical Learning Centre founder, after enrolling in an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course at the institution.

deceased’s brother, said yesterday he was 30 to 40 feet away from the shooting and never saw his brother brandish a weapon.

Mr Thompson said his brother went to get food before he was killed. He said his nephew was the driver of the motorcycle.

Mr Thompson said a police car bumped the motorcycle before the officer killed his brother. He also said that police prevented him from getting close to his brother’s body.

Officials played surveillance footage in court yesterday showing the motorcycle passing a corner with Courtney Thompson sitting behind his nephew. Police pursued the vehicle as the motorcycle turned a corner. Eventually,

the deceased is seen falling to the ground as his nephew speeds off.

Mr Thompson said his nephew drove off because he was “scared”.

He said his nephew’s hands never left the bike’s handle.

During cross-examination, attorney Joel Seymour, representing the deceased’s estate, asked Mr Thompson if his brother had been drinking that day.

Mr Thompson said no.

He said if his brother had a gun that night, he would be honest and upfront about it.

Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest-Deveaux is presiding over the inquiry.

Attorney K Melvin Rolle is representing Sgt Braynen. The inquest continues on May 4.

Magistrate Kendra Kelly agreed with the women that the course was not accredited.

The women enrolled at Rolle’s institution in October 2021. They withdrew from the programme five months later after discovering it was not accredited by the Bahamas Health Professions Council nor the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council.

During the civil trial, Ms Brown called the situation “unfair” and said that she required psychological help after realising her efforts amounted to nothing.

“He wasted my time not

letting us know the school wasn’t accredited,” she said. “I don’t work but I still found a way to pay my school fee.”

“I had a mental breakdown a month ago when all this weighed down on me.”

After the matter, Magistrate Kelly ordered Rolle to compensate Brown $2,900, Watkins $2,700, Jones $2,943 and Pedican $2,670. Each plaintiff is expected to receive an additional $200 for costs.

Rolle paid each plaintiff $1,250 when he returned to court yesterday. He is expected to pay the balance when he returns to court on May 10.

FOUR STUDENTS REIMBURSED BY MEDICAL TRAINING SCHOOL THAT WAS UNACCREDITED

Lessons learned from my Bahamian friends

MY relationship with the people of Eleuthera and The Bahamas dates back to early 2000. More than 20 years later (including the last seven years that I’ve served as President of One Eleuthera Foundation of the US), I continue to learn many life lessons from my Bahamian friends.

Whether in my work as a pastor leading congregations, as a Professor of Practice of Nonprofit Leadership at Clemson University, or as a trustee for a small church-affiliated college, I continue to carry these experiences into every pulpit, lectern and Board room.

Over the years, most of my work in The Bahamas has centred around community development. But the lessons that I have learned while in The Bahamas apply to any person seeking to do typical “community develop work”: building a team of diverse folks who seek to solve complex problems. Following are the Top 5 Lessons that I have taken back to the States and shared with my friends, parishioners and colleagues over the years:

Letting Go of Grudges

During my first trip to The Bahamas, I learned a lesson about “island life” that is desperately needed today in the US.

Shaun Ingraham, CEO of One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF), was the host for me and the group of 30 students and adults from

By Rev Lane Glaze

shared challenges are too great.”

While straightforward and perfectly consistent with my faith as a Christian, this letting-go-of-grudges behavior is not the norm in many circles. More often than not, people who disagree will write each other off, refusing to communicate for years, if not the rest of their lives. Some even choose to move to a different town or state.

Lesson 1: Like in community development, solving big problems involves building a team of diverse persons who must learn how to get along…for the sake of larger, shared goals.

Transcending the Silos

government ministries, nonprofits, churches – whoever is interested – together to tackle the country’s most significant challenges. While “silo-living” is comfortable for most, we are faced with some challenges that are too big or complex to tackle alone. Instead, our collective energy, expertise and effort is needed to complete the task.

Lesson 2: As with community development work, shared solutions to big problems like food insecurity, affordable housing, access to health, education, decent jobs, fire safety, and environmental protection, etc. - can only be achieved when we are willing to transcend the comfort and familiarity of our silos.

producing $15 million in sales a year.

I asked the CEO, who had just moved from Hong Kong, “$40 million is a lot of money – how can you justify this kind of investment in new equipment when the company’s sales is what it is?”

“Where I come from, we do not make decisions with the next quarterly results in mind as you do in America,” the CEO responded. “When we make investments, we ask, ‘What will the results look like in 10 years?’”

Clemson University. Early in the week, I remember asking him about a mutual Bahamian friend.

“Oh yes,” Shaun replied, “I definitely know him!” His tone and non-verbal expressions made me conclude that the two were not necessarily on the best terms. Later that week, Shaun brought his name

up again, noting that he needed to “call our mutual friend” to get his advice on something, which led me to ask, “I thought the two of you had some kind of falling out?” “We did,” Shaun replied. “But when you live on an island, Lane, you must learn how to forgive and get along. Life is too hard and our

Closely connected to the first lesson is the second Bahamian lesson that has greatly shaped my life and work over the years: when attempting to address significant challenges, we must strive to transcend the silos. Over time I have witnessed how Bahamians, like Americans, can often operate in silos. For example, the church silo does not interact with the business silo… the business silo does not interact with the government silo…and so on. And even within these silos, there are often smaller silos as well. And for most of us, life is lived within our chosen silos.

Central to OEF’s philosophy from day one has been the goal of bringing individuals, businesses,

Celebrating the Widow’s Mite

In the Gospels, we find Jesus of Nazareth praising the contributions of the widow who placed her offering – two mites, worth about two cents – into the temple treasury with these words:

Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty, put in all that she had, her whole livelihood (Mark 12:43-44, NKJV).

Throughout the years, this every-contributionmatters approach has been a pillar of OEF’s approach to community development. I’ll share the story of the Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Centre in Tarpum Bay, which captures this lesson well.

Beginning in the spring of 2007, a group of concerned citizens started cleaning up the historicyet-dilapidated school in Tarpum Bay, known at the time as “Lil’ Prep.” These efforts led to a larger conversation about what could be done to reclaim the building, which had been used by the community in various capacities for nearly two centuries and was considered a sacred space by most locals. In time, a plan to renovate the building was created, funds were raised and the work of renovating Lil’ Prep began.

The project leaders adopted a revolutionary concept: local workers would be hired to work five days a week, with a portion of their hours being “paid” and a portion of their hours being “donated.” Ultimately, these “donated” hours were quantified, and individual workers were recognized for their selfless, in-kind contributions to the effort.

When it came time to celebrate the opening of the new Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Centre, everyone’s contributions were recognized - from those who had made five-figure donations to those who had put in sweat equity and donated many days of their time.

Lesson 3: Tackling community-sized problems involves gathering, incorporating and celebrating the unique contributions of each and every person in the community – no matter how the world might value them.

Don’t Rush It

As a young CPA with Ernst & Young years ago, I worked with a client from Hong Kong who purchased a textile plant in North Carolina. The new owners had made more than $40 million of improvements to a plant that, at the time, was only

Like my friend from Hong Kong, my Bahamian friends have taught me over the years that many things – including many of the hardest things – often take time and, therefore, cannot be rushed. Building consensus and trust is a slow process and yet essential for solving some of our world’s biggest challenges.

The Junkanoo “Rushout” is a perfect metaphor for this lesson. As a bystander, you can hear the drums beating, the whistles and trumpets blaring and the bells “clicking” from far away. And yet the “rush” moves slowly, methodicallywithout actually rushing at all! Playing and marching in sync, the “rush” moves along slowly, building strength and momentum.

Lesson 4: Similar to community development work, major change will take time to happen. We must let go of the “tyranny of the urgent” to allow consensus and trust to develop in time.

There’s Always More Room at the Table

One of my favorite parables from the New Testament is the story of the workers in the vineyard. Some work all day, some half the day and others for only a few hours – yet the vineyard owner pays them all the same amount! While this story primarily teaches the audacity of God’s abundant, undeserved grace, it has applications for those of us who are seeking to build teams to address complicated problems. Leaving our silos to work with others can be scary. For some, the idea of diverse constituents coming together to solve shared problems is new. And like with any innovation, there will always be the “early adopters” who join immediately as well as the “late adopters” who only decide to participate after everyone else has already done so.

Like the vineyard owner in the parable, my Bahamian friends have taught me that being a “late adopter” is perfectly fine. Everyone is welcome whether someone signs up on day 1 or day 1,000 because everyone matters and, in the end, will be needed. There is always “room at the table.”

Lesson 5: Some of life’s most complex work is only effective to the degree that all stakeholders are onboard. There’s a role that each and every person can and must play.

• Rev. C. Lane Glaze is President/Chair of One Eleuthera Foundation of the U.S., a 501(c)3 based in the Carolinas that exists to support the work of the One Eleuthera Foundation and its partners. An ordained United Methodist minister and former CPA and private banker, Lane also serves as Professor of Practice in Nonprofit Leadership at Clemson University.

of One Eleuthera Foundation

ReveRenD C. LAne GLAze

Yella, the king of the queen conch

THEY call him ‘Yella’, though not even he remembers why. Someone just did, and it stuck.

If they really wanted to give him a name that fit what he is and what he does, it would be Conch Man.

Few outside family know it, but his real name is Carson Culmer. He’s 54 and a fixture on the Montagu foreshore. With a business that rests on a long wooden table under a makeshift roof, he gathers, opens, skins, and chops more conch a day than just about anyone in The Bahamas.

It’s hard to say who loves it more, visitors fascinated by the stories he tells of the life of the conch or locals who just want to get down to the taste and devour the fresh conch salad in that cup he hands them.

Yella, whose wife Barbara works alongside him, figures he’s done close to a million conch salads since he started more than 35 years ago. He was just a kid then, fresh from Tarpon Bay, Eleuthera, when he came to Nassau to find work. He got a job on his uncle’s fishing boat, a 35-foot Bertram.

“When I got off in the evening, I didn’t have much to do so I just started making salad,” he recalls, assuming that when he says salad you know he means the kind with conch.

The salad itself is pretty basic. Once the conch is opened and skinned and parts you don’t want cast aside, just take the big knife to the sweet white meat in a steady staccato motion, slice and chop tomato and onion really fine, mash it all together and chop, chop some more.

Next, chop up bird or goat pepper really fine, cut the lime, hold it up high and squeeze over it till the stack of conch, tomato and onion below is soaked. Add sour orange, salt, the local peppers and - voila, the delicacy.

Like most things, conch salad has gotten a lot fancier over the years with touches like cucumber or

By Diane Phillips

celery. There’s even a tropical variety with pineapple and coconut but for purists, it’s hard to move past the basic scorch or salad. For those not so familiar, scorch is anything but what it sounds like. There’s no cooking involved. Scorch is probably short (or long) for score ‘cause all you really do is score the conch in bigger chunks than for salad, add the other ingredients and you’re good to go.

Back in the day when Yella first started, you could buy a conch salad for $5. Today, a large can run up to $25 but the demand only increases.

On this day at the Montagu foreshore, there are locals like Carl Glinton, an aviation engineer who looks after some of the largest international aircraft that serve The Bahamas and next to him a crowd of visitors from Washington, DC, who are about to be in for a treat and the photos that will remind them of an authentic Bahamian experience.

Yella’s business has changed over the years, too. He started out with a cooler and a piece of formica over it to cut the conch on. Before the Montagu foreshore makeover on the eastern side of New Providence, conch vendors and other fishermen were crowded table by table on a single ramp. There was no running water. Sometimes there were so many flies you could hardly see the fish beneath. That changed when “the ramp” expanded to the foreshore, fishermen got fresh water, larger spaces, parking for customers. Tourist buses began pulling up. The latest – visitors boarding boats at the dock immediately to the west and riding up to the

seawall to watch the conch ritual and enjoy the taste as they motor down the harbour.

Yella’s business has grown with the times – his long wooden table now holds fresh, homemade bread, conch jewellery, woven straw bags, a few pepper products, even a plate made from a conch shell. He seems to be there every day, all day, from sunup to sundown, this fixture of the true Bahamian experience.

How many days a week do you work? I ask. “Eight days a week,” he says with a grin that seems too big for his narrow face, a smile that is as much a part of Yella’s demeanor as the cap that neatly covers his plaits.

He shuffles between telling the story of the conch, explaining that to preserve the species, you only take the adult conch with the lip turned, not the juvenile. His hands never stop moving, skinning, slicing, chopping as he explains the difference between male and female conch and juggles a rare complaint from a regular customer, ‘“Dis ‘ain’t got no bite to it”, satisfying his quest for “bite” by adding more goat pepper.

On this weekday, Yella will probably do 40 to 50 conch salads. On a busy weekend, the number could reach 100. Is he worried we are depleting the conch population and one day there just won’t be any more?

“No, we just have to stop the poachers and stop exporting because they take all the little ones and throw ‘em in the bags with the adult conch,” he said. “If people want to eat conch, let them come to The Bahamas and eat conch and we’ll be fine.”

Carl Glinton enjoys a cup of conch salad made by Yella

Yella’’s skinned, cleaned, sliced and diced ingredients for an estimated one million conch salads in a 35-year career working eight days a week.

Photos: Diane Phillips

Landmark partnership with Chevening programme

THE Charles Hayward Foundation has agreed to provide funding for the first-ever Bahamian partnership with the prestigious Chevening Scholarship programme, allowing outstanding Bahamian students to pursue fully-funded master’s degree studies at accredited universities in the UK, in fields related to building a sustainable future for The Bahamas.

The Charles Hayward Foundation Chevening Award will support postgraduate courses in ecological/sustainable development, oceanography, marine biology, natural resource management and other disciplines related to climate and the environment.

Sue Heath, née Hayward, chair of the Foundation’s board of trustees, said: “The Hayward’s family has a long history of contributing to community development in The Bahamas, from the Charles Hayward Library, to the Jack Hayward High School and the beloved Regency Theatre, among many others. The Foundation is very excited to continue this tradition through a new partnership with Chevening which will help the next generation of leaders acquire the skills and knowledge to rise to the challenges of the future.”

Chevening is the UK government’s leading

BAHAMAS CHESS FEDERATION

THE movement for adult chess tutoring is in full flow, including at Fort Charlotte. The

international scholarship programme. Administered by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organisations, it enables emerging leaders from around the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in Britain. This new partnership will fund one scholarship per year for three academic years and can be renewed in 2026.

British High Commissioner to The Bahamas Tom Hartley said: “I am so proud that our High Commission has signed a Partnership Agreement with the Charles Hayward Foundation. This award is special because it supports a Bahamian Government priority policy area: tackling climate change. We are excited about announcing the 2023 winner of the Charles Hayward Foundation’s Chevening scholarship soon. That winner will get a full Chevening scholarship from The Charles Hayward Foundation for a Master’s degree related to climate/ environment at any accredited university in the UK.”

Hartley said the scholarship includes tuition, accommodation, stipend, and return air travel. Applications have closed for courses starting in 2023. “I strongly encourage Bahamians who are interested in leadership and climate action next year to apply

for the Chevening Scholarship during the August to November application period. You can find out more at Chevening.org.

“Thank you to the Hayward Foundation for taking the lead in forging this first ever partnership between The Bahamas and Great Britain,” he added.

Rupert Hayward, director of the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and great grand-son of the Foundation’s founder, said: “Preparing young Bahamians for the future is a great passion of my family. It is our aim to give them access to the expertise necessary to confront and find solutions for the climate crisis and other ecological challenges which disproportionately impact The Bahamas as a low-lying coastal nation, for example coastal erosion, loss of marine habitat and stronger storms.

“We want to give them the opportunity to become leaders in sustainability in the country, equipped to take advantage of the exciting cutting-edge employment opportunities in sustainable development and climate resilience, while also creating diverse jobs for many other Bahamians in the blue and green economies. We believe these scholarships will give outstanding students the opportunity to achieve all this and more.”

Sir Charles Hayward, one of the first significant investors in the Grand Bahama Port Authority, used his personal fortune to develop Freeport into the country’s second city and to endow the Hayward Foundation, which today provides funding in areas such as: social

and criminal justice; heritage and conservation; and improving the livelihoods of disadvantaged communities in Commonwealth countries.

The Chevening Scholarships Programme began in 1983 as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Awards Scheme (FCOAS) and is funded by the British government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its partner organisations. The objective of the scheme is to build a network of friends of the UK, who will be future leaders in their countries.

“Game of Kings”, “King of All Games” or “Game of Life” is tutored every other Monday from 6pm to 730pm at the Fort Charlotte Community Centre, Boyd Road for adult males and females. On April 17, the Bahamas Chess Federation (BCF) presented ten chess sets and

a demo board to the Fort Charlotte Community Development Association (FCCDA) to support the positive initiative within its positive environment. Tutor: Antoinette Seymour, multi-time (1st and only female) National Chess Champion & Chess Olympiad title holder.

FROM left, Valentine Cox (current National Champion & Asst Tutor), Janet Turnquest (FCCDA administrator), Curtis Pride (BCF 1st VP), Basil Longley (FCCDA chairman), amd Antoinette Seymour (tutor).

UB FIT GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE University of the Bahamas North has announced the return of UB Fit Grand Bahama Fun Run Walk, Bike, Skate Push, after a three-year hiatus.

The event – which features a 5K and 10K race - takes place on Saturday, May 6, at 6pm. A warm-up session begins at 5.30am.

A final registration drive will take place on Saturday, April 29, at Sawyer’s Downtown and Solomon’s Downtown. Individuals may also register at the UB North Campus on West Atlantic Drive, and 5am on the morning of the event.

Dr Andrew Moxey, Dean of Faculty, said they are excited to be hosting the event after not being able to do so for the last three years. He said: “In addition to providing an environment for quality formal tertiary education, UB North understands the very important role it must continue to play in the lives and general welfare of our citizens and residents.”

The goal for UB Fit, he stated, is to encourage and

inspire individuals to take responsibility for their health and wellness.

UB Fit chair Keturah Babb-Higgs, director of advancement at UB North, said the event is a tradition that started over five years ago at the campus in East GB.

“Today, we at the UB North are happy and excited to announce the return of one of our key fundraisers that seek to bring all key stakeholders together to promote health and wellness,” she stated.

“We believe in the importance of encouraging healthy living in our communities and ensuring that future generations adopt a healthy, balanced lifestyle.”

At the last race event held in 2019, there were over 200 participants.

Ravano Ferguson, of Fast Track Management, will oversee the race times. Participants will receive a UB FIT GB bag, a water bottle, a dry-fit shirt, and a participation medal.

The race begins promptly at 6am at the UB North downtown campus, formally the Kipling Building.

The 5K route goes to the Domestic Airport and back to the campus, while the 10K route goes to Holiday Auto to Ranfurly Circus and back to the campus. The race will culminate at the race village.

Mrs Babb-Higgs thanked the many sponsors, including gold sponsor Sawyer’s Fresh Market; silver sponsor Fidelity; and bronze sponsors Keys Bahamas Realty, Subway, and the GB Port Authority. And Community sponsors Higgs & Johnson; Global Tech, UB Alumni Association, the GB Chapter of UB Alumni Association; the health vendors, NUA Insurance Petro Express, and in-kind sponsors Stop N Shop, 102.7FM the Riddim; The Shipping Guy; and Bahamian Brewery.

The event will help raise funds for rebuilding efforts and support UB North’s Student Support Award.

RUPERT HAYWARD, left, presents British High Commissioner to the Bahamas Tom Hartley with the Partnership Agreement between the Charles Hayward Foundation and the prestigious Chevening Scholarship which will allow Bahamian students to pursue funded postgraduate studies at UK universities.

SOME of the students, including a few from the youth class. Missing: Senator Dr Erecia HepburnForbes.

BCF 1st VP Curtis Pride, left, and FCCDA chairman Basil Longley.

FROM left, Mishael Prince, UB Fit committee member; Aurelia Pinder, chapter president of the GB UB Alumni Association; UB fit chair Keturah Babb-Higgs, director of advancement at UB North; and Dr Andrew Moxey, dean of faculty at UB North.

Photo: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff.

DEA chief grilled over probe into no-bid contracts, hiring

Associated Press

LaWMakErS grilled

US Drug Enforcement administration chief anne Milgram on Thursday over millions of dollars in no-bid contracts that are the subject of a watchdog probe into whether the agency improperly hired some of her past associates.

Milgram faced a barrage of criticisms from mostly republican members of the House appropriations Committee over an associated Press investigation that the DEa spent $4.7 million on “strategic planning and communication” and other no-bid contracts to hire people Milgram knew from her days as New Jersey’s attorney general and as a New York University law professor — at costs far exceeding pay for government officials.

“Everyone is afforded the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. But these reports are pretty strong,” said rep. andrew Clyde of Georgia. added rep. Mike Garcia of California: “To make the assertion that you’re doing this job well, or getting the job done, is frankly flagrant and offensive. I don’t think you’re doing a good job.”

Milgram said she welcomes the scrutiny from the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General on some sole-source contracts signed since she took over the DEa nearly two years ago. But she refused to address the allegations in the aP

report, or whether she was a target of the watchdog probe.

“The inspector general is conducting an administrative review into some DEa contracts, which I welcome, and I’m not going to step in front of the inspector general or speak more about it while that review is continuing,” she said.

“Does that mean you’re taking the Fifth?” replied Clyde.

“No sir,” she answered. among the contracts being scrutinized by the Inspector General is $1.4 million to a Washington law firm for a recent

review of the DEa’s scandal-plagued foreign operations that was widely criticized for giving short shrift to agent misconduct and how to prevent it. That review was co-authored by Boyd Johnson, former right-hand man to one of Milgram’s closest friends, Preet Bharara, when he was US attorney in Manhattan. Bharara himself landed at the firm, WilmerHale, even as the review was being conducted.

Milgram, questioned by Clyde about “very disturbing” allegations that run counter to the DEa’s mission, said she only met

foundation prints 3d prosthetiCs, provides them free in uruguaY

URUGUAY

Associated Press

THE FIrST thing

11-year-old Mia rodríguez says she did with her new prosthetic hands was draw a picture of a kitten.

The Uruguayan girl, whose fingers never fully developed, put on the prosthetic hands and demonstrated the grasping movement she can now make.

“Now I can hold the pencil with one hand.

Before, I had to do it with both hands because my fist wouldn’t close,” she said, while her mother ana Van López watched excitedly.

rodríguez received the protheses from the Uruguayan Manos de Héroes foundation, which designs and prints hands and arms with 3D technology for children and adults across the South american country.

Since 2020, the foundation has provided more than 100 free prostheses, most of them for families in vulnerable situations.

Van López, 28, lives with her partner and their four children in an abandoned factory in Salinas, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Montevideo, and her income comes from informal work, such as selling firewood or pineapples.

The family has a monthly income of about 8,000 pesos, or US$200.

“I am very grateful, I thought my daughter was the only one with this problem. She had never come across someone like her in the hospital or on the street. It’s very difficult for us,” said Van López, who is trying to obtain a state disability benefit for the girl equivalent to a little more than 15,000 pesos a month, or $380. In addition, they receive a similar amount of state support, she said. almost 16% of the Uruguayan population registers some level of disability, the majority mild, according to a 2011 census by the National Statistics Institute.

rodríguez’s prosthetic hands move with threads that are taut from the motion of her wrists. They are violet with pink, colors

she says she chose because they go well together, and are decorated with unicorn decals. Other children prefer the colors of their favorite soccer club or superhero.

The prostheses can be mechanical or electronic. They are placed on the hands, forearm, elbow or shoulder, according to the needs of each person.

Designing a hand, printing it, and putting it together takes a couple of weeks, said andrea Cukerman, an electrical engineer and founder and of Manos de Héroes, or Hands of Heroes.

The prostheses are free and the foundation is financed with contributions from private companies and donations. In Europe, a prosthetic hand with much more advanced technology can cost as much as $100,000, the foundation said.

On one of the walls of the foundation’s office there are photos of children and adults who have received prostheses. The images show children striking

Johnson after being nominated by the White House to lead the DEa She also acknowledged working in New Jersey with Jose Cordero, who within three weeks of Milgram’s confirmation by the Senate was awarded with what has become a nearly $400,000 no-bid contract to conduct data analysis of crime stats.

“Mr Cordero worked with me previously on violence reduction,” she said.

Milgram came to Capitol Hill seeking congressional support for a nearly 4% budget increase to tackle a worsening fentanyl crisis that led to

more than 107,000 overdose deaths last year. She faced criticism over the Biden administration’s refusal to confront China and Mexico over their role in the fentanyl crisis, as well as how she is handling a string of scandals by agents in the field.

among the highest profile is the arrest of José Irizarry, a disgraced agent now serving a 12-year federal prison sentence after confessing to laundering money for Colombian drug cartels and skimming millions from asset seizures and informants to fund an international joyride of fine dining, parties

and prostitutes.

Milgram said she has overseen a series of changes in the DEa’s internal disciplinary process — a departure from past administrations.

“What I’m most interested in is, how do we build the correct piping moving forward?” she said. “How do we go from a system where we used to be tracking the use of money that we do for our money laundering investigations ... to now where we have a real-time system that our entire inspections division can see every day?”

China welComes Ya Ya the panda home after 20 Y ears abroad

poses with hands and arms in vibrant colors - orange, green - or like those of Spiderman.

“The idea is that they don’t feel alone,” Cukerman said.

The photos of adults are more subdued; most of their prostheses imitate the color and details of the skin.

Cukerman shows the prostheses she is currently printing: the arm of an adult who had an accident.

The day of the test, rodríguez kept looking at everything in front of her, Cukerman recalled.

“When we showed her her hands, her face lit up, her big eyes, she hardly spoke,” she said.

They explained how the prosthetic hands worked, what movement she had to make to open and close her fist, and warned that some adjustments might have to be made.

rodríguez put her hands on and began to try movements.

“It took a few seconds, they were perfect,” said her mother.

TAIWAN Associated Press

Ya Ya the giant panda landed Thursday in Shanghai after departing from the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, where she spent the past 20 years on loan.

The popular panda’s trip was closely followed online.

People shared screenshots tracking Ya Ya’s flight path into Shanghai. “Finally back at home!” cheered one user in response to the news. Others asked for a live broadcast of the arrival, which was reported by Chinese state media and claimed four of the top 10 trending topics on the social media platform Weibo. an image from Chinese broadcaster Phoenix News was particularly popular among

Chinese social media users.

It showed Ya Ya relieving herself before the trip and leaving the poop as a present for the zoo.

The zoo held a farewell party for Ya Ya earlier in april and said it would miss the panda. Her departure marks the end of a 20-year loan agreement with the Chinese association of Zoological Gardens.

Ya Ya was born aug. 3, 2000, in Beijing. She lived at the Memphis Zoo along with Le Le, a male panda who was born July 18, 1998.

Le Le died in February.

The life expectancy of a giant panda in the wild is about 15 years, but in captivity they have lived to be as old as 38.

Earlier in 2023, after the 20-year loan agreement

ended without renewal, allegations of neglect and abuse circulated on Chinese social media alongside pictures of Ya Ya with her fur discolored and patchy.

The Memphis Zoo said in a statement the panda’s quality of life was not affected by her fur condition, noting that they reported monthly to the Chinese association of Zoological Gardens about the panda’s health. according to the statement, “Ya Ya also lives with a chronic skin and fur condition which is inherently related to her immune system and directly impacted by hormonal fluctuations.” a veterinarian accompanied Ya Ya to care for her health needs on the way to Shanghai, the zoo said.

Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram speaks during a meeting with the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, April 27, 2023. During the session, lawmakers questioned Milgram over millions of dollars in no-bid contracts that are the subject of a watchdog probe into whether the agency improperly hired some of her past associates.

Photo: uS House Appropriations Committee/AP

MiA roDriguez, whose fingers did not fully develop, demonstrates how she holds a pen with her prosthetic hand, from the Hands of Heroes Foundation, as she draws in Salinas, Uruguay, Friday, April 14, 2023. “Now I can hold the pencil with one hand. Before, I had to do it with both hands because my fist wouldn’t close,” she said.

Photo: Matilde Campodonico/AP

YA YA, a giant panda at the Memphis Zoo, eats bamboo, April 8, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. Ya Ya began its trip to China on Wednesday, April 26, from the Memphis Zoo, where it has spent the past 20 years as part of a loan agreement.

Photo: Karen Pulfer Focht/AP

Rest in peace to our very own boxing legend Ray Minus Jr

Renaldo said. “I learned more things from him than I did from my own father. We have some memories. He was a giant of a man.”

Minus Sr, a former Bahamian boxing champion who got his sons involved in the sport and was criticised during the height of his son’s career for failing to allow Minus Jr to migrate to Miami, Florida, said he always felt he made the right choice. “I did the best I could with him,” he insisted. “He was the greatest. No one could touch him. He was too fast. My best memory of him was when he beat Happy Lora. But I still remember when he fought Quincy.”

Miguel ‘Happy’ Lora won an unanimous decision over Minus Jr on November 27, 1987 at the Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida, but while many didn’t get to watch that fight, there were hundreds who viewed the three epic showdowns that he encountered that Minus Jr secured over Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt, his former sparring partner in 1992, 1999 and 2000.

An emotional Pratt, who couldn’t hold back the tears, said Minus Jr made him the fighter and the man that he is today and he thanked him for the relationship they were able to develop in their post-fighting era.

“It’s a long story, but he was a great warrior. He was good for boxing. He did all he could to help save so many young men who were going down the wrong path of life,” said Pratt, who included himself in that category, remembering how he spent some time in the Simpson Penn School for Boys.

“He was a man who fought for three world titles, he won the Commonwealth British titles, he fought for this country and a man who taught me how to move. He was the man who I learnt my craft from, but knowing that I would be in the ring against him in three of the greatest fights ever staged in the Bahamas.”

Long after their episodes, Pratt said he and Minus Jr remained close friends. He noted how he even visited Minus Jr when he went into a nursing home.

But he said the best memories he recalled was when he visited him at home and Minus Jr put the championship belt on the table and reminded Pratt that he is still the “champion.

“Although he was ill, he was still funny,” said Pratt, who compiled an 11-24 win-loss record before he suffered an injury that prevented him from boxing any further. “He made me laugh. I will miss him. This is a sad time.”

Minus Jr, who also competed for the World Boxing Council (WBC)

Continental Americas super bantamweight title against Cesar Soto, WBC Continental Americas lightweight title against Leavander Johnson, World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight title against Israel Contreras and International Boxing Federation (IBF) against Orlando Canizales, left behind Michelle Minus, his former wife and partner of First Class Promotions, his daughter Rayshell, his father/trainer Ray Minus Sr and a host of brothers and

sisters, including Renaldo ‘the Terminator’ and Kenny ‘Lighting’ Minus, who were both former boxing champions. Minus Jr compiled a 37 with 27 knockouts win, nine losses (seven by TKO) and a draw record before he officially retired on December 31, 2012.

After his retirement, Minus Jr devoted his time and energy to the Champion Boxing Club where he groomed many of the top amateur and pro fighters, including Meacher ‘Pain’ Major, Jermaine ‘Choo Choo’ Mackey, Jerry ‘Big Daddy’ Butler and Alpachino Allen.

Together, with Michelle, they formed First Class Promotions which staged several successful boxing shows in the country.

As they gathered at the hospital yesterday, Rayshell said it was a hard pill for the family to swallow.

Michelle, in bringing the first all female pro boxing card to the Bahamas last month, honoured Minus Jr with a red carpet affair, flocked by many of his former boxers as they paid their tributes to him.

Vincent Strachan, president of the Boxing Federation of the Bahamas, expressing his sympathy on behalf of the boxing fraternity, said Minus Jr will be “greatly missed” and will be very hard to “replace” for what he achieved in the sport.

“To God be all the glory. Ray fought the great fight. He finished his course. Hence is laid up for him a crown in Glory,” Strachan said. “He gave selflessly of himself to the development of boxing at all levels in the world. A great warrior, a great champion is no longer with us.

“My heartfelt condolences to his family on behalf of my family, the Boxing Federation Of Bahamas. I pray that Almighty God will strengthen you and give you comfort and peace in your time of bereavement.”

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg also offered his condolences on behalf of the ministry of which Minus Jr served as a consultant.

“The country has lost a great boxer and statesman. The sad news of the passing of boxing legend Ray Minus Jr has rocked the sporting world. The fierce fighter in the ring lost the fight of life today, Thursday, 27th April, 2023; a match we must all contest one day,” Bowleg said.

“The Government of The Bahamas recognised his immense talent and hired Minus to serve as a boxing consultant/instructor at the National Boxing Centre at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. Here, Minus taught youngsters from our inner-city communities and inspired new generations of athletes to train, to focus and to dream of the many possibilities in the sport of boxing.”

Bowleg noted that Minus served dutifully as an employee of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for nearly a decade, only recently retiring.

In November of last year, he said Minus Jr was among the most notable and accomplished sports heroes who were inducted into the National Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

“The Bahamas has lost a boxing icon and a mentor

in the sport of boxing. As a country, we cannot repay Minus for his immeasurable contributions made in the sport of boxing,” Bowleg said.

“On behalf of the Government of The Bahamas, the nation, and members of staff at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, I extend prayerful condolences to the family and friends of Ray Minus Jr. My deepest sympathies are also extended to the local and international boxing communities. May God strengthen you all during this time of bereavement.”

Minus Jr started his pro career on June 18, 1982 with a knockout win over Angels Torres in Nassau. Although he fought throughout the United States and Europe, one of his greatest fights in Nassau outside of the Pratt sequel came on August 2, 1990 when he lost to Israel Contreras in a ninth round TKO.

Minus Jr officially retired on March 31, 2001 when he dropped a eighth round TKO loss to Leavander Johnson at the Bally’s Park Place Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a year after he stopped Pratt in the seventh round in their last bout at home in 2000.

TOP boxers Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt and Ray Minus Jr square off in front of former Prime Minister Lynden Pindling before their first fight in 1992.

A COLLAGE of legendary Bahamian boxer Ray Minus Jr.

RAY Minus Jr and Sr with Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt at the funeral of the late former world boxing champion Everette ‘Elisha Obed’ Ferguson.

Celtics pull away, beat Hawks

128-120 for 4-2 series victory

CLIPPERS: KAWHI HAS MENISCUS TEAR, WILL BE READY NEXT YEAR

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Los Angeles Clippers

star Kawhi Leonard has a meniscus tear in his right knee, although his surgically repaired right ACL is intact.

The team had said Leonard sustained a right knee sprain after playing in the first two games of the Clippers’ first-round loss to Phoenix but didn’t provide further details.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP had an MRI in Los Angeles after Game 2, which showed the tear, according to Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations.

“Regardless of the treatment, Kawhi will be ready for next year,” Frank said yesterday.

ripped off an 11-0 run that included three straight 3-pointers, with Horford’s big shot sandwiched around 3s from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Tatum capped the spurt with a dunk off a Horford

us.”

After knocking down a 3 from the corner, which put the Celtics ahead to stay, Horford yapped back at an Atlanta fan who had been trash talking him from the sideline.

Young had 30 points and 10 assists, but he finished just 9 of 28 from the field. Despite a largely disappointing season that included a coaching change and another first-round exit from the playoffs,

Young is optimistic about the Hawks’ future. He’s especially looking forward to a full season under Quin

Snyder, who took over from Nate McMillan with 21 games left in the regular season.

WARRIORS, LAKERS AIM TO CLOSE OUT 1ST-ROUND SERIES AT HOME

By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO

(AP) — Time and again, Stephen Curry called for his Golden State Warriors to be better, to learn from the glaring mistakes and road losses that piled up in frustrating fashion and with little explanation as to why.

Through all the distractions and challenges of a topsy-turvy regular season and, yes, all those road losses, Curry and the defending NBA champions find themselves in a familiar place as May approaches: looking to close out a playoff series at home.

If they do, there’s a possibility of LeBron James and the Lakers would be up next in an all-California Western Conference semifinal.

“We’ve played in the most pressurised moments,

whether it’s the finals or the first round, so we just rely on our experience during nights like this,” Klay Thompson said after Game 5.

The Warriors are whole at last, too. Andrew Wiggins is back after a two-month absence for a personal matter.

Gary Payton II is coming off the bench again as a defensive stopper just like he did last year after beginning this season with the Trail Blazers.

Jordan Poole is finding his postseason groove and Kevon Looney keeps securing rebounds at an outrageous rate on both ends after coming up big on the playoff stage in 2022.

Coach Steve Kerr has said all along that no playoff series truly begins until a team wins on the opponent’s home court, and Golden State pulled off a 123-116 victory against

LAKERS forward LeBron James bumps against a referee during the second half of Game 5 of the team’s firstround NBA basketball playoff series against the Grizzlies on Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night — giving the Warriors at least one road win in a record 28 straight playoff series.

Curry hopes they build on this.

“Big night for us and you can feel the sense of accomplishment after the game from everybody on the bench, everybody on the floor,” Curry said.

“Just of how good of a feeling it was. So, now obviously, we’ve got work to do to close out the series, but we needed this one.

“Snatch momentum back and hopefully take advantage of it in Game 6.”

To the south of the Bay Area, the Lakers will try again to close out the Grizzlies in Los Angeles, where Memphis hasn’t won this season.

The Grizzlies are 2-1 in Game 6s on the road and trying to force just the

third Game 7 in franchise history.

This franchise has won just four games facing elimination in 13 playoff appearances ever.

“Tonight, I was (expletive), I’ll be better in Game 6,” James said following his 5-for-17 performance that included going 1 of 9 on 3-pointers for 15 points in Wednesday’s 116-99 loss.

If the Warriors and Lakers each win tonight, Los Angeles will come to the Bay Area for Game 1 of the next round — but the Kings are counting on one more chance to Light the Beam at Golden 1 Center.

“We’ve been in this situation all year,” Sacramento’s Malik Monk said yesterday.

“Lose a couple, they think we’re down then come back and win a couple in a row, so just another task in front of us.”

The team has yet to decide on a course of treatment, he said. Rest or surgery are among the wide range of treatments for the common knee injury. Leonard missed all of last season while recovering from ACL surgery. Frank said his ACL is “firmly intact.”

The undermanned Clippers were eliminated in five games against the Suns.

Paul George wasn’t able to play in the series because of a right knee sprain he suffered on March 21. If the Clippers had advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, he would have played, Frank said.

“He was pushing all limits and boundaries to be able to play,” Frank said.

The Clippers finished fifth in the West at 44-38. They went 33-19 in games with Leonard and 24-14 in games when both Leonard and George played.

“What I don’t want to do is to have the injuries or how hard we fought in the postseason to mask a disappointing regular season,” Lawrence said. “We have to get back to honouring and respecting the regular season. We have to compete harder, more consistently and we have to earn it.”

Coach Tyronn Lue will be back for his fifth season.

“Why wouldn’t he be back? Of course, he’s back,” Frank said. “Ty’s a terrific coach, and we’re excited to have him as our coach.”

NFL DRAFT DOMINATED EARLY BY QBS, INCLUDING TOP PICK YOUNG

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

(AP) — Finding a franchise quarterback is the quickest path to success so it’s no surprise teams made them a priority in the NFL draft.

Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson were among the top four picks last night, an expected result in a rich draft class that’s been anticipated since last year. The surprise in the first round was that Will Levis didn’t hear his name called.

Young, the slender and dynamic Alabama quarterback, went No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers, seven weeks after the team made a blockbuster trade with Chicago to move up to get their choice.

The biggest question surrounding the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is size. He measured at 5-foot-10 1/8 and weighed 204 pounds at the combine. Though he dominated the SEC, some scouts and coaches fear Young may not be able to physically withstand all the hits in the NFL.

“Those that doubt me are entitled to their opinion,” Young said. “I think that is the beauty of sports. We all come together and have arguments on who you think is good or not. I choose to focus on what I can control.”

Stroud didn’t have to wait long despite speculation he may drop out of the top 10 after scoring poorly in the S2 Cognition test. He told the AP earlier in the day he didn’t know where he would end up going but Houston snagged him at No. 2. The Texans then made a blockbuster deal with Arizona to acquire the No. 3 pick and selected Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.

“I can’t wait to play with Will,” Stroud said. “I hope he doesn’t hit me too hard in practice.”

Richardson was selected at No. 4 by the Indianapolis Colts, who will begin a sixth straight season with a different starting QB. Richardson might have the most upside of the group but he has the least experience. He threw just 393 passes at Florida. Colts owner Jim Irsay is fond of Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Richardson has similar playmaking ability.

He’ll play for Shane Steichen, who was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia when Hurts developed into an MVP runner-up.

“I know what he did with Hurts but I am excited to get to work with him,” Richardson said. “He has told me we are going to do great things so I am looking forward to it.”

Heading into the draft, there was no certainty beyond the No. 1 pick and even that wasn’t a lock. Some thought Kentucky’s Levis would be the second QB taken but he slipped out of the first round. Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, who is coming off ACL surgery, also wasn’t taken on the first day.

New Panthers coach Frank Reich said earlier in the week that the organization only reached a consensus Monday after several weeks of deliberation.

“I learned so much in my short time there,” Young said of his visit with the Panthers. “It is an amazing

staff. You can tell there is an energy, focus, drive and will to win.”

A dual-threat playmaker with a strong arm and an elite combination of instincts and intelligence, Young also possesses the intangibles and characteristics coaches desire, including leadership ability and a strong work ethic.

The Panthers have sought an answer at quarterback since moving on from Cam Newton, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2011 and the NFL MVP in 2015 when he led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance. Young had a spectacular career at Alabama and

the Panthers are hoping he can deliver the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy. He played in a pro-style offense under offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, the former Texans head coach who has returned to the NFL to run New England’s offense.

Stroud, a finalist for the Heisman Trophy the past two seasons at Ohio State, goes to Houston to help the rebuilding Texans move past Deshaun Watson. It’s the ninth time two QBs went 1-2 and the first time it was two Black QBs.

“I hope that inspired a lot of Black children,” Stroud said.

After the run on QBs, defense-needy Seattle took

Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon at No. 5 and the wheeling-and-dealing Cardinals moved up to No. 6 to select Ohio State offensive lineman Paris Johnson. Las Vegas then chose Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson and Atlanta made Bijan Robinson the first running back taken in the top 10 since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 to the Giants in 2018.

NFC champion Philadelphia moved up one spot to take troubled Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter at No. 9 and Chicago went with Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright with the 10th pick. The Eagles got Carter’s teammate, edge Nolan Smith, at No. 30.

At No. 11, the Titans passed on Levis for Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also passed on Levis at No. 19, taking Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.

It took until the 20th pick for the first wide receiver to go. The Seahawks chose Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That started a run of four wideouts in a row.

The Chargers then took Quentin Johnston, the Ravens grabbed Zay Flowers to team up with Odell Beckham Jr., and the Vikings added Jordan Addison to go with Justin Jefferson.

centre Al Horford (42) scores against Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) and Hawks’ Dejounte Murray (5) during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series last night. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

ALABAMA quarterback Bryce Young gets a jersey from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by Carolina Panthers with the first overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft last night in Kansas City, Mo.

(AP Photo/ Jeff Roberson)

Comets, Dragons, Hurricanes are BAISS soccer champions

FROM PAGE 16

only lost one game and that came during the regular season against Lyford Cay.

Coach Deborah Humes said it was payback time in the final.

“We knew that we had the team to win. These girls played so hard and worked hard for it,” she said. “I

NPPPSSA

FROM PAGE 16

emerged victorious for Sadie Curtis with 2:35.94.

Claridge Primary’s Patereco Sherman followed behind with 2:41.81. Ayden Rolle of Carlton Francis secured first place after notching 2:42.91 in the race.

Garvin Tynes’ Melody Thompson claimed first place in the girls C division 800m run. Second place belonged to Dutchess Williams of Sadie Curtis who finished with 3:24.89. Third place finisher was Carlton Francis’ Daska Sylvai with 3:33.84.

For the boys, Palmdale Primary’s Siddon Sawyer

am so proud of them and what they were able to accomplish.”

Sara Ilgenfritz, the coach of Lyford Cay, said although they had a very young team with players mainly in grade seven and eight, they gave a good account of themselves.

“I think we played as well as we could under the circumstances,” she

said. “Queen’s College had some very experienced players, but we have a lot more years ahead of us, so we hope to be back and hopefully the next time we can win it.”

Senior boys Dragons 2, Hurricanes 1: Michael Massie booted in the game-winning penalty in the second half as

Lyford Cay broke up a 1-1 tie at the end of the first half for the win.

While Lyford Cay scored the first goal of the game, St Andrew’s came right back and equalised it on Benjamin Luner’s goal.

Junior boys After full time and 10 minutes of extra time, St Andrew’s and Lyford Cay

were scoreless. It went down to penalty, but the Hurricanes emerged as the victors, hitting four of the five penalty shots to seal the deal after the goalie blocked two of the four penalties, so they didn’t need to take their fifth.

Owen Cates saved two of the three shots by Lyford Cay, although one got away from him.

RAVENS AGREE TO 5-YEAR, $260M DEAL WITH QB JACKSON

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer

THE Baltimore Ravens agreed in principle with Lamar Jackson on a fiveyear deal yesterday, making their star quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history.

The Ravens and Jackson agreed on a $260 million, five-year deal with $185 million in guaranteed money, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract hasn’t been signed.

The deal keeps the 2019 NFL MVP in Baltimore for the foreseeable future and ends a contract negotiation saga that was dominating the team’s offseason. Jackson’s contract tops the $255 million, five-year deal the Philadelphia Eagles gave Jalen Hurts earlier this month. Hurts got $179.3 million in guarantees.

Deshaun Watson still has the biggest guaranteed contract in NFL history. The Cleveland Browns gave Watson a five-year, fullyguaranteed $230 million extension last year to waive his no-trade clause and agree to join the team.

The Ravens announced the deal hours before the first round of the NFL draft, and it’s fair to say that in Baltimore at least, this news will overshadow whoever the team might take in the first round.

took home first place with 3:01.72. Cleveland Eneas’ Kaydin Thompson finished closely behind with 3:01.95.

Daniel Ramsay of Eva Hilton joined both for third place in the race.

The final track events of the day were 4x100m relay finals for the A division girls and boys. The girls’ relay team of Cleveland Eneas took home first place honours with 1:00.80. Eva Hilton clocked 1:01.54 to secure second position.

Third place belonged to the Yellow Elder girls’ relay team who clocked 1:02.83.

In boys’ relay action, Garvin Tynes came in first with a time of 55.74. Uriah McPhee followed behind

with 56.60 for second. Third place was claimed by Palmdale Primary as they ran a time of 57.04.

Day two featured the long jump, high jump, shot put and ball throw field event finals.

For the A division girls long jump, Carlton Francis’ Jade Malcolm was victorious after a jump of 3.42m. She was followed by Samaya Taylor of Palmdale Primary with 3.33m. Claridge Primary’s Kelsea Jean-Louis placed third with 3.30m.

The C Division boys’ long jump saw Palmdale’s Siddon Sawyer win after a leap of 3.13m. Uriah McPhee’s Donald Rolle placed second with 2.85m and Ridgeland’s Percival

Knowles came third with 2.82m.

Dutchess Williams got the win in the same event for the girls with 2.97m. Uriah McPhee’s Monica Curtis came in second with 2.65m and third place was secured by Charity Marshall of Cleveland Eneas.

The B division boys’ high jump was dominated by Leon Bain of Albury Sayle.

Second place finish was Cleveland Eneas’ Deon Fowler and third place belonged to Rashad Francois from Gerald Cash.

Zamira Swann threw a distance of 6.22m for first place finish in the A division girls’ shot put. CW Sawyer’s Christia Thompson threw 6.12m for second place. Simiyah

ANDREEVA, 15, WINS AGAIN AT MADRID OPEN, MURRAY LOSES

Rolle of Gerald Cash came in third.

For the boys, CW Sawyer’s Leon McPhee brought home a win for the respective school with a throw of 10.16m.

Tavardo Brown of Sadie Curtis claimed second and Aaron Collie of Gerald Cash was awarded third place in the finals.

For the ball throw event, Sadie Curtis’ J’Lynn Bain and Josiah Fitterman took home the wins in the girls and boys B and C divisions. For the girls’ B division, Uriah McPhee’s Diamond Strachan wrapped up in first.

Day three of the NPPPSSA will commence today at 10am for a finalsfilled day.

After playing out his rookie contract, Jackson’s future with the Ravens was in doubt. Baltimore put the franchise tag on Jackson last month, but the Ravens kept expressing confidence that they could reach a long-term agreement with him — even after Jackson made a trade request public.

The Ravens did not disclose contract terms, but their tweet announcing the deal did include a video of Jackson talking.

“For the last few months, there’s been a lot of he said, she said, a lot of nail biting, a lot of head scratching going on,” Jackson said. “But for the next five years, it’s a lot of flock going on.”

That was a reference to the term “Ravens Flock” used by the team’s fans.

“Let’s go baby. Let’s go, let’s go,” Jackson added. “Can’t wait to get there, can’t wait to be there. Can’t wait to light up M&T (Bank Stadium) for the next five years, man. Let’s get it.”

RAMPANT NEWCASTLE WINS BIG AGAIN AS MANCHESTER UNITED HELD BY SPURS

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer ANDREEVA

MADRID (AP) — After another impressive victory at the Madrid Open, Mirra Andreeva patiently took photos with some fans who looked young enough to be her classmates in high school.

Moments earlier, the 15-yearold Russian had been raising her arms by the net to celebrate her win over a top-20 opponent.

Andreeva, a day after defeating 2021 U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez for her first tour-level win, beat 14th-ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia 7-6 (6), 6-3 to advance to the third round yesterday.

“Yes, I’m a bit surprised but also everyone was telling me they are playing the same level as you, they are just more consistent,” Andreeva said. “Their mental level is different but the gamelevel is almost the same.”

In the men’s draw, two-time Madrid champion Andy Murray lost his first-round match in straight sets to qualifier Andrea Vavassori.

With her win over Fernandez, Andreeva became the third-youngest player to win a main-draw match at a WTA 1000 tournament, behind Coco Gauff and CiCi Bellis, and only

the second 15-year-old to defeat a top-50 opponent at a WTA 1000 tournament. With her victory yesterday, Andreeva became the seventhyoungest player since 2000 to defeat a top-20 opponent before the age of 16. The Russian’s birthday is on Saturday.

She has won 15 straight matches in all levels and earlier this year became the first player to win two or more W60 titles before the age of 16.

The teenager looked calm and in control throughout the match against the 13th-seeded Haddad Maia. She saved three set points before winning the first-set tiebreaker then broke early in the second to secure another straightset victory.

Andreeva will try to extend her surprising run at the claycourt tournament when she faces 19th-ranked Magda Linette, who defeated Marketa Vondrousova 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4. Another teenager who had advanced to the second round

in Madrid, 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova, lost 6-0, 6-3 to 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

The 58th-ranked Fruhvirtova is the youngest player inside the top 100.

Sixth-seeded Gauff reached the third round with a comfortable 6-4, 6-1 win over Irene Burillo Escorihuela. The American will next face home-crowd favorite Paula Badosa, who defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

Three-time Madrid Open champion Petra Kvitova lost 7-6 (9), 6-1 to Jule Niemeier, while ninth-seeded Maria Sakkari defeated Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus 6-4, 6-4.

Murray lost his first match for the third straight tournament, falling 6-2, 7-6 (7) to the 164thranked Vavassori. Murray, who won in Madrid in 2008 and 2015, had also failed to advance past his first opponents in Monte Carlo and Miami.

Dominic Thiem defeated Kyle Edmund 6-4, 6-1 to set up a second-round match against fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz plays his first match on Friday, facing 41st-ranked Emil Ruusuvuori. Women’s world No. 1 Iga Swiatek takes on Julia Grabher.

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

AFTER scoring 10 goals in four days, Newcastle is closing in on Champions League qualification in some style — and quicker than the club’s Saudi ownership might have expected.

A finish in the Premier League’s top four looks increasingly likely for Newcastle following a 4-1 win at Everton yesterday. It wasn’t quite as emphatic as the 6-1 rout of Tottenham on Sunday, but it wasn’t far off.

In third place and with an eight-point cushion to the teams battling to keep in touch with the top four, surely Newcastle will be joining Manchester City and Arsenal in Europe’s top competition next season — less than two years since the game-changing takeover by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

Manchester United is the favourite to be the fourth English team to reach the Champions League but a second-half collapse at Tottenham yesterday gave the chasing teams — including Spurs — some hope.

Jeered by their fans at 2-0 down at halftime, Tottenham’s

players recovered to draw 2-2 and regain some pride from that dismal performance at Newcastle that marked one of the darkest days in the London club’s recent history.

It was so bad that the team offered refunds to fans who travelled to the game.

Tottenham is up to fifth place, on goal difference, and leads the chasers behind fourth-place United, which is six points clear with seven games to play.

The battle to avoid relegation is even closer, although last-place Southampton looks doomed after a dispiriting 1-0 home loss to south-coast rival Bournemouth.

That left the Saints, who have been in the Premier League since 2012, six points from safety with five games left.

Everton stayed in next-tolast place after the thrashing by Newcastle and has only won one of its last 10 games under Sean Dyche, whose appointment hasn’t had the impact many might have expected.

A big game is coming up on Monday against third-from-bottom Leicester, with one point separating the teams. Whoever loses would be in real trouble.

LYFORD Cay School senior boys’ soccer champions.

QUEEN’S College Comets junior girls soccer champions.

SPORTS

Ray Minus Jr ‘was a giant of a man’

Bahamian boxing great dies at 58

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Legendary Ray Minus Jr, the country’s most celebrated boxing extraordinaire, who touched the lives of so many persons as a fighter, trainer, coach and promoter, passed away yesterday after suffering from Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).

The 58 year-old Bahamas bantamweight, lightweight and light welterweight champion, who went on to win a number of international titles, including the World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas bantamweight title, World Boxing Association (WBA) Inter-Continental super bantamweight title,

and Commonwealth bantamweight title, passed away at Princess Margaret Hospital around 9:25am. He was admitted there for the past two weeks and on Thursday, during a tracheostomy - an opening surgically created through the neck into the trachea

(windpipe) to allow air to fill the lungs - it was unsuccessful and he died. Doctors reportedly revived him at least three times before he passed away.

On his passing, Minus Jr left to mourn a host of family and friends, including Michelle, his ex-wife and co-partner in First Class Promotions, his daughter Rayshell,

his father and long-time trainer Ray Minus Sr, a legend himself and his brothers Renaldo ‘the Terminator’ and Kenny ‘Lightning’ Minus, all of whom were Bahamian boxing champions. His daughter, known as ‘Daddy’s girl’, Rayshell said it was difficult for her because when anyone saw her father, they saw her.

CLEVELAND ENEAS PRIMARY TAKES LEAD INTO THE FINAL DAY

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

She took care of him for the past few years after he became too weak to do anything on his own.

“It’s still a shock. It was unexpected. We expected him to pull through. But the family are in shock, but they are sad at this time,” she said. “He was a strong, full, clownish person who was one who was always respected and he made sure, not only me and his immediate family, he was there for everyone.”

Rayshell put in a nutshell when she proclaimed that “he served his purpose.”

Minus said his brother kept him closer than any of their other siblings.

“That was the man who made me a man. We travelled together and we supported each other in and out of the ring,”

SEE PAGE 12

DAY two of New Providence Public Primary Schools Sports Association (NPPPSSA) saw more primary schools cement their positions in the total team rankings going into the final day of the meet.

The defending champions Cleveland Eneas Primary sits atop the rankings with a total of 103 to lead all schools. The second-place position belongs to Uriah McPhee who collected 90 team points after two days of track and field competition.

Sadie Curtis sits five points behind second place with 85. Garvin Tynes Primary will look to enter the fold today, trailing a mere one point behind Sadie Curtis.

Mariska Thompson, head coach of the defending champions, talked about how it felt to be in the driver’s seat going into the final day of the three-day meet.

“To be honest that’s really not my focus, my focus really is keeping my children on task and on target, and whatever is the result is the result,” she said.

Thompson added that she is not worried about too much as the team has prepared since November and trained very hard so may the best team win.

Day two featured some finals action on the track and field as teams looked to earn big points leading into the final day.

For the A division girls 800 metre run, Ariel Thompson came first for Garvin Tynes with a time of 2:42.79. She was joined by second place finisher Brittania Rigby of Cleveland Eneas who did 2:46.22. Gerald Cash’s Imani Collie clocked 2:47.48 for third place.

In the same event for the boys, Rhamelo Bethel

SEE PAGE 14

Comets, Dragons, Hurricanes are BAISS soccer champions

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Queen’s College

Comets left the Roscoe Davies Developmental Center at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex yesterday as the junior and senior girls’ champions of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools Soccer Championships.

In the senior and junior boys’ divisions, the Lyford Cay Dragons and the St Andrew’s Hurricanes split the pair of titles as they faced each other in two exciting matches that went right down to the wire.

While Queen’s College held off Windsor High 2-1 in their junior girls game, their senior girls out-scored Lyford Cay 6-0.

In the senior boys matchup, Lyford Cay prevailed with a 2-1 decision over the St Andrew’s Hurricanes, but the junior boys down to the penalty with St Andrew’s getting the edge

after they finished scoreless in regulation and overtime.

• Here’s a summary of the games played:

Junior girls Queen’s College 2, Windsor High 1: Afreen Fathima completed her two-year career by booting in a goal in both the first and second half to preserve the win for the Comets.

“I felt proud of myself.

I didn’t expect to score more than one goal. So I’m really proud of myself and my team for helping me,” said Fathima, who is in her second year on QC’s team.

“I feel great. We put a lot of work into this season and so I’m happy with our team. I will be moving up to senior (next year), but I hope we do the same thing.”

The Comets finished the year undefeated and Dion Peterson, one of their coaches, said it was a testament of the hard work they put in.

“I think we performed very well. The girls worked hard all season. They did a

lot of practice to perform for the season,” Peterson said.

“They controlled the game for the most part. We did a good job.”

Brinnyah Bynoe, a tennis player, stepped up and scored the lone goal

for Windsor down the stretch of the second half as they ended their first appearance in the BAISS competition by getting on the scoreboard.

“Just getting a goal was enough to put our team in a place where they felt more

comfortable, “ said Bynoe, a 15-year-old ninth grader.

“Not having a goal and being down gave my team a sense that we were still in the game.”

Unfortunately, time expired before they could come up with the equaliser.

Senior girls Queen’s College 6, Lyford Cay 1: Captain Alexis Williamson, leading by example, struck for a pair of goals and they benefitted from another on Lyford Cay’s own goal as the Comets took a 3-0 lead into the half and held on for the win in the second half.

They added another pair of goals from Diane Maillis and one more from Mia Underwoods to seal the deal as their junior girls rocked the stands cheering for them.

“I’m really proud of our team. We worked tirelessly from last October last year practicing two and sometimes three times a week,” said Williamson, a 17-yearold 12tth grader. “We made sure we won every game. That was the mentality that we took into the league. We worked extremely hard to get this win.”

The Comets almost duplicated the efforts of their junior girls, but they

RAY MINUS JR, left, and Quincy Thrill-a-Minute Pratt.

RAY MINUS JR

SOCCER CHAMPIONS: Queen’s College Comets senior girls’ championship soccer team.

ST Andrew’s junior boys soccer champions.