05092024 NEWS AND SPORT

‘GIVE US ANSWERS ON FREEPORT PLAN’

GB licensees are unhappy with lack of clarity on future

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration does not recognise the Freeport Licensees Association, a group seeking to meet Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis that criticised his Monday speech to the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce for lacking “critical details”. After the association released a statement yesterday, Latrae Rahming, director of communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, said: “The government of The Bahamas does not respond to unsigned statements.” Mr Davis’ hard-hitting

PASSPORT ACT BRINGS PROTOCOLS FOR CHILDREN OF BAHAMIAN MEN

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE long-awaited protocols for many affected by last year’s landmark Privy Council citizenship ruling –– which established that children born to Bahamian men are entitled to citizenship regardless of their mother’s nationality were tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday in a bill to amend the Passport Act.

People affected by the ruling whose father is identified on their birth certificate can already apply to the Passport Office for a passport. Those whose father is not identified on their birth certificate must take a DNA

WE WILL INVESTIGATE DUMPED FETUS, SAYS LARODA

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Social Services will investigate the case of a baby found in a garbage disposal in a bathroom at Rubis Gas Station on Gladstone Road. Police have a 24-year-old woman in custody after the incident, but Social Services Minister Myles Laroda said his ministry will do its own investigation.

“I could tell you of adoptions, I could tell you of

foster homes that I’m personally aware of involving children whose mother had the baby at the hospital and just never returned,” he said.

“And I know of at least two situations where a child has been placed in very loving homes, and so my advice to young ladies out there if they feel that they’re in a difficult

By PAVEL BAILEY

THE rape trial of North Abaco MP Kirk Cornish will begin again on October 21. The jury in the case was dismissed last week after Justice Renae McKay learned that a juror had a close connection with the leader of the opposition, Michael Pintard. The complainant gave

By NEIL HARTNELL

AN ex-Cabinet minister yesterday blamed US bankruptcy trustees for the plight of Blackbeard’s Cay’s dolphins as he had agreed to care being provided prior to their potential sale. Damian Gomez KC, former minister of state for legal affairs, told Tribune Business he has “nothing to do” with the eight previous dolphin fatalities or conditions that the five survivors are enduring at the abandoned tourism project off New Providence’s north coast.

Chappell Whyms

Sweeting says shanty town task force to re-focus on New Providence

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

WORKS and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting said the Unregulated Communities Action Task Force (UCATF) will refocus on New Providence shanty towns “throughout the summer” after becoming aware of “quite a number” of them. After demolishing structures in the Kool Acres and All Saints Way shanty towns of New Providence, the task force turned its attention to complete demolition activities in the Blackwood shanty town of Eleuthera this week.

Assistant Director of Social Services Cherely Kelly said yesterday there were many children and families in the community and the children seemed to be attending school consistently.

The chief social worker for Eleuthera, Nickal Symonette, said few people applied for assistance, though one person applied for rental assistance.

She said those displaced live with family members or people whose homes remain on Blackwood.

Mr Sweeting suggested there are no shanty town concerns in Harbour Island.

“There are more complaints in regard to immigration and the challenges with that there than I think in regards with the shanty town,” he said.

“If they give a location then we’ll make an assessment, but when they did an initial assessment there wasn’t any evidence of any shanty town in Harbour Island. There are probably homes where persons of another nationality live, but I wouldn’t say it’s a shanty town.”

She said because North Eleuthera has few rental units, people must apply for rental assistance outside the community.

HOME demolished at a shanty community in North Eleuthera.

Photos: MOW

Firefighters battle blaze on Joe Farrington Road

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

A FIRE that erupted on a scrap metal yard on Joe Farrington Road yesterday morning set derelict vehicles ablaze and sent smoke billowing into the air for much of the day.

The fire prompted the Ministry of Education to end school for the day at Cleveland Eneas Primary and Sadie Curtis Primary.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Damian Robinson said police were alerted to the fire around 10.17am and sent firefighter units to the scrap metal yard, CRT Enterprises Limited, where they found the compound “fully ablaze” before containing “a majority of it”.

He said there were no reports of injuries nor threats to residents, though authorities were concerned about a Rubis gas station “just to the east” of the compound.

The Tribune understands a crane rental company next to the scrap metal yard caught fire and was damaged, but that fire was quelled and controlled.

Everette Rolle, proprietor of CRT Enterprises Limited, said his company received a derelict vehicle with a gas tank, which goes against their policy of

having the tanks removed before receiving vehicles.

“When our escalator went to lift it, the gas tank got punctured, and it exploded, and the fire sorta spread very quickly,” Mr Rolle said.

“We responded with our fire extinguishers, but it wasn’t sufficient to contain the fire and because of the swirling winds, it spun out of control.”

Mr Rolle said firefighters responded within 10 to 15 minutes.

He said the damage must be assessed, but the business must “bounce back as quickly as” possible.

He said his business had experienced a fire only once: 22 years ago.

“That one was larger,” he said, adding that water from a canal was used then because equipment was less available.

Gunshot-like sounds from the fire were “old tyres, old fuel tanks,” ACP Robinson said.

“That’s why we try to keep everyone at least 200 to 300 feet at bay, but it’s safety first. Our main and chief function is protection of life and property first, so that was the only concern trying to get the crowd away at a safe distance.”

The Tribune received reports at press time that the blaze had picked back up.

TWO SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO STEAL $90K FROM A BUSINESS

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune

Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO senior police officers are accused of trying to steal $90,000 from a business in March.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville yesterday charged Assistant Superintendent of Police Dwayne Omar Mackey, 43, and Inspector Benjamin Moss, 39, with attempted stealing. The courtroom was packed with officers and relatives, including Owen Hanna, chief welfare officer of the Police Staff Association. ASP Mackey and Insp Moss allegedly attempted to steal $90,000 from Willy Germain on March 26. The money belonged to Luc Telfort. They pleaded not guilty to the charge, and prosecutor Inspector Cordero Farrington raised no objections to their getting bail.

K Melvin Munroe, who represented Inspector Moss, asked that the court allow the defendant’s police bail to continue.

Bjorn Ferguson, who represented ASP Mackey, asked that his client be released on his own recognizance. Mr Ferguson referred to ASP Mackey as a gazetted police officer and claimed that he was still a serving member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Magistrate Serville declined these suggestions. Bail for both

defendants was set at $5,000 with one or two sureties. The pair were told they must attend all their court dates and not to interfere with any witnesses.

They were told that if they fail to post bail by yesterday afternoon, their police bail would be extended until 3pm today. The trial in this matter begins on August 7.

FIRE personnel battle a balze at a scrap metal yard on Joe Farrington Road yesterday.

Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr

Passport Act brings protocols for children of Bahamian men

test through a process outlined in the bill.

The DNA test can be done at any laboratory registered and licensed by the Hospitals and Health Facilities Licensing Board to “collect biological specimens for submission to foreign referring laboratories for the purpose of DNA testing and analysis to establish paternity”.

Likewise, any lab in the United States that is an AABB Accredited Relationship DNA Testing Facility can perform the test and report its findings to the chief passport officer.

People who go to a local designated lab must provide a passport, national insurance card, driver’s licence, voter’s card or other government-issued identification with a photograph. They must complete a form containing information about the “biological specimen provider’s name, address, race, relationship to the person seeking to prove paternity or to the person alleged to be his father, and whether any of them has had blood transfusions or a bone

marrow transplant”.

The person who collected the biological specimen must not have a relationship with any of the people whose specimens are being collected for testing and analysis, be it a spouse, a child, a family member or a friend.

The specimens must not be kept in its provider’s possession, and the name and contact information of all who witnessed the collection must be kept as a permanent record.

The lab will be required to package the specimen in a biological specimen envelope, place the envelope and pre-paid return envelopes addressed to the chief passport officer in a larger envelope and arrange for the envelope to be collected by a local courier service for transport to a foreign referring laboratory for DNA testing and analysis.

In cases where the applicant’s father has died, alternative sources of biological specimens can be a child of the man alleged to be the applicant’s father, a sibling of the man, a parent of the man or the biological children of the parents of the man alleged to be the father of the applicant.

Trial by Judge Alone Bill passes in the House of Assembly

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

ELECTED officials passed a bill yesterday that would let people waive their constitutional right to a jury trial in favour of a trial by a judge alone.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis noted that the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands are among various countries that let defendants choose a trial by judge alone.

He said bench trials can protect against biased

juries, facilitate shorter trials and produce greater efficiency.

During the Eugene Dupuch Distinguish Lecture’s 25th anniversary meeting in March, former chief justices highlighted issues with jury trials and backed reforms for more bench trials.

Long Island MP Adrian Gibson expressed concern about the risk of a single judge letting their biases affect their judgement. He said despite judges’ efforts to be impartial, they may bring their own biases when making decisions.

“A single judge may have a limited range of perspective and experiences as opposed or compared to a panel of judges, where you have a diverse perspective sitting in a panel of three,” he said.

He suggested having a panel of three judges is a better approach. He acknowledged having three judges could be costly and resource-intensive.

“However, I believe it has some guarantees, such as a diverse perspective, real checks and balances. Consistency, uniformity,

where you know, the panel judgments are subjected to review and discussion among multiple judges enhances decision making,” he said.

Kwasi Thompson, MP for East Grand Bahama, questioned whether people will pursue the bench trial option. He said the Bahamian society is accustomed to jury trials and many prefer to take their chances with a jury rather than a single judge.

Elected officials also passed a bill to amend the Supreme Court Act. Mr Davis said the bill would facilitate making rules to regulate and promote the active management of criminal and civil matters.

“Previous reforms led to progress on case backlogs, and today we are taking an important step forward to increase efficiencies in our justice system,” he said. “I note, too, that this bill acknowledges considerable changes are also needed when it comes to the case management of civil matters, where delays have also long plagued our system.”

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis noted that the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands are among various countries that let defendants choose a trial by judge alone.

Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

Pintard bashes Davis for being ‘unprepared’ to answer questions

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Move-

ment leader Michael Pintard bashed Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis for being “unprepared” to answer several questions related to a $500m InterAmerican Development bank loan, the status of Bahamas Power and Light (BPL), the government’s efforts to enhance transparency, and other more matters.

During a rare question and answer session in the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr Pintard during was given 30 minutes to ask the government questions.

However, in response to a dozen questions, Mr Davis said he was not prepared to answer. Mr Pintard highlighted that the questions were issued to the administration on October 30, 2023, giving the government sufficient time to prepare.

Among the questions

Mr Pintard asked was for the government to identify the initiatives in place to improve mechanisms that enhance transparency and accountability as promised during the PLP electoral campaign.

Mr Pintard also asked Mr Davis which steps the government will take to strengthen agencies and fiscal responsibility to ensure timely reporting of statutory reports.

Another question was asked to Mr Davis about the $500m loan from the Intern-American Development Bank.

“Just before I continue with the last couple of questions in this section, would the honourable Prime Minister indicate to the Bahamian people why he

is not prepared to answer these questions, which is a part his of his responsibilities?” Mr Pintard said.

He also pressed Mr Davis on BPL, asking about a $100m loan that was provided to the utility company.

Mr Pintard then directed a question to JoBeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Energy and Transport.

He asked: “Will the Honourable Minister advise this honourable house as to what extent the government has consulted any of the agencies or members of the public with respect to the future vision and direction of BPL in advance in engaging private firms in discussions about contract and or sale for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity?”

Mrs Coleby-Davis said she was not prepared to answer at this time, noting she would be prepared to answer the questions after the Free National Movement’s convention.

Several questions were also directed to Alfred Sears, Minister of Immigration and National Insurance, but he was not present in the House to answer.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell was asked about the number of envoys the Davis administration hires and their salary. Mr Mitchell said there were two envoys, both unpaid.

Mr Mitchell was asked about the number of foreign service officers, attaches, and other staff members the administration posted and where. He responded that the administration posted three in Haiti, two in Cuba, seven, in Miami, eight in Atlanta, one in

Los Angeles, three in New York Mission, three New York consulate, three in Ottawa, three in China, five in Toronto, five in London, one in Brussels, three in Geneva, three in Beijing, and four in Washington. Additionally, Pia Glover-Rolle, Minister of Labour and the Public Service, was asked about the number of retired public officers who have returned to work. She noted that her was still researching those numbers and once it was completed, the findings would be shared.

By the end of the 30 minutes, St Anne’s MP Adrian White attempted to direct a question to Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweetng but Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly Wayne Munroe said the opposition had finished their time. Mr Munroe suggested Mr Pintard wasted the question time repeating questions.

Mr Munroe further suggested Mr Pintard was anxious to ask all of his questions because he was uncertain he would be the leader of the FNM after facing former FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis at the upcoming convention in June.

“We’ve assured Marco City that we have faith that he’ll be back, and so he really didn’t have to hog all the time,” he said.

Mr White argued the government was not paying respect to the business of the House.

“In my humble opinion, the government side has treated this honourable House with such contempt today that it is a shameful display of representation of the people,” he said.

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS

The Board of Directors of Finance Corporation of Bahamas Limited hereby notifies its Shareholders that a dividend payment of fifteen cents ($0.15) per Ordinary share in respect of Q1 2024 results and a special dividend payment of three cents ($0.03) per Ordinary Share will be paid on 23rd May 2024 to all Shareholders of record as at 16th May 2024.

WE WILL INVESTIGATE DUMPED FETUS, SAYS LARODA

from page one

situation, especially as it concerns the welfare and maintenance of their children, that the government provides assistance, they provide homes.

“They are wards of the state and while we would love for children to be in their natural biological environment, if conditions present do not allow that,

they can always turn to social services for assistance.” A baby “between 15 and 20 weeks old” was found in the garbage disposal of a bathroom at Rubis Gas Station on Gladstone Road.

PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS

SOCIAL Services Minister Myles Laroda speaks to the media outside the House of Assembly yesterday.

Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

LEADER of the Opposition Michael Pintard.

Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Could Biden stop Netanyahu’s plans?

ISRAEL entered Rafah, a city that marks Gaza’s southern border crossing with Egypt, on May 7, 2024, launching a military offensive that the U.S. and others have cautioned Israel not to pursue.

President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 6 against expanding the Gaza war into Rafah, indicating that this could lead to a shift in U.S. policy on Israel.A divergence over how to handle the war in Gaza prompted the U.S. to place a hold on shipping U.S.-made bombsto Israel.

Rafah is one of the only places in Gaza that has not been destroyed in the Gaza war. It is also a refuge for more than 1 million Palestinians, about half of whom are children, who have been displaced from their homes elsewhere in Gaza because of the conflict.

The Conversation U.S. politics and society editor Amy Lieberman spoke with Gregory Treverton, a chair of the National Intelligence Council under the Obama administration and a national security scholar at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, to understand the limits of U.S. political leverage in influencing Israel’s seven-month war with Hamas.

Is the US’s warning to Israel typical for their diplomatic relationship?

This is certainly not without precedent. There have been many U.S. presidents and secretaries of state who have been frustrated with Israel over something, going back to at least the 1973 war between Israel and a coalition of Arab countries. The U.S. pressed Israel to adhere to a U.N. Security Council ceasefire resolution then – one sponsored by both the U.S. and the Soviet Union – but Israel, for a time, refused.

Other presidents have been in the position of saying, “Do this,” and the Israeli comeback is always, “Not quite yet.” So this episode, while very blatant, is hardly unique.

Countries are allies because their interests overlap but are not identical. U.S. history is littered with allies that managed to do what they wanted and not what we wanted them to do.

Years ago, when I was at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London and would talk about the difficulties of dealing with allies, let alone enemies, a wonderful researcher focused on Israel would comment: “So who ever said it was easy to be a superpower!” Biden would sympathize with that remark.

As Israeli politics and leadership have drifted so far to the right, a lot of the people in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition don’t really care about the U.S. and what it wants. Netanyahu is now very dependent on the far right for his own political survival, so he is likely to listen to his right-wingers, not to the U.S.

So, how much political leverage does the US actually have over Israel?

I think at this point, it is really time for the U.S. to say that it is going to call arms deliveries to Israel into question. Israel

is going into Rafah after the U.S. specifically said to please not do this without making sure you can keep most Gazans safe. This does not necessarily require a red line to be drawn – which typically is not very effective – but a clear warning that this decision will influence arms transfers in the future.

The other problem is that while you might assume that Israel is considering how to govern Gaza after the war, there is still no clear, public idea of what the endgame is. How is this supposed to end?

Meanwhile, this escalation is bound to continue polarizing American public opinion on the issue, which is probably an additional reason for the U.S. to try to get the war to stop as soon as possible.

The US is reported to have decided to place a hold on shipping bombs to Israel. Can this influence Israel’s wartime behavior?

It probably doesn’t matter materially in the short run, but psychologically in the longer run, if arms were stopped that would make a difference. Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid and has received more U.S. military assistance than any other country since World War II. By early March this year, the U.S. had made more than 100 arms shipments to Israel since Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7. 2023.

Israel is now risking an escalating confrontation with Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon, in the north. It seems to be in Israel’s interest to try to not expand conflict but to limit it.

Given this, why do you believe Israel is so intent on going into Rafah?

Across the political spectrum in Israel, there is a sense that invading Rafah has to be done, it has to be finished, in order to eradicate Hamas. The issue is we never knew exactly what finishing means. And most of us in the national security business think there is no way Israel can totally eradicate Hamas.

Before October 2023, Hamas was never popular in Gaza because it didn’t properly govern, but the Israeli attack has made it more popular, especially on the West Bank, because it stood up to Israel and put the issues of the Palestinians back on the agenda after the world, including the Arab world, had forgotten it.

The idea of eradicating Hamas seems to be still where Israelis across the spectrum are focused. Therefore, if the remaining Hamas leaders were thought to be in Rafah, then so be it, they are thinking, on to the attack.

What are the national security implications of Israel going into Rafah?

It does create more instability and increases the risk of a widening war. Even if Iran doesn’t respond, it is likely that some of its proxies, like Hezbollah, will do something that could deepen this conflict. We should use the term proxies carefully, because the U.S. knows from its own experience that you cannot necessarily control proxy governments or militias. But it seems like this is a kind of invitation for at least Iran’s proxies to escalate the conflict.

Why so many cars with no licence?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

LICENCE plates … is it legal to drive on the roads without a licence plate?

Was infrequent before, but now hundreds of vehicles obviously not new are driving around with no plates or just one. Legally is the vehicle licensed? Are those vehicles covered from insurance? Who they might hit are they covered or are they driving an unlicensed vehicle not

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Collaboration needed, not arbitration

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE, the Freeport Licensees Association (FLA), appreciate the opportunity to address the recent Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce Meeting themed “Building the Way Forward Together”.

It was a privilege to hear from our Prime Minister “Brave” Davis on this occasion, as this was the first opportunity to do so since our association requested a meeting to discuss the deteriorating relations between the government and the GBPA since last June, 2023.

We had anticipated a collaborative dialogue aimed at charting a path forward for the benefit of our island community. Instead, the discourse lacked critical details on any tangible solutions and remedial action. It failed to establish any forum for the genuine engagement and participation of licensees as those most familiar with and affected by the current and future state of Freeport.

One pressing issue pertains to the sudden presentation of fees allegedly owed by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) after 55 years under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. The lack of clarity on this matter is concerning, especially considering the significant contributions the GBPA has made to the Public Treasury of the Government of The Bahamas and to Freeport’s development, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters.

compliant with the Road Act?

So how many vehicles are still unlicensed - was 50%? What is the total licensing fees arrears due to Road Traffic? When will Road Traffic - RBPF deal with this? Plastic covers over licence plates making plates unreadable … isn’t that an offence? Hmm vehicles are inspected and still left with illegal cover over plates … why? Headlights … didn’t the

Commissioner months ago comment on the illegal use of varying styles-colours and intensity of headlights - as usual nothing done talk! Lawless society… police can’t be found but they bought hundreds of vehicles and bikes... what do they do all day? Bahamas as you like it! Progressing - where?

J K SEYMOUR Nassau, May 2, 2024.

Moreover, the portrayal of the GBPA’s efforts to ensure compliance with licensing and tax regulations as undue criticism is unjustified. Upholding legal and financial obligations is not only essential for good governance, but also for maintaining a

EDITOR, The Tribune

level playing field for all stakeholders. The biased representation of demographic data and historical events over 40 years ago further complicates the discourse, diverting attention from the substantive issues of today. Additionally, drawing parallels between Freeport’s early years and apartheid-era South Africa only serves to exacerbate tensions rather than fostering constructive dialogue. We are encouraged by Prime Minister Davis’s acknowledgment of the licensees’s existence within the framework of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and the importance of our inclusion. However, it is evident that a lack of consultation on amendments to the agreement and parallel legislation, along with the GBPA’s lack of genuine engagement and required licensee agreement have all contributed to the current impasse between the GBPA and the government. Both the government and the GBPA indicate that our engagement and approval of changes are necessary – a fundamental position with which we not only agree but one which is legally required. Yet, there continues to be a lack of true discussion and engagement by either. As licensees, we remain committed to fostering a transparent and collaborative environment conducive to Freeport’s prosperity. Our association’s mission is centred on advocating for responsible discussion and resolution to disputes between the government of The Bahamas and the GBPA for

the benefit of our island and, of course, The Bahamas. We seek to do this by educating stakeholders about their rights and responsibilities under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, dispelling misinformation where possible, and continuing to call for genuine engagement between all stakeholders to move Freeport, and Grand Bahama as a whole, forward.

We once again extend an open invitation to Prime Minister Davis to engage in constructive dialogue with the licensee community. Collaboration and mutual understanding are essential for overcoming challenges and realising Freeport’s full potential. Likewise, we call upon the Grand Bahama Port Authority to genuinely engage licensees and the general public on what it is doing to remediate this impasse and where answers exist, refute misconceptions that are rampant at this time. We ask you both to commit to transparency over the issues that are in dispute and work together to resolve. Any assertion that such public (and largely unanswered) discourse does not hurt investment potential is absurd. And none of us – licensees, the GBPA nor the government can afford that. We wholeheartedly agree with Prime Minister Davis: let’s indeed “break the chains” that are holding back the development of Grand Bahama, beginning with expediting government approvals on critical projects that have been approved by the GBPA and will benefit us all. This is best done through collaboration –not arbitration.

Freeport Licensees Association May 8, 2024

THE THREE-mast ship Belem arrives during the Olympic torch arrival ceremony in the Old Port of Marseille, southern France, Wednesday May 8, 2024. The Olympic flame arrived in Marseille’s Old Port Wednesday on a majestic three-mast ship from Greece for the welcoming ceremony at sunset in the city’s Old Port.

Photo: Ludovic Marin/AP

‘Give us answers on Freeport plan’

speech on Monday painted the Grand Bahama Port Authority as a fee collector that does not invest in Freeport despite receiving “billions” in concessions from the government over decades.

The Freeport Licensees Association (FLA) said yesterday: “We had anticipated a collaborative dialogue aimed at charting a path forward for the benefit of our island community. Instead, the discourse lacked critical details on any tangible solutions and remedial action. It failed to establish any forum for the genuine engagement and participation of licensees as those most familiar with and affected by the

current and future state of Freeport.”

The government and the GBPA will enter arbitration proceedings after the government demanded the authority pay $357m.

The FLA said: “One pressing issue pertains to the sudden presentation of fees allegedly owed by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) after 55 years under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. The lack of clarity on this matter is concerning, especially considering the significant contributions the GBPA has made to the Public Treasury of the Government of The Bahamas and to Freeport’s development, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters.”

On Monday, Mr Davis

said that although the reimbursement clause had not been enforced before, there was no excuse for expecting it to always be ignored.

The FLA also took exception to Mr Davis’ complaint that the GBPA has blocked the central government’s efforts to repair homes in Freeport in cases where the contractor or homeowner is behind on licensing fees or service charges.

“The portrayal of the GBPA’s efforts to ensure compliance with licensing and tax regulations as undue criticism is unjustified,” the FLA said. “Upholding legal and financial obligations is not only essential for good governance but also for maintaining a level playing field for all stakeholders.”

The FLA characterised Mr Davis’ discussion of Freeport’s history as biased and said it complicates “the discourse”. Mr Davis had noted that even when Freeport prospered, many Bahamians were left out of the benefits.

“We are encouraged by Prime Minister Davis acknowledgement of the licensees’s existence within the framework of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and the importance of our inclusion,” the FLA said. “However, it is evident that a lack of consultation on amendments to the agreement and parallel legislation, along with the GBPA’s lack of genuine engagement and required licensee agreement, have all contributed to the current

impasse between the GBPA and the government.

“Both the government and the GBPA indicate that our engagement and approval of changes are necessary – a fundamental position with which we not only agree but one which is legally required. Yet, there continues to be a lack of true discussion and engagement by either.

“We once again extend an open invitation to Prime Minister Davis to engage in constructive dialogue with the licensee community. Collaboration and mutual understanding are essential for overcoming challenges and realising Freeport’s full potential.

“Likewise, we call upon the Grand Bahama Port Authority to genuinely

engage licensees and the general public on what it is doing to remediate this impasse and where answers exist, refute misconceptions that are rampant at this time. We ask you both to commit to transparency over the issues that are in dispute and work together to resolve them.”

Yesterday, the GBPA said it took note of calls from licensees, Grand Bahama residents and investors to respond to Mr Davis’ address. The authority said it will host a live event with stakeholders to ensure “matters discussed in the public domain are placed in their proper context and the historical record is set straight.”

MINNIS EXPRESSES CONCERN THAT FNM LEADERSHIP ‘MANIPULATING’ UPCOMING

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Staff Reporter

FORMER Prime Minis-

ter Dr Hubert Minnis’ team is questioning whether Free National Movement leaders are manipulating the upcoming convention leadership race in favour of incumbent Michael Pintard.

Dr Minnis’ campaign chairman, Burton Miller, sent a letter to FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands on May 8, saying his team is unsettled by the number of constituency association elections conducted or scheduled since the party’s Central Council voted to hold a one-day convention on June 1.

Mr Miller called on Dr Sands to halt constituency association elections until after the convention.

Dr Sands and Mr Pintard declined to comment yesterday.

“We find this practice to not only be unsettling, but also deeply concerning as we question the validity and fairness of these elections, considering the speed and manner in which they are being held and how close to the convention they are being conducted,” Mr Miller said in his letter.

“We also question if the race to host and complete these constituency association elections is not intended to influence the votes on June 1 2024, in favour of the leader, Michael Pintard, and against our candidate.”

“I must advise that many FNMs have expressed their thoughts and concerns to us on this matter as they are also questioning if the elections on June 1 2024, will be a free and fair one, seeing that these constituency associations are being held weeks and days just before the vote on June 1 2024.”

According to an FNM memorandum, each constituency association must submit the names of ten delegates by May 22.

Complaints about convention unfairness are common in the FNM and the Progressive Liberal Party.

In 2016, when Loretta ButlerTurner challenged Dr Minnis for leader, she complained that neither the convention programme nor the list of voting delegates was readily available to her. There were also claims that people her team expected to be on the list were omitted.

MP RAPE TRIAL EXPECTED TO RESUME AGAIN IN OCTOBER

KILARNEY MP DR HUBERT MINNIS

NORTH Abaco MP Kirk Cornish on leaving Parliament yesterday. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

The values and habits we live by

habits

CULTURABLE

and practices showcase the lived values of a given society. The mouthing of values is not the same as adhering to them. By example, while we adhere to the concept of monogamy in law and in Christian rituals, sociologically, we are a de facto polygamous society.

While clerics will judge the morality of such a discrepancy between words and practices, the sociologist is more interested in understanding the social realities and habits involved in such a gap, or chasm, depending on the society.

There are positive and negative social mores and norms, the study and analyses of which are critical in areas ranging from public health to marketing products to addressing criminal behaviour.

Human habits are a complex matter, rooted as they are in the collaboration of biology and moral imagination. 12-Step programmes speak to this collaboration and what it takes to arrest addictions and reform habits. Virtues and vices are essentially habits.

We are creatures of habit, and at the heart of our culture of violent crime are various crises of culture, fuelling, reinforcing and arming mostly young men in a conveyor belt of successive cohorts ready to take up the drug trade, gang membership and weapons for many years to come.

Social and cultural change, for good or ill, concern habits and patterns of behaviour which flow from value-sets. Gang members and members of the Boy Scouts both have sets of values, rites of passage, rituals, group leaders and norms, shared objectives and an esprit de corps.

During the Carifta Games, some years ago, a number of complimentary ticketholders were placed in seats for which others had paid. An overabundance of complimentary

tickets was given out. Some ushers faced the dilemma of reseating those occupying reserved seats.

Quite a number of those asked to move, refused to do so. They were belligerent and unyielding. Even when asked to move by a police officer, they refused. Imagine the attitude if such individuals were occupying a seat for which they had paid good money. In our behaviour in public spaces and public gatherings we often exhibit a culture of entitlement and slackness sometimes accompanied by rudeness and disrespect for authority.

the genitalia of another’s mother, and language many adults would never utter. Whereof were such habits formed?

Consider also the shameless ease with which some Bahamians invade the private spaces of others, take advantage of courtesies not meant for them, or intrude at private events to which they have not been invited.

For decades, many straw vendors refused to pay certain fees, contributing to the Straw Market becoming run down and derelict, while gleefully selling counterfeit goods, even while clinging to a Bible.

The upcoming prom season will showcase a sort of fashion extravaganza. It will also highlight various cultural and social values.

High school leavers should enjoy this rite of passage, celebrating the

‘While prom should be memorable, it should not be remembered for excess and poor values...’

completion of years of schooling and adolescent discovery. But, for most school proms, the line between celebration and materialistic excess was crossed many prom nights ago.

Rites of passage, with the guidance of the adult community, are meant to cultivate within our youth some of the values and responsibilities of emerging adulthood.

One cannot imagine what happened at the National Stadium that day occurring in a country such as Japan or even in The Bahamas when the QE II Sports Centre first opened in the 1960s.

Consider the foul mouths and vulgar cursing by many school kids in public with easy references to

This is why the prom and related events are planned by students, with prom night akin to a quasi-adult stepping-out, with fancy dress and some of the usual parental restrictions on nights-out relaxed, but not abandoned.

Proms also reflect prevailing social attitudes and mores. Most of us have seen

stories chronicling racially segregated proms at high schools in the United States and attempts to jettison these lingering vestiges of Jim Crow decades after the legal structures supporting segregation were dismantled.

Proms here at home

have tracked and mirrored our social and economic mobility, including how our values are shaping and have been shaped by the twin fortunes of success and prosperity.

In the 1970s, an expanding upwardly mobile middle class who could now afford to give their children a private high school education they themselves did not enjoy, produced a new generation, who along with their new status adopted a variety of status symbols, including importing prom night from the U.S.

Eventually, with the spread of access to education and professional and economic opportunities for most Bahamians, the benefits and trappings of prosperity also spread, with the number of proms increasing, including among public schools.

The evolution of the prom from a celebratory rite of passage to a carnival of excess was captured in a series of telling events, including the decision by various schools to withdraw their official support from a prom experience that was getting out of hand, with regards its original purpose and costs – financially and morally.

This is not to gainsay the decisions of these schools. But one of the unintended consequences was granting greater oversight of this event to adolescent impulses, those of the students, and far too often, their parents. Many adults, by commission and omission, cooperated in allowing the prom to become a rite of passage often exemplifying the worse rather than demonstrating our better values. So today, most of today’s proms do transmit life lessons, unfortunately the wrong ones. Healthy competition is one thing, especially in athletics and academics. But competing who can indulge in the most excess on prom night is not the kind of

competition we should encourage.

Over the years, luxury cars, police escorts and uncontrollable spending on clothing and related expenses were the hallmarks of prom season. Over a thousand or more per student for prom night is typical, with some students spending even more in a bid to compete for the prize of “the most spent”. Some parents cannot resist the urge to go overboard, spending more in one splash than they may have spent providing their children with extra tutoring, books or other educational tools and experiences.

While prom should be memorable, it should not be remembered for excess and poor values which teach our children life lessons bolstering a crude materialism crowding out more positive values like self-restraint, saving and responsibility.

For students about to enter college, some of those funds may be used to pay for books for the first semester. For those who are ending their formal schooling after high school graduation, perhaps some of those prom funds can be earmarked for a savings account.

Further, students planning the prom may consider adding a yearly event to their prom related activities, namely a service project which will benefit the wider community. In this way, prom will be remembered as a time for both personal enjoyment and community service, a combination really worth celebrating, Thankfully, many parents have shown restraint regarding prom spending and more Bahamians may be realising, that a reordering of our priorities is in order. Prom and the circumstances which gave rise to its excesses is another place to remind ourselves that the good life need not be gaudy to be good.

College protests reminiscent of demonstrations against Apartheid

ISRAEL’s massive response to the October 7 sneak attack launched against its southern territory by the radical Islamic group Hamas has stirred emotions all across the world. Israel’s long-standing diplomatic isolation, both at the United Nations and elsewhere, has rarely been more profound.

But the most noteworthy push back against Israel’s continuing aggression in Gaza, seven months later, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza that has created famine conditions and a public health emergency, has come on college and university campuses all across the United States, from Columbia University in New York City to the University of California in Los Angeles.

As academic years wound down toward final second semester exams and preparation for annual university graduation ceremonies, many campuses were disrupted by a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, sit-ins and encampments that were reminiscent of both a widespread series of campus protests against corporate investment in Apartheid South Africa in the early 1980s and, 15 years previously, the cataclysmic protests against America’s continuing involvement in the Vietnam War.

The fine distinction between antisemitic and anti-Zionist sentiment was often blurred as political, religious and ethnic fissures were revealed anew across the country. In a rapidly intensifying heated atmosphere, this distinction was easy to overlook or forget altogether as the issue became fodder in the ongoing internecine battle between America’s Republican and Democratic parties.

At one point, the

Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, made the remarkable decision to go to New York City, observe the campus unrest and urge the student protesters to stand down.

The entire issue posed a real challenge for president Joe Biden, since both the influential US Jewish population and college-aged young people represent two critical Democratic Party constituencies whose support Biden will absolutely need as he seeks re-election in November. Even the smaller Muslim community in the US, centred in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio, made its views heard above the general din. Since

Michigan is a state Biden will need to carry in order to win in November, he can ill afford to alienate a critical part of his base of support in such a sensitive swing state.

Police and university administrative responses to the outbreak of campus protests were not uniform across the country, but the potential for a law enforcement misjudgment in the use of force to remove the encampments and restore normal order to various campuses hung over the entire landscape.

Many observers were reminded of a tragic scene on the campus of Ohio’s Kent State University in May 1970 when inexperienced Ohio National Guard troops were

forcefully restore order on troubled campuses. That restoration remains a work in progress this morning.

Overall, the recent campus turmoil more closely resembled the protests of the 1980s. This is because a key demand of many student and other protestors was that their university foundations and indeed, American corporations generally, divest their investments in the Israeli economy. A similar demand fed the campus passions in the US and elsewhere in reaction to the Apartheid-era racist policies enforced by the minority white government in South Africa.

conscripted (“drafted”) into the army, you could be deployed to a combat zone in the Vietnamese jungles and, perhaps, be killed or crippled.

Thus, protests for tens of thousands of college and university-aged male students assumed a real life-and-death aspect. Wealthy and/or well-connected young men like Bill Clinton, Al Gore, George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump managed to evade the military draft through one means or another. This did not later invalidate their presidential aspirations.

dispatched by the state’s Republican governor to quell campus unrest.

After several tactical missteps by the massed forces of law enforcement, the troops opened fire and four university students were killed.

Even in the context of several years of often well-organised, often violent coordinated antiVietnam War protests across the US in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this one singular event on the Ohio campus shocked the nation.

And that experience represented a lesson that contemporary law enforcement and university administrators were determined not to repeat, even as pressure rose to

In contrast, the antiwar protests against the Vietnam War were fed by something much more personal and compelling. During that war and until the mid-1970s, young American men were subject to registration and conscription into the US Army, which would eventually deploy as many as half a million American troops across the broad Pacific Ocean to a distant land most Americans could not locate on a world map. The Vietnam War was different for America. American forces were deployed thousands of miles from home in a shooting war that eventually claimed 58,000 lives.

The military conscription was run by a Washington bureaucracy called the Selective Service system. During the Vietnam War, young men were obliged to register with Selective Service when they reached their 18th birthday. In peacetime, this was not notable. But in an active war, things were different. If you received the wrong number in the draft lottery system that determined who was

But millions of less fortunate men were pulled into the vortex of the US military machine and even if they survived service in Vietnam, many returning veterans still bear indelible wounds and scars from their service in that distant place.

It is also true that thousands of returning combat veterans returning from service overseas in more recent American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan also bring with them horrible, debilitating after-effects of their service there. But far fewer perished. And, importantly, they were all volunteers, drawn to military service by patriotism, specialised training, a steady paycheck or favorable benefits like health care for families.

While Americans have made “thank you for your service” a byword of conversation with military veterans, most young people with a choice in the matter do not wind up in the American military. When Donald Trump memorably described as “suckers” military veterans who were captured, injured or killed in wartime, he is, unfortunately, merely reflecting a view still widely held in the upper reaches of American society.

Panthers progress in playoffs while Heat make first round exit

OUR South Florida basketball and hockey teams have certainly had different experiences in their respective 2024 playoff seasons.

The playoff-tested Miami Heat, who advanced just last year to the NBA finals by beating the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals and were tipped by some to repeat, were instead routinely dismissed by those same Celtics this year. Heat talisman Jimmy Butler missed out due to injury, and his general manager, still the legendary Pat Riley, called out Butler for comments he made after the Celtics series.

Hopefully, neither the Heat owner nor Riley take drastic measures with a club that is annually a playoff headache for whomever the team faces in the postseason. This continues to be a much better than NBA average-talented team that

no one wants to face in the playoffs or in a pivotal regular season game.

And notwithstanding their early 2024 playoff exit, the Heat remain a solid franchise that is both well led and benefits from skill and acumen in acquiring and moving on from members of its basketball team.

Meantime, out in Sunrise, the Florida Panthers hockey team eliminated the cross-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL playoffs. The Panthers, who lost in the NHL finals last year to the Las Vegas Golden Knights, were then surprised at home on Monday by the Boston Bruins in their opening second round playoff match.

If they rebound against Boston, the opportunistic Panthers would likely square off against the Eastern Conference’s

top-seeded New York Rangers. The Cats got off to a slow start against the Bruins. Maybe they will be this year’s Miami representative in a postseason league championship series, but the odds seem pretty well stacked against them now.

Over in England, only two soccer teams retain a realistic chance to become champions of the Premier League this season. They are defending champion Manchester City and Arsenal. Liverpool, the third contender, has fallen out of the running in coach Jurgen Klopp’s last season.

Three-time defending champion Man City have an extra game in hand and, despite Arsenal’s brilliance throughout this transformative season, the world’s best club team will likely win their sixth title in the past seven seasons when the dust settles next weekend.

with Charlie Harper

DEMONSTRATORS are on the Columbia University campus in New York at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on April 29, 2024.

Photo: Ted Shaffrey/AP

FLORIDA Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (91) left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) and center Aleksander Barkov, right, celebrate after Barkov scored during the third period of Game 5 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla.

Photo: Wilfredo Lee/AP

Woods to run uncontested for BHCAW Union president

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Hotel

Catering Allied Workers Union is gearing up for union elections, with president Darrin Woods and his team running uncontested as they seek a second term.

Nominations for officers were held on Monday. Mr Woods and his team ––Team Phoenix –– will run unchallenged as no one else was nominated.

The last election was in May 2021. Elections are held every three years. This is the third time Mr Woods is seeking to lead the union.

His Team Phoenix consist of Shelia Burrows, Perry Cox Suelynn Stuart, Quince Munroe, Stephen Rolle, Marsha Bullard, Terry Duncombe, Amos Major, Bertram Williams, Cheryl Laing and Princess Adderley.

Mr Woods’ team recently secured an industrial

agreement with the Bahamas Hotel and Restaurant Employers Association, which serves the employees of Atlantis, Ocean Club Four Seasons, Lyford Cay Club and Town Hotel.

“I believe that the members are standing behind

my administration because we also brought a breath of fresh air,” Mr Woods said yesterday.

“We tried to bring a different style to negotiation, and even representation, where we tried the route of diplomacy to get some

EARTHCARE WATER CAY PLANTING 1,500 MANGROVES IN RESTORATION PROJECT

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Earthcare Water Cay Project launched its third out-planting of some 1,500 red mangrove seedlings on Saturday.

The move is part of ongoing mangrove restoration efforts in Grand Bahama, which lost 70 per cent of its mangroves during Hurricane Dorian.

Gail Woon, founder of Earthcare, said the mangroves at Water Cay, Grand Bahama, were destroyed by the 2019 storm, which displaced the entire community. The environmental organisation has planted over 4,400 mangroves since the project began in November 2023.

The second out-planting

was held in December 2023.

“We have three members who are Eco-Kids who are from Water Cay and they told us the mangroves on Water Cay needed help,” she said. “We had our nurseries established and we decided to take on this project. And so we are hoping that by the time our mangroves grow up, the community would be back home and the mangroves will bring the bonefish back in, and they can be a bonefish destination again.”

Ms Woon said they partnered with Iram D Lewis, Jr, the member of parliament for Central Grand Bahama, who is a native of Water Cay.

The University of the Bahamas Alumni Association Grand Bahama

Chapter participated in the outplanting with Earthcare.

President Ferris Grant said the organisation is pleased to partner with Earthcare in its mangrove restoration project.

“It is a very practical initiative, especially considering what Grand Bahama has gone through in the past few years concerning hurricanes,” he said. “Mangroves prevent storm surges and helps mitigate the negative effects of hurricanes.”

“We decided to do this as part of our community service. Most times a community act is selfless, but something like this I would consider selfish because we are doing it for your current and future generations of Grand Bahama.”

things done, and we saw that that didn’t work, of course, then we have to resort to industrial actions and the like. Genuinely, we tried to make sure that we were able to touch as much of our many of our members as we can.”

“Also, we believe that we’ve been able to demonstrate that we are really good caretakers or stewards

of the trust that they have entrusted to us and, of course, we can do the best we can to fulfil the mandate that they’ve given. And what we recognize is that the mandate with us going unopposed is even greater than if we would have had an opposition with us.”

Mr Woods said his team would target homeownership and financial literacy for union members in the upcoming term.

“We also want to see the amendments to our constitution because our constitution is 55 years old, and it doesn’t address the realities of the day,” he said.

JOB VACANCIES The Tribune

is seeking new members of staff to add to its team.

We are seeking candidates to fill three roles:

Website Manager/Page Designer

The successful candidate will be an experienced journalist with an ability to edit stories, design news pages using Indesign and similar software and manage a dynamic website and associated social media. The role requires being able to help break news quickly and ensure regular updates around the clock to the www.tribune242.com website, as well as live coverage when appropriate and liaising with both the reporting team and the publisher.

It will also involve designing graphics suitable for various platforms, including the website, in-paper and for various social media outlets. Experience with HTML and other website skills are a must, as well as familiarity with handling content management systems.

The role also involves page design to support The Tribune’s design team. It is a senior journalist role requiring notable experience in the field.

Photographer

We are seeking a photographer to join our staff, covering news, sport, business, features and more. The role requires enthusiasm and accuracy as well as an eye for the best photograph and the determination to capture it on camera.

The successful candidate will have familiarity with photo editing software such as Photoshop or similar, and will have their own transport and camera. Your duties will include coverage of local and international figures, and capturing the daily events for both online and in the pages of The Tribune.

Business Reporter

The Tribune is also seeking a business reporter. Enthusiasm for business is a must, and previous writing experience or journalism training would be an asset. An interest in environmental subjects would also be a positive as the newspaper continues to expand its coverage.

Applicants for any of the above roles should apply with a resume and any examples of work to Managing Editor Stephen Hunt at shunt@ tribunemedia.net

Send your application to The Tribune, P.O. Box N-3207, Nassau, The Bahamas Deadline for all applications is May 20, 2024.

A GROUP of volunteers work with Earthcare Water Cay Project to help plant 1,500 mangrove seedlings as part of a restoration effort in Grand Bahama.

Photo: Tyrie Moss/Isle Lens

BHCAWU PRESIDENT DARRIN WOODS

300 jobs to be filled at Seabreeze event

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Department of Labour hopes to fill over 300 vacancies when it hosts a job fair on Saturday with Seabreeze MP Leslia Brice.

The event will be held at Sadie Curtis Primary School from 9am to 3pm to fill vacancies for bank tellers, customer service representatives, cooks, servers, sales agents, construction workers and cashiers.

About 200 people pre-registered for the job fair up to yesterday, according to acting assistant labour director Simone Thurston, who said the initiative aims to facilitate stronger engagement between employers and the local workforce.

“In recent years, the Department of Labour’s Public Employment Services Unit has assisted thousands of Bahamians with obtaining gainful employment through its job fairs and labour on the block initiatives,” she said yesterday during a press conference at the Department of Labour.

“This year, the department aims to expand these efforts into more local communities so that more Bahamians can have access to available job opportunities.”

Some 30 companies will attend, including the Baha Mar Resort, Sandals Emerald Bay Resort, Bank of the Bahamas, Torch Cay Development, MSC Ocean Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line, Fusion, John Bull and Tropix Shipping.

Ms Thurston urged potential attendees to preregister and dress professionally, adding that the Department of Labour can provide clothing assistance. Job seekers are asked to bring a Bahamian passport or proof of Bahamian citizenship, NIB smart card, police character certificate and references.

Ms Brice expressed excitement for the initiative, saying the job fair demonstrates her commitment to supporting the local community and economy by bridging the gap between job seekers and employers.

“Our communities are stronger when our people have the opportunities they need to take care of themselves and their families and live a good life,” she said. “Our communities are safer when people are gainfully employed, constructively using their time and talents.

“Our young people are filled with dreams and goals, and they have the passion to get them. All we have to do is provide them with the opportunity to shine.

“Even our more mature residents, some of them are completely shifting gears and getting into new professions. They are taking risks, and they are achieving new goals.”

SEABREEZE MP LESLIA BRICE

MAN CHARGED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT OF YOUNG GIRL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted $5,000 bail after he was accused of assaulting a 12-year-old girl last month.

Assistant

Chief

Magistrate Carolyn VogtEvans charged Tyrell Parks, 39, with indecent assault yesterday.

Parks is accused of assaulting a 12-year-old girl on Mangrove Street on April 27. After the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, prosecutor Inspector S Coakley raised no objections to his bail. Parks must sign in at the East Street Police Station on the last Sunday of every month. His trial begins on May 30.

TWO MEN AND A WOMAN ACCUSED OF ARMED ROBBERY

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO men and one woman were sent to prison yesterday after they were accused of robbing a person of a phone and $250 at gunpoint last

September.

Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, charged Ashton Forbes, 21, William Dean, 21, and Michaela Forbes, 28, with armed robbery. The defendants, while armed with a handgun, are accused of robbing Fesnel Eltira of a $200 ZTE

cellphone and $250 in New Providence on September 9, 2023.

The defendants were told that their matter would move to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). The VBIs are set for service on July 29.

A well-established Law Firm is seeking a competent General Office Clerk to assist with the organization and running of the daily administrative duties.

The ideal candidate must be a hard-working professional able to undertake a variety of office support tasks and work diligently under pressure.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct general office administrative work and filing.

• Perform receptionist duties when needed.

• Collect and deliver mail and other materials to various locations as required.

Qualifications / Skills:

• Basic office skills

• Written and verbal communication skills

• Microsoft Office software skills

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• Dependability and professionalism

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Interested persons are invited to send a resume to employment@bahamaslaw.com Deadline is May 13th, 2024.

Biden says US won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally

WASHINGTON Associated Press

PRESIDENT Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah — the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza — over concern for the well-being of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there.

Biden, in an interview with CNN, said the US was still committed to Israel’s defence and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms, but that if Israel goes into Rafah, “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.”

The US has historically provided enormous amounts of military aid to Israel. That has only accelerated in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that killed some 1,200 in Israel and led to about 250 being taken captive by militants. Biden’s comments and his decision last week to pause a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel are the most striking manifestations of the growing daylight between his administration and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Biden has said that Israel needs to do far more to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza.

The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (225-kilogram) bombs, according to a senior US administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

The focus of US concern was the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban area.

“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centres,” Biden told CNN. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier Wednesday confirmed the weapons delay, telling the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defence that the US paused “one shipment of high payload munitions.”

“We’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself,” Austin said. “But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah.”

It also comes as the Biden administration is due to deliver a first-of-its-kind formal verdict this week on whether the airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on delivery of aid have violated international and US laws designed to spare civilians from the worst horrors of war. A decision against Israel would further add to pressure on Biden to curb the flow of weapons and money to Israel’s military.

Biden signed off on the pause in an order conveyed last week to the Pentagon, according to US officials who were not authorized

to comment on the matter.

The White House National Security Council sought to keep the decision out of the public eye for several days until it had a better understanding of the scope of Israel’s intensified military operations in Rafah and until Biden could deliver a long-planned speech on Tuesday to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Biden’s administration in April began reviewing future transfers of military assistance as Netanyahu’s government appeared to move closer toward an invasion of Rafah, despite months of opposition from the White House. The official said the decision to pause the shipment was made last week and no final decision had been made yet on whether to proceed with the shipment at a later date.

US officials had declined for days to comment on the halted transfer, word of which came as Biden on Tuesday described US support for Israel as “ironclad, even when we disagree.”

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 TV news, said the decision to pause the shipment was “a very disappointing decision, even frustrating.” He suggested the move stemmed from political pressure on Biden from Congress, the US campus protests and the upcoming election.

The decision also drew a sharp rebuke from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who said they only learned about the military aid holdup from press reports, despite assurances from the Biden

administration that no such pauses were in the works.

The Republicans called on Biden in a letter to swiftly end the blockage, saying it “risks emboldening Israel’s enemies,” and to brief lawmakers on the nature of the policy reviews.

Biden has faced pressure from some on the left — and condemnation from the critics on the right who say Biden has moderated his support for an essential Mideast ally.

“If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of the state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., his voice rising in anger during an exchange with Austin. “This is obscene. It is absurd. Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can’t afford to lose.”

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a Biden ally, said in a statement the pause on big bombs must be a “first step.”

“Our leverage is clear,” Sanders said. “Over the years, the United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel. We can no longer be complicit in Netanyahu’s horrific war against the Palestinian people.”

Austin, meanwhile, told lawmakers that “it’s about having the right kinds of weapons for the task at hand.”

Israeli troops on Tuesday seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing in what the White House described as a limited operation that stopped short of the full-on Israeli invasion of the city that Biden has repeatedly warned against on humanitarian grounds, most recently in a Monday call with Netanyahu.

Israel has ordered the evacuation of 100,000 Palestinians from the city. Israeli forces have also carried out what it describes as “targeted strikes” on the eastern part of Rafah and captured the Rafah crossing, a critical conduit for the flow of humanitarian aid along the Gaza-Egypt border.

Privately, concern has mounted inside the White House about what’s unfolding in Rafah, but publicly administration officials have stressed that they did not think the operations had defied Biden’s warnings against a widescale operation in the city.

The State Department is separately considering whether to approve the continued transfer of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, which place precision guidance systems onto bombs, to Israel, but the review didn’t pertain to imminent shipments.

Itamar Yaar, former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council said the US move is largely symbolic, but a sign of trouble and could become more of a problem if it is sustained.

“It’s not some kind of American embargo on

“A small diameter bomb, which is a precision weapon, that’s very useful in a dense, built-up environment,” he said, “but maybe not so much a 2,000pound bomb that could create a lot of collateral damage.” He said the US wants to see Israel do “more precise” operations.

American munitions support, but I think its some kind of diplomatic message to Mr. Netanyahu that he needs to take into consideration American interests more than he has over the last few months,” he said. “At least for now it will not impact Israeli capability but it’s some kind of a signal, a ‘be careful.’”

The US dropped the 2,000-pound bomb sparingly in its long war against the Islamic State militant group. Israel, by contrast, has used the bomb frequently in the seven-month Gaza war.

Experts say the use of the weapon, in part, has helped drive the enormous Palestinian casualty count that the Hamas-run health ministry puts at more than 34,000 dead, though it doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians.

The US-Israel relationship has been close through both Democratic and Republican administrations. But there have been other moments of deep tension since Israel’s founding in which US leaders have threatened to hold up aid in attempt to sway Israeli leadership.

President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel with the threat of sanctions into withdrawing from the Sinai in 1957 in the midst of the Suez Crisis. Ronald Reagan delayed the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Israel at a time of escalating violence in the Middle East. President George H.W. Bush held up $10 billion in loan guarantees to force the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories.

PRESIDENT Joe Biden speaks at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Annual Days of Remembrance ceremony at the US Capitol, Tuesday in Washington.

Photo: Evan Vucci/AP

SPORTS

Mark Knowles gives back

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) ‘Play Tennis’ participants got a special treat yesterday over at the National Tennis Centre (NTC) as retired Bahamian pro tennis player Mark Knowles paid a special visit to conduct a session with the young ones. A total of 30 tennis players got the opportunity to engage in tennis play with the three-time Grand Slam doubles title holder. The former world no.1 ranked doubles player was honoured to interact with the next generation of tennis players in The Bahamas. “It went great. We had good numbers out here today with a lot of little kids. This is the foundation and this is where it all starts so it is important to be out here with the kids. It is good to see a great programme here at the National Tennis Centre (NTC),” Knowles said. The decorated tennis phenom expressed why it was so important to carry out this initiative with the kids.

Former world no.1 ranked doubles player conducts ‘Play Tennis’ session at the NTC

“I think anybody that knows me, knows that I am a Bahamian through and through. This is where it all started for me. I started as a kid and had a terrific career but I could not have done it without the support of not only family and friends but the entire Bahamas. I always felt that they were behind me so I always wanted to give back to The Bahamas and I was fortunate enough to have a big enough platform through a successful career.

“I always want to give back to the country and try to establish the next generation. I do not want it to die with myself, Roger Smith, John Antonas, Leo Rolle and all the other great players from the past. We have got to develop and find our next champions,” the former pro player said. Knowles is no stranger when it comes to giving back to the Bahamian community. He has been hosting the Baha Mar Cup, which has been used to

raise funds for the Baha Mar Foundation and Mark Knowles Children’s Tennis Initiative, since its inception in 2019.

He stressed that initiatives like this play a vital role in helping to give all kids who want to play tennis in the country access to it. “It is super important. Tennis is generally an expensive sport so we are trying to provide more access to everybody.

“As many rackets as we can get into kids’ hands, the better chance we have of finding another champion. More importantly, I think the more rackets we put in their hands will give them an outlet as well. We know how tough it is to be a kid these days, especially for teenagers.

“Playing sports is really the best outlet for young kids so why not have them play tennis,” he said. The Bahamian tennis legend worked on hand-eye

PAGE 16

Archer impressed with execution of World Relays

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE 2024 BTC World Athletics Relays closed out with a bang as fireworks were launched above the newly renovated Thomas A Robinson National Stadium to signal the end of what many deemed a successful fourth hosting of the global event in The Bahamas.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) spent the last few months making the necessary preparations for the Olympic-qualifying event since receiving the bid to host the prestigious meet in November of 2022.

Drumeco Archer, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LOC, was happy to see the preparations pay off in a big way over the weekend.

“I think that The Bahamas did more than the world thought that we could have done and I think that is a satisfying moment for

us. We not only executed well on the track from a federation standpoint, but I believe that we delivered a first-class experience to our fans and our viewers from around the world in our event presentation,” Archer said. The Bahamas was the initial home of the World Relays, formerly known as the IAAF Relays, hosting the first three editions in 2014, 2015 and 2017 before it was moved to Yokohama, Japan in 2019 due to financial complications.

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

According to Archer, the 2024 hosting felt a bit more surreal. “When we hosted in the first instance,

FRITZ GRANT INVITATIONAL

THE Ambassadors Athletic Track Club is set to hold the 14th Fritz Grant Invitational Track Meet on Saturday at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The event will begin at 9am with competition in the field events and at 11am for the track events.

General admission is $8 and $12 for the VIP stand. Athletes will be able to achieve the qualifying standards for the Olympic Games, the NACAC Open Championships and the World Under-20 Championships.

FAST TRACK

SPRING INVITATIONAL

THE Grand Bahama Sports Complex will be buzzing this weekend as

May, 2024

the Fast Track Athletics Spring Fling is scheduled to take place.

The two-day event will begin on Friday at 6pm and continue on Saturday at 9am. Teams from New Providence, Bimini and Andros are expected to attend.

SOFTBALL NPSA OPENING THE New Providence Softball Association will begin its 2024 season on Friday night in the Bankers Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex as they take care of some unfinished business from last year.

The NPSA, headed by Dwayne Stevens, will complete the women’s championship series between the

SEE PAGE 18

that was revolutionary in the way we presented our athletes. This time around it felt as though I was at a

By TENAJH SWEETING

THE Bahamas senior men’s national soccer team was drawn into Group A of League C for the upcoming windows of the 2024-25 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) Nations League matchups.

During the third edition of the Concacaf Nations League group stage, The Bahamas was relegated from League B to League C which is the third tier of the three leagues in the competition.

The team is now set to compete in Group A with opponents from Barbados and the US Virgin Islands. The official draw was announced on Monday in

Super Bowl halftime show.

I just cannot explain how happy and satisfied I am with my team, the executive management team as well as our board who worked tirelessly on making this an epic event for the country and for the world,” the LOC CEO said.

The efforts of the LOC and supporting parties involved did not go unnoticed as the World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe told reporters on the final day of competition, they are hoping to adopt The Bahamas as the home of the global extravaganza.

Although that decision will be up for further deliberation, the LOC CEO expressed that he believes that The Bahamas is an ideal destination for the World Relays.

“I think that for many reasons The Bahamas is ideal. We not only provide the best climate and atmosphere for the fans but I also think that there is a sense of

surety that we will deliver because we have worked tirelessly on developing a skill set that very few people have developed in the hosting of this event.

“Our management team has a good understanding of what the expectations are and what global standards mean in track and field.

“I think that is a benefit to the country that we have been able to develop people who know exactly what they are doing and can stand up against the world and say this is how we do it and we believe this is probably the better approach,” he said.

Lord Coe was not only impressed with the level of competition on the brand new track but also the atmosphere which included a stadium filled with fans of the sport. Archer attributed this aspect of the World Relays

SEE PAGE 15

Miami, Florida. League C features nine teams which are separated into three groups - Group A, B and C.

Each team will have an opportunity to play the other teams in the group at least twice which is a total of four matches per team.

The Bahamas will have an opportunity to be promoted back into League B if they are able to emerge as the winner of the group or as the second best finisher in League C.

The Bahamas senior men’s national soccer team will look to redeem themselves

this time around. They will no doubt have their work cut out as Barbados is ranked no.177 on the FIFA men’s world rankings, making them the highest ranked team in Group A. Currently, The Bahamas sits at no.200 after jumping two spots on the FIFA men’s world rankings. Meanwhile, the US Virgin Islands is ranked no.208 behind the other two Group A opponents.

The event will serve as a qualifier for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup event scheduled for March 23 next year. The group stage will be played during the September, October and November FIFA match windows later this year.

DRUMECO ARCHER, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LOC for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 2024.

Photo: Dante Carrer

MAKING AN IMPACT: Bahamian former professional tennis player Mark Knowles joined the BLTA’s Play Tennis programme to conduct a session with the youth in attendance.

LOC CEO Drumeco Archer impressed with execution of World Athletics Relays Bahamas

FROM PAGE 14

to The Bahamas’ love of athletics. “I think that the Bahamian people simply love track and field. It did not matter whether The Bahamas was winning or losing, they cheered for everyone. That is a testament of our passion that we have for the sport. We have gotten tremendous reviews from athletes who talked about this being the best place to host the World Relays,” the LOC CEO said. A total of 70 countries, including The Bahamas in the mixed 4x400m relay event, will take their athletic prowess from “Paradise to Paris” for the Paris Olympic Games scheduled for July 26 to August 11.

OSAKA PLAYS SOLIDLY IN OPENING MATCH AT THE ITALIAN OPEN - DARDERI ELIMINATES SHAPOVALOV

ROME (AP) — Naomi

Osaka looked comfortable in her opening match at the Italian Open, beating 45thranked Clara Burel 7-6 (2), 6-1 on Wednesday. It was Osaka’s first victory over a top-50 player on clay since defeating Victoria Azarenka at the 2019 French Open. Osaka was proud of the way she maintained her mental focus after dropping her serve while serving for the first set at 5-3. “Just being able to hang in there and eventually close it on my terms is something that I’m very proud of myself for,” she said. It’s also the first time that Osaka is playing in Rome since 2019 — when she reached the quarterfinals.

Osaka, who was formerly ranked No. 1 but is now No. 173 after a maternity break, served eight aces and produced 27 winners to her opponent’s 10. She’ll next face 19th-seeded Marta Kostyuk, who reached the final of a clay event in Stuttgart, Germany, recently.

Also, qualifier Bernarda Pera beat fellow American Caroline Dolehide 7-6 (6), 6-3 and will next face top-ranked Iga Swiatek; Magda Linette beat Zhu Lin 6-3, 6-2; Brenda Fruhvirtova rallied past Taylor Townsend 3-6, 6-2, 6-0; and Lesia Tsurenko eliminated Donna Vekic 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5). In men’s action, Argentine-born Italian Luciano

JAPAN's Naomi Osaka serves the ball to France's Clara Borel during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament yesterday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Darderi had strong crowd support in a 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory over Denis Shapovalov on Campo Centrale; Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro

eliminated Gael Monfils 6-2, 7-5; and Yoshihito Nishioka defeated Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (4). Several other matches were postponed due to rain.

Rafael Nadal, the record 10-time Rome champion, opens against Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs today. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who is also back in

Rome

both withdrew because of injuries.

Former Wimbledon finalist. Matteo Berrettini also withdrew, saying he wasn’t ready. to compete.

Real Madrid rallies late to beat Bayern 2-1 and reach another Champions League final

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

MADRID (AP) — After yet another magical night at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Real Madrid is back in the Champions League final. The 14-time European champion pulled off another thrilling comeback yesterday, rallying to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 and reach the final for the second time in three seasons.

Like it happened so many times in 2022, Madrid needed some late drama to advance. Joselu scored in the 88th minute and then in stoppage time as Madrid advanced 4-3 on aggregate to set up a final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 in London.

“Well, it has happened again what has happened so many times before,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “It’s inexplicable. Fans who push us on, a fantastic stadium, players who never stop believing — it’s simply something magical.”

Bayern had taken the lead on an Alphonso Davies goal in the 68th — and then deep in stoppage

time thought it had equalized but hadn’t because of an offside call that Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel described as “disastrous” and “against the rules.” Joselu’s first goal was a tap in after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer spilled an easy save. The second was initially called off for offside but was eventually allowed after video review. “You always dream of being part of moments like this,” the 34-year-old Joselu said. “Not even my best dreams were as good as this.” It will be Madrid’s recordextending 18th European Cup final, and ninth in the Champions League era, also a record. Madrid beat Liverpool when it last made it to the final in 2022, a season marked by several late comebacks like that one it pulled off on Wednesday. Madrid at the time pulled off thrilling comebacks at the Bernabeu against Manchester City in the semifinals, Chelsea in the quarterfinals and Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.

Six-time European champion Bayern was looking to

return to the final for the first time since winning the competition in 2019-20. The loss meant there will be no rematch of the all-German final in 2013, when Bayern beat Dortmund to win its fifth European title.

“It hurts. It’ll take a while to recover, but on the one hand it’s a loss where we left it all out on the pitch,” Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said. “Of course, it’s tough to accept. It’s part of reality. No regrets.”

Dortmund, the 1997 European champion, eliminated Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 on aggregate on Tuesday. It was a mostly even match but Madrid created the most significant scoring chances. But it had not been able to get past what was a terrific performance by Neuer, who had made a series of difficult saves to keep Bayern in the match. But the German international faltered in the final

minutes, dropping an easy ball after a shot by Vinícius Júnior and allowing Joselu — who came off the bench in the 81st — to equalize from in front of the goal.

“Manu, who had been exceptional in saving us all night, made a mistake he wouldn’t make in another 100 years,” Tuchel said. Neuer said “anyone who’s ever played football knows how I’m feeling right now.”

“That we’ve been knocked out in the closing stages, having led 1-0 until the 85th minute, it’s extremely bitter,” he said. “We’d taken one step to London, we saw ourselves in the final and now I’m lost for words.”

Joselu, a German-born striker, then gave Madrid the lead a minute into stoppage time after a cross by Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger off the left side. The linesman initially raised the flag for offside, and it took a few moments before Madrid players and the crowd at the Bernabeu could celebrate the winner.

Bayern loudly complained at the end after a goal by Matthijs de Ligt didn’t count because the

referee blew the whistle for offside without letting the play be completed.

De Ligt said the linesman apologized to him, saying he “made a mistake” for raising the flag without letting the play continue. Davies, who had entered the match in the 27th to replace the injured Serge Gnabry, had given Bayern the lead by beating Rüdiger in a one-on-one situation, cutting back toward the middle of the area before firing a right-footed shot into the far corner past Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Madrid thought it had equalised a couple of minutes later but the goal was called off after video review because of a foul by defender Nacho Fernández on Joshua Kimmich.

after a month out, is on the opposite half of the draw from Nadal. But second-ranked Jannik Sinner and thirdranked Carlos Alcaraz

REAL Madrid’s Joselu celebrates after winning the Champions League semifinal second leg match against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, yesterday. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Football (Concacaf) Nations

CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE: SENIOR MEN’S NATIONAL

SOCCER TEAM SET TO PLAY IN GROUP A OF LEAGUE C

The September window will be played from 2-10. The October window will follow from October 7-15 and the final window of the series will take place November 11-19.

Last year, The Bahamas fell out of League B after finishing fourth in Group D with zero wins. The team finished with a 0-1-4 (win/draw/loss record) to be relegated to League C. While in Group D of League B, The Bahamas

suffered disappointing losses against Puerto Rico, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda.

In the home and away format, The Bahamas came short against Puerto Rico 1-6 at home and 1-6 in the away game. When matched up

against Guyana, the team was defeated 3-2 on the road and home game of the series was cancelled due to a tragedy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The Bahamas played its best against Antigua and Barbuda

FROM PAGE 14

coordination with the youth and said some of them have a natural ability to play the sport.

Danielle Maycock, who is 13-years-old, was one of 30 ‘Play Tennis’ participants to benefit from Knowles’ appearance at the NTC.

“I think it was a great experience. It was definitely a once in a lifetime memory that I will never forget and I really enjoyed it,” she said.

She is planning to use the skills acquired yesterday to improve her game.

“I learned how to hit the ball faster and how to control the ball by getting it into the right spot without having it go out. I think it allowed me to see where I am right now and what I can do to improve my skills as a tennis player,” Maycock said.

Taiden Culmer, who is 12-years-old, was also pleased with his experience on court with the former tennis pro player.

“It was a very good experience coming to meet Mark Knowles. It was very exciting just learning and hitting with him. It was all just an awesome experience,” Culmer said. He shared some of the skills picked up on Wednesday.

“I was able to pick up on my backhand. He really hit to that so I had to just make it better in order to hit against him. It could really help me to improve in terms of tournaments and plays. I could use my backhand against my opponents,” he said. Next up on the BLTA calendar will be the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup Trials May 18-19 at the NTC.

Brunson and Knicks top Pacers, take 2-0 lead in East semifinals

Toppin made three free throws with 0.3 seconds

remaining. The Pacers then made 15 of 22 shots in the second quarter in Brunson’s absence, outscoring the Knicks 37-27 to take a 73-63 lead.

Brunson emerged during the half to warm up, triggering a huge roar from the fans who weren’t in concession lines or restrooms, followed by “MVP! MVP!” chants. Indiana’s lead was 79-70 before the Knicks stormed ahead with a 14-0 run, with Brunson contributing a three-point play during it as New York went ahead 84-79.

Anunoby was hurt soon after, appearing to injure his hamstring while trying to finish a fast-break layup, but Brunson guided the Knicks through the finish with 14 points in the fourth quarter.

The Knicks paid tribute to Reed’s return, one of the most memorable moments in NBA and Madison Square Garden, during the first quarter. His No. 19 jersey, hanging in the rafters, was spotlighted, and Hall of Fame teammate Walt Frazier came onto the court for an ovation.

COACH MALONE REMINDS THE NUGGETS THEY’RE THE DEFENDING CHAMPS AND ASKS THEM TO PLAY LIKE IT

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — After a difficult-to-watch film session of their Monday night meltdown against Minnesota and an energetic practice yesterday, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone gave his team a stinging reminder and made a request.

“Guys, we’re the reigning world champions,” Malone said. “Act like it and play like it.”

They did neither in their 108-80 Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves, who took a 2-0 lead in the bestof-7 Western Conference semifinal series back to Minneapolis.

On Tuesday, the NBA fined Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray $100,000 for tossing a towel and a heat pack onto the court “in the direction of a game official during live play” in the second quarter of Game 2. Murray avoided a suspension and also dodged any punishment for making a money sign at an official earlier in the second quarter.

A similar gesture by Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert in a regular season game in March drew a $100,000 fine from the league.

Murray, who has been flummoxed by a strained left calf, a lost shooting touch and a paucity of whistles going his way, left Ball Arena without speaking to reporters after Games 1 and 2.

He met with the media after practice yesterday but didn’t have much to say about his actions that endangered players on both teams and Marc Davis’ officiating crew or the fine issued by the league.

“Nah, I mean it is what it is and I take everything in full responsibility, so on to the next,” Murray said when asked whether he had expected the fine and if he felt his punishment was appropriate.

Asked for an explanation of his actions, Murray said, “Yeah, on to the next. I mean, two days ago, not much for me to say about it right now.”

When asked about issuing an apology or taking responsibility, Murray cut off the line of questioning by asking, “Do you have any basketball questions?”

Murray acknowledged the Nuggets lost their collective composure Monday night when the Wolves hounded them into a 35% shooting performance even

though their best defender, Rudy Gobert, who won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year Award on Tuesday, was back in Minneapolis for the birth of his son.

“We’ve just got to be ready to play and not get frustrated with how the game goes sometimes and we allowed it to take us out of our game,” Murray said. “So, we’ve just got to stay composed and find a way to stick together during the game and figure it out. No matter what the scoreboard says, we’ve got to be able to claw back.”

The towel Murray threw landed at the heels of Davis on the baseline but the heat pack skidded across the floor just as Karl-Anthony Towns was going for a lay-up.

Wolves coach Chris Finch called Murray’s actions “inexcusable and dangerous,” saying somebody easily could have gotten hurt.

“I’ve never seen that from Jamal. That was very uncharacteristic,” Malone said, attributing Murray losing his cool to “taking a charge and it’s not called, not making shots at the level we know he’s capable of making, being down 30 points to a team that we’re trying to beat to get to the Western Conference finals.

“So when you put it all in the boiling pot, that’s a lot to handle. And he didn’t handle it the way he knows he needs to handle it, and I’m sure he told you guys that.”

Coming off the first NBA championship in franchise history, the Nuggets have shown a fatigue in these playoffs that has plagued previous champions. Unlike last year when they coasted

at the end of the regular season with the top seed in the West already secured, the second-seeded Nuggets jockeyed with Minnesota and Oklahoma City until the final weekend of the season. Murray missed 23 games this season with a variety of lower body injuries and the constant double teams that opponents threw at Nikola

Jokic is evident in the scars on his upper arms.

It’s not just health but slow starts that have plagued the reigning champs ever since the playoffs began. They’ve trailed by large margins in all seven of their postseason games. They bounced back against the Lakers to win in five, with Murray hitting a pair of game-winning buckets.

2 “that kind of encapsulated that game and why we lost.

But they’ve been bamboozled by Minnesota’s swarming defence, size advantage and deeper bench and now have to beat rising star Anthony Edwards four times in five tries to make it to the Western Conference finals. Malone said he showed his team nine clips of Game

“And our players owned it. And my greatest challenge to them and I don’t have an answer for whoever’s going to ask me do these guys believe? I don’t know. They all say they do but we will all find out collectively come Friday night.”

INDIANA Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, right, argues with a referee during the second half of Game 2 of the team’s NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks yesterday. The Knicks won 130-121. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

DENVER Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.

Olympic torch begins journey across France

after festive welcome in port city of Marseille

By SYLVIE CORBET and BARBARA SURK Associated Press

MARSEILLE, France

(AP) — Tens of thousands of people welcomed the Olympic torch yesterday in the southern French city of Marseille, marking another milestone in the lead-up to the Summer Games in Paris. French Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou became the first torch carrier in France after the Olympic flame arrived in Marseille’s Old Port on a majestic three-mast ship from Greece for the welcoming ceremony amid tight security.

The ship sailed into Marseille’s old port with the French national anthem “La Marseillaise” echoing from the embankment and a French Air force flyover with planes first drawing the five Olympic rings and then the red-blue-white colours of the nation’s flag.

The ship docked on a pontoon resembling an athletics track and Manaudou carried the torch to mainland France. He handed it to French Paralympic sprinter Nantenin Keïta, who won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, to carry it to rapper Jul, a Marseille native, who lit a cauldron as tens of thousands cheered on the shore and thousands of others waved from balconies and windows. “We can be proud,” said President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the ceremony to welcome the torch.

“The flame is on French soil,” Macron said. “The games are coming to France and are entering the lives of the French people.”

FROM PAGE 14

University of the Bahamas Lady Mingoes and the Black Scorpions at 7pm. That will be followed by

Marseille’s Mayor Benoît Payan said that more than 230,000 people attended yesterday’s ceremony.

“Tonight, the people of Marseille won the first gold medal of these Olympic Games,” Payan said, beaming with pride. The torch was lit in Greece last month before it was officially handed to France. It left Athens aboard a ship named Belem, which was first used in 1896, and spent twelve days at sea.

Paris 2024 Olympics Organising Committee President Tony Estanguet said the return of the Olympic Games to France was cause for a “fantastic celebration.”

“As a former athlete, I know how important the start of a competition is. That is why we chose Marseille, because it’s definitely one of the cities most in love with sports,” added Estanguet, a former Olympic canoeing star with gold medals from the 2000, 2004 and 2012 Games.

Safety of visitors and residents has been a top priority for authorities in Marseille, France’s second largest city with nearly a million inhabitants.

About 8,000 police officers have been deployed around the area of the harbour.

Thousands of firefighters and bomb disposal squads have been positioned around the city along with maritime police and antidrone teams patrolling the city’s waters and its airspace.

“It’s a monumental day and we have been working hard for visitors and residents of Marseille to enjoy this historical moment,” said Yannick Ohanessian, the city’s deputy mayor.

a massive awards presentation from the previous seasons and the honouring of more than 80 persons who have made some invaluable contributions to the sport over the years. The league will then officially begin the 2024 season on Saturday night. Two of

the four men’s teams are registered so far and two of the six ladies’ teams entered facing off.

In the ladies’ opener at 7pm, the RAB Operators will take on the Sunshine Auto Wildcats and in the men’s feature contest at 8:30pm, the Cyber Tech Blue Marlins will meet the Renegades.

The other four teams registered in the ladies’ division are the University of the Bahamas, Johnson Lady Truckers, Black Scorpions and the Cyber Tech Ladies Blue Marlins.

The two other men’s teams are the Chances Mighty Mitts and the Titans.

According to Stevens, who is serving in his final year as president of the NPSA, games are expected to be played every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights.

AQUATHON 3RD BEAUTIFUL

BAHAMAS AQUATHON THE Sea Waves Triathlon Club is all set to hold their 3rd Beautiful

Bahamas Aquathon on Saturday, May 11 at 9am at the Windsor School at Albany.

The event is being sanctioned by the Bahamas Triathlon Association.

The event is open to all ages - 8-and-under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15 and 16-19and will serve as a qualifier for the 2024 CARIFTA Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships.

Event registration will be held in person at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex today and on Tuesday between the hours of 4:30 and 7pm.

Persons can also contact Shirley Mireault at smireault@msn.com or 242359-0480 to psyu online.

The registration fee is $20 per person.

TRACK RED-LINE FIELD

CLASSIC

THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club is scheduled to hold its 2024 Field Event Classic on Saturday, May 18 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium from 9am to 3pm.

The event is geared strictly for field events,

including the high, long and triple jumps and the javelin, discus and shot put throwing events. Interested athletes are urged to contact Red-Line Athletics’ coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for further details.

TRACK RED-LINE YOUTH

CLASSIC

THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club is slated to hold its 3rd Annual RedLine Youth Track Classic on Saturday, May 25 at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The event will cater to all of the track and field events for the age group athletes ranging from 8-and under-20. There will also be one or two events for the open category. Interested persons can contact Red-Line Athletics’ coach Tito Moss at 4254262 for further details.

across the country, from the world-famous Mont SaintMichel to D-Day landing beaches in Normandy and the Versailles Palace.

Heavy police and military presence was seen patrolling Marseille’s city centre on Tuesday, as a military helicopter flew over the Old Port, where a range of barriers have been set up. French Interior Ministry spokesperson Camille Chaize said officials were prepared for security threats including terrorism.

“We’re employing various measures, notably the elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group unit, which will be present in the torch relay from beginning to end,” she said.

The Olympic cauldron will be lit after the Games’ opening ceremony that will take place on the River Seine on July 26.

The cauldron will be lit at a location in Paris that is being kept top-secret until the day itself.

Among reported options are such iconic spots as the Eiffel Tower and the Tuileries Gardens outside the Louvre Museum.

FAST TRACK INVITATIONAL

FAST Track Athletics announced that its third annual Spring Invitational will take place over the

BASKETBALL NEX-GEN THE third annual Nex-Gen Elite Training Basketball Camp, hosted by JR Basketball Academy, is all set for June 24 to July 13 from 9am to noon at the Telios Indoor Gymnasium on Carmichael Road. The camp, powered by Frazier’s Roofing, will provide training for game situations, shooting, passibng, ball handling, defense and footwork for boys and girls between the ages of 8-19 years. Registration is now open. Interested persons can contact Cadot at 535-9354, email jrcbasketballacademy.com or go online to www.jrcbasketballacademy. com

The torch relay will start on Thursday in Marseille, before heading to Paris through iconic places

PEOPLE standing by a swimming pool watch the Belem, the three-masted sailing ship bringing the Olympic flame from Greece, being escorted by other boats when approaching Marseille, southern France, yesterday. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to August 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

FRENCH rap artist Jul lights the Olympic cauldron with the Olympic torch during the torch arrival ceremony in Marseille, southern France, yesterday. (AP Photo/ Thibault Camus)

FRENCH Paralympic athlete Nantenin Keïta, left, passes the Olympic torch to French rap artist Jul during the torch arrival ceremony in Marseille, southern France, yesterday. Keita is visually impaired and won a gold medal during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

WORKERS prepare for the arrival of the Olympic flame in the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

KEN MULLINGS LEVELS UP WITH POWERADE SPONSORSHIP

BAHAMIAN pro-

fessional athlete Ken Mullings, like many athletes, has his mind set on the Paris Summer Olympic Games, and with Powerade’s sponsorship he believes his goals can become reality.

Sponsorships such as these assist athletes with the cost for training, workout gear, coaches, travel etc., which can be exhausting.

Fortunately, throughout the years Powerade has been a proud supporter of the 2023 CAC Decathlon gold medallist, a sponsorship that Mullings is grateful for.

“This partnership means a lot because it shows that God hasn’t given up on me and that Powerade believes in me and sees my improvements throughout the years,” Mullings said.

“This sponsorship also helps me to reach others and hopefully motivates them to keep pushing.” he continued.

The 27-year-old, who began his track and field career at CARIFTA - like many athletes throughout the Caribbean - understands the importance of maintaining a healthy body as he entered his first CARIFTA with a partial knee injury.

After experiencing this at such a young age, Mullings made it a priority to keep his body in top shape. Another reason he says his sponsorship with Powerade is a match made in heaven.

“Partnering with Powerade is perfect because hydration is key for all athletes in any field. My event is a difficult event to get through. Especially without the right hydration in place,

so this plays a big role in my improvement this year.” he expressed.

Aside from providing athletes with the fuel to perform at the highest level, Powerade also focuses on prioritising athletes’ mental and physical well-being.

Their slogan, “Pause is Power” dispels the notion of winning by any means necessary, a belief Mullings fully supports.

“Being a part of a brand that prioritises your mental health and well-being motivates me more to keep improving because I know that they want the best for me and for others. By taking care of those areas, it helps me to recover and last longer in this field.” Mullings said.

As the weeks narrow down to what many claim to be the greatest display of athletic excellence, the Olympic Games, Munnings says you can expect great things from him.

“My biggest goal is to hit the auto mark for Paris, after that my goal is to put up a score at the Olympics that can get me on the podium” he shared.

Mullings reiterated that because of Powerade’s financial assistance he now has the freedom to focus on perfecting his training and competing harder.

Mullings said: “Sports lovers can always expect the best out of me no matter where I am, especially if I’m wearing The Bahamas’ uniform.”

To learn more about all the great community work Powerade does, visit Caribbean Bottling Company’s website www.cbcbahamas. com today.

BAHAMIAN professional athlete Ken Mullings.

How the race was

PHOTOGRAPHER Dante Carrer captured the path to victory for The Bahamas in the mixed relay at the World Relays 2024 - with Steven Gardiner leading the team out and taking the first leg, before handing off to Shania Adderley - and laying down for a rest! 16-year-old Shania then ran a great leg before handing off to Alonzo Russell, who carried the baton to Shaunae MillerUibo to finish off and win the race to take The Bahamas to the Paris Olympics.

CBL GRAND

OPENING IN ABACO

FROM left, Cameron Newbold, retail store representative at Commonwealth Brewery Ltd (CBL), Ashley Wilmore, retail store representative at CBL, Carlos Sands, senior retail manager at CBL, Akeva Lightbourne, retail store representative at CBL and Joe Datis, retail store representative at CBL gather for a photo at the grand opening of the new 700 Wines and Spirits location in Marsh Harbour, Abaco. After closing due to Hurricane Dorian, the store has returned to the Abacos and welcomed back many of its former team members to begin serving the community.

FROM left, Nicola Heastie, sales manager for Commonwealth Brewery Ltd (CBL), Jana Stubbs, commercial manager for CBL, Carlos Sands, senior retail manager for CBL, and Arame Strachan, retail sales manager for CBL,

Masqueraders and CBC ready for Carnival 2024

BAHAMAS Masqueraders through their partnership with Coca-Cola has shared the excitement of Carnival to Bahamians and beyond for the past ten years.

And with the upcoming Bahamas Carnival Weekend from May 17 to May 20, the partners are celebrating their link-up.

A’Shan Bowe, Bahamas Masqueraders logistics manager and lead designer said working with the best brands was a key factor when forming this partnership.

“We like to align ourselves with the most premium brands and that is Coca-Cola. When you look at their products from Vitamin Water to Dasani and Powerade they consistently provide the top product for our revelers.” Bowe said.

Over the years this partnership has elevated the Carnival experience for participants with the introduction of the Road Fever Goodie bag sponsored by Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products.

The attention to detail and dedication to ensuring peak Carnival satisfaction is what Bowe said makes this partnership such a “great symbiotic relationship”.

“Coca-Cola has supported us in so many ways in providing the best experience each Carnival season. In return, Coca-Cola floods their brand at all our events and during the Road March. Whether it’s cups, bottles, hats or even the Coca-Cola and Dasani truck we look forward to seeing the brand well represented.” Bowe shared.

Jadrian Turnquest, CBC’s marketing manager shared that this partnership is a testament to their desire as a company to give back.

“As a company committed to giving back to our local community, we are excited to partner with the Bahamas Masqueraders Carnival Group for another year supporting the cultural Carnival celebration and assisting them with creating memorable experiences to hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators during the road march,” Turnquest said.

As the days countdown to a weekend that will surely be “full of vibes”, Bowe said to be on the lookout for exciting new things brought to you courtesy of Coca-Cola and Bahamas Masqueraders.

“Another thing I love so much about this partnership is that we are always coming up with new innovative ideas to bring to the Bahamian market. I know Coca-Cola has a strong Carnival presence in Trinidad so it’s exciting creating fun ways to introduce products here.” Bowe exclaimed.

This partnership shows no signs of slowing down. With ten years down, Carnival goers should anticipate great things in the next decade to come.

As Bowe said, the skies are the limit when it comes to a quality Carnival experience between the premier band and the premier brand.

For more information on all things Bahamas Masqueraders, their costumes and events visit their website at www.bahamasmasqueraders.com.

JADRIAN Turnquest (middle), Caribbean Bottling Company’s (CBC) marketing manager, poses with Bahamas Masqueraders sales and service associate Torquel Forbes (left), and senior operations manager Krista Dean (right).

DOGS ENTERING US MUST BE SIX MONTHS OLD AND MICROCHIPPED

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer

ALL dogs coming into the US from other countries must be at least six months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies, according to new government rules published

Wednesday. The new rules require vaccination for dogs that have been in countries where rabies is common.

The update applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their US owners.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

“This new regulation is going to address the current challenges that we’re facing,” said Emily Pieracci, a rabies expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who was involved in drafting the updated regulations.

The CDC posted the new

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

JOB SUMMARY:

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for implementing and administering the maintenance program for the company’s property, building, equipment, grounds, and any other related maintenance activities. The incumbent will perform general troubleshooting and diagnosis for refrigeration, electrical, plumbing and building repairs where necessary.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs scheduled preventative maintenance of refrigeration, building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems to ensure optimal performance at all times.

• Checks refrigeration, buildings, grounds, equipment, and machinery for

problems and takes necessary corrective action.

• Maintain adequate inventory of spare parts for all machinery and equipment.

• Maintain adequate inventory of tools for maintenance jobs.

• Prepares and submits estimates for materials and equipment for repair

jobs and assists with the sourcing.

• Treats all maintenance requests with urgency and provide feedback on completion.

• Completes job sheets to determine usage of materials and time work.

• Maintains accurate records of maintenance activities, updating logs and preparing reports in accordance with established procedures and schedules.

• Always ensures adherence to safety regulations, and standards set out in

the Health and Safety at Work Act, and in all areas and takes corrective actions when necessary to prevent accidents.

• Reports accidents and hazardous situations promptly (or fix where applicable).

• Ensures adherence to established standards by local, international, and

industry certifying organizations (Ministry of Health etc.).

• Sets-up public address system and arranges adequate power supply for functions.

• Performs other related duties consistent with the category, nature,

function, and objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Associates Degree in Engineering or related discipline

• Electrical License

• Experience with DanFoss & Carel controls (programming and maintaining)

• 3+ years in a similar position

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Excellent troubleshooting and analytical skills.

• Excellent attention to details.

• Good electrical and mechanical skills.

• Good inter-personal skills.

• Good communication (verbal/non-verbal) skills.

Interested persons are invited to send an updated resume to careers@saywersfood.com with the position in the subject of the email by May 17, 2024. Please also include a copy of the relevant qualifications

rules in the federal register on Wednesday. They take effect Aug 1 when a temporary 2021 order expires. That order suspended bringing in dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.

The new rules require all dogs entering the US to be at least six months, old enough to be vaccinated if required and for the shots to take effect; have a microchip placed under their skin with a code that can be used to verify rabies vaccination; and have completed a new CDC import form.

There may be additional restrictions and requirements based on where the dog was the previous six months, which may include blood testing from CDCapproved labs.

The CDC regulations were last updated in 1956, and a lot has changed, Pieracci said. More people travel internationally with their pets, and more rescue groups and breeders have set up overseas operations to meet the demand for

pets, she said. Now, about one million dogs enter the US each year.

Dogs were once common carriers of the rabies virus in the US but the type that normally circulates in dogs was eliminated through vaccinations in the 1970s. The virus invades the central nervous system and is usually a fatal disease in animals and humans. It’s most commonly spread through a bite from an infected animal. There is no cure for it once symptoms begin.

Four rabid dogs have been identified entering the US since 2015, and officials worried more might get through. CDC officials also were seeing an increase of incomplete or fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates and more puppies denied entry because they weren’t old enough to be fully vaccinated.

A draft version of the updated regulations last year drew a range of public comments.

Angela Passman, owner of a Dallas company that

helps people move their pets internationally, supports the new rules. It can especially tricky for families that buy or adopt a dog while overseas and then try to bring it to the US, she said. The update means little change from how things have been handled in recent years, she said.

“It’s more work for the pet owner, but the end result is a good thing,” said Passman, who is a board member for the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association. But Jennifer Skiff said some of the changes are unwarranted and too costly. She works for Animal Wellness Action, a Washington group focused on preventing animal cruelty that helps organizations import animals. She said those groups work with diplomats and military personnel who have had trouble meeting requirements, and was a reason some owners were forced to leave their dogs behind.

OFFICERS and members of the Bahamas Association of Administrative Professionals (BAAP) paid a courtesy call on the Governor General, Cynthia Pratt, on April 22. The Governor General urged members of BAAP, who are the professionals of today, to remember to act as mentors to those young persons in the school system, who will be the professionals of tomorrow. The courtesy call was one of the activities in recognition of Administrative Professionals Week, which started with worship at Calvary Deliverance Church. The week culminated with a luncheon on Administrative Professionals Day, at SuperClubs Breezes where administrative professionals gathered to have lunch and heard from guest speaker Pastor Mario Moxey of Bahamas Harvest Church who spoke on the topic: ‘Pursuing Success Through Courage with Teamwork.’

Photo: Letisha Henderson/BIS

A timeline of the collapse at FTX

By SALLEE ANN HARRISON Digital Engagement

Editor Associated Press

FTX, once among the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, said this week that nearly all of its customers will receive the money back that they are owed, two years after its monumental collapse.

FTX said in a court filing late Tuesday that it owes about $11.2 billion to its creditors. The exchange estimates that it has between $14.5 billion and $16.3 billion to distribute to them. Here is a timeline of what led up to this week’s announcement after an implosion at FTX kicked off what many had expected to become a “crypto winter”.

2022

Nov 2: Coindesk reports Alameda Reseach, Bankman-Fried’s cryptocurrency trading firm, holds a large amount of FTT, a token issued by FTX, suggesting the finances of the two are intertwined and Alameda faces a cash crunch. The report spooks participants in the crypto market.

Nov 6: Rival cryptocurrency exchange Binance announces that the firm plans to sell all its holdings in FTT. The price of FTT tanks.

Nov 8: Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao said his company had signed a letter of intent to buy FTX because the smaller exchange was experiencing a “significant liquidity crunch.” That deal would be contingent, however, on a look at the books at FTX. The price for bitcoin tumbles 13%.

Nov 9: Cryptocurrency prices plunge and after getting a closer look at the finances of FTX, Binance retreated and said there would be no acquisition.

“In the beginning, our hope was to be able to support FTX’s customers to provide liquidity, but the issues are beyond our control or ability to help,” Binance said in a statement. Bitcoin prices drop another 14%.

Nov 10: Cryptocurrency lender BlockFi announced it is “not able to do business as usual” and was pausing client withdrawals as a result of FTX’s implosion.

Nov 11: FTX files for Chapter 11 and BankmanFried resigns. John Ray III, a long-time bankruptcy litigator who is best known for having to clean up the mess made after the collapse of Enron, is named the new CEO. In its bankruptcy filing, FTX listed more than 130 affiliated companies around the globe. The company valued its assets between $10 billion to $50 billion, with a similar estimate for its liabilities. Bitcoin falls 10%.

Nov 17: Ray gives a damning description of FTX’s operations under Bankman-Fried, from a lack of security controls to business funds being used to buy employees homes and luxuries.

Nov 30: As part of a media blitz, BankmanFried tells New York Time’s Andrew Ross-Sorkin, “Look, I screwed up,” and didn’t knowingly misuse clients’ funds.

Dec 12: BankmanFried is arrested in the Bahamas, where FTX is headquartered.

Dec 13: The US government charges Bankman-Fried with a host of financial crimes, alleging he intentionally deceived customers and investors to enrich himself and others, while playing a central role in the company’s multibillion-dollar collapse.

Federal prosecutors said Bankman-Fried devised “a scheme and artifice to defraud” FTX’s customers

and investors beginning the year it was founded. He illegally diverted their money to cover expenses, debts and risky trades at Alameda Research, and to make lavish real estate purchases and large political donations, prosecutors said in a 13-page indictment.

Dec 22: Bankman-Fried’s parents agreed to sign a $250 million bond and keep him at their California home while he awaits trial.

2023

August 11: Judge revoked Bankman-Fried’s bail and sent him to jail after concluding he had repeatedly tried to influence witnesses against him.

Oct 3: Jury selection began for the trial.

Oct 27: Bankman-Fried took the stand in his trial. He again acknowledged failures but denied defrauding anyone.

Nov 3: Bankman-Fried is convicted of fraud for stealing at least $10 billion from customers and investors.

2024

March 28: BankmanFried is sentenced to 25 years in prison. Bitcoin has roared back from a massive sell-off during the scandal. Prices are up nearly 70%.

April 30: Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, is sentenced to four months in prison for looking the other way as criminals used the platform to move money connected to child sex abuse, drug trafficking and terrorism.

May 8: FTX says that nearly all of its customers will receive the money back that they are owed, two years after the cryptocurrency exchange imploded, and some will get more than that.

JOB OPPORTUNITY GROCERY CONSULTANT

JOB SUMMARY:

The Grocery Consultant is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to drive meaningful and profitable sales growth and define the right store portfolio. This includes, but is not limited to, growth strategy to store experience and consumer engagement, sourcing, and pricing.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for evaluating individual departments (with a special focus on grocery) through market research surveys.

• Recommend strategies to improve underperforming departments

• Conduct regular business reviews with management team/department heads to analyze current store sales and profitability.

• Develop and assist in the execution of action plans that identify specific measurable actions to improve the retail operation.

• Analyze and implement strategies to improve merchandise assortments, financial and margin management, inventory productivity, retail best practices, store layout, Point of Sales (POS) sales analysis.

• Provide insight on different consumer groups within the market, evaluating and implementing value proposition to satisfy customers.

• Analyze consumption patterns and other trends that shape consumers’ purchasing behavior.

• Implement strategies to manage store portfolio and maximize productivity.

• Develop strategies to assist with improving product knowledge.

• Evaluate existing systems and processes to identify workflow, communication and resource utilization issues and create improvement plans.

• Assess performance data to improve daily operations, target current business conditions, and forecast needs.

• Assess and implement measurable data, KPI’s, and P&L statements to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Provide exemplary day-to-day business consulting service within assigned district.

• Conduct in-store training sessions to execute annual plan, product category management plans as well as new programs and procedures.

• Conduct frequent meetings on various topics and present compiled research data to the executive and management team findings along with recommended optimizations.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years’ experience in Retail.

• Experience maximizing profitability.

• Experience with research analysis a strategy implementation.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Detail-oriented.

• Strong communication skills.

• Computer literate with proven knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Interested persons are invited to send an updated resume to careers@saywersfood.com with the position in the subject of the email by May 17, 2024. Please also include a copy of the relevant qualifications

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at the official opening of the FTX Digital Markets Headquarters alongside Sam Bankman-Fried.

SAM BANKMAN-FRIED, founder of FTX Digital Markets.

Photos: Eric Rose/BIS