05112023 NEWS AND SPORT

Gibson witness in abuse claim

‘Brutal attack’ alleged as ex-girlfriend wants to testify by video link

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE ex-fiancee of Adrian Gibson has alleged that the Long Island MP abused her, prompting her desire to testify virtually in his corruption trial rather than in person. Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier mentioned this in response to a constitutional motion Mr Gibson’s lawyer, Murrio

F t X lawyer on bahamas ‘cahoots’ claim

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

AN FTX creditor/investor group yesterday leapt to The Bahamas’ defence by branding claims that the Government was “in cahoots” with Sam Bankman-Fried as “shockingly inappropriate”.

This nation, and the Bahamian provisional liquidators for FTX Digital Markets, appeared to gain some friends in the battle for jurisdictional control of the collapsed crypto currency exchange’s fate as the group called for the creation of a “cross-border

Ducille, KC, filed to stay proceedings.

Mr Ducille argued that Gibson’s right to a fair trial would be breached if his client’s ex-fiancee, Alexandria Mackey, did not testify in person.

Ms Frazier responded that an affidavit supporting Mrs Mackey’s application to testify virtually said she no longer lives in The Bahamas and it would cause her “hardship” to return to the

Families oF two men who died in italy seek answers

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE families of two Bahamian men who died in Italy three years ago under mysterious circumstances have applied to an Italian judge to obtain the investigation file into their deaths, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell. Foreign Service Officer

Alrae Ramsey, 29, and Saint Mary’s University graduate student Dr Blair John, 28, disappeared in Italy on May 29, 2019. Their bodies were later pulled from the River Po in Turin on June 4th and 5th, 2019.

Although autopsies reportedly revealed that the men drowned, Mr Mitchell said the explanation of the circumstances surrounding

atlantis queried on employee complaints

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR Minister

Keith Bell said the Department of Labour launched an investigation into Atlantis after getting “a number of complaints” from employees who felt “pressured and intimidated” to stand against Royal Caribbean International’s proposed Paradise Island Beach Club project. Atlantis president and

managing director Audrey Oswell urged staff last month to take a position concerning the $100m project, which executives have repeatedly questioned.

bullets Found at scene don’t match gun in car, eX pert says

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A FIREARM expert said none of the bullet casings recovered from the scene where Azario Major was killed matched the gun found in his car.

Sergeant Terriah Thomas’ testimony came as the Coroners’ Court inquest into the policeinvolved killing of Major, 31, continued.

Major was killed on December 26, 2021, outside Woody’s Bar on Fire Trail Road. Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest-Deveaux is presiding over the inquest into

Front porch

Mr Bell said the people who complained to the Department of Labour made “allegations of undue influence being placed on them in respect to statements made by a senior executive”.

“The complaints came following statements made by a senior vice president with respect (to) Royal Caribbean investment that’s about to take place or that we have approved on

while commonwealth heads are clear, bahamian leaders FuZZ y on the king page eight

Cordell Frazier sworn in as Director of Public Prosecutions

ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder announced yesterday that Cordell Frazier had been appointed Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, replacing the previous DPP Garvin Gaskin.

“Ms Frazier is an eminently qualified and

dedicated public servant, who brings a wealth of legal knowledge and prosecutorial experience to the position,” Mr Pinder said.

“Ms Frazier’s steadfast commitment to justice and her extensive background in law makes her wellprepared to take on this

significant responsibility.

I have every confidence in her ability to navigate the intricacies of this position.

“At this same time, we recognise the contributions of Mr Garvin Gaskin, whose tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions has reached its conclusion.

Mr Gaskin’s leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to public service has left a lasting impact on our justice system. On behalf of the people of The Bahamas, we extend our gratitude to Mr Gaskin for his years of service as DPP.

The Governor General CA Smith makes a presentation to newly appointed Driector of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier yesterday

We are confident that Ms Frazier, building on the strong foundation laid by Mr Gaskin, will continue to uphold the highest standards of justice and integrity as she assumes her new role as Acting Director of Public Prosecutions.

We wish both Ms Frazier and Mr Gaskin the best in their future endeavours and look forward to seeing the continued growth and development of our justice system.”

Mr Gaskin was the first DPP appointed after a law was passed in 2018 to establish an independent Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Constitution

(Amendment) Bill 2017 empowered the DPP to “institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court in respect of any offence against the law

of The Bahamas; to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other person or authority; to discontinue, at any stage before judgment is delivered, any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by himself or any other person or authority.” The law was not passed without its critics. The attorney general can still direct the DPP to make certain decisions on matters relating to three categories: public policy, national security and international obligations of The Bahamas. Critics said these categories are broad and vague, providing a loophole through which administrations can undermine the independence of the DPP.

Gibson witness in abuse claim

country because her application for US citizenship is pending.

“Moreover, she alleges a brutal attack by the applicant,” Ms Frazier said. “Her exact words would’ve been that he would’ve choked her, smothered, and made an attempt to gouge her eyes out.”

“That’s the position prosecution intends to rely on in our position to this constitutional motion.”

Ms Frazier highlighted an affidavit by T’shura Ambrose, which said Mrs Mackey indicated to her that the quality of her testimony would be impaired if she testified in person because of Gibson’s presence in the courtroom.

She dismissed Mr Ducille’s constitutional motion as premature, calling it “an abuse of the process of the court”.

“This court would’ve ordered on the 27th of April that any counsel who oppose the application to video link on behalf of the Crown to do so in writing,” she said.

“We say that this notice of originating motion is an abuse of the process of the court because this applicant did not file an affidavit in response to the notice.”

Mr Ducille described Ms Ambrose’s affidavit claims as hearsay.

He said when Ms Mackey gave a statement to authorities in April, she did not mention abuse.

“It wasn’t until June and thereafter that she made mention of an abuse,” he added. “So, this has been a statement contrived … she wants to shield herself when you consider that, for example, that she’s being (led).”

He said there is no substantial reason for Mrs Mackey to testify virtually, arguing her physical presence in court is vital to the case since numerous exhibits pertain to her.

Mr Ducille also argued that there had been a lack of full disclosure by the prosecution.

Responding to this, Ms Frazier said every document and witness statement the prosecution would rely

on is in the possession of Mr Gibson’s counsel. She said Mrs Mackey is now married in the US and has a child.

Mr Gibson is facing corruption charges in connection with his tenure as executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation.

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

WSC.

The FNM politician is charged with WSC’s former general manager, Elwood Donaldson Jr; Gibson’s cousin, Rashae Gibson; Joan Knowles; Peaches Farquharson; and Jerome Missick.

Together, the group face a combined 98 charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, fraud, receiving and money laundering.

THE ex-fiancee (Alexandria Mackey) of Adrian Gibson [pictured left] has alleged that the Long Island MP abused her, prompting her desire to testify virtually in his corruption trial rather than in person. This came in response to a constitutional motion by Mr Gibson’s lawyer, Murrio Ducille, KC, [pictured centre] to stay proceedings in order to have Ms Mackey testify in person.

Photos: Moise Amisial

ForMEr Prime Minister Hubert Minnis speaks with Adrian Gibson and his lawyer Murrio Ducille, KC, outside the court room yesterday.

Families of two men who died in Italy seek answers

their demise remains a sore wound for their unsatisfied relatives and others who knew them.

He said after he visited Italy in 2021, lawyers representing the government applied to get the file the Italian government had on the deaths.

He said the judge refused to release the file, deciding that the Bahamian government had no standing. He said the judge indicated that a request from relatives of the men would be reviewed.

“We had been in touch with the families in Nassau,” he said yesterday. “They signed quickly to give us the authority to act on their behalf. The lawyers in Italy have made the application. We’re awaiting the results of that application.

“I don’t know how long it will take. The Italian government themselves said the court process, they move quite slowly, so it might be some time. But the fact is we are still on it and the families are grateful for the fact that we’re still pursuing this.”

He continued: “It is a real sore point because they and we are not satisfied with the answers which have been given.

The answers seem to be inexplicable and so we’re trying to pursue it to see if we can get some answers.

“Our view is that perhaps if our own authorities and officials here are able to look at the complete file, they may be able to spot something which would

indicate what actually happened to the satisfaction of the families.”

“The other aspect of it is the fact that we spoke to the Italian government to indicate to them that this is of the highest priority for us and that they should indicate to the court the diplomatic issues which The Bahamas

has in this matter.”

Mr Mitchell said findings in the case could trigger a local Coroner’s Court inquest.

“If something of this nature happened within The Bahamas, we could’ve had a Coroner’s inquest where all of the facts would be examined and a jury asked to make

atlantis queried on employee complaints

from page one

Paradise Island,” Mr Bell told reporters at the House of Assembly. “A number of persons made complaints. Therefore, we are looking at them to determine the authenticity of the complaints.”

Asked what the consequences of findings in the investigation could be, Mr Bell said the Office of the Attorney General would guide the department.

“We want to ensure that the scales of justice are always balanced,” he said. “That is the superior bargaining position of the employer weighed against the rights of the employee. We just want to make sure that everything remains harmonious, (that)

the employees are treated with basic decency, (and) respect.”

For its part, Atlantis denied allegations of pressuring workers to oppose RCI’s project.

“Atlantis has never opposed or pressured our team members to oppose Royal Caribbean’s proposed Paradise Island project,” Atlantis said in a statement. “Our sole focus is to ensure that Royal Caribbean’s development undergoes environmental due diligence and that the natural beauty of Paradise Island and the vitality of The Bahamas remain protected.”

“Much of the pride our 6,000+ members share about working at Atlantis is our long-term commitment

a determination on what happened,” he said.

“So the question is whether or not something like this, a Coroner’s inquest, can be done. There may be some indications that we may have to amend the law to do

that, because of course the deaths took place outside the jurisdiction. So that’s a matter on which I stand to be advised. But even if you don’t go to the level of a Coroner’s inquest, it may be that the public officials here, that

is the police who are in charge of investigations, having a second or third look at this might be able to spot something (and) go over the evidence with the families and the families may be satisfied as a result of that process.”

Munroe: there are More iMportant M atters to address than ‘ceremonial’ head of state

ATLANTIs president and managing director Audrey Oswell urged staff last month to take a position concerning the $100m project, which executives have repeatedly questioned.

to the community, marine life, the environment and our record for doing the right thing, even when it is not the easiest path. While we pride ourselves in keeping our team members informed. We are confident in our team members’ ability to draw their own conclusions and make the right decisions.”

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said there are more substantive issues to address in The Bahamas than “ceremonial” matters like changing the Head of State.

After King Charles III was crowned last week, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said it is time for a Bahamian Head of State, one selected by residents or the government.

Asked at the House of Assembly yesterday about this, Mr Munroe said: “It’s something I’ve given absolutely no thought to because it’s so marginal. Currently, the Governor General, who

is the King’s representative in this country, has no ability to make decisions of his own will other than in limited circumstances, which basically relate to if you have a circumstance there’s a question over who commands the majority in the House of Assembly. The Head of State is only ceremonial. We have much more things of substance to do that I think that we could address before we have the luxury of time to deal with ceremonial things.”

Earlier this week, Mr Mitchell said: “The state of affairs and the need for change 50 years later is like Michael Manley used to say, impatient of debate, but even in so-called ‘radical Jamaica’, you will hear it

said, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ or there are some more important things to do than constitutional change. But, the stark reality is this — as benign as things look, as the monarchy appears, as unobtrusive and inexpensive as it appears, there has to be something wrong and rotten in the state of Denmark when a European leader is the embodiment of the state of dispersed Africans on the far-flung islands in the Caribbean.”

“Some day, some generation will have to fix this. Until then, I guess we’ll soldier along as we have with the obvious staring in our faces, but we’ll pretend like Bob Dylan said in his song that we just don’t see.”

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe yesterday said there are more substantive issues to address in The Bahamas than “ceremonial” matters like changing the Head of State. He said, “Some day, some generation will have to fix this. Until then, I guess we’ll soldier along as we have with the obvious staring in our faces, but we’ll pretend like Bob Dylan said in his song that we just don’t see.”

FOreIgN Service Officer Alrae Ramsey, 29, (left) and Saint Mary’s University graduate student Dr Blair John, 28, (right) disappeared in Italy on May 29, 2019. Their bodies were later pulled from the River Po in Turin on June 4th and 5th, 2019. The families the two men have applied to an Italian judge to obtain the investigation file into their deaths, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell.

‘From my core, I am devastated’ says family member of Freedom Park murder victims as suspects acquitted

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

SONIA Kemp waited ten years to hear a jury forewoman utter a single word: “Guilty.”

When one failed to do so on Tuesday – announcing instead that three men were not guilty of killing four people in Fox Hill in 2013 - her wounds reopened, mirroring the night she learned of her son’s death.

“From my core, I am devastated,” Ms Kemp told The Tribune yesterday. “I have waited ten years just to get some justice, and I have been following the case, and to go to court and not get a guilty verdict, it’s devastating for me, my family, and the whole of Fox Hill.

“Everybody’s devastated because we all waited and wanted justice.

That was a big shooting that they did on (Freedom Park) where so many lives were impacted.”

“Emotionally, I am a wreck. (Tuesday) I left court and I cried until I think it was after 12am. I just literally cried because

my heart was broken all over again. I felt like my son had just died on that park and all of my emotions came back to me.”

Ms Kemp’s son, Shaquille Demeritte, was one of four people killed when bullets sprayed a park in Fox Hill on December 27, 2013. Claudezino Davis, Eric Morrison and Shenique Sands were the other victims. In addition to the four people killed, six others were wounded as they gathered to await Junkanoo results that night.

After a seven-week trial, Peter Rolle, Jermaine Curry and Justin Williams were acquitted of murder charges on Tuesday – the third and likely final time the men were tried over the incident.

Ms Kemp, 51, said she has frequently seen the now-acquitted men since the shooting incident. She said she has forgiven whoever is responsible for her son’s death.

She conceded that her efforts to get justice have now ended.

“I said if (I) you don’t get justice down here on earth, when we all get to heaven, God in his own

right, he will serve justice, and I’m holding on to that,” she said. “The persons that killed my son, I don’t have no bad feelings towards them.

“I have forgiven them, and I actually want them to get their life right with God.”

Kimberly Ferguson, the aunt of Shenique, a mother of three, said the judicial system failed relatives of the victims.

“Personally, it hurts, it really hurts,” she said.

“My older sister, who was the mother of the deceased, I personally think that Shenique’s death was one of the reasons why she passed away. She worried herself out of this world, just pinning on the loss of her daughter.”

Ms Ferguson said her faith in God convinces her that justice will prevail someday.

“Personally, I say we just give it to God and let Him finish fight the battle,” she said. “I think it has been long for us with that situation, because they were four innocent people. They were four innocent persons, and at the end of the day, there was no justice for any of them.”

The ombudsman of the University of The Bahamas, Marisa Mason-Smith, welcomed the Ombudsman Bill recently tabled in the Bahamas House of Assembly - but urged the government to ensure the position is not a politically appointed one.

She said that she hoped it adheres to International Ombudsman Association standards to be “impartial, neutral, confidential and independent” in order to to promote integrity in the administration of the public’s affairs.

“The Bahamas needs ombuds, but the selection process must not be politically motivated,” she advised.

The government brought the Bill to Parliament as part of its pledge to establish a strong anti-corruption regime. The Bill seeks to establish the Office of the

Ombudsman to investigate any administrative action of any public authority and determine if maladministration took place.

According to Mrs MasonSmith, public consultation is a vital component in the passing of this Bill. The role of ombuds, she added, must be clearly defined as there are different types.

Mason-Smith recently returned from the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) Conference in Seattle, Washington, USA.

As the university ombudsman, Mrs MasonSmith, the first ombudsman in the country, provides impartial, neutral, and confidential third party assistance to students, faculty, staff and administrators seeking dispute resolution. She reports to the Board of Trustees.

Sonia Kemp’s son Sahquille Demeritte was one of four people killed when bullets sprayed a park in Fox Hill on December 27, 2013. After ten years and a ‘not guilty verdict for three men accused she conceded that she will not find justice for her son.

Photos: austin Fernander

Kimberly FerguSon, the aunt of Shenique, a mother of three, said the judicial system failed relatives of the victims. “My older sister, who was the mother of the deceased, I personally think that Shenique’s death was one of the reasons why she passed away. She worried herself out of this world, just pinning on the loss of her daughter.”

Mason-sMith: oMbudsM an must be ‘impartial, neutral’

mariSa Mason-Smith (centre) with the incoming and outgoing President of the International Ombudsman Association

The Tribune Limited

Where is free speech as Atlantis probed?

THE launch of an investigation into Atlantis after its president dared to express an opinion seems to be a staggering over-reaction.

The situation dates back to March –when Audrey Oswell, who is both the president and managing director of the resort, spoke up over unanswered questions about the neighbouring beach club planned by Royal Caribbean. She urged Bahamians to call on the government to “put the brakes on” the project.

Then, in April, in a letter to Atlantis staff, she urged workers to “make their voices” heard on the project.

In the letter, she said: “The potential impact on our beaches, marine life and water supply could be devastating if the appropriate environmental controls and practices are not carefully planned and executed. As the leader of tourism for The Bahamas and longtime stewards of the ocean and its marine life, caring for the environment has become part of our DNA. It is at the core of who we are and what we do.”

At the time, union leaders reacted cautiously, wanting more information – and answering that if the company wanted unions to march with placards, maybe company leaders should do so first.

Now perhaps some might say that Atlantis was ill advised to call on its staff to raise their voices – but it seems remarkable that would attract the attention of the Department of Labour.

That has been the case – with Labour Minister Keith Bell saying that an investigation had been launched after getting “a number of complaints” from employees. He said people made “allegations of undue influence being placed on them in respect to statements made by a senior executive”.

He added: “The complaints came following statements made by a senior vice president with respect (to) Royal Caribbean investment that’s about to take place or that we have approved on Paradise Island. A number of persons made complaints. Therefore, we are looking at them to determine the authenticity of the complaints.”

And so off the department staff marched, to ask employees at Atlantis if they had been asked to lobby against RCI’s plan or if they felt intimidated or obligated to do so – even asking if they felt they would be fired if they did not.

We have never noticed in all the years of reporting on Atlantis that the union would be shy about any issues they encountered in dealing with management – and we suspect if there was any such threat, they would have spoken loudly against it.

Can business leaders not speak up on issues in this manner? If Atlantis, having not had its questions answered over its concerns, cannot speak up about a neighbouring project that has the potential to impact their own business without risking government investigations, where is free speech in our nation?

If one were to presume the worst about the RCI development – and this is for the purposes of speculation only – any effect it might have on the environment might reduce the appeal of Atlantis to visitors, and that could mean reduced income and potentially lost jobs. Now it may not be to that extent at all – but that could be the concern that Atlantis managers want addressed. It could be their own jobs that staff members protect by calling for answers.

If a company is failing to live up to its heads of agreement, or if there is genuine bullying in the workplace or safety issues, then absolutely there are reasons to launch an investigation – but doing so because a company leader dares to open their mouth and speak on an issue is repressive, to say the least.

We would say that the government needs to step carefully if it doesn’t want to be seen as overly interfering – but it looks as if things have already gone one step too far.

Status quo

Fred Mitchell has once again argued passionately for The Bahamas to become a republic, with its own head of state rather than acknowledging the British monarch.

This comes after a trip to London to see the coronation of King Charles III – a trip that saw Mr Mitchell join the delegation.

In today’s Tribune , we report that National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said there are “much more things of substance” to consider instead.

If the PLP chairman cannot even convince ministers in his own party’s government that the matter is worth discussing, then we can safely say this is not a debate that is going to happen any time soon.

Questions

PM’s $400m

for GB airport

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Grand Bahama International Airport...precisely what is the Davis Government doing refinancing?

Many were so pleased they found a group local, Tony Myers — Tony Ferguson- an Ireland based management team and no Government borrowing... so we thought it seems - out of Royal London we now hear Government is borrowing $400 million from the UK Export Bank,

Govt neglects local arts and culture

On this day, a mere two months away from what will be the 50th Independence anniversary of this glorious country that I love and call home, I am angry and saddened by the continued ignorance and lack of vision from our misdirected leaders who are leading us backward culturally as a people, instead of forward, upward, and onward towards the rising sun!

If you are interested in going on a proud Bahamian cultural journey with me to ‘see what ya lookin at’, then read on; but if you are averse to the truth contained in the following narrative, then stop reading, and remain dumb and ignorant about your rich and unique cultural heritage whilst lauding the colonial mentality of the ‘mustards and ketchups’ who are leading you into 21st century slavery of the mind!

I grew up in the era of pounds, shillings, and pence. I used a slate board in kindergarten, and my school bag was made of straw. I went to the straw market with my mother to buy fish and vegetables wrapped in newspaper. I travelled on a mailboat to visit my maternal grandparents in Eleuthera, and I was an adult and present on Clifford Park when the Union Jack was lowered and the Bahamian flag was raised for the first time.

throughout the ages from generation to generation and united us.

In those days, most people learned a trade with their hands - for the men, there were master carpenters, masons, boat builders, tailors, shoemakers, etc.

The women learned cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, smocking, plaiting straw and more in order to keep their hands busy and make a living. Many others were proficient in music and could play an instrument, or multiple instruments, and this skill was also widely shared by teaching others in the community.

Independence in 1973 presented us with the opportunity to preserve our culture and tell our own stories in our own voice! But alas, colonialism did its job splendidly in The Bahamas!

‘gubment’ contingent, allegedly 50 plus strong, have jetted off to London to see the King and revel in the superficial trappings of the British monarchy, taking careful note of how best to emulate them and retain the vestiges that they represent.

To add insult to injury, our Prime Minister and his OPM entourage traipsing about London have, in yet another blatant conflict of interest, sent out a video clip with a grand announcement of their proposed partnership with a British entity to develop a Performing Arts School in The Bahamas to ‘expose’ our people to the Arts and allow them to ‘earn a good living.’

conveniently no interest rates quoted. You might need $200m, but certainly not double and why isn’t the parties who won the RFP funding and will build operate and transfer meaning no cost to the Public Treasury? $400m who came up with that scope of works total? Exaggerated by half again easy...Nothing wrong with the terminal except renew sides with pre-cast concrete slabs ground up... internally metal studs separate and

re-engineered at most $200m.

A BOT process would require the private partners to find the $$$’s... operate and, in say, 10-15 years or a little longer ramp paid for, etc.

No, Prime Minister, don’t care if the $400m for the Brits is engraved with Coronation and Royal Gold, we don’t need further debt.

T HUDSON Nassau, May 5, 2023.

Growing up in the era of transition from British colonial rule to an Independent nation was an exciting time when we, as Bahamians, were proud of having achieved Majority Rule, Independence, and self government. Ironically we were more independent before Independence because we were a people who knew what it meant to struggle and work hard to make ends meet, and to work together towards a common goal. We had faith, we had pride, we had determination, and we had community.

Although we sang the words of “Rule Britannia,” our Bahamian culture kept us independently and firmly grounded in who we were as a people – what you saw was what you got: ‘dis me naw’! We expressed that immense pride through our unique creative arts, be it music, dance, storytelling, speech, drama, junkanoo, ring play, etc. - all forms of expression that came from our very ancestral soul that were passed down

The lure of mirroring and adopting the trappings of our former ‘masters’ became too enticing for our ‘leaders’. Rather than embracing and using our Bahamian cultural anchor to steer us on a clear course to success as the masters of our own fate, we instead threw out the baby - those assets that make us uniquely who we are as a people - with the bathwater, and turned our backs on our clapboard houses, our outside ‘terlits’ and kitchens, our plaiting of straw and gathering of bush medicines and so much more, whilst petty politics razed the cultural village that could have been the haven of its development and protection.

Thus, the musical era of the big bands comprised of world class talented Bahamian musicians and entertainers was swept away with the incoming tide of foreign investment from large resorts and developments who converted our formerly independent creatives and master craftsmen into taxi drivers, waiters, and bus boys in our new tourism-driven economy.

Is it not ironically the case that then, as now, ‘foreign’ largely steers the Bahamian ship of state which we have allowed ourselves to become ‘beholden’ to, since we seldom control the wheel?

Fast forward to the present, and here we sadly languish, 50 independent years later, as a large

The ‘politricksters’ have the gall to drop the buzz words ‘Orange Economy’ left, right, and centre like they know what they are talking about, and spend money lavishly on themselves and their pleasure whilst: the Dundas Theatre for the Performing Arts continues to beg for funds from the public to assist with the repair of its air conditioning system; our National Youth Choir begs for public funding to travel abroad and get new costumes; the National Performing Arts Centre (the former Shirley Street Theatre) continues to deteriorate, never having received changing rooms for the performers; Bahamian non profits secure creative scholarships for our talented students; Bahamian creatives have to leave the country in order to make a living in their profession; the country does not have an Intellectual Property environment operating effectively and robustly to protect our creatives!

In all of the above ‘lies the rub’ and is the impetus for this letter!

After last year’s Dubai debacle and its considerable backlash from the creative community who highlighted the ‘politricksters’ ignorance of the Orange Economy - which the Bahamian creatives have been holding together on a shoestring forever and a day – yet we still stand, should we have dared to hope that gubment dem (mustard and ketchup alike) would finally get it?

More fool us, right? They do not disappoint!

PAM BURNSIDE Nassau, May 9, 2023

Rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Gaza City, yesterday. Israeli aircraft struck targets in the Gaza Strip for a second straight day on Wednesday, killing at least one Palestinian and pushing the region closer toward a new round of heavy fighting.

Photo: Hatem Moussa/AP

Bullets found at scene don’t match gun in car, expert says

from page one

his death.

Sgt Thomas, a certified firearms examiner, said one of the five firearms submitted for her analysis was allegedly found in Major’s car. The black Taurus 9mm pistol had an erased serial number and was found with a fully loaded twelve-round magazine.

Sgt Thomas said the remaining four guns are all police-issued weapons capable of firing and inflicting harm. After the firearms and associated magazines were shown to the court and officially submitted as evidence, Sgt Thomas discussed the results of a gunshot residue (GSR) test. The test involves swabbing a person’s hands to determine if that person or someone near them discharged a firearm.

Sgt Thomas said the GSR test was sent to the Hamilton Country Crime Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio, for analysis and it was determined that the deceased or someone within

his vicinity discharged a firearm.

She said a person who fired the gun had to be in “extremely close” proximity to the deceased for gunshot residue to be found on his hands.

She said none of the recovered bullet casings or fragments – some of which still had visible blood on them – matched the gun found in the victim’s car. Police Constable Nikita Pickstock, a forensics officer, showed surveillance footage from a nearby convenience store on Fire Trail Road where Major was killed.

A tense silence fell over the court as the footage played, with people straining to see what happened. Near the end of the footage, a crowd could be seen gathering near a car in a parking lot. However, darkness obscured what happened. The footage ended with a group disbursing as a car’s lights flashed in the background.

AzArio Major who was shot by Police in December 2021

The fAmily of Azario Major (pictured outside court on Monday) are seeking answers and justice.

While Commonwealth heads are clear, Bahamain leaders fuzzy on remaining under the King

THE coronation of King Charles III evoked another round of debate by countries which retain the British monarch as head of state on whether and when to become republics. There is also renewed discussion on the role the monarchy played in the slave trade, and on reparations.

The 14 realm countries, excluding the United Kingdom, are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu.

The majority of the leaders of these countries have declared their support for becoming a republic, with a number making preparations to do so within this decade.

Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew of St Kitts and Nevis, with a population of approximately 47,000, indicated that his country is “not totally free” with a foreign head of state.

As reported in the UK Guardian, he “told the BBC a public consultation on whether the Commonwealth realm nation should become a republic would start during his leadership. He also called for the monarch to apologize for its historic ties to slavery”.

According to the Amandala newspaper in Belize,

Prime Minister John Briceño, who did not attend the coronation, when questioned about the Central American nation becoming a republic responded, “I think the chance is quite high. It’s quite likely”.

“The PM stated that not only should the monarchy apologise for the enslavement of former British colonies but that reparations were necessary.”

Our Today reported, “Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has once again shared his intentions to break from the ‘absurdity’ of the British monarchy.”

Dr Gonsalves has his work cut out for him. The BBC also reported: “In 2009, St Vincent and the

Grenadines held a referendum to decide whether to transition to a republic. Forty-five per cent of voters chose to replace Queen Elizabeth II with a ceremonial president - falling far short of the two-thirds required … Gonsalves has said he would like to try again.”

Forbes reported in January: “Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, instructed his nation’s government to ‘move ahead with speed’ in abolishing the country’s constitutional monarchy – the final move in erasing the island nation’s formal connection to Britain, along with the colonialism and racialised past that comes with it.”

Mr Holness emphasised: “It is time that Jamaica becomes a republic. For us, the process is not simple, and we have known this since we started on this journey. And we are making sure that we check every box as we move deliberately in that regard.”

In 2020, a Jamaica Observer poll indicated that 55 percent of Jamaicans wanted to remove the British monarch as head of state while 30 percent favoured retention. The Jamaican Opposition similarly favours the country becoming a republic.

In 2020, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, told the Guardian that he would hold a referendum on

becoming a republic within three years after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr. Browne stated to ITV: “This is not an act of hostility or any difference between Antigua and Barbuda and the monarchy, but it is the final step to complete that circle of independence, to ensure that we are truly a sovereign nation.”

In an interview with Sky News, 45-year-old Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, asked if the country would become a republic during his lifetime, responded: “I believe so.”

The broadcaster reported on its website that Mr. Mitchell “said he has ‘hope’ it will happen during his leadership, but ruled out any concrete constitutional change before 2024.”

Former St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet declared: “I certainly believe, like many other people, the time has come to make that change in becoming a republic.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would push for his country to become a republic if his party is re-elected.

Like his predecessor Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, supports the country becoming a republic, though it is not a policy priority.

Meanwhile… in The Bahamas, as we celebrate

half a century as a sovereign nation, the country’s Prime Minister has invited the British monarch to help preside over our independence celebrations.

The Nassau Guardian reported: “Prime Minister Philip Davis was non-committal on the issue when asked about it after the Queen’s death last September. ‘The only challenge with us moving to a republic is that, as much as I would wish to do it, I can’t do it without your consent,’ he told reporters, but did not commit to such a referendum.”

Does the Prime Minister support The Bahamas becoming a republic? If so, his invitation to the King to attend independence celebrations is a terribly mixed message at best.

Neither major party has a clear, consistent, intelligible, coherent, thoughtful position on whether we should become a republic.

In an interview with Our News on September 29, last year when asked about The Bahamas becoming a republic, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard deflected.

He fudged by saying there should be a national discussion, without declaring his position. Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, disappointingly, appears comfortable with the status quo on this matter. At least he has a clear position.

Last September, this journal reported the comments of former Prime Minister Perry Christie. Mr Christie also fudged the question.

“Asked if he would support the move towards making The Bahamas a republic, Mr. Christie did not give a definitive answer, saying the matter was not seriously considered during his time in office.

“I would not want to preempt the government. I had the opportunity to serve as Prime Minister and it never became a relevant consideration at the time that I served as Prime Minister.

Whether it was a “relevant consideration” is beside the point. Does one favour The Bahamas becoming a republic or not? Other world leaders have been clear. They have taken a position, even when noting the difficulties involved.

Mr Christie continued with this bafflegab: “It obviously hasn’t become much of a question to date in The Bahamas. We have a new government and it’s for them to continue to look closely at governance in our country and make a determination, hopefully with the support of our people as to which steps we take in our maturation process and that’s what it’s all about.”

Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell has consistently and intelligently stated his support for The Bahamas becoming a republic.

Sadly, most of our leaders are afraid to be bolder in their declarations on this matter, preferring not to take a forward-leaning position and demonstrate leadership.

After the death of Queen Elizabeth last year,

a “State Memorial Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance of our Late Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II” was held at Christ Church Cathedral.

The event was poorly attended and, oddly, it was held after she had already been interred, as if an afterthought. Other realms held services in a timelier manner. A public holiday was observed, though there were no meaningful events to mark the passing of the sovereign.

With the coronation of Charles III, there has been scant public observance, and indifference, though the Prime Minister understandably and, oddly, the Leader of the Opposition, flew to London for coronation events.

Though there appears to be tremendous ambivalence about the monarchy, we are trapped in a colonial mindset and status quo. Among our political elite, there appears to be an intellectual and ideological void and vapidity regarding whether we should become a republic.

Unlike leaders in the majority of the remaining realm countries, our leaders appear to have no strong feelings or beliefs on the matter.

There are no strong intellectual or progressive ideas on becoming a republic, on the monarchy’s historic role in the slave trade or on reparations, even as others around the world, including in the UK, debate these matters.

At the core of our colonial time warp is an intellectual vacuum, a great yawn, even as we commemorate our sovereignty and independence. It is a curious juxtaposition of a meandering Bahamas, whose leaders and people are idly adrift, with little vision for a renewed future, and little purpose.

If The Bahamas had remained as a British Overseas Territory, we would be more advanced in areas such as outlawing marital rape, full equality for women in passing on citizenship, and other progressive social and economic measures.

We boast of sovereignty and independence, yet we retain a colonial, often regressive and anti-modern mindset. It appears that deep down, many of the descendants of slaves in The Bahamas still harbour an entrenched racial insecurity, and belief that the former colonial masters are superior.

Even most of the political directorate in The Bahamas, unlike other regional and global leaders in the realm, cannot bring themselves to a greater intellectual and ideational emancipation.

Becoming a republic is an inevitable and necessary choice that will eventually come to pass despite the current incoherence, indecision and ambivalence of various political leaders. Still, The Bahamas will likely only become a republic out of international embarrassment or will be pressed to do so by the British.

CBS adds Championship League Soccer to lineup; although interrupted by Trump news

TUESDAY afternoon this week was generally a fine spring day on the American east coast, with the last remnants of a muchneeded morning rainstorm having largely cleared out to create a pleasant day for work in the yard or other entertainments.

Or to watch TV. But Tuesday this week was different. The Champions’ League semifinal was on television in mid-afternoon. CBS has paid $250m per year for the American broadcast rights to a package including the world’s greatest annual soccer tournament – the Champions League in Europe. (For comparison, CBS pays the NFL $1.1bn annually for the broadcast rights to NFC games).

Anyhow, it happened that on Tuesday afternoon, daytime viewers were treated to something different from the usual network lineup of soap operas or vaguely titillating reality shows.

Instead, startled fans could watch a match between the two best soccer teams in the world – Manchester City from England and Real Madrid from Spain. And this Champions League semi-final leg absolutely lived up to its advance billing.

The game, played at Real’s legendary Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the Spanish capital, ended in a 1 – 1 draw featuring goals by Madrid’s meteoric Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior and City’s Belgian midfield genius Kevin De Bruyne. Both goals were magnificent lightning bolts.

But the game was also notable because neither club’s more renowned striker scored. 35-yearold Karim Benzema, born in France to Algerian immigrant parents, has anchored championship teams for Real Madrid in

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

club competitions and for France internationally. He was around the goal but City’s wobbly defense kept him off the scoreboard.

Manchester City’s magnificent Viking, 22-year-old Erling Haaland of Norway, also didn’t score. City, whose depth, coaching and financial resources have enabled the team to gradually overhaul resurgent Arsenal for what will be an astonishing fifth Premier League title in the past six years, is again this year seeking its first ever Champions League crown.

Veteran coaches Pep Guardiola of City and Carlo Ancelotti of Madrid are truly worthy opponents for this epic two-match battle. Next Wednesday will offer the decisive climax – a rematch, in mid-afternoon, again on CBS.

BREAKING TRUMP NEWS

But Tuesday CBS viewers were startled by something other than a soccer match on TV in mid-afternoon. The game was interrupted by “Breaking News!”

A solemn Norah O’Donnell was summoned to reveal that the jury verdict in writer E Jean Carroll’s rape, battery and defamation civil lawsuit against former US president Donald Trump. Joined by a correspondent outside the Manhattan courthouse, a network legal analyst and a political commentator, O’Donnell interrupted the titanic soccer match for

over 20 minutes to reveal that the jury had found Trump liable for $5m on the battery and defamation charges, but not on the rape charge.

“If you don’t go back to the game, I will actually vote for Trump next year,” an outraged Twitter user exclaimed.

Since Trump refused to attend the trial and his defence team called no witnesses, this outcome was hardly surprising. He reacted typically with a denouncement of the trial’s illegitimate basis and political origins. Trump’s case was likely damaged when, in his taped deposition, he confused a picture of the plaintiff with an image of his second wife.

That didn’t help support his assertion that Carroll was “not his type”.

With a few exceptions, Republicans yesterday reacted by trying to evade the issue of this latest “first” in a lengthening list of Trump’s dubious, unprecedented accomplishments. Senators Lindsay Graham and Mitt Romney seem to have staked out the leading positions for and against Trump respectively.

To be fair, what should GOP politicians do? Trump still seems certain to be their presidential nominee next year, and they know he cannot win unless Biden is incapacitated somehow and the Democrats stumble to find an effective replacement.

Florida teams playoFF success

It’s starting to look like our “local” South Florida pro basketball and ice hockey teams are on a course to deliver memorable post-season runs in the NBA and NHL playoffs.

To the surprise of very few experienced observers, the Miami Heat seem to have their second round series with the New York Knicks under control. And there is basically one reason: Jimmy Butler. This talismanic figure took a circuitous route to South Florida in his NBA career, with prior stops in Chicago, Minnesota and Philadelphia. Butler is a six-time NBA all-star, a four-time member of the All-NBA team, a five-time member of the league’s All-Defensive team, and a 2016 winner of an Olympic gold medal.

“Jimmy Buckets” is a terrific playoff player, and he has led a scrappy, injuryhobbled Heat team past top-seeded Milwaukee and played in New York last night to dispatch the Knicks.

Under the leadership of owner (and Carnival Cruise Lines chairman) Mickey Arison, President Pat Riley in the front office and Head Coach Eric Spoelstra on the bench, the Heat have represented unusual stability in the NBA. Arison has owned the team since 1995. His Heat are three-time NBA champions. They may not win a fourth title this year, but Miami has certainly proven the value of sound, stable front office direction and creative, consistent coaching this year. To be 2023 champions, the Heat would have to beat Philadelphia

Still, the 76ers’ surprising win in Boston on Tuesday night looks good for Miami.

Despite the renaissance of James Harden and burgeoning maturation of NBA 2023 MVP Joel Embiid, Philadelphia would be an easier opponent for our South Florida heroes than would the battle-tested and veteran-influenced Celtics. Either way, the other Eastern Conference semifinal series looks like a bloody donnybrook that might leave the survivor vulnerable to the Heat.

It all might prove to be too much even for this attractive, overachieving Heat team. But then again, not many prognosticators had them beating Milwaukee to start the playoffs, so who knows? It will be fun to watch.

Meanwhile, on the ice, remember last year when the Florida Panthers, who play their home games out in western Broward County practically across the freeway from the Everglades, earned the President’s Trophy with the best regular season record in the NHL? They were everyone’s darlings going into the playoffs in 2022.

Then they crashed and burned, collapsing against the much more playoff-tested Tampa Bay Lightning. Not much was expected of the eighth-seeded Panthers in this year’s postseason tournament.

But it certainly looks like the Panthers learned something from last year’s disappointment. All they have done so far is to beat the Boston Bruins, this year’s President’s Trophy winners and owners of the best regular-season record in the 106-year history of the NHL. This upset earned them the right to face the Toronto Maple Leafs, also

significantly higher-rated.

The Panthers hoped to close out a 4-0 series sweep against the Leafs last night and advance to the conference finals.

Any Canadian with even a slight interest in sports will tell you that the Maple Leafs are one of the enduring disappointments from the land up north. A member of the so-called Original Six (with Montreal, New York, Boston, Chicago and Detroit), the club was one of six NHL teams to have endured the Great Depression in the 1930s. The Leafs have won 13 Stanley Cup championships, second only to the 24 championships of the Montreal Canadiens.

The Hockey Hall of Fame is in Toronto. Hockey is Canada’s national sport. Toronto is Canada’s flagship city. The Leafs generally rule there. But not so much lately.

Since winning their last title in the 1966–67 season, the Leafs’ 54-season drought between championships is the longest in league history.

It is interesting to note that the Leafs’ futility matches that of the English national men’s soccer team, which also won its last and only world championship in 1966. England is the home of soccer. But England is also currently the only team to have won the World Cup but not their own major continental title (the European championship).

The Leafs aren’t likely coming back against the Panthers this year, so their title drought should continue. For the Panthers, meanwhile, the hurdles on their path to an NHL title might be less difficult to surmount than those of the Heat. After the recent success of the Lightning, might another ice hockey title trophy be headed to the Sunshine State?

MiaMi Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots a 3-point basket as New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett (9) defends during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference playoff semifinal, Monday, in Miami.

Photo: Lynne Sladky/AP or Boston and the Western Conference NBA titlist – probably the Lakers or Nuggets.

Resolution in Parliament establishes May

as ‘HMBS Flamingo Remembrance Day’

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

IN MEMORY of the four marines who died when HMBS Flamingo sank 42 years ago, the House of Assembly passed a resolution yesterday to designate May 10 as National HMBS Flamingo Remembrance Day.

Prime Minister Philip Davis, who led the debate on the resolution, said May 10 would not be a holiday.

“Today we pause to honour the memory of the ‘fallen four’,” he said. “These four brave servicemen continue to inspire us, even after 43 years since the tragic incident that took their lives.”

“Today, as we celebrate half a century of independence, the Defence Force stands as a testament to our resilience, our unity, and our dedication to protecting our nation’s sovereignty. It has evolved and adapted over the years, growing stronger and more capable, a progression set into motion by the painful catalyst of the Flamingo incident.”

After marines took custody of two Cuban fishing vessels near the Ragged Island chain and arrested their occupants, Able Seaman Fenrick Sturrup, 21, Marine Seaman Austin Rudolph Smith, 21, Marine Seaman David Allison

Tucker, 21, and Marine Seaman Edward Arnold Williams, 23, were killed when Cuban jets fired on and sank HMBS Flamingo on May 10, 1980.

Each year, observers recognise the event as a defining moment in the history of the embryonic Defence Force and the nation.

RBDF marines and officers, relatives of those involved in the incident, and the sixth-grade class of Queen’s College gathered at the House of Assembly’s gallery for yesterday’s sitting.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe supported the motion to move the resolution.

“It behoves us not to celebrate them,” he said. “It behoves us not to remember them. As their advocate, I am pleased to say that their request falls on fertile grounds on the ears for the member for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador.”

“Indeed, the first proposal sent to me by Commodore King, transmitted to the honourable Prime Minister, has already begun to be met almost in its entirety.

“The first proposal has been the designation of this day as National HMBS Flamingo Remembrance. They hasten to add, not a holiday, but a day of remembrance.”

Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis yesterday spoke at the ceremony remember the men lost in the sinking of the HMBS Flamingo. Parliament also passed a resolution yesterda making May 10 a national day of remembrance for the crew of the sunken vessel.

KiSHAN muNroe,won the prestigious Bridget Jones Award for Caribbean Studies for this multi-disciplinary artistic work, “Swan Song of the Flamingo” in 2015

Google is giving its dominant search engine an artificial-intelligence makeover

California associated Press

GOOGLE on Wednesday disclosed plans to infuse its dominant search engine with more advanced artificial-intelligence technology, a drive that’s in response to one of the biggest threats to its longestablished position as the internet’s main gateway.

The gradual shift in how Google’s search engine runs is rolling out three months after Microsoft’s Bing search engine started to tap into technology similar to that which powers the artificially intelligent chatbot ChatGPT, which has created one of Silicon Valley’s biggest buzzes since Apple released the first iPhone 16 years ago.

Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., already has been testing its own conversational chatbot called Bard. That product, powered by technology called generative AI that also fuels ChatGPT, has only been available to people accepted from a waitlist. But Google announced Wednesday that Bard will be available to all comers in more than 180 countries and more languages beyond English.

Bard’s multilingual expansion will begin with Japanese and Korean before adding about 40 more languages.

Now Google is ready to test the AI waters with its search engine, which has been synonymous with finding things on the internet for the past 20 years and serves as the pillar of a digital advertising empire that generated more than $220 billion in revenue last year.

“We are at an exciting inflection point,” Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai told a packed developers conference in a speech peppered with one AI reference after another. “We are reimagining all our products, including search.”

More AI technology will be coming to Google’s Gmail with a “Help Me Write” option that will produce lengthy replies to emails in seconds, and a tool for photos called “Magic Editor” that will automatically doctor pictures. The AI transition will begin cautiously with the search engine that serves as Google’s crown jewel.

The deliberate approach reflects the balancing act that Google must negotiate as it tries to remain on the cutting edge while also preserving its reputation for delivering reliable search results — a mantle that could be undercut by artificial intelligence’s penchant

for fabricating information that sounds authoritative.

The tendency to produce deceptively convincing answers to questions — a phenomenon euphemistically described as “hallucinations” — has already been cropping up during the early testing of Bard, which like ChatGPT, relies on still-evolving generative AI technology.

Google will take its next AI steps through a newly formed search lab where people in the U.S. can join a waitlist to test how generative AI will be incorporated in search results. The tests also include the more traditional links to external websites where users can read more extensive information about queried topics. It may take several weeks before Google starts sending invitations to those accepted from the waitlist to test the AI-injected search engine.

The AI results will be clearly tagged as an experimental form of technology and Google is pledging the AI-generated summaries will sound more factual than conversational — a distinct contrast from Bard and ChatGPT, which are programmed to convey more human-like personas. Google is building in guardrails that will prevent the AI baked into the search engine from responding to sensitive questions about health — such as, “Should I give Tylenol to a 3-year-old?” — and finance matters. In those instances, Google will continue to steer people to authoritative websites.

Google isn’t predicting how long it will be before its search engine will include generative AI results for all comers. The Mountain View, California, company has been under intensifying pressure to demonstrate how its search engine will maintain its leadership since Microsoft

began to load AI into Bing, which remains a distant second to Google.

The potential threat caused Alphabet’s stock price to initially plunge, although it has recently bounced back to where it stood when Bing announced its AI plans to great fanfare. More recently, The New York Times reported Samsung is considering dropping Google as the default search engine on its widely used smartphones, raising the specter that Apple might adopt a similar tactic with the iPhone unless Google can show its search engine can evolve with what appears to be a forthcoming AI-driven revolution.

Alphabet’s shares surged 4% Wednesday after Google’s wave of AI announcements to finish at $111.75, the highest closing price since Bing began melding with ChatGPT in early February.

As it begins to ingrain AI in its search engine, Google is aiming to make Bard smarter by connecting with the next generation of a massive data set known as a “large language model,” or LLM, that fuels it. The LLM that Bard relies on is dubbed Pathways Language Model, or PaLM. The AI in Google’s search engine will draw upon the next-generation PaLM2 and another technology known as a Multitask Unified Model, or MUM. Although people will have to wait to see how Google’s search engine will deploy generative AI to find answers, a new tool soon be more broadly available to all users. Google is going to add a new filter called “Perspectives” that will focus on what people are saying online about whatever topic is entered into the search engine. The new feature will be placed along existing search filters for news, images and video.

AlphAbet CEO Sundar Pichai speaks at a Google I/O event in Mountain View, Calif., Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP

Bahamas suffers 5-4 loss to Mexico

After two successful matches against Guatemala and Belize to open the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Beach Soccer Championships, The Bahamas came up short against Mexico, losing 5-4 last night.

The first period of three at the Malcolm Park beach soccer stadium saw Josè Vizcarra of Mexico score the first goal at the 4:24 mark of the game.

Eight seconds after Vizcarra’s initial goal, The Bahamas’ Wood Julmis retaliated with a goal of his own to even the score 1-1 at the 4:16 juncture of the game.

The Mexico men’s national beach soccer team placed their feet on the gas once again en route to another goal, this time by their own Diego Martinez. The team went into the second period of the game leading 2-1 over the home team. Team coach Alexandre Soares said the game was a hard-fought, good game and he gave credit to Mexico for being a

MEXICO’s Edgar Portilla delivers a powerful kick in the third period of the matchup versus The Bahamas last night.

top three team in CONCACAF. Soares said one of the most important things for him as the coach was to not lose players to a yellow card, red card or injuries. The team will look to take down Panama on Friday but the coach understands that the team has to bring their A-game against

the team. After halftime, Mexico’s goalkeeper Gabriel Macías kept the momentum going as he scored the team’s third goal of the game to stretch the lead to 3-1.

The Bahamas’ James Thompson was able to get the team back on the board, scoring the period’s first

goal for the home team at the 3:43 mark.

Macías once again was on the attack as he scored the second goal of the period for Mexico, making it his second goal of the game. The winning team clung to a 4-2 lead going into the final period of the game. In the final period, the

intensity picked up for both teams as Gary Joseph of The Bahamas nabbed the first goal for the country to add another point to their total.

coming out of the kickoff at the 5:43 mark to secure his second score of the game. The Bahamas tried to gather a last minute push behind a late goal by the team’s Kyle Williams coming off a turnover by Mexico.

SEE PAGE

19

SUMMER REGISTRATION FOR THE MARIO FORD BASEBALL CAMP OPENS

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

With the prize money set at $5,000 for this year’s winner, fans and teams were already on their toes but Bahamas Pro Basketball tournaments upped the ante and added a three-point and slam dunk contest to this year’s tourney.

The fan-favourite basketball contests will be open to anyone, including fans and the winner of each will take home $250.

Ricardo Smith, commissioner and chief executive officer of Bahamas Pro Basketball Tournaments, said this year’s tournament will not only be exciting, but will also show that basketball should be taken more seriously in the country.

Smith believes that the time, interest and capacity is there and thinks athletes of the country can make a living playing the sport once a professional sports entity is established.

The registration numbers for the three-point contest currently stands at 20 persons as they will all look to put their three-point shooting abilities on display at the tourney.

With the jamboree starting at 4pm today at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium, fans can expect to see the cars of Sunshine Auto on display and can purchase items from the pop-up shops at the venue from local vendors such as BTC, JOJ Collections, INO Temporary Tattoo Transformations and WL Empire.

Additionally, tonight will be the Bahamian Pride

night as event organisers want to celebrate the quest towards the 50th year of Independence.

Teams expected to compete at the gym over the next three days are the Filipinos all-star team, the defending champions Rockets, the new-look Tucker boys, the Pirates, Grand Bahama’s Three Ounce Athletics team, Abaco’s Showtime Ballers and the Giants.

Persons interested in registering for the threepoint and dunk contests can leave their full name and contacts on the Glory Basketball Jam facebook page or send their information to 808-5679.

Also, there will be a $25 registration fee per participant in both contests.

For persons interested in attending the basketball jamboree which starts today, tickets will be at a cost of $10 on Thursday and Friday.

On Saturday, the tickets will be $15.

Event organisers will have something for everyone at this year’s basketball extravaganza, including cash prizes, giveaways, basketball entertainment and a rims competition.

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Mario Ford baseball camp will return to Windsor Park this summer. Registration has now opened for the summer session of the camp, set for June 19 to June 30.

Girls and boys ages 7 through 15 will receive the opportunity to play and learn the foundational skills of the sport Monday to Friday. The weekly sessions are scheduled for 9am to 1pm. The summer session will be the second hosting of the camp for the year so far.

Mario Ford, head coach of the baseball camp, talked about his expectations for this summer’s camp. “The goal is to teach the basic fundamentals of baseball, to help participants take their game to the next level,” Ford said.

He added that learning these fundamentals at an early age will help the youth because the foundation of baseball never changes and it is always repetitive which is why teaching them proper mechanics is important.

The coach expects that a lot of persons will sign

THE Mario Ford baseball camp will return to Windsor Park this summer.

up for the camp and he is excited because the sport is not just a sport anymore, but also can be a career for some to help them earn a living once they have the proper skills to propel them to the international level.

At this year’s summer camp, the kids will learn catching drills, stepping, throwing, hitting, eye-hand coordination, how to bat, slide and run the base.

Also, practicing in-game situations and potential ingame plays.

Earlier this year the Mario Ford baseball camp held its first training session

in March, and after the summer session persons will have another chance to register for baseball at the end of the year.

The camp will not only teach the youth basic baseball skills and fundamentals but will also show them the value and fun within the sport.

For persons interested in registering their girls and boys, they can sign up on or before June 19.

If additional information is required you can call 242-556-0093/242-8286414/242-456-2158 or can send an email to funk.58@ hotmail.com

Photo by Tenajh Sweeting

THE second edition of the Glory Basketball Jamboree was already set to be an exciting three days of around the clock basketball action, May 11-13.

8 STRAIGHT! ST FRANCIS & JOSEPH SHOCKERS ARE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESAN TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONS

RUNNERS-UP:

Brunson scores 38 points, Knicks beat Heat 112-103 in Game 5 to cut deficit to 3-2

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) —

Jalen Brunson had 38 points, nine rebounds and seven assists while playing all 48 minutes in a seasonextending performance, and the New York Knicks beat the Miami Heat 112103 last night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Knicks denied the Heat’s first attempt to become just the second No. 8 seed to reach the conference finals and sent the series back to Miami for Game 6 on Friday night.

RJ Barrett added 26 points and Julius Randle had 24 for the fifth-seeded Knicks, who stayed alive in hopes of reaching the conference finals for the first time since 2000. They did that by getting by the Heat in seven games in the second round, a possibility that still exists.

The Knicks built a 19-point lead in the third quarter, then hung on when the Heat finally got their 3-pointers to start falling and cut it to two with 2 1/2 minutes remaining.

Jimmy Butler had 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Heat, getting held below 25 points for the first time in this postseason. Bam Adebayo added 18 points and Duncan Robinson had 17. The 1999 Knicks, for now, remain the only No. 8 to get to a conference finals in the current playoff

JOEL EMBIID AND 76ERS, JOKIC AND NUGGETS ON BRINK OF CONFERENCE FINALS IN GAME 6

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— Two of the dominant players of their generation, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic have each won MVP awards. Neither player has won the ultimate prize, an NBA championship.

Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers and Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are on the brink of getting one round closer if their teams can win a pair of Game 6s tonight.

The 76ers look to close out the Boston Celtics at home and advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001, when their last league MVP — Allen Iverson — carried them on his 6-foot frame. Denver tries to win its series against the Suns in Phoenix.

The odds don’t favour either team. The Celtics are 2-point favourites and the Suns are 3.5-point

Curry and Warriors force Game 6

By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)

— Stephen Curry had 27 points and eight assists, Andrew Wiggins added 25 points, seven rebounds and five assist, and the defending champion Golden State Warriors staved off elimination by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 121-106 in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals last night.

LeBron James had 25 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles. Anthony Davis added 23 points and nine rebounds but went to the locker room late after appearing to take a hit in the head from Kevon Looney.

Austin Reaves made a 3-pointer with 5:25 to play that cut the Warriors’ lead to single digits at 104-95 only for Curry to answer with five straight points, then he hit another big shot after D’Angelo Russell connected from deep. Draymond Green contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds as Golden State played tough defence that led to better chances on the offensive end — just as coach Steve Kerr has challenged his team to to.

Now, it’s back to LA for Game 6 on Friday night with the Lakers 5-0 at home this postseason, having won eight consecutive games on their own floor since losing to the Bulls on March 26.

Golden State is trying rally from a 3-1 series deficit for only the second time in franchise history and will try to win one more to bring Game 7 back to Chase Center on Sunday.

The Warriors rallied from 3-1 down in the 2016 Western Conference finals against Oklahoma City.

Curry beat the halftime buzzer with a 3-pointer over Lonnie Walker IV as the Warriors took a 70-59 lead.

favourites to each win Game 6, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Jokic has made the conference finals before, in 2020 when Denver lost to the eventual champion Lakers in five games at the NBA’s restart at Walt Disney World amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Embiid has been bounced from the second round of the playoffs four times his career. Both big men understand what a championship means to their legacy and how the time is now to at least get to the NBA Finals.

Jokic, who had 29 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for his 10th career playoff triple-double in Game 5, said the Nuggets must be ready to match Kevin Durant and Phoenix’s desperation in Game 6.

“It’s a must-win for them. We need to have the mentality it’s a must-win for us,” he said. “We don’t want to come here and get to Game 7 and everything that happens. We don’t

need to think about it as desperation — we need to think about it as playing aggressive, playing exactly how we played (in Game 5). Because I think we didn’t play desperate today. I think we played really aggressive and really smart.”

Embiid has scored 30 points in three straight games after sitting out Game 1 with a sprained right knee.

Embiid flashed his MVP form in Game 5 when he ran down Jaylen Brown and blocked his shot from behind. The block snuffed a late Boston rally and coach Doc Rivers called it the “biggest play of the game.”

Embiid, however, said he wasn’t “very good tonight.” If he starts playing as well as he thinks he can, the Celtics could be in for a long Game 6. “I think I can be way better,” Embiid said. “As the series goes on, as everything goes on, I’ll hopefully start to feel better and better and better.”

MVP EMBIID LEADS ALL-NBA TEAM, RUNNER-UP JOKIC LANDS ON 2ND TEAM

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

DENVER’S Nikola Jokic now knows how Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid felt during two previous NBA award seasons.

Second in the MVP race — but only second-team All-NBA.

Embiid — the newly crowned MVP — headlined the All-NBA team unveiled last night.

He was the first-team centre, while Jokic was the second-team pick at that position.

It was a reversal of the results from 2021 and 2022, when Jokic was MVP over

Embiid, who then had to settle for the second-team All-NBA center spot.

And this should be the final time such a quirk happens.

Starting next year, the All-NBA team will no longer be broken down by position — meaning the presumed second-best player in the NBA one season, such as Embiid in 2021 and 2022 and Jokic now, will not have to be relegated to secondteam anything.

Joining Embiid on the first team were Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo at forward, and Dallas’ Luka Doncic

and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at guard.

On the second team along with Jokic were Miami’s Jimmy Butler and Boston’s Jaylen Brown at forward, and Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell at guard.

The third team centre was Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis, with the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James — now a 19-time selection, extending his record — and New York’s Julius Randle getting the forward spots and Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Portland’s Damian Lillard the guard selections.

76ERS centre Joel Embiid (21) smiles while walking down court with James Harden (1) during Game 5 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Celtics on Tuesday night in Boston.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Bahamas earns 6-2 win over Belize

TEAM Bahamas players in action on Tuesday night against Belize in the featured game on day two of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship and World Cup Qualifier in the national beach soccer stadium at Malcolm Park. The Bahamas won 6-2.

Photos by Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

TEAM Bahamas players, far right, celebrate after defeating Belize 6-2 on day two of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship and World Cup Qualifier in the national beach soccer stadium.

Bahamas falls to Mexico

FROM PAGE 15

Gavin Christie, a member of The Bahamas’ national team, said it was a good game and fight as Mexico is always a tough competitor.

He added that the home team had a few chances to tie things up despite playing well, but unfortunately it didn’t happen that way.

After going to sudden death for a 2-2 (5-4) win over Guatemala in game one on Monday night, the Bahamas knocked off Belize 6-2 on Tuesday to remain undefeated with four points.

But the Mexicans were a little too much for them to handle and their winning

streak came to an end after the 5-4 nipping on Wednesday.

The team will look to recuperate following three straight games, according to Christie, in efforts to be prepared for the big matchup against Panama this Friday.

The teams will have a rest day today and will resume the CONCACAF Beach soccer championships on Friday with The Bahamas taking on Panama in the playoffs. The finals will be played on Sunday with the two final participants advancing to the World Cup.

THE BAHAMAS’ Kyle Williams delivers a bicycle kick during last night’s CONCACAF beach soccer championships matchup against Mexico at the Malcolm Park beach soccer stadium.

Photos by Tenajh Sweeting

MEN’s national beach soccer team in the huddle.