05152023 NEWS AND SPORT

Police review file in MP raPe claiM Finishing strong

COP says officers are ‘dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s’

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

FIVE weeks after a woman filed a complaint accusing an elected official of rape and abuse, Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said officers are still scrutinising the investigation file.

He said when their review is finished, they will consult the Office of the Director of

Public Prosecutions (DPP) on what to do next.

Police officials have been silent and hard to reach to discuss the matter recently.

However, Commissioner Fernander told The Tribune yesterday: “We are still tidying.”

“Grand Bahama was viewing the file,” he added. “Now it is here, so we are going now to view it and

Govt’s support for B p L hits $110m in 9 months

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

GOVErNmENt loans

to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and agencies neartripled during the first nine months of the current fiscal year to enable Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) to pay off its fuel bill arrears.

Simon Wilson, the ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, yesterday confirmed the $80m increase in such “bilateral loans” during

the three months to endmarch 2023, which took the nine-month jump to $110m, represented financial support to the state-owned electrical utility to pay-off outstanding debts.

“You’re correct. that’s BPL,” he replied, when asked about the figures, which were contained in the ministry of Finance’s latest quarterly public debt statistical bulletin for the quarter to end-march.

ft X Bahamas says us Broke ‘every sinGL e pL edGe’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

FtX’s Bahamian liquidators have accused their US adversaries of “breaching every single” co-operation pledge in just four short months as they urged the Supreme Court to “sort it out” with Delaware.

Brian Simms KC, the Lennox Paton senior partner, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) accounting duo, Kevin Cambridge and Peter

Greaves, in their may 12, 2023, court filings argued that Sir Ian Winder and Judge John Dorsey, his Delaware Bankruptcy Court

counterpart, needed to take over relations between the two jurisdictions as the prospect of improved cooperation from FtX US chief, John ray, and his team was “a dim one at best”. the Bahamian joint provisional liquidators warned there was “a very high risk of duplicative, never-ending litigation” unless the two courts - and their respective judges - work out a cross-border cooperation protocol.

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NAtIONAL Security minister Wayne munroe said it was the minnis administration that initially awarded a no-bid, multimillion dollar contract to Walker’s Industries to build a high-medium security facility at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS). “I met Walker’s engaged,” he said yesterday. “Perhaps you should call marvin Dames.”

Under the current legal regime, failing to open

munroe says new prison contract is fnm hoL dover praise and warninG for new centre for juveniL es

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

tHE new juvenile detention centre at the Bahamas Department of Corrections has drawn praise from a leading juvenile rights expert and warnings about how the facility could impede progress for youth in conflict with the law.

Senior corrections and Cabinet officials joined National Security minister Wayne munroe to open the facility last week.

However, attorney tavarrie Smith, who toured the facility with them, highlighted what he called several critical

Olympic bronze-medalist Megan Tapper runs strong towards the finish line for first place in the women’s 100m hurdles finals at the New Life Invitational event in Grand Bahama. See SPORTS for full coverage from the Tribune team in Grand Bahama.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

Munroe says new prison contract is FNM holdover

such projects to bids could put the government afoul of the Public Procurement Act. However, Mr Munroe said the Minnis administration signed off on it before the original procurement law came into force in September 2021. That law has since been repealed and replaced.

Mr Munroe said initially the project was expected to use the wagon-wheel design that was once the standard among corrections facilities.

“What they were looking at the wagon-wheel thing, when you priced it at preCOVID, prices was $45m pre-COVID before supply chain interruption, without renewables,” he said.

The wagon-wheel design has since been nixed, and the Davis administration has expanded construction plans from a $40m highmedium facility to a $90m correctional institution, administrative, housing and medical facility.

Mr Munroe defended the administration’s decision not to open the project for bids once their plan

expanded.

“Why would you,” he said, “go out to tender if you were going to select somebody to build something inadequate for $40m? Why would you suddenly go out to tender if the American Correctional Facility tells you what you have there won’t be certified? You’re missing two clinics. You’re missing special housing for psychiatric people. You’ve set it out wrong. If you accept that you could select a person to build an inadequate $40m design project, why would the fact when you design it properly you suddenly have to go out to tender?”

Sources have told The Tribune that Walker’s Industries has no reputation for large-scale projects like the one slated for the BDOCS.

Mr Munroe said the company specialises in electrical work critical to corrections facilities.

“It’s prefabricated steel cell and SteelCell, the US company who build these all over the US, they’re the contractor to put together the steel cells,” he said.

“The other part of it is cable and control systems to open doors, to use spaces.”

“When you look at the plan,” he continued, “the biggest part of the plan other than prefabricating the cells are the control systems, what people seem to say Walker’s do. The part that aren’t related to that basically are creating a concrete shell, putting in the water treatment, because we had to add the water treatment, and the solar stuff because we have a government policy on renewables.”

East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson, the last state minister of finance in the Minnis administration, said yesterday he could not recall the Minnis administration signing off on a contract with Walker’s Industries for anything related to the BDOCS.

“I can’t see that he’s saying he met something in place, but the work is supposed to start,” he said.

Former National Security Minister Marvin Dames could not be reached for comment.

nAtionAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said it was the Minnis administration that initially awarded a no-bid, multi-million dollar contract to Walker’s Industries to build a high-medium security facility at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS). He said, “I met Walker’s engaged, perhaps you should call Marvin Dames.”

Praise and warning for new centre for juveniles

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issues that should be addressed.

“The Bahamas has long been in breach of various local and international conventions mandating that we separate juveniles from adult inmates, no sight or sound contact,” Mr Smith said. “I recall representing a 16-year-old juvenile back in 2015 who was housed at the remand centre of BDOCS. The juvenile had appeared in court bleeding, with bruises on his face and blood on his shirt as he explained to the judge that he was attacked by an adult inmate on the prison bus. That was just one of the many horrific stories I have encountered over the past ten years, cases of juveniles being physically, sexually, and mentally assaulted by the adult inmates. To see that we have finally removed them from general population is a key achievement towards the advancement of human

rights for children in conflict with the law.”

Nonetheless, Mr Smith said the absence of security cameras at the facility is problematic and that cameras should be installed immediately for everyone’s safety.

He similarly questioned whether fire services were consulted in the design of the building, saying smoke alarms, sprinklers and fire extinguishers were missing.

He said the centre has an open floor concept and has “no ability to lockdown, cordon off or restrict access and movement.”

“There appear to be no means whatsoever to isolate, restrain, or separate the residents should a brawl erupt, and let’s be pragmatic here, it is only a matter of time before someone steals a chip, insults someone’s mother, disrespects a gang affiliate, or snitches on another resident,” he said. “Do we really want our decent, hardworking prison officers

running into an all-out brawl to separate the residents, knowing about the proliferation of ‘shanks’ in our prisons?”

Mr Smith said provisions for personal storage appear inadequate, with property expected to be stored in plastic bin containers tucked under beds in open living quarters.

“I have seen many juvenile residents appear before the juvenile court for fighting, which often was started because someone’s commissary, toiletries or garments were stolen,” he said.

dditionally, juveniles sentenced to prison, according to Mr Smith, should not be mixed with youth on remand.

“We need to be clear and deliberate in our attempt to further separate persons on remand and persons who are serving a sentence as research as clearly showed juveniles remanded in custody experience worse conditions and more

Police review file in MP ra Pe claiM

restricted regimes than those for sentenced offenders in young offender,” he said. “Mixing the two populations is a recipe for intimidation, bullying, developing criminal habits, and gang recruitment.”

Asked about Mr Smith’s concerns, Mr Munroe said yesterday: “That’s the building that’s available. They can go or they can stay where they were.”

Mr Munroe said prison officials designed the space to manage juveniles best.

“The reality for any juvenile who wants to be disruptive is they can go back to where they were previously,” he said.

“Prison officials are of the view that they know how to manage the juveniles in custody.”

Mr Munroe said security cameras are more critical for evidence gathering purposes than security.

“People paying attention to what’s happening keeps you safe,” he said. “Upstairs, they have people

Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said officers are still scrutinising the investigation file five weeks after a woman filed a complaint accusing an elected official of rape and abuse.

from page one

then now we will consult with our DPP office.”

Commissioner Fernander did not give a timeline when he expects police review to be complete.

“The investigation is going well,” he said. “The investigators are moving, dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s and then we will address it with our DPP office.”

A woman filed a complaint against a sitting MP on April 7 in Grand Bahama. She claimed the man became increasingly violent over the months of their relationship. According to a police document she showed The Tribune, she accused the MP of rape and death threats and said he needed professional help. She said she had difficulty sleeping and eating and feared for her family.

She said she would seek to bind him over to keep the peace.

The woman and her family have been sceptical about the willingness of police to aggressively investigate the matter, which involves a sitting MP from the governing Progressive Liberal Party.

The woman’s lawyer, Bjorn Ferguson, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

evidence and when you have a lot of them, people tend to get lazy.”

Nonetheless, he said CCTV may be installed eventually.

Attorney Tavarrie Smith has offered some views of critical issues of the newly opened Juvenile Detention Centre opened last week after he toured the facility. who can sit and watch the whole open plan. There’ll be correctional officers down on the floor. Security cameras do not keep you safe. They simply record

All Andros Comprehensive Clinic brings medical services to north and central Andros

In a significant stride towards accessible and affordable healthcare in The Bahamas, the all andros Comprehensive Clinic celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, May 13, with a mission to provide comprehensive medical care to residents of north and Central andros.

The community of andros, in a show of unity and anticipation, came out in large numbers to witness the long-awaited event at the clinic co-founded by Dr Drumeco Bowleg and Dr Danielle Strachan-Bowleg who aim to transform healthcare accessibility throughout the island. Dr Bowleg, the co-founder and Clinical Director, spoke passionately about the clinic’s mission. “The all andros Comprehensive Clinic is intended to be a space where our patients are treated with dignity and respect,” he said, emphasizing the clinic’s commitment to improving the quality of life for the community.

Dr Bowleg further outlined that the clinic would provide tailored, affordable healthcare options, aiming to significantly improve the overall health and wellbeing of the community. He stressed, “access to quality healthcare is a basic human right, and yet it remains out of reach for many Bahamians. This is why we believe that it is our duty to create a facility that is both affordable and accessible to everyone in our community.”

His remarks resonated with the community, highlighting the clinic’s pledge to provide the highest quality of care possible.

Dr Bowleg expressed deep gratitude to family, friends, and colleagues for

their unwavering support, attributing the project’s success to their belief and encouragement. Dr Danielle StrachanBowleg, co-founder and CEO, echoed her partner’s sentiments. She expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to realize this vision. “This has truly been

a labour of love, birthed so many years ago when we were young physicians with seemingly “pipe dreams” she shared, reflecting on the journey. She added, “Our collective dream has always been to bridge the very gap between distance and an exceptional standard of care, filling the void in

Police investigating a traffic fatality on s ir Milo Butler Hig H way

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

POLICE in new Providence are investigating a traffic accident that left a 37-year-old man dead on Friday. according to police, while driving on the northern side of Sir Milo Butler Highway, the man lost control of his black coloured nissan note. He crashed into the back of a white flatbed truck, also travelling in a northerly direction. The accident occurred around 5.19 am on Friday. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were contacted and on arrival gave medical assistance to the victim. Subsequently, he died of his injuries at the scene.

Investigations into the accident are continuing.

This latest incident comes after another traffic fatality in Grand Bahama left a woman dead on Thursday.

Police said the female driver was travelling in the northbound lane on Seahorse Road when she crashed into a tree at the centre median. Due to the extensive damage received, the jaws of life were used to extract the driver from the vehicle.

EMS personnel attended and took the victim to the hospital, where she was seen and examined by a doctor who later pronounced her dead.

Last week, Transport Minister Jobeth ColebyDavis said officials are trying to bring mobile

inspection units to the country to ensure that vehicles are road-worthy.

Mrs Coleby-Davis said there have been too many road deaths occurring on the streets, and it is critical that vehicles are in good condition.

“We have mobile inspection units that we are trying to bring into the country; one will be coming to GB,” she said.

She said that a vehicle would be able to drive through the inspection unit.

“Road safety and roadworthiness are very important to this administration because, over the last few months and last year, we had a lot of traffic fatalities that have taken the lives of our young people,” the minister said.

healthcare that we know our people need and deserve.”

Dr Strachan-Bowleg expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone who had supported their journey, stating, “Our journey will involve partnering with each one of you to provide patient-centered care, tailored specifically to meet

your unique needs. This is our pledge, our promise, our purpose. andros, we are here because we care.” as the doors of the all andros Comprehensive Clinic opened, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in healthcare for the community, with a steadfast commitment to a

healthier, happier future for all. The all andros Comprehensive Clinic, with its mission, commitment, and newly opened doors, promises to be a beacon of health and wellness for the community of andros, paving the way for a healthier, happier Bahamas.

woM an roBBed and sexually assaulted

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

a 38-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in bushes after her kidnapper robbed her on Saturday. a ccording to police, shortly after 10am, while the victim was walking in the area of Bacardi Road, a man got out of a

small grey vehicle and approached her. The man produced a firearm, forced the victim into his car and robbed her of an undisclosed amount of cash. a fter this, the suspect allegedly drove to nearby bushes, where he sexually assaulted the victim before leaving her and escaping.

In February, n ational Security Minister Wayne Munroe said officials intend to continue making it much easier for people to report sexual offences. He said officials want everyone in The Bahamas to feel comfortable in reporting to the police that a crime has been committed against them, regardless of the nature of the crime.

l a B our director says jo B seekers don’t know how to write resumes

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

LaBOUR Director Robert Farquharson said many job seekers are unprepared for the job market –– not knowing how to write resumes, do interviews or dress. His comment came after saying hundreds of jobseekers have registered to attend an employability workshop and job fair.

The Department of Labour, in conjunction with The national Training agency (nTa) on Gladstone Road, will be sponsoring an employability workshop under the theme “Resetting The Standards for Job Success.” The workshop will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday at the nTC for registered participants.

The second day of the workshop will feature some 15 businesses interviewing jobseekers for employment. Registration for the workshop is open to the public at the department’s Facebook page or jobseekers.bahamas.gov.bs.

Mr Farquharson told The Tribune yesterday that

about 200 persons have registered for the workshop.

“The primary purpose of the workshop is that we have found too that a number of jobseekers are not properly prepared to meet the job market,” he said. “They don’t know how to write resumés, they don’t know how to do interviews, they don’t know how to dress. So we have identified 200 of those persons and we’re going to bring them to the national Training agency.”

Mr Farquharson said he hopes the employability workshop will give inexperienced job seekers the tools they need to know “how to present themselves before a potential employer and give them a better opportunity to find a job”.

“We’re preparing for about 250,” Mr Farquharson said. “The idea is to give these young people the skills to better prepare them for the job market and to give them an opportunity to find employment through proper interviews at the workshop.

“On the second day, we have a number of employers who are going to be participating. On the

second day, they will hopefully be interviewed for jobs that are available. There are 15 employers that are going to join us on the second day.” Other businesses partnered with the Department of Labour for this workshop include BTC, Imagine Greater 242, the Bahamas Society for Human Resource Management and JS Johnson Insurance agents and Brokers.

The workshop is one of several employment initiatives hosted by the Department of Labour.

In January, the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, the Department of Labour and other stakeholders, including Government High School, hosted the initial “Labour on Campus” event. The initiative comprised a series of career/job fairs to help 10th and 11thgrade students prepare for the job market.

In March, Mr Farquharson revealed that the Labour on the Blocks job fair series had resulted in employment for more than 3,000 Bahamian job seekers since May 2022.

All Andros Comprehensive Clinic healthcare team from left to right: Dr Danielle Strachan-Bowleg, co-founder and CEO; Leann Sweeting, administrative assistant; Johnesha Rolle, trained clinical nurse; Seanica Rolle-Saunders, registered nurse; and Dr Drumeco Bowleg, co-founder and clinical director.

Azario shot 41 times - and gun found in his car ‘had safety on’

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A LAWYER representing the family of Azario Major claims a gun found in Major’s car had its safety on before he received 41 gunshot wounds when he was shot at by police outside Woody’s Bar on Fire Trail Road.

This came after Sergeant Mark Taylor testified at the Coroner’s Court inquest on Friday before Acting Coroner Kara TurnquestDeveaux into Major’s police-involved killing on December 26, 2021.

An officer named Sergeant Sweeting was first approached by the deceased, the court heard. He, along with three other officers - Sergeant Rolle, Inspector Saunders, and Sergeant Johnson - ultimately shot Major after a gun was reportedly seen in his car.

Sgt Taylor, one of the officers on duty conducting plain clothes reconnaissance at the bar on the night of the shooting, recalled how he and the other officers engaged Major that night.

He said Major was initially told to leave by officers for disturbing the peace, and when he returned, Sgt Taylor said officers observed him driving slowly in a suspicious manner.

As Insp Saunders was the senior officer, Sgt Taylor said the other officers present followed his lead as he approached the vehicle. After Insp Saunders yelled there was a gun in the car, Sgt Taylor heard the four officers fire in Major’s direction.

He told the court he did not shoot at the deceased because the other officers

were directly in his line of fire.

Sgt Taylor indicated that after the shooting, the officers backed away from the vehicle and secured the scene until CSI arrived saying that “we were around the vehicle”. He also said that after CSI

arrived he was dismissed by Insp Saunders and that police protocol was followed that night.

While Sgt Taylor said he did not see Major raise a gun, he also said that he did not see any officer throw a gun into the car, remove the victim’s phone or tamper

BELL WARNS OF DANGER OF PIT BULL MIX BREEDS

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR and Immigration Minister Keith Bell is the latest elected official to raise concerns about pit bulls, claiming they are mixing with potcakes and making those dogs more dangerous.

He spoke about the matter at a Power Breakfast hosted by The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) last week.

His comments follow St Anne’s MP Adrian White and Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell who said a conversation is needed about banning pit bulls.

“When you look around at the dogs now, at the potcakes, you notice their feet are huge, that means

they’re mixed,” Mr Bell said. “So when you have some of these attacks, it isn’t from the traditional potcake anymore.

“Even the cases with the proliferation of stray dogs. We have them in our area, and if it isn’t our problem we just pass by and don’t address these issues and matters. I believe this morning, as a side bar, that I would wish to submit to all of us, to suggest to us how we’re able to address these problems and challenges.”

“(Regarding) the proliferation of dogs in our society, and they are all over the place, over the last several years we’ve had some attacks by these potcakes. But I can tell we don’t have any traditional potcakes in the back of these homes anymore.

“Because the pit bulls have been allowed to roam, because either the (owners) have died or they no longer care for the dogs. So, the pit bulls and the rottweilers have mated with the traditional potcake.”

He continued: “But we are not looking at these challenges or problems, until an individual is walking or exercising and they are chased into the street by these dogs and killed by a vehicle or someone is mauled to death or near death with these dogs.

“So, we have to now, not leave it to the Humane Society alone, it will take the government and the private sector working together to ensure that we don’t allow our country to neglect these issues and challenges.”

NO CONCH SEASON CLOSURE

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Department of Marine Resources vows that there will be no closure on the Queen Conch Fishery in The Bahamas.

In a public notice statement released on Friday, the department said this assurance to the public comes following the circulation of a post on social media warning of the closure of conch fishery from June 1, 2023, until October 31, 2023,, in US Virgin Islands.

This post, a public notice reportedly put out by the government of the US Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Office of the Commissioner, was dated Monday, May 8, 2023.

The post was concerning as both The Bahamas and The US Virgin Islands are

known hubs for the fishing of Bone-fish, conch and other game.

However, The Bahamas Department of Marine Resources said that this notice will have no impact on The Bahamas’ conch fishery.

“The Department of Marine Resources wishes to advise the general public, that there is no closure on the Queen Conch Fishery in The Bahamas.

“The Department of Marine Resources wishes to also advise the general public of its ongoing work and holistic efforts to establish a Fishery Management Plan for the Queen Conch Fishery, which is under heavy pressure, on behalf of, and in partnership with the Bahamian people.”

The statement continued:

“The Department wishes to note one key measure already implemented is the

ban on the export of commercial quantities of conch, which took effect in January 2022 to help to reduce fishing pressure on the conch stock. “Further consideration is being given to measures, such as a minimum lip thickness of 14mm to protect juvenile conch, the landing of conch in the shell so that enforcement officers can determine maturity, a closed season, and the removal of conch from bag limits.”

The Department of Marine Resources says it looks forward to continued support from the public with the management of a “most important fishery in a sustainable and responsible manner.”

Anyone needing more information are asked to contact the Department of Marine Resources at (242) 393-1777 or (242) 393-1014/5.

with the scene in any way.

Addressing questions on why the officers approached an armed suspect, Taylor said police are trained to advance and never retreat in the face of a target. “In my training, I’m taught not to retreat,” Taylor said.

However, when asked by David Cash, who represents the estate of the deceased, if he would advance into automatic fire, the officer said no.

Sgt Taylor also said Major only approached Sgt Sweeting, aka “Slim” at the bar and no other patron.

When photo evidence of the gun retrieved from Major’s car was presented to the court, attorney Cash pointed out the safety was switched on and claimed it was unable to fire during the incident.

Dr Caryn Sands, forensic pathologist at PMH, delivered her autopsy report to the court.

As photos of the victim’s body were shown during court proceedings, his father left the room, visibly distraught.

Dr Sands said Major’s cause of death was “gunshot wounds to the head, torso and extremities”. She went on to say that she observed that the deceased had been shot 34 times and that there were 41 gunshot wounds across his body. Dr Sands recorded eight gunshot wounds to the head/ neck, 20 to the torso, four to the right arm, two to the right hand, three to the left arm, one to the right thigh and three to the left thigh.

Nine bullets and several bullet fragments were taken from the deceased’s body.

She also noted that there was “no evidence of close-range discharge of a firearm”.

When questioned by Calvin Maynard, who represents the four officers, as to whether the victim could have been holding something before his death, Dr Sands said she could not say.

Responding to David Cash, Dr Sands said it was possible that the wounds on Major’s arms indicate he raised them in a defensive position.

She also agreed with Cash that due to the majority of wound paths facing downward it was consistent with the deceased having been sitting down at the time of his death.

LABOUR and Immigration Minister Keith Bell.

AZARIO MAJOR, who was killed in a police-involved shooting in 2021.

The Tribune Limited

Clear answers can smooth governance

THE importance of clarity in governance was highlighted last week in a brief row over the Department of Inland Revenue.

An advertisement that appeared in this newspaper warned that the department intended to seize and sell off properties with property tax arrears. The advertisement cited the language used in the Real Property Tax Act, a time period of seven months arrears or more, prompting a flurry of messages on social media from people wondering who this applied to.

In truth, as The Tribune’s business editor, Neil Hartnell, clarified in an article the following day, the government is looking to deal with “extreme cases” where taxes have gone unpaid for up to 20 years. The warning remains – that those properties could be seized and sold to pay the arrears.

The advertisement also prompted a political to-and-fro between party chairman – Dr Duane Sands for the FNM and Fred Mitchell for the PLP.

Dr Sands sent out a voice note warning “they are coming for your money” and criticising the government for not having “the intestinal fortitude” to discuss its push to collect taxes with the public.

He said: “This has been the year of the highest ever expenditure, the biggest Budget ever, and just a tremendous grab to get whatever revenue they can get their hands on. We’ve seen real property tax rates go up by triple digit percentages without any notice. We’ve seen additional expenditure, and they’ve just levied fee increases across many, many government services.”

Meanwhile, he contrasted the government demand for quick payment with the slowness it takes to pay out to creditors, saying Bahamians “sometimes had to wait years to receive what was due to them”.

Mr Mitchell fired back in typical fashion, saying that Dr Sands should have checked “before jumping to a false conclusion”.

However, he acknowledged the advertisement could be subject to “misinterpretation” and asked the tax authorities to release a corrected ad.

In the end, it seems this is only targeting a small amount of properties – but it makes clear several things.

First, there is the importance of clarity –a significant number of people wondered if this might mean them, even if they had just paid up their property tax recently. Some speculated it might be the government going after specific properties, such as the rundown buildings in Downtown.

A little extra information from the start

could have allayed such worries.

Secondly, though, it shows there is uncertainty over the government and its intentions. This was shown again when there was a call for rental property owners to register their properties with the government and the administration was forced into an assurance that there was no intention to add a tax for those properties once registered.

And third, if there is indeed an increase in efforts to raise money – and let us be clear, it is fair for the government to try to ensure unpaid taxes are pursued – then it should be accompanied by greater clarity on how our money is being spent.

Too often, we do not see a price tag attached to government activities – or detail on what brings that price tag to its total. We can see that in, for example, the prison project that has more than doubled in cost but for which information is still emerging to justify its $90m cost.

We can also see it in the numerous trips taken on the public purse. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has flown off again over the past few days – to Guatemala this time.

The notorious trip by the PLP to Bimini, funded by the government and belatedly repaid, never seemed to come to a satisfactory resolution – and who knows if we will ever see a proper accounting for how much the trip to London for the coronation of King Charles III cost.

Some may say it is too soon for the cost to be known – certainly the Bimini trip accounting seemed to take an age as the government waited for receipts, per diem details and so on.

And yet, elsewhere in the world, not only have such costs been made clear to the public, but the consequences of such spending have been felt.

In Papua New Guinea, a delegation of 30 people flew to the coronation – to criticism at home that the money would have been better spent on hospitals. It was reported that each delegate had a $14,000 allowance to cover hotels and airfares.

The foreign minister of Papua New Guinea, Justin Tkatchenko, is resigning after the controversy.

Is our accounting system so much worse than that of Papua New Guinea that we cannot get a clear answer on such costs? It is, after all, our money.

As we say, clarity is important – both in detailing the funds the government is generating from the public, and in telling the public how it will be, or has been, spent. If Papua New Guinea can do it, why can’t we?

Growing food insecurity

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ACCORDING to the latest Global Report on Food Crises, in 2022, almost 258 million people in 58 countries faced the highest levels of acute food insecurity, which includes the categories of “Crisis”, “Emergency”, and “Catastrophe”, meaning that it can range from malnutrition to the risk of death due to lack of food.

The number of acutely food-insecure people in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 17.8 million. Haiti reports one of the most challenging situations, with 4.72 million people affected, representing 26 percent of the region’s total.

This situation has led the affected regional population to take extreme measures, such as selling their animals, eating seeds knowing very well that they will have nothing to plant later, selling their homes, or begging for food, which turns into a spiral of vulnerability, particularly among the rural populations.

Currently, many people suffering food crises

50 years on - and where are we?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Re: 50 Years of Independent Bahamas

“To know a lie and think it true is the ‘wrongest’ thing one could ever do.” Lies may come in all sizes, shapes and colours. There are spoken/written lies, as well as lies of omission. None of us can honestly say that we have never told a lie. We have all heard about little white lies. But, have you ever heard about big black (bold-faced) lies?

Even if you haven’t heard that particular latter term, I submit that you must have heard quite a few of such bold lies right here in our beautiful Bahamaland in recent times.

Permanently etched in my memory is a quote from a former Bahamian statesman. “If they like ya, they will lie for ya. If they don’t like ya, they will lie on ya.”

So, when we get right down to it, perhaps it’s all a matter of degree and consequences, when it comes to the inevitable lies we give and take, as a matter of course. Therefore, we should be able to accept as fact that we can lie to others, and others can lie to us. But, ‘wronger’ than both of those is when we lie to ourselves... repeatedly.

both a long time and a short time. Who can say that we have not come a long way in these past 50 years? Who can say that we have gone a long way in the wrong direction(s)? Take your pick. Who can deny that our accomplishments are worth celebrating? Shall we dance? Could it be that dance move which seems most demonstrative with one step forward - two steps backwards, as regard to any progressive movement? This popular dance remains yet en vogue, despite the various other fleetings trends that just come and go.

Also to be considered, since all this upcoming fanfare will be centred around the notion of Independence, are the figurative as well as literal interpretations of that word. Either way, some cognitive dissonance makes joining in those celebrations a bit more comfortable.

euphemistically be termed in Parliament) which decorate any number of terminologies and explanations in the both public & private life of our Bahamas. What then is a lie by some other name?

depend on agricultural livelihoods for survival. This is most critical for rural women. In a household with insufficient food, evidence indicates that women will be worse off than men. There are also significant gaps in the food security of indigenous populations.

The food crisis or emergency reported in the region in 2022 is mainly due to sev factors, such as the war in Ukraine, the social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of extreme weather events.

We must increase humanitarian efforts with populations that can no longer meet their minimum food needs. But it is also essential to invest in agriculture and local food production, as this also contributes to humanitarian work in contexts of food crises.

Currently, only four percent of humanitarian assistance in countries in food crisis goes to agricultural and livelihood support.

We must provide humanitarian aid to protect agricultural livelihoods, act proactively on alerts anticipating the deterioration of an acute

food insecurity situation before it becomes an extreme emergency, ensure social protection for rural people, and increase economic and climate resilience. Investing in agriculture and the resources that sustain it is strategic and cost-effective. According to our studies, the benefits of investing in agriculture can be ten times greater than if investing only in food aid, and the effects can be prolonged over time. Without successful recovery and sustainable development initiatives, there will be a perpetual need for urgent humanitarian action and an increased risk of deterioration into a chronic emergency. We must achieve these results with more coordinated efforts by international organizations, governments, the private sector, regional organizations, civil society, and communities.

MARIO LUBETKIN, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean May 12, 2023

In a couple of months we, Bahamians, will no doubt go all out in celebrations of 50 years as an Independent nation. Undoubtedly, a list of stellar achievements and achievers will be highlighted to mark the grandiose occasion. Much pomp and pageantry can be expected. It’s our tradition - handed down ever so politely - from our former colonial masters. To tell the truth, not much has effectively changed or conspicuously changed except for some melanin in the mix.

If that very recent Coronation ensemble which travelled from The Bahamas to London for that grand celebration is any indication, we can expect some of our home-grown dignitaries to be all dressed up in their fineries (tuxedos, big fancy hats, expensive and gaudy gowns, with distinctive accessories and such) to thrill the expectant crowds here. With such high-class European flamboyance, the uninitiated might indiscreetly ask “where is our Bahamian culture?” Go figure!

Paradoxically, 50 years as an Independent Bahamas could readily be considered

A lie is a lie whether it is dressed up in a suit and tie or bald naked. A lie can even be more twisted up than a pretzel and still remains a lie. Seeing a lie many times every day doesn’t change it into the truth after however long a time. Look around you, wherever you are, can you spot the lies? Consider.

Ol’ Christopher went west looking for the east (India), and when he got to some land it simply became the West Indies (India). That big lie continues on, even hundreds of years later, by people who know better. Never underestimate the power of lies.

Independent Bahamas is possible, but is it actually what we have at present?

Can The Bahamas be Independent with a British Monarch as Head of State - represented by a Governor General, ostensibly appointed by a Bahamian Prime Minister? Try wrapping your head around that without getting a wee bit dizzy. With most of the land in The Bahamas listed as Crown Lands, and no crown in The Bahamas, can this nation be other than nominally independent? Can legal cases, where there is a need for an absolute ruling on the most serious matters be decided other than in Britain at a Privy Council? We may go on and on to spotlight the lies (or, “untruths” as may

Our 50 years of Independence celebrations will go on no matter what. We might nit-pick about lies, contradictions and other maladies which may plague our nation at this time, but once we accept that things are not always what they seem to be, we can choose to keep going with our eyes wide shut, or decide to truly see what we lookin’ at. Marking time and proceeding forward, upward, onward together might require the same amount of energy, but one of those strategies would get us closer to that better Bahamas which would benefit those Bahamians who are willing to give their best, and get the best of what The Bahamas offers. Our challenge, it seems to me, is to be more circumspect and more introspective --- even if we are very comfortable with the status quo. Even a cursory look at the news nowadays would show a negative direction for the country. So, regardless of an individual’s relative comfort, socio-economic status and the likes, when the ship-of-state sinks all the passengers (first class and no class) have the same struggle to survive in the troubled waters.

Ok. That brings us back to those pending Celebrations of 50 years as an Independent Bahamas. Whether it’s actual (oldfashion) pen and paper, or (new-fashion) electronic devices, can most Bahamians write the complete lyrics of our National Anthem from memory?

How can we live up to ideals that we don’t know?

How can others lead where they won’t go? Isn’t this another opportunity in modern Bahamian history to correct lies of the past, and set our sails for the right direction(s) in the next 50 years of an Independent Bahamas?

We may lie to or about others for some selfish or politically partisan advantage, but who benefits when we lie to ourselves?

Remember... the ‘wrongest’ thing one could ever do is know a lie and think it true!

IN this photo provided by the Serbian Presidential Press Service, weapons collected as part of an amnesty near the city of Smederevo, Serbia, are put on show yesterday. Serbian authorities displayed some of around 13,500 weapons they say have been collected since last week’s mass shootings, including automatic weapons, hand bombs and anti-tank grenades.

PM calls for support for Bridgetown finance plan

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said it is morally imperative that Caribbean and Latin American countries support the Bridgetown Initiative, a global climate finance plan.

Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley unveiled the Bridgetown initiative at the UN Climate Change Conference in 2022. It would reform how rich countries help poor countries cope with climate change.

“The international financial institutions established to help countries rebuild after World War II have not yet shown the capacity to cope with the myriad, overlapping global crises we face in these times,” said Mr Davis during a speech at the 9th Summit of the ACS Heads of State in Guatemala on Friday.

“The Bridgetown Initiative envisions multilateral development banks pivoting to offer substantially more robust support for energy transitions, scaling up the use of guarantees, and increasing concessional financing for climate resilience projects. Increasing the capacity of international financial institutions to effectively respond to the challenges of the climate change era is the only way to build a bridge from today to a more secure, peaceful, and sustainable future for all citizens. And let me be

clear: ensuring that countries like ours have the resources to become more resilient is not just about climate justice – it’s about common sense. For every dollar spent on climateresilient infrastructure, six dollars are saved.”

Mr Davis discussed how climate change impacts Latin America and Caribbean countries.

“Many of our countries have become trapped in

a destructive cycle, as the devastation of climate events drives up our debt burdens, leaving us with insufficient resources to build the resilience we need to face future challenges,” he said. “Our cost of borrowing also prices in the risk of future hurricanes, and so we are already paying a higher price today for the increased and more intensive weather patterns of tomorrow.”

ORG CALLS FOR CHANGES TO OMBUDSMAN PROPOSAL

THE Organisation for Responsible Governance wants legislators to revise the ombudsman bill to remove the attorney general’s power to prevent the ombudsman from carrying out their work.

ORG benchmarked the bill against counterpart legislation around the region.

The organisation noted the bill, which is expected to be debated in Parliament this week, would allow the attorney general to give notice to the ombudsman to exclude the exercise of its powers “in whole or in part to any specific complaint being investigated” if that work “might be prejudicial to the public interest”.

ORG said: “This clause undermines the strength and independence of the act and the ombudsman by conveying the power to limit the remit of the office to a politically appointed official. Additionally, there is no specific set of conditions or guidelines in which the attorney general may exclude the powers of the ombudsman. The bill allows that they are able to be limited based on ‘an opinion.’

“This is not reflective of best practices or regional

norms. Jamaica does not afford the attorney general such power, and Trinidad, which does afford the attorney general some ability to limit the ombudsman function, has a very specific set of criteria. The ombudsman office should certainly have checks and balances. However, the bill already provides for appeal of decision and a process for removal of the ombudsman. Revision or removal of this clause would preserve the strength of the bill.”

The bill empowers the Prime Minister to advise the Governor General that the ombudsman be removed.

ORG said this should be revised to broaden who can remove the ombudsman.

“Although there are specific conditions for removal outlined, placing the power solely in the remit of the prime minister reduces the independence and potential for political influence to the Office of the Ombudsman,” ORG said. “Best practices would recommend that this power lies with the agreement of both houses of Parliament.”

The Minnis administration drafted an ombudsman

bill but never debated the legislation.

The new bill was tabled in the House of Assembly late last month.

The ombudsman will monitor and promote compliance with international and domestic human rights laws.

The bill covers stateowned enterprises and other public institutions.

A committee would recommend candidates for the ombudsman to the governor-general. The committee would include the prime minister, leader of the opposition, a representative of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a representative of the Public Service Commission, a representative of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, and a member to represent civil society groups. ORG recommends including a representative from the Disabilities Commission.

The organisation also recommends that the ombudsman disclose their assets and interests yearly, like elected and appointed officials, to ensure transparency and accountability.

LODGE MAKES DONATION TO HOME FOR AGED

from left are Brother Paul Albury, Grand Master Emirates Sterling Knowles, Persis Rodgers Home administrator Mrs Turner,

Grand Master Gregory R Miller Senior, Grand Treasure Brother Edward Demeritt, and Grand Secretary Brother Glenroy Rolle.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis pictured during his visit to Guatemala, where he called for support for the Bridgetown Initiative.

Abaconians disappointed in court ruling on shanty structures says Abaco MP

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

CENTRaL and south abaco MP John Pinder said abaconians were disappointed in the supreme Court ruling, which only permitted the demolition of two shanty town structures.

Chief Justice Ian winder ordered the demolition of just two structures, far fewer than the 260plus structures the Davis administration wanted to be destroyed in New Providence and abaco.

“It is still a major concern of issue for the abaconians in a whole, we are disappointed at the ruling,” Mr Pinder said. “It would have been a quicker means to an end. But it will not deter the end results there in the parameters of the law and our legislation.”

“There are metrics to remove buildings that were put there without proper approval on land which is not owned by them.”

He continued: “ s o as the a ttorney General recently spoke about,

this is the path that we are taking so the results will be the same. Those shantytowns will be removed.”

Last week, a ttorney General Ryan Pinder said the Davis administration would demolish shanty town structures using the process outlined in the Buildings Regulation a ct after the s upreme Court failed to deliver a favourable result to the government last week. Government lawyers said the structures were built in contravention of Justice Cheryl Grant Thompson’s previous order that no structure in a shanty town be constructed, erected or altered pending her ruling on the Minnis administration’s eradication policies. “so that action was specific to the injunction that was given years ago, with respect to the shanty towns, and the judge ruled that the notice of the injunction was not adequately served on the applicable people that were enjoined,” the attorney General said before a Cabinet meeting.

cEntraL and South Abaco MP John Pinder said Abaconians were disappointed in the Supreme Court ruling, which only permitted the demolition of two shanty town structures.

“That does not foreclose us from proceeding under violations of the Buildings Regulation act. That was specific to the injunction, which we

wanted to proceed to test the injunction and test that matter in front of the courts; however, we certainly have every right to proceed with violations of

the Buildings Regulation act.

“we intend to proceed along that process that has a notice process, and there are some prescribed

requirements under the regulations that we have to follow, so we still are going to proceed under violation of the Buildings Regulation.”

Ann M A rie DAvis pl A nts A bre ADfruit tree At Ole freetOwn fA r M in eA st Gr A nD bA h AMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

aNN Marie Davis, wife of the Prime Minister, planted one of the 50 breadfruit trees gifted to the Ole Freetown Farm in East Grand Bahama on Friday.

Mrs Davis, a guest at the Forum For Impact, presented farmer George Johnson and his wife, sissel, with three varieties of the plant – the Otea, Yellow Heart, and Maafala from The Trees That Feed Foundation.

The couple’s farm/ agri-tourism business was devastated during Hurricane Dorian in 2019. They lost all their animals, crops, and a long-time farm employee.

after surviving the terrible ordeal, the Johnsons later learned that the only two surviving breadfruit trees had been accidentally bulldozed during the cleanup phase.

Ms Davis donated the 50 breadfruits plants in the spirit of this year’s 50th Bahamas Independence anniversary.

“I thought donating 50 trees to farmer George, and his wife, would be a great gesture in the spirit of the independence celebration,” she said.

“He lost all his animals and crops, except for his two

breadfruit trees that survived Dorian, but were accidentally plowed by a machine that cleared the land. so, I wanted to help them replace that and also to help him restart the agri-tourism business he had going.”

Mrs Davis said FFI is a great conference as it focuses on climate change, resilience, and conservation and promoting clean oceans and atmosphere.

Breadfruit trees, she said, are very beneficial. In addition to being a healthy and nutritious food source, she said it has the ability to sequester carbon more than many crops.

“Once you start counting carbon...it will surely make a difference when we want to reduce our carbon footprint and count those carbon credits,” she said.

“ s o, I plan to plant a lot more breadfruit trees because I plan to help cure the hunger crisis we have, help with food security,” she said.

Mrs Davis said that breadfruit is a staple product that can feed a family of four for 10 years. “If you have nothing else, you can survive off a breadfruit tree,” she said. she said that Grand Bahama has so much land that can be developed for agri-tourism.

“There is so much space here, and as we were driving

here there were miles and miles of just land with dry trees from the hurricane.

“If we can convert that into breadfruit groves, could you imagine the kind of economic benefits we would have here?” she said. The Johnsons were very moved by the gesture and thanked Mrs Davis, and Mary and Micheal McLaughlin for their generous donation from the Trees that Feed Foundation.

“we will forever be grateful for these special trees,”

said sissel Johnson. Mrs Johnson said that the loss they endured during Dorian has been heartbreaking, but they are slowly restoring the farm.

“By the grace of God, my husband and I, as well as my mother, survived (Dorian). Our longtime employee and farm family, Kenel Joseph, lost his life, as well as hundreds of our farm animals,” she recalled of that fateful day.

“we have had almost four years of time to reflect,

and heal, and with our faith, we have been trying to move forward, one day at a time,” she said.

The Johnsons have learned from Dorian and have decided to take a different direction in their farm agritourism business, doing more fruit trees and shortterm crops “so now we are focused on the trees and crops that are able to come back, intercropping, permaculture, and container growing as the way moving forward.

Eco-agritourism has always been a main focus, and we will continue on that path.” The Johnsons still have a long way to go and are grateful for the support they have received from everyone in the community, including family, friends, organizations, the GB Port authority, past and present governments, and complete strangers.

“we have been ever so blessed from the day we were rescued after Dorian up to this day,” she said.

Paradise sP orts Consultants held mother’s day tennis C ardio C lini C

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was a fun filled preMother’s Day celebrations on saturday as the Paradise sports Consultants hosted an event for the family at the Tom ‘the Bird’ Grant Park tennis courts.

The newly formed organization, headed by Derron Donaldson staged a free-for-all Mother’s Day Tennis Cardio Clinic with food and drinks as well as tennis competitions for all on hand.

“Things went well. This is our first event. we partnered with the Harrold Road Tennis Club. It’s what the company is all about, parenting with the community,” Donaldson said.

we wanted to get started with some philanthropic work and some health and wellness sessions. It wasn’t just a regular tennis clinic. They used compression balls. we gained instant success using them, so it was a lot of fun for all of the participants.”

Donaldson said they got the opportunity to partner with McKell Bonimy, the Member of Parliament for Mt Moriah.

In hosting the event in his community, Bonimy said

they get to incorporate their efforts with more people.

“what this group is doing is tremendous. we welcome this type of initiative and we hope that we can have more events of this type in the future.” at the same time, Bonimy got to hit his tennis racket for the first time.

“The trainers were excellent. They told me what I had to do to be able to play the game,” he said. “I hope that I will be able to

become a frequent tennis player especially with the tennis courts right here in our community.”

sheila Bowleg, the president of the Harrold Road Tennis Club, said they are open to the wider community and when they got the invitation to partner with Paradise sports Consultants, they welcomed it.

“This is an amazing event. we haven’t had anything like this, so these types of things are what

we have been longing for here at the tennis center,” Bowleg said.

“Everyone wants to play, so we hope that this will be a continuous event every quarter where people can come out on a saturday and have some good clean fun, while learning to play the game of tennis.”

Versatile player/coach

Larikah Russell said she was delighted to make her contribution to the event as one of the coaches

of Impact Tennis academy, headed by Ricardo Demeritte Jr.

“This is a great effort to help celebrate Mother’s Day and to get the community more involved,” Russell said. “so I’m really happy to be a part of it.” still active, Russell is looking forward to playing another softball season with the sunshine auto wildcats in the New Providence softball association. But for now, she said it was all about giving back to the community. a special guest for the event was Carifta champion Jamiah Nabbie. she was thrilled to have received the reception she got from the persons in attendance.

“It was a great experience. They taught me how to play tennis,” Nabbie said. “I played a little bit before I got into track, so it was good to get back on the court.”

as for her new found fame she’s received, Nabbie said she is pleased to see the reception she get from the public. The Queen’s College standout said she remains humble as she looks forward to her future endeavours.

shanton Evans got an invitation from her cousin Philip MaJort Jr and based

on what she experienced, she said she will definitely continue to play tennis.

“This is my first time participating in a tennis event and I enjoyed it ten out of ten,” she stressed. “I like the interaction and the exercises. It gives you an insight of the game. It was really agood experience.” Paradise sports Consultants, according to Donaldson, is designed to do event marketing, sports management, sports consultants and become sports agents to represent Bahamian athletes and coaches.

“That’s why we have a legal arm of the company, a finance arm of the company and sports management in their effort to help sports all around.

“what happens to the athlete before they become a NMark Knowles, a shunane Miller-Uibo or steven Gardiner?” Donaldson asked. “so we want to become sports agents so that we can assist our athletes in the long run.”

Paradise sports Consultants is expected to open their office in the very near future as they continue to reach out to corporate Bahamas to assist in the development of sports in the country.

ParticiPants enjoyed taking part in Paradise Sports Consultants’ Mother’s Day Tennis Cardio Clinic held at Tom ‘the Bird’ Grant Park’s tennis courts.

Photo: Moise amisial

ann MariE Davis, spouse of the Prme Minister, plats a breadfruit tree at Ole Freetown Farm in East Grand Bahama on Friday.

Photo: vandyke Hepbur

Is it too much to hope that all Bahamians are treated equally?

By MalcolM Strachan

WHEN the Privy Council handed down its ruling on the citizenship of children born out of wedlock to Bahamian men and foreign women, there was a great deal of celebration.

This was a step forward, many said, though plenty of other voices spoke up about the need for that step to be matched by those to bring equality to Bahamian women when it comes to the right to pass on citizenship.

Still, there was much delight, and rightly so.

Shannon Tyreck Rolle was the applicant in the action, and he deserves to be lauded for taking his case to the highest court in the land to secure a ruling.

Once there, the Privy Council dismissed the Office of the Attorney General’s interpretation of the law – article 6 being the crucial one in question – as “faintly absurd”.

That article says: “Every person born in The Bahamas after 9th July 1973 shall become a citizen of The Bahamas at the date of his birth if

at that date either of his parents is a citizen of The Bahamas.”

That’s straightforward –but another article, 14 (1) says: “Any reference in this chapter to the father of a person shall, in relation to any person born out of wedlock other than a person legitimated before 10th July 1973, be construed as a reference to the mother of that person.”

The OAG suggested that the reference to father in that article should apply when interpreting the word “parents” in article 6. The Privy Council was not impressed.

In fact, they went on to say that if a discriminatory approach was intended, the framers of the constitution would have used easier and clearer ways to indicate this, adding: “The Board can see no possible justification for reading into the constitution such an approach reflecting, as it does, values which have long been rejected.”

For Mr Rolle, he said that “this was something that I could get to make a change for everyone in

this alien status”.

He pointed out how life was different for him from those he grew up with. He talked of “not being able to open a bank account, not being able to licence a vehicle in your name, not being able to start a business. There was a lot of things you are deprived of when you don’t have citizenship”.

The response came right from the top – Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis saying that he is committed “to ensuring that the country’s laws and policies are fair and just for all Bahamians”.

He added: “As Prime Minister, I am dedicated to building a more inclusive and equitable Bahamas.”

Those are all good words. Good words are great to hear. But they have to be followed by action.

Since the ruling, all the talk has been about DNA testing to prove paternity. I scratch my head as I read these stories as no one has taken the time to explain why only Bahamian men in

this particular situation will be required to take a DNA test and no one else. Are those men somehow not as Bahamian? Do we trust their word less – or their name on the birth certificate – than men married to foreign women? Or men married to Bahamians. Do we think that all children of those other relationships are absolutely, definitely the child of the father who says it is? And somehow we trust the word of the Bahamian man in this situation less? Are we not taking one unjust situation, finally resolved by the courts, and substituting another?

I cannot fathom it. Each time I hear these learned people talking about how DNA testing is necessary now to prove paternity, I just see the future court case where a person in this position argues that it is a breach of their rights to require them to take a paternity test when no one else has to. No one. But with these men, sorry, the state doesn’t trust you in particular.

Take two men – both Bahamians in relationships with foreign women, one married, one not. The unmarried one has to take the paternity test, the married one does not. How is that equality?

Worse still is that while there have been hints and insinuations, no one has come right out and said what is the problem that DNA testing will be solving?

Introducing it, of course, will have costs. What is the capacity of testing we have to do it? How long will it take given our present capacity? Who will bear the costs?

There are suggestions that we would be able to ramp up our testing to meet our needs – but there is a dollar value attached to that, so what will it cost?

As I listen, there seems such a suspicion against these men – even after a court victory has been won. The ink is barely dry on the Prime Minister’s letter about being inclusive and equitable.

Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and as I stood

in church and listened to mothers being celebrated, I could not help but wonder that if this is how the first wave of people affected by a change in citizenship rulings have been treated, how will it be when changes are made to benefit women when it comes to having the same rights as men with regard to citizenship?

There is an ingrained sexism in The Bahamas – and by that, I must be clear, that is no different to the rest of the world. How else are women’s rights so far behind?

So if these are the barriers being presented immediately after the victory in this case, then how much worse will be the barriers put before women?

As we approach the 50th anniversary of our independence, is it really too much to hope that our nation might finally give people full and straightforward equality. No ifs, no buts, no differences between any of us who can call themselves Bahamian.

There is an ingrained sexism in The Bahamas... how else are women’s rights so far behind?

Photo: gayatri malhotra

The bond between mother and child never disappears

MOST visible scars on the human body represent hypertrophic remnants of a traumatic event. For the fortunate, and those particularly diligent with their treatment, those scars may eventually wane with time. But there’s one scar on all humans that never fade. That’s because this scar, called the umbilicus (navel or belly button) is our body’s centerpiece, constantly reminding us that we were once physically attached to our mother, developing for months within her body.

The umbilicus, via an umbilical cord, connected us to our mother’s placenta, establishing an essential bridge transporting the necessary food (nutrients) and oxygen required for our development. It’s formed as early as four weeks following conception, performing double duty taking nutrition in and waste out. After birth, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, eventually falling off as the healed navel scar remains.

For most of us, mothers continue to be a dependable source of love, support and protection. That’s because, in the best of circumstances, mothers are superheroes disguised in ordinary clothing and hidden in the crowd, unfailingly ever-vigilant in keeping us from harm.

That harm, as presented in this report, sometimes presents as men with malicious intentions who are also hidden in the crowd, dawdling behind the shadows and lying in wait for their opportunity to terrorize.

When my patient was just eight years old she came face-to-face with one such man, enraptured by evil intent, during a harrowing experience that she’s never forgotten. Years later, she faced another tumultuous trial plunging her life into chaos yet again that left her beating at death’s door.

In both circumstances she miraculously lived to tell the tale and is hereafter referred to as Ariel, which in Hebrew means Lioness of God.

Ariel was born and raised on one of The Bahamas’ larger out islands. The eldest of two daughters, she was raised in a Christian home understanding from an early age that her life would be one of service.

Ariel’s father was a pastor and he had a stern but fair, gentle presence that complemented her mother who exuded joy, love and compassion from every pore in her body. Their partnership manifested into a warm and loving environment and a remarkable home to be raised throughout her entire childhood.

The smell of the salty ocean air, mixed with the valley of ripening guavas and mangoes that lined her street, is vividly ingrained in Ariel’s memory. Retelling

her story, it was 1977 and their neighbourhood was quiet, flanked by hardworking and honest men and women, all surrogate aunts and uncles with a watchful eye and a penchant for island gossip. Colloquially referred to as sharing ‘sip sip’, neighbours ate breakfast and shared stories about the latest happenings in the community. Of notable interest at the time was the rape of several young girls throughout their settlement.

It was the year that rock and roll legend Elvis Presley died of a heart attack while The Love Boat, Little House on The Prairie, Happy Days and Charlie’s Angels kept millions glued to the TV screen. Ariel was eight years old and one ordinary day, while walking home with her younger sister, it began to rain. So, when a nice, respectable man she’d seen many times in her quiet neighbourhood offered her and her sister a ride home, Ariel was grateful. It was shortly after 3pm and thinking nothing of it, they jumped into his car anxious to escape the drizzly weather.

Then, as that nice, respectable man drove in the opposite direction of her home, Ariel even at her young age immediately knew that she and her sister were in danger. She softly asked where they were going but her captor, believed to be in his mid30s, never responded. He smelled like smoke and old cologne. He drove the car deep into a forested, secluded area and stopped.

Ariel held her sister’s hand and with the wisdom of someone several decades her senior, she closed her eyes and began softly but repeatedly telling him that it will be okay. Never opening her eyes, even when he separated her from her sister, she thanked him over and over again for being so kind and for being a good person, her declarations growing louder the closer he drew near.

Ariel felt something wet and sticky on her clothing and when she opened her eyes, her captor was crying. They were there for hours until he drove them to a spot near their home and told them to get out. Night had fallen and the streets were dark. Ariel grabbed her sister’s hand as tightly as possible and they ran together until the flashing sirens of multiple police cars could be seen leading up to her home. She recalls the tight embrace her mother gave her. Every other girl he’d captured had been raped but she and her sister survived, untouched. Not long after, Ariel was able to identify him from a police line-up ending his reign of terror on their small community. Following that ordeal, her mother quit her job to be with them and for many years, both parents were incredibly over protective. But by the time Ariel graduated from high school, they loosened their grip allowing her to attend college in the US. Years later, she met and fell in love with her future husband and she married him at the age of

27. They had three children and their first child Eric was introduced to readers in my last two reports. When Ariel was 28 weeks pregnant with her third child and only daughter, she stumbled at work but caught herself before falling. In the process, it felt as though she pulled a muscle. At first, she experienced mild but unrelenting soreness searing throughout her sternum and abdomen that was easily muted by taking slow, distinguished steps. Ariel went home to lay down and with her husband watching their other two kids, she quickly fell asleep. Hours later, in the middle of the night, she heard a loud, unfamiliar, voice telling her to wake up immediately. Ariel pitched up to severe cramping in her stomach. Her husband, awoken by her sudden movement, felt the wet bed sheets beneath them and panicked when he turned on the lights. The entire mattress was eclipsed by a lake of dark red blood. Ariel’s placenta had ruptured at some point during the night and she was hemorrhaging a dangerous volume of blood. As her body began to swell, large clumps of blood poured out of her. Ariel was rushed to the hospital and on the way, her baby was kicking incessantly. While waiting in the ER, she began to lose consciousness. Ariel’s husband yelled for assistance. Doctors saw her predicament and immediately ordered intubation. She was rushed into the operating theatre where an emergency C-section was performed.

By Dr Kenneth D Kemp

Surgeons warned Ariel’s husband that both mother and child were in critical condition. Short on equipment and staff at the family island hospital, they asked him to choose who they should focus their efforts on. At the time, doctors were performing CPR on both of them. An air ambulance was called to transport their baby once stabilized to Nassau but she coded three times before take-off. Ariel remained at that hospital as her daughter and husband left for Nassau because the risk of her dying mid-flight was too high. Determined to be with her daughter, Ariel prayed for a miracle.

Within days, Ariel was out of bed and walking, strong enough to arrange travel to Nassau. Her daughter, however, was barely hanging on, with a countdown ticking as to when she’d take her last breath. Ariel got to the hospital in Nassau and was immediately wheeled to her daughter in the neonatal ICU. There, struggling to survive and smaller than the palm of her hand, weighing one-and-a-half pounds, she touched her tiny fingers. With all her heart Ariel whispered words of encouragement, repeatedly telling her that everything will be okay.

Hours later, Ariel’s daughter had a resurgence, crying and kicking for the first time since delivery. She remained in hospital for several months and was discharged weighing six pounds with no medical deficits or developmental challenges. Today, Ariel’s

daughter is 13 years old and is a constant reminder to her parents of how blessed they’ve been. Their take home message to readers is that we’re not in control, so hold on to your faith during turbulent times and trust that God will see you through all things.

Birthdays often celebrate one person when in fact they should celebrate both mother and child as a reminder of the day that one body became two. Instead, one day out of the year is reserved to honor r and celebrate mothers who during gestation were our lifeline. And although on our day of birth, that physical connection is severed, the bond between mother and child never disappears. In the light and dark, hidden in the crowd, evil lurks amongst us. And, as the air we breathe melts away, left in its wake is the realization that for every demon, there’s an angel, comforting and guiding us safely back home or telling us to wake up and a mother waiting to hold our hand and softly whisper that everything will be okay.

This is The KDK Report.

• Nicknamed ‘The Prince of Podiatry’, Dr Kenneth D Kemp is the founder and medical director of Bahamas Foot and Ankle located in Caves Village, Western New Providence. He served as the deputy chairman for the Health Council for five years and he currently sits on the board of directors for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation in his role as co-vice-chairman.

Decimation of vulnerable nations inevitable if global warming continues on present trend

JOHN Kerry, former US Secretary of State and current US Special Envoy on Climate Change matters, told the world’s Ambassadors at a meeting in Washington, on May 10, that “there is no way” of keeping the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius unless CO2 emissions are drastically reduced.

Over the last two years, Kerry has traversed the globe as US President Joe Biden’s point man in a massive push to stop tipping the world over the edge of a Climate Change disaster.

The statement he made to Ambassadors accredited to the US government was not news, but it was sobering to hear it so explicitly told by an influential figure in global climate negotiations.

It was especially so for Ambassadors of 36 small states and 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which account for less than 2 percent and 0.55 percent, respectively of CO2 emissions, but which would be devastated if the target of 1.5 degrees Celsius is exceeded.

Speaking for small island states, in response to the serious observation by Kerry, I emphasised that at 2 degrees Celsius, many countries would be severely eroded, and any greater warming would drown many islands in the Caribbean and the Pacific. I also pointed out that, even if all these countries reduced their already low CO2 emissions, it would have little or no effect on the rate or intensity of global warming.

Kerry was well aware of this situation. He offered ideas on aims that must be pursued in Dubai in December when representatives of the world’s governments gather at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties, more commonly referred to as COP28. Among the goals, he listed was a greater effort by the 20 nations that emit 76 percent of warming gases into the atmosphere.

Acknowledging that 10 of these nations are developed countries, he said that many of them, such as the US, Germany, and the UK, are implementing strategies to significantly reduce their emissions. But there are 10 other nations with large economies, like China, Russia, Brazil, and India, which are not reducing emissions fast enough to achieve the target of 45 percent reduction in global emissions by 2030. On the current trajectory, in 2030, the world will reach 3 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. That is a mere 7 years away.

There is no question

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

that both China and India have recently announced long-term emissions reduction strategies. But China’s share of global emissions was nearly 31% in 2020, and it has set 2060 to reach carbon neutrality. However, that might be too late for many small island states as explained earlier. A similar situation exists with India whose government has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2070.

While the commitments by these two countries are welcome news, they should understand why developing countries, which are devastatingly affected by CO2 emissions would like to see faster reductions. Their survival depends on it; this is not a matter of ideological alliances or North-South differences. Russia, too, has to assume a bigger role in cutting emissions. Hopefully, the current war with Ukraine will not influence this wider global concern.

The current strong position by the present Biden administration, on vigorously tackling Climate Change, was not shared by the previous administration of Donald Trump, who has now declared himself as the Republican Party’s candidate for the US Presidency in 2024. Therefore, there is understandable concern that, if Trump wins the Presidential elections, not only would he revert to dismissing Climate Change as a myth, but he might also resume his position of withdrawing from the COP, and halting the current US thrust to reduce its own emissions and to secure funding for global climate mitigation and adaptation.

John Kerry expressed confidence that the Biden administration has won too many allies for the cause of fighting Climate Change, among big US corporations with a global reach, for it to be reversed. Talking at Harvard University on the same day that he addressed Ambassadors, Kerry said, “given the decisions made by Ford Motor Co., General Motors — by big corporations Google, Apple, Sales Force, FedEx — these companies are signed up, they’re on board”. And he added, “I don’t think any one president can possibly come in now, from whatever wing of whatever party — there’s no way we’re going backward. The global economy has made this decision and

it’s more powerful than any politician.”

Victim states of Climate Change have to hope that he’s right in his assessment. The reversal in the US position would trigger a similar reversal by other industrialised nations in their competition for larger shares of the global market for their goods. All this would have frightening consequences given the importance of maintaining the target of global warming at no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Looking to COP28 in 7 months’ time, Kerry named 4 priorities for governments: mapping the road ahead in a genuine agreement; deciding on adaptation and mitigation measures to be taken by all; fulfilling pledges to deliver the financing, including identifying the sources of financing; and dealing with the call by victim states for compensation for loss and damage.

The US government also has obstacles to overcome in its own legislature. The US Congress has as many climate change doubters as it has advocates, and the fossil fuel lobbies are hard at work to resist the diminution of the coal and oil industries – something about which Kerry is realistic. He explains that “no one wants the economies of the world to crash, which is what could happen if you began to drive the price of oil and gas up too much and drive the supply down to too little”.

In all this, victim countries of Climate Change have to advance their own interests by strongly joining the advocacy to the 20 worst CO2 emitters to recognize that they will pay the highest price for the industrialization of others – severe upheaval in their lives and livelihoods, if not extinction.

Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com)

‘...at 2 degrees Celsius, many countries would be severely eroded, and any greater warming would drown many islands in the Caribbean and the Pacific.’

Fishing for DNA: Free-floating eDNA identifies presence and abundance of ocean life

OCEAN life is largely hidden from view. Monitoring what lives where is costly – typically requiring big boats, big nets, skilled personnel and plenty of time. An emerging technology using what’s called environmental DNA gets around some of those limitations, providing a quick, affordable way to figure out what’s present beneath the water’s surface.

Fish and other animals shed DNA into the water, in the form of cells, secretions or excreta. About 10 years ago, researchers in Europe first demonstrated that small volumes of pond water contained enough free-floating DNA to detect resident animals.

Researchers have subsequentlylooked foraquatic eDNAin multiplefreshwater systems, and more recently in vastly larger and more complexmarineenvironments. While the principle of aquatic eDNA is well-established, we’re just beginning to explore its potential for detecting fish and their abundance in particular marine settings. The technology promises many practical and scientific applications, from helping set sustainable fish quotas and evaluating protections for endangered species to assessing the impacts of offshore wind farms.

Who’s in the Hudson, when?

In our new study, my colleagues and I tested how well aquatic eDNA could detect fish in the Hudson River estuary surrounding New York City. Despite being the most heavily urbanised estuary in North America, water quality has improved dramatically over the past decades, and the estuary has partly recovered its role as essential habitat for many fish species. The improved health of local waters is highlighted by the now regular fall appearance of humpback whales feeding on large schools of Atlantic menhaden at the borders of New York harbour, within site of the Empire State Building.

Our study is the first recording of spring migration of ocean fish by conducting DNA tests on water samples. We collected one liter (about a quart) water samples weekly at two city sites from January to July 2016. Because the Manhattan shoreline is armored and elevated, we tossed a bucket on a rope into the water. Wintertime samples had little or no fish eDNA. Beginning in April there was a steady increase in fish detected, with about 10 to 15 species per sample by early

summer. The eDNA findings largely matched our existing knowledge of fish movements, hard won from decades of traditional seining surveys. Our results demonstrate the “Goldilocks” quality of aquatic eDNA – it seems to last just the right amount of time to be useful. If it disappeared too quickly, we wouldn’t be able to detect it. If it lasted for too long, we wouldn’t detect seasonal differences and would likely find DNAs of many freshwater and open ocean species as well as those of local estuary fish. Research suggests DNA decays over hours to days, depending on temperature, currents and so on.

Altogether, we obtained eDNAs matching 42 local marine fish species, including most (80 percent) of the locally abundant or common species. In addition, of species that we detected, abundant or common species were more frequently observed than were locally uncommon ones. That the species eDNA detected matched traditional observations of locally common fish in terms of abundance is good news for the method – it supports eDNA as an index of fish numbers. We expect we’ll eventually be able to detect all local species – by collecting larger volumes, at additional sites in the estuary and at different depths. In addition to local marine species, we also found locally rare or absent species in a few samples. Most were fish we eat – Nile

tilapia, Atlantic salmon, European sea bass (”branzino”). We speculate these came from wastewater –even though the Hudson is cleaner, sewage contamination persists. If that is how the DNA got into the estuary in this case, then it might be possible to determine if a community is consuming protected species by testing its wastewater. The remaining exotics we found were freshwater species, surprisingly few given the large, daily freshwater inflows into the saltwater estuary from the Hudson watershed.

Analysing the naked DNA

Our protocol uses methods and equipment standard in a molecular biology laboratory, and follows the same procedures used to analyse human microbiomes, for example.

After collection, we run water samples through a small pore size (0.45 micron) filter that traps suspended material, including cells and cell fragments. We extract DNA from the filter, and amplify it using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR is like “xeroxing” a particular DNA sequence, producing enough copies so that it can easily be analyzed.

We targeted mitochondrial DNA – the genetic material within the mitochondria, the organelle that generates the cell’s energy. Mitochondrial DNA is present in much higher concentrations than nuclear DNA, and so easier to detect. It also has regions

that are the same in all vertebrates, which makes it easier for us to amplify multiple species. We tagged each amplified sample, pooled the samples and sent them for next-generation sequencing. Rockefeller University scientist and co-author Zachary Charlop-Powers created the bioinformatic pipeline that assesses sequence quality and generates a list of the unique sequences and “read numbers” in each sample. That’s how many times we detected each unique sequence.

To identify species, each unique sequence is compared to those in the public database GenBank. Our results are consistent with read number being proportional to fish numbers, but more work is needed on the precise relationship of eDNA and fish abundance. For example, some fish may shed more DNA than others. The effects of fish mortality, water temperature, eggs and larval fish versus adult forms could also be at play.

Just like in television crime shows, eDNA identification relies on a comprehensive and accurate database. In a pilot study, we identified local species that were missing from the GenBank database, or had incomplete or mismatched sequences. To improve identifications, we sequenced 31 specimens representing 18 species from scientific collections at Monmouth University, and from bait stores

and fish markets. This work was largely done by student researcher and coauthor Lyubov Soboleva, a senior at John Bowne High School in New York City.

We deposited these new sequences in GenBank, boosting the database’s coverage to about 80 percent of our local species. We focused on fish and other vertebrates. Other research groups have applied an aquatic eDNA approach to invertebrates. In principle, the technique could assess the diversity of all animal, plant and

microbial life in a particular habitat. In addition to detecting aquatic animals, eDNA reflects terrestrial animals in nearby watersheds. In our study, the commonest wild animal detected in New York City waters was the brown rat, a common urban denizen. Future studies might employ autonomous vehicles to routinely sample remote and deep sites, helping us to better understand and manage the diversity of ocean life.

• Originally published on theconversation.com

Filtering the estuary water back in the lab. Mark Stoeckle

e-DNA and other debris left on the filter after the estuary water passed through. Mark Stoeckle

Athletes on fast track at NACAC Invitational

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) New Life Invitational saw its second hosting come to the nation’s second city of Freeport, Grand Bahama, this past weekend.

The one-day meet got underway at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex and saw athletes break New Life records. Bahamian athletes also returned home to put on a show.

The second edition of the meet was held as athletes not only looked to qualify for the World Championships in August but also to vie for their share of the $75,000 cash prize.

Mike Sands, president of NACAC, talked about the second New Life Invitational event.

“I am very happy with the way it turned out. It would have been nice to have more fans but in terms of the quality of the meet, I am very happy, ” Sands said.

He said the meet was designed to cater to all of the NACAC area athletes and that the focus was also placed on Bahamian athletes as they were committed to place one in every event where possible.

Overall, he added that he was very happy and satisfied with the way the Bahamian athletes performed and the event served as a motivational incentive for them to know where they are and what they now need to do.

Among the Bahamian athletes at the NACAC New Life Invitational were Grand Bahamians Donald

Thomas and Alonzo Russell. Also, Anthonique Strachan, Shakeem HallSmith, Adam Musgrove and Tamara Myers of North Andros. TRACK

For the Bahamas, Anthonique Strachan brought home the first place finish in the women’s 200m finals with a time of 22.59 to beat her competitors. Both second and third place finishers were from the United States of America (USA). Jada Baylark wrapped up second in

23.10 and Quanera Hayes came behind with 23.20.

Strachan talked about how it felt to get the win on Bahamian soil.

“It’s always a joy to compete [at] home in The Bahamas, especially Freeport. They have a tremendous track and they always have great crowd interaction and people do come out here to support and watch,” Strachan said.

She added that the 200m race was a great race for her. She just needs to execute some things in the

Super-Conference Weekend: Bahamian athletes take spotlight

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was called SuperConference weekend and a number of Bahamians shined for the various collegiate track and field championships held around the United States.

Big 10 Conference

Rhema Otabor continues to excel in the women’s javelin.

The junior strongwoman took the title with a heave of 189-feet, 9-inches or 57.85 metres on her fourth attempt to lead a clean sweep of the top four positions for Nebraska.

Her nearest rival was another junior Maddie Harris with 184-9 (56.33m).

Meanwhile, Ohio State had a few Bahamians competing, led by Shaun Miller Jr in the men’s high jump. He had a leap of 7-1 1/2 (2.17m) for third place.

The event was won by Mayson Conner of Nebraska with 7-2 1/2 (2.20m).

Grand Bahamian Oscar Smith, a junior at Ohio State, had the seventh fastest qualifying time of 13.82. But in the final, he ended up ninth in 14.08. Darius

Luff, a junior at Nebraska, won in 13.32. Adrrian Curry, a senior at Ohio State, was 26th overall in the men’s 100m in 34.61. He didn’t advance to the final.

Big 12 Outdoors

Sprinter Terrance Jones, coming off an impressive national record-tying performance in the 100m earlier this year, had to settle for second fiddle in

the pair of events at the Big 12 Outdoors in Bloomington, Indiana.

The native of Grand Bahama had

race so that she can make it come together when it matters which will be at the championships. The 2022 NACAC silver medallist said she will speak with her coach and watch the race to see what she could have improved but, all in all, it was a good one. For the men, Puerto Rico’s Jose Y Figueroa Acevedo emerged victorious after clocking 20.59 in the 200m finals. In addition to the win, he also surpassed Daveon Collins’

New Life record of 20.73.

Ghana’s Joseph Amoah claimed second place in the race with 20.61 and also broke the previous New Life record. Third place finish belonged to CARIFTA double-medallist Adam Musgrove.

Despite the 19-year-old competing against more seasoned competition, he said his mindset was to not be intimidated as his goal is to go as far in the sport as possible. Therefore, he

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas men’s national beach soccer team came so close to booking their ticket to the United Arab Emirates for the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

But before a large crowd of spectators on hand at the Malcolm Park beach soccer facility, Mexico left them grounded with a hardfought, 3-2 victory in the feature game played in the semifinal matches of the CONCACAF Championships on Saturday night. Mexico, the four-time CBSC champions who took advantage of a stunning own goal from the Bahamas and another from Edgar Portilla in the first of three periods, prevailed to join the United States on the trip to Dubai.

The USA avenged their defeat to El Salvador two years ago by dethroning the defending champions with a 5-2 victory in the other semifinal game.

As the championship came to a close yesterday, defending champions El Salvador nipped the Bahamas 3-2 as Kyle Williams and James Thompson scored for the Bahamas.

El Salvador got a pair of goals from Jason Urbina and another from Heber Ramos to snatch third place in the team rankings from the Bahamas. Thompson said they gave their all right to the end but, like they did the night before against Mexico in their semifinal matchup, they fell short against El Salvador in their finale yesterday.

GO RAPTORS: CH REEVES SOAK UP GSSSA SUCCESS

TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE CH Reeves Raptors are no strangers to the winners’ circle and championship podium.

The junior school has made their presence felt across a few sports in the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) and external local tournaments.

The sporting success of the school has extended across nearly two decades and they decided not only to celebrate the present, but their long-term success.

Officials and students gathered at the school this past Friday to celebrate their continued dominance in sports as a junior school. Sterling McPhee, principal of CH Reeves, talked about the Raptors’ continued success.

“We have come to recognise the hard work, not only of our athletes but of our coaches, and entire family here at CH Reeves,” he said.

In the name of school spirit, McPhee added that CH Reeves is the school of choice for not only sports but also academics and offered a special thanks

to the coaching staff who went above and beyond in training the athletes.

The Raptors have been collecting championship hardware all season long. Their journey started with the GSSSA junior girls basketball championship, they then claimed the track and field championships and the junior girls also collected the victory at the Noble Preparatory Academy tournament (NPA).

For the GSSSA junior girls championship, the

Raptors swept the HO Nash Lions to secure the win. Rickarra Beadle led the way for her team as she scored 22 points to secure the victory and Most Valuable Player honours.

However, her efforts did not go unnoticed as she was named the Top Female Athlete for the school.

Beadle was not only a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court, but she also represented her

CRUISE CONTROL: Anthonique Strachan wins the women’s 200 metre finals at the NACAC New Life Invitational in the nation’s second city of Freeport, Grand Bahama. SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 20

Photos by Vandyke Hepburn/BIS

Curry, Warriors believe they will stay together to chase more championships

By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry is far from ready to accept that these Golden State Warriors are done chasing championships together.

Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, too.

Same goes for Kevon Looney and Andrew Wiggins.

“No matter how different it looks, I think we understand each other, what we all bring to the table and trust that we’re just gonna compete until the wheels fall off,” the 35-year-old Curry said.

The defending champions’ season ended in a 122-101 loss in Game 6 to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday night, the first time this core group of Curry, Green and Thompson have been eliminated before the NBA Finals after 19 straight playoff series wins against Western Conference opponents under coach Steve Kerr.

Golden State also failed to to win at least one road game after doing so in an NBA-record 28 consecutive series.

Sure, the Warriors realise all of the outside speculation that the Curry-led dynasty could be done. The franchise captured four titles over eight years, reaching the NBA Finals in

five straight seasons from 2015-19.

“It’s probably too raw right now for me to think about,” Kerr said.

“The one thing I will say is that Draymond, Klay, Steph, our core guys, they’ve got plenty left. There’s still plenty in the tank there. I thought they all had great seasons. It may not have ended on a high note but all three guys are still high-level players and I still feel like this team has championship poten tial. We didn’t get there this year but it’s not like this is the end of the road.”

ready to fully look back at the season to evaluate the highs and lows — or why the Warriors never could consistently find their rhythm on the road. They went 11-30 away from Chase Center on the way to a 44-38 regular-season record.

I got a chance to reflect and think about all the great things that we did. But this year, still fresh. Still a sore spot getting put out in the second round,” Looney said Saturday with the War riors back at Chase Center making offseason prepara tions and going through exit interviews.

through a lot and I feel like we’ve got a lot more to give, and watching Steph,

the key shots against the Lakers.

Golden State’s 365 missed 3-pointers in the first two rounds are the most in NBA history, topping the 2020 Rockets’ 358.

And after going a combined 6 for 26 from deep in the deciding Game 6, Curry and Thompson became one of only three pairs to each have missed 10 or more 3s in the same playoff game.

Now, they will part ways and work to regroup again — and see how the roster might change.

“We will all collectively kind of handle those at the right time. I think obviously, start at the top and working down in terms of trying to put together the best team possible next year,” Curry said.

“Making sure all the pieces fit and understanding how we can retool to put ourselves in position to be legit championship contender because for us, that’s all we’re worried about.”

Thompson, like the others, will need a little time before moving forward.

“It stings real bad and it’s going to sting all summer,” Thompson said.

“First time in a long time that Dray, Steph and I were healthy not making the finals.

“So it’s rare to be off during this time of year but I can tell you we gave it everything we had.”

Heat embracing challenge, find way to return to the Eastern Conference finals

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Inside

the Miami Heat locker room, now officially halfway to the season’s ultimate goal, Erik Spoelstra stepped onto the NBA championship logo on the centre of the floor and gathered his team around him.

His message was simple.

“There’s been nothing about this season that’s been easy,” Spoelstra said.

He’s right, and the Heat aren’t complaining about that, either — since this anything-but-easy season is still going.

They were a No. 1 seed last year and got to the Eastern Conference finals, and this year, they were a No. 8 seed and still got to the Eastern Conference finals. It took six games to get past New York — the revival of a playoff rivalry from the late 1990s and early 2000s — but the job is done, the clincher coming in a 96-92 win in Game

6 of their East semifinal matchup Friday night. written,” Heat centre Bam Adebayo said. “Through all the ups and downs of the season, a lot of people counted us out. We weren’t even going to make it past the first round and now we’re in the Eastern Conference finals. It just shows the determination and the will this team has.”

It’s a wild time in South Florida, and the Heat are only half of that story right now.

The Florida Panthers — they seed a little differently in the NHL, but they’re basically a No. 8 seed as well, just like their NBA neighbours in Miami — are also headed to the conference finals, winning in Toronto on Friday night in overtime to clinch that series in five games.

The Heat and Panthers are following the same path so far; up-and-down regular season, scramble just to get into the playoffs,

then beat the No. 1 overall seed in Round 1 — for the Heat it was the Milwaukee Bucks, for the Panthers it was the Boston Bruins — followed by a win over another favoured opponent in Round 2. And all that comes on the heels of Miami and Florida Atlantic going to the men’s college basketball Final Four last

month, Miami going to the women’s Elite Eight and Nova Southeastern winning the Division II men’s national title.

“I wish I could actually go to some of these events,” Spoelstra said. He’d rather be busy for a few more weeks. Game 1 of the East finals — at either Boston or Philadelphia, two

If the Celtics win, it’ll be two rematches of the conference finals from the 2020 bubble restart, with Denver set to face the Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference title as well.

“We’ve got eight more (wins) to get,” Heat star Jimmy Butler said. “Like I always say, we’re always going to be in this thing together. I’m so, so proud of all of my guys for playing as hard as we did today. And like I said, we’ve got eight more.”

The Heat lost their first play-in game to Atlanta and missed a chance at the No. 7 seed, then needed a 15-1 run to close the second play-in game against Chicago, rally from a late deficit and sneak into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed.

They’re 8-3 since and nobody in the playoffs has a better record. Miami has the same record West No.

1 seed Denver posted in its first two rounds, would be the same record as Philadelphia through two rounds if the 76ers win on Sunday, and is a bit better than the 8-4 mark by the Lakers to this point.

“Hopefully we keep it rolling, man,” Heat point guard Gabe Vincent said. The series against the Knicks was not aesthetically pleasing. The Heat shot 43% to New York’s 44% and both teams struggled from 3-point range — 31% for Miami, 30% for New York. But the Heat found a way, even after losing a potential clincher in Game 5 and falling behind by 14 early in Game 6. The Heat had a one-point lead at the half and never trailed after halftime, dodging everything the Knicks threw their way. It wasn’t easy. But it was fitting, as Spoelstra said. “Just an absolute grind,” Spoelstra said.

The grind continues, with a trip to Boston awaiting.

ANALYSIS: PLAYOFF OUTCOMES SUGGEST NBA COULD SEE SUMMER OF BIG MOVES

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

GOLDEN State has decisions to make now. Big decisions. Phoenix does, too. And Dallas. And Milwaukee. And Portland. And more.

It’s the best time of year in the NBA — with the playoff field getting down to its final four yesterday.

It’ll be followed by the co-best time of year in the NBA — July, when free agency time means some teams are going to wildly change.

The Warriors’ reign as NBA champions ended Friday night with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and it served as a reminder that nobody — not even a team with four titles in nine years — can escape the need to make changes. And if the enormous-spending Warriors need changing, then a whole lot of other teams do as well.

“I still feel like this team has championship potential,” Warriors coach Steve

Kerr said. “We didn’t get there this year but it’s not like this is the end of the road. But the organisation has some decisions to make and we’ll eventually get to that point.”

They’re not alone.

Consider: Milwaukee had the best record in the NBA this season, the No. 1 overall seed and home-court advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs. The Bucks won only one playoff game, wound up firing coach Mike Budenholzer and surely will consider how much deeper they want to get into the luxury tax –while also making sure they do enough to give Giannis Antetokounmpo more title chances. “I believe we will have a very attractive position,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said. “We have the best player in the world. We have a championship culture and organisation. We have great facilities. I think we have great respect around the league. So, I think we’ll have a lot options.”

Expect a lot of comments like that in the coming days and weeks.

Phoenix, which trailed by 30 at halftime of home elimination games in each of the last two years — an NBA first, and a piece of history that the Suns absolutely did not want — has to decide what to do with Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton

and others. New owner Mat Ishbia made an immediate splash after taking over by trading for Kevin Durant; he didn’t do that with a second-round exit in mind. Devin Booker is probably just beginning to enter his prime, Durant is obviously closer to the end than the beginning but still elite, and the Suns will have no choice

but to remain in win-now mode.

“While we have a lot to be proud of this year, we did not reach the level of success all of us want, which is a championship,” Ishbia wrote in a message to fans.

“We won’t win a championship every season, but it will always be the goal. The Suns will never stop working to be great both on and off the court, and we are just getting started.”

Dallas — which somehow missed the playoffs — will need to make a decision on free-agent-in-waiting Kyrie Irving and what works best for Luka Doncic.

Portland has to figure out what to do to make Damian Lillard happy, meaning it has to either lure more talent to the Northwest or send him to a contender.

The Los Angeles Clippers might decide to make big changes after their season ended earlier than they wanted.

For the most part, the only teams that are truly happy with how their

seasons have gone right now are probably Miami, the Lakers, Denver and Boston. They are the last four standing.

“Next season starts now,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said after his team was ousted by the Lakers.

Some team’s path will get a little easier on Tuesday at the draft lottery, when a lucky club wins the right to select Victor Wembanyama next month.

But that won’t be the Suns, the Warriors, the Bucks or any of the other teams that made the playoffs and fell short. They might go spending. They might make trades. They’ll all do something.

Some players already pretty much know they’re getting traded; Knicks guard Evan Fournier, who fell out of New York’s rotation this season, told reporters that he expects to be moved.

Changes are coming.

Lots of changes are coming. And for some teams, they might have to be big, bold ones.

WARRIORS guard Stephen Curry stands during a timeout in the second quarter in Game 6 of the team’s NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal against the Lakers on Friday. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

KNICKS forward Julius Randle, right, and Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) congratulate each other after the Heat beat the Knicks 96-92 in Game 6 on Friday in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

SUNS centre Deandre Ayton watches during the first half of Game 6 against the Nuggets Thursday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Tatum sets Game 7 record with 51 points, Celtics rout 76ers 112-88

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) —

Jayson Tatum gave Boston a long-overdue fast start and followed it up with a finish the NBA had never seen before.

After struggling in backto-back games, Tatum erupted for 51 points – the most in a Game 7 in history — and the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 112-88 yesterday to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year. One game after missing 14 of his first 15 shots only to awaken in the fourth quarter in time to save their season, Tatum scored 25 in the back-andforth first half and 17 more in Boston’s 33-10 third quarter that turned a threepoint lead into a runaway.

The Celtics, who lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals last year, will face the Miami Heat in the East finals for the second straight season. Game 1 is on Wednesday in Boston.

“I was relieved just to get another chance. Our season could have been over after Game 6,” said Tatum, who broke the Game 7 record of 50 points

Stephen Curry set two weeks ago. “It definitely was on my mind that I had played as bad as it could get, for 43 minutes.

“We had a saying: ‘It’s only up from here.’”

Tatum added 13 rebounds and Jaylen Brown scored 25 points for Boston, which rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the series to keep alive their hopes for an unprecedented 18th NBA championship.

“You always come into a series with the expectation of how it’s supposed to go,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who is in his first year as an NBA head coach after being promoted on the eve of training camp after Ime Udoka was suspended. “That’s not how the playoffs are.”

Tatum was subbed out of the game with three minutes left to a standing ovation from the crowd, which soon broke out in a “Beat the Heat!” chant. Miami beat Boston in six games in the 2020 East finals and the Celtics took a seven-game matchup last season.

“It’s the best time of the year,” Tatum said. “As a competitor, I love the opportunity.”

Newly crowned NBA MVP Joel Embiid scored

15 points on 5-for-18 shooting, and Tobias Harris scored 19 for Philadelphia. The Sixers lost in the conference semifinals for the third straight year, and the fifth time in six seasons; they have not gotten any farther since reaching the NBA Finals in 2001 despite “The Process” — tanking their way to four top-three draft picks in a row, including Embiid.

“I thought we had the right group. I really did,” said Sixers coach Doc Rivers, who was on the

Boston bench when the Celtics won it all in 2008. “We played great all year and this loss absolutely diminishes what we did this year in some way. ... I think this team is headed right. I thought we took another step this season. And then tonight I think we took a step backward. But that’s OK. That happens, too.”

Tatum started 0 for 6 in a Game 5 loss and missed 14 of his first 15 shots overall from the floor in Game 6 before making four 3-pointers in the final 4:14

SUNS FIRE COACH MONTY WILLIAMS

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

THE Phoenix Suns fired Monty Williams on Saturday, two years after reaching the NBA Finals and a year after he was the overwhelming choice as the coach of the year.

Williams had great success in his four regular seasons in Phoenix, winning 63% of his games. But three consecutive years of playoff frustration was likely too much for the Suns to overlook — especially after two straight years of Phoenix trailing by 30 points at halftime of elimination games at home.

ESPN and The Athletic first reported the decision.

to force the decisive seventh game. He picked up where he left off, scoring Boston’s first basket and 11 points in the first quarter, 14 more in the second and outscoring the Sixers on his own, 17-10, in the third. The 33-10 edge in the third was the most lopsided quarter in a Game 7 since at least 1997.

“JT just got it going and get out of that man’s way,” Brown said. “He got it rolling, and there’s nothing they could do to stop him.”

GRIZZLIES SUSPEND JA MORANT

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

JA Morant was suspended by the Memphis Grizzlies yesterday after he appeared to be holding a gun in another social media video that was streamed live on Instagram, the latest in a series of concerning incidents involving the two-time AllStar guard.

It’s the second time in less than three months that Morant was seen on Instagram holding what appeared to be a weapon.

The first led to an eightgame NBA suspension that was handed down in March and cost Morant about $669,000 in salary.

It’s unclear what sanctions Morant may face for

the second video, which was captured Saturday night and widely shared online. The video was streamed on the Instagram account of Morant associate Davonte Pack, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because neither the NBA nor the Grizzlies have commented on the specifics of the latest video. social media post involv ing Ja Morant and are in the process of gathering more information,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. season is over, said Morant is suspended from all team activities “pending league review.”

The video streamed by Pack shows Morant in the passenger seat of a vehicle, briefly appearing to display a handgun.

At the very brief moment — maybe less than a second — when Morant is shown holding what appears to be a weapon, the livestream had 111 viewers.

The video that got Morant suspended during

was getting. ESPN later reported that he was getting counselling in Florida. The team eventually confirmed this but did not share any details. “Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement after meeting with Morant and deciding on the suspension’s length.

from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court.”

Morant sat down for an interview with ESPN during his suspension, taking responsibility for the video.

“I don’t condone any type of violence,” Morant

“Monty has been foundational to our success over the past four seasons,” said James Jones, the Suns’ president of basketball operations and general manager. “We are filled with gratitude for everything Monty has contributed to the Suns and to the Valley community.”

Jones also said he made the decision to fire Williams.

The Suns had a 2-0 lead in the 2021 NBA Finals, only to lose in six games. They lost in the second round in each of the last two seasons, both times in an embarrassing home finale — last year to Dallas, this year to Denver.

“Neither day feels good,” Williams said after the loss earlier this week to Denver, when asked to compare last season’s debacle to this year’s season-ending loss. Saturday likely didn’t feel good, either.

The Suns now become yet another high-profile coaching opening, after Toronto fired Nick Nurse and Milwaukee fired Mike Budenholzer. Nurse won the 2019 NBA title with the Raptors, while Budenholzer was the coach who overcame Phoenix’s 2-0 lead in the 2021 finals.

It’s the second major move made by the Suns in the three months or so since new owner Mat Ishbia closed the sale that gave him control of the club.

In February, Ishbia green-lighted a blockbuster trade that brought Kevin Durant to Phoenix and gave the Suns a core — him, Devin Booker, former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul — that the team hoped would be enough to deliver a title.

JAMES AND DAVIS LEAD LAKERS BACK TO CONFERENCE FINALS

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— After every twist and turn in the soap opera saga of LeBron James’ four seasons alongside Anthony Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers, one truth remains perfectly clear. This is a championshipcalibre partnership when James and Davis are both healthy.

One or both superstars have been injured for long stretches of the three seasons since their 2020 bubble championship, and the Lakers’ road back to contention has been incredibly rocky because of it. The entire roster around them has been completely changed since that ring, but James and Davis are still here, still fighting.

Now they’re both healthy at the same time again, and the rest of the NBA has been reminded what happens when this dynamic duo can fly at full strength.

James and Davis were at their best while the Lakers eliminated the defending champion Golden State Warriors in six games, capping a masterful effort with a 122-101 victory Friday night.

When asked why the seventh-seeded Lakers find themselves four games from the NBA Finals just three months after they were six

games below .500 and in 13th place in the Western Conference, James praised the front office for over hauling the roster around the trade deadline with the arrivals of D’Angelo Rus sell, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt.

a second reason: “Also, staying healthy. We weren’t as healthy as we would like to be, but we still played good basketball after the break to put us in the position.”

won six of their seven play off series together, losing only when Davis was hurt in the first round against Phoenix in 2021. when James and Davis are playing together, and this postseason has been an archetypal example of what they can do.

mendously disappointing 2021-22 season in which they missed the playoffs while going 33-49, leading to Frank Vogel’s firing and Darvin Ham’s arrival. Davis’ injury problems limited him to 40 games, while James played in only 56. But these Lakers are almost nothing like those Lakers: Other than James and Davis, only Austin Reaves and backup big man Wenyen Gabriel remain from last year’s roster.

“When you have guys like Bron and AD who have won championships, you always feel like you have a chance, especially with the roster that we have, the talent that we have,” said

Reaves, the undrafted free agent who seized a starting role down the stretch. James had 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Game 6, repeatedly making stunning plays

molding the team around them.

“One of the things I wanted to reestablish here was our competitiveness, and then work toward building a team, a roster of players that were together and that weren’t afraid to acknowledge what we’re doing wrong and how we

can fix it,” Ham said. “It started with themselves, how can we all be better individually, and then come together as a group, and I think just throughout the season, the work ethic of LeBron, the persistence of AD, both of those guys.”

The Lakers’ season has gone from a probable disaster to an undeniable success in the past two months, but nobody appears to be satisfied.

After handling every challenge thrown at them in recent weeks, the Lakers are headed into their showdown with top-seeded Denver carrying much more confidence than almost any seventh seed could possess — no surprise, since no seventh seed has reached the West finals since the 1986-87 Seattle SuperSonics.

“From Day One, we’ve always said we need those three elements to be able to do anything, to have any type of success within an NBA season, and that’s the competitiveness, togetherness and accountability,” Ham said.

“Moreover from that, our work and our preparation will carry us as far as that takes us, and we stayed true to form with that.

“Everyone in the building, through those tough times at the beginning of the season, stayed positive, stayed encouraging.”

CELTICS forward Jayson Tatum (0) receives applause as he steps off the court near the end of Game 7 against the 76ers last night.

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

ketball Western Conference semifinal series against the Golden State Warriors on Friday in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Red-Line Athletics: ‘We are more than just a track club’

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Red-Line Athletics track club is not only home to talented student-athletes but also noble citizens.

The track club made a $2,000 donation to Great Commission Ministries this past weekend in addition to dry goods to support their cause of feeding the less fortunate.

The track club’s third consecutive year of giving back saw them surpass last year’s amount of $1,500, making it their largest donation to date.

With Great Commission Ministries working around the clock to provide essentials such as food and shelter to those less fortunate, Red-Line coach Tito Moss talked about how it felt to help out for the third straight year.

“It feels good to give back, particularly partnering with a worthy cause such as the Great Commission Ministries who are doing such a huge job to society by providing 500 hot meals per day so it is a joy for us to be able to partner with them to assist,” Moss said.

The track club has consistently given back to the non-profit organisation since their first $1,000 donation and 500 pounds of dry food in 2021. Their donation amount has steadily increased each year with not only the head coach, but also their athletes on board with the initiative.

“We need the kids to understand that no matter

what background they come from, no matter how much needs they may have in their life, there are still persons in society that have greater needs than themselves,” the coach said. He added that the goal of the club is to not only build student athletes but also to create complete productive members of society who understand

the value of giving back. Red-Line athletes donated a portion of their lunch monies during March and April and the club matched whatever total they amassed in efforts to support the Great Commission once again. Despite only existing four years now since their debut in the summer of 2018, the track club wants

to continue to give back as they expand and experience more success in the future.

The head coach emphasized that Red-Line Athletics is more than just a track club and will continue their support of Great Commission but will also look to find more ways to be active in the community as their success does

INJURED ‘JAZZ’ CHISHOLM JR TO VISIT SPECIALIST

MIAMI (AP) — Bryan De La Cruz doubled twice and singled and the Miami Marlins avoided a three-game sweep against Cincinnati with a 3-1 win over the Reds yesterday.

Activated from the injured list earlier Sunday, Garrett Cooper had two hits and drove in a run for the Marlins, who snapped a five-game home losing skid. Marlins centre fielder Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr, who is suffering from a contusion, didn’t play and is expected to visit a specialist to determine if he could miss additional time.

On Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds, Chisholm Jr exited with a right foot contusion after he collided with the wall attempting to catch Ramos’ drive.

Cooper missed 12 games because of an inner ear infection.

not stop on the track and field. “As we mould these student athletes into young productive members of society, we will continue to challenge them mentally, physically and emotionally and we hope that when their time is done at Red-Line, they will see the value in giving back and reaching out and pulling another up,” Moss said.

“It started before I went on the IL and I tried to play through it for about 10 days,” Cooper said. “It kind of got to a point where you are not seeing pitches at the plate, it’s better to take some time off, take some medicine and get back to feeling yourself because this game is hard as it is. You can’t see the ball at the plate, it makes it even harder.”

The Marlins will start the opener of a three-game home series against Washington on Tuesday.

The Nationals have not announced their starter.

GO RAPTORS: CH Reeves soak up GSSSA success

FROM PAGE 15

school during the volleyball and softball season.

She talked about how it felt to add another accomplishment to her collection. The young athlete said it felt awesome and she is grateful for it. Additionally, she gave special thanks to her coaches, especially Varel Davis and Mr Johnson for all the hard work as well as her teammates.

The male top athlete of the year honours went to Stanley Pratt who claimed the award after competing in soccer, track, volleyball and basketball.

Pratt had a special motivation for competing in the various sporting disciplines.

The multi-faceted athlete said it felt good to win the award and he thanked his parents as well as coaches. He added that his late father told him to be the best person he could be and he just wanted to follow what his father had said by competing.

The two athletes were gifted tickets for a movie at the Fusion Superplex and will receive a full ensemble of their choice courtesy of Buttons Bridal and Formal Wear for their latest achievements.

Despite the brief hiatus due to COVID-19, the Raptors were able to pick up right where they left off at

ATHLETES

FROM PAGE 15

time of 20.58 in the preliminaries of the men’s 200m. He finished second in the final in 20.32 behind Lindsey’s winning time of 20.12.

Antoine Andrews, also a member of Texas Tech, competed in the final of the men’s 110m hurdles where he ended up in second place in 13.46. His team-mate Caleb Dean won in 13.44.

Andrews had the second fastest qualifying time of 13.57.

SEC Championships

University of Tennessee’s Charisma Taylor, competing for Tennessee, popped a leap of 45-10 3/4 inches or 13.99 metres for second place in the women’s triple jump to lead all Bahamian

the GSSSA track and field championships. The school flexed their championship pedigree at the 30th edition of the track and field meet after leading the entire way for the win.

Among the other athletes celebrated at the Green Day Celebration were Rayniece Gibson, Andrewnique

performers at the SEC Championships in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Jasmine Moore of Florida won the event with 46-04 3/4 (14.14m).

Taylor had to settle for fourth place in the final of the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.84. Aila Armstrong of LSU took the title in 12.40 for a meet and facility record.

Taylor had the fourth fastest qualifying time of 12.93.

Ahthaya Charlton, also competing for Kentucky, got sixth place in the women’s 100m final. Jacious Sears from Tennessee won the race in 10.96. Charlton had the second fastest time in the preliminary rounds in 11.11. Charlton also ran the second leg for Kentucky in the women’s 4 x 100m relay

Smith, Esmaella Pauleon, Thayna Augustin, Fredricka Auguste, Tiara Wallace, Cassidy Fowler, Olesia Dryden, Rania Douglas, and Kizzinique Davis were all awarded for the under-13 girls. For the under-13 boys, awards went to Jermaine Moxey, B’Anthony Barr, Sylvanna

as they finished second in 42.93, just behind Louisiana State University’s winning performance in 42.92.

A pair of quarter-milers competed in the women’s 400m, but neither advanced out of the preliminary rounds. Javonya Valcourt, also competing for Tennessee, was 16th overall in 52.78, while Megan Moss, a member of the Kentucky connection, was 19th in 53.33. Valcourt and Moss were a part of their respective women’s 4 x 400m relay teams that closed out the meet. Valcourt ran the second leg for Tennessee as they got the edge in third place in 3:29.98, while Moss ran the third leg for Kentucky as they got fourth in 3:30.93. Texas A&M took the title in 3:26.64.

Georges, Mario Lundy, Robert Delancy, Kevin Sinsurin, Tyqwon Woodside, and Denim Stuart. Other male athletes honoured were Tavarus Roberts, Jamal Ferguson and Navardo Allen.

For the under-15 division, honours went to Deja Sands, Arian Dean,

AAC Outdoor Championships

In Raleigh, North Carolina, Wanya McCoy posted a lifetime best of 20.41 to take second place in the men’s 200m behind his teammate Cameron Rose who won in his personal best of 20.39. Rose and McCoy had the third and fourth fastest times in the preliminaries in 20.56 and 20.71 respectively. McCoy opened the meet by just missing out on a spot in the final of the men’s 100m after he clocked 10.35 for ninth place in the preliminaries. However, he closed out by running the lead-off leg for Clemson’s victorious 4 x 400m relay team of D’Andre Anderson, Rose and Tarees Rhoden, who took the title in a meet record of 3:02.25.

Raniyah Smith, Samantha Gottshalk, Sonaia Rolle, Britnie Poitier, Alexis Wright, Lavario Ferguson, Gabriel Deveaux, Decarliano Tinker, Denzil Clarke, David Douglas, Malik Dean, and Andrew Rolle. Other top performers awarded were Travon Moncur, DeAnte Joseph,

Big 10 Conference

In the men’s high jump, Shaun Miller Jr led a few Bahamians at Ohio State with a leap of 7-1 1/2 (2.17m) for third place. The event was won by Mayson Conner of Nebraska with 7-2 1/2 (2.20m).

Grand Bahamian Oscar Smith, a junior at Ohio State, had the seventh fastest qualifying time of 13.82. Smith finished ninth in the final in 14.08. Nebraska’s junior Darius Luff won in 13.32.

Adrrian Curry, a senior at Ohio State, was 26th overall in the men’s 100m in 34.61. He didn’t advance to the final.

Conference USA

Karon Dean, a junior at the University of Texas at

Whitney Guerrier, and Neveah Stuart.

In attendance at Friday’s Green Day Celebration was also the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg and Floyd Armbrister, of the ministry’s sports unit. They had some strong remarks and motivational words for the students and coaches. “I congratulate the Raptors for being the GSSSA junior track and field champions for 2023, it is not just your accomplishments in track and field that make you great, you are an athletic school with many great national coaches contributing to your excellence,” Bowleg said.

He credited the efforts of the CH Reeves head coach and GSSSA president Varel Davis and the other coaches of the school who have not only contributed to school success, but also national sporting success.

Meanwhile, Armbister praised the efforts and prowess of the young Raptors and encouraged them to not only focus on athletics, but to also place emphasis on education.

Armbrister, along with Minister Bowleg, noted that developing the youth from a younger age will help to develop better athletes from the start.

Raptors will look to continue their GSSSA success in this year’s soccer season.

El Paso (UTEP), clocked the fifth fastest qualifying time of 10.27 on Saturday to advance to the final that was held yesterday.

Competing at the Birmingham Crossplex in Birmingham, Alabama where Sydney Clarke stars on the women’s tennis team, Dean came through in the century final in 10.43 for sixth place.

Alaba Akintola, a senior at Mid Tennessee State, won in 10.06.

Dean, however, fell short of getting into the final of the 200m after he placed ninth in the preliminaries in 21.20.

Also competing at the meet was Mateo Smith, a freshman at Louisiana Tech, who got seventh in the men’s long jump with a leap of 23-06 3/4 (7.18m).

GREEN DAY CELEBRATION: The CH Reeves Raptors celebrate their Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) basketball and track, and field championship wins at Friday’s ceremony.

Photo: Tenajh Sweeting

LENDING A HAND: Red-Line Athletics track club donated a $2,000 cheque and dry goods to the Great Commission Ministries in efforts to give back.

BAHAMAS 4TH OVERALL IN CONCACAF BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

“How far we made it was a dream come true,” Thompson said. “It’s just a true testament of how hard we worked as a team. We definitely know what we need to do to get to the next level.

“We were very close to getting to the World Cup. It’s always a childhood dream. It’s just a shame we let the opportunity slip away, but we know what we have to do for the next one.”

Despite the loss, it was the best showing ever for the Bahamas in the CONCACAF beach soccer competition.

The USA wrapped up the championship by clinching the title with an impressive 5-0 whitewashing of Mexico. Gabriel Silvera booted in a pair of goals and Nick Perera, Tomas Canale and Ricardo Carvalho added one each.

It was still a memorable championship for the Bahamas.

On Saturday, after trailing 2-0 to Mexico, the Bahamas got on the scoreboard, thanks to a goal from goalkeeper Michael Butler to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the end of the second period.

Wood Julmis came through with the 2-2 equaliser in the third.

But Mexico put the icing on the cake as their goalkeeper Gabriel Macias booted in the final goal in the final minute to begin their celebrations.

It was a painful loss for Team Bahamas, losing it down the stretch, but team captain Gavin Christie lamented it will be one that will propel the team even further in the future.

“It’s kind of heartbreaking because the team worked so hard for so many months, preparing, training, time off jobs and to be so close,” Christie said. “With 30 seconds to go, we had the momentum in our favour, but unfortunately one silly mistake and the game was over.”

Christie, however, thanked the Bahamian public for their tremendous support.

“We heard them, we felt them, so we thank them for all of their support,” he said. “We just encourage them to continue to support beach soccer. We have a very good team, We just continue to support the team.”

At this stage in the game, Christie said the Bahamas no longer goes to the tournaments to compete, but to win. Considered one of the top teams in CONCACAF, he said it shows the growth of the sport and they only hope to improve.

Butler admitted that it was a tough pill to swallow.

“It was pretty tough. It was a really tough game. Obviously, we didn’t get the results that we wanted, but the team went out there and gave it 100 percent,” he said.

On scoring the goal for the team, Butler said it was what the doctor prescribed because it was contagious as the Bahamas got another to level the score.

But he admitted that Mexico’s goalkeeper is considered to be one of the best in the region and the one time the Bahamas “gave him the space,” Butler said Macias “punished us.”

Renowned Brazilian coach Alexandre Soares, who guided the team through the tournament, said they played a very experienced team, but he was proud of the effort the Bahamas produced against them.

“The team is amazing. They play with a high quality,” said Soares, who noted that the young players played exceptionally well. “The future is very bright for them,”

In Friday’s semifinal match after a day’s rest at the completion of the round robin play, the Bahamas clinched its spot in the semifinal with an impressive 4-2 win over Panama in their quarter-final match-up.

Kyle Williams and Gary Joseph pushed the

Bahamas up 2-0 with their pair of goals in the first period. Panama responded with a goal from Nagdiel Del Rosario and Luis Quintero before Williams added another for a 3-2 Bahamas lead at the end of the second. The lone goal in the third came from Michael Williams on a goalkeeper’s

insurance boot to seal the deal as the Bahamas moved one game closer to getting to the World Cup.

Unfortunately, they ended up one goal short of beating Mexico in the semifinal clincher and one behind El Salvador to complete the championship in fourth place overall.

Photo: Austin Fernander/ Tribune Staff

NACAC FROM PAGE 15

wants to get used to the feeling of running with elite athletes at the junior level so, when he gets to their level, it would not phase him anymore.

After running 11.34 in the 100m prelims, Olympic silver medallist Shashalee Forbes shaved 0.17 seconds off her time to get the win in the finals. She was followed by fellow Jamaican competitors Kemba Nelson and Tia Clayton. Nelson ran 11.27 and Clayton notched 11.31 in the race.

“I felt pretty great I mean I ran a little slow out of the blocks but as a pro athlete you have to learn how to pick up and can go so, apart from all that, it felt really good,” Forbes said.

Canada’s Duan Asemota ran 10.14 in the men’s 100m finals which was a personal best for the athlete. Ghana’s Joseph Amoah once again secured another second place finish, this time with a run of 10.19. Trinidad and Tobago’s Eric Harrison Jr closed out the sprint in third with 10.22.

Asemota said his strategy in the race was to make sure he stayed nice and low, not coming up too high and he knew that he could finish the race, therefore, he wanted to remain relaxed, remain composed and get to the finish.

He said it felt amazing to compete in Grand Bahama, coming from Canada where the weather is not the best right now. Additionally, he enjoyed the hosting and facilities.

Aliyah Abrams of Guyana completed the women’s 400m finals with 50.20 to edge out her competitors. The top three finishers in the race all beat Wadeline Johnathas’ previous New Life record of 51.91. Canada’s Charokee Young ran 50.45 for second and Cuba’s Roxana Gomez took third with 51.01.

The men’s 400m finals were no different than their counterparts. The top three finishers all surpassed Deon Lendore’s previous New Life record of 45.83. The USA’s Olympic gold medallist Trevor Stewart took home the victory in 44.92. He was followed by Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald who clocked 45.26. Grand Bahama’s very own Alonzo Russell returned to notch 45.52 for third place.

“I felt like it was a decent race, it’s always exciting to come back home and run in front of the home crowd. I feel good about the run today and I look forward to the rest of the season,” Russell said.

He said he is at a better place mentally and that’s why he thinks that he is seeing better results.

In the 800m finals, the USA’s Skylyn Webb bested her competitors with 2:02.96 in the race. Second place belonged to St Vincent’s Shafiqua Maloney and third place went to Puerto Rico’s Aziza Ayoub.

The USA once again emerged victorious, this time in the men’s 800m finals. Kameron Jones sealed the victory after clocking 1:47.66 in the race.

Jamaica’s Rajay Hamilton

finished second witn 1:47.71 and the USA’s CJ Jones came in third with 1:47.93.

In hurdles action, Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper blitzed her competitors in the 100m hurdles finals. She came in with 12.74, shaving 0.13 seconds off her prelims qualifying time of 12.87. Second place was secured by Jamaica’s Amoi Brown and third went to Liberia’s Ebony Morrison.

After securing a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Rasheed Broadbell claimed first place this time in the men’s 110m hurdles. Jamaica’s Broadbell finished with 13.10 to break the previous New Life record of Michael Dickson. Eric Edwards Jr of the USA came second in 13.42 and Jamaica’s Damion Thomas wrapped up in third.

The winner’s of both the men and women’s 400m hurdles finals took home first place honours and set new records at the oneday meet. For the women, Roshell Clayton ran 54.41 to beat the previous record of 54.50 held by Dalilah Muhammed. For the men, the USA’s Amere Lattin came up big with 49.18 in the race. He broke the previous record of Gerald Drummond (49.47).

Lattin said he thought his execution in the race was great and he ran great all the way up to hurdle eight and nine, but for hurdle 10, he broke his stride and felt that it cost him.

Nonetheless, he added that he will go back to the drawing board.

FIELD

Women’s pole vaultCanada’s Anicka Newell (4.56m), USA’s Rachel Baxter (4.46m) and Sophie Gutermuth (4.41m)

Women’s Triple Jump - USA’s Keturah Orji (14.02m), Milana Hearn (13.61m), and The Bahamas’ Tamara Myers (13.37m)

Men’s High Jump - The Bahamas’ Donald Thomas (2.26m), India’s Tejaswin Shankar (2.21m), and Jamaica’s Lushane Wilson (2.21m).

Fellow Grand Bahamian Thomas talked about how it felt to compete back at home. He said he wanted to thank God for bringing him this far and felt that the

Men’s

competition was good and he was happy to be home competing and performing in front of his people.

Long Jump - USA’s Isaac Grimes (7.75m), Damarcus Simpson (7.67m) and Dominica’s Tristan James (7.62m).

SHOWN, from left to right, are NACAC president Mike Sands and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg presenting first place finisher Anthonique Strachan, second place finisher Jada Baylark, and third place finisher Quanera Hayes with a conch shell to commemorate their finishes in the 200 metre finals.

SHAWN Thompson soars to a height of 7.57 metres in the men’s long jump.