05182023 NEWS AND SPORT

Minister: Kill or castrate rapists

MP Miller said he was ‘furious’ when hearing about abducted woman

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A CABINET minister said people convicted of rape should be castrated or executed.

The comments of Environment and Natural Resources Minister Vaughn Miller came after police raised concerns about sexual assaults in the Bacardi Road

area in his Golden Isles constituency.

Mr Miller said he was furious when a woman was reportedly abducted, robbed and sexually assaulted at 10am on Saturday.

Police said they have since arrested the suspect in that incident.

“I wish to register my anger against persons who

ExpErt quEstions numbEr of shoot Ers in azario hE aring

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A FIREARMS and ballistics expert said a second shooting sequence could have occurred when footage showed Azario Major was shot and CSI investigators arrived.

Dr Richard Pumerantz, of the US-based Guns & Ammo Witness Consulting, testified about the matter as

the Coroner’s Court inquest into the December 26, 2021, killing of Azario Major continued yesterday.

After slowing surveillance footage to a playback speed of 0.33 to capture muzzle flashes, Dr Pumerantz said only one officer shot Azario. He concluded this because there were only nine flashes, each from the gun of an officer

by August

CampbEll ConCErnEd port opEning bad for bay strEE t

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CENTREVILLE MP

Jomo Campbell said he is concerned tourist attractions downtown will lose visitors and suffer a slow death after the Nassau Cruise Port opens. He also questioned when the company would “fulfil its obligation to invest $8m towards the beautification of downtown”, calling this

essential. The $300m port is expected to officially open

fnm lE adEr expects DNA’s komolafE to join party

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard said Arinthia Komolafe is expected to join the FNM. The former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader, who resigned as leader of the DNA in November 2021, was pictured embracing Mr Pintard at an FNM meeting on Monday, fueling speculation about her political future.

SEE page four

l abour dEpt: ‘opportuNities A re there’ for job opEnings

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE BRITISH Colonial resort will hire up to 400 staff before it fully re-opens this December, the Government’s labour chief revealed yesterday, adding: “The majority of Bahamians who want a job can find one.” Robert Farquharson, director of labour, told Tribune Business the “opportunities are there” as he confirmed that a further 300 job openings will be available at two job fairs later this week where his department is partnering with two major tourism investors.

on May 26.

Mr Campbell noted the facility is in his constituency.

“I fully understand the need to provide a welcoming environment for visitors to our country,” he said as legislators debated amendments to Antiquities Monuments and Museum Corporation (AMMC) laws.

“As the world’s second most popular cruise port,

$400k Unit donated to hospital and other stories see extra news section today

Commonwealth Building Supplies marks 50th anniversary

Commonwealth Building Supplies (CBS) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the company’s existence last night during a reception. executives, staff and friends of the company gathered at the Balmoral Club to mark the special occasion.

During the reception CBS presented checks supporting Bahamas association of the Physically Disabled (BaPD) and the Bahamas humane Society totalling $40,000 donated to the work these organisations provide for the community.

During CBS 50th anniversary Brent Burrows Sr, vice president and John Treco, president donated a check for $15,000 to the Bahamas humane society.

HELPING TO LEAD THE WAY IN AVIATION

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A “FIRST of its kind transformational aviation, climate, meteorological and severe weather network” is set to propel The Bahamas to become a “world leader” in the aviation sector.

The Bahamas Aviation, Climate & Severe Wx Network Ltd (BACSWN) made significant headway after several meetings and presentations in Boulder, Colorado, with officials from the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) last week. They are looking to achieve its goal as the Caribbean’s first company to bring 3D imaging to weather forecasting and enhanced weather tracking systems.

The Bahamas is the “ideal” place to begin NCAR’s expansion into the Caribbean, considering the country’s recent history with Hurricane Dorian in 2019, said Roelof Bruintjes, project scientist.

William Mahoney, director at NCAR, also said that: “We’re continually trying out new products and software and we want to help The Bahamas to better predict weather patterns and have better success in managing airline traffic in and out of its airspace.”

NCAR has a team of scientists dedicated to forecasting weather patterns across the world. For example, it had partnered with the Taiwanese government in producing its Advanced Operational Aviation Weather System (AOAWS) that provides high

resolution advanced aeronautical and meteorological information to aviation to enhance flight safety, aviation system capacity and efficiency utilising advanced technologies. This information can be utilised by different groups in the aviation sector from air traffic personnel, pilots, airline dispatchers, and meteorologists.

Lyrone Burrows, president and chief executive officer of BACSWN, told Tribune Business that the partnership they are developing with NCAR is the

Can you help find missing Kyle?

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE family of Kyle Carey is hoping for his safe return home after the 20-year-old disappeared a week ago.

Relatives said they last saw Mr Carey last Thursday. They said their Coral Harbour neighbours reportedly saw him early Friday morning.

“Any parent would be really concerned if their child goes missing, especially if they know they don’t sleep out overnight,” said Keith Carey, the missing man’s father.

“So, you know I am very concerned about his safety. That is the main thing. When I find him, I just want to know that he is safe and well, that is the main thing.”

“Kyle is kind of an introvert, as he likes to be to himself. He’s very quiet, very mannerly.”

The family has filed a missing person report.

Mr Carey said the CV Bethel High School graduate is not mentally challenged, but has underlying health issues.

He pleaded for his son to return home.

“Kyle would not have any reason to leave home or be out from home this long on his own will because he has a good relationship with his twin brother and me and his mother, so I don’t see a reason for him to stay out there for any reason,” he said.

“But Kyle, if you are out there anywhere, we want you to know that we love you and we just want you to come home.”

If you have any information on Kyle’s whereabouts, contact his father at 816-1330 or 822-7821 or your nearest police station.

GHANA HOPING TRIP WILL BRING OPPORTUNITIES

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

GHANA government representatives are hoping to showcase the business opportunities and investments their country has to offer The Bahamas, according to Ghanian Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah made this statement yesterday during the Ghana–Caribbean Business Summit at the University of The Bahamas. He said there was a cultural and historical reason the people of Ghana and The Bahamas should connect.

He said the Caribbean region and Ghana should especially work together on a commercial level.

“We’re hoping to showcase the investment opportunities available

to all of you back home in Africa. Agricultural investment opportunities, mineral resource investment opportunities, investment opportunities in tourism, and other service areas that you are very familiar with and inviting you to come partner with your brothers and sisters to do business back home not just for Ghana, but for the 1.4 billion people on the African continent,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah said. He added: “We’re also looking to introduce Ghanaian business people who are with us here to Caribbean opportunities so that they can also work with business people here in the Caribbean and The Bahamas as a launch pad to get their products and services across the rest of the world.”

perfect fit and that the presentations provided keen insight on how to integrate 3D technology into their platform, particularly for imaging tropical storms and weather depressions. “It’s very enlightening. I think definitely the visualisation, the conversations relative to the lightning, lightning data, the level of efficiencies that can come from having a proper systems to be able to identify the lightning and ensure that the appropriate actions are taken so that you’re not shutting down your operations for an extended

time period. And also identifying the correct lightning instances for those scenarios to be able to be played out.”

Severe lightning and thunderstorms are a primary cause of delayed flights. Lightning at airports is a safety concern and there have been incidents that haven’t ended well over the past several years. There have been a few incidents at airports with deaths, there have been incidents with injuries that are a bit more frequent, but it does depend where

you are. To mitigate the Lightning as a safety concern at US airports, there are safety procedures that oftentimes trigger ramp closures to mitigate that risk and that does have an impact on air traffic, from delayed flights due to the ramp closures, all of which costs money.

This is why the 3D technology that BACSWN is planning to bring to The Bahamas would be a pivotal game changer for the Caribbean as it would enable them to ease the burden off of an already congested flight path, providing better forecasting for weather patterns by having cockpit weather services in addition to providing air traffic controllers with real time data in order to better inform pilots on the flight spacing or delays brought about by storm patters and weather depressions, while being a model that can be exported across the region.

BACSWN has also partnered with American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate, Raytheon Technologies, to assist with providing better technologies for the meteorological and airline industry in The Bahamas. NCAR along with Raytheon, will help BACSWN to simultaneously deliver on better forecast imaging strategies as well as modern tracking equipment, respectively.

The goal is to see weather patterns in 3D in real time and have that information delivered to all of the stakeholders involved in the flight operations chain, from the ground control to the cockpit.

CAMPBELL CONCERNED PORT OPENING BAD FOR BAY STREET

from page one

Nassau must have a terminal that complements our tourism product. However, we must remain concerned that certain tourist attractions in the downtown area will receive less visitor traffic and, as a result, may die a slow and painful death. We must do everything we can to ensure that this does not happen.”

Mr Campbell noted some of his constituents work as straw vendors.

“Straw vendors have been selling products in Rawson Square since the 1950s,” he said. “The Straw Market and several straw market vendors have played significant roles in our nation’s history. While we can all agree that there are perhaps some improvements needed in the Straw Market, I truly hope that

straw vendors see an increase in business and not a decline.”

Mr Campbell also expressed hope that the port’s opening will encourage owners of buildings downtown to renovate and clean up their properties.

“Far too many of the buildings in the downtown area have been abandoned, neglected, and are in a state of terrible decay,” he said.

“To the visitor exiting the Nassau Cruise Port, the sight of these dilapidated structures could not be attractive.

“As I have said before, developments that involve historical sites and are of great national value, such as the Nassau Cruise Port, must complement national growth. These developments must be rewarding for all stakeholders and, most especially, the Bahamian people.”

MEMBERS of the BACSWN team during their discussions in Colorado.

‘Unacceptable’ says Cartwright as Acklins residents without power for four days

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

AFTER nearly a week without electricity, residents of Acklins had their power restored yesterday afternoon.

St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright said residents in parts of the island had been without electricity since Sunday.

“I trust and hope that those persons who are affected in terms of their perishables will be compensated by Bahamas Power and Light,” Mr Cartwright said during his contribution to a debate in the House of Assembly.

“I think we all can agree that it is quite unacceptable that in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, our people can go without power since Sunday, and it’s now Wednesday. I would hope that the government is quite aware of it and bring relief to those persons on the island. “ Works & Utilities

Minister Alfred Sears said BPL teams from Long Island and New Providence were on the ground to resolve the matter, which affected residents of the Spring Point settlement.

“Immediately, BPL had a team from Long Island travel to Acklins to do trouble-shooting on the machines, but were unsuccessful,” he said. “A team was later dispatched, I am advised, from New Providence. They continued their endeavours in respect to the three engines which are in that particular location.”

Mr Sears said in the interim, a generator used during peak periods in New Providence was transported by boat to Acklins on Tuesday and was expected to arrive on the island yesterday.

“We have taken every measure and worked as aggressively as we could,” he said.

South Beach MP Bacchus Rolle later confirmed that the power was restored on the island.

FNM Leader expects dN a’s koMoL a Fe to joiN party

When The Tribune approached her, she declined to discuss the matter. She said she would address it later.

“We fully expect that she is joining the party,” Mr Pintard said yesterday. He could not say if she expects to run as an FNM candidate in the next general election.

“There were other persons who had contested other seats for the organisation who’ve expressed interest in joining the party as well as contesting the next general election,” he said. “Mrs Komolafe herself could speak to the

media concerning whether or not she’s running or not. To this point, she’s just indicated her willingness to work with us.”

Mrs Komolafe became the first woman leader of the DNA in 2019. She resigned as leader in December 2021 after the DNA performed poorly in the general election.

At the time, she said third-party politics was “brutal” and “extremely difficult”.

“The current model upon which the DNA has been run from an operational, financial and resource perspective is unsustainable,” she said. “This model has to change going forward if the

party is to survive.”

DNA Interim Deputy Leader Zacchaeus Glass said yesterday the party remains active despite Mrs Komolafe’s resignation and apparent support of the FNM.

He said the party has been creating a plan and hosted a membership drive on RM Bailey Park on Saturday, the day of the party’s anniversary.

“Actually, after the elections, the party went into it basically reorganising itself, restructuring itself,” he said. “This month, moving into next month, you’ll see more activities from the organisation.”

the

aMeNdMeN t addresses share oF proceeds oF treasure FouNd iN t he Baha M as

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE House of Assembly passed bills yesterday that would evenly split proceeds from the discovery of artefacts between the government and licencees and adjust licence fees for treasure hunters.

The Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Act currently stipulate a 75/25 split in favour of licensees when sharing proceeds from treasures found in Bahamian territories; the amendment bill would change this to a 50/50 split.

During his contribution to the debate, Centreville MP Jomo Campbell, the Minister of State for Legal Affairs, also highlighted the amendment bill to the Antiquities Monuments and Museum (Underwater Cultural Heritage) Regulations, which would change licence fees and timelines.

Mr Campbell noted that under the new regulations, the government cannot issue more than one exploration licence or recovery licence to a person or entity at any one time.

He said a licence could only be granted for three years.

Mr Campbell said the maximum area size for which an exploration licence may be granted could be 25 square nautical miles unless the minister

During his contribution to the debate, Centreville MP Jomo Campbell, the Minister of State for Legal Affairs, highlighted the amendment bill to the Antiquities Monuments and Museum (Underwater Cultural Heritage) Regulations, which would change licence fees and timelines.

determines otherwise on the recommendation of the AMMC.

“The maximum size of the area for which a recovery licence may be granted shall be limited to the size required to encompass the archaeological remains from which recovery is licensed, which shall be expressed by specific coordinates, and every area which is subject to an exploration licence or a recovery licence shall include at its perimeter a buffer zone of ten nautical miles,” he said.

He added that the cost of an exploration licence would be $100k and a recovery licence would be $250k. This, he said, would “protect underwater cultural assets and ensure that exploration companies have a suitable level of financial resources”.

Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis criticized the government yesterday for giving the opposition only 24 hours’ notice about the debate on the AMMC bill. Legislators were initially expected to debate the Ombudsman bill.

“Repeatedly, bills are suggested for debate at the last minute,” Dr Minnis said. “Repeatedly, there are changes to our agenda at the last minute. This is due in no small part because the ‘New Day’ government has a leader that prefers travelling to governing.”

Obie Wilchcombe, the leader of government business in the House of Assembly, countered that legislators should always be ready to debate bills on parliament’s agenda.

Saint Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright said residents in parts of the island had been without electricity since Sunday. “I trust and hope that those persons who are affected in terms of their perishables will be compensated by Bahamas Power and Light,” he said.

Photo: austin Fernander

Former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader, who resigned as leader of the DNA in November 2021, was pictured embracing Mr Pintard at an FNM meeting on Monday, fueling speculation about her political future. FNM leader Michael Pintard has since said Arinthia Komolafe is expected to join the FNM.

Minister: Kill or castrate rapists

from page one

commit such violent, reprehensible, detestable acts,” Mr Miller said. “In fact, I am rather draconian in my mindset on this. I’m from the old school, the old, old, old school. If you find them guilty, without a shadow of doubt, you castrate or execute them and prepare ‘em tell ‘em bid farewell to this side and say hello to whatever is on the other side. That’s my draconian opinion.”

Sexual assaults and rapes are the only serious crimes that have recently increased.

“In this Bahamas,” Mr Miller said, “we must not tolerate these acts by giving what most consider to be a slap on the wrist sentences. We must send a strong message to perpetrators that if found guilty, you will be dealt with in such a manner that you will never be able to repeat the offence. The people of Golden Isles sent me here

Environm E nt and Natural Resources Minister Vaughn Miller said people convicted of rape should be castrated or executed. The comments of came after police raised concerns about sexual assaults in the Bacardi Road area in his Golden Isles constituency; Miller said he was furious when a woman was reportedly abducted, robbed and sexually assaulted at 10am on Saturday. Police said they have since arrested the suspect in that incident.

to be their voice maximised. This is the message we wish to send.” “Our people must able

to traverse our streets and occupy their homes without the fear of being attacked or assaulted.

“We have become or are, on many instances, fast becoming a people who do not like to be disciplined.

But I’m reminded of a statement by the founder of Kwanzaa Dr Maulana Karenga who said, and I

quote, ‘the people who refuse to be disciplined will in the end be destroyed by the lack of discipline’.”

Wilchcombe says GbV bill to be tabled in hoa in t Wo W eeks

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

ANN Marie Davis, the wife of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, said she hopes the GenderBased Violence bill will be passed before the country hosts the 13th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting in August.

Her comment came as Social Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe said the bill would be tabled in the House of Assembly in the next two weeks.

“It’s near finished,” Mr Wilchcombe told reporters outside the House of Assembly. “The attorney general now has completed the final draft and we’re ready to go.”

“We’ll be talking about a number of mechanisms: how we deal with issues, how we respond to issues, the protection of women

and children. You must remember the NGOs who’ve been out here in the forefront arguing for a very long time about protection. They want to make sure that all the T’s are crossed, all the I’s are dotted and that we’re getting where we want to go. I feel very good about it, it’s been going on for a while now.”

The bill will not address marital rape, though Mr Wilchcombe expected a meeting about that to be held with Baptist church representatives yesterday.

For her part, Ms Davis supported the benefits of the bill.

“We’re going to push when the GBV bill is passed, which we know it will,” she said. “We would be so much more excited and energized to do a lot more advocating and educating about what the bill is about and what we can and cannot do.”

Asked about the lengthy wait for the bill to be debated and passed, Mrs Davis said: “I thought it took a while. I knew it was in the consultancy stages and I’m happy that’s finished now. The minister said that the people had to have their say, which I agree with. A consultation is always important on a widespread level.”

Police recently reported an increase in sexual assault reports.

“I have been saddened in the last few days when I saw Monday’s papers about the string of sexual assaults, rapes that happened over the weekend, and how many more sex crimes are being committed,” Mrs Davis said. “We have to look at this with a very broad perspective. We have to attack this problem through mental health solutions.”

men accused of sex assault in a ndros held W ithout bail

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THREE men were jailed after being accused of sexually assaulting a 29-year-old woman in Andros last month.

Shamarck Mackey, 37,

and Garvin Lafleur, 31, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain on a charge of rape. They are accused of forcing a 29-year-old woman to have sex with them between April 20–21 in Bowen Sound, Andros. A third man, Garret

Lafleur, 32, is accused of aiding and abetting their sexual assault of the woman.

The men were told their case would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI) to be served on July 27.

Ann mAriE DAvis, the wife of Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, said she hopes the GenderBased Violence bill will be passed before the country hosts the 13th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting in August.

The Tribune Limited

End of an era - the start of a better one?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AT ONE time, the Torii Gate at the International Bazaar stood as a symbol of Freeport’s historic economic success, proud emblem of a dynamic and cosmopolitan city which thrived on creating diverse opportunities for Bahamians while attracting commerce, expertise and innovation from around the world.

A bigger pie for all to share?

THE new cruise port is due to open soon – and with it comes questions about what the impact of it will be.

In today’s Tribune, Centreville MP Jomo Campbell says he is concerned that attractions in the Downtown area will lose visitors because of the port.

Given he is part of a government that is seemingly supportive of the new port, his concerns are notable.

He said: “We must remain concerned that certain tourist attractions in the Downtown area will receive less visitor traffic and, as a result, may die a slow and painful death. We must do everything we can to ensure that this does not happen.”

The port, on the other hand, are convinced that the changes will increase the amount of revenue for everyone – both in the new port area and beyond. In other words, it’s not that there will be smaller slices of pie for everyone, but rather a bigger pie to begin with.

Oddly enough, that’s the same reply the port’s leaders have given over concerns that Royal Caribbean’s plans for Paradise Island would lure visitor dollars there rather than to Downtown. There is room enough for everyone, seems to be their position.

A renovation of the port area was long overdue – and we will see on May 26 when it opens how much it will succeed in its goal of bringing a new visitor experience, and how much more revenue it will bring to the whole area.

For those who have visited other destinations by cruise ship, disembarking at Nassau has been by comparison a disheartening experience. Some other destinations have a much more welcoming first impression – and we hope that will be remedied by this new change.

It needs more than just those first steps, however. As Mr Campbell notes, there is also a need to renovate and clean up properties in the Downtown area.

He said: “Far too many of the buildings in the downtown area have been abandoned, neglected, and are in a state of terrible decay,” he said. “To the visitor exiting the Nassau Cruise Port, the sight of these dilapidated structures could not be attractive.”

Indeed, turn left instead of right as you come out of the cruise port and all you seem to encounter is crumbling buildings and alleyways full of wild plant growth and dirt.

Some of those locations would be prime beneficiaries of some of those Urban Renewal clean-ups that take place.

Refreshing some of these areas would not just benefit visitors but also the business owners who try valiantly to launch in these areas only to find the rundown nature of the area counts against them.

Some form of incentive programme throughout that area would give some of those entrepreneurs a chance to get a foothold, and benefit the area as a whole.

There are, too, frustrations in that for building owners, renovating their properties makes them face a dilemma –improve the building and you get landed with a bigger property tax bill because now it has a higher value. If their building has no tenant, that’s an extra cost they are not getting back.

When the launch day comes on May 26, we need to be keenly aware that this is not the end of the process, but rather the beginning.

This revitalised cruise port gives us the opportunity to thrive – but we must put in the extra work beyond that to make the most of that chance.

If indeed we are to be able to get a bigger pie for everyone, then we need to ensure the whole area is ready to take advantage of that.

And while we are talking about such things in terms of food, we shall find the proof is in the pudding.

Readers vote on coronation

The Tribune’s recent online polls focussed on the Coronation of King Charles III.

The first poll asked readers if they thought The Bahamas should have a national holiday to mark the Coronation.

The majority of those voting, 68 percent, said

they did think the nation should have a holiday for the occasion. Thirty-two percent were against the idea.

The second poll asked if the new king should be the last one for The Bahamas. In a closer result, 54 percent said they thought the new king should be the

Sadly, Freeport’s “Golden Years” have not endured. In the wake of various adversities, both natural and man-made, the visionary economic model became eroded, and experts and investors began to look to other jurisdictions that were evolving new models for attracting foreign direct investment. The Bazaar’s iconic arch, once beloved by residents and visitors alike as a symbol of the city’s welcoming spirit, gradually came to be seen instead as a brazen idol to stagnation, missed opportunity and squandered potential.

The demolition of the Gate earlier this month, along with several other structures damaged in a fire at the Bazaar in November 2021, is itself a potent symbol. Without question, it marks the end of an era. At the same time, there’s every reason to believe it could also usher in an exciting new chapter, one marked by renewed progress and prosperity for all Grand Bahamians and for The Bahamas as a whole.

Removing the sad eyesore into which the once-proud Bazaar had deteriorated is a necessary first step in rejuvenating the Port Area, both aesthetically and in terms of infrastructure upgrades. Going further to reimagine Freeport as a 21st Century modern cityscape capable of once again attracting international investment and generating employment and entrepreneurial opportunity on a grand scale will require a great deal more vision, planning and execution, however.

For one thing, the Grand Bahama Port Authority desperately needs to update its City Bylaws in

order to undertake necessary improvements and development on a comprehensive scale. These have not been updated since the signing of the Hawksbill Agreement in 1955 and cannot be unless Government agrees to the changes. The Port Authority has made this request of Government multiple times over the past decade, but has repeatedly been denied.

This is an example how a lack of collaboration hurts Freeport. All good projects and agreements need to be improved over time to remain effective and relevant. Government must be willing to collaborate with the Port Authority for the betterment of the people of Grand Bahama.

Modernised Bylaws are just the beginning. The Hawksbill Creek Agreement itself has not been updated for 70 years; in fact, it has been diluted. Meanwhile other free trade zones around the world that compete with Freeport have continued to evolve, becoming more and more effective at attracting investment. In order to compete, especially in the face of the deflationary effect of the devastating hurricanes that have ravaged Grand Bahama in recent years, Freeport needs an updated agreement that will allow the Port Authority to be effective at its job, working in deep collaboration with Government.

What is really needed to jolt Grand Bahama back to life is a totally revamped regulatory framework for Freeport which creates the atmosphere necessary to attract investment at all levels, from the large scale international investor, right down to the locally-owned microbusiness, thereby creating opportunities for Bahamians in diverse fields.

This new framework must prioritise ease of doing business and remove much of the red tape currently imposed on new businesses seeking to operate in the Port Area. To the greatest

PICTURE OF THE DAY

nation’s last, with 46 percent disagreeing.

Don’t miss your chance to vote in the newest poll on tribune242.com which asks: Do you agree with the bid by Atlantis, along with other resorts and developers, to bar a Wendy’s or Marco’s Pizza from opening on Paradise Island?

extent possible, the Port Authority must become a one-stop-shop for investors and entrepreneurs, an autonomous entity empowered to find solutions to the onerous bureaucracy challenges that have stifled and continue to stifle private business. Bureaucracy is the chain that is holding Freeport back; until the chain is removed, it will remain difficult for Freeport to succeed.

Less red tape would greatly amplify the Port Authority’s ability to bring in more investors to expand the tourism product and other services on the island, while also attracting new, cutting-edge industries in areas such as digitalisation of the economy, the blue and green economy, regenerative agriculture, sustainable aquaculture, renewable energy, largescale master-planned real estate development and crucially, climate resilient infrastructure to protect our people from storms.

Climate change is the single most challenging problem facing the whole of The Bahamas today. This is an issue that should unify Government, the Port Authority, both political parties and every community on every island. A strong, empowered, professionally-run Port Authority, deeply integrated with Government and working in close collaboration with all other stakeholders could serve as model not just for Freeport, but for the entire country and even other countries around the world: a public-private partnership tasked with making the country a regional hub in the field of climate resilience and much more. We are all in the same boat when it comes to rising seas and stronger storms; the time has come to work together and find the best solutions to these threats, which can also unlock the door to as yet unimagined opportunities for Bahamian professionals and entrepreneurs in the blue and green economy.

The leveling of the Torii Gate then, can be seen as a great opportunity for a restart; of a chance to wipe the slate clean and get back to the original idea behind Freeport which made it such a success early on: a true partnership between the Port Authority and Government, Freeport licensees and international investors, the local workforce and residents of every community on Grand Bahama, with a view to creating an economic engine that can harness the power of international capital to the benefit all involved. It can also give rise to new powerful symbols that represent a small island nation at the very forefront of creating innovative solutions to the biggest challenges facing our country and our world today.

RUPERT HAYWARD Director, Grand Bahama Port Authority May 17, 2023

Frustrated resident waits for approved roof repair as hurricane season soon to start

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

TWO weeks before the hurricane season starts, a frustrated resident said she is still waiting for her leaking roof to be repaired, 18 months after the Urban Renewal Commission approved her request.

Linda Fitzgerald, 63, a resident of the Mount Moriah constituency, said the Urban Renewal

Commission approved her to get repairs in January 2022

“I went there last year and I kept going back. I kept calling and they kept telling me they working on it, they working on this, they working on that. But it isn’t so,” she said.

“I stopped going,” she added. “I didn’t go back this year because I got tired from last year.”

Last year, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development and

the Urban Renewal Commission revamped the small home repairs initiative. The programme repairs homes in urgent need of restoration.

“It’s just awful, awful, awful, I’ve seen people apply after me and they have already gotten their roof fixed,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“For a single parent it’s bad and I don’t know for what reason. It takes a whole year and four to five months.”

Ms Fitzgerald said as a single mother, she is unable to fully bear the burden of the repair cost.

“It’s the roof that’s damaged and then the birds are eating it out and I have a little crack inside,” she said. “I pray I could get some money and try and patch up the roof myself. It isn’t like I didn’t try. I asked, but I’m not getting any help. I was so surprised when things didn’t get done.”

Richard Johnson, vice

chairman of the Free National Movement, protested the failure to fix the woman’s roof outside the Urban Renewal Commission’s building yesterday. “I’m calling on the permanent secretary of this ministry, directly responsible for Urban Renewal, to do her job,” he said. “If she can’t do it, then the prime minister needs to move her.”

Stephen Dean, chairman of the Urban Renewal

Commission, said he met with officials yesterday to understand the issue, but couldn’t comment further. Last month, State Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said officials were working to repair homes before the hurricane season. She said repairs for each home were, on average, valued at $15,000. She said there had been many applications.

Exp E rt qu E stions numb E r of shoot E rs in azario h E aring

wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey.

from page one his shirt pulled up. Dr Pumerantz said this suggests Azario’s body had been repositioned.

He said the position of Major’s body in the footage –– face down on the road, parallel to his car with his right foot caught between the doorframe –– is consistent with him falling or rolling out of the car.

Crime scene photos of Azario on the ground, however, showed his body at a 45-degree angle from the door and

community walkabout in faith gardEns

He suggested the body was repositioned between when his surveillance footage ended, and CSI investigators arrived on scene.

He also highlighted what he called an anomaly: gunshot wounds to Azario’s right forearm

and head when there was no shooter on the right side of the vehicle.

The gunshot wounds and the alleged repositioning of Azario’s body prompted Dr Pumerantz to raise the possibility of a second shooting after the body was repositioned.

“It appears to me in my opinion that this second firing sequence happened after the video

was stopped. We cannot be certain of this due to the absence of video but what we can say is that the body was repositioned,” he said.

“Had he had a firearm in his hand it would have been damaged, there would have been damage to the firearm. There is no evidence that a projectile hit this pistol,” he added.

AzArio MAjor

POLICe yesterday, in conjunction with Urban Renewal and National Neighbourhood Watch, conducted a walkabout in Faith Gardens. Chief Superintendent Barrett will was in attendance and discussed his crime fighting initiatives.

ASP Darvy Pratt speaks with a resident in Faith Gardens yesterday as police in conjucntion with Urban Renewal and National Neighbourhood Watch, conducted a walk about in Faith Gardens. Photos: Moise Amisial

A progressive and healthy press is vital to a country’s democracy

THE prestigious Pulitzer Prize, named after the renowned American newspaper publisher and magnate Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911), is a prize “given annually to recognise and reward excellence in American journalism, photography, literature, history, poetry, music and drama”.

The prize, which is awarded in 21 categories and was established in 1917, is administered by the highly regarded Columbia School of Journalism, which was attended by Eileen Carron, the publisher/ editor of The Tribune and the doyenne of journalism in The Bahamas.

Pulitzer founded the School of Journalism to encourage the training of journalists and journalistic excellence and rigor. It remains one of the leading schools of journalism in the world.

Pulitzer, a lifelong newspaperman with a deep understanding of both business and the journalistic craft, published the St Louis Post-Dispatch, which is no longer owned by his family, and the defunct New York World. An anti-colonialist, he railed against President Theodore Roosevelt’s imperialist stratagems over the Panama Canal. Pulitzer later regretted the role his papers played in stoking the Spanish American War (1898).

The war resulted in Spain relinquishing sovereignty over Cuba, which became a US vassal state.

The Philippine Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico were ceded to the United States for $20m.

Of Hungarian-Jewish ancestry, Pulitzer fled Hungary escaping the untimely early death of his father, which resulted in the decline of the family’s fortunes. He also fled the restrictive politics of

Hungary.

The young ambitious émigré marvelled at and embraced the democratic ethos and capitalist spirit of his new American homeland. He is considered the father of modern American journalism and “a fierce defender of democracy”.

With a prodigious intellect and extraordinary business acumen, Pulitzer became a progressive force, using his newspapers to champion the needs of the common man. He crusaded against corruption and the concentration of economic power.

He ran for and briefly served in the US Congress as a Democrat, resigning approximately a year into his term in the House of Representatives.

Pulitzer engaged in sensationalism and yellow journalism to sell papers. But he reveled in democracy and championed the role of the press in a free society. He insisted that the fourth estate was part of the lifeblood of a democracy.

In a brief review of a documentary on Pulitzer, Lisa Mullins notes: “He insisted on accuracy and

that his reporters cover the lives of factory workers who had no rights, as well as the poor who lived in slums along streets of New York, lined with dung from horse-driven carriages.”

The quality of publishers, editors and other media leaders makes an enormous difference in the quality of journalism in a democracy. There must be a careful balance between what sells and the rights and responsibilities of a free press, which are constitutionally and legally protected.

Bahamian journalism is a mixed bag across the various houses. There is sometimes exceptional work, average work and very poor journalism. A perennial problem is the lack of context in stories and a lack of curiosity and general knowledge by quite a number of editors and reporters. One of the easiest stories is to stick a microphone in front of a minister’s face and report on what he or she says. Some journalists and commentators, who lack curiosity, cannot stretch themselves beyond politics and crime.

There are many other stories to report. It takes more effort but it is worth it. It may be better for business, too, because readers and viewers will find novel stories of interest.

Oren Rudavsky, the director of the PBS American Masters film “Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People”, recalls Pulitzer’s approach to journalism: “He understood that a paper’s not just about reading it one day when something amazing happens – he knew how to tell stories over time, over several days.”

Some Bahamian journalists produce much, especially given the

limited resources of time and other journalists to help carry the load of a newsroom. Moving forward, what will the leadership in the newsroom, especially at the middle management level look like in the years to come?

The question is even more urgent in the current age for newspapers worldwide. How will newspapers make money in the digital age to make up for the longterm decline in physical papers? What role might advertiser-backed podcasts play in commentary and reporting the news?

There is considerable experimentation globally. There is no one model for all. Still, print will remain at the heart of journalism. It will survive in some jurisdictions, including in subscription-based magazines like The Atlantic and specialty journals like Foreign Affairs.

But what forms will it take in The Bahamas with a very small readership? Will print papers in The Bahamas survive?

It is important in the wake of the technologyenabled proliferation of sources of information these days to note the distinction between professional or institutional media and the unprofessional and often reckless social media which is wide open to egregious abuse.

The society should expect that its institutional media – newspapers, television and radio – are populated by responsible, well-trained journalists and managers.

It is the responsibility of professional media to hold up an undistorted mirror to the society, to keep the people informed about what is happening in the country, about the functioning of its national institutions – especially its political institutions – and about the state of the society in general. It is also the responsibility of professional media to lead the development of public opinion and attitudes by providing intelligent and vigorous commentary on every aspect of a nation’s life and to provide forums for the free expression of public opinion. It is irresponsible and

it harms our democracy when radio and television outlets inflict on the public ignorant and irresponsible commentators merely because they happen to be glib or entertaining.

Moreover, the reflexive loathing of certain political figures by certain editorialists often reveals an entrenched bias, revealing much about the troubling and limited mindset of the latter, who lack a capacity for a broader view and greater nuance.

It is good thing to see some relatively younger people being attracted to television journalism but it is sometimes painfully obvious from their use of the language that some of them suffer from the lack of more mature oversight and mentoring.

In addition to skill and judgment in gathering and reporting the news, command of the language is an absolute necessity for professional journalists. It is the most important tool at their disposal and they ought to be better at language than the rest of us.

Those engaged in commentary and superior journalism need to expand their imaginations. There is more to The Bahamas than politics. There is a too narrow focus on politics in Bahamian commentary. It easily becomes trite and boring.

Write about the arts, culture, education, the failure of boys in schools, Bahamian and Caribbean history, agriculture, the causes of crime, climate change, prison reform, the possible effects of artificial intelligence, or any number of matters of interest that have nothing to do directly with whoever is the prime minister or opposition leader.

At a reception, Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood reportedly met a surgeon who suggested that he intended to take up writing when he retired. Atwood caustically and delightfully offered the rejoinder that when she retired as a writer she would take up surgery.

Being a good writer, commentator or journalist requires talent, practice, experience, hard work, and a dedication to research and reading.

Those who wield power and influence in a democracy require tremendous oversight and accountability. This includes government and the fourth estate. If journalists endured a relatively similar level of scrutiny as politicians, many of them would have a greater appreciation of what political figures endure.

Indeed, political leaders endure considerable oversight, including from the public, competing parties, accountability and disclosure legislation, various stakeholders and other observers, domestic and foreign.

This does not negate the need for much greater transparency and accountability by government officials, including in public finances, the awarding of contracts and government travel.

Human beings, groups and interests require external oversight. Media houses in The Bahamas have various levels of oversight. But they lack a deeper level of oversight than the media in other jurisdictions, such as ombudsmen, media watchdogs and even oversight by fellow journalists.

The Press Club in The Bahamas does not provide the level of oversight as do similar associations in other jurisdictions.

What is the effect or implication of a journal repeatedly editorializing on a matter without disclosing an owner’s financial interests in various projects, while that journal constantly calls for greater transparency by others? It becomes a matter of credibility.

A vibrant, wellinformed, self-reflective press is vital to our democracy. Like other institutions it must evolve and become even better at its craft. As in the political arena, there are talented individuals in journalism who should be mentored as future leaders.

In both government and media, the country must foster and develop the quality of leadership and talent required for greater self-reflection and growth as our democracy evolves.

(Front Porch is now available in podcast on The Tribune website under the Editorial Section.)

‘A vibrant, well-informed, self-reflective press is vital to our democracy. Like other institutions it must evolve and become even better at its craft.’

Joseph Pulitzer - know as the father of American journalism.

Immigration crisis may indeed require a wall to stem the tide

ONE of the most notable moments in Donald Trump’s CNN town hall session last week involved his proposed border wall along the US southern border with Mexico. When Trump raised the wall in a lengthy critique of the Biden administration’s management of a surge of immigrants pressing for entry into the US, Trump claimed his administration had built hundreds of miles of the wall.

Moderator Kaitlan Collins, who became a household name overnight with her steadfast performance in questioning and fact-checking as Trump recited a now-familiar litany of lies, pointed out that he actually built only a small fraction of the total he claimed.

But, however much or little of the border wall was actually erected during Trump’s term in the White House, the issue of illegal immigration across America’s southern border remains one of the most significant issues facing the US as it heads toward another wild election season.

When the so-called Title 42 expired last week, many pundits predicted a tidal wave of immigrants who would overwhelm the American ability to keep them out. Title 42 of the United States Code includes numerous sections dealing with public health, social welfare, and civil rights, but in the context of immigration, the phrase “Title 42” came to be used to refer specifically to expulsions under section 265.

While COVID-19 raged, the Trump administration used a provision of Title 42 to block entry to the US for many migrants, basically

STATESIDE

using the public health crisis as justification. This practice has been continued by the Biden administration, and has effectively reduced the pressure at America’s southern border.

While things have actually improved in the past several days, no one seriously believes the migration crisis is over. But an endorsement of Trump’s wall rang out this week from an unlikelyseeming source. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, a Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist and author, issued a strong editorial column in support of the wall.

In fact, he thinks the American southern border wall is an essential prerequisite for rationalization of US immigration policy that has clearly drifted for far too long. Friedman added his voice to a growing chorus of commentators and politicians who believe the American congress and president can no longer ignore or defer a problem likely to grow more severe with each passing month.

Friedman believes immigration reform will enable America to return to policies that had consistently enriched America’s intellectual and commercial life. He points out that the indiscriminate illegal immigration inundation at the

US southern border will do much of what the Republican critics of Biden allege.

While the US may gain some new citizens who will bring with them diverse perspectives, creativity and overall value to the American population, most of the newcomers will probably add little but strain on an overtaxed social and economic network.

“If the U.S. is going to thrive in the 21st century and compete effectively with China, we need to double down on our single greatest competitive advantage -- our ability to attract the most high-aspiring migrants and the most highIQ risk takers, who start new businesses,” Friedman wrote.

“But if more and more nation-states fracture and leave their citizens to the tender mercies of warlords and gang leaders, half the world will be able to potentially seek political asylum in America. America’s antiquated and underfunded system can no longer sift out genuine from bogus asylum claims. With nearly two million unresolved cases now in courts (up from around 100,000 a decade ago) and with the average time for an asylum determination ballooning now to more than four years and often

far longer,” Friedman sees a chaotic mess only further degenerating without a coherent immigration strategy in Washington. Friedman then cites the immigration experience of the state that is perhaps Trump’s greatest nemesis as evidence that his wall is needed.

“The best proof that a strong border can lead to a more rational debate is California,” Friedman wrote. An Obama administration Homeland Security official told the Times that ‘nearly a quarter of America’s undocumented population lives in California, and most residents of the state are fine with that. At the beginning of Trump’s presidency, California even passed a ‘sanctuary state’ law to protect otherwise law-abiding people from deportation.”

But Golden State citizens didn’t always feel that way. 30 years ago, the state was being flooded with illegal and mostly undesirable immigrants through the border between San Diego and Tijuana. Voters passed harsh measures to facilitate arrests and deportations. The issue became significant in Washington, and attention and resources were directed to stem the tide.

As the former official said, “the Clinton administration finally got control

of the border between California and Mexico by strengthening the Border Patrol and constructing a 14-mile double - and, in some places, triple-layer fence along the border.

“Did this stop illegal immigration into the US?

No. But the flow shifted east, to Arizona and Texas. Californians were no longer confronted with immigrants rushing at their cars or dodging traffic on major highways. The wall got illegal immigration off the nightly local news, and Californians were able to exhale and focus on other things.”

Now, decades later, officials in Arizona and Texas

are desperate for remedies. The news is full of reports from the southern US border, and tales of individual tragedy will persist until Biden and his administration figure something out.

A short California-style reinforced barrier won’t be the answer to problems that stretch out for hundreds of miles to the east.

But, as Trump is still criticized for his “crazy” wall, it looks increasingly like Biden’s best bet might be to complete his predecessor’s precious project. If that’s the policy that eventually prevails, the irony will be lost on no one.

probe of fbi actionS on t rump ruSSia colluSion concluDeS

As Americans gradually and perhaps resentfully slide into another circus of a presidential election cycle, pundits pick over and analyze nearly every election that comes along. On Tuesday, two of these seem to have been significant.

In one of the night’s most consequential races, Daniel Cameron, the first black attorney general ever elected in Kentucky, a close political ally of Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, and Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate in the Kentucky GOP primary, easily won the GOP nomination for governor.

He clobbered two other candidates, one of whom was Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s favorite, former UN Ambassador Kelly Craft. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas also endorsed her.

Craft, a former ambassador to Canada and UN ambassador under Trump, is a big GOP donor and the wife of a Kentucky coal magnate. She could be described as the choice of the cautiously growing “anyone but Trump” establishment faction of the Republican Party.

Cameron, who has

appeared nationally on behalf of Trump, is a handsome, well-spoken politician whose race in November against a personally very popular Democratic incumbent will be closely watched. Cameron ran an unabashedly pro-Trump campaign and was well rewarded for it. DeSantis and the GOP establishment took another

hit in the Jacksonville mayoral race on Tuesday.

Jacksonville, Florida’s largest but hardly most famous city, chose Donna Deegan, a Democratic former TV news anchor, to replace a two-term Republican incumbent who was term-limited.

Deegan, telegenic and articulate, ran on a classic reform platform and

coasted to victory over an opponent endorsed two months ago by DeSantis. She will now briefly become the attractive symbol of national and local resistance to unpopular Republican policies and methods, but in fact she ran a local issuesbased campaign that did not overly feature issues such as abortion and guns.

The finAl report by special prosecutor John Durham is photographed Monday, May 15, 2023. Durham ended his four-year investigation into possible FBI misconduct in its probe of ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The report offers withering criticism of the bureau but a meager court record that fell far short of the former president’s prediction he would uncover the “crime of the century.”

With little fanfare, the four-year-long examination of FBI actions investigating campaign ties between Trump and Russia during the 2016 election closed this week.

Led by conservative former US attorney John Durham, a grouchy-looking, frowning lookalike to former UN ambassador John Bolton, the probe by the hand-picked choice of former AG Bill Barr and Trump expired with a whimper.

Durham’s revelations of FBI improprieties and

misconduct during the Democratic-promoted probe of Trump and Russia led by Robert Mueller had already been revealed by the agency’s inspector general, and no convictions resulted. Neither the Mueller probe nor Durham’s response solved anything. The first was hobbled by Mueller’s cautiousness and the second revealed nothing new. Neither investigation proved worthy of the attention and finances devoted to it.

with Charlie Harper

A womAn looks on as she waits between two border walls to apply for asylum Friday, in San Diego. The border between the US and Mexico was relatively calm Friday, offering few signs of the chaos that had been feared following a rush by worried migrants to enter the US before the end of pandemic-related immigration restrictions.

Photo: Gregory Bull/AP

DeSantiS enD or S eD canDiDate S not faring well in recent race S a S trump enD or S eD enjoy S ucce SS

Photo: Jon elswick/AP

KenTucKy Attorney General Daniel Cameron speaks to supporters following his victory in the republican primary in Louisville, Kentucky, Tuesday.

Photo: Timothy D. easley/AP

At Cannes Film Festival, Johnny Depp says he has no ‘further need for Hollywood’

FRANCE

Associated Press

Appearing at the Cannes Film Festival the day after premiering his first film in three years, Johnny Depp said Wednesday that he has “no further need” for Hollywood.

Depp made a rare public appearance to face questions from the press following the openingnight premiere of “Jeanne du Barry,” in which Depp plays King Louis XV. The French film, directed by and starring Maïwenn and featuring a French-speaking Depp, is the actor’s first film since a jury last year largely sided with him in his legal battle with his exwife, Amber Heard.

Part of Depp’s argument in that 2022 defamation trial was that he had lost work due to Heard’s allegations. Heard was ordered to pay Depp $10 million in damages, vindicating his allegations that Heard lied about Depp abusing her before and during their brief marriage. Heard was

also awarded $2 million. “Did I feel boycotted by Hollywood? You’d have to not have a pulse to feel like, ‘No. None of this is happening. It’s a weird joke,’” Depp told reporters. “When you’re asked to resign from a film you’re doing because of something that is merely a function of vowels and consonants floating in the air, yes, you feel boycotted.”

Depp was most notably asked to step down from the “Harry Potter” spinoff franchise “Fantastic Beasts.” Now, though, he says he’s not interested in returning to studio projects.

“I don’t feel boycotted by Hollywood, because I don’t think about Hollywood. I don’t have much further need for Hollywood, myself,” Depp said. “It’s a strange, funny time where everybody would love to be able to be themselves, but they can’t. They must fall in line with the person in front of them. If you want to live that life, I wish you the best.”

“Jeanne du Barry” opened Tuesday in French cinemas. It doesn’t have U.S. distribution as of yet.

The “Jeanne du Barry” press conference was among the most circus-like in recent years at Cannes. The press conference began unusually late and started with Maïwenn and other cast members there, but no Depp. He arrived about 20 minutes in, and quickly took the spotlight. Depp called the majority of what’s been written about him in recent years “fantastically, horrifically written fiction.”

“It’s like asking the question: ‘How are you doing?’ But the subtext is, ‘God, I hate you,’” said Depp.

Some have debated whether Cannes ought to have given Depp such a prominent platform. Asked how he would respond to such critics, Depp made a comparison that suggested few people feel that way.

“What if one day, they did not allow me to go to McDonald’s for life

because somewhere there’d be 39 angry people watching me eat a Big Mac on a loop?” pondered Depp. “Who are they? What do they care?”

“I’ve had my 17th comeback, apparently,” said Depp. “I keep wondering about the word ‘comeback.’ I didn’t go anywhere. As a matter of

fact, I live about 45 minutes away. Maybe people stopped calling out of whatever their fear was at the time. But I didn’t go nowhere.”

Johnny Depp, left, and director Maiwenn pose for photographers upon departure from the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

Photo: Scott Garfitt/AP

GSSSA sudden death playoffs underway

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

With the soccer nationals looming in the background, the junior and senior teams sudden death playoffs kicked off yesterday for the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA).

Teams not only competed to punch their ticket to the soccer championships on Friday but also hoped to solidify their spot at next week’s Samuel P Haven Jr High School Soccer Nationals.

On the day, eight games were played across the two divisions which saw the HO Nash Lions, CH Reeves Raptors, CR Walker Knights, RM Bailey Pacers, SC McPherson Sharks, Government High School Magic and Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves.

Seniors

The CR Walker Knights senior girls once again reigned supreme. The senior school has been impressive all year, most recently collecting their seventh straight victory at the GSSSA track and field championships, and the seniors girls’ volleyball championships.

The Knights have now asserted their dominance in soccer. The Lady Knights entered this year’s soccer playoffs with an unblemished record. On the year, the team has scored 39 goals in total with only one scored on them the entire season. The team continued to roll on as they defeated the fourth-seeded CI Gibson Rattlers 2-0.

In the matchup, the Knights got to work early as they secured their first goal off a ferocious kick to the back of the net by Shenell Stewart. With the Rattlers battling hard to get a goal on the board against the undefeated team, the

Knights once again scored a goal, this time by Valtinique Simmons.

The Lady Knights narrowly got the ball past the opposing team’s goalkeeper to thwart their chances of a comeback and book their ticket to the championships on Friday.

Knights’ head coach Dan Weithtman talked about the team’s playoff win.

“It feels good the girls have worked hard, they are undefeated and have scored 39 goals this season which is astronomical for soccer so we are really proud of them and our defence has only let up one goal in the first five minutes of the first game,” the coach said.

He added that the team is looking forward to Friday’s championships and his message to the team is the same as always staying focused, and not taking any teams lightly. He believes

that once his team sticks to the strategy, they will have a good chance.

In game two, the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves fell to RM Bailey Pacers 1-0. The lone goal was scored by Pacers’ Janea Ariste. She snuck past the Timberwolves defence and had a clear route to the net as the ball zipped past the opposing team’s goalkeeper. The Timberwolves were unable to respond in the game. The Pacers will now look to take on the firstseeded CR Walker Knights this Friday.

Robert Johnson, head coach of the Pacers, said it felt unbelievable to get the win because they avenged an early season loss to the same team. He added that the team was hoping to match up against the Timberwolves and they stayed steady, focused and disciplined to get the win.

The coach said he feels confident about his team’s chances against the Knights after only losing 0-1 to the team earlier in the season.

Once the team stays focused and sticks with the team work, he will look forward to seeing where it takes them.

For the senior boys, the Knights team once again took care of business. The third-seeded team toppled the second-seeded Timberwolves in a matchup that ended 3-1. The Knights senior boys will now face off against the first-seeded Government High School Magic.

The Government High School secured their spot in the GSSSA soccer championships after closing out the Pacers’ senior boys 2-1.

Juniors The HO Nash Lions’ junior girls comfortably defeated the Timberwolves 2-0. The Timberwolves lost

three out of their four playoff games in yesterday’s sudden death rounds.

The fourth-seeded Raptors’ junior girls came out on top against the firstseeded DW Davis Royals to upset the team 3-2 after penalties. The Raptors will now look to carry the momentum into Friday’s championship showdown against the Lions.

The first-seeded Sharks’ junior boys wrapped up the fourth-seeded LW Young Golden Eagles in a match that ended 3-1.

The top seed will now take on the junior boys of Anatol Rodgers on Friday.

The Timberwolves got their first playoff win of the day as their junior boys closed out the DW Davis Royals 2-0.

The GSSSA soccer championships will commence at 3:45pm at the Roscow A L Davies Field this Friday.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS: BAHAMAS ATHLETES READY FOR THE WORLD

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

SPECIAL Olympics Bahamas athletes are ready to go for the 2023 Special Olympics World Games which is less than one month away.

The games are set for June 17-25 in Berlin, Germany, for the first time and will see competition across 24 sports. Special Olympics Bahamas has been competing in the World Games since their first appearance in 1979 and will field seven athletes at next month’s competition.

The athletes will compete in the bowling, swimming and track events. With the athletes undergoing physical training for the competition since October of last year, director of the organisation Gilbert Williams talked about the preparation with less than 30 days remaining.

“We started off with weekly training for our track athletes [which] has picked up to at least twice a week, bowlers a bit of a challenge there but they have been getting in some training at the Icons entertainment centre,” Williams said.

The director added the bowlers have been training twice monthly but they also got the opportunity to get additional training for a weekend at a bowling camp in Florida which consisted of 15 games.

Meanwhile, the swimmers have been utilising the beach and the South Beach pool as well as the pool at the Fox Hill Community Centre.

The athletes are also coming off a World Games training camp which they took part in a week ago. Ahead of next month’s games, Williams said although the group of

SEE PAGE 19

Camperdown teams sweep Interscholastic Equestrian League spring term competition

THE Camperdown Equestrian Centre Blue Marlins emerged triumphant as champions in the final show of the Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League (BIEL) competition season, which took place at Camperdown Equestrian Centre last weekend.

The CEC Blue Marlins finished with a total of 38 points, while the CEC Sand Dollars and the two-time Champion Mariposa Gold Drops battled for second place, tied just one point behind.

In the end the home side took all the top honours, as the Sand Dollars won an over-fences tiebreaker to finish as Reserve Champions with 37 points, while the Gold Drops had to settle for third place. The Mariposa Monarchs, competing one rider short, finished in fourth.

Strong performances from all the riders meant that just seven points separated the top four teams.

The third and final leg of this year’s BIEL Interscholastic competition featured a total of 30 student riders from different

Riders competed

Hunter-Jumper Association. Robold took time to dispense comments and advice to riders and their coaches, Kimberly Johnson (coach of the CEC Blue Marlins and CEC Sand Dollars) and Erika Adderley (coach of the Mariposa Gold Drops and the Mariposa Monarchs.)

BIEL was founded in 2017 and is sponsored by Equestrian Bahamas, the national federation for equestrian sport.

The league consists of a series of three competitions, from which a national championship is awarded.

Teams are comprised of school-aged riders from across New Providence.

BIEL competitions are perennial favourites among junior riders because of the team emphasis and the unique format, based on collegiate competition rules, in which riders and horses are matched by random draw. This provides riders with the exciting opportunity to show their skills in the ring while riding unfamiliar horses, preparing them for the rigours of intercollegiate competition.

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023

DEFENCE FIRST: The second-seeded Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves faced off against third-seeded RM Bailey Pacers yesterday during the GSSSA soccer sudden death playoffs.

Photo: Tenajh Sweeting

schools.

under the watchful eye of USEF ‘R’ Judge Robert Robold, a former alternate for the German Show Jumping Team and past president of the East Coast

FIRST PLACE CEC Blue Marlins, shown from left to right, Connor Watkins, Hannah D’Aguilar, Trainer Kimberly Johnson, Kaitlyn Russell, Marlo Pinder and Kelsey Pyfrom.

Butler scores 35, Heat rally to beat Celtics 123-116 in East finals opener

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 35 points, including 23 after halftime, and the Miami Heat rallied in the second half to beat the Boston Celtics 123-116 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals last night.

Miami trailed by nine at the half before turning it around with a franchise playoff-record 46 points in the third and outscoring Boston 66-50 over the final two quarters. It was Butler’s fifth game with 30 or more points this postseason and he added seven assists, six steals and five rebounds.

Bam Adebayo added 20 points and eight rebounds.

Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent and Max Strus all added 15 points apiece. The Heat went 16 of 31 from the 3-point line.

The No. 8-seeded Heat have opened all three playoff series with road victories. Game 2 is Friday in Boston.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 30 points, but didn’t take a shot in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown finished with 22 points and nine rebounds.

Malcolm Brogdon added 19 points.

The tip-off of yesterday’s series marked the third time in four seasons that the Heat and Celtics have met in the conference finals. Boston won last year’s matchup in seven games.

Yesterday’s opener felt every bit like a continuation of that most recent meeting. Boston dominated inside early on and led by nine at halftime.

Miami took a page out of the Celtics’ book and used a 13-1 run to quickly erase that gap and then nudged back in front in the third quarter, as Butler penetrated to create opportunities for his teammates.

The Heat outscored the Celtics 46-25 in the period and took a 103-91 lead into the fourth, prompting a few boos from the TD Garden crowd.

Boston responded, scoring the first seven points of the final period before a 3-pointer by Vincent ended the run.

Miami led 114-109 with just over three minutes to play when Brogdon was fouled by Butler. But he connected on just 1 of the 2 free throws. Butler was trapped on the next Miami possession before finding Martin for a corner 3.

Tatum travelled, giving the ball back to the Heat. A Miami miss gave the ball back to Boston, but Tatum was called again for travelling.

Miami wound the shot clock down before getting

He went into intermission

in 2016. … Lowry hit 5 of his first 6 shots, scoring 13 points in his first nine minutes of action. Butler (12) and Adebayo (6) combined for 18 of Miami’s 28 points in the first quarter. It marked the seventh time Butler has reached double figures in the first period this postseason.

WNBA: COACH HAMMON DENIES BULLYING PLAYER OVER PREGNANCY

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer

HENDERSON, Nev.

(AP) — Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon denied yesterday that former Aces player Dearica Hamby was bullied on her team for being pregnant, saying any ill feelings between the two came from Hamby being traded.

Hammon, one of the league’s marquee figures, said in a video call with reporters she did nothing to warrant discipline from the WNBA, which suspended her for two games without pay Tuesday after a monthslong investigation into Hamby’s allegations.

“I’ll take my little lump on the chin and keep it moving,” Hammon said. “We’re bigger than this. It’s just not who the Aces are. It’s not who I am. And so, yeah, everybody’s disappointed in the situation, but at the end of the day, we know who we are and so we go to sleep every night in that truth.”

Hammon said she once asked Hamby about her pregnancy, but didn’t get into the specifics of what she said.

a 3-pointer to rattle in with 1:03 remaining.

loose early and he made them pay with 12 firstquarter points.

ened in the second and Butler didn’t take another shot until the 5:45 mark, an airball resulting in a shot clock violation.

the quarter a few minutes later had the same result.

Meanwhile, the Celtics attacked the rim, outscoring the Heat 40-16 in the paint in the opening 24 minutes – the most allowed by Miami in a half this season. Boston also held an 11-2 advantage in second-

Heat: Miami’s previous high in the playoffs was 43 points against Charlotte

Celtics: Marcus Smart finished with 13 points and 11 assists. … Led 66-57 at halftime. With the score tied at 47, Boston outscored Miami 19-10 over the final 5:26 of the half. … Brown wore his black protective mask after going without it for the final two games of their semifinals matchup with the 76ers. He fractured a facial bone late in the regular season. … New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was in attendance.

Lakers and Nuggets both take lessons from LA’s comeback that fell short in West opener

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are taking solace in their big second-half comeback that fell just short in the Western Conference finals opener at Denver.

They aren’t alone — the Denver Nuggets also feel L.A.’s furious rally held takeaways for them heading into Game 2 tonight at Ball Arena.

“I told our guys this is the best possible situation we could be in,” Denver coach Michael Malone said yesterday. “We won Game 1, so we’re up 1-0. But there’s so many things that we can clean up.”

Film study wasn’t much fun for either team yesterday.

The Lakers scored 72 second-half points on 67% shooting from the field and 90% from the free throw line while holding the Nuggets to one fast-break bucket and finally slowing down Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t enough to overcome the big deficit or Jokic’s big night as the Nuggets held on 132-126.

Los Angeles big man Anthony Davis said the second-half turnaround has the seventh-seeded Lakers hopeful they can still wrestle the homecourt advantage from top-seeded Denver just like they did against Memphis and Golden State in these playoffs.

“Oh, yeah. We know what put us in that hole: no transition, rebounding,” Davis said. “They’re a physical, hard-playing team. They were very

comfortable doing whatever they wanted. In the second half we just imposed our will, especially in that fourth quarter, playing Laker basketball. We were able to cut the lead.”

The Lakers were behind 21 points when they started playing and they could not overcome the deficit.

Not only did Denver’s defence disappear after halftime but Lakers coach Darvin Ham found a way to slow down Jokic. He put Rui Hachimura on the Nuggets star in the fourth quarter which allowed Davis to roam the rim.

A two-time NBA MVP, Jokic was unstoppable in the opening two quarters. He joined Kevin Garnett as the only players in the last 25 years with 15 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a half. But in the fourth quarter, he was held without a basket and was limited to three points and a pair of assists.

“Much is being made of them putting Rui Hachimura on Nikola Jokic, like we’ve never seen that before,” Malone scoffed, noting that the strategy made for “an interesting storyline” because it kept D’Angelo Russell, who’s been playing really well, on the bench for the entire fourth quarter.

Ham said he’ll keep throwing different looks and big bodies at Jokic, who has six triple-doubles in these playoffs, including 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists Tuesday night despite his quiet fourth quarter.

“We’re definitely going to mix up the matchups some and throw different pitches at him in terms of

coverages and see where we land,” Ham said.

Malone may have been grumpy about the Nuggets letting up after taking a 93-72 lead, but the morning also brought a sunnier mood because his players weren’t brimming with cockiness from a blowout. They were laser focused from the close call.

“It’s like a perfect storm,” Malone said, noting that the national buzz yesterday seemed all about the Lakers having left Ball Arena convinced they’d found their edge in this series. “I’d bet you every red cent I have that

Darvin Ham would rather be up 1-0 than down 1-0,” Malone said.

“So, for us to be able to watch film after a win and show all the things that we did poorly is a great situation to be in. We have a lot to improve upon, and tomorrow night is another opportunity for us to do that.”

The Lakers’ lesson was more about the slow start than the furious finish.

“It’s the Western Conference finals — you can’t ease into games,” Davis said.

“Even though they say, ‘Oh, Game 1 is a feel-out

game’ and everything like that, you never want to ease into the game, especially at this point in the season.”

LeBron James, for one, didn’t feel good about the Lakers making a game of it only to come up short anyway.

“In postseason it doesn’t matter if you cut it to one or you’re down 20, if you lose, you lose,” James said. “They are 1-and-0 and we have to come back with desperation going into Game 2. ... We need to be better in all facets of the game.”

From start to finish.

“I guess you’d have to ask for (the league’s) interpretation,” Hammon said. “But, yeah, that from my understanding was my misstep, if you will.”

Hammon, who in her first season last year led the Aces to the WNBA championship, spent eight seasons as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs and is considered one of the rising stars in the basketball coaching world. She has been linked to the vacant Toronto Raptors job.

The WNBA also rescinded the Aces’ firstround pick in the 2025 draft on Tuesday for a different issue — a violation of league rules regarding impermissible player benefits involving Hamby, who was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks on January 21.

The trade allowed the Aces to clear up salary-cap space to sign former twotime WNBA MVP Candace Parker.

“We made the decision to move Hamby because we could get three bodies in for her one contract,” Hammon said. “I think it’s very evident who we signed why we made the move, but (Hamby’s pregnancy) was never an issue and it was never the reason she was traded. It just wasn’t. It came down to math and business. That’s all it was. Nothing personal.

“I had a great relationship with Hamby the whole time, which is probably why she felt the way she did. It feels like a betrayal. It’s a crappy part of my job, but somebody’s got to be the bearer of bad news.”

Hamby said after the Sparks’ practice Tuesday she wanted “to move forward and focus on where I am today.”

However, she said she “and the union will continue to explore our options.”

The union was especially critical that Hammon and the Aces weren’t more severely punished, saying in a statement: “Where in this decision does this team or any other team across the league learn the lesson that respect in the workplace is the highest standard and a player’s dignity cannot be manipulated?”

MIAMI Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) walks on the court in the second half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Boston Celtics in Boston last night. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

LOS Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) shoots over Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals series on Tuesday night.

(AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey)

THE GREEN TEAM, also known as the Rockets, repeat as champions after shutting out the Ball Hogs to claim the Glory Basketball Jamboree championship and $5,000 prize.

MICHAEL Furley Bain Jr accepts his award on behalf of the 2023 Glory Basketball Jamboree runners-up, the Ball Hogs.

RAINING BUCKETS: Dastyn Baker gets his trophy after winning the Glory Basketball Jamboree three-point contest.

BAHAMAS GOLDEN JUBILEE GAMES BATON ON THE MOVE

AFTER starting its journey in Exuma, the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games baton has arrived in Grand Bahama.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, I. Chester Cooper, who will represent Exuma and Ragged Island in the upcoming Bahamas Games, passed the golden baton to Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama.

Present for the baton’s passing in Grand Bahama were island ambassadors Latoya Dean and Z’haneo Newbold. They assisted with promoting the games by creating and sharing marketing content on their social media handles, providing entertainment and enacting the passing of the baton before the official handover between the island representatives.

Said the senior director of marketing for The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games, Fernerin Hanna:

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

FROM PAGE 15

athletes have an extra push, it’s still business as usual because they train and compete all year long.

“I think all of the pressure, if there is any pressure, comes prior to team selection where everybody is doing whatever they can to try and ensure that they are a part of the final

“Each island has a local talent and representative who is excited about helping to promote these games and what they represent for our nation and upcoming Golden Jubilee of Independence.”

Hanna hopes to excite Bahamians across the archipelago about the upcoming games and 50th Independence celebrations.

A significant factor, according to Hanna, is the involvement of everyone from Prime Minister Philip Davis, to every member of parliament and island representative to the youngest child.

“These games and all of our other celebrations are about celebrating what is unique and beautiful about being Bahamian and what brings us together as a people.”

The baton, a long symbol of camaraderie and competition, also represents the unification of our islands, according to Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture

team that is selected but once that selection process takes place, I think athletes breathe a sigh of relief,” he said. At this year’s 50th CARIFTA Games, Special Olympics Bahamas had six of their athletes participate in the 100m and 200m track events. The events not only served as a feel good moment for the athletes of the global organisation but also were used as a measuring stick to determine their progress in terms of training

Mario Bowleg. “In this quest to reinstate the Bahamas Games, we should all be reminded of the importance of the Games as a tool of national integration and sports development.” Bowleg believes this year’s games should focus on unity under the slogan, “Our Nation, Our Islands, Our Games.

in preparation for the World Games in Berlin.

Athletes to be on the lookout for next month will include Deron Forbes (200m, 400m, and 4x400m relays), the team’s youngest member Justin Miller (100m, 200m, 4x400m relays) and bowling singles and doubles competitor Austin Green, who competed in the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi.

Although the director noted that expectations will be high for the Special Olympics athletes to secure

The sixth edition of the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games, scheduled for July 7-15, is among the activities approved and included for the 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations.

These upcoming games will feature 16 disciplines, including 10 teams representing 10 islands or groupings of islands, hosted at numerous venues across New Providence.

In addition to baseball, age group categories of competition will only apply to the individual disciplines of boxing, track and field, swimming, lawn tennis, cycling and bodybuilding/powerlifting. There will be a single Open Division in all other sports.

The minimum age category for all competitions is high school for all disciplines. Children are only allowed to participate in swimming. However, this is under review and the public will be notified accordingly.

medals, he simply wants them to try their best in Berlin and everything else will fall into place.

“We [are] already extremely proud of all our athletes for pushing themselves to the point where they actually have been selected to participate to represent the country.

“Hopefully, it will all pan out where their best is not

A major plus for this year’s games is the inclusion of local talent, who represent each of the major islands or group of islands. Each team’s ambassador has been pushing the message of friendly competition and unity.

The ambassadors include local artists, performers, DJs and well-known radio and television personalities, working together to excite, educate and empower Bahamians to participate in or support the upcoming games. For more information on participation and how you can volunteer or partner for the games, you can check out the website at www.thebahamasgames.org. Also WhatsApp 809-1242, call 322-1029, email info@thebahamasgames.org or follow The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games on Tik Tok, and YouTube at @ thebahamasgames and Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @ thebahamagames.

just good enough for us but is good enough for the Bahamian public,” Wiliams said.

The team will leave for competition on June 11 to participate in the host town programme in Papenburg, Germany.

Persons are encouraged to follow the Special Olympics Bahamas social media pages during this year’s

Special Olympics World Games in Berlin and also subscribe to their YouTube channel for coverage of their athletes in action this June.

For persons that wish to interact with the athletes ahead of their travels, they can meet them at this weekend’s Community Grill at the Church of God in Christ from 11am to 3pm.