05232023 NEWS AND SPORT

RAPE PROBE SHOWS ‘DOUBLE STANDARD’

Lawyer for alleged victim concerned over length of police investigation of MP

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE lawyer of a woman accusing a sitting MP of rape and abuse suggested the police investigation shows a double standard in how authorities treat complaints against influential people versus those with less influence.

A woman filed a complaint with police about an MP, her ex-boyfriend, on

April 7. Seven weeks later, on Friday, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander reiterated that officers are still scrutinising the investigation file before consulting with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions about what to do next.

The woman’s lawyer, Bjorn Ferguson, expressed concern yesterday about the length of the investigation.

“Right-minded people,”

no diesel as retailers ‘run out of fuel’ waiting on margin help

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

HIGH fuel costs and the government’s failure to address margin concerns prompted some petroleum retailers to stop selling diesel yesterday, according to Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association President Raymond Jones.

“I have gotten reports that the majority of fuel stations were not selling

diesel,” Mr Jones told The Tribune, adding he expects the problem will last “until things change”.

Fuel retailers have complained about margins limiting their profit for many months.

“This is a result,” Mr Jones said, “of the high cost of diesel and a margin that barely gives them any profit. The cost to operate fuel stations in the current

court of a ppeal stays giBson corruption t rial

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal stayed Adrian Gibson’s corruption trial yesterday pending the outcome of his appeal of a ruling from Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson.

On May 16, Mr Gibson’s lawyer, Murrio Ducille, KC, gave urgent notice of his appeal of Justice Grant-Thompson’s ruling on Mr Gibson’s

constitutional application.

Elwood Donaldson, Jr, the former general manager of WSC, is also challenging

the judge’s ruling.

The appellate judges were expected to hear arguments on the appeal yesterday but did not do so because Mr Gibson’s lawyers did not file their submissions.

“This is your application,” Justice Jon Isaacs said to Mr Gibson’s legal team. “You have said it’s urgent and yet you have not provided any submissions. The other side treats it as

SEE page f ive

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court judge has varied the terms of an injunction involving Free National Movement leaders after finding that Richard Johnson failed to disclose how his allegedly “bad behaviour” prompted the FNM’s executive committee to exclude him from future meetings.

Mr Johnson, the vice chairman of the FNM, is seeking $500k in damages after FNM executives unanimously barred him from council meetings.

On March 8, Justice Deborah Fraser ordered an injunction preventing FNM

‘Bad Behaviour’ cited By judge as she changes fnm injunction petition filed to wind-down w eB shop By flowers’ ex-coo

By FAy SimmONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

FML’s ex-chief operating officer has filed a Supreme Court petition to have the web shop chain wound-up as his five-year legal battle with Craig Flowers escalates into a new phase.

Newspaper advertisements published yesterday disclose that Deyvon Jones’ winding-up petition, which was filed with the Supreme Court on May 10 this year, is due for hearing before Sir Ian Winder, the chief justice, on June 23, 2023.

Mr Jones declined to comment yesterday when contacted by Tribune

Ann Marie Davis pledges to plant trees in Grand Bahama and other islands

Mrs Ann Marie Davis, wife of the Prime Minister plants a breadfruit at the Bahamas National Trust Rand Nature Center in Freeport on Monday, in observance of The International Day of Biological Diversity celebrated on May 22, and as part of BNT’s 50/50 tree planting campaign in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Independence of the Bahamas.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ANN Marie Davis, the wife of the Prime Minister, has pledged to plant as many breadfruit trees as she can in Grand Bahama and elsewhere in the country.

She said the trees are resilient and can provide food security for families, support the environment and tackle climate change.

On Monday, Mrs Davis planted trees at the Bahamas National Trust’s Rand Nature Centre in Freeport.

She planted the Lignum Vitae, the Bahamas’ national tree, and a breadfruit tree, in observance of The International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated on May 22.

The BNT has launched a 50/50 tree planting campaign to plant 50 trees in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Independence of The Bahamas.

Ellsworth Weir, BNT director of parks, said the native Bahamian trees used for their 50/50 tree campaign were grown at the Leon Levy Native Preserve Park in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, by tropical botanist Dr Ethan Freid, who assisted in the careful selection of the trees.

The plantings were held at the arboretum, a new feature at the Rand Nature Centre. Mr Weir said the goal is to make the area the center for people to come and learn about different plants.

He thanked Mrs Davis

for partnering with BNT in the tree planting. “We want to be able to partner with you as you recognise the importance of trees. And it is important, especially here in the northern Bahamas where we lost so many trees during Hurricane Dorian,” he said.

Mrs Davis also took the opportunity to plant breadfruit trees at three Urban Renewal Centers: in East Grand Bahama, in Pineridge, and in Lewis Yard at the Lewis Yard Primary School.

“We have to raise the awareness of how good the breadfruit tree is, she said. It is the most underutilized tree in this region. People don’t know the importance of it.”

“Most importantly, on

Grand Bahama, it has already been proven that the breadfruit tree is resilient to climate change because it is probably one of the only trees that survived Dorian in East Grand Bahama,” she said.

“So, we decided that this is the tree we should plant as much as we can. So, we have to spread the news about it, how good the fruit is in terms of nutritional value, and how it supports the environment with carbon sequestering in its trunk, bark, leaves, and roots. It puts the carbon into the soil and helps reduce our carbon footprint.”

Mrs Davis indicated that it is the choice tree that feeds and can sustain a family of four for ten years

or more. She said the tree takes 15 months to two years to grow and can yield about 100 to 200 fruits.

“Looking at food security, if you have the breadfruit tree in your yard or nearby, you can’t go hungry.”

“So as simple as it is, we are going to put a breadfruit tree everywhere that we can and make sure it is accessible so we can’t go hungry at all. I am here to plant breadfruit and educate people about it.”

Mrs Davis has planted breadfruit trees on Cat Island and plans to visit other Family Islands to do the same.

“The BNT has a schedule which will take us to Abaco as well, and I think Eleuthera. So, we will see where else. I plan to go

wherever it takes me. I am putting aside trees to plant in school yards, yards for certain places such as the Children’s Home, and places where (people) would need food, and not have to always incur costs,” she said.

“I am here to just populate breadfruit trees in Grand Bahama as much as I can,” she said. Kyla Tener-Knowles, centre manager at Urban Renewal East Grand Bahama, said they were grateful to Mrs Davis for stopping by and planting a breadfruit tree at the center.

“We are so excited to have Mrs Davis here who planted and spoke of the significance of the breadfruit tree. We are very grateful,” she said.

Book warns of dire sea level changes for The Bahamas

In her book, “Sea Change,” Christina Gerhardt, an academic, author and environmental journalist, argues the country’s low elevation, abundant limestone, and high population density along coastlines make the country one of the most susceptible to climate change impacts.

A NEW book warns that The Bahamas faces greater risks from climate change than almost any other country.

In her book, “Sea Change,” Christina Gerhardt, an academic, author and environmental journalist, argues the country’s low elevation, abundant limestone, and high population density along coastlines make the country one of the most susceptible to climate change impacts.

The book builds on projections from Climate Central, a non-profit organization that reports climate science news.

In 2019, The Tribune reported Climate Central’s findings that most of Grand Bahama, Abaco and Spanish Wells is projected to be

under flood levels by 2050 because of climate change.

Much of Crooked Island, Acklins, Andros and Cat Island will also be under flood levels, while the eastern and south-eastern parts of New Providence will be there too.

The Guardian, a British daily newspaper, published an extract from Ms Gerhardt’s new book yesterday.

The extract said: “According to a report on the threat of sea level rise in the Caribbean by Climate Central, ‘The Bahamas confront by far the greatest proportional threat: 32 per cent of land [and] 25 per cent of population … are below 0.5 metres [1.64 ft]’.” For the Bahamas, 32cm (1.04ft) of sea level rise is predicted by 2050, and 82cm (2.68ft) by 2100.

“The Bahamas are also at a high risk of hurricanes and tropical storms because the archipelago sits at the northern end of the Atlantic ‘hurricane alley’.”

“According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s fifth assessment report, the impacts of sea level rise measured in national GDP found that alongside islands in the Pacific – specifically Palau, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Nauru – the island group that would be most affected is The Bahamas. In 2020, Moody’s rating agency said The Bahamas was among the four nations forecast to be hit hardest financially by sea level rise, with an estimated 11 per cent of its residents and 15 per cent of its GDP at risk.”

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

Parents of Bimini students that were allegedly beaten by police officer concerned they are being ignored

By LETRE SWEETING

Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

PARENTS of the Bimini Primary School students who were allegedly bruised when a police officer beat them in March are concerned police officials are ignoring their complaints and demands for accountability.

On Friday, police Commissioner Clayton Fernander told reporters police had not completed their investigations into the beatings and are working on the matter with the Ministry of Education.

However, Tanishka Sands, a mother whose child was reportedly beaten, said she reached out to officials last week for an update on the investigation but got nowhere.

“I haven’t heard anything from the police, social services, nor education,” she said yesterday. “I reached out to education about a week ago, and nothing. They didn’t say anything, and nobody contacted me.”

She said she doesn’t believe the investigation is being handled swiftly or appropriately.

In March, the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training said the Ministry of National Security had been requested to investigate the alleged actions of the officer, noting it received a report of an

incident at the school “resulting in the purported discipline of several boys at the school allegedly by a police officer”.

“The matter is under active investigation, which will result in swift and

appropriate action,” the ministry said in a Facebook post.

Since then, the school’s principal has been reassigned. Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin confirmed the punishment was

inconsistent with the ministry’s policies.

Davaria Sherman, the mother of an 11-year-old boy who was beaten, said police officers have not reached out to her.

“I haven’t heard anything

from anyone. No one contacted me. I honestly feel like they’re trying to sweep it under the rug, but I can’t say for sure,” she said yesterday.

Ms Sherman previously told The Tribune her son’s

bottom was bruised until it turned “red and purple”. She had warned school administrators not to beat her son on his hip because he has pelvic kidney, a condition that affects the position of one’s kidney.

RAPE PROBE SHOWS ‘DOUBLE STANDARD’

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he said, “are watching the handling of this investigation by the Royal Bahamas Police Force. They are witnessing an obvious difference in the handling of this rape investigation when compared to others. Seven weeks later and all that can be said is that we are dotting “i’s” and crossing “t’s”. “We would have expected that by now, the investigation file would be in the hands of the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions for pre-charging review. This process that we are witnessing cannot invite confidence from women who file complaints against men with a perceived sense of power and influence.”

The Tribune understands the woman filed a complaint against the MP in Grand Bahama after concluding officers on her home island were reluctant to note her complaint and pursue the matter.

On April 15, she showed this newspaper a copy of a document she had signed and submitted to the police when she met them for the third time. She accused the MP of rape and death threats in the document and said he needed professional help. The statement referenced her difficulty sleeping and eating and her fears for her family.

It said: “I will also be seeking to have him bound over [to keep] the peace.”

The Golden Jubilee Flag relay began on Sunday in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, in commemoration of the Bahamas’ 50th Independence anniversary. Eleuthera represents the first island to raise the national flag in a relay that will allow the same flag to travel throughout the Family Islands until it reaches New Providence on July 9. It will be hoisted at Clifford Park in time for the 50th Independence celebrations, commemorating Independence day, July 10.

Sunday’s flag raising ceremony took

place at the Governor’s Harbour International Airport in Eleuthera.

Earl Campbell, Central Eleuthera Family Island Administrator opened the ceremony, and the flag was blessed by Rev Orlando Dean and Rev Martin Gaitor. The national flag was hoisted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The national pledge was recited by students of James Cistern Primary School and Central Eleuthera High School.

POL icE iN v EST igAT iNg 45 T h mURDER Of 2023

POLICE are investigating the 45th murder of the year.

On Sunday, a man was on Jackson Street near a local food takeaway when he was approached by occupants of a small, grey Japanese vehicle who opened fire, wounding him in the upper left left side of his back.

Police were alerted by Spot Shotter technology of gunshots discharged in the Nassau Village community.

Responding officers went to the area where they saw a woman driving a grey Nissan Cube leaving Jackson Street. The vehicle was intercepted, and officers found a male victim with gunshot injuries inside.

Police escorted the vehicle to the Princess Margaret Hospital for the victim to receive medical care. However, the man died in the hospital of his injuries a short time later. Investigations continue.

Pictures above show bruising allegedly caused by the police officer’s beating of several children on their bottom and leg. The matter is still under investigation since the end of March this year. Parents feel as though the incident is being swept under the rug.

50th Independence flag relay begins in Governor’s Harbour

the Golden Jubilee Flag relay began on Sunday in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera with a flag raising ceremony at the airport.

Photo: Adrian thompson/BIS

Relatives increase efforts to find missing 20-year-old Kyle Carey

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

RELATIVES of a missing 20-year-old man are increasing their search efforts and remain hopeful for his return.

Police issued a MARCO alert for Kyle Carey on Saturday. The man was reported missing on May 11. According to the man’s mother, Tracey Carey, relatives have conducted several search activities for him in the last week, including one involving Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller.

“We had a huge search that did take place on Saturday with, you know, neighbours, family and friends,” she said yesterday, adding Assistant Commissioner of Police Zhivargo Dames and Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller were part of the search efforts.

“They asked if it was okay for the alert to be sent out,” she added. “So we greatly appreciated that they were able to assist in that regard.”

Ms Carey said to remain level-headed, she has avoided social media and the discussions surrounding the alert.

“I’m just trying not to go too much on social media because I know I’ve heard persons saying there were some negative comments and whatnot,” she said. “So,

I’m just trying not to really follow up or to be on it (social media) that much to avoid seeing that.”

“He is a child who never slept out before. He always would come home and so this has been a tremendously difficult time for

me and my family. I’m just trying to stay optimistic that he is found alive and well and if anyone has him or whatever the case may be that he’s returned safely.”

The worried mother is grateful for the support she has received.

“It feels good to see that people you don’t know are giving love and support,” she said. “I’ve heard some people are taking it for a joke but, you know, it’s not a joke until something happens to one of their family

members, God forbid. “I just think the public needs to be sincere and more caring and concerned when things like this happen because never in my wildest dreams I thought it would happen to me. And so, people just

need to show more care and concern towards each other.”

Persons with information on Kyle’s whereabouts are asked to contact his relatives at 816-1330 or 8227821 or their nearest police station.

MARCO A leR t CRe Ates buzz A nd CRitiCisM Of syste M

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE senior police officer responsible for the MARCO alert system said the alerts would have a link showing a picture of the missing person in the future.

Assistant Commissioner

Zhivago Dames spoke to The Tribune after many residents in New Providence received an alert on Saturday about Kyle Carey, a 20-yearold reported missing on May 11th.

Some people noted there were no attached photos showing the missing man. Others complained that mostly Aliv customers got the notification, not BTC customers.

Mr Dames addressed the issues raised yesterday.

“We were of the impression that persons were aware of what he looked like,”

he said. “And so sending out the MARCO alert, we assumed that there was an image of him out there but we are now going to embed a link into the message when we send them out to ensure that those persons that might not have seen a photo that the system will take them to a link that they can see a photo of the person who might be missing.”

Amendments to the Child Protection Act created the MARCO alert system.

Asked why an alert was sent out for Mr Carey, who is 20, ACP Dames said:

“Kyle, who is an adult, all of the necessary dissemination of information was sent via those platforms to help to locate Kyle. Kyle, being an adult, time has been passing and so a decision was made to use the MARCO Alert system that is for young children to help disseminate the information out to the public to help look for Kyle.”

As for why more Aliv customers appeared to get the notification than BTC customers, ACP Dames said people must change their phone settings to get the alert.

Kyle Carey pictured left, and pictured right with his father. Kyle has been missing since May 11.

No diesel as retailers ‘run out of fuel’ waiting on margin help

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environment has escalated to the point where most retailers are barely breaking even. Retailers operate against a fixed margin that is not flexible against rising operating cost other than the government making a change with the fuel margin.

“We have requested consideration to amend the fuel margin for more than a year but have now ran out of fuel on this. As we have said previously, we work to serve our customers within the constraints of what we are able to purchase for resale. We are looking at reduced hours of operation as another mechanism to achieve cost savings.”

Retailers have sought a margin increase of seven per cent of the landed fuel cost.

Vasco Bastian, vice president of the retailers association, told The Tribune last week that residents may face a dire summer as retailers doubt the government will address their concerns in the upcoming budget.

He said several meetings with government officials have borne no fruits.

Rudolph Taylor, the Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union (BUDU) president, said yesterday some bus drivers were affected by the limited availability of diesel.

He said several bus drivers could not fill their tanks and operate effectively throughout the day.

“Of course, if they can’t work,” he said, “it affects their quota that they’re supposed to turn into their bosses as well as whatever little funds they normally make for themselves driving. In some respect, it will affect their pockets. If the wholesalers and retailers decide not to provide the diesel, it will affect the busing industry and by extension other industries as well.”

“It helps persons to recognise that it will only be a matter of time before it affects the motoring public who has gasoline vehicles because it’s only going to be so long if they continue that it will affect just the vehicles that run with diesel.”

He added: “What they’re feeling now is something that we were crying for and ain’t nobody came to our aid.”

COURT OF APPEAL STAYS GIBSON CORRUPTION TRIAL

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urgent and has pre-empted your submissions and filed their own. They are more diligent than you are.”

The appellate judges expressed other concerns with the appellant’s appeal, including the lack of clarity on which judgement was being challenged.

“The other point to be made,” said Justice Stella Maureen Crane Scott, “is the notice of appeal motion is only in respect of one appellant and so while we have seen as I understand it certificates of urgency from two other of your clients.”

Justice Isaacs said he would have dismissed the defendant’s applications if left to him.

He said he was “baffled” by how Mr Gibson’s lawyers expected the court to hear their appeal without receiving the necessary submissions.

Mr Ducille replied that he found out about the appeal hearing on Friday, though he acknowledged this was not an excuse.

The appellate judges

reminded him that he said his application was urgent.

Mr Ducille agreed, telling the court, “I have no defence,” before asking for a short adjournment.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier objected to his request, arguing there was no justifiable reason for the appellants’ failure to file the proper documents earlier.

Ultimately, the judges accepted Mr Ducille’s three-week adjournment request.

Mr Gibson, a sitting MP, is charged with Mr Donaldson, Rashae Gibson, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson and Jerome Missick on 98 charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, fraud, receiving and money laundering.

Earlier this month, he filed a constitutional motion, arguing that his defence had been prejudiced due to the Crown’s lack of full disclosure.

He also argued that his right to a fair trial would be breached if Alexandria Mackey, the Crown’s key witness, did not

testify in person.

Mr Donaldson has adopted the same arguments.

Justice Grant-Thompson dismissed their application last week, calling it “misconceived” and “premature.”

According to court documents Mr Donaldson’s lawyers filed, he is appealing on six grounds.

Mr Donaldson’s lawyer claims that Justice GrantThompson erred when she said the Crown was not obligated to make all disclosures to the defence.

“The learned judge erred when she failed to declare that article 20(1), 20(2)(c) and 20(2)(e) of the constitution of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, which prevents the appellant from being tried with the main prosecution witness, Alexandria Mackey, giving evidence by way of video link, had been breached,” the document said.

“The gist of her evidence depends on paper exhibits and cheques which would not be feasible to be dealt with by way of video link evidence.”

‘BAD BEHAVIOUR’ CITED BY JUDGE AS SHE CHANGES FNM INJUNCTION

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leader Michael Pintard and chairman Dr Duane Sands from barring him from council meetings until she has addressed the substantive matter.

To get the injunction set aside, the defendants filed affidavits from Sherman Stevens, a meritorious council member, and Don Saunders, the deputy chairman of the FNM.

Mr Stevens alleged that during a March 16, 2022 meeting, he heard “loud outbursts with expletives” from Mr Johnson. He said members became fearful and reluctant to attend meetings because of Mr Johnson’s allegedly “abusive behaviour and the potential consequences of such members in attendance becoming targets” of his “social media tirades.”

He said Mr Johnson’s allegedly “loud and belligerent” behaviour went on for months and disrupted the FNM’s business.

Likewise, Mr Saunders alleged that Mr Johnson’s behaviour prompted “serious complaints and was the subject of disciplinary

proceedings”.

Ultimately, Justice Fraser accepted the defendants’ view that there had not been full and frank disclosure from Mr Johnson in the matter.

She wrote: “Though Mr Johnson did exhibit the Statement of Charges (which contained all allegations made against him) to his affidavit filed herein on March 8, 2023, at the time of the ex-parte injunction application, the extent and severity of Mr Johnson’s purported behaviour was not brought to the court’s attention until this application (by virtue of the evidence provided in the affidavit of Sherman Stevens and the affidavit of Donald L Saunders). Furthermore, this evidence has not been challenged or contested by Mr Johnson. It appears his conduct precipitated the executive committee’s and the central council’s decisions.

“In the court’s view, this was not an innocent nondisclosure. Being aware of the charges levied against him, the body of Mr Johnson’s affidavit ought to have apprised the court of, or at the very least explained, his

actions/purported behaviour which gave rise to the executive committee’s decision to exclude him from future meetings. The court finds such information to be material facts which Mr Johnson did not provide prior to the granting of the injunction.”

In varying the injunction, Justice Fraser ordered that Mr Johnson remain the FNM’s vice chairman but not exercise his powers and duties under the FNM constitution until the court rules on the substantive matter.

While she affirmed that the FNM could not bar Mr Johnson from attending meetings, she restrained him from “formal participation” during the sessions. She restrained the defendants from empanelling a disciplinary tribunal concerning Mr Johnson actions until she addressed the substantive case.

“As the matter is sensitive, and of public interest, the court is prepared to give early trial dates and further directions in preparation for trial once the parties agree on the terms for such directions,” she wrote.

Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis declined to comment on the matter yesterday.

ADRIAN Gibson pictured outside court previously alongside his attorney Murrio Ducille.

A DRIVER filling up at a New Providence gas station last night.

Photo: Moise Amisial

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master” LEON E.

We need to have confidence in investigations

RIGHTLY or wrongly, there is a perception that some investigations are treated with greater urgency than others – depending on who is being investigated.

In today’s Tribune, we report on concerns in two such instances.

The first of these is the allegation of rape and abuse by a sitting MP. A lawyer representing the woman who has made the accusation has raised a concern about the length of the investigation.

Bjorn Ferguson spoke of an “obvious difference in the handling of this rape investigation when compared to others”. He said: “Seven weeks later and all that can be said is that we are dotting ‘I’s’ and crossing ‘t’s’.”

At this stage, he said he would have expected that the investigation file would be in the hands of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

This follows concerns at the start of the investigation that the alleged victim felt officers were reluctant to note her complaint and pursue the matter.

Also in today’s Tribune, we report on parents of children at Bimini Primary School, who are still waiting for so-called “swift and appropriate action” after a police officer reportedly beat the youngsters to discipline them.

The incident took place in March –and on Friday, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said that police had not completed their investigations.

We are not sure how long investigations could take into a reported incident of discipline in a classroom –but one parent who asked officials for an update said she had heard nothing from police, social services or the education department.

As far as she is concerned, there is no sign of swift – or appropriate – action.

Another mother said: “I honestly feel

Pinder’s Point

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN RECENT weeks

North Abaco MP Kirk

Bahamian population of 400,000.

like they’re trying to sweep it under the rug.”

None of this, you will note, speaks to the guilt or innocence of any of the accused parties – but rather that some investigations seem to progress faster than others, and when officials or senior figures are involved, there are greater concerns over whether such investigations are advancing at the pace they should, or even being advanced at all.

There are, of course, other investigations where concerns have been raised. When Commissioner Fernander concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to proceed with claims that Housing and Transport Minister JoBeth ColebyDavis over an alleged incident involving a police officer being struck by her vehicle, it took from May until January for such a conclusion to be drawn.

And three people who claimed they were tortured by police in Eleuthera were told that complaints they made had run out of time to be considered by police. They had complained in a timely fashion – it was the police who dragged their heels.

It does not inspire confidence in the public if there is a perception that there are two speeds of justice, depending on how well connected one is.

It is far worse still if that perception is the reality.

Justice should be equal for all – and that includes ensuring that innocence is established as well as guilt. Failure to conclude investigations leaves matters unresolved – and that is not fair for any of the parties involved, those who seek answers or those who seek to clear their names. We need to have confidence that our authorities investigate all such cases fairly. Given some of the concerns expressed, there is little sign of such confidence among the public.

In response to Henfield

EDITOR, The Tribune.

RESPONDING to recent United Nations recommendations on how the Bahamas can improve its human rights record, Opposition senator Darren Henfield said Bahamians are “tired” of external forces like the UN telling us what to.

Human Rights Bahamas (HRB) is unsure of how the Senator conducted his research in order to feel able to speak for all Bahamians in this way. Indeed, we know for certain that his statement does not reflect the views of many citizens and residents, particularly those who have been victims of human rights abuses.

Mr Henfield objects to outside influences seeking to “force upon us” their own standards. However, the pursuit of ideas like protecting people from violence, shielding the vulnerable from discrimination and guaranteeing equal treatment for every individual, are not arbitrary notions from an alien culture. Rather, they are the universal, non-negotiable basis for any decent, fair and civilized society, in any place and at any time throughout human history.

The top five points of the UN recommendations to which Mr Henfield objected, concerned: criminalising marital rape, gender-based violence, a

moratorium death penalty, equality in the transmission of citizenship and asylum and trafficking in persons.

While all five of the points may affect Bahamian women, three of them do so directly and almost exclusively. Women make up more than half the population of The Bahamas and are by far the largest group to face active, casual, as well as official discrimination on an ongoing basis.

As such, the cause of gender equality cannot not be seen as an imposition by an external entity; rather it is a fundamental principle for strengthening our society and fostering a fair and inclusive environment for all. As an organisation committed to promoting human rights and social progress, HRB firmly believes that guaranteeing gender equality is necessary for the creation of a healthy society going forward.

Violence against women remains a pervasive issue globally, and The Bahamas is no exception. To dismiss the urgency of preventing violence against women and highlighting the need for legal frameworks to protect them is to ignore the numerous cases of abuse, discrimination, and inequality that many Bahamian women face on a daily basis. It is our collective duty to work towards eradicating gender-based

Cornish and Central and South Abaco MP John Pinder have both sounded the alarm over the explosive growth of the Haitian population on Abaco in the post-Dorian era.

Despite the destruction of Pigeon Pea and The Mudd, with sheer determination and grit the Haitian community continues to make its presence felt in Abaco via illegal migration and procreation. Whereas a Bahamian professional would scoff at having two kids, a typical Haitian couple would have up to five to seven. One Bahamian educator on Abaco recently alleged to an individual I know that a Haitian teen warned her that there are more of them than Bahamians on that island. He apparently understands the importance of his people’s growth strategy in outpacing the Bahamian population growth.

The last census conducted in The Bahamas declared that the Bahamian population was roughly 354,000. Grand Bahama’s population was estimated at 51,400. In 2012, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (or UNHCR) declared that the population of undocumented Haitian immigrants was 80,000 - 70,000 fewer than the 150,000 Haiti’s Chargé d’Affaires to The Bahamas Anthony Brutus estimated to be living here in late August. Caribbean Migration estimates that between 20,000 and 50,000 undocumented Haitian immigrants reside in The Bahamas.

What this all means is that if Brutus’ estimation is correct, it would then mean that, in terms of a ratio percentage standpoint, the Haitian population is 37.5 percent of the current

In order to fully appreciate the size of the Haitian diaspora in the United States, especially in South Florida, the Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald both estimated that the Haitian population in South Florida is 300,000, particularly in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. There’s a vibrant Haitian community in South Florida called Little Haiti. In New York with its own Little Haiti, the Haitian population is 131,000; Massachusetts, 46,000; New Jersey, 39,000; Georgia, 15,000; Pennsylvania, 13,000; Connecticut, 12,000; Maryland, 8,000; Illinois, 6,000 and Texas, 4,000. Bear in mind that the foregoing United States estimates pertains only to Haitians who were born in Haiti.

Obviously, any census that takes into account those born in the United States would swell the current Haitian population estimate by perhaps hundreds of thousands, which brings to mind Pinder’s warning to Parliament several weeks ago. What I find troubling is that the illegal Haitian immigration crisis in Abaco, while it continues to be adequately covered by the media, stakeholders and other officials seem to be oblivious to the burgeoning Haitian population in Pinder’s Point, which is located in the southern area of Grand Bahama. This is a crisis that appears to be under the radar. The same can be said about Lewis Yard and throughout the Eight Mile Rock community, particularly in Hanna Hill. While it’s anyone‘s guess what the population of Pinder’s Point is, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Haitian population outnumbers Bahamians living in that community.

A casual stroll through Pinder’s Point would give

one a snapshot of the extent of the crisis, as one will encounter many “Bahamians” of Haitian ancestry who are fluent in Creole. They have retained their Haitian culture, ethos and language. This seems to have been a well thought out decision not to assimilate the Bahamian culture, choosing instead to have an “us against them” outlook. Certain areas in Pinder’s Point are eerily similar to the Haitian shantytowns in Abaco. It wouldn’t be farfetched to suggest that Pinder’s Point is teeming with Haitians. Another point worth noting that while the number of indigenous Bahamians who were active in the illicit drug trade have dwindled, that industry now appears to be dominated by Haitians who obviously have no concerns about the ramifications of their nefarious trade on Bahamians.

The current chatter throughout Freeport is that the Haitians have the money and are the ones investing. The Bahamas has neither the manpower nor resources to properly police between South Florida and the area south of Inagua, which spans approximately 760 miles. I am not attempting to start an ethnic war. Haitians, like Bahamians, are bearers of God’s image. We must adhere to the biblical injunctions to love our neighbours as ourselves and to treat aliens humanely. Having said that, the state is also tasked with the mandate to protect its citizens from lawbreakers and to secure its borders, otherwise The Bahamas will eventually be overwhelmed with Haitians. I’m afraid that this has already happened to Pinder’s Point.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama November

14, 2022.

violence and ensuring the safety and well-being of every individual in our society.

Additionally, the denial of citizenship rights to women and the refusal to allow them to pass on citizenship to their children is an outdated and discriminatory practice that hinders the progress and development of our nation. By embracing equal citizenship rights for women, we empower them to contribute fully to the growth of our country, economically, socially, and culturally.

We strongly urge Senator Henfield and all stakeholders in our society to recognise the importance of promoting gender equality, preventing violence against women, and rectifying existing discriminatory practices. Only through a united effort can we create a future where all individuals, regardless of gender, can thrive and realise their full potential.

Human Rights Bahamas remains committed to championing the rights of women and advocating for an inclusive society that embraces equality and justice for all. We call upon all Bahamians to join us in this mission and work towards a brighter and more equitable future.

Divide and conquer

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM dismayed to see the way in which our country is being professionally manipulated right before our very eyes!

For quite some time now there has been ongoing contention over Bahamian land and various cruise ship conglomerates! The present situation with regard to Paradise Island properties and Crown Land has a Bahamian battling both “gubment” administrations for a piece of pie, whilst a “grabalicious” cruise line has sailed in to add more fuel to the fire by adopting a classic “battle” tactic of “divide and conquer”!

It seems as if we, the inhabitants of these fair isles, can’t win for losing. We continue to be treated like unappreciated “potcakes” - constantly being taken advantage of by outside forces who are intent on stripping us of our valuable patrimony with gubment’s blessings as they take to podiums whilst visions of dollar signs dance in their heads, to proudly spout off about the “jobs”as few and fleeting as they are – that these so called developments will provide, and without fail, we fall

– hook, line, and sinker - for all the dribble!

The most recent cruise line strategy has been to draw a line in the sand to pit the citizens of this country one against the other, based on petty partisan politics (another one of the dangerous scourges of these “politricksters”). They mobilised their top leadership to travel throughout the country on a massive PR exercise, utilising every conceivable media agency for interviews on radio, television, newspaper, and social media to market the benefits of their presence to our economy, never mind that the majority of the money raised directly from our Bahamian sun, sand, and sea sails right out of the country into their foreign coffers!

Meanwhile our citizens are lined up behind that line in the sand actively taking sides and arguing amongst ourselves! Step back Bahamas, and look at yourselves stupidly cutting off your noses to spite your face!

Even the large resorts have been welcomed into the fray. The country’s largest private employer took a bold stance in defence of the Bahamian environment as befits their corporate philosophy, but that has landed

them smack dab in the crosshairs of the Department of Labour as Labour Day approaches.

Do we not see what is happening here? Whilst the “natives” squabble amongst themselves, the “conqueror” goes blithely about their wheeler dealer business. They can just sit back and watch the vitriol spew forth and run its course in time to attend their upcoming Town Meeting where heated heads will relay all the areas of contentionwhich information they will calmly gather and address in their new “updated” Environmental Impact Assessment to supposedly show that they have covered every environmental concern and contingency in order to lay claim to our land, thereby denying our children, and our children’s children their inalienable rights to their patrimony!

Do we need the cruise industry more than they need us and all of our unique and precious natural resources? Open your eyes, Bahamas, see what you lookin’ at, and protect what is ours!

ARTISTS from the CIA Base vertical dance and aerial circus group perform during the International Circus Festival, high over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday.

Photo: Bruna Prado/AP

PM extends condolences to families of children that perished in school fire

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis extended condolences and pledged to stand united with Guyana following the death of at least 19 students in a secondary school dorm in the country yesterday.

On Sunday night, a fire engulfed the dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School killing 14 students, at the scene and five in hospital, with most of the victims reportedly being girls. Several other students have been left injured

and in critical condition, according to international news reports.

Though the ages of the victims are not available at this time, the school caters to students ages 12 to 18.

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali called the tragic incident “horrific” and “painful”, even as he organised a “full-scale emergency plan”.

Mr Davis, in a statement released from The Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, said: “I am deeply saddened by the devastating news of the fire at the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory in Guyana.

mA n held on ch A rGes of A spree of sexuA l A ss Aults

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was jailed yesterday after being charged with a spree of sexual assaults in the Golden Isles area this month.

Seantino Rolle, 27, stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt on three counts of rape.

He faced additional charges of abetment to rape, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition, three counts of armed robbery, three counts of threats of death, two counts of assault and two counts of forcible taking or detention with intent to have unlawful sexual intercourse.

Rolle allegedly aided and abetted in the rape of a 41-year-old male at gunpoint on May 2 in New Providence. The suspects allegedly robbed the victim of his cell phone.

On May 4–5 at Well Fields, Rolle allegedly held a 31-year-old woman hostage at gunpoint and had sexual intercourse with her

against her will twice. It is further alleged that he stole the victim’s 2012 Honda Stepwagon, two phones and bank cards valued at $9,205.

Rolle allegedly abducted a 38-year-old woman at gunpoint in a small grey vehicle around 10am on May 13 on Bacardi Road. He allegedly took her into the nearby bushes and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her. He allegedly robbed her of $4,045 and her cellphone.

Rolle was arrested on May 16 after he and three others were allegedly found with a black Smith & Wesson 40mm pistol and seven unfired rounds of ammunition.

His co-accused in the firearm matter was arraigned on May 19.

Rolle pleaded not guilty to both firearm charges.

Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson Pratt told him the higher charges would proceed to the Supreme Court via a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI). His firearm trial will begin on June 19–20 before Magistrate Lennox Coleby.

mA n on b A il for murder in court on G un ch A r G e

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on bail for murder was brought before the chief magistrate yesterday on a new firearm charge.

Mario Brown, 32, faced Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt on charges of possession of an unlicenced firearm and possession of ammunition.

Wendawn Miller-Frazer represents Brown.

Police obtained a warrant and searched the defendant’s residence on Baltic Avenue on May 18

“On behalf of the people of The Bahamas, I extend our heartfelt condolences to President Irfaan Ali, the people of Guyana, and especially to the families who have lost their precious children in this tragic incident.

Mr Davis added: “As fellow members of CARICOM, we share not only common goals and aspirations but also the pain and suffering of one another. We stand united with you in mourning, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this heartbreaking incident.”

at 2.30pm. Officers uncovered a black Taurus 9mm pistol. He also allegedly had 12 unfired rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Brown pleaded not guilty to both charges. Prosecutor ASP Davis objected to the accused’s bail, citing his bail for a pending murder charge related to his alleged involvement in the death of Jamaal Kemp on February 10, 2019. The prosecutor also noted the defendant had a prior firearm conviction.

Magistrate Lennox Coleby will consider Brown’s bail during his status hearing on May 25.

Americ A n m A n bitten by bA by sh A rk ne A r Gr A nd bA h A m A

AN American man was bitten by a baby shark on Sunday while fishing in waters near West End, Grand Bahama.

Police said around 1pm, the victim was fishing with six friends on his 32ft Invincible Vessel near Sandy Cay. He was bitten on his right

hand after catching a baby shark and trying to remove a fishhook from the animal’s mouth.

The 29-year-old victim was treated and discharged from hospital. However, police said his injuries, although serious, are not fatal.

Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis tweeted his condolences to the president and the families of those who perished in the fire that killed at least 19 students at a Guyanese school yesterday.

50th Independence is a good opportunity to reset and define Bahamian identity

The 50th Independence anniversary of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is a great opportunity to start from scratch and define our national identity and culture, according to a giant in the Bahamian music industry, Fred Ferguson.

he believes that by properly defining who we are and creating policies that support what we do and the way we do it as Bahamians, we can set the country’s path on a forward trajectory for the next 50 years.

Among his suggestionscreating a separate Ministry of Culture that would serve as an umbrella ministry to advise other ministries and create a cultural policy to guide decisions and spur an educational curriculum for future generations.

“We are 50 years in,” he said, “And I think we should make year 50, year one.”

“We have some strides. but we made some major errors as well. Let’s clearly define who we are. Let’s start over. We need to find ourselves.”

Fred said that culture, when taken at its deepest definition, is everything that people do regularly in a specific geographic location - from the way they build their roads and homes, to the way they cook and come together - and everything in between.

The 40-year music industry veteran gave an example of how useful a Ministry of Culture could be: “The fact that we are surrounded by water, Bahamians should have access to all beaches. No one should be allowed to build on the beach. These are the things that can be determined as clear cultural

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

policies, defined by the Ministry of Culture and carried out by other ministries.” Bahamians, he said, do not exhibit the level of cultural pride that they should have; and that, in part, is due to insufficient education in schools’ curriculums. Not enough is being taught about Bahamian history in the schools, and Bahamian music such as Junkanoo and Rake ‘n Scrape are not being taught on the level that they should be. Therefore, he said the young people cannot be held to blame, because they are only exhibiting what they know.

Fred produced the spectacular 49th Independence Anniversary celebrations last year, and he will serve as the official producer once again for the Golden Jubilee. he is honoured by the task, and will use it once again as an opportunity to help tell the Bahamian story, educate and entertain people, igniting a greater sense of national pride. he recently produced the cultural concert for Jubilee Day, one of the exciting days on the Road to 50 production. National Independence Secretariat Chair Leslia Miller-Brice is leading a team that has already successfully pulled off a number of major events on the Road to 50, including Sunday’s National

ecumenical Service at evangelistic Temple, New Providence, and the launch of the Golden Jubilee Flag Relay in Governor’s harbour, eleuthera.

Fred took to the basement of The Tribune newspaper, searching as far back as 1958, perusing old newspapers and digging up critical information to tell the story of greats like Sir Lynden Pindling and Sir Randol Fawkes, whose decision to join the Progressive Liberal Party and reject an offer from the United Bahamian Party led to the ushering in of Majority Rule.

he brought the stories of the nation’s forefathers to life in drama, dance and song, much to the delight of the hundreds gathered for the first-ever Jubilee Day. Bahamians, he said, must be presented with this kind of information in a way that inspires them so that they feel proud to be Bahamian.

“A Jamaican could live in this country since he/ she was a child and they would die sounding Jamaican,” Fred said.

“We had Carnival over the weekend,” he pointed out.

“It was the complete opposite of everything we stand for as a nation and what we are trying to develop as a nation. I wrote a song called Junkanoo is My Carnival sung by

The Bahamas’ 50th Independence anniversary is a great opportunity to start from scratch and define our national identity and culture Fred Ferguson suggested.

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Sonovia Pierre. I imagine that we should put the same energy (that people put into a copy of other countries’ carnivals) into our own carnival.”

“It’s not difficult to fix. The rules are the same around the world. Carnival happens at the end of a season. Junkanoo happens at the end of what was our work season (when we were slaves). It gave us a reason to celebrate. Junkanoo is first a celebration; it’s more than a competition.”

“Other countries have their Carnival fetes... we could have our Junkanoo party shacks! They have competitions and bring out new music every year. They bring out hundreds of songs. The music is played throughout the year, and the people drive what becomes the most popular songs. They are played all over the radio. At the end of that season is Carnival, and they choose their Carnival king and queen. In the same way, we could have our Junkanoo King and Queen.”

“We quickly migrate to what everyone else is doing,” Fred continued.

“Our young people know more soca songs than our songs. When I went to Trinidad Carnival, I was able to buy a costume, join a band and participate. But as Bahamians, we can’t join a band unless we know someone or we find a band that hasn’t met their quota for the parade on Bay Street as yet. As a tourist, it’s hard to get a ticket to even sit on the bleachers and watch.”

Fred suggested that if new music is introduced by talented Bahamian artists in January, they could be played all year long on the radio, and by public choice, the most popular ones would become the hit songs for Junkanoo for that year. This would allay the current situation where Junkanoo bands performing in the annual parades play secular music and other kinds of music to satisfy the crowd.

“The Boxing Day and New Years’ Parades could be the culmination of these song competitions,” said Fred, who served as the first creative consultant for the Ministry of Tourism, where he created the Junkanoo in June song competition which was a part of the Junkanoo in June Festival.

Trinidad has Savannah,

and Bahamas has Rawson Square, he said, explaining that it could be the focal point of the competition, but not the whole parade.

Trinidad takes its Carnival masquerade through Savannah and back into town amongst the people.

“We could start from the eastern side of Bay street and parade to Rawson Square,” he explained.

“Then once the judging is over in the square, the parade continues west and people could join in at a point, such as the British Colonial hilton hotel. Then Bahamians and tourists alike could parade in the streets all the way to Clifford Park, which is large enough to host the larger party and the end of the Junkanoo parade.”

“We have become stuck in old thinking and we have allowed it to become like politics. As Bahamians, we talk about three things all year long - religion, Junkanoo and politics.”

On the topic of Bahamian music, Fred also shared some insight.he and other advocates have been calling for Bahamian music to be defined as Goombay. This music would include genres like Juanknoo and Rake ‘n Scrape. In Jamaica, for example, Reggae music encompasses several genres such as Ska, Dancehall and what is known as “culture” music. he wants to see Bahamian music have the same kind of worldwide appeal as other countries. In order to do that, he said education is vital; because the only way for Bahamian artists to come away from talking about the same kinds of topics is for new artists to be presented with the wealth of information of their country’s history.

Born in Chester’s, Acklins, to parents Admiral and Delores Ferguson, Fred was raised in a home where there was always music and in a community where almost everyone sang - especially in the churches. The Fergusons were educators, and like many back in the day, they were assigned to other islands to teach students. Because of this, Fred spent some of his youth in Long Island, where he graduated from NGM Major as its first head boy. As a child, Fred taught himself different instruments that were around his

home or within the community. After leaving high school, he honed his skills by performing with many local bands in Nassau and the Family Islands.

In 1982, he got an invitation to join his favorite local band high Voltage, which was led by Isaiah Taylor. he spent 16 years as the music director of the band, which eventually became Baha Men. After leaving Baha Men, he continued to contribute to the industry as a producer and songwriter and later as band leader of the band Tingum Dem. Fred’s producing and writing skills afforded him the opportunity to write and produce songs for many of the popular artists, including Ronnie Butler, Sweet emily, Sonovia Pierre, Alia Coley, eddie Minnis, Marvin henfield, Baha Men, The Cooling Waters, Vision, Geno D, and many more. A popular song he cowrote with herschell Small and produced, here We Go Again, sold over 500.000 copies worldwide. his self-produced project entitled Fresh Paint, which is a collection of Bahamian songs done instrumentally, continues to be a one-of-akind and popular project on all of the local radio stations and parties. For Shakespeare In Paradise, Fred arranged and produced the music for the eddie Minnis’ Musical Der Real Ting and continues to work on other major projects including a tribute to the late Ronnie Butler. he currently lives and works between the USA and The Bahamas.

As an avid fan of Bahamian folk guitarist Joseph Spence, along with film Producer Kevin Taylor, he produced a video biography project on Joseph Spence, which has received tremendous acclaim both locally and internationally. he also served as the Producer for the Memorial Tribute to Sir Sidney Poitier. he is committed to the development and preservation of the local sounds of rake ‘n scrape and Junkanoo and sees the sky as the limit for ‘tings’ Bahamian.

Bahamain musician Fred Ferguson strums a tune at the grave of the late great Bahamian guitarist, world renowned Joseph Spence

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Summits galore for world leaders

The Peter Young column

THE ubiquitous and apparently tireless President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is perhaps today’s busiest leader on the world stage.

This month alone, his energetic diplomacy has included a successful tour of major European capitals – Rome and the Vatican, Berlin, Paris and London – to build more political support and seek further military supplies and assistance, during which he secured promises of more tanks, missiles, air defence systems and drones. Then, last week, he addressed by video link the Council of Europe’s high-level meeting in Iceland and attended the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia where he accused Arab leaders of ignoring the horrors of Russia’s invasion – and, at the end of the week, he was clearly the focus of attention at the G7 Summit hosted by Japan.

As a reminder, the G7 meeting - held at Hiroshima where an atomic bomb killed thousands of people in 1945 to end the Second World War after a second bomb was dropped three days later on Nagasaki –was the annual gathering of the world’s seven wealthiest democracies. These currently comprise the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan itself, with representation also from the European Union. According to IMF figures, the economic might of these nations as a group has waned from being just over half of global GDP in 1990 to 30 per cent now – and, together with constantly changing global political conditions, this may partly account for the discretion assumed by the host nation to invite other countries to attend.

‘There appears to be little doubt that President Zelensky stole the limelight at Hiroshima where he made a powerful speech. His shuttle diplomacy this past week may have been a game changer.’

to attend were issued to Australia, India, Brazil, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Comoros (representing the African Union) and the Cook Islands (representing the Pacific Islands Forum). Given that some of these countries have complex political and economic ties to both Russia and China – for example, India continues to purchase oil from Russia and refuses to condemn its invasion of Ukraine or call for the withdrawal of its forces – presumably, one purpose will have been to demonstrate to them that there is an alternative to Chinese and Russian money and power.

force to achieve this. As China has become more assertive, the security of Taiwan is of growing concern to Japan, not least because of the proximity to it of some of its own islands – with implications for Okinawa, in particular, as well as for a country like the Philippines. The fact that it has been facing airspace violations regularly by Chinese activities in relation to Taiwan suggests that Japan’s 75-year pacifism may now hang in the balance as it contemplates its biggest military buildup since the Second World War.

Japan is the linchpin in a network of US alliances and a key player in building stability and the alignment of powers in Southeast Asia. It is said to be seeking a greater global coalition to include several emerging economies in the so-called Global South, in the face of increased tension in the Indo-Pacific region that is becoming increasingly volatile. Reportedly, the G7 leaders wanted to address such issues as nuclear nonproliferation and climate change while Japan wished, in particular, to emphasize a formal commitment to the Indo-Pacific. So invitations

With all these leaders in attendance, including President Biden, Hiroshima seemed last week to be the political and diplomatic centre of the world. The venue was a symbolic reminder of the devastation caused by weapons like the atomic bomb and the responsibility of present leaders to ensure that the the nuclear threat posed by Russia never materializes. It was clear that the last-minute attendance of Zelensky himself lent urgency to the proceedings.

But the issue of Taiwan and China’s continuing claim over this self-governing island also loomed large. China sees it as a breakaway province that will eventually be under Beijing’s control as historically a part of the mainland, and President Xi says “reunification must be fulfilled” while not ruling out

Western leaders sought to deliver a message to China about their commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” in response to China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and they also took a strong stance against “economic coercion”. That seems to be shorthand for using trade to bully other countries. They also vowed to limit excessive dependence on supply chains linked to trade with China. Leaders concluded, nonetheless, that the G7 wanted “constructive and stable relations” with China and did not wish to thwart in any way its economic progress and development. To underline the significance of all this, it was interesting that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called China the “biggest challenge of our age” and, in words echoed later by President Biden, spoke about “de-risking” rather than “de-coupling”.

Despite all this, there appears to be little doubt that President Zelensky stole the limelight at Hiroshima where he made a powerful speech. His shuttle diplomacy this past week may have been a game

changer, and at the end of the G7 summit he emerged with pledges of new military support from Western nations and assurances about their continuing support in the longer term. This has included a new US commitment to train Ukrainian pilots on American-made F-16 fighter jets and to allow allies to supply these advanced war planes to Kyiv, with Zelensky hailing this as an historic decision. The Ukrainian leader also took the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, apparently in order to persuade him to change course. In an interesting sideline, but nonetheless important development, it was reported that during his visit, which was the first by a British premier to Hiroshima, Rishi Sunak signed a major new Anglo-Japanese agreement dubbed the Hiroshima Accord. This will promote greater military co-operation in protecting supply chains should China attempt to blockade or disrupt global trade. It also heralds broad collaboration in research and development, trade, science and cyber warfare and is anticipated to result in a huge increase of Japanese investment in Britain. This indicates the extent to which the UK considers Japan as a crucial ally in the defence of democracy and in the battle against dictatorships. As commentators in Britain are now saying, the horrors of the last world war are in the past – forgotten but, by some, never forgiven – and bilateral relations between the former enemies have never been closer or more important as Japan also sees post-Brexit Britain as an important partner.

FOND FAREWELL TO A BAHAMIAN STALWART

I should like to pay tribute today to a very dear friend, Dr Michael Gerassimos, who passed away recently at the age of 92. It was distressing for those close to him to watch as his health gradually deteriorated over the past year. Since his closest family live in England, a few of his friends here in The Bahamas joined together to assist him, as his health declined, in order to ensure he was well cared for during a difficult period.

At the time of his 91st birthday in April last year, I wrote in this column that, having practised as a doctor for more than 60 years in many Family Islands as well as here in New Providence, this well-known Bahamian was much loved and appreciated by the many people he treated as well as by his wide circle of friends. Gerry, as we all called him, had dedicated himself to caring for others and I mentioned that when my wife and

RARE MEETING OF IMPORTANT EUROPEAN BODY

ANOTHER Summit, referred to in my separate piece in today’s column about the G7 gathering in Japan, was last week’s meeting of the Council of Europe in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. This was only the fourth such summit of this international organization since it was founded after the Second World War in 1949.

Not to be confused with the European Council, which is the European Union’s political and decision-making body, the Council of Europe is an independent organization of 46 states with a combined population of some 675 million. It was founded in the wake of the Second World War to uphold the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Unsurprisingly, Russia’s membership was suspended the day after it invaded Ukraine.

In nurturing the spirit behind these values, the Council of Europe also defends, protects and promotes human rights. The organization is not part of the EU. But, as a champion of democracy, it is judged to play a vital role as an indispensable player in upholding and preserving such enduring values in Europe. The Council has a fine legacy in protecting human rights – for example, in securing abolition of the death penalty and in relation to media freedom. These values are adjudicated by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg where citizens can take their governments to court in cases of human rights violations.

across borders and jurisdictions at the operational level to help Britain “stop the boats coming across the English Channel”. As he said, despite the problems facing Europe “our strength is great, too” and by working together European countries can confront threats to society before they become too big to deal with. Sunak also took the opportunity to remind people that, although Britain had withdrawn from the EU, it continued to work closely with its friends in Europe in support of the vital role of the Council of Europe. “We have left the EU but not Europe”, he said, and remain a proud European nation.

Despite all that, however, the issue that dominated this rare summit of the Council of Europe was Ukraine. In addressing the meeting on the heels of his tour of European capitals, President Zelensky highlighted Kyiv’s claims to have shot down Russian missiles, which had been targeting civilians, by using newly deployed Western defence systems and stressed the need for more such equipment. He also drew attention to the plight of thousands of children who had been taken illegally to Russia.

I were out with him in public – for example in restaurants – individuals often used to come up to greet him enthusiastically. This made us realise what an extraordinary impact he must have had on so many people’s lives over the years. It was heartwarming to see how well he was remembered for his wonderful work and service to others.

As a young child, Gerry was taken to England where he received his education and where he qualified as a doctor. At the age of 27, he returned home to The Bahamas where he spent the rest of his life. He built a fine reputation as a skilled and caring medical practitioner. By all accounts, he was renowned for his calm, warm, pleasant and welcoming demeanour and helpful attitude in dealing with the needs of those requiring medical treatment. He was also known for his willingness to visit

his patients and people in distress in their homes and for handling emergencies without demur at any time of the day or night.

Although he served in many different parts of the country and maintained a house here in New Providence, he loved his other home in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, which had been left to him by his father who had been the Commissioner of the Island in colonial times. There is so much more to recount about this remarkable man who did nothing but good in his long and productive life. But there is no space today to add to the above. My wife and I were fortunate to have been able to establish a personal rapport with him. He became a good friend and we enjoyed spending much time together. We shall miss him more than we can say. May his soul rest in peace.

At the Reykjavik Summit, there was discussion of a wide range of issues like Artificial Intelligence, cyber security and - at the behest, it seems, of Britain - illegal immigration. Prime Minister Sunak made the case, in particular, for reforming the ECHR’s power to block British migrant deportation flights to Rwanda - a proposed system that has been criticised by opponents, charities and religious leaders as inhumane. But he stressed that illegal immigration exploits the most vulnerable who are at the mercy of profiteering criminal gangs. It was in the interests of Europe as a whole to try to stop their activities by co-operating

In response, European leaders pledged to hold Russia to account for its war against Ukraine and unveiled measures to track the loss and damage inflicted by Moscow’s forces - specifically, the establishment of a new Register of Damages as a mechanism to record and document evidence of claims of damage, loss or injury incurred as a result of the invasion.

Many leaders stressed the need to hold Russia accountable for “its horrendous war crimes”. In the words of German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, it was important “to punish the war crimes of the Russian occupiers and to demand accountability for the enormous damage that Russia inflicts on Ukraine day after day”.

Overall, this new intervention by the Council of Europe was seen by many as especially significant because it emphasised that European nations will stand by Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, left, walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday.

Photo: Susan Walsh/AP

In the Amazon, Brazilian ecologists try new approach against deforestation and poverty

BRAZIL Associated Press

In a remote corner of the amazon, Brazilian ecologists are trying to succeed where a lack of governance has proved disastrous. They’re managing a stretch of land in a way that welcomes both local people and scientists to engage in preserving the world’s largest tropical forest.

The goal is ambitious, counter the forces that have destroyed 10 percent of the forest in less than four decades and create something that can be replicated in other parts

of the a mazon.

It began with a fourmonth expedition along the Juruá River in 2016. Researchers visited some 100 communities that at first sight looked similar: rows of wooden homes on stilts along the water. But they were struck by contrasts in the living conditions.

To understand what they saw, it’s important to know that 29 percent of the amazon, an area roughly three times the size of California, is either public land with no special protection, or public land for which no public information exists, according to a study by the

Fernanda de Araujo Moraes, center, president of the local riverine association, holds a child at her home in Lago Serrado community, near Carauari, Brazil, where a Brazilian non-profit has created a new model for land ownership that welcomes both local people and scientists to collaborate in preserving the Amazon.

Photo: Jorge Saenz/AP amazon Institute of People and the Environment.

These areas have been shown to be more vulnerable to deforestation. Land robbers drive traditional communities off the land and then clear it, hoping the government will recognize them as owners, which usually happens.

“It’s very unequal. Inside protected areas, there are many positive things happening, but outside, they seemed to be 40 years behind,” João Vitor Campos-Silva, a tropical socio-ecologist, told The associated Press.

The researchers were aware that the part of the river known as Medio Juruá, near the city of Carauari, has remarkable social organization and people manage its fish and forest products, such as acai, sustainably. The land designation here is “extractive reserves,” public lands where residents are allowed to fish and harvest some crops.

But outside these reserves, in many places, people take orders from self-appointed landowners, Campos-Silva said. Entire communities are denied access to lakes, even to fish to feed their families. People don´t own

the land, and they don’t know who does.

“We started thinking that it might be interesting to design a conservation model based on a basin scale,” where communities could harvest forest produce and fish and protect the forest, instead of moving to the city or resorting to illegal activities, such as unlicensed logging and overfishing.

So they created the nonprofit Juruá Institute and purchased a 8 mile rainforest property along the Juruá River. It includes about 20 lakes, some with good potential for raising prized pirarucu, the world’s largest freshwater scale fish, which can reach up to 440 pounds.

The goal, Campos-Silva said, is to promote highquality science, grounded in working together with the region’s people.

In the vicinity of the Institute’s land there are 12 communities of former rubber-tappers. Brazilians call them “ribeirinhos,” or river people, as distinguished from Indigenous residents.

In the past, the chance to make a living from rubber trees drew their grandparents to the amazon. nowadays the main revenue comes from pirarucu. Controlling that fishery has proved to be sustainable, reviving a species that was in decline and generating income without the need to clear the forest, with all that means for loss of biodiversity.

The amazon rainforest, covering an area twice the size of India, also holds tremendous stores of carbon and is a crucial buffer against climate change.

Driven by land-robbers, deforestation surged to a 15-year high in recent years while Jair Bolsonaro, who left office in January, was president. Destruction in the eastern amazon has been so extensive that it has become a carbon source,

rather than a carbon sink.

To involve the riverine communities in governance, the institute set up a steering committee and launched a series of public meetings called “community of dreams,” where people could prioritise the improvements they want most.

To avoid potential gender and age biases, they worked in three groupswomen, youth, and men, said Campos-Silva.

The president of the river communities’ association, Fernanda de araujo Moraes, said the main purpose is to prevent river people from moving to amazon cities, where unemployment among low-skilled people is rampant and violence is widespread, thanks to drug-trafficking.

In her own community of Lago Serrado, where 12 families live in stilt houses, both the women and men listed 24-hour electricity as their top priority. Currently, it’s only available three hours a day. The youths chose fishing training.

Moraes believes this kind of collaboration is the fastest route to progress. “We want to improve people’s lives and the Institute wants the same thing,” she said, seated on the floor of her house, tending to her infant daughter. The government, she said, is not always on the same page.

“This is something that doesn’t exist here in the amazon, it doesn’t exist anywhere in Brazil. If it works, which it will, it will attract a lot of people’s attention,” said resident José alves de Morais, in an interview by the lake just behind the community.

Morais works as a lake keeper, watching for trespassers who might take fish or cut trees. His family hopes to take part in the institute’s management of pirarucu fishing, which awaits federal approval.

Fire razes school dormitory in Guyana, killinG at least 19 children, many oF them indiGenous

GUYANA Associated Press

an oVERnIgHT fire raced through a dormitory in guyana, killing at least 19 students and injuring several others at a government boarding school serving remote, mostly Indigenous villages, authorities said Monday. Most of the victims were girls.

“This is a horrific incident. It’s tragic. It’s painful,” President Irfaan ali said, adding that his government was mobilizing all possible resources to respond to the disaster and care for survivors.

The fire broke out about 10:50 pm Sunday in the dormitory building of a secondary school in the southwestern border town of Mahdia, a gold and diamond mining community about 200 miles south of the capital, georgetown, the government said in a statement.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.

nearly all the victims and those injured are girls, according to Dr. Vickita nandan at georgetown Hospital. a 5-year-old boy also is being treated.

officials initially said 20

students were killed but later updated the toll to 19, with several others injured. national Security adviser gerald gouveia said the figure was revised after doctors revived a very critical patient that “everyone thought was dead.”

“When firefighters arrived on the scene, the building was already completely engulfed in flames,” guyana’s Fire Service said in a statement. “our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the relatives and friends of those young souls.”

The department said 14 students died at the scene and five others at a local hospital. officials said two children remain in critical condition and four have severe injuries. Six students were flown to georgetown for treatment, while five others remain at a hospital in Mahdia, with another 10 under observation.

“Firefighters did manage to rescue some 20 students by breaking holes in the northeastern wall of the building,” the department said. “our team is still on the ground investigating as we seek to provide clarity regarding how the fire started and all other necessary information.”

The school serves mostly

Indigenous children aged 12 through 18, gouveia said. He said it was too early to speculate what might have caused the fire, adding that heavy thunderstorms in the area posed a challenge to those responding by air.

“It was a battle for us,” he said. “The pilots were very brave, very determined.”

He added that the government and emergency responders “made a gigantic effort” to save as many people as possible.

ali said officials were contacting parents and mobilizing psychologists to help those affected by the fire.

“I cannot imagine the pain right now of the parents,” he said. “This is a major disaster.”

The opposition party, aPnU+aFC, issued a statement saying it will seek a thorough investigation and thanked people in the small community for helping authorities rescue children who were trapped.

“We need to understand how this most horrific and deadly incident occurred and take all necessary measures to prevent such a tragedy from happening again in the future,” opposition lawmaker natasha Singh-Lewis said.

In this photo provided by Guyana’s Department of Public Information, the dormitory of a secondary school is burned in Mahdia, Guyana, yesterday. A nighttime fire raced through the dormitory early Monday, killing at least 19 students and injuring several others, authorities said.

Photo: Guyana’s department of Public Information via aP

Nuggets sweep Lebron and Lakers

4-0 in Western

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists, and the Denver Nuggets advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in team history last night, sweeping the Western Conference finals with a 113-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jamal Murray scored 25 points for the top-seeded Nuggets, who overcame LeBron James’ 31-point first half and a 15-point halftime deficit with a tenacious finish in Game 4 to earn their first conference title in their 47 NBA seasons.

James finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists after the highest-scoring postseason half of his career, but even the top scorer in NBA history couldn’t keep the deep, dynamic Nuggets from their sixth consecutive victory overall.

James missed two tying shots in the final seconds, with Aaron Gordon appearing to block his shot at the buzzer.

Jokic earned his eighth triple-double of the playoffs by the third quarter, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s 1967 NBA record for triple-doubles in a single postseason. The Serbian big man also led the Nuggets’ tenacious defensive effort despite picking up his fifth foul midway through the fourth quarter — and when Denver needed a big basket, Jokic delivered that as well.

The Lakers erased a seven-point deficit and tied it with five minutes to play, but Jokic hit a 25-foot fallaway 3-pointer. After Anthony Davis hit two free throws to tie it with 1:11 left, Jokic muscled his way past Davis for the tiebreaking layup.

James then badly missed a strange fallaway jumper with 26 seconds left. After

Conference

Finals

Jokic leads Denver past Los Angeles 113-111 into their first NBA Finals

round to give the Lakers one last chance, James’ drive at the buzzer was thwarted by Murray and Gordon, who scored 22 points.

The Nuggets will cap their superb season under coach Michael Malone by playing for their first NBA championship. Denver both eliminated the Lakers for the first time in eight playoff meetings and swept a playoff series for the first time, likely earning several days off before the finals.

Unless the Boston Celtics make basketball history by rallying from their 3-0 deficit in the East finals, Denver will host the eighthseeded Miami Heat to open the NBA Finals, beginning June 1.

James scored 21 points in the first quarter and worked desperately to keep the Lakers competitive in the final game of his 20th NBA season. But the Lakers couldn’t even force a Game 5, with an apparently exhausted Davis scoring 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and adding 14 rebounds.

Austin Reaves scored 17 points for the Lakers, who were swept in a playoff series for the 11th time in team history, including nine best-of-seven series.

The loss ended seventh-seeded Los Angeles’ incredible turnaround after starting the season 2-10 under new coach Darvin Ham. After bolstering their roster at the trade deadline and surging into the postseason with two months of strong play, the Lakers then knocked off second-seeded Memphis and eliminated defending champion Golden State to stir their worldwide fans’ hopes for

one of the most unlikely championship runs in NBA history.

Facing elimination for the first time in their remarkable playoff run, James and the Lakers responded with

their best half of the series, taking a 73-58 halftime lead on James’ broad shoulders. He had 21 points in the first quarter, tying his playoff career high for a quarter in his record 282nd postseason

game. He then matched his career high for points in any first half. But the Nuggets responded with a relentless third quarter, taking their first lead less than eight minutes after halftime.

Denver pushed its lead to seven before the Lakers rallied, with Davis’ putback dunk tying it with 5:02 to play.

TIP-INS Nuggets: Kentavious

Caldwell-Pope converted a four-point play in the first quarter. He finished with 13 points. ... The Nuggets have yet to trail in any series, and they’re 8-0 at home in the playoffs – 10-0 since March. Denver is 12-3 overall in the postseason.

Lakers: James got an accidental 3-pointer in the first half when his lob pass to Rui Hachimura went in the basket. ... Ham shook

up his starting lineup for the Lakers’ last chance, replacing struggling D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt with Dennis Schröder and Hachimura. The moves immediately worked, with the two new starters combining for 19 points in the first half. ... James’ 21 points were the most by a Lakers player in a playoff first quarter since at least 1997. ... Veteran Tristan Thompson had four points in 10 minutes during the most significant playing time of his Lakers career, which began in the final weekend of the regular season. … Kyrie Irving watched the game from courtside. The star free-agent guard has been linked to a reunion with James on the Lakers next season. Other fans at courtside included Vin Diesel, Adam Sandler and Aaron Donald.

Celtics look to pull off the impossible, as Heat stand on brink of making NBA Finals

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Blown out in Game 3, facing elimination in Game 4, tasked with engineering the sort of comeback that no team in their league has ever pulled off before.

This may sound familiar to Boston fans.

Yes, what the Red Sox did to the New York Yankees in 2004 was discussed around the Boston Celtics yesterday. A day after a debacle in Miami to fall into a 3-0 deficit in these Eastern Conference finals — “embarrassing,” Boston forward Jaylen Brown said — the Celtics will try to extend the series and at least delay a Heat celebration in Game 4 tonight.

“We still believe we’re the better team,” Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon said yesterday. “We have not played like it in any of the three games. But, you know, there is always a first.”

No NBA team has rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a series; it’s happened only once in Major League Baseball, when the Red Sox shook off a 19-8 drubbing in Game 3 to win four straight and top the Yankees in that 2004 AL championship series. Of course, there had never been a No. 8 seed that won an NBA playoff game by 26 points, either — until Miami rolled its way to a 128-102 cakewalk in Game 3.

It led to All-Star Game MVP Jayson Tatum saying Boston needs to show some pride, veteran big man Al Horford calling upon the Celtics to stay together and

first-year coach Joe Maz zulla taking the blame as speculation about his future only gets louder and louder.

“We didn’t play well at all,” Tatum said. “Obvi ously, by the score, it showed.”

Meanwhile, a Heat win tonight would send Miami to the NBA Finals for the seventh time since 2006 — and give the team more than a week to rest before the title series opens on June 1.

“We can expect just a great competitive game,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

“Boston has great pride. They’ll bring it. And you want to embrace it. You don’t want to get ahead of yourself and think about anything else other than embracing the competition.

This is what you want. You want to be in the Eastern Conference finals in a really competitive game with a chance to finish and close out.”

Thing is, that was also the thinking going into Game 3.

After dropping the first two games at home, conventional wisdom would suggest that Boston would have arrived Sunday night loaded up for their best effort.

It wasn’t even close. Boston trailed by as many as 33 in Game 3 — the

second-biggest deficit the Celtics faced this season.

They trailed Oklahoma City by 37 on January 3, a game where the Thunder scored 88 points in the middle two quarters on the

The Celtics responded from that defeat by winning

“Faith is the most important thing in the world,”

The Heat would say the same. They’re trying to join the 1999 New York Knicks as the only No. 8 seeds to reach the NBA Finals, and they’re doing so after nearly missing the playoffs altogether. They know the chance they have tonight. They watched Boston celebrate in front of Heat fans last year in Game 7 of the East finals. They have an opportunity to make the Celtics watch them celebrate winning the East this time around.

“We have a great opportunity ahead of us,” Heat centre Bam Adebayo said.

3-0, 0-3

The Heat are up 3-0 in a series for the 10th time, including one sweep of a best-of-five in 2000.

In the eight previous best-of-seven instances where Miami has led 3-0, the Heat have gone 5-3 in Game 4 and never been extended past Game 5.

Boston is down 0-3 in a series for the eighth time, including one best-of-five sweep defeat. The Celtics forced one of those best-of-seven deficits to six games, one to five games and got swept on the other four occasions.

LOVE UPDATE

Heat forward Kevin Love has a strained muscle in his lower left leg and is probable for Game 4. He got hurt in the first quarter of Game 3.

“Felt like a muscle cramp,” Love said, adding that if Miami’s lead hadn’t been so sizable that he would have lobbied to return to Sunday’s game.

JIMMY BUTLER

WELL RESTED

Jimmy Butler was needed for only 31 minutes in Game 3, after he averaged almost 42 minutes in his last nine playoff appearances for Miami.

BOSTON Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat on Sunday in Miami.

(AP Photo/ Wilfredo Lee)

DENVER Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic (15) collides with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Final series last night in Los Angeles.

DENVER Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) is held back by a referee after getting into a shoving match with LeBron James, centre, in the first half. (AP Photos/Ashley Landis)

Brooks Koepka delivers another major performance to win PGA

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Confidence was never an issue for Brooks Koepka until the injuries piled up, the doubts crept in and he began to wonder if he still belonged among golf’s elite.

Koepka answered every question at the PGA Championship with a performance that ranks among his best. His fifth major title was the sweetest of them all. No doubt about that, either.

“It feels damned good. Yeah, this one is definitely special,” Koepka said. “I think this one is probably the most meaningful of them all with everything that’s gone on, all the crazy stuff over the last few years.”

One knee injury kept him from the Masters, another from the Presidents Cup in Australia.

Two years ago, he tried to pop his knee back into place and shattered his knee cap. And then last summer, uncertain about his future, he decided to leave the PGA Tour for the guaranteed Saudi riches of LIV Golf, bringing a mixture of criticism and skepticism.

And there he was Sunday at Oak Hill, looking good as new, dominant as ever, against the best collection of golfers in the world on a punishing golf course.

Koepka ran off three quick birdies early, never lost the lead amid a gritty fight from Viktor Hovland, and closed with a 3-under 67 for a two-shot victory.

He held up his index finger as he posed next to the Wanamaker Trophy, but he may as well have held up all five.

With three PGAs and two U.S. Opens, he became the 20th player with five or more majors. He won his third Wanamaker Trophy — only Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen with five and Tiger Woods with four have won the PGA Championship more times — and captured his first major in what felt like four years.

And to think that over the last few years, Koepka was so wounded he felt he couldn’t compete, a decision that might have led to him leaving the PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV Golf in a shocking move last June after the U.S. Open.

In the Netflix series “Full Swing” that began aired earlier this year, he was quoted as saying his confidence had given way

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA SAYS SHE’S DOING ‘OK’ AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

ROME (AP) — Martina Navratilova is doing “OK” after being diagnosed with throat cancer and breast cancer. “I’ve gone through a very difficult year but now I’m OK,” the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame said at the Italian Open on Sunday after receiving the “Racchetta d’Oro” (Golden Racket) award for her contributions to the sport.

The 66-year-old Navratilova said in January that her prognosis was good and that she was going to start treatment that month. She said then that she noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck while attending the season-ending WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, in November, and a biopsy showed early stage throat cancer.

to doubt. “I’m going to be honest with you, I can’t compete with these guys week in and week out.”

Give him good health and a clear head, and good luck taking down Koepka in the majors. He now has won five of his last 22 majors, a rate exceeded only by Woods, Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo and Ben Hogan in the last 75 years.

He is the first player from LIV Golf to win a major, and it hits back at the notion that 54-hole events and guaranteed money would take the edge off the rival league’s best players.

“I definitely think it helps LIV, but I’m more interested in my own self right now, to be honest with you,” Koepka said.

“Yeah, it’s a huge thing for LIV, but at the same time I’m out here competing as an individual at the PGA Championship. I’m just happy to take this home for the third time.”

Koepka is in pretty heady company just about everywhere he looks. His five majors are as many as Seve Ballesteros and Byron Nelson. Among active players, only Woods (15) and Phil Mickelson (6) have more.

“I’m not even sure I dream of it as a kid, that I’d win that many,” he said.

Koepka left little doubt about his place in the game with his two-shot win

ALCARAZ JUMPS DJOKOVIC, RETURNS TO NO. 1 IN ATP RANKINGS, SWIATEK LEADS WTA

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

CARLOS Alcaraz replaced Novak Djokovic at No. 1 in the ATP rankings yesterday, earning the top seeding at the French Open, and Daniil Medvedev’s Italian Open title moved him up to No. 2 ahead of the year’s second Grand Slam tournament.

Djokovic’s loss in the fourth round as the defending champion in Rome dropped him to No. 3. That means he and Alcaraz could end up in the same half of the Roland Garros bracket and be set up for a potential semifinal showdown, depending on what happens in Thursday’s draw in Paris.

The French Open, which begins on Sunday, will mark the first chance to be seeded No. 1 at a major tournament for Alcaraz, a Spaniard who turned 20 this month. He is 30-3 with four titles in 2023.

Alcaraz ascended to the ATP’s top spot for the first time by winning the US Open last September and, at 19, became the youngest man to finish a year there. But a leg injury kept him out of the Australian Open in January, when Djokovic

won the title for his 22nd at a Slam event, tying Rafael Nadal for the men’s record.

Djokovic has spent more weeks at No. 1 than anyone — man or woman — in the history of the sport’s computerized rankings.

Iga Swiatek, the defending champion in Paris, remained at No. 1 in the WTA rankings, which she has led for more than a year, followed by No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion.

Swiatek stopped playing in the third set of her quarterfinal in Rome against reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina because of a hurt right thigh. Swiatek said afterward the problem “shouldn’t be anything serious.”

Rybakina’s trophy at the Italian Open allowed her to jump two places to a career-best No. 4 yesterday. She is not higher than that because her title at the All England Club did not come with the benefit of any rankings boost after both the WTA and ATP withheld all points that would have been earned there last year to protest a ban on Russian and Belarusian players over the invasion of Ukraine.

over hard-luck Hovland (68) and Scottie Scheffler, who closed with a 65 and returned to No. 1 in the world.

“To look back to where we were two years ago, I’m so happy right now,” Koepka said. “This is just the coolest thing.”

The victory moves Koepka to No. 13 in the world and No. 2 in the Ryder Cup standings. The top six automatically qualify, and it would be hard to fathom leaving Koepka off the American team. He can only early points in the majors, and two more are still to come.

Koepka had to share the loudest cheers with California club pro Michael Block, who put on an amazing show over four days. Block made a hole-in-one on the 15th hole while playing with Rory McIlroy, and then made two tough par putts at the end for a fourth straight 70.

He tied for 15th, giving him a return date to the PGA Championship next year at Valhalla. It was the best finish by a club pro since Lonnie Nielsen tied for 11 in 1986 at Inverness.

“The most surreal moment I’ve ever had in my life,” Block said. “I’m living a dream and making sure I’m enjoying the moment. Not getting any better than this — no way in hell.”

Block charges $125 a lesson at Arroyo Trabuco

in Mission Viejo, California. He earned just short of $290,000 at Oak Hill.

A month ago at the Masters, Koepka lost a two-shot lead in the final round by playing tentatively and was overrun by Jon Rahm. He vowed he would not do that again, and Koepka delivered in a major way, just like he used to.

Hovland made it easy for him at the end. Koepka was one shot ahead on the 16th hole when Hovland hit his 9-iron from a bunker that plugged into the lip in front of him — the same shot that stopped Corey Conners on Saturday — and made double bogey.

Koepka gouged out a shot from the rough to 5 feet for birdie and suddenly was leading by four shots when Hovland made double bogey.

Scheffler started four shots behind and never got closer than two. His 65 matched the best score of the tournament, posted by four other players on a day that was set up for scoring.

“I gave the guys on top of the leaderboard something to think about, and I kind of made a little bit much a move, but Brooks just played some fantastic golf this week,” Scheffler said. “He played too good this weekend for me to catch up to him.”

Koepka was determined to restore his reputation as a major force, and he

wasted no time. He stuffed a wedge to 4 feet on the second and third holes, and rolled in an 8-foot birdie down the hill on the par-5 fourth.

But he drove into the water on the sixth hole and did well to make bogey, and another bogey from the rough on the seventh trimmed his lead to Hovland to one shot.

It was tight the rest of the way until the 16th. Hovland hit 9-iron from the bunker and could hear the awful thud of it rocketing into the turf at the edge of the sand. He knew immediately what happened, covered his mouth with a closed fist. After a drop into nasty rough, it took two more to get to the green and led to double bogey.

“Brooks is a great player, and now he has five majors. I mean, that’s a hell of a record right there. It’s not easy going toe-to-toe with a guy like that,” Hovland said. “He is not going to give you anything, and I didn’t really feel like I gave him anything either until 16.”

Bryson DeChambeau, who began the PGA with a 66, made too many mistakes in his round of 70. He stuck around to clasp hands with Koepka, two players from LIV Golf who used to get under each other’s skin.

LIV had three players in the top 10 for the second straight major.

While Navratilova was undergoing tests on her throat, she said, the unrelated, early stage breast cancer was discovered.

Navratilova returned to her work as a TV analyst at Tennis Channel in March, when in an interview with TalkTV’s Piers Morgan, she said she was told by doctors that, “as far as they know, I’m cancer-free,” and she should be “good to go” after some additional radiation treatment.

Navratilova made her acceptance speech in Italian to the Campo Centrale crowd.

“Tennis gave me a surprising life for which I am very grateful,” she said. “I always tried to give something back when I played, and also in retirement.”

Navratilova was a fourtime runner-up in singles at the Foro Italico and a threetime champion in doubles — with her last Rome title coming in 2003 with partner Svetlana Kuznetsova at the age of 46.

She won 59 Grand Slam titles overall, including 31 in women’s doubles and 10 in mixed doubles. The last was a mixed doubles championship with Bob Bryan at the 2006 U.S. Open, a month shy of her 50th birthday.

Navratilova originally retired in 1994, after a record 167 singles titles and 331 weeks at No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She returned to the tour to play doubles in 2000 and occasionally competed in singles, too.

MEDVEDEV MAKES HIS MARK ON CLAY BY BEATING RUNE FOR ITALIAN OPEN TITLE

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer

ROME (AP) — Daniil Medvedev hadn’t won a single match in his three previous appearances at the Italian Open. Now he’s won the tournament.

The Russian beat rising 20-year-old Danish player Holger Rune 7-5, 7-5 on Sunday for the first claycourt trophy of a career that includes the 2021 U.S. Open title and a period at No. 1 in the rankings.

Medvedev was previously known almost exclusively for his prowess on hard courts, with 18 of his previous 19 titles coming on that surface — the other was on grass in Mallorca. But he now must be considered a contender at the French Open — the clay-court Grand Slam — which starts next Sunday.

There’s room for a new champion at Roland Garros after 14-time winner Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he won’t be competing in the tournament because of a lingering hip injury that has sidelined him since January. “Honestly, I didn’t believe much I can win a

Masters 1000 on clay in my career because usually I hated it. I hated playing on it. I don’t feel good on it, like nothing was working,” Medvedev said.

“(But) before this tournament already in Madrid and Monte Carlo, I was kind of feeling not too bad. I didn’t have any big tantrums,” Medvedev added.

“I came here and I felt amazing on practice. ...

I was like, ‘I don’t know what’s happening, but I feel amazing. Let’s see how it goes.’ But then you need to play the toughest opponents in the world to try to make it.

“And I’m really happy that I managed to do it and prove myself and everybody that I’m capable of doing it.”

Medvedev also felt great after beating Stefanos

Tsitsipas in straight sets in the semifinals, after which he celebrated with a little dance.

Rune, who eliminated six-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, should also leave the Foro Italico confident for Paris.

He was also the runnerup to Andrey Rublev at the Monte Carlo Masters last month and then won a clay title in Munich.

“Maybe put too many expectations on myself, even though I told myself not to,” Rune said.

“I served probably worse today than I did the recent matches.

“That’s also a big factor because Medvedev, he likes to grind. If he gets a chance to grind, it’s going to be long rallies, as you saw some of the points were.”

The final started nearly two hours late due to a rain delay — a day after the Medvedev-Tsitsipas match was interrupted by rain suspensions for a total of nearly 4 ½ hours.

Earlier Sunday, organisers announced that they plan to install a retractable roof over Campo Centrale by 2026.

BROOKS Koepka celebrates with the Wanamaker trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament at Oak Hill Country Club on Sunday.

(AP Photo/ Eric Gay)

DANIIL MEDVEDEV, of Russia, lifts the trophy after defeating Denmark’s Holger Rune during the men’s final tennis match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Flag football teams make final push for the playoffs

FLAG

FROM PAGE 16

on minimising the extra ingame chatter and being able to communicate on and off the field more efficiently.

He emphasized that his message to his team is quite simple: do your job.

Game three saw the highlyanticipated undefeated Paradise Games Wildcats take

on the second-seeded Sands Passion Fruit Hawks.

The Wildcats came into the game not only with an unblemished record but before yesterday’s game, no other team had scored on them.

However, the Hawks were able to score three points against the women’s division leaders and also defending champions.

The Wildcats ultimately won the matchup 18-3, improving

their record to 9-0 after nine weeks of flag football. Dwight Marshall, head coach of the Wildcats, talked about the big win against the secondseeded Sands Passion Fruit Hawks.

He gave the Hawks credit for being the second-ranked team in the league and also said the team halted an in-season goal of theirs as they were the first to score on them for the entire season.

Nonetheless, Marshall added that the team’s ultimate goal is to win another championship and take it one game at a time.

With only one more regular season game remaining, the coach said that his team tries to win every play and if they focus on the small things, they build up. He added that his team takes it one down at a time.

In the day’s final games, the 4-4 Caro Contractors Lady Avengers defeated the 1-7

Spectrum Assassins in dominant fashion.

The Lady Avengers routed the team 14-0. The undefeated Predators took down the Lions 13-0 to add another win to their unblemished record for the season.

With most teams only having one game remaining until playoff action gets underway, teams will look to come out strong for week 10 next week Sunday at the Winton Rugby Field.

MANCHESTER CITY CELEBRATES PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE AT HOME WITH FANS, NOW TARGETS TREBLE

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — With an explosion of blue-and-white ticker tape, Manchester City’s Premier League title celebrations erupted.

That’s three league titles in a row, five out of six and who knows how many more for a team that keeps on reaching new heights?

“They’ve set a benchmark that has pulled them apart,” Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said after his team was beaten 1-0 by the newly crowned champions on Sunday. “I think they’re outstanding ... that’s why they are on for a possible treble.”

The first leg of that threepronged trophy pursuit is complete, with the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League still to come.

The concern for Manchester United and Inter Milan in those respective finals is that this City team only appears to be getting stronger as the season nears a spectacular climax for Pep Guardiola.

“To be considered one of the greatest teams we have to win Europe, win the Champions League,” the City manager said.

Victory against Chelsea extended City’s unbeaten run to 24 games in all competitions.

And even with Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and a host of star players named on the bench against Chelsea, a 12th straight win in the league was secured.

It was a run that proved too much for an Arsenal team that had led the way for much of the season, but buckled on the final stretch. Nobody at City appears to

be tiring of that winning feeling.

Certainly not Guardiola, who has now won 11 league titles in 14 seasons of management, spanning Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.

Not the players either, who answered their coach’s challenge earlier in the season by proving they had not lost their edge and sang “We Are The Champions” in the locker room.

And not the supporters, who flooded the field after the final whistle at Etihad Stadium, letting off canisters of blue smoke and celebrating joyously as a period of unprecedented success for their beloved team goes on.

While this latest title — a seventh under the ownership of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family — was duly relished, the overriding feeling within the stadium was about what comes next.

One banner, carried onto the field by fans, read: “The treble is on” and Kyle Walker spoke of the team’s determination to “create history.”

In that sense, it would feel like an underwhelming end to the campaign if City failed to add to the league title. That is a natural consequence of Guardiola’s dominance and why the pressure on him grows to finally conquer Europe with this team.

For City’s English rivals, however, the title remains a dream and Arsenal — like Liverpool in recent years — has learned the hard way just how painful it can be to go head-to-head with Guardiola.

In the end, Mikel Arteta’s side fell away all too easily, winning just two of its last

eight games. But for much of the season, it felt like Arsenal would hold on for a first title in 19 years.

It might not get a better chance to beat City than this year when Guardiola’s players struggled for consistency before going on a relentless march from February.

Even then, Arsenal led the table by eight points as recently as April 7, but still couldn’t hold off City’s charge.

“Arsenal brought us to our limits, otherwise (we) would not win these 12 games in a row,” Guardiola said. “We didn’t give up and they felt that we were there.”

It is possible to imagine City getting stronger next season, with 52-goal Haaland more settled in the team and the league. New

signings are also likely to come in during the off-season and Guardiola’s new three-man defensive system may also be more refined after changing his formation during this campaign. That is for the future. On Sunday it was all about City’s latest party, but Guardiola hopes the end of season celebrations have only just begun.

LEEDS NEARS RELEGATION

The Sam Allardyce experiment looks destined to fail after Leeds’ 3-1 loss at West Ham on Sunday pushed it to the brink of relegation.

Leeds needs to win against Tottenham on the last day of the season and hope that other results go its way to avoid the drop. Rodrigo opened the scoring at London Stadium, but

MANCHESTER City players and staff including Pep Guardiola celebrate with the Premier League trophy after their English Premier League title win at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

goals from Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini consigned Leeds to a latest defeat.

Allardyce was tasked with the job of ensuring survival at the start of May, but has only picked up one point in his three games in charge.

“It was always going to be a difficult task,” the 68-year-old former England coach said. “Lots of people said I’m mad for taking it. I’m not mad. I just love football and Leeds United was too big a job to turn down for me, however short it was.”

BRIGHTON INTO EUROPE

Roberto de Zerbi might be one of the most indemand coaches around this summer — but he says he has his sights set

on leading Brighton into Europe next season.

“The club, the players, me, my staff, and the fans, they have to organise their passports to travel in Europe next year because we have to grow together,” he said after a 3-1 win against relegated Southampton on Sunday.

Few could have predicted such a successful season for Brighton after manager Graham Potter left for Chelsea in September. But De Zerbi has taken the club to new levels after leading it to Europe for the first time in its history. That was secured against Southampton, with Evan Ferguson scoring twice in the first half to set up the win. Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one back after the break, but Pascal Gross’ goal sealed a 3-1 victory.

PLAY ACTION: The Oasis Team Red Dot takes on the Dolphin Express Hornets at Winton Rugby Field over the weekend.

Photos by Tenajh Sweeting

Roadmasters’ Midnight Madness fun run/walk takes centre stage

LET’S GET READY TO RUN: The Bahamas’ premier long-distance running club, Bahamas Roadmasters (BRRC), founded in 1990, will continue its support of local charities when it stages its annual Midnight Madness 5K & 10K Fun Run/Walk on June 1, 2023. The club holds two major signature road races annually, with part proceeds going to local charities. Bahamas Half Marathon Race Series is held in November and the Midnight Madness 10K Fun Run & Walk on Labour Day. Part proceeds of this year’s event will benefit The Bahamas Kidney Association. Start time is 12:01am on the morning of the Labour Day public holiday. Race routes begin at Junkanoo Beach, Arawak Cay and goes west to Go-Slow Bend for the 5K and to Baha Mar Boulevard for the 10K.

CARMELO ANTHONY RETIRES FROM NBA, AFTER 19-YEAR CAREER, NCAA TITLE, THREE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS

FROM PAGE 16

Anthony played in 31 games in four appearances at the Olympics, the most of any US men’s player ever. Anthony’s 37 points against Nigeria in the 2012 games is a USA Basketball men’s record at an Olympics, as are his 10 3-pointers from that game and his 13-for13 effort from the foul line against Argentina in 2008.

“Carmelo Anthony is one of the NBA’s all-time great players and ambassadors,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “We congratulate him on a remarkable 19-year career and look forward to seeing him in the Hall of Fame.”

Anthony will remain part of international basketball for at least a few more months; Anthony is one of the ambassadors to the Basketball World Cup, FIBA’s biggest event, which will be held this summer in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

“I remember the days when I had nothing, just a ball on the court and a dream of something more,” Anthony said. “But basketball was my outlet. My purpose was strong, my communities, the cities I

represented with pride and the fans that supported me along the way. I am forever grateful for those people and places because they made me Carmelo Anthony.”

Anthony was drafted No. 3 overall by Denver in 2003, part of the star-studded class that included James at No. 1, Hall of Famer Chris Bosh at No. 4, and soon-tobe Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade — he gets officially enshrined this summer — at No. 5.

Anthony will join them at the Hall of Fame before long — the Hall of Fame said he will be eligible for the 2026 class. He averaged 22.5 points in his 19 seasons, spending the bulk of those years with Denver and the New York Knicks.

Anthony has long raved about his time with the Knicks, and what it was like playing at Madison Square Garden, especially as a kid who was born in Brooklyn.

He was the NBA’s leading scorer with 28.7 points per game in 2012-13, when the Knicks won 54 games and the Atlantic Division title.

“The Garden,” Anthony said in 2014. “They call it The Mecca for a reason.”

DENVER Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony looks up from the floor after getting called for a foul in the fourth quarter of game 3 of the NBA Western Conference playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs in Denver on April 28, 2007. Anthony, the star forward who led Syracuse to an NCAA championship in his lone college season and went on to spend 19 years in the NBA, announced his retirement yesterday.

Anthony spent his first 7 1/2 NBA seasons in Denver, becoming the third-leading scorer in franchise history. His Nuggets teams had seven consecutive winning seasons and earned seven playoff berths, but they advanced in the postseason just once, ending in that sixgame conference finals loss to the Lakers in 2009.

“He wore that Nuggets jersey with pride and did a lot of great things while in a Denver Nuggets uniform, as well as all the other uniforms he wore in an illustrious career,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said

yesterday before Denver faced the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, hoping to clinch the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance. “When you think of Carmelo, you think of one of the more elite scorers in NBA history, a guy that from the D.C. metro area goes to Syracuse and wins a championship and comes into the NBA and was just a bucket-getter from Day One.”

Anthony also played for Portland, Oklahoma City, Houston and ended his career with the Lakers last season. He went unsigned

this year, and now his retirement is official. He said in his retirement address that he’s looking forward to watching the development of his son Kiyan, a highly rated high school shooting guard.

“People ask what I believe my legacy is,” Anthony said. “It’s not my feats on the court that come to mind, all the awards or praise. Because my story has always been more than basketball. My legacy, my son ... I will forever continue through you. The time has come for you to carry this torch.”

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Cash prizes as trio shines in essay contest

By FAY SIMMONS jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THREE students took home a cash prize for their participation in an essay competition on sustainability, renewable energy and climate change

Yesterday, the winners of the Inti Environmental essay competition were announced and rewarded with cash and other prizes.

The competition was sponsored by solar company Inti Corporation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and focused on the theme “renewable and sustainable energy can significantly impact climate change in The Bahamas”.

Cierra Rahming, University of the Bahamas was the tertiary level winner and received $1000.

Makayla Kerr, Kingsway Academy won the secondary division and received $750.

Sarah Roker, Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High School, Grand Bahama won the junior division and received $500.

Makayla Kerr was also named the Inti Environmental youth ambassador and will participate in environmental conferences over the next year.

She was selected by a panel of three judges after completing a three-question interview.

Owen Bethel, the president of Inti Corporation, presented the awards and stated that the environmental youth ambassador will be the face of the company is upcoming public service announcements and will host an environmental forum.

He explained: “The recipient of the environmental Youth Ambassador award will be given the opportunity to attend and participate in several established environmental conferences to be held over the next year, both here in The

Bahamas and abroad. Sub ject of course to the selected individuals eligibility and aca demic schedule. She will be the voice and or face of the company in several proposed public service announcements and she will host an envi ronmental forum for local youth.”

The University of The Bahamas was the educational institution that had the highest number of entrants and as a result won the Environmental Leadership Award.

Zane Lightbourne, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Technical Vocational Training, lauded the essay competition as an oppor tunity for young persons to become ambassadors for the country’s sustainability.

He said: “I think that through competition and through essay it’s also a research opportunity for our young people and [an opportunity] for them to become ambassadors for us as a country, for our people and our sustainability.”

The competi tion was judged by a panel of teachers in partnership with the Ministry of Education. The judges scored the essays based on its content and innovation to addressing climate change and its effects on countries like the Bahamas.

In addition to the cash prize, winners received prizes donated by Haus of Assembly a local home goods and accessories store.

CHANCE TO WIN $100 BY DRAWING YOUR FAVOURITE PET

YOUNG artists have the chance to win up to $100 by drawing their favourite pet.

The Pet Institute is holding an art competition for fourth to sixth grades students to create drawings that will be used in an upcoming colouring book.

The competition is open to students from the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos.

Nat Davies, PFI vice president of operations and programmes, says letting kids design the colouring books they will get as rewards for learning about how to feed pets healthy foods adds to understanding pet wellness.

“We created the first set of coloring books filled with images of pets and distributed them in elementary or primary school classes whenever a pet wellness

representative did a presentation,” said Davies. “They were a huge hit, and we believe they reinforced what youngsters learned about the importance of not feeding pets table scraps, cooked bones or other potentially harmful foods like onions, chocolate and grapes that can cause severe health issues, even death.”

The contest began May 2 and runs through May 31. Each student is allowed only one entry. All entries must be in the form of an outline drawing only. There will be 18 winners, 15 for interior pages, and one each for inside front cover, back cover and the top prize, front cover. Prizes range from $25 to $100.

• Edinburgh Napier University will be holding an information session for prospective students next month.

On June 1, representatives from Edinburgh Napier University will be at the Magaritaville Hotel, Nassau, to promote their bachelors and masters programmes.

Edinburgh Napier University offers a top-up programme where holders of an associated degree or equivalent experience can obtain a bachelors degree.

Top up programmes include BA business management, with specialisations in hospitality, finance, marketing or human resource management; BSC computing, BA Business and Enterprise and BSC nursing.

Edinburgh Napier University’s online courses are recognised by the National Accreditation and Equivalency council of the Bahamas (NAECOB)

For more information, visit seidegrees. com.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

ARIELLE McPhee is a tenth grade student at Windsor School, Albany.

She was awarded the PIMS-Windsor Marine Biology Academy Scholarship, an initiative created by Windsor School, the Perry Institute for Marine Science, and the Moore Bahamas Foundation to provide support and mentorship to Bahamian students with a demonstrated interest and passion for marine biology and environmental stewardship.

Arielle is a competitive swimmer and since joining Albany Marine Biology Academy has become an avid SCUBA diver and freediver. Her love for the ocean developed during the pandemic when she discovered photography.

Her favorite subject is science because she is an extremely curious individual with a desire to explore, investigate, and understand the world. She is particularly interested in how organisms function and interact with each other and their environment.

She is a musician that plays the violin and piano and enjoys crafting, archery, shopping and traveling.

Arielle would like to further her knowledge, skills and experience in marine conservation and education so that one day she can use her talents to change the world

• Do you know a student you would like to see featured in Student Spotlight? Send a picture and brief details to jsimmons@tribunemedia.net.

PICTURED from top, Makayla Kerr, Cierra Rahming and Sarah Roker Jr.

Photos: Austin Fernander

Perry Newton: ‘So far it’s been a very good year’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Despite the fact there has been some turmoil in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association over the past few years, Perry Newton is still determined to manoeuvre through the storm to carry out his mandate as president.

“So far it’s been a very good year,” said Newton in a candidate interview as he watched the BLTA’s final trials for the final two spots for the men’s Davis Cup and ladies’ Billie Jean King Cup teams.

“We started off with a junior tournament, which catered to the under-14 and under-16 division. We’ve only had two tournaments so far and we’ve seen some tremendous growth in the programme here at the National Tennis Centre.”

At the trials over the weekend, Donte Armbrister and Marvin Rolle earned the rights to travel with Kevin Major Jr and Denali Nottage to Paraguay to play in the Davis Cup next month, while Simone Pratt and Saphirra Ferguson will represent The Bahamas in the Billie Jean King Cup with Elana Mackey and Sydney Clarke.

Up next for the BLTA is the junior nationals, scheduled for June 10-11 for the under-8 and U-10 division and June 16-18 for the U-12 and U-18. Following that will be the International Tennis Federation’s Junkanoo

Bowl from June 24 to July 2 with a number of players from around the world expected to participate. “The majority of our funding is accumulated during the first part of the year. We’ve already had four teams travel to compete and we are preparing to send our Davis Cup team off next month and the Billie Jean King Cup in July,” Newton said. “So we have a lot of funding to catch up too, but we are confident that we will be able to achieve our goals, despite the fact that funding has been an issue for us in recent months.”

Newton admitted that some of the issues off the court they

are experiencing can be attributed to the ongoing feud over the election process that should have taken place two years ago. However, a court injunction has forced the BLTA to halt their annual general meeting and election of officers as they wait for the outcome of the case in the magistrate’s court.

In the meantime, Newton said he’s going to continue his quest to go for a second term in office.

“We are just waiting on the ruling from the courts in that particular matter,” said Newton, who is expected to be challenged by Ken Kerr whenever the elections are held.

Elana Mackey pleased with her performance

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ELANA Mackey said she has been really pleased with her progress during her past season at Mars Hill University in North Carolina.

While she held court in tennis, Mackey also showed her versatility in running on the Lions’ track and field team.

“I think I had a really good season,” said Mackey, who is now back home for the season. “Me and my doubles partner got nationally ranked and in singles, I had a 14-5 (win-loss) record and I made the third team All-Conference team.”

Mackey was referring to the South Atlantic Conference of which they compete in.

“Each year in college, I just see myself getting better and better,” said Mackey, a graduate of Temple Christian who transferred from the University of the Bahamas to Mars Hill in 2021.

During her season, Mackey also put on her sprints and competed in the 400 metres where she ran a personal best of one minute, something that she prides herself on as she finished 20th, but she admitted that she’s not looking to run anymore this year while she’s at home.

With her season over and done with, Mackey said she’s now concentrating on her tennis game and getting better so she can be in

CARMELO ANTHONY RETIRES

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

CARMELO Anthony, the star forward who led Syracuse to an NCAA championship in his lone college season and went on to spend 19 years in the NBA, announced his retirement yesterday.

Anthony, who was not in the NBA this season, retires as the No. 9 scorer in league history.

“It’s a tough situation. It’s been a bit long. It’s a tiring situation, but we have to stay focused.

“With that, although we’ve had some financial difficulties, we were able to put on a coaches’ developmental course last year and this year, we’re going to put on an official course. This would be the second one that we’ve had since I’ve been the president.”

In the meantime, Newton said they have been working with some of the Family Island associations in their quest to get them up to par and to be ready for the staging of the sixth Bahamas Games in July.

“The problem on many of the islands is that there are no public courts and that has hindered their progress,” Newton said. “At the same time, the court matter has made it even more difficult to accomplish all that we had hoped to achieve.

“We still have a team that is focused on meeting our obligations locally and internationally and so kudos to the team that has been working diligently. It’s been rough on everybody, but we’ve been working to make sure that we continue to function.”

In preparation for the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams, Newton said he’s pleased to see the players who stepped up and made the effort to play for their country and not allow the issues off the court to derail them.

“We just have to get this court case resolved so that we can get on with the business of running this association,” he added.

Only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille

O’Neal scored more than Anthony, who finishes his career with 28,289 points.

“Now the time has come for me to say good-bye ... to the game that gave me purpose and pride,” Anthony said in a videotaped message announcing his decision — one he called “bittersweet.”

Anthony’s legacy has long been secure: He ends his playing days after being selected as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history, a 10-time All-Star, a past scoring champion and a six-time All-NBA selection.

And while he never got to the NBA Finals — he only played in the conference finals once, with Denver against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 — Anthony also knew what it was like to be a champion.

He was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2003 Final Four when he led Syracuse to the national championship, and he helped the US win Olympic gold three times — at Beijing in 2008, at London in 2012 and at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. His college coach at Syracuse, the now-retired Jim Boeheim, tweeted a “welcome to retirement” message to his former star.

“I am honoured to have been a part of your legendary career, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for you,” Boeheim wrote.

SEE PAGE 14

Flag football teams make final push for playoffs

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

After eight weeks of flag football action courtesy of the Bahamas Flag Football League, teams used this past weekend to see where they measure up against each other.

Sunday’s week nine matchups featured teams such as the Fidelity/ Money Maxx Phoenix Fire, Bamboo Shack Lady Jaguars, Dolphin Express Hornets, Oasis Team Red Dot, Sands Passion Fruit Hawks, Paradise Games Wildcats, Caro Contractors Avengers (women), Spectrum Assassins, Predators, and ELDC Lions.

a position to help the Baha-

mas when she travels with the national team to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup.

Having earned the top spot on the team at the Giorgio Baldacci Open in December with her victory over Sydney Clarke, Mackey was on hand at the National Tennis Centre as she watched Simone Pratt and Sapharra Ferguson clinch the other two spots on the team at the final trials.

“I think they are two really good players,” said Mackey about Pratt and Ferguson.

“Simone has a lot of experience so she can give us some strategies to use against some of the teams we are playing.

“And I think Saphirra is a really good junior player. She still has a lot to learn, but she’s still a very good player.”

In making her fourth appearance on the team, Mackey said she just hopes that the Bahamas can finish in the top four and get a chance to be promoted.

The 20-year-old Mackey, who stands at 5-feet, 8 1/4-inches, said she’s just delighted to be back home and get a chance to work with the other players in preparation for the Billie Jean King Cup.

“I have been ready to come back home since April because it was really hard,” said Mackey, who just completed her junior year and is now getting ready for her senior year. “

With the playoffs less than three weeks away, these teams look to solidify their spots in the playoff picture and matchup against familiar foes.

In the day’s first matchup at the Winton Rugby Field, the fourthseeded Phoenix Fire went up against the winless Bamboo Shack Lady Jaguars. The Fire toppled the Lady Jaguars 26-0 to add another win to their 4-4 win/loss record on the season. The fourth seed kept their feet on the gas pedal and never looked back as they were able to keep the Lady Jaguars scoreless in the bout.

Jayson Clarke, head coach of the Phoenix Fire, talked about the team’s win. He said the win felt

okay despite the game not being as competitive as expected.

He said his team’s focus was to play in preparation for the upcoming playoffs and next week’s matchup against the number one seed.

Despite the win against the scoreless team, Clarke hopes for the Phoenix Fire to clean up their execution of getting to the right position, not missing assignments, and overall competitiveness.

The team will look to measure up against the undefeated Paradise Games Wildcats next week Sunday. In the day’s second matchup, the second-seeded Oasis Team Red Dot took down the 2-5 Dolphin Express Hornets.

Team Red Dot opened up the first half of the matchup with a 6-0 lead to gain control of the game early on. By the end of the game, the Hornets were able to put 13 points on the scoreboard but fell to the higher seeded team 18-13 on the day.

Edward Campbell, head coach of Team Red Dot, talked about how it felt to topple the Hornets.

“We are happy to get the win, not happy with the way we performed preparing to face the number one team next week [but] we will use this game to try to build on what we need to do next week,” Campbell said.

The coach added that his team will need to work

ELANA Mackey in action in this file photo.

ANTHONY (AP)

PERRY NEWTON, president of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association.

Photo: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

PLAY ACTION: The Oasis Team Red Dot takes on Dolphin Express Hornets at Winton Rugby Field over the weekend.

Photo: Tenajh Sweeting