06052023 NEWS AND SPORT

$1m lawsuit filed by a zario family

Lawyer for police officers is appealing the ‘homicide by manslaughter’ ruling

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE family of Azario

Major is seeking more than $1m in damages for the police-involved killing of their relative, according to a writ filed in the Supreme Court. Coroner’s Court jurors recently ruled that Major’s death was homicide by manslaughter. The lawyer for the officers is appealing the ruling.

Meanwhile, Major’s father, the administrator of his son’s estate, filed a lawsuit under the Fatal Accidents Act and is seeking benefits under the Survival of Action Act.

Detective Inspector Saunders, Sergeant Sweeting, Sergeant Johnson and Corporal Rolle are listed as the first four defendants.

The lawsuit was filed on December 1st, 2022 to comply with statute of

FNM Leader ca LL s oN davis to coNFir M Frazier as dPP

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Move-

ment Leader Michael Pintard said the Davis administration should quickly confirm Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier in the substantive position given the many politically sensitive cases she may be required to address.

A constitutional amendment establishing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was passed in 2017, granting the DPP independence and tenure.

However, some lawyers believe an acting DPP lacks the security of tenure that a substantive officer holder has, undermining the amendment’s intent.

Ms Frazier was sworn in

PiN tard says PM MisL ed oN budget taxes cL aiM

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard accused Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis of misleading Parliament, saying bills tabled last week show that the government is raising taxes.

During his budget communication on Wednesday, Mr Davis said the

government would generate revenue “without raising taxes”.

Murder couN t at 50 as two MeN kiLL ed oN the weekeNd

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were killed over the weekend, bringing the murder tally for the year to 50.

In the first incident, shortly after noon on Saturday, a 28-year-old man was at the back of his residence on Cascarilla Street, Pinewood Gardens, when three men approached him from a nearby property and shot him multiple times.

Emergency Medical Services responded and the man was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the next day. In the second incident,

SEE page five

ready to ‘guarantee’ $300M hosPita L

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Government is prepared to guarantee the $290m financing for New Providence’s new hospital, a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday, adding: “This is a worthwhile investment for the Bahamian people.”

Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, told Tribune Business “there’s a lot of appetite” - and that the Davis administration has been “getting some good hits” - from potential financing sources after switching away from the public-private partnership (PPP) model for the new hospital’s development.

FULL S T ory - S ee bu S ine SS

However, amendments to the Passenger Tax Act show some tax increases will be implemented in the upcoming budget year.

“Under the proposed amendment to the Passenger Tax Act,” Mr Pintard said, “Bahamians and visitors will now have to pay a total of $4 per round trip for air travel in and out the country in a new

ON THE MARCH

SCENES from Friday’s Labour Day march - including a moment of tribute, below, for those who died in the 2018 parade when a vehicle struck marchers.

Photos: Moise Amisial and BIS

Pintard says PM misled on budget taxes claim

levy –– which is essentially an increase on departure taxes, by whatever name it is called.

“This new ‘tax measure’ is an increased burden on Bahamians and impacts competitiveness of the destination by making expensive air travel even more so. The government is also imposing significant increases on the taxes payable by boaters and cruise passengers coming into the country. Together these new and increased taxes are expected to raise over $100m in increased government revenue.

“How then did the Prime Minister say that there are no new taxes in the budget? It is frankly disturbing and embarrassing that the country’s

chief executive would continually mislead Parliament and the public in such a glib and gratuitous manner.

Mr Pintard said the FNM also opposes amendments to the Immigration Act and the Customs Management Act that would “delegate taxation powers down to the minister”.

“The amendments would allow the minister unilaterally to establish and set rates for mandatory fees and levies to be charged to taxpayers,” he said.

“The budget speech,” he added, “made no mention of a possible sugar tax or wellness tax, yet the government is proposing an amendment to the Customs Management Act that would delegate to the minister

of finance the ability to levy the much-discussed sugar tax without seeking parliamentary approval. This cannot be. If the PLP wants to implement a sugar tax, it must come to Parliament and get approval for the structure and for the rates.”

For his part, Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis told reporters on Thursday that increased taxes are for services that, in some cases, haven’t seen an increase in 50 years.

He said departure tax increases will only affect cruise ship passengers, not those travelling by air.

“We’re splitting hairs here,” he said. “I think if I tell you 99.9 per cent Bahamian people are concerned, I believe, I’m concerned about tax rises on me, alright? So if you

raised the departure tax on cruise ships, I don’t think you’ll get an argument from anybody because if you survey 100 Bahamians –– 99 per cent will tell you we don’t get enough from them anyhow. They’re polluting our waters. They’re making a lot of money, and we don’t get anything. So I don’t think you’ll get an argument. So who, you know, if someone wants to split hairs on that, they’re welcome to it.”

“In some cases, there are some fees for service that have been the same for 50 years, so instead of charging $10 for service, maybe now it’s gone to $20. Someone might argue, okay, well, that’s an increase and oh, you know, they don’t see the distinction between a fee for service and a tax.”

Fnm l e A der CA lls on dAvis to ConFirm Fr A zier A s dPP

from page one

as acting DPP last month.

In interviews with The Tribune , lawyers described her as widely respected: hardworking, passionate and hands-on.

In the coming months, she may be required to make key decisions on several politically sensitive matters: a sitting MP from the Progressive Liberal Party accused of abusing his ex-girlfriend and issues related to the Minnis administration’s Beaches and Parks Authority and the COVID-19 National Food Distribution Task Force which police are investigating.

She told The Tribune yesterday she had no update on the matter involving the MP, with police not yet sending the file to her office.

Mr Pintard said: “Decisions made or not made by a DPP, particularly in this highly politically charged environment where we are on record of accusing this government of cherry picking who they pursue and who they clearly decide not to carefully investigate, means the new DPP will be under a microscope, not just a political microscope, but I think all and sundry will

be watching very closely the decisions that are made.”

“The government should be definitive. There should be a careful vetting process so you can definitively appoint someone in the post except

in extraordinary, unforeseen circumstances that might require someone acting in the position for a longer time.”

“Right now, we know this government is looking at a number of former public officials

that narrowly supported or worked in the former Free National Movement administration. One does not want someone in a vulnerable position, though we have people who continue to demonstrate sterling character in their

positions notwithstanding tenure of employment or the lack of security.”

The constitution entitles the DPP to one five-year tenure. They can be reappointed to another five-year period once.

Attorney General Ryan

Pinder said yesterday: “A DPP will be confirmed in position at the end of the hiring process. I have full confidence in Cordell Frazier to do an excellent job as acting DPP. I remind (Mr Pintard) we are the government not him.”

PAC looks into Consumer ProteC tion Commission AgenC y rentA l sPACe ConCern

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Move-

ment Leader Michael Pintard said the deputy chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission expressed concerns to the Public Accounts Committee about the selection process surrounding the agency’s new rental space.

Mr Pintard said the deputy chairman, Tyrone “Rock” Morris, is the first person under the Davis administration to respond to the PAC’s interview request.

He said Mr Moris “has provided a significant amount of information where he expresses concern over the commission not allowing the appropriate protocols in the selection of a rental space to house their agency and one other agency under the remit of the ministry they are a part of”.

He said the meeting with Mr Morris lasted over two hours.

Bain and Grants Town MP Jamaal Strachan, he said, was the only Progressive Liberal Party representative who

attended the meeting. Still, Mr Pintard said Mr Strachan left because he did not want to appear in a meeting that was being recorded.

Mr Pintard said the committee expects to speak tomorrow to the chairman of the commission and the owner of the building being rented by the government “so that we could understand the concerns about the other options that were available for rental at a rate that, according to the testimony, may have been substantially less than

what the government eventually settled on”.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs will open its new building today. Last week, the ministry said it sought to move into a new building because its facility is inadequate.

The statement said the government wanted the Consumer Affairs Unit and the Consumer Protection Commission to be housed in the same building.

“This was done to not only improve accessibility by the public to both agencies but also to improve

efficiency while minimizing waste and delays,” the statement said.

“The government of The Bahamas’ acquisition of appropriate and proper physical accommodations for its agencies, as well as the execution of lease agreements, conforms to all policy and procedures as mandated by the Ministry of the Public Service. The lease agreement relating to the new physical accommodations of the Consumer Protection Commission and the Consumer Affairs Unit was executed in conformity

with the established protocols.

“The details of outfitting for occupancy are guided and implemented by these same protocols and policies. The Minister of Economic Affairs, Senator the Honourable Michael B Halkitis, states emphatically and unequivocally that he does not now own nor hold, nor has he previously owned or held any interest in any property being leased by government of The Bahamas or any of its agencies.”

dAvis to A ddress ni B C on C erns on Wednesd Ay during B udget de BAte

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis will address concerns relating to the National Insurance Board (NIB) next Wednesday, Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said on Thursday.

The minister revealed that Mr Davis expected to lead the budget debate that day. The Prime Minister already gave his budget communication on Wednesday in Parliament, but there was no mention of NIB.

However, Mr Halkitis gave an assurance that the matter will be addressed in the debate.

“NIB technically is not incorporated in the budget. So you wouldn’t see a line item or any contribution for NIB in the budget but it is a matter of concern and it’s

about NIB on Wednesday

the Minister for Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Affairs.

it is anticipated it will be finished.

Myles Laroda, State Minister with responsibility for the National Insurance Board, said in April the NIB fund is “basically running

on fumes” and can only be stabilised when the contribution rate is increased by 1.5 per cent for the third or fourth time in the future. But he added that at this time and in the foreseeable

future, NIB has no liquidity issues and are able to meet their obligations. The Davis administration has yet to confirm any future contribution rate increases.

Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis is expected to address concerns

during the budget debate.

Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard accused the Prime Miister of misleading Parliament, saying bills tabled last week show that the government is raising taxes.

Cordell Frazier being sworn in by governor General CA Smith as Acting Director of Public Prosecutions. Opposition leader Michael Pintard is calling for Ms Frazier

to be confirmed as the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Women’s rights activists sceptical of govt plan to build women’s shelter

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

SOME women’s rights advocates are sceptical of the government’s plan to build a shelter for women victims of abuse.

The Tribune spoke to representatives of Equality Bahamas, Women United and Family of All Murder Victims (FOAM) after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced during his budget communication that money has been allocated to build a shelter for domestic violence victims.

Women United public relations director Lisa Bostwick-Dean said while she is happy to see action on something discussed for years, she does not want the shelter operated solely by the government.

“One of our seven demands was shelters for women, so in as much as the government is stating that they are placing it on their agenda and they are funding it, we are of course pleased,” she said. “However, we cannot help but also be a bit sceptical because they put $500,000 in the last budget, and we are not sure how that money was allocated.

“We think that it is best for shelters to be run as public-private partnerships with the government. But of course, if the choice is a government-run shelter or no shelter, we’ll take what we can get. But ideally, we feel that shelters are best run as public-private partnerships.”

Khandi Gibson, director of FOAM, said she doesn’t believe the government should run shelters.

“It should be NGOs in conjunction with the government or NGOs partnered with the government,” she said.

“I feel as though the government should give subsidised funding toward information, sponsorship and partnership of shelters in The Bahamas.”

Meanwhile, Alicia Wallace, director of Equality Bahamas, said responding to domestic violence requires more than a building.

“It’s 2023. We don’t have to keep using the same old method that we’ve used before, like shelters,” she said. “It’s time to start looking at alternatives and looking at ways that we could remove the perpetrator from the home so that the others can continue to live with some amount of comfort, and there should

be security measures provided for them.”

“The amount that it takes for survivors of domestic violence to live on their own often exceeds the amount of time that they can stay in a shelter, so there is a constant demand for more shelters and for the government to support the couple of NGOs that are running and maintaining shelters right now.

“There is definitely a question about whether or not it’s safe for a shelter to be operated by a government, because we know the way that information is transferred in this country. We know that many abusers are in positions of power with this kind of information. So we need to look at the security aspect of this and who is going to be holders of the information regarding the shelters.”

Ministry of Education M aking changEs to high school diploM a crit Eria

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Education announced criteria changes for a high school diploma following recommendations from the Bahamas High School Diploma National Review Commission.

Director of Education

Dominique McCartneyRussell said the type of BJC passes students need to get a diploma has been changed.

Accordingly, students must still pass four BJC subject examinations, including English Language and Mathematics.

“However, we are permitting our students to submit any other two BJCs as a subject requirement,” Mrs McCartney-Russell said. Students will still be

required to have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. However, the requirement of 27 credit hours has been removed.

Mrs McCartney-Russell said students previously were required to maintain a two-point GPA in the same subjects where they are required to have 27 credit hours, creating the possibility that they would be penalised twice.

The punctuality and attendance rate requirements have been reduced from 90 per cent to 80 per cent to accommodate extenuating circumstances outside the students’ control.

In addition, the requirement that parents attend three parent-teacher conferences was removed, with the education director saying: “Our students

should not be penalised for the failure of parents or guardians to comply.” Students are still expected to have 20 hours of job readiness and 30 hours of community service.

In terms of students

who believe they were

disenfranchised by the previous diploma standards, a Justification and Appeal Committee has been established. The committee is expected become operational by August.

Additionally, Mrs McCartney–Russell outlined the “pathways” for students to meet the diploma standards.

“Option one, we ask that students bring in four BJCs with a minimum of a D pass, math and language and any other two subjects along with the cumulative of a two-point GPA.”

“Option two is also a general pathway but this one is more of an inclusive pathway where students can bring in a numeracy or a literacy equivalent, or BJCs, or a city and guilds equivalent, and a two-point cumulative GPA.”

“The third option is an honours pathway: four BJCs with a minimum of a B. Math, language, and science are a requirement along with any other one subject, and a three-point cumulative GPA.”

Mrs McCarteny–Russell said the ministry would direct students who do not meet those requirements to The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) to enter BTVI’s Smart Start programme.

She said students who fail a class will no longer be penalised.

“We have to give children grace to improve and so as long as they can maintain that two-point GPA they will receive a diploma because they would have earned it,” she said.

Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said: “This year, every student will attend the graduation ceremony and we want to ensure that our children and our young people have hope for a future even if their high school years were not all that they had hoped it to be.”

school fEEding progra MME to Eradicat E barriErs to l Ess fortunat E studEnts

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION

Direc-

tor Dominique Russell says the government’s new National School Breakfast Programme brings the country one step closer to eradicating poverty, which is one of the major barriers to educational opportunities for students, especially for those chronically absent.

Mrs Russell, on the

sidelines of a press briefing on Thursday gave more information on the new breakfast programme announced on Wednesday at parliament, to be funded in the upcoming fiscal year by the Davis administration.

“It is so important for our children to come to school ready to learn, so they need their brains fed, they need to be able to access educational opportunities early and sometimes they’re not

able to because they’re hungry,” she said.

“For whatever reason they are not given breakfast at home, so we want to be able to provide that for those who have the need so that we take that worry off the table.

“We want to actually remove every barrier that we can to education. We have found that poverty is one of those barriers and we want to get rid of that. We want to eradicate every barrier for

educational opportunities and I believe this will be so well, especially for those children that were considered chronically absent.”

Mrs Russell added:

“Some of the parents have indicated that they kept their children home, because they didn’t have the tools to be able to function, so our schools provide uniforms for some of our children, they provide general supplies for some of our children.

“Socials Services has even provided rent for some of our homes. So this is really just another opportunity for us to

ensure that children get access to educational opportunities. They don’t have to be absent, because they don’t have something in their tummy.”

Mrs Russell said that education officials have made significant headway to address learning loss overall and those students deprived of learning opportunities due to poverty.

“I think we have done a mammoth task in providing a standardized diagnostic test for all of our children in the public education system. The reason we wanted to use a standardized test is

we wanted to be able to measure the successes and measure them using one test.

“It shows that at the end of the day we can say that this child is at this level and what we’re also doing is providing opportunities for remediation. Students will be able to access their remediation on their tablets.

“In the new school year, we’re also going to ensure that children have more time for remediation. We have pull-out programmes. We want to try to have a one-to-one ratio for remediation,” she said.

Director of Family of All Murder Victims (FOAM) Kandi Gibson said that government shouldn’t run shelters, but should partner with or allow NGO’s to deal with them.

Director of Education Dominique McCartney-Russell

fnM pays rEspEct to fa Mily of r ay Minus jr

FNM leader Michael Pintard and deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright along with party officials visited the family of the late Ray Minus Jr recently. They presented the family with a framed photo that showcased some of the boxing champion’s moments of glory.

Photo: FNM

The Privy Council ‘do not understand elements of the Bahamian justice system’ Munroe says

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security

Minister Wayne Munroe said a recent Privy Council ruling raises questions about whether the government should ensure “duty lawyers” or Justices of the Peace are present when people confess to serious crimes in custody.

In a judgement last week, the Privy Council expressed “deep concern” after finding that a man was “languishing in prison” for over 12 years based on a confession it said should not have been admitted as evidence.

The Privy Council noted that the man gave the alleged confession without a lawyer and later alleged that he was beaten to confess.

The appellate court found it improbable that the man, Vinson Ariste, would confess to multiple crimes

during his short detention. Some defence lawyers say the ruling highlights long-standing problems involving confessions and their use as evidence in the Bahamian justice system.

Mr Munroe believes some of the Privy Council’s reasoning was flawed.

However, he said: “The disability if you face a serious charge is if you face questioning in a police station without a lawyer. The thing that is a matter of principle is, is it time to have duty lawyers in police stations? We have a concept of you having a right to a lawyer at a trial. The most important thing about this case when you read it is the importance the Privy Council seems to put on the presence or otherwise of a lawyer. If a lawyer was present and he confessed then it appears all of their talk of improbability would fall away. Should there be lawyers or justices of the peace

present?”

Mr Munroe said he does not believe Bahamians would accept the government paying for alleged criminals to be represented in custody.

“Could you imagine,” he said, “these people we arrested for murder and rape, you got pay for them to have a lawyer? Everything is budgetary. Think about public funds being paid for all of these people they say are criminals.”

Mr Munroe disagreed with the Privy Council’s finding that it was improbable for Mr Ariste to confess to multiple crimes without being under duress, saying the UK-based judges do not understand elements of the Bahamian justice system.

“Police don’t tell you what they have and don’t have,” he said. “Police could lie to you and say somebody saw you when nobody saw you,

prompting your confession. It might seem improbable that anyone should confess but people do.”

Meanwhile, Human Rights Bahamas said it hopes confessions in the absence of an attorney would not be admissible in a court.

“For far too long, defendants have been convicted on the sole basis of confessions allegedly procured by means of intimidation, beatings and torture,” HRB said. “The Constitution of The Bahamas guarantees certain fundamental rights for each and every individual, including the presumption of innocence, the right to an attorney and freedom from detention without charge for more than 48 hours. Sadly, it appears that all of these rights were violated in the case of Mr Ariste.

“It is high time for the authorities in The Bahamas at all levels to conform to

Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe say the UK-based judges of the Privy Council ‘do not understand elements of the Bahamian justice system.’

the standards dictated by our supreme governing law.

“Further, HRB calls upon the Royal Bahamas Police Force to immediately institute a system of transparent investigations into any and all

allegations of confessions procured under duress. Police officers, no less than ordinary citizens, must be held responsible for their actions, and the chips allowed to fall where they may.”

$1m lawsuit filed by a zario m ajor’s family

from page one

limitations requirements.

It claims Major was lawfully in the parking lot of Woody’s Liquor Store on Firetrail Road when the officers “produced firearms and shot and killed the deceased”.

“The deceased’s death was caused by the negligence of the first, second, third & fourth defendants,” the lawsuit says.

“The first through fourth defendants were negligent in that they a. Failed to take the adequate or any care for the safety of the deceased; b. Exposed the deceased to a foreseeable risk of injury and death.

“Further, the conduct of the first, second, third and fourth defendants was arbitrary, oppressive and/ or unconstitutional and the plaintiff claims exemplary and/or aggravated and/or punitive damages.”

“The first, second, third and fourth defendants attempted to justify their actions by stating that the deceased opened the driver door of the said vehicle and

produced a black handgun and pointed the same at them when in fact the deceased did no such thing.”

The lawsuit says the defendants have not

Murder count at 50 as two killed on weekend

from page one

shortly after 10pm on Saturday, police were called to a residence on Malcolm Allotment East where a group of unknown males reportedly beat a 65-year-old man.

Police said EMT transported the man to the hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries sometime around 4am on Sunday.

Another violent incident left a 53-year-old Chinese man in hospital after he was shot about his upper body.

Preliminary police reports indicate that shortly after noon on Sunday, the victim was at his business establishment on East Street South when a man in a white T-shirt and blue jeans pants entered his establishment and purchased an item before leaving.

It is further reported that the suspect returned shortly after that with a firearm which he discharged indiscriminately into the store, resulting in the 53-year-old businessman being shot in the upper body.

EMT transported the man to the hospital where he is stable. The suspect reportedly escaped on foot to a nearby community.

apologised to Major’s father or immediate family for killing him the way they did.

“The deceased, at the time of his death, was a healthy and happy man, aged 31 years who lived with the plaintiff and his mother, and he was gainfully employed at Gloria’s Daiquiris and Tropical Delights on the island of New Providence aforesaid earning a base salary of $15,600.00 per annum and approximately $18,720 per annum in tips,” the lawsuit says.

Additionally, the writ says Mr Major and his wife received $800 monthly

from their son “which they relied on to settle household expenses and personal expenses”.

Before he died, Major was responsible for helping with the “upkeep, maintenance and repair of the one-storey, five-bedroom house and the surrounding grounds on which he lived”, with the lawsuit saying the value of said services was $400 per month.

Major’s funeral expenses, not including NIB benefits, was $12,100, according to the document.

His father is seeking special damages of $12,100;

damages for the dependents under the Fatal Accidents Act; damages for the benefit of the deceased’s estate under the Survival of Action Act; and exemplary and/or aggravated and/or punitive damages; interest pursuant to the Civil Procedure Act; costs and other relief the court grants. According to the lawyer, David Cash, under the multiplier/multiplicand approach to damage claims, Major’s estate would expect more than $1m in damages, given Major’s age and loss of earnings.

A MOTORCYCLIST has died after a traffic collision on Andros on Saturday.

The 34-year-old man was reportedly riding a red and white 650 motorcycle on Queen’s Highway, San Andros, at about 9.30pm when it was in collision with a 2015 silver Nissan

March travelling in the opposite direction. A local doctor attended to the biker, and he was flown to New Providence on an emergency flight due to the nature of his injuries. However, on arrival at Princess Margaret Hospital, he was pronounced dead.

A team of officers from New Providence will travel to Andros for further investigation, but police urged all motorcyclists to wear protective helmets in order to help save their lives. The condition of the woman driver of the Nissan was not available at the time of going to press.

AzArio Major

the stAte-recognized funeral for Al Dillet was held at the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King in Freeport on Thursday. West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe pays his respects.

Photo: Vandyke hepburn

The Tribune Limited

Honesty best policy on taxation

WHEN is a tax rise not a tax rise?

When it mostly affects foreigners, apparently. At least, that’s according to Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis, who says people are “splitting hairs” when pointing out that Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis made much of saying in his Budget communication that the focus would be on increasing revenue “without raising taxes”.

Mr Davis went on to list that there would be “no increase in the VAT rate, and no increase on Customs duties, excise duty, tax rates, and real property tax rates”.

He also talked of raising “muchneeded revenue without adding any new taxes”.

It all sounded very good – but the devil is always in the detail.

One of the measures in the Budget that did not get a mention in Mr Davis’ speech, but is right there in the paperwork, is an amendment to the Passenger Tax Act, increasing the amount that passengers will have to pay. You will notice the word tax, right there in the name.

FNM leader Michael Pintard yesterday suggested that the Prime Minister had misled Parliament.

He said that a new passenger tax levy will see air passengers pay a total of $4 per round trip in and out of the country. Along with increases in taxes for boaters and cruise passengers under the same amendment, that is expected to bring in more than $100m in revenue.

As Mr Pintard says, “How then did the Prime Minister say that there are no new taxes in the Budget? It is frankly disturbing and embarrassing that the country’s chief executive would continually mislead Parliament and the public in such a glib and gratuitous manner.”

Mr Pintard also pointed to changes in immigration and customs that would delegate some taxation powers to the

minister. The customs changes, he said, could see the introduction of a sugar tax without the need to seek parliamentary approval.

As for Mr Halkitis, he said most Bahamians believed “I’m concerned about taxes on me, right? So if you raised the departure tax on cruise ships, I don’t think you’ll get an argument from anybody because if you survey 100 Bahamians – 99 percent will tell you we don’t get enough from them anyhow.”

Perhaps they will, Mr Halkitis, but that doesn’t excuse not mentioning it. If Bahamians agree with you, all the more reason to herald the addition. And plenty of Bahamians also travel on cruise ships and by plane, so they will be paying too.

And if any of those increased charges cause a slowdown in the number of bookings we receive as it pushes the price of a trip a little higher, lots more Bahamians will be feeling it.

So yes, there has been an increase in taxation – albeit not in the bigger categories – and it is slightly disingenuous to say otherwise.

Whether that is misleading or a rhetorical overreach is a matter open to debate, but it seems unlikely to be an accusation that will halt the Budget in its tracks, or the Prime Minister with it.

Still, it does raise the question of why it wouldn’t be mentioned, especially if as Mr Halkitis says it would be popular with the electorate. And not mentioning such items as a possible sugar tax, possible increases to fees at immigration, or leaving out entirely the situation with regard to the National Insurance Board fund raises even more questions.

A Budget Communication should provide clarity and certainty, instead of leaving so many question marks hanging in the air.

The NIB concerns will apparently be addressed this week. We shall await with interest.

Harbour Island in disarray

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM immensely concerned about the increasing number of incidents of crime involving dangerous drugs and illegal firearms that are taking place on Harbour Island. Since the beginning of the year, the Royal Bahamas Police Force has reported several incidences of drug and firearm seizures on that island.

In the first instance – according to police reports, shortly after 9:00 am, officers attached to the Harbour Island Police Station proceeded to a residence situated on Barrack’s Street. Upon their arrival, they observed a male sitting on a bucket cutting up what appeared to be suspected marijuana. Upon further checks of the premises, a large quantity of suspected marijuana was discovered, and subsequently a male was arrested and taken into police custody.

Less than a month later on May 6th, sometime around 2:45 am, officers attached to the Harbour Island Police Station executed a search warrant on

a residence located in the area of Dunmore and Munnings Street. The statement went on to say that a quantity of suspected marijuana along with a high-powered weapon and ammunition were discovered, and subsequently, a male resident was arrested and taken into police custody.

These incidents come on the heels of a brutal murder that took place back on February 8th 2021 when a man was found dead outside of a residence on Barrack Street. In that matter, officers responded to reports of a shooting incident shortly after 10pm on the night in question and on arrival in the Barrack Street area, found the victim lying on the ground near a residence with apparent gunshot wounds.

A twenty-nine-year-old male resident of Harbour Island has since been charged with that particular offence and is currently on remand at The Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Being the father of a twoyear-old male toddler who resides on Harbour Island,

the alarming number and nature of crimes taking place in that district has me extremely perturbed. I humbly submit that Harbour Island is in a state of social disarray and that the aforementioned incidents are not isolated, but represent the continuous erosion of that out-island community’s moral and social fiber. To put things into perspective – on the outside, Harbour Island serves as a picturesque tourist destination and is considered the playground for the world’s rich and famous – however, deep within the crevices of that community exists a myriad of social ills and nefarious activities. The rapidly deteriorating stateof-affairs requires urgent intervention from both public and private stakeholders and as such, I am making a public appeal to the powers that be to do all that they can to restore and preserve ‘Briland’s’ once quiet dignity. A CONCERNED

EDITOR, The Tribune.

US VICE President Kamala Harris’ visit to The Bahamas presents an ideal opportunity to jumpstart our national sustainability and resilience-building efforts in the face of the urgent threats to our economy and communities posed by global warming and climate change.

Her meeting with Caribbean leaders in Nassau this week will centre upon advancing efforts to combat climate change in the region and it is fitting that our Prime Minister Phillip Davis, a vocal champion of climate resilience since coming to office, will serve as co-chair along with VP Harris.

It is my hope that high on the agenda of these talks will be the enormous potential of Grand Bahama to become a key focal point in the climate battle and the emergence of the Blue economy in The Bahamas. Already the industrial capital of the nation and boasting a regulatory regime specifically designed to encourage innovation, the island is uniquely positioned to be a cutting-edge engine room and test-lab for pioneering climate resilience technologies that can greatly benefit The Bahamas, the region and the world.

Meanwhile, developing Grand Bahama into a hub for climate solutions will also create unprecedented training, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for hundreds if not thousands of Bahamians in exciting emerging fields.

The island is already home to the Blue Action Lab (BAL), an entity dedicated to empowering young Bahamians with the skills needed to thrive in the emerging green and blue economies while at the same time helping secure a climate resilient future for

the country. BAL recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of The Bahamas that will see the UB northern campus in Grand Bahama become a hub for training and mentorship of environmental and marine scientists, as well as an innovative research center for supporting the green and blue economy, and developing new models for building resilient ecosystems and communities.

Grand Bahama is also home to the Blue Action Accelerator (BAA), a groundbreaking effort to attract significant investment for the development of new climate solutions. The recently-launched sustainability investment platform is working with international partners to raise $10m to fund and support up to 35 cutting-edge science and technology startups working to mitigate climate change, increase ocean health, and build coastal resilience in vulnerable countries like The Bahamas.

There is also Coral Vita, a pioneering reef restoration project based in Grand Bahama, founded by environmental entrepreneurs with a deep passion for protecting coastal ecosystems and communities from the effects of climate change. The initiative creates hightech coral farms that use breakthrough methods to restore reefs in the most effective way possible.

Coral Vita’s scientific team has partnered with leading marine institutes, using techniques to grow coral up to 50x faster while boosting their resiliency against the warming and acidifying oceans that threaten their survival.

Just last month, Forum

for Impact (FFI) Americas was held in Grand Bahama. The international conference attracted more than 60 investors from the US, Canada, Europe and Latin America and was held under the theme: “The Convergence of Resilience, Conservation and Investment”. FFI co-founder Michael Meehan noted that the contributions of The Bahamas – and especially Grand Bahama – will be crucial to the global fight against climate change. Among the key topics discussed were Grand Bahama’s potential to generate both income and climate resilience in emerging blue carbon markets. Additionally, discussions have been held around locating other groundbreaking sustainability initiatives in Grand Bahama. These include the construction of cutting-edge renewable power generation systems, the establishment of the carbon economy, largescale mangrove restoration, and innovative financing mechanisms to fund the development of new ideas for transitioning to clean energy and fighting climate change, and many more. When it comes to climate resilience exploration in Grand Bahama for the benefit of The Bahamas, the region and the world, the sky really is the limit. The Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Government must work cooperatively to take advantage of these incredible opportunity to bring new investment and forge ambitious new opportunities for Bahamians, while protecting our birthright for the benefit of future generations.

RUPERT HAYWARD

GBPA director

BAL founder and president June 4, 2023

Backward attacks

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN ORDER to understand the backwardness of certain opposition politicians, who reflexively oppose progressive tax reform, one has to put into perspective what they are actually advocating and defending.

Aside from a lunatic farright fringe, there is no argument among economists and policy-makers worldwide that taxes on consumption (like duties and VAT) disproportionately affect the poor, while those on income and property help to spread the burden and reduce the inequalities of capitalist

societies. That is why every major capitalist country on earth has opted to raise revenues predominantly from income taxes.

There is also no argument that The Bahamas stands out as the only independent country in the Americas and one of a handful on the planet that levies no taxes on income, instead deriving some 80 percent of its revenues from consumption taxes mostly on the poor.

Of the few others without income taxes, most are oil producers. That leaves us in the company only of Somalia for purposes of direct comparison.

The resultant distortion

hides the impressive level of genuine wealth in our country by essentially redistributing it from the poor and the middle to the rich. It also retards growth, because poor people are the most reliable consumers in the domestic economy, while rich people simply hoard.

If all that sounds like stupid policy, that’s because it is. And it only stays that way because we have had too many politicians who either don’t understand these basic issues or simply don’t care. ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, June 1, 2023.

Photo: BIS

Parents accuse teacher at Palmdale

Primary of bullying their children

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PARENTS have accused a teacher at Palmdale Primary School of bullying their children, prompting two to remove their child from her class and one to send her son to a different school.

The parents claim they have collectively complained to the school’s senior administrators, the district superintendent and the deputy director of education, all of whom failed to address their concerns.

In one incident, during a virtual learning session, the teacher allegedly told a parent: “Who ass I should cut, you or your child ass?”

Jannie Moxey said she removed her son from the primary school in January. She said during a virtual learning session, she told her son to take a picture of the computer screen to practice in the future. She said when her son took the photo, the teacher accused him of

cheating.

She said the teacher called her after her son turned off his camera, uttering profanities.

“She called me,” the mother said, “and when she called me, I was in front of a pastor because I wanted my son to go to homeschooling. And I said to him, ‘I’m sorry I need to take this call but I need to take it on the speakerphone’.”

She said when she picked up the phone, the teacher reportedly said: ‘Who ass I should cut, you or you child ass?’

She said: “Is that any way to talk to a parent and talk to a primary school child?”

She said her husband got involved in another incident.

She said when her husband knocked on his son’s door to check on him, the teacher said: ‘I don’t want nobody in the room with you. Tell them get out. Who was in the room with you?’

The parent said her husband replied: “I live in this flippin’ house and nobody tells me where to go.”

She said her son was discouraged from signing into school classes and told his parents: “I keep on getting rowed. I could never do nothing right.”

Another parent said she often complained to the principal about how the teacher threw “jeers” at her son.

She said her son was eventually removed from the class, but the teacher still found ways to upset him.

The teacher, she said, told “children in her class they’re not supposed to speak to him anymore. He’s not in their class anymore. He’s not on their level anymore”.

She said she reported the problem to the district superintendent and the deputy director of education.

Another parent had her daughter removed from the class, saying after she complained about four missing grades on her child’s report card, the teacher began excluding her daughter from activities.

Police interceP t 22 illegal migrants on a boat west of new Providence

“She would refuse to call her by her name,” she said. “She would call her ‘she, the student, her.’ She would never call her by her name. I spoke to her about that and since then she has taken it to the extreme I would say, by having the security call the police on me when I went to collect my daughter from class.”

The Tribune approached the teacher for

comment but she declined to comment directly on the allegations.

The school principal, Phyllis Johnson, denied the allegations.

“There are no pressing concerns that come. I have almost 500 students in the school and I have not had parents coming in in a drove complaining about teachers Maybe one or two disgruntled parents who are upset because

they do not want to conform to the policy and procedure of the Ministry of Education and that of the school and everywhere we go, we do have parents who are disgruntled so they find avenues.”

Acting Director of Education Dominique McCartney-Russell said she was unaware of the matter. Deputy Director of Education Julian Anderson declined to comment.

Career Opportunity

MANAGER RECRUITMENT & EMPLOYEE RELATIONS HUMAN RESOURCES

Commonwealth Bank is the premier Bahamian Bank with branches located in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera. We are committed to delivering superior quality service, training and developing our employees, creating value for our shareholders and promoting economic growth and stability in the community.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Manager Recruitment & Employee Relations is responsible for the management of Recruitment and Employee Relations activities bankwide in accordance with the Bank's policy and local regulations. This role will strategically serve as an interface between Human Resources and the business by assisting with the execution of the HR strategic plan and its alignment to the Bank’s overall goals.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct and manage the recruitment, interviewing selection and onboarding process across the Bank.

Manage and maintain a pool of qualified applicants to ensure that current vacancies are filled and future recruitment needs are met in accordance with the Bank's standards.

TWENTY-TWO illegal immigrants, including two children and an infant, were apprehended on Saturday when their vessel was intercepted west of New Providence.

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

TWENTY-TWO illegal

immigrants, including two children and an infant, were apprehended on Saturday when their vessel was intercepted west of New Providence.

Police said shortly after 4pm on Saturday, police officers intercepted a white

32ft vessel with 13 men, six women, two children and one infant.

“The nationals were reportedly from Ecuador, Italy, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Brazil and were reportedly en route to North America,” police said.

Police have since handed the nationals over to the Bahamas Department of Immigration for

processing.

This latest apprehension comes two days after officers apprehended nine Chinese nationals that were in a home on Family Street off Soldier Road.

Police said eight men and one woman were taken into custody. Police said the Bahamas Department of Immigration will be processing the nine Chinese nationals.

mP recognises students making steady Positive imProvements

Management, development and implementation of recruitment, selection and onboarding policies across the Bank inclusive of the development and execution of training for hiring managers. Management, development and implementation of Human Resource Polices inclusive of the development and execution of training to promote awareness of and compliance with policies.

Manage, develop and implement key Recruitment and HR metrics and reporting for use in workforce planning and support for business and policy decisions.

Direct Supervision of the recruitment and employee relations teams inclusive of performance assessment, training and coaching to support continued growth and development.

Manage the review and maintenance of recruitment and talent software for the department.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum of 3 years’ Management experience in Recruitment and or Employee Relations discipline.

Bachelor's in Business Management, Human Resources, Industrial and Organizational Development or related study.

PHR, SHRM-CP or other relevant HR certification is a plus.

Labor /Employee Relations Certification.

Hands-on Experience with Applicant Tracking Systems and HR Talent Management Systems (Cyber Recruiter & HRMS and Cornerstone is a plus).

Leadership Skills.

Effective Communication Skills.

Decision Making Skills.

Data Analytics and report Writing Skills.

REMUNERATION PACKAGE:

MEMbEr of Parliament for South Beach Bacchus Rolle launched The “I Dare You! Project” - a recognition programme aimed at high school students who are making steady holistic improvements in their lives. MP Rolle is pictured with his wife, the Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper and the initial cohort of 16 students.

STUDENTS are being honoured for making improvements in their lives as part of the “I Dare You! Project” launched by MP Bacchus Rolle last week.

The South Beach MP is seeking to recognise students who are making steady improvements in their academics, behaviour, attendance, leadership and overall disposition. The first 16 students in the project hail from Anatol Rodgers, Bahamas Academy, CV Bethel, and the Jordan Prince William Schools. The first cohort of 16

includes the following students: Bahamas Academy - Destiny Davis, Michael Davis, Arreo Ferguson, and Patria Lazard; Prince William - Darien Adderley, Roshante Minnis, Otis Rolle, and Tailah Thurston; Anatol Rodgers - Jabari Brown, Ricalicia Rahming, Nathaniel Sands, and Shermaya Taylor; and CV Bethel - Leo Bannister.

Casanique Cherry, Allexcia Kemp, and Pslam King. Mr Rolle launched the project alongside Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper on Thursday at the

National Training Centre.

Rolle said the project seeks out four students in each school who have shown marked improvements. These students were recognized in what is intended to be an annual pinning ceremony.

“We believe in each of you,” Rolle told the initial cohort. “We believe that if you continue along the improvement path that your teachers say you’re on that you have the potential to be a difference maker. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about making progress.”

Commonwealth Bank is a Great place to work!

We offer an exciting work environment with the opportunities for growth and development. We also offer a competitive compensation package, reflecting the successful applicant’s work experience, skills and qualifications. including a performance based incentive plan, health, vision, dental and life insurance, and a pension plan.

Qualified individuals should complete the online application and submit their resumes by Friday, June 9, 2023 to:

www.careers.combankltd.com/careers

“ Commonwealth Bank sincerely thanks all applicants for their interest in becoming a part of our team, however, only those applications being considered will be contacted.”

Photo: Austin Fernander

DOG WAS HOURS FROM DEATH’

Bahamas’ seminar, where the vets who saved Rex’s life shared their knowledge with local professionals.

cutting edge. The vets in The Bahamas can stand next to any vet around the world.”

WHEN Rex was six months old, his owner, Karen Silverman, learned the puppy would die within hours if she didn’t get him the proper medical treatment.

The German Shepherd was lethargic and barely moving, his heart racing at 300 beats per minute.

Ms Silverman, the spouse of millionaire businessman Henry Silverman, refused to let him die. She pushed some of the best veterinarians in the world to perform a rare procedure – a radiofrequency catheter ablation – that saved his life.

The fruits of Ms Silverman’s persistence continue to impact animal healthcare. She established the Henry and Karen Silverman Initiative to Advance Treatment of Canine Arrhythmias. On May 27, she sponsored a Veterinary Medical Association of the

Deandra DelanceyMilmort, president of the association, said the event was part of the Keith Campbell lecture series, named after one of the country’s now-deceased veterinarians who promoted continued education. She said the seminar was important because local veterinarians regularly deal with animal heart issues.

“We deal with heart issues and heartworms which are very, very common, basically endemic, so it would be good to have continued education on the topic,” she said.

Dr Roberto Santilli and Dr Romain Pariaut, the vets who helped save Rex’s life, gave lectures during the event held at Baha Mar.

“These lectures are very important to us,” said Dr Valentino Grant, Mrs Silverman’s local vet. “It’s all about keeping up and being

Dr Grant said heartworms are spread through mosquitoes, making heart ailments the most common issue vets see in dogs.

“We are faced with these cases every day, heart failure as they age,” he said.

“How do we manage these conditions is the key, and we are really getting proper management on the treatment of these conditions.”

Dr Delancey-Milmort said Bahamians are using veterinarian services more than in the past.

“I think it’s come a long way,” she said. “Even in my six years now of practising, I notice that there is a lot more care that’s going into animals, and you know, persons really see them as part of the family or one of the kids.” She said vets see challenges relating to heartworm preventative medication resistance.

“Most persons who have animals who take their animals to the vet would know of Heartgard,” she said.

“You take Heartgard preventative once per month. We can speak for some of our clients: we know their pet takes it every month, yet they still get heartworm cases, so now we’re going to bring this issue to researchers in terms of what can we do to now help with this issue?”

Mitchell and GBPA spar over investments

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

IN response to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ criticisms that the Hawksbill Creek Agreement model does not work, the Grand Bahama Port Authority said Freeport’s economy is showing signs of recovery with more than $1.5 billion in foreign direct investments well underway.

However, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said the authority is not responsible for attracting foreign investments but rather the government deserves the credit.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the GBPA said “decisive action” by the government is needed to further facilitate the continued “promise” of the agreement.

“The GBPA agrees that decisive action is required to continue to achieve the promise of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. That decisive action should include extending the Real

Property Tax exemption to all licensees, eliminating the growing uncertainty surrounding Freeport’s investment and business climate,” the company said. In his contribution during the Budget Communication on Wednesday, Prime Minster Davis said, unfortunately, statistics show a prolonged decline in the Grand Bahama economy. He said: “The evidence confirms the view of my government that the Hawksbill Creek economic

model, which was meant to attract foreign direct investment, does not work. Furthermore, in our view, the governance model of the Grand Bahama Port Authority must change, in order to realise the promise, growth, and prosperity which we all desire.”

The GBPA gave an assurance that it remains committed to the ongoing development of Freeport, strengthening the economy, and improving the lives of Grand Bahamians.

CALL FOR END TO CASUAL LABOUR

By

TRADE union leaders in Grand Bahama are calling for an end to the casual labour, and the long delays in confirmations for public service workers.

“We have a casual labour problem on the island of Grand Bahama,” declared Bahamas Hotel Management Association vice president Kirkland Russell, a PLP Senator.

He said it has been a problem, particularly in the industrial sector, since 2015.

The issue of casual labour was initially raised by workers at the container port several years ago. The Grand Bahama Dock and Allied Workers Union president reported there are over 350 Bahamian workers at the container port.

Latoya Cartwright, of the Bahamas Public Services Union, said casual labour is a vexing issue in the public sector.

“At the Department of Social Services, why are we still bringing in casual workers?” she asked. “We promised we would not do that to our people,” she said on Friday at the Randol Fawkes Labour Day March and Rally in Grand Bahama.

Ms Cartwright expressed concerns as it relates to the 52-week workers. She called for them to be made permanent and pensionable.

There are workers at Road Traffic, Rand Memorial Hospital, and elsewhere in the public service who have been employed for 15 to 20 years and are still waiting to be made permanent. At the School Board, some people have been waiting for 25 years.

“That is not right; they cannot do anything for themselves and their families; they need to be able to take papers to the bank to acquire housing and to support their families,” stressed the BPSU official.

“Persons are getting ready to retire and still have not received their papers; we have persons who have received their PP (permanent and pensionable) papers but still have not been paid,” added Cartwright.

“We have persons in the system and we don’t know where they are because they are not regularised,” she said.

Teachers are calling for long overdue increment payments, allowances, salary progression, and confirmations.

“Teachers are frustrated,” said a veteran educator.

Deron Brookes, area vice president of the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union Northern Region said the lack of promotion is an issue for workers in Freeport.

He is also opposed to the practice of outsiders being brought from elsewhere to occupy top positions when there are people in Freeport who have the knowledge, experience, and years of service.

Mr Brookes was also concerned about complaints of outstanding payments for extra hours, and transportation allowances.

Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell said the outstanding issues in the public service are overwhelming for the Public Service Commission, which has five people.

“When we get complaints about things taking a long time, it is not part of an administrative issue, but we have a structural problem that we have to solve,” he explained.

“We have to look at everybody and try to process them and get them confirmed and put them in place for promotion,” he said.

“And there are similar issues with education and nurses. We have a very complicated system of promotions and transfers,” Mr Mitchell said.

It explained the unprecedented destruction from multiple storms and the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the decline in Freeport’s economy.

Major investments and projects now underway in Freeport include the new Carnival Crusie Port, Royal Caribbean, ITM, and MSC cruise port, a $250m worldclass hotel, residential and luxury resort by Weller and Six Senses brand, the Lucaya Solar Power, 9.5MW facility under construction, Xquisite Yachts Catamaran Centre , planned expansions at both the Western Atlantic University School of Medicine, EY(Ernst & Young), plus other projects such as the $500m GB Shipyard expansion.

The GBPA said its ongoing promotion of Freeport as a premier destination for business investment demonstrates its commitment.

“This,” it said, “includes ensuring that Freeport has the necessary infrastructure to support a growing economy to attract and retain new businesses.”

The GBPA also indicated that multi-million dollar roadworks are being undertaken and the beautification of the city, including the demolition of derelict and unsafe structures.

The Prime Minister also expressed serious concerns regarding the compliance of the GBPA and its related companies with the terms and conditions of the Hawksbill Creek Act, and its subsequent amendments.

In the statement, GBPA said its standards of service for business licenses, and building permit issuance, can be compared to practices of best-in-class countries worldwide.

It noted that their licensing processing time for foreign direct investment takes ten business days, subject to the government’s notation which extends the timeline.

“Our responsibility for environmental upkeep and addressing unsightly and hazardous city management and environmental

concerns is of utmost importance to our team,” it stated.

The GBPA stated that there is an urgent need to enact new Freeport byelaws that have been awaiting adoption for years, as well as the repeal of Section 68 of the EPPA, which subjects licensees and prospective investors to duplication of costly exercises and government delays.

“Imperative action should be taken to implement recommendations tabled by the GBPA’s REEF Committee and the GB Chamber of Commerce regarding the ease of doing business in Freeport,” the statement said.

“In our view, such decisive action requires collaboration and partnership with the government, so we can work together toward the common goal of improving and strengthening Freeport for the benefit of all Grand Bahamians,” said the GBPA.

However, PLP chairman Mr Mitchell, said the Grand Bahama Port Authority was not responsible as it claims for attracting $1.5 billion in foreign investments to Freeport. Mr Mitchell said the Bahamas government was responsible for those projects.

While speaking at the Randol Fawkes Labour Day March in Freeport on Friday, he told workers that the Government wants the Port Authority to carry out its responsibilities under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.

“No one is asking any more or less than (for them) to simply, follow the agreement. So, all the Prime Minister said in the House of Assembly was, ‘We think you are not living up to the agreement’.”

“Yesterday, I saw a statement saying, ‘you lie, that ain’t true,’ we are living up to the agreement; $1.5 billion they said, and they named off a list.

“But, who is responsible for that list? Not them. The Bahamas Government did that, not them,” said Mr Mitchell.

In the next 31 years, he said the Hawksbill Creek Agreement would expire. When it does, the land will belong to Bahamians.

“I am 69, and chances are I won’t be around. But those of you who are here, remember, this will be like the British, like the Chinese in Hong Kong. Ninety-nine years will have expired since 1955, and the HCA will expire. So, whether the Grand Bahama Port Authority does something or does nothing in 2054, the game is up, and the land and responsibility will belong to the people of the Bahamas and the Government, if they do nothing,” explained Mr Mitchell.

“All we are saying to them is until 2054, carry out your responsibilities according to the agreement.

“If your job is to attract investment, and that means jobs, then do your job,” Mr Mitchell said.

He said Freeport’s infrastructure, roads, the hospital, and the airport are lacking.

“If your job is to fix the infrastructure of Grand Bahama, then the bridge going to East End Grand Bahama should be fixed.”

“The airport should be up and running; the hospital should be up and running;

That is what is in the agreement signed in 1955.”

While marching with workers, Mr Mitchell observed potholes and abandoned structures in Freeport.

He asked: “Who is responsible for fixing the road in Grand Bahama? Look at the abandoned buildings, who is responsible for that?”

Additionally, Mr Mitchell noted that the GBPA has not paid the government back for the expenditures on the public services it has been providing in Freeport, including Police, Immigration, Customs, teachers, and health services.

“All I am saying is there was a deal. The Port Authority was supposed to pay the Bahamas Government back. Since 1955, not one penny. So, pay me what you owe me.”

“So, I say again, just follow the agreement,” Mr Mitchell said.

Workers on Grand Bahama marched from Independence Park to Downtown Freeport, where various trade union leaders spoke. Also participating in the parade were Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Obie Wilchcombe, and Senators Kirkland Russell and James Turner.

VETERINARIANS say more Bahamians are using their services.

KAREN SILVERMAN, who refused to let her dog Rex die.

Photos: Rashad Rolle

DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ABOVE left, Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service (centre), Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey, Minister for Social Services and Urban Development Obie Wilchcombe, and Senator James Turner; and, above right, marchers in Grand Bahama on Friday.

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

SIGNAL SYSTEM ERROR BLAMED AS 275 KILLED IN INDIA TRAIN CRASH

BALASORE, India Associated Press

THE DERAILMENT in eastern India that killed 275 people and injured hundreds was caused by an error in the electronic signaling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks and crash into a freight train, officials said yesterday.

Authorities worked to clear the mangled wreckage of the two passenger trains that derailed Friday night in Balasore district in Odisha state in one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters in decades.

An Odisha government statement revised the death toll to 275 after a top state officer put the number at over 300 yesterday morning.

Jaya Verma Sinha, a senior railway official, said the preliminary investigations revealed that a signal was given to the high-speed Coromandel Express to run on the main track line, but the signal later changed, and the train instead entered an adjacent loop line where it rammed into a freight loaded with iron ore.

The collision flipped Coromandel Express’s coaches onto another track, causing the incoming Yesvantpur-Howrah Express from the opposite side also to derail, she said.

The passenger trains, carrying 2,296 people, were not overspeeding, she said. Trains that carry goods are often parked on an adjacent loop line so the main line is clear for a passing train.

Verma said the root cause of the crash was related to an error in the electronic signaling system. She said a detailed investigation will reveal whether the error was human or technical.

The electronic interlocking system is a safety mechanism designed to prevent conflicting movements between trains. It also monitors the status of signals that tell drivers how close they are to a next train, how fast they can go and the presence of stationary trains on the track.

“The system is 99.9 percent error free. But 0.1 percent chances are always there for an error,” Verma said. To a question whether the crash could be a case of sabotage, she said “nothing is ruled out”.

On Sunday, a few shattered carriages, mangled and overturned, were the only remnants of the tragedy. Railway workers toiled under the sun’s glare to lay down blocks of cement to fix the broken tracks. A crew with excavators was removing mud and the debris to clear the crash site.

At one of the hospitals, survivors spoke of the horror of the moment of the crash.

Pantry worker Inder Mahato could not remember the exact sequence of events, but said he heard a loud bang when the Coromandel Express crashed into the freight. The impact

caused Mahato, who was in the bathroom, to briefly lose consciousness.

Moments later when he opened his eyes, he saw through the door that was forced open people writhing in pain, many of them already dead. Others were frantically trying to get out from the twisted wreckage of his rail car.

For hours, Mahato, 37, remained stuck in the train’s bathroom, before rescuers scaled up the wreckage and pulled him out.

“God saved me,” he said, lying on the hospital bed while recuperating from a hairline fracture in his sternum. “I am very lucky I am alive.”

Mahato’s friends weren’t so lucky. Four of them died in the crash, he said.

Meanwhile, many desperate relatives were struggling to identify the bodies of their loved ones because of the gruesomeness of the injuries. Few others were searching hospitals to check whether their relatives were alive.

In the same hospital where Mahato was recovering from his injuries, Bulti Khatun roamed outside the premises in a dazed state, holding an identity card of her husband who was onboard the Coromandel Express and traveling to southern Chennai city.

Khatun said she visited the morgue and other hospitals to look for him, but was unable to find him.

“I am so helpless,” she said, sobbing.

Fifteen bodies were recovered on Saturday evening and efforts continued overnight with heavy cranes being used to remove an engine that settled on top of a rail car. No bodies were found in the engine and the work was completed on Sunday morning, said Sudhanshu Sarangi, director-general of fire and emergency services in Odisha.

The crash occurred at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing on the modernization of the British colonial-era railroad network in India, which has become the world’s most populous country with 1.42 billion people. Despite government efforts to improve safety, several hundred accidents occur every year on India’s railways, the largest train network under one management in the world.

Modi visited the crash site on Saturday and talked to rescue officials. He also visited a hospital to inquire about the injured, and spoke to some of them.

Modi told reporters he felt the pain of the crash victims. He said the government would do its utmost to help them and strictly punish anyone found responsible.

In 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people in one of the worst rail accidents in India. In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, killing 146 people.

PEOPLE watch yesterday at the site where trains that derailed in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. Photo: Rafiq Maqbool/AP

WHO REALLY HAS DOWNTOWN’S INTERESTS AT HEART?

By TYLER MCKENZIE

THERE is something of a phony war going on – with Downtown Nassau being pulled this way and that like a chew toy.

Between the new cruise port, Royal Caribbean, Atlantis and the various parties looking to make a quick buck, poor old Downtown is caught in the middle.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper nailed it when he called on Atlantis to “put their money where their mouths are” over Downtown.

He wants Atlantis to partner with the Tourism Development Corporation to improve Downtown, saying: “I think they will answer the call.”

He said that back in mid-May, however, so perhaps the call went to answerphone.

Mr Cooper added: “Let me just say that there’s been a lot of noise about the Royal Caribbean development on Paradise Island. This is driven primarily by Atlantis, who cite that they have environmental concerns, and I’ve always said if they have environmental concerns there, there is a process that is available to have those environmental concerns [addressed]. If those concerns go beyond environmental, then there’s a process for expressing those as well.”

Downtown – especially focused on how Royal Caribbean will allegedly take visitors out from Bay Street. However this argument holds no basis in reality. Royal Caribbean’s beach club development will see their cruise line actually bring more tourists to Downtown as their cruise passenger numbers increase from one million passengers to 2.5 million. Even with the guests who will eventually trickle over to Paradise Island, there will still be half a million more guests on Bay Street because of this beach club experience.

So it was quite laughable to see a Facebook page called “Stopping the Downtown ByPass” pop up overnight pushing calculated misinformation about the Royal Caribbean development. Some persons saw right through it and questioned why should a private cruise line be asked to investment in Bay Street?

‘As Chester Cooper says, if concerns over the life and health of Downtown are part of Atlantis’ worries over the neighbouring Royal Caribbean project, then Atlantis can help invest to revive the area any time it wants.’

Online, there is a lot of talk about how different developments will hurt

Those buildings are owned by the Bay Street Boys - a group of elite white Bahamians who hail from the glory days of the United Bahamian Party (UBP) who themselves have failed to put a nickel in the upkeep of their own buildings. So we know they are not the ones who actually care about any “bypass” of their businesses. Bay Street has been in a state of disrepair for well over 30 years.

If indeed “Bay Street” or “Downtown” was a real

concern for the purveyors of this Facebook page they would focus their singular attention on the $300m cruise port that recently opened Downtown. With these new, beautiful buildings, open green spaces, and clean haggle-free shipping, tourists have no reason to move one block over to the litany of T-shirt, cosmetic jewellery, or Chinese-made products that occupy Bay Street.

So now that we have established that this Facebook page’s their real concern is not the actual survival of Downtown, or the “bypass of Downtown”, we can see who and what their agenda isblocking this development at all costs on Paradise Island.

We are reminded of the recent spat that Atlantis had with the Bahamian owners of Wendy’s who have been trying to overturn their Town Planning approval for the establishment of a Wendy’s and Marcos Pizza in the old Scotiabank building on Paradise Island.

Atlantis claimed that the fast-food eateries would not fit into the “esthetic of Paradise Island,” and that there is only high-end eating options, yada yada yada. Something didn’t pass the smell test for us, and we were right. A story in The Nassau Guardian and The

Tribune showed that Atlantis themselves were bringing a ShakeShack to Paradise Island later this year. What does ShakeShack sell you ask? Hamburgers and fries. What does Wendys sell?

Hamburgers and fries. A Wendys combo is priced at just under $10. We imagine the ShakeShack option would hover around $30$40 if you’re lucky. So you do the math, and see for yourselves what the real “esthetic” concern is.

So we can put that and other baseless concerns to bed.

Now, let us jump back to Downtown.

What is missing from this whole conversation is a real discussion about what to do with Downtown. Certainly a beach club on Paradise Island is no threat whatsoever.

There is certainly little encouragement at present for Bahamian entrepreneurs to take advantage of what should be a resurgence in the area. I say should, because I am in no way confident of the certainty of such a thing.

In truth, such a resurgence should be well under way – it should have been timed to coincide with the opening of the cruise port so that the new development would have meshed seamlessly with the revived

Downtown area. So much for that.

Former Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar pitched in, saying that we have to “figure out how to create this buzz and life Downtown”. That didn’t happen on his watch, and he talked of how governments have “pecked” at the problem, improving sidewalks and street lighting, which as far as I can see amounts to much the same as shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic. There is much talk about the dilapidated buildings to be seen if you turn left instead of right when you come out of the cruise port – but go one street back from Bay Street and the situation is even worse.

There is no sign of a living, breathing community in these areas – just a few rundown properties and waste patches of land that double up as car parks. If Downtown is to become a thriving location at night as well as day, then there is no local community to back it up.

So much for all the problems, where are the solutions?

Well, they don’t lie in seemingly phony concerns expressed only to cover self-interest. As Chester Cooper says, if concerns over the life and health of Downtown are part of

Atlantis’ worries over the neighbouring Royal Caribbean project, then Atlantis can help invest to revive the area any time it wants.

Digging through social media arguments that seem to come from accounts that are there for the purpose of arguing on behalf of others doesn’t help to resolve this feeling of alienation that this is a debate that is not really about us.

What we as a people want seems secondary to what large interests are seeking. There are giants in the playground, and we are only called upon to “express our concerns” when it suits their agenda.

If we are to see serious and meaningful change Downtown, we cannot depend merely on the grace and favour of organisations that are too busy looking out for themselves – be it private entities, or it would seem these successive administrations that can do no more than peck.

What is the solution?

Bahamians need to live downtown, and the strangle hold that the Bay Street Boys have enjoyed for generations needs to be lifted. Until a government, any government, has the will to enact eminent domain and take some of these old buildings for the public good, nothing will change for Downtown.

ROYAL Caribbean and Atlantis seem to be uneasy neighbours - as the beach resort, left, which is to have $50m spent on just cleaning it up, will sit alongside the giant resort if all is approved.

The more things change, the more they stay the same

FROM the sixth to the 16th century, the Roman Catholic church was by far the most dominant religion in Great Britain. During the reformation period, King Henry VIII grew increasingly annoyed that the Catholic church refused to annul his first marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon when she proved unable to bear him a male heir. To the king’s unmuted displeasure, The Pope wouldn’t sanction his request so, despite repeated warnings to the contrary, the now furious king worked tirelessly to strip authority from The Pope. Finally successful, he officially made The Church of England the state church in 1534 and named himself as monarch, its de facto Supreme Governor. Soon enough, The Anglican faith grew and anyone practising any other religion was severely persecuted.

With no further religious impedance to his requests, King Henry VIII was married six times. But he was not the only person who advocated for the demise of the Roman Catholic Church. His support, in large part, came from Protestants (so named because of their constant protests against Catholicism throughout Europe). From there, a stricter subset of Protestants known as Puritans quickly emerged. They sought to purify the Church of England and these somewhat strict and even joyless believers believed that the faithful should wear black, work hard and study the Bible as their only form of entertainment.

Looking for a place to practice their religion freely, a group of Puritans sailed to Eleuthera in The Bahamas in the mid-1600s. Travelling with them were a group of slaves to help farm the land for sustenance, formulate trade with America and build their community. The settlement of these Puritan slaves, and the lineage of one slave in particular, is where today’s report truly begins.

Life was initially quite hard for the Puritans, and particularly their slaves, but they were free to worship without fear of retaliation. On the island, far from judgement and castigation, they were also free to experience joy and love as they chose. In time, one of the Puritans fell in love with and impregnated one of his slaves. Their child bore another and centuries later in 1930, one of their descendants, hereafter referred to as Robin, was about to give birth and expand their bloodline. Robin’s labour was difficult

and as her legs trembled in agony, the sweat dripped off the peak of her brow and into her already reddened eyes. By the end, exhausted and near breathless, she delivered twins. Both were declared stillborn by the attending midwife who somberly pronounced their fate with the compassion of someone who intimately understood the profound loss. Robin’s husband was a carpenter so he took wood from their shed and built two small coffins, crying and gently placing the stillwarm bodies of his two children inside.

Miraculously, before he had a chance to cover the coffins and dig their graves, Robin’s mother told the midwife that she saw one of the twins move. The midwife was adamant that both babies were dead but, with both mother and grandmother now pleading for her to check once more, she shook and spanked the newborns but they remained unresponsive. Then, she took a pipe of tobacco and blew smoke in their face. One never moved but the other squinted. The midwife, completely shocked, removed her from the coffin and carefully placed her in her grandmother’s arms.

The surviving twin is now 93 years old with no medical problems or physical abnormalities. Over the years, she had twelve children, four now deceased. One of her sons, hereafter referred to as Peter, is my patient. A direct descendant of the Puritan adventurers, he grew up in a bare-to-the-bones household. His family had no indoor plumbing, no electricity, television, radio or phone. He and his siblings wore second-hand clothes and used ‘wompers’, a type of sandal made from tyres, to protect their feet. Through the week they went to school and church and on the weekends, they rode horses, went fishing and shot marbles for fun.

When he was six years old, Peter was knocked down by a car crossing a one-way street. The abrupt blow sent his tiny body flying and as the assailant fled the scene, his mother screamed for help. Peter laid lifeless; his motionless body now several feet away from the accident site. His mother picked him up

and ran towards the clinic. Halfway there, a bystander stopped and gave them a ride. Fortunately, Peter only suffered a concussion and a broken collar bone. Six decades later, the anatomical site of his childhood trauma continues to yield discomfort with direct pressure and range of motion. Having nearly died while young and growing up loved but sheltered, Peter was hungry to see what the world had to offer. Insatiably curious, Peter left Eleuthera at the age of 32 and has travelled extensively, living in Canada, India, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia. He studied Hebrew and various religions, first learning of the Anglican faith and the circumstances that drove his ancestors across the continent. He practised Yoga and for a while he sold silks, incense and lava molds before moving back to Eleuthera and getting involved in construction. Apart from a hernia and prostate disease, discovered while he was vacationing in Morocco, Peter has enjoyed great health.

One day earlier this year, he was particularly busy and distracted by the multiple projects in his portfolio. Driving from a construction site, he stopped at a nearby restaurant but didn’t put his transmission shift sufficiently in park. Peter exited the vehicle and took a few steps but abruptly turned when the truck moved. He quickly flung into action, afraid that it would slide downhill and kill passengers dining at a nearby eatery, vividly recalling the four women killed by a runaway truck in Nassau in the 2021 Labour Day parade. Without thought, he ran to the back of the truck and tried to push it with all his might but he lost his grip and the truck dragged his body, ultimately slamming him into a golf cart before coming to a complete stop.

The force shattered Peter’s right lower leg and the pain was instantly explosive. The area vibrated furiously and it was impossible to weight bear directly on the limb without intensifying his suffering. Bystanders helped him into a vehicle and drove him to the same clinic that assisted him when he was six years old. From there, he was airlifted to Nassau.

By Dr Kenneth D Kemp

On the way, he, the son of a woman initially declared dead at birth, thought of how fortunate he was to be alive having now survived not one but two near-fatal vehicular accidents. X-ray results were ultimately significant for multiple distal leg fractures, but the fragments were well aligned and no surgical intervention was required. In a moment of selfreflection, Peter shares with readers that throughout his life, he’s learned the power of understanding and appreciating one’s purpose. Purpose, he continues, is the measure and preserver of life and the key to fulfillment for yourself and the community as a whole. On a daily basis, he does his absolute best to live a life that his ancestors, his parents and his five children can be proud of. He encourages others to do the same and to look after their neighbours like they once did years ago when they had no running water, telephone or electricity.

While reflecting on the events that led up to that day, he might have looked a little further and turned back the page of history to nearly 400 years ago when in 1647, a group of Puritans sought refuge in The Bahamas seeking freedom of religion. These early Puritan settlers quickly became known as The Eleutheran Adventurers. With Columbus gone and the Arawak population now decimated by slave labour and smallpox, the islands were relatively uninhabited. This new colony was to be governed by the articles and orders of 1647 wherein the first 100 settlers would form a senate responsible for selecting a governor and 12 councilors. From there, they would form a constitution enforcing a triangular set of values underneath the Bahamian sun that lighted their new home. These values encompassed freedom of religion and opinion, three hundred acres of land per settler and humane treatment of the island’s few indigenous people.

Today, these Puritan settlers would be pleased to know that their efforts were not in vain. What they would be even more pleased about is that, a far cry from the undeveloped island they landed upon,

Eleuthera is thriving and Christian values still govern the people. Such values very likely persist because of the triangular tenets of life (religion, land and brotherhood) previously espoused by them centuries ago with only the light of the sun to guide their days.

I suspect that Peter’s ancestors would also find great comfort in knowing that religion is freely practised in both Great Britain and The Bahamas and citizens searching for a better life even now, to this day, move between the two countries with equal measure. They’ll admire that their descendant Peter connectedly shares their love of travel and adventure and

is still building the island they once called home while spreading his religious teachings and loving his neighbours, lending unyielding legitimacy to the axiom that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

This is The KDK Report.

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

Bahamas police force adapts to gloBal and n ational challenges

THE Bahamas Police Force (the “Force”) underwent significant developments in the early 20th century following the passage of the Police Act of 1909. In 1910, the government granted the request of the Force’s commandant to retain officers after their 21 years of service. This decision helped alleviate the manpower shortages faced by the force at that time.

In 1912, several modifications were made to the requirements for joining the force. The dress code was updated, introducing a brown leather belt and replacing the fez cap – a visorless cap slightly resembling a beret, with the regulation peak cap still worn today. Additionally, specific height, chest size, and age range criteria were also implemented, setting the requirements at 5 feet 8 inches and 21 to 28 years old, respectively. Furthermore, the ability to write became a mandatory skill alongside the existing requirement of being able to read.

In 1914, World War I (WWI) impacted The Bahamas just as it did many European nations.

The population of The Bahamas increased as Americans sought refuge there for various reasons. Security of important public buildings and Nassau’s Harbour was now the responsibility of the force. The Police Band, established in 1893 as the Force’s first division, was pivotal in scouting potential soldiers throughout The Bahamas. When the war ended in 1918, the Force returned to its primary duty of policing, but due to the increased population, there was an increase in crime.

In 1920, traffic issues emerged, adding to the workload of the force. Two years later, a devastating fire engulfed 14 buildings, including the Old Colonial Hotel, leaving the police powerless to maintain order as they battled the blaze. Crime and traffic cases continued to rise annually, and in 1939, the outbreak of World War II (WWII) created further tension. During the war, the government employed hundreds of workers, including Bahamians and Americans, for a major project in Nassau. Discontent arose when local

June 1, 1942, disgruntled workers took to Bay Street to voice their grievances in a spontaneous demonstration. As the crowd marched towards Bay Street, they set fire to the Grant’s Town Police Station, forcing the officers to evacuate. Upon reaching their destination, the protest became looting and persisted for several days. This would be known in Bahamian history as ‘The Burma Road Riot.’

workers received lower wages than their counterparts. Consequently, on June 1, 1942, disgruntled workers took to Bay Street to voice their grievances in a spontaneous demonstration. As the crowd marched towards Bay Street, they set fire to the Grant’s Town Police Station, forcing the officers to evacuate.

Upon reaching their destination, the protest became looting and persisted for several days. This would be known in Bahamian history as ‘The Burma Road Riot.’ With one hundred and fifty officers (150) stationed in New Providence, the Force was readily available to restore order at short notice. The Bahamas Defence Force

and a regiment of Canadian soldiers called the Cameron Highlanders also assisted. The riot resulted in four deaths, numerous injuries, and the prosecution of individuals involved. The force experienced crucial changes but adapted to the nation’s challenges, and the government commended the force for its efforts.

a group of puritans left England in pursuit of religous freedom, eventually shipwrecking off the coast of Eleuthera.

Autonomous weapons – a real and urgent danger to people

AS if small states, with limited financial and human resources to safeguard their societies, do not confront enough grave challenges, along comes the phenomenon of “autonomous weapons” – probably the most frightening technological development that has yet been created.

Why should small states be concerned? They should already be deeply troubled by the increase in violence in their societies, including the escalation of homicides, caused by the expanded number of conventional weapons being brought into their territories by organized criminals.

There is now hardly any country that is not experiencing gangs, gang violence, armed robberies, rapes, drive-by shootings and murder. in almost every case, illegal guns are used.

Autonomous weapons in the hands of organized criminals would raise the problem of murders, assassinations, and even targeted destruction to new and frightening heights. for instance, it is now possible to enter facial recognition into a drone equipped to shoot to kill. The drone can then sift images of persons over whom it flies, select a body it believes matches the face, and shoot the person, flying away undetected.

These autonomous weapons are not restricted to drones. They come in a variety of forms, including robots, programmed for warfare. They can also be devices which are planted in built up areas, for instance, and programmed to detonate from great distances.

imagining the use to which such autonomous weapons could be put by criminals, or even by mentally troubled persons, should terrify everyone, especially law enforcement agencies such as the Police,

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

and agencies concerned with fighting drug trafficking, people trafficking and other forms of crime.

All this is good reason why small states in the Caribbean and everywhere should immediately join the growing international movement to prohibit and regulate autonomous weapons systems.

But, given their own peculiar circumstances of small size, limited human and financial resources, escalating crime and the fearful prospect of autonomous weapons in the hands of criminals, small states should consider banning such weapons now, even ahead of any international convention which will take years to negotiate and agree, and which, like many other treaties, would be unlikely to take account of the circumstances of small states.

The government of Costa Rica, in Central America, should be congratulated for the leadership it is providing in alerting nations and their law enforcement agencies to the real and present danger of autonomous weapons. Last february, the government of Costa Rica and a local non-governmental organization, convened a Conference which was attended by many countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as officials from 13 other nations, including france, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Russia, and the United States. from this conference, a

Communiqué was issued, calling for collaboration to promote the urgent negotiation of an international legally binding instrument, with prohibitions and regulations governing autonomous weapons, and which would take account of international Humanitarian Law, and ethical perspectives, as well as the prevention of the social and humanitarian impact that autonomy in weapons systems entail.

The adoption of this Communiqué was an important first step, but it lacked sufficient highlevel political participation. Consequently, the political decision makers and legislators are not yet adequately informed of the enormous dangers posed by autonomous weapons. in this regard, the media has a role to play in researching, analyzing and reporting on the urgency of this issue, helping to inform decision makers and the general public in their countries.

Several governments, around the world, are heavily investing in the military applications of autonomous weapons, which are part of the development of Artificial intelligence (Ai) technologies. Among these countries are China, india, iran, israel, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. indeed, weapons systems with autonomous functions are already being used in Ukraine and other conflicts.

These countries are

unlikely to stop their use of these weapons, and like most other weapons developed for military use, they will be bought and abused by criminals and others for criminal purposes, beyond the capacity of law enforcement agencies.

So far, the pleas of many significant international figures to legislate against these weapons have been ignored. Among these persons are the Pope; BanKi-Moon, the former UN Secretary-General, and the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions.

Perhaps the pre-eminent group to which the world should be listening is a group of engineers, Ai and robotics experts, and other scientists and researchers from thirty-seven countries. They have issued the “Scientists’ Call to Ban Autonomous Lethal Robots”, in which they insist that “decisions about the application of violent force must not be delegated to machines.”

Groups arguing for legally binding instruments to maintain human control over these weapons, have stressed that “a fundamental condition of international humanitarian law, requires that some person must be held responsible for civilian deaths. Any weapon or other means of war that makes it impossible to identify responsibility for the casualties it causes does not meet the requirements of jus in bello (the right conduct in war) and, therefore, should not be employed in war.”

if, in war, there is a limitation on accountability and who could be brought to justice, in the dayto-day lives of ordinary citizens, the use of such weapons to kill or destroy, is even worse. Anonymity of the person, responsible for death or destruction through the use of autonomous weapons, could put them beyond the reach of the justice system and fling the doors wide open to

anarchy.

Nearly 70 countries now openly support a new legal framework to govern and regulate autonomy in weapons systems. But waiting for international treaties to be negotiated does not stop small states from acting within their own jurisdictions to adopt laws, prohibiting the importation and use of autonomous weapons and applying stiff penalties for violations.

The issue is real, and it is now.

Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com

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

sanctions lifted on a lfa nero super Yacht due to a ntigua and BarBuda ownership

THe PRiMe Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, has welcomed the news that the Government of the United States has removed Super Yacht, Alfa Nero, from its sanctions list.

The news was delivered to the Prime Minister this morning by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States who has been leading the effort in Washington to have the

Alfa Nero removed from the List of the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of foreign Assets Control (OfAC).

Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders explained that because the Alfa Nero is now lawfully owned by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, through the Antigua and Barbuda

Port Authority, the super yacht is no longer linked to the sanctioned Russian Oligarch, Anrey Yurev, and his family, and, therefore it is not regarded as ‘blocked property’.

Sir Ronald added that “effective today, US persons are permitted to engage in any lawful transactions, regarding the Alfa Nero, and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda can proceed

with an auction to sell the vessel”.

The Ambassador explained that the only prohibition on the Antigua and Barbuda Government, is that it cannot deal with any individual or entity which is sanctioned by OfAC.

“What this means is that the Antigua and Barbuda government cannot sell the vessel to a sanctioned person or entity or to any

entity or person linked to them”. Sir Ronald further advised that, “since the Antigua and Barbuda law, governing matters related to the Alf Nero specifically prohibits the sale of the vessel to a sanctioned person or entity, the Governments of the US and Antigua and Barbuda are in full agreement on this matter.”

Ambassador Sanders thanked the US Treasury

for its full cooperation in resolving this matter, adding that “the diplomatic outreach at several levels contributed greatly to the short span of time in getting the sanctions removed from the vessel, something which usually takes years.”

He said that, in all this, the guidance and support of Prime Minister Gaston Browne was a key factor.

The inTroducTion of autonomous weapons raises questions and concerns for small states on what can and should be allowed within their jurisdictions. Photo: businesswire.com

Super YachT alfa nero

NBA Finals, Page 17

MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2023

Anthonique clocks season’s best 10.99 in 100m

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Anthonique Strachan continues to display her consistent level of success in leading a field of Bahamians competing on Saturday at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica.

In the marquee women’s 100 metre event in the National Stadium, Strachan sped to her season’s best of 10.99 seconds as she chased Jamaican MVP Club training partner Shericka Jackson, the winner of the race in a meet record time of 10.78.

“I honestly feel no way about it. I’ve been training and working on fixing certain things,” Sttachan said. “I didn’t get a good start

in the race, but I still didn’t panic. I went through the phases and got the season’s best.”

For the second straight year as she continues her training in Jamaica, Strachan has ran under the 11-second barrier in the 100. She joined the elite field of five Bahamians to do so when she clocked her lifetime best of 10.98 last year.

“I’m content because it wasn’t the best execution on my part,” said Strachan, who leads all Bahamian females in the sprints so far this year. “Execution wise, I am just content with finishing because I am not expecting anything time wise.”

Her performance comes on the heels of her scantilizing personal best of 22.15 in her specialty in the 200m

at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah on May 28 where she again played second fiddle to Jackson, the winner in 21.98. “I’m not sure what’s next,” Strachan said. “I’m definitely training and trying to figure out what I can do to stay consistent,”

she said. “I’m hoping to have another meet before I come home (in July).”

Abaco native Steven Gardiner, back in fine form from an injured 2022 season, won the men’s 400m in an impressive time of 44.70, well ahead of America’s Vernon Norwood’s second place finish in 45.11.

A week earlier, Gardiner clocked his season’s best of 44.42 for his win in Bermuda.

The reigning Olympic Games champion has a lifetime best and national record of 43.48 that won him the World Championship title in 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

Back in Jamaica on Saturday, Commonwealth Games champion LaQuan Nairn sliced through the sand pit with a fourth place performance in the long

jump of 25-feet, 1 3/4-inches or 7.66 metres. Jamaican

Tajay Gayle topped the international field of competitors with his best leap of 26-3 3.4 (8.02m).

Grand Bahamian Donald Thomas produced a clearance of 6-8 3/4 (2.05m) that pegged him at number four on the final stat sheet.

Lushane Wilson of GC Foster College soared 7-2 1/2 (2.20m) to out-duel two other Jamiacans behind him.

Promising quarter-miler

Wendell Miller, also training out of the MVP Club, had to settle for sixth place in the B final of the men’s 400m in his SB’s best of 46.86 just behind Dennick Luke in 46.54.

Jamaica swept the top four spots led by Ravers’ Antonio Watson in a lifetime best of 44.75. South

Africa’s world record holder Wayde van Niekerk showed that he’s progressing back to his tip-top shape since an injury that kept him out the spotlight after his glaring performance won the men’s final race in a meet record time of 44.21.

GC Foster College’s Zandrion Branes was the only other competitor to dip under 45 seconds as he followed van Niekerk in his personal best of 44.90 to lead the rest of the field that featured Jamaicans and Americans.

All of these athletes are gearing up for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, August 19-27, but they will first have to come home and compete in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships in July.

‘Jazz’ delights the fans

LOOK for the construction of a new 50-metre pool in Grand Bahama and the development of various facilities throughout the Family Islands during this fiscal year of the Progressive Liberal Party’s tenure in office.

The promises were made by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis during the Budget 2023 report to Parliament last week in the House of Assembly. It’s expected that the government will allocate more than $20 million for the three-headed ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

During his address, Davis, the Minister of Finance, said as a part of our commitment to investing in young people, sports and the arts, his government has also budgeted to host the CARIFTA

Triathlon Championships in August, the CARIFTA Swimming Championship in 2024 and the return of the World Relays in 2024.

“The hosting of these sporting events plays a crucial role in our ‘Sports in Paradise’ initiative, as it not only celebrates athleticism but also creates a platform for aspiring Bahamian athletes to shine,” Davis said.

“This in turn can lead to a plethora of opportunities and avenues for their future success.”

As for the construction of the new pool in Grand Bahama, Davis said because of his long association with swimming, it will come as no surprise that he’s very excited that we have made provision in this budget to construct a 50-metre pool in Grand Bahama.

And the Member of Parliament for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador made it quite clear of his desire

to see the development of the sporting facilities in the Family Islands. “The facility in Cat Island is already near completion and serves as a benchmark for other facilities throughout The Bahamas,” he stated.

Just last month at the National Family Island Regatta in George Town, Exuma, the Bahamas

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations hosted a successful combined Age Group Trials and Kids Athletics Championships over the weekend at the original Thomas A Robinson national stadium.

The championships also served as a qualifier for the under 13 and 15 divisions for spots on the eight-member age group team for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships in July.

The BAAA is expected to now ratify the team following the championships. Among some of the leading contenders, based on their performances in the championships, were the following:

Under-13 girls - Rocelis Moxey of Swift

Athletics, Aniah Charles of the Bahamas Speed Dynamics; Trinity Rolle of Fast Track Athletics and Victoria Sandi-Aguilar of Unique Athletics.

Under-15 girls - Keyezra

Thomas of Speed Beginners and Ramonique

McLennon and Breyteisha

Kemp, both of Hurray

Murray.

Under-13 boys - Justin Shepherd of Swift Athletics; Ayden Russell of Unique Athletics and Ramorick McLennon of Hurray Murray. Boys under-15Rohman Rolle of Fast Forward Athletics; Neko Seymour of Team Velocity and Rion Larrimore of Hurray Murray.

Among the other divisional winners are Erin Strachan of Summer, Boost Athletics in the under-7 girls; Laveah

Johnson of Beginners Track in the under-9 girls and Tanaz Davis of Unique Athletics in the under-11 girls; Leslie Munnings Jr. of Kids Athletics and Kaden Bullard of Swift Athletics in the boys under-7; Daythan Ingraham of Swift Athletics in the boys under-9 and Jayden Jones, of Unique Athletics in the boys under-11.

• Here’s a look at the individual results posted in all of the age groups.

TRACK RESULTS

Girls 50 Meter Dash UNDER 7 Finals - 1. Strachan, Summer, Boost Athletics, 9.52. 2, Strachan, Erin, Kids Athletics A, 10.17. 3, Munnings, Amila, Kids Athletics A, 10.23. 4, Munroe, Riley, X-Treme Athletic, 10.34. 5, Brown,

ACES BEAT FEVER, STAY UNBEATEN

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— A’ja Wilson scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Candace Parker made two free throws with 24 seconds left and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Indiana Fever 84-80 yesterday to extend its franchise record for consecutive wins to open a season.

The Aces (6-0), who trailed by 10 points after Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell hit a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, closed the game on a 23-9 run.

Las Vegas used an 11-1 run capped by a Chelsea Gray’s three-point play that made it 72-all with 4:03 to play. Erica Wheeler answered with a layup and her 3 with 2:32 remaining gave the Fever a five-point lead but after Kelsey Plum scored inside for the Aces, Jackie Young made backto-back layups to make it 80-79.

Jonquel Jones scores nine points in 86-82 loss to Sky

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE New York Liberty team was sporting the third best record in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and a four-game win streak going into yesterday’s matchup against the Chicago Sky.

The team’s early season momentum came to a halt as they fell to the Sky 86-82. It was both teams’ second matchup this past weekend as the Liberty defeated the team on Friday 77-76 to sneak away with a one-point win following a goahead shot by Breanna Stewart.

In Sunday’s matchup, it looked like the Liberty’s win streak would continue after a strong opening half of the game.

The team opened up their game against the Sky 18-15 in the first quarter at Barclays Center.

Jonquel Jones contributed nine points and six rebounds in 21 minutes on the floor. Her team really upped the ante in the second quarter as they outscored their opponents 29-15, making the score 47-30 heading into halftime.

FROM PAGE 15

Sta’Viah, X-Treme Athletic, 10.36. 6, Henfield, Aja, Beginners Track, 11.00. 7, Daxon, Syriah, Kids Athletics A, 11.91.

Girls 150 Meter Dash

UNDER 7 - 1, Strachan, Summer, Boost Athletics, 29.09. 2, Strachan, Erin, Kids Athletics A, 29.99. 3, Munroe, Riley, X-Treme Athletic, 31.06. 4, Brown, Sta’Viah, X-Treme Athletic, 32.65. 5, Munnings, Amila, Kids Athletics A, 33.06. 6, Henfield, Aja, Beginners Track, 35.36. 7, Daxon, Syriah, Kids Athletics A, 35.93.

Girls 80 Meter Dash

UNDER 9 - 1, Johnson, Laveah, Beginners Track, 13.11, 2, Miller, Monae, Unique Athletics, 13.67, 3, Rolle, Kasey, Beginners Track, 13.79, 4, Winder,

Jones also dished out two assists as the team appeared to be in the driver’s seat going into the third quarter.

However, the tide quickly turned in the second half despite the Liberty team leading by as much as 19 points in the game.

The Sky were able to chip away at the Liberty’s lead in the quarter and at the 4:24 mark a jump shot made by Courtney Williams made the score 72-70.

Now, with New York on the ropes, Stewart responded with six straight points to tie the game 76-76 with more than two minutes left on the clock.

Williams, who amassed 10 points in the fourth quarter for the Sky, hit a big three-point bucket down the stretch with 1:42 left in the game.

New York’s Courtney Vandersloot made a layup with 59 seconds remaining to make the score 80-78.

However, despite the near triple double performance by Vandersloot and a 20-point game by Stewart, the team was unable to overcome being outscored in the second half by the Sky 56-35.Stewart turned in a team-high 20 points

Deshanna, R.N.Gomez School, 14.03, 5, Morgan, Delia, Speed Capacity M, 14.23, 6, Fernander, Gianni, X-Treme Athletic, 14.70, 7, Hepburn, Chanelle, Beginners Track, 14.76, 8, #3119

Thompson, Melody, Beginners Track, 15.11. Girls 200 Meter Run

UNDER 9 - 1, Johnson, Laveah, Beginners Track, 35.42, 2, Miller, Monae, Unique Athletics, 35.84. 3, Williams, Teshan, Beginners Track, 36.21. 4, Winder, Deshanna, R.N.Gomez School, 37.59, 5, Rolle, Kasey, Beginners Track, 37.62, 6, Morgan, Delia, Speed Capacity M, 38.56. 7, Thompson, Melody, Beginners Track, 38.58. 8, Hepburn, Chanelle, Beginners Track, 40.37. Girls 4x100 Meter Relay

UNDER 9 - , Beginners Track Club ‘A’ 1:13.02. 2, X-Treme Athletics Track Club ‘A’ 1:21.31.

to pair with 11 boards and four assists. Vandersloot capped off the day with 18 points, 10 dimes and eight assists, two-shy of a triple double in the loss.

Girls 100 Meter Dash

UNDER 11 Finals - 1. Davis, Tanaz, Unique Athletics, 14.49. 2, Hutchinson, Shayne, Unique Athletics, 16.20. 3, Newbold, Autumn, X-Treme Athletic, 16.52. 4, #3141 Strachan, Jemiah, Fast Forward Ath, 16.70. 5, Rolle, Madison, Fast Forward Ath, 17.00. 6, Thompson, Shekinah, Speed Capacity M, 17.44. 7, Major, Jehlani, Roadrunners Trac, 17.55. 8, Griffen, Hadassah, Hurray Murray, 18.57.

Girls 200 Meter Run

UNDER 11 - 1. Davis, Tanaz, Unique Athletics, 31.10. 2, Symonette, Kailia, Kids Athletics A, 32.99. 3, Munroe, Rayven, X-Treme Athletic, 33.34. 4, Bullard, Dazariah, Kids Athletics A, 33.64. 5, Strachan, Elexia, Kids Athletics A, 33.99. 6, Rolle, Keeshan, Roadrunners Trac, 34.10. 7, Miller, Kaleigh, X-Treme Athletic, 34.19. 8, Key, Jazarria, Speed Capacity M, 34.64.

Girls 300 Meter Run

UNDER 11 - 1, Munroe, Rayven, X-Treme Athletic, 53.26. 2, Symonette, Kailia, Kids Athletics A, 53.46.

3, Bullard, Dazariah, Kids Athletics A, 55.38. 4, Strachan, Elexia, Kids Athletics A, 55.66. 5, Miller, Kaleigh, X-Treme Athletic, 55.83.

6. Key, Jazarria, Speed Capacity M, 56.05. 7, Rolle, Keeshan, Roadrunners Trac, 56.66. 8, Strachan, Mikhala, Hurray Murray,

1:03.06. Girls 4x100 Meter Relay

UNDER 11 - 1, X-Treme Athletics Track Club ‘A’ 1:05.87. 2, Kids Athletics Academy ‘A’ 1:07.93. Girls 100 Meter Dash

UNDER 13 Finals - 1, Moxey, Rocelis, Swift Athletics, 12.97. 2, Charles, Aniah, Bahamas Speed DY, 13.41. 3, Fisher, Charlee, Unique Athletics, 13.80. 4, McKenzie, Maliyah, Boost

After being unable to complete the weekend sweep against the Sky, Jones’ New York Liberty will look to bounce back against the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday night at 7pm.

Athletics, 14.33. 5, Sands, Shayla, Roadrunners Trac, 14.78. 6, Ferguson, Taylor, Speed Capacity M, 14.99. 7, Nelson, Chasey, X-Treme Athletic, 15.01. 8, McKinney, Denia, Red Line Athleti, 15.16. Girls 200 Meter Dash

UNDER 13 - 1, Charles, Aniah, Bahamas Speed DY, 27.79. 2, Curry, Taaj, Unique Athletics, 28.96. 3, Fisher, Charlee, Unique Athletics, 28.97. 4, Curtis, Paris, Unique Athletics, 29.45. 5, McKenzie, Maliyah, Boost Athletics, 29.78. 6, Sands, Shayla, Roadrunners Trac, 30.74. 7, Hall, Ciana, T-Bird Flyers, 31.02,. 8, Nelson, Chasey, X-Treme Athletic, 31.05.

Girls 400 Meter Run

UNDER 13 - 1, Rolle, Trinity, Fast Track Athle, 1:04.85. 2, Sandi-Aguilar, Victoria, Unique Athletics, 1:05.17. 3, Curry, Taaj, Unique Athletics, 1:07.83. 4, Williams, Charltonique, Speed Begins, 1:07.88. 5, Curtis, Paris, Unique Athletics, 1:08.72. 6, Burrows, A’Niyah, Hurray Murray, 1:11.62. 7, Munnings, Haleel, Hurray Murray, 1:16.50. 8, Hall, Ciana, T-Bird Flyers, 1:16.98.

Girls 800 Meter Run

UNDER 13 - 1, SandiAguilar, Victoria, Unique Athletics, 2:39.87. 2, Collie, Imani, Striders Track C, 2:45.53. 3, Martin, Yeindera, Hurray Murray, 2:52.00. 4, Burrows, A’Niyah, Hurray Murray, 2:53.02. 5, Bain, Shimoi, Hurray Murray, 3:02.42. 6, Munnings, Haleel, Hurray Murray, 3:03.94. 7, McKenzie, Anthonera, Hurray Murray, 3:26.62. Girls 1500 Meter Run

UNDER 13 - 1, Collie, Imani, Striders Track C, 5:53.35. 2, Bain, Shimoi, Hurray Murray, 6:13.71. 3, Martin, Yeindera, Hurray Murray, 6:28.85.

Aliyah Boston tied it by making the second of two free throws for Indiana (1-4) with 47.1 to go, but Parker’s foul shots put the Aces in front.

Mitchell missed a layup with 15 seconds left and Las Vegas dribbled the clock down until Alysha Clark was fouled with 1.7 seconds left and hit two free throws to seal the game.

SUN 80, WINGS 74

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — DeWanna Bonner scored 22 points, Brionna Jones added 21, and the Connecticut Sun held off a second-half rally by Dallas, defeating the Wings.

Leading 63-52 heading to the fourth quarter, the Sun held on although their lead was down to seven with seven minutes to go after Arike Ogunbowale hit a jumper for the Wings.

Jones hit a jumper to give the Sun a 74-65 lead at the two-minute mark and a jumper by the Wings’ Awak Kuier was the only made basket before the final minute in which the Sun went 6-for-6 at the foul line.

Alyssa Thomas had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut (6-1) and Tiffany Hayes added 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. Satou Sabally had 26 points and 14 rebounds — both game highs — for Dallas (3-3).

Girls 4x100 Meter Relay

UNDER 13 - 1, Unique

Athletics ‘A’ 55.62. 2, Roadrunners Track Club ‘A’ 56.24. Girls 100 Meter Dash

UNDER 15 Finals - 1, Thomas, Keyezra, Speed Begins, 12.19. 2, Wright, Sarsha, Team Velocity, 12.86. 3, Fraser, Zara, Fast Forward Ath, 12.89. 4, Thompson, Kaylee, Fast Track Athle, 13.01. 5, Watson, Nataya, Team Velocity, 13.24. 6, Fraser, Savannah, Fast Forward Ath, 13.31. 7, Shepherd, Dwaynique, Fast Forward Ath, 13.48. 8, Levarity, Leyvontanique, X-Treme Athletic, 14.16.

Girls 200 Meter Dash

UNDER 15 - 1, Thomas, Keyezra, Speed Begins, 24.25. 2, Fraser, Zara, Fast Forward Ath, 26.72. 3, Fraser, Savannah, Fast Forward Ath, 26.85. 4, Watson, Nataya, Team Velocity, 26.90. 5, Thompson, Kaylee, Fast Track Athle, 27.12. 6, Wright, Sarsha, Team Velocity, 27.42. 7, Shepherd, Dwaynique, Fast Forward Ath, 7.93. 8, Smith, Syraia, Team Velocity, 28.89.

Girls 400 Meter Run

UNDER 15 - 1, McLennon, Ramonique, Hurray Murray, 1:01.18. 2, Farrington, Daveigh, Red Line

Athleti, 1:02.62. 3, Key, Jasmine, Speed Capacity M, 1:11.85. 4, Murphy, Cartia, Hurray Murray, 1:16.59.

Girls 800 Meter Run

UNDER 15 - 1, Kemp, Breyteisha, Hurray Murray, 2:35.92. 2, McLennon, Ramonique, Hurray Murray, 2:37.00. 3, Kemp, Breynice, Hurray Murray, 2:41.71. 4, Key, Jasmine, Speed Capacity M, 3:09.98.

5, Johnson, Eden, Team Velocity, 3:16.86. Girls 1500 Meter Run

UNDER 15 - 1, Kemp, Breyteisha, Hurray

BUDGET

FROM PAGE 15

Government announced that while they proclaimed sailing as the national sport, Davis assured the sailors that his government has set aside funding in this budget to develop it.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Davis said they appreciate that numerous civic and non-governmental organisations are facing persistent challenges in resuming their usual operations.

But he charged that this budget contains increased allocations for independent schools and children’s homes to be able to function in the manner that they should prior to the pandemic.

“This, combined with the increase in social services benefits which was a feature of last year’s budget, demonstrates this administration’s commitment to assisting the most vulnerable among us,” he summed up.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg is expected to elaborate a little more on the allocations for sports when the debate on the budget takes place in the House of Assembly.

Murray, 5:48.15. 2, Kemp, Breynice, Hurray Murray, 6:02.84. 3, Johnson, Eden, Team Velocity, 6:41.33. Girls 4x100 Meter Relay UNDER 15 - 1, Team Velocity ‘A’ 51.70. 2, Fast Forward Athletics ‘A’ 51.72. 3, Roadrunners Track Club ‘A’ 54.00. 4, X-Treme Athletics Track Club ‘A’ 57.29.

NEW York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) gets the rebound against the Seattle Storm as guard Courtney Vandersloot looks on during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Tuesday, May 30 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

SEATTLE Storm center Ezi Magbegor (13) moves the ball against New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Seattle.

(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Miami Heat even series

HEAT ROAR BACK IN 4TH QUARTER, BEAT NUGGETS 111-108 IN GAME 2

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

DENVER (AP) — Gabe

Vincent scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 21 and the Miami Heat evened up the NBA Finals by overcoming a monster effort from Nikola Jokic to beat the Denver Nuggets 111108 in Game 2 last night.

Max Strus scored 14 and Duncan Robinson had 10 for the Heat, who had a big early lead, then got down by as many as 15 before reclaiming the lead in the fourth.

Miami outscored Denver 36-25 in the final period, erasing an eight-point deficit going into the final frame.

And even then, they had to dig deep to finish it off.

Jokic scored 41 points and was 16 of 28 from the floor, the last of those shots a 4-footer with 36 seconds left to get the Nuggets within three.

Denver elected not to foul on the ensuing Miami possession. Butler missed a 3, and with a chance to tie, Jamal Murray missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Murray had 18 points and 10 assists for Denver, while Aaron Gordon had

12 points and Bruce Brown scored 11.

Game 3 is Wednesday in Miami.

Denver had been 11-0 with a double-digit lead in the playoffs.

Strus, who was 0 for 10 in Game 1, had four 3-pointers in the first quarter of Game 2.

Butler made a jumper with 4:56 left in the opening quarter to put Miami up 21-10, tying the secondbiggest lead any opponent had built in Denver so far in these playoffs. In a flash, it was gone – and then some. The Nuggets outscored Miami 32-11 over the next 9 minutes, turning the double-digit deficit into a double-digit lead thanks to an absolute 3-point barrage.

In a 70-second span early in the second quarter, Denver got four 3s – more points than Miami got in that entire 9-minute stretch – and they came from four different players: Bruce

Brown, then Jeff Green, then Murray, then Gordon. Boom, boom, boom, and boom. Murray had five straight points to end the flurry, and Denver led 44-32 when it was over. The Heat managed to close the gap to 57-51 by the half, but whatever good feeling Miami had after the opening minutes was long gone. From there, the fight was on. Miami didn’t let Denver get away – then found a way in the fourth.

TIP-INS

Heat: Miami changed its starting lineup, with Kevin Love back in the opening five and Caleb Martin – who missed practice Saturday with an illness –coming off the bench. …

The Heat got their 13th win of these playoffs, breaking a tie with the 1999 New York Knicks for the most ever by a No. 8 seed.

Nuggets: Denver hadn’t lost a game since May 7 – four weeks ago. … Nuggets legends Alex English,

LaPhonso Ellis (who actually ended his NBA career with Miami) and David Thompson were among those in attendance.

HERRO UPDATE

Injured Heat guard Tyler Herro played 2-on-2 on Saturday as he continues his efforts to try to return from a broken hand at some point in these finals — but remained out. Herro got hurt in the first half of Game 1 of Round 1 at

Milwaukee. His status for Game 3 is unclear.

EXPANSION TALK

Commissioner Adam Silver told NBA TV before the game that negotiations for the next media rights deal are now a priority since the new Collective Bargaining Agreement has been ratified — and how expansion talk will come after that.

Silver said he thinks the media deal negotiations

will begin “in earnest probably this next spring.” And after that, plans to add franchises will be the next item on the to-do list.

“We don’t have anything specific in mind right now,” Silver said. “But I think it makes sense over time if you’re a successful organisation to continue to grow. There’s no doubt there’s a lot of great cities we’re interested in having in the NBA.”

French Open: Alcaraz likes to watch replays of his best shots, faces Tsitsipas

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

PARIS (AP) — Some friendly advice, sports fans:

If Carlos Alcaraz is playing, do not look away. Even for a moment. Because it’s likely he’ll conjure up some sort of highlight-worthy mix of ability, athleticism and awareness that drops the jaw.

Anyone who’s watched him play lately knows this. Anyone who’s played against him lately knows this. And he knows this. Which is why the No. 1-ranked Alcaraz himself acknowledged through that now-familiar smile that he’ll glance up at the stadium video boards “a lot of times” to see a replay of what he just did.

Up to his usual tricks at Court Philippe Chatrier yesterday, Alcaraz mixed a bit of this — a back-to-thenet ‘tweener lob — and a bit of that — a full-sprint-thenslide wide of the doubles alley for a backhand winner at a seemingly impossible angle — along the way to reaching the French Open quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 17 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy.

“Today he showed,” Musetti said, “that he probably can win this tournament.”

First things first. Next for Alcaraz, a 20-year-old from Spain who won the U.S. Open in September, comes what could be a tougher test: His quarterfinal opponent will be No. 5 Stefanos

Tsitsipas, a two-time major runner-up who advanced by beating qualifier Sebastian Ofner 7-5, 6-3, 6-0.

Win that, and Alcaraz could find himself in a semifinal against Novak Djokovic. He broke a tie with rival Rafael Nadal by reaching the French Open quarterfinals for the record 17th time, never truly in trouble during a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Juan Pablo Varillas.

“Well, I’m proud of it, but my attention is already on the next match,” said Djokovic, who now meets No. 11 Karen Khachanov.

“I know what my goal is here. I’m trying to stay, mentally, the course and of course not look too far.”

That’s because Djokovic is closing on bettering Nadal in a more prestigious category: Grand Slam singles championships. Both currently sit at 22.

For Djokovic, that total includes two at Roland Garros, in 2016 and 2021, and he can become the first man to own at least three trophies from each major tournament.

Nadal is a 14-time champion in Paris but is missing this time because of a hip injury; he had arthroscopic surgery Friday night that is expected to sideline him for the rest of the year.

“I really hope that his rehabilitation process can go well and that we can see him next season. He’s so important for our game, on and off the court, one of the greatest legends of tennis

in the history of the game,” Djokovic said.

“We want to see a healthy Rafa, no question about it.”

The No. 3-seeded Djokovic is this far for the 14th time in a row at the French Open and for the 55th time overall at all majors. Roger Federer, who retired with 58, is the only man to reach more.

Djokovic takes an 8-1 head-to-head mark into Tuesday’s meeting with Khachanov, who defeated Lorenzo Sonego 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7), 6-1.

“He’s one of the toughest tasks, toughest opponents,” Khachanov said about Djokovic, “and you cannot count him out.”

Elina Svitolina, participating in her first Slam

since having a baby in October, made her way into the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win against No. 9 Daria Kasatkina, who was in the final four in Paris a year ago. Svitolina, who is from Ukraine, skipped the postmatch handshake against her Russian opponent because of the ongoing war; Kasatkina offered a thumbs-up to Svitolina.

Svitolina goes up against No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion. Sabalenka grabbed the first five games and the last nine points of a topsy-turvy 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens at night. Just like after her thirdround victory, Sabalenka,

who is from Belarus, did not attend the traditional postmatch news conference. Instead, the tournament allowed her to speak with a member of the WTA’s editorial staff. At media sessions following each of her first two matches in Paris, Sabalenka was asked about her stance on the war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, when Russia invaded that country with help from Belarus.

Sabalenka led 5-0, then suddenly Stephens pulled even at 5-5. But Sabalenka took the last two points of that opening set. Then, in the second, Stephens was serving at 4-all, 40-love — and wouldn’t take another point. Sabalenka was the one determining the outcome of most exchanges: She finished with far more winners (24-5) and far more unforced errors (40-19).

Two unseeded women will play each other in another quarterfinal: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the 2021 runner-up at Roland Garros, and Karolina Muchova.

Pavlyuchenkova, who missed last year’s tournament as part of a lengthy absence with a knee injury, got past a third consecutive seeded opponent, No. 28 Elise Mertens, by a 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3 score. Muchova was a 6-4, 6-4 winner against Elina Avanesyan, who lost in qualifying but got into the main draw when another player withdrew. In Musetti, Alcaraz was taking on someone who

won their only previous matchup, in a clay-court final at the Hamburg Open last year. Musetti also had not dropped a set through three matches in Paris.

But this was a significant step up in competition. Alcaraz accumulated a 42-17 edge in total winners, while managing to make the same number of unforced errors, 23.

He could pick and choose how to undo Musetti’s game.

Hit behind him along the baseline. Hit right at him too powerfully to allow a reply. Hit a forehand passing shot down the line that appeared headed wide before curling in. Hit the softest drop volleys imaginable, so they’d arrive and barely bounce.

“Certain shots, certain athletic moves, other players don’t do,” Musetti said.

Alcaraz was asked afterward whether he’ll ever see a opponent come up with a stroke that he’d like to figure out how to add to his repertoire.

“I don’t think that I want to learn it,” came the answer. “I just want ... to hit a better shot.”

Heat centre Bam Adebayo (13) shoots the ball while defended by Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, during the second half of Game 2 of basketball’s NBA Finals last night in Denver. (AP Photos/Mark J Terrill)

MIAMI Heat forward Duncan Robinson (55) reacts during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets last night in Denver.

SPAIN’s Carlos Alcaraz plays a tweener against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris yesterday. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

BAHAMAS BOWL RETURNS DECEMBER 16

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter

THE ninth edition of the 2023 HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl will return to Bahamian soil on Saturday, December 16. The event is set to kick off at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium at 11am to commence the start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football bowl season.

The event will be televised by ESPN and it will be the earliest kickoff start time in its nine-year history.

Lea Miller-Tooley, executive director of the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, talked about her excitement surrounding December’s football extravaganza.

“It’s an honour to be the very first game of bowl season,” she said.

“It’s an action-packed time of year for college football, and the

HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl delivers a unique atmosphere with two great teams enjoying a week in one of the most beautiful locations in the world,” she added.

The bowl game will feature teams from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Conference USA (C-USA).

The HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl is just one of 17 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN events.

CHISHOLM JR MAKES A CEREMONIAL CATCH ON BAHAMAS HERITAGE NIGHT IN MIAMI

In last year’s game, for one of the longest running international bowl games in college football history, the University of Alabama (UAB) Blazers took down the Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks 24-20.

The Blazers won after their Reynard Ellis responded with a defensive tackle on the Redhawks’ receiver Jalen Walker at the two-yard line, disrupting any late game offence as time winded down in the game.

For the Blazers it was their second consecutive bowl game win as they previously took home the win of the 2021 Independence Bowl against Brigham Young University (BYU).

Other previous bowl game winners include the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders who defeated the University of Toledo Rockets in 2021.

The University of Buffalo bested the University of North Carolina 49ers in 2019.

Additionally, the Florida International University (FIU) Panthers got the victory over the Toledo Rockets in 2018. The Redhawks won in 2017, Old Dominion claimed victory in 2016, Western Michigan got the win in 2015 and Western Kentucky in 2014. The HomeTown Lenders will once again serve as the title sponsor of the Bahamas Bowl for the second consecutive year after last week’s announcement.

BURGER HITS GRAND SLAM AS WHITE SOX BEAT TIGERS 6-2 FOR SWEEP

CHICAGO (AP) —

Jake Burger’s game-ending grand slam handed Liam Hendriks his first win since returning from cancer, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-2 yesterday for a three-game series sweep.

Hendriks (1-0) worked a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out two. It was the third big league appearance for the All-Star closer since he missed the start of the season after he was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Yoán Moncada and Tim Anderson walked with one out to load the bases for Burger, who hit a drive to left-centre off Alex Lange (3-1) for his 12th homer of the season. It was his first career slam and game-ending homer.

Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run homer for Detroit, which has dropped five of six. Matthew Boyd struck out nine while pitching five innings of one-run ball.

RANGERS 12, MARINERS 3 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Marcus Semien extended MLB’s longest hitting streak this season to 23 games, Jonah Heim homered and drove in five runs, and Texas’ offence kept rolling.

Corey Seager also went deep as the Rangers won consecutive games by a combined score of 28-9 after taking the series opener 2-0. Nathan Eovaldi (8-2) pitched six scoreless innings for his seventh consecutive victory.

The AL West leaders scored at least 10 runs for a major league-leading 16th time in 58 games.

Seattle rookie Bryce Miller (3-3) was tagged for seven runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.

RAYS 6, RED SOX 2

BOSTON (AP) — Yandy Díaz’s sixth-inning RBI single turned into a two-run Little League homer, and the major league-best Rays beat the sloppy Red Sox.

Josh Lowe, Luke Raley and Díaz each had two hits for the Rays (42-19), who are 6-1 against AL East rival Boston this season.

Alex Verdugo had two doubles, a triple and scored twice for the last-place Red Sox. Rays rookie Taj Bradley (4-2) gave up two runs and six hits in five innings.

Red Sox starter Tanner Houck (3-5) allowed four runs and five hits over five innings.

YANKEES 4, DODGERS 1

LOS ANGELES (AP) —

Anthony Rizzo scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on a grounder and the New York Yankees edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 last night in what was a pitchers dual for six innings between Domingo Germán and Bobby Miller.

Anthony Volpe provided some insurance with a tworun homer in the ninth for the Yankees, who were without AL MVP Aaron Judge, after he injured his right foot after crashing into the right-field bullpen door while making a running catch on Saturday.

BRAVES 8, DIAMONDBACKS 5

PHOENIX (AP) — Eddie Rosario hit a grand slam off Miguel Castro with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting Atlanta to the victory.

Arizona led 5-4 heading into the ninth after Ketel Marte hit a two-run homer and rookie Corbin Carroll connected for a solo shot.

Castro (3-2) appeared as if he might escape the jam after getting Travis d’Arnaud out on a soft liner, but Rosario just cleared the wall in right for his eighth homer.

A.J. Minter (3-5) got the win, and Raisel Iglesias worked around a walk in the ninth for his seventh save in eight chances.

ANGELS 2, ASTROS 1

HOUSTON (AP)

— Shohei Ohtani hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning, and the Angels avoided a fourgame series sweep.

Ohtani was hitless before clubbing a pitch from Phil Maton (0-1) off the wall in right field, driving in Gio Urshela for a 2-1 lead. The clutch swing gave Ohtani 41 RBIs on the season.

Luis Rengifo hit his third homer for Los Angeles, which stopped a three-game slide. Chris Devenski (3-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win against his first major league team, and Carlos Estévez got four outs for his 14th save.

Yainer Diaz connected for Houston, and Alex Bregman also had two hits. Bregman extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

BLUE JAYS 6,

two-run homer, and the Blue Jays finished a threegame sweep. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also went deep for the Blue Jays, who blew a four-run lead but quickly recovered. Toronto has won four straight and six of seven.

Tommy Pham hit two of New York’s four solo homers. Pete Alonso and Starling Marte also connected for the Mets, who completed a 3-3 homestand that started with a three-game sweep of Philadelphia.

Nate Pearson (3-0) gave up Alonso’s major league-leading 21st homer and Marte’s tying drive in the sixth before Toronto regained the lead against Dominic Leone (0-2). Jordan Romano tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his 15th save.

GUARDIANS 2, TWINS 1 MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

— Triston McKenzie tossed five scoreless innings in his injury-delayed season debut, and Cleveland’s Josh Naylor delivered a breakthrough RBI double in the seventh.

McKenzie had 10 strikeouts and only one baserunner, a two-out single by Michael Taylor in the third. The 25-year-old right-hander had been sidelined by a muscle strain in his shoulder.

Twins starter Joe Ryan (7-3) was just as sharp as McKenzie until José Ramírez drew a two-out walk in the seventh. Naylor followed with a drive off the limestone facade that juts out over the right-field wall, putting the Guardians on the board.

Andrés Giménez then greeted Caleb Thielbar with an RBI triple. Willi Castro homered for the Twins. James Karinchak (2-4) got the win, and Emmanuel

Clase posted his MLB-best 19th save with a scoreless ninth inning.

CUBS 7, PADRES 1 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Marcus Stroman pitched six sharp innings and Miguel Amaya hit his first big league homer, leading the Cubs to the victory.

Yan Gomes and Trey Mancini connected for back-to-back homers for Chicago in the second. Amaya drove in Gomes with a two-run shot in the third, lifting the Cubs to a 7-0 lead. Stroman (6-4) allowed an unearned run and four hits. He struck out six and walked three in his fourth consecutive win.

Fernando Tatis Jr. had two of San Diego’s five hits. Ryan Weathers (1-4) was tagged for five runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings.

PIRATES 2, CARDINALS 1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rich Hill pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning, and the Pirates beat the Cardinals for a three-game series sweep.

Ji Hwan Bae’s two-run single off Miles Mikolas (4-2) in the first provided all the offence Hill would need.

Ke’Bryan Hayes singled three times and is hitting .562 (9 for 16) over his last four games. The 43-year-old Hill (5-5) struck out six in 6 2/3 innings. David Bednar worked the ninth for his 13th save and third in as many days.

Andrew Knizner hit his seventh homer for St. Louis in the seventh inning. Luken Baker — called up to the majors for the first time early Sunday — picked up the first two hits of his career. But the Cardinals lost for the fifth time in six games.

(AP Photo/ Nam Y Huh)

BREWERS 5, REDS 1

CINCINNATI (AP) — Adrian Houser pitched seven sparkling innings and Andruw Monasterio hit his first career homer, leading the Brewers to the victory.

Victor Caratini also went deep as Milwaukee (32-27) won for the fourth time in five games. The NL Central-leading Brewers also clinched their first road series win since they swept a three-game set at Seattle from April 17-19. Houser (2-1) allowed six hits, including Jake Fraley’s seventh homer in the seventh.

Cincinnati (26-33) dropped its fourth straight game. Reds right-hander Ben Lively (3-3) was charged with five runs and six hits in seven innings in his first loss since May 19.

PHILLIES 11, NATIONALS 3

WASHINGTON (AP)

— Kyle Schwarber hit two three-run homers, and the Phillies beat the Nationals in the rubber game of their weekend set.

Philadelphia’s Drew Ellis hit his first two homers of the season. J.T. Realmuto went deep for the second day in a row for the Phillies, who finished a 4-6 road trip.

Nick Castellanos had three hits.

Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez (1-2) pitched seven innings of one-run ball. Ildemaro Vargas hit a two-run homer for Washington. Trevor Williams (2-4) was charged with four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

MARLINS 7, ATHLETICS 5

MIAMI (AP) — Luis

Arraez hit a tiebreaking infield single in the eighth inning, and Miami beat Oakland to complete a three-game series sweep.

Joey Wendle doubled against A’s reliever Austin Pruitt to lead off the inning, and then advanced on Jacob Stallings’ single.

Stallings took second on right fielder Ramon Laureano’s throw to the plate as Wendle remained at third.

Sam Moll relieved Pruitt (1-3) and struck out pinchhitter Jorge Soler before Arraez’s hard smash over a drawn-in infield bounced off second baseman Aledmys Diaz’s glove to give Miami a 6-5 lead.

Nick Fortes ran for Stallings and scored from third on Shea Langeliers’ passed ball.

Garrett Cooper went deep for the Marlins. Tanner Scott (4-1) got the win, and Dylan Floro closed with a perfect ninth for his sixth save.

ROYALS 2, ROCKIES 0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brady Singer pitched five-hit ball into the sixth inning, leading the last-place Royals to the victory.

Michael Massey hit an RBI single in the fifth for Kansas City.

Maikel Garcia led off the eighth with his first major league homer.

Singer (4-4) struck out seven and walked none in 5 2/3 innings. Scott Barlow worked the ninth for his seventh save.

Mike Moustakas and Nolan Jones each had two of Colorado’s eight hits. Kyle Freeland (4-7) allowed four hits in sevenplus innings.

ORIOLES 8, GIANTS 3

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)

— Josh Lester drove in two runs for Baltimore with his first major league hit, and Tyler Wells won for the first time in his last four starts.

James McCann reached base three times for Baltimore, including his third home run.

Adley Rutschman added two hits and Ryan Mountcastle drew a bases-loaded walk to help the Orioles to their 13th series victory of the season.

A year ago, Baltimore didn’t win its 13th series until July 13.

Blake Sabol hit a tworun homer for the Giants. Anthony DeSclafani (4-5) allowed five earned runs in three innings.

Wells (4-2) had a careerhigh nine strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, including two in four of the first five innings.

MIAMI Marlins’ Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr makes a ceremonial catch on Bahamas Heritage Night before a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, June 3, in Miami.

(AP Photos/Lynne Sladky)

JAZZ Chisholm Jr looks out of the dugout before the start of a game against the San Diego Padres, on May 31 in Miami.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

CHICAGO White Sox’s Jake Burger (30), centre, is congratulated by teammates after hitting a grand slam during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Chicago yesterday.

Skippers celebrate victory

THE 54th annual Long Island Regatta came to a close on Saturday in Salt Pond, Long Island, with the New Legend, New Susan Chase and Sassi Sue all emerging as the divisional winners.

The New Legend carted off the top prize in Class A, followed by Ruff Justice and the Ed Sky in that order.

The New Susan Chase was declared the winner of Class B with Lady Sonia second and the Lonesome Dove coming in third.

And Sassie Sue was the champion in Class C. Bul Reg got second and Captain Lauren was third.

Among the dignitaries on hand for the regatta were Governor General CA Smith and Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.

The regatta followed the successful hosting of the National Family Island Regatta in picturesque George Town, Exuma, last month when the Bahamas Government declared sailing as the national sport. Davis, in his 2023 budget communication, alluded to the fact that his government will provide the necessary funding to ensure that the sport takes its prominent place in the country.

Sailing will be one of the sports contested during the return of the sixth Bahamas Games, one of the events to mark the country’s 50th Golden Jubilee Independence anniversary celebrations in July.

CLASS A winners ‘New Legend’ celebrate their victory during the 54th annual Long Island Regatta closing ceremony in Salt Pond, Long Island, on Saturday.

PRIME Minister and Minister of Finance Philip Davis enjoys a dance and the camaraderie at the Long Island Regatta.

MINISTER of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting gives remarks during the closing ceremony.

GOVERNOR General Sir Cornelius A Smith, far right, makes a trophy presentation to David Knowles, Skipper of ‘New Legend,’ winner of the Governor General’s Cup Race.