06132024 NEWS AND SPORT

‘I WAS BEATEN BY RBDF SUPERIOR’

Marine claims he was assaulted then abandoned on island

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A DEFENCE force

marine allegedly had his teeth knocked out and his eyes blackened by a superior officer on HMBS Kamalamee before the ship abandoned him in Inagua over the weekend, forcing him to buy a plane

ticket to New Providence. Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Raymond King said the matter is being investigated. “I’m unable to prejudice that formal inquiry,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “All members of the military are subject to service law and our military justice system

ROLLE: WAGES MUST GROW TO COUNTER INFLATION

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

CENTRAL Bank governor John Rolle said wages must grow to counter inflation.

His comment to reporters yesterday came before the Bahamas National Statistical Institute released Consumer Price Index information showing that

inflation in March increased by 1.6 per cent compared to February, an uptick compared to the 0.3 per cent increase between January and February. The institute also noted that the CPI rose 2.9 per cent in March compared to the same period in 2023. Mr Rolle told reporters

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said his successor is hypocritical for seeking to buy

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

the Princess Towers Hotel and International Bazaar in Grand Bahama, given the position he took when the Minnis administration sought to buy the Grand Lucayan resort. “They criticised us in

THE average Bahamas Power & Light residential customer will save about $460 over a year under the government’s equity rate adjustment, according to Energy Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis. The rate adjustments are part of the Davis administration’s energy

every way possible,” he said during his contribution to the budget debate in the House of Assembly on Tuesday. “Now look at them. They want to buy

By NEIL HARTNELL

reform plan and will take effect on July 1. Under the plan, residents will pay nothing on the first 200kWh they use per month, as the current 10.95 cents they pay will be eliminated, resulting in a monthly savings of $21.90. For the fuel charge, 2.5 cents will be eliminated on the tariff for the first

AFREXIMBANK’s annual meeting aimed to promote trade & growth with Caribbean

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE AFREXIMBANK’s annual meeting (AAM) and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2024 took place yesterday at Baha Mar’s convention centre, the first time the annual meeting has been held in the Caribbean.

The forum aims to “forge significant advancements in trade and investments, stimulating economic growth and driving profound societal change”.

Central Bank Governor John Rolle told reporters the forum is an opportunity for The Bahamas and Caribbean to connect to African countries and “emulate them where they can”.

“Any opportunity that we take advantage of, I think, where the private sector is able to grow their business through increased trade linkages I think is a good one, and I think the African case also illustrates that you have to think about trade as more than just shipping goods,” Mr Rolle said.

“A big part of what is traded today is services and expertise, and in the Caribbean region, we have lots of entities that are coming up, for example, in the fintech space. Bahamian and Caribbean firms are doing a lot internationally and making good footing in these markets as well.”

Mr Rolle said the Afreximbank has been active in the region “for several recent years” and has established offices and trade firms throughout the region.

Senior Vice President of Baha Mat Robert Sands said conferences of such “high profile and magnitude” are good for Baha Mar and The Bahamas, for they display the country’s

ability to host “world-class events” and “put equity into The Bahamas brand.”

“Certainly we have the accommodations and the facilities not only here, but also on Paradise Island to be able to host these types of conferences,” Mr Sands said. “And it also shows the role The Bahamas plays in terms of being a leader to attract these multinational type conferences to this destination.”

According to Mr Sands,

Baha Mar expects 3,000 people to attend the second day of the annual meeting, during which Prime Minister Davis is expected to speak.

“Certainly this shores up what would be traditionally a ‘shoulder period’ for us, and this type of business could not come at a better time to help us achieve the levels of occupancy that we’re looking forward to achieve this particular year,” Mr Sands said.

FORMER Vice Chair of the United States Federal Reserve Roger Ferguson speaks during the Afreximbank’s 31st Annual Meeting at Baha Mar yesterday.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

VIOLA DAVIS, an American actress and producer signed Monday on behalf of her company, JVL Media, an agreement with Afreximbank and FEDA in The Bahamas to create and elevate African narratives through the creative industry yesterday.

Photo: Eric Rose/BIS

FORMER Vice Chair of the United States Federal Reserve Roger Ferguson (left) and Fund of Export Development in Africa Chair Viswanathan Shankar (left) during the Afreximbank’s 31st Annual Meeting at Baha Mar yesterday.

INTERNATIONAL Trace Centre (ITC) Executive

Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton speaks during the Afreximbank’s 31st Annual Meeting.

CENTRAL Bank Governor John Rolle speaks during the Afreximbank’s 31st Annual Meeting yesterday.

Average BPL customers will see annual savings

800kWh.

“Combining the drop in the residential tariff along with the change to fuel charges will have a lasting effect on the bills of consumers,” Ms Coleby-Davis said during her contribution to the budget debate yesterday in the House of Assembly.

“Example one: The average residential bill is 655kWh, and they will save about $460 over a year with ERA.”

“Example two: If your residential bill is more modest at 200kWh, so it doesn’t go over $200 at all for the month –– we have plenty of those, Madam Speaker –– then you will save $323 in a year with ERA. As your bill will be much lower than the first example, this is a relatively larger saving. This is relief, Madam Speaker, and is much needed for our marginalized population.”

“Example three: If your electricity bill is 900kWh, you’ll still have a lower bill because you’ve had a savings on the first 800kWh, both from the base rate at

zero and from the minus 2.5 cents. So, if you have 800, you would naturally pay on your full 800. Now you start your payment from 201, so you are still getting to capture the savings at that category.”

She added: “Fiftyeight per cent of residential consumers always consume less than 800 kWh.

“Fifty-six per cent of regular commercial consumers, not on the general service, always consume less than 800 kWh.

“Sixty-nine per cent of the energy is consumed by residential consumers in the first two bands. This means that, while 42 per cent of consumers sometimes consume above 800 units, they seldom go way above.”

The new ERA rates will be in effect until the comprehensive tariff review is completed and approved by the government and URCA.

Mrs Coleby-Davis said energy costs should decrease over time due to efficiency upgrades at BPL, including installing a new HFO boiler at Clifton Pier and two new 30MW LNG burning units.

GB International Airport cost $2m not one dollar, says DPM

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

DEPUTY Prime Minister

Chester Cooper suggested yesterday that the Minnis administration misled the public when it said it bought the Grand Bahama International Airport for $1, saying the actual cost was about $2m.

“They said they bought this airport for $1,” he said.

“That’s what they told us, but I had the distinct privilege of looking at the records down at the ministry responsible for aviation, and the true cost was almost $2m, and they relieved the sellers of their obligation to repair it after they took the insurance money, much like the Grand Lucayan resort. They botched that, too. But what they botch, we fix.”

Former Tourism Minister

Dionisio D’Aguilar said in March 2021 that the airport was bought from Port Holdings and Port Group Ltd for $1.

‘Country

“Yes, Mr Speaker, one dollar, plus the assumption of a portion of staff-related costs which should not exceed $1m,” he said, adding: “So, the Airport Authority is purchasing about 2,500 acres of land, an 11,000-foot runway that was recently resurfaced, taxiways, ramps, etcetera, all for under $1m.”

Mr Cooper did not outline what the $2m price encompassed.

During his budget contribution in the House of Assembly, he also discussed the government’s Family Island Renaissance Programme, a $260m initiative to transform 14 Family Island airports.

Exuma and North Eleuthera are expected to require the most money.

In Grand Bahama, Mr Cooper said demolition works have already started for the airport, while a contract for its design build has been executed.

“We are building two beautiful, elevated terminals in Phase I. This is a

design build project and will be expedited,” he said. He foreshadowed that his team would be in West Grand Bahama and Bimini by the end of 2025, ready to “cut the ribbon”.

He said the new terminal in Bimini will be “unlike anything The Bahamas has ever seen”.

He said: “In Bimini, we are making massive progress. Just over six months ago, we signed a management agreement for the $80m redevelopment of the airport at South Bimini with Bimini Airport Development Partners. Already, BAPD has assumed management control of the airport. A new fire truck has been purchased and is on the way.”

He said work is ongoing on Cat Island’s new airport, which officials hope to complete by the third quarter of 2025.

He said despite delays, Exuma’s airport project is on track for completion by 2025.

“Long Island, you’ll be

getting your airport too,” he added.

“The Black Point Airport project is another testament to our forward-thinking approach.”

“Utilising the Great Harbour Cay template, the design includes a seating capacity for 70-80 passengers, a 6,000-foot runway, and a 6,000 square foot air terminal building, with port of entry and a $7m price tag, we’re looking at a 12 to 18 months completion.”

“In September 2021, the design contract for North Eleuthera Airport Landside works was awarded to Alexiou & Associates for $1.6m. The design, similar to Exuma Airport with some modifications, includes an expansion of the departures area to accommodate 400 passengers, was approved in April 2024.”

“The ongoing design of the Air Terminal Building and Crash Fire Rescue facilities highlights our commitment to enhancing passenger experience and safety.”

will surpass last year’s visitors as arrivals up 12 percent’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

TOURISM numbers remain on the upward swing, with visitor arrivals up 12 percent this year compared to the same period in 2023, according to Tourism Minister Chester Cooper.

He said the country welcomed nearly four million visitors in four months, adding that if this trend continues, The Bahamas will surpass last year’s tourism numbers and mark another record-breaking year.

“From January to April 2024, we have seen a significant increase in foreign air and sea arrivals, marking a 12.4 per cent rise compared to the same period in the record-setting 2023,” he said during the debate in the House Assembly yesterday.

“Simply put, that translates to almost four million visitors in four months.”

“If this average holds, and we hope it does, a million a month will result in a 20 per cent increase year over year or 12 million overall arrivals by year-end.”

He said the growth not only demonstrates the country’s resilience, but also underscores the “enduring allure of The Bahamas as a premier travel destination.” Hailing “our diverse

islands” as a major contributor “to our stellar performance,” Mr Cooper highlighted growth in Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera.

He said each island saw increases in arrivals of 6.8 per cent, 3.8 per cent, and 3 per cent, respectively, while the Berry Islands saw “an impressive 13.3 per cent rise in arrivals.”

New Providence remains by far the most popular destination, with 1.8m visitors welcomed between January to April, a 13.2 per cent increase compared to last year.

Regarding cruise tourism, Mr Cooper said there were 3.2 million cruise arrivals in the same period, a 15 per cent increase compared to 2023.

“This surge speaks to the strong partnerships we have forged with major cruise lines and the appeal of our ports of call,” he said.

He said stopover visitors have also shown a strong preference for extended stays, noting the average length of stay for stopover visitors was six nights as of April.

He said visitors from Africa had the longest stays.

“I hear my colleagues talking about this magnificent, I believe it was a 787 that came in this week for the Ethiopian Airlines,” Mr Cooper said.

He said officials would use the relationships they are building to encourage a direct service from The Bahamas to Africa.

Still, Mr Cooper said he remains concerned that the country lacks sufficient room to meet the growing demand.

“In fact, we need to double inventory with another 15,000 rooms over the next ten years to continue to attract high-value

guests and maintain our position as the undisputed tourism leader in the Caribbean,” he said.

Regarding the government’s downtown revitalisation project, Mr Cooper said nine abandoned buildings have been demolished, with three more targeted for demolition “in the short term.”

“This summer, we will expedite the projects on green spaces and we expect Tin Ferl to begin this summer,” he added.

MINISTER of Energy and Transport

JoBeth Coleby-Davis speaks during an event at the OPM on Monday detailing plans for BPL.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

DEPUTY Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Chester Cooper.

Rolle: Wages must grow to counter inflation

Campbell says rescued dolphins are ‘safe and secure’ as officials decide their fate

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

AGRICULTURE and Marine Resources Minister Jomo Campbell said five dolphins rescued from Blackbeard’s Cay last month remain “safe and secure” at Atlantis resort, with officials soon to decide on their fate.

Mr Campbell gave an update on the dolphin’s conditions during his contribution to the budget debate in the House of Assembly yesterday.

He said the initial 30-day assessment period ended three days ago and that officials were reviewing recommendations on the way forward.

“I am ever so thankful to all who expressed genuine interest and offered constructive advice and/ or physical assistance and

wish to assure the world that all five dolphins remain safe and secure at Atlantis’ Animal Care facility, Dolphin Cay,” Mr Campbell said.

“Dolphin Cay is one of the most sophisticated marine habitats in the world with the Caribbean’s premier marine life rescue and rehabilitation facility offering an extraordinary environment and marine mammal interaction programmes. It is a fully licensed and internationally accredited marine mammal facility, offering immediate expertise, veterinarian assistance in the interest and wellbeing of the dolphins.”

Action to save the five surviving dolphins –– Fiona, Harry, Diamond, Justice and Pigeon –– appeared to hasten only after The Bahamas was subjected to damaging media coverage

over the matter.

In early May, The Tribune reported that eight dolphins had died at the facility in recent years, and the remaining five were at risk of suffering a similar fate.

Government officials were alerted to the situation in April, but Mr Campbell previously said the delay in rescuing the dolphins resulted from “vexatious litigation” and other logistical matters.

“People tend to think that dolphins are like a bottle of water where you can just pick them up and move them from point A to point B, but as I indicated earlier, these are mammals, they think and act just like us, they have their own minds and all of that had to be taken into consideration,” he said at the time. “Nobody knew what they would go into when they got there.”

from page one

at Baha Mar yesterday: “What it is important for people to understand is that inflation is really describing how much prices are going up on average every year, so it means that we would’ve seen since 2020 the accumulated increase in prices which would affect the inflation.

“A part of what is important when you move beyond this point is for activities elsewhere in your economy to catch up, people to have the growth in their income and the like so that at least in terms of purchasing power terms, people can recover to levels that their incomes were able to afford before the run-up in prices.”

Mr Rolle also said the rate of inflation has been decreasing, with lower inflation seen in 2023 than 2022, a trend he expects to continue in 2024.

The Bahamas National Statistical Institute has not released information analysing wages recently, though it is a critical marker of an economy’s strength.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis warned during a recent budget communication in the House of Assembly that “the worst global inflation crisis in decades is really hitting our families hard”.

He added: “Salaries must keep pace with inflation, and be at a level which is competitive and fair.”

Basden highlights evolving nature of hurricanes during climate talk

THE plan to develop a predictive system to improve the ability to prepare for and respond to severe weather systems was highlighted at a recent climate talk this week.

Trevor Basden, senior vice president and director of Meteorology at the Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) provided an overview of the evolving nature of hurricanes and tropical storms affecting The Bahamas at the Bahamian American Association of the Washington, DC and Mid-Atlantic Region’s (BAAWMAR) Community Conversation on Facebook.

For his part, Mr Basden emphasised the increasing intensity and frequency of these storms and the urgent need for advanced predictive models to mitigate their impact. He underscored that The Bahamas is particularly vulnerable, ranking high in the Atlantic basin for major hurricanes,

especially impacting areas like Abaco and Grand Bahama. This vulnerability necessitates innovative approaches to forecasting and preparedness.

One of the key initiatives Mr Basden discussed was BACSWN’s plan to develop a predictive system to improve the ability to prepare for and respond to severe weather systems. This system aims to enhance the accuracy of storm tracking and intensity predictions, crucial for timely and effective disaster management. Mr Basden also addressed the critical role of visualisations in communicating weather forecasts to the public. He advocated for using more engaging and understandable 3D visualisations to help residents of vulnerable areas better comprehend potential impacts, which is crucial for effective evacuation and preparation strategies.

He pointed to

BACSWN’s partnerships with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), aimed at bringing the latest advancements in meteorological science to The Bahamas. These partnerships will also provide scholarships and training opportunities to Bahamians interested in the field, he said.

Mr Basden said: “We have already reached out to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and also NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. So we really have gotten together with these organizations, and they’re are showing great support with our idea of the visualisations to the extent that we would wish to offer at least 50 scholarships to deserving of Bahamians, who would be interested in meteorology and climate... we are willing to assist and provoke and encourage Bahamians.”

Mr Basden emphasised the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of increasing climate challenges. He underscored the need for continuous innovation, collaboration, and education to build a more resilient nation capable of withstanding the growing threats of climate change.

The live talk on “The Climate Crisis: Managing Risk, Recovery, and Resilience”, was moderated by Dr Khandra Sears, chair of BAAWMAR and also featured other experts, including Ms Barrise Griffin, Mr Charles Hamilton, Ms Shacara Lightbourne, Mr Giovanni Moss, and Mr Aarone Sargent, who provided a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted approach needed to address the climate crisis. The discussions underscored the collective effort required from local communities, government agencies, and international partners to effectively manage and mitigate the risks associated with climate change.

CENTRAL Bank Governor John Rolle speaks during the Afreximbank’s 31st Annual Meeting at Baha Mar yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

‘I was beaten by RBDF superior’

is robust enough to effectively address all breaches in a transparent and objective manner.”

Able Mechanic Marvaughn Miller, 28, in a written report to the RBDF’s internal intelligence department, said he and the officer had a “few drinks on the ship” before the crew went to a bar “and had a few more”.

The Tribune understands drinking alcohol is prohibited on board RBDF vessels.

Nonetheless, Mr Miller said when crew members returned to their ship, a physical altercation between himself and the senior officer occurred because he was frustrated with the man “constantly bullying and provoking” him.

He said another officer –– a leading seaman ––jumped in, punching and kicking him while he was on the floor.

He said his shirt was torn off, his lower back was injured, and he sustained scratches and bruises around his body.

He said after some crew members separated the men, he was taken to the bridge to calm down and later to his room to sleep.

He said he went to the crew’s mess the next day for a brief meeting. When the executive officer –– a midshipman –– asked if anyone had something to say, he said he did.

He said the senior officer then instructed the other crew members to exit the area, leaving him alone with the command team.

He wrote: “At this point,

I ask him directly, ‘Do you have an issue with me, sir?’ He did not respond. I asked once more, and he answered no, not looking in my direction. “Therefore, he then sat down and slowly inched next to where I was sitting, punching me multiple times in the head, mouth and face. After about five strikes to the head, he put me in a headlock. The command team did nothing to stop the onslaught, leaving

me to believe that this was premeditated, and the crew who was sent out on hearing all the commotion rushed back into the mess area and were able to separate us.”

Mr Miller said he later noticed that two of his teeth were missing, including a gold tooth he had implanted ten years ago. He also noticed he had a black eye. He said the executive officer instructed an

CORONER’S COURT JURY RULES JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE IN THE POLICE KILLING OF JOHNSON

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A CORONER’S Court jury returned a justifiable homicide finding yesterday in the police-involved killing case of Walter Johnson, 40, who reportedly fired a replica gun at officers while wearing a makeshift bulletproof vest on Hospital Lane in 2022. Constable William McKinney, one of the two subjects of the inquest, appeared calm and relieved as the five-person, allfemale jury read its findings. The other officer, Constable Tarino Curtis, was not present during the inquest and is reportedly in Canada. Relatives of the deceased were not in court when the finding was read.

Owen Hanna, the chief welfare officer of the police staff association, and other officers were present to support Constable McKinney.

The officers reportedly shot and killed Johnson on Hospital Lane and Meeting Street on April 9, 2022. This is the fifth

consecutive justified homicide finding, with jurors returning the same finding last month in the case of 32-year-old David Deslande

able mechanic to pack his things and “carry them to maritime”.

“Soon after my stuff was secured in maritime, HMBS Kamalamee left harbour, abandoning me with no way back to Nassau,” he wrote.

He said he was not reimbursed for his ticket to New Providence.

He said the executive officer called him when he arrived home, trying to dictate how he should write his report.

“Murder” Nicholls, who was killed in Fox Hill in 2017.

Two other inquests this year had homicide by manslaughter findings.

Officers this week testified that they were responding to information of an armed robbery when they encountered Johnson.

Inspector Errol Johnson, the lead officer that night, said the deceased raised a tan firearm in the direction of the officers before he heard a gunshot-like sound from the gun, prompting

“I stated that it should be written as it happened,” he wrote, adding: “Sadly I really wish that this situation never happened. We should have dealt with it in a more mature and professional manner. This situation is out of character for both of us.”

Mr Miller told The Tribune he wants the police involved and for the incident to become a criminal matter. He said he is somewhat

the two other officers to fire at the deceased.

Forensic officers testified that a replica Glock 19 pistol was recovered from the scene. One said this same replica matched the ones used in SWAT training. An officer also said that a phone was recovered from near the deceased.

Dr Caryn Sands, a forensic pathologist, said Johnson’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and right thigh.

Dr Sands also said that the deceased came into

satisfied with how the Defence Force has handled his complaint so far, but wishes he had received medical help earlier.

He said he does not trust the force to reach the right conclusion through its internal procedures.

“They tend to always lean on the side of the superior rank rather than who is right,” he said, adding: “I am seeking damages for all the bodily harm I endured when it happened.”

the morgue wearing a makeshift bulletproof vest lined with two metal plates; she said she had never seen anything like that before.

In his closing remarks, Brian Dorsett, the officers’ attorney, argued that the officers performed their duty when faced with a visibly armed threat to ensure the safety of their colleagues and the public. Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest Deveaux presided. Angelo Whitfield marshalled the evidence.

DIVIDEND NOTICE

TO ALL SHAREHOLDERS

The Board of Directors of Commonwealth Bank Limited has declared a Quarterly Dividend for Common Shares, to all shareholders of record at June 21, 2024.

Common Shares 3¢ per share

The payment will be made on June 28, 2024 through Bahamas Central Securities Depository, the Registrar & Transfer Agent, in the usual manner.

Charlene A. Bosfield Corporate Secretary

THE ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force HMBS Kamalamee

WALTER JOHNSON

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.

Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207

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Govt needs to relase death notice

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Thanks to our community for sharing their voices

YOU can never quite predict what will happen in a day at The Tribune –but it always brings interesting things. The past week has seen the phone ring at the editor’s desk or people getting in touch for all manner of reasons, some fun, some requiring serious reporting.

Our lead story today was one of the latter, the story of a Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer alleging that he was beaten by his superior and then coached on what his statement on the incident should say rather than just telling it as it was.

The allegations are terrible enough, but one detail was truly startling – that the officer was reportedly abandoned on Inagua and had to pay for his own flight back to Nassau. If that is true – and investigations are underway, it would seem – it would seem to break the unwritten soldier’s code of never leaving your fellow troops behind.

But there are also lighter moments –such as when Dorothy Russell popped in to let us know about a steak-out to help the Sisters of Saint Martin Monastery on July 27. The Nassau Street grounds will host the event from noon until six, with tickets at $20 each and various stalls selling pastries and more as well. Dorothy was a whirlwind in and out of the office as she set about on her mission, and a delight to talk to, but she also highlighted the need the sisters have. Tickets available from the grounds.

Then there was a radio host from Global Radio, Dwayne Huyler, who stopped by to chat about coverage of Labour Day. He discusses news stories on the air with his readers and wondered why the different newspapers had taken different approaches to the coverage of the event. A pleasant chat, and

PICTURE OF THE DAY

we wish him well with his show.

There were more calls too – two from people in the past few days who want to launch campaigns to draw people’s interest to two issues that never seem to go away. About those, more to come as we look to work together to try to tackle them. We think you’ll agree with the need as we talk about it more.

And then there is today’s lead letter on this very page, sent in by Ambrose Gibson.

When Jean Rony Jean-Charles was ill treated by this company and forced to fight for his right to remain here, there were many who would not listen.

With the help of lawyer Fred Smith and his associates, a long legal battle ended in victory for Mr Jean-Charles, who won the right to stay in The Bahamas.

His legal battle won, it looked like his life ahead was destined for better things, but it was cut short when he was killed last year.

Now, many months on, Mr JeanCharles’ body still lies in the morgue rather than having been released for his family to say a final farewell.

Mr Jean-Charles suffered injustice in life, he should not still be suffering it in death.

Mr Gibson has rightly spoken up to say that this is an appalling situation –and we thank him for his voice.

Indeed, we thank all those who contribute for their voices. A newspaper is not simply the staff who write for it, the press teams who publish it, the vendors who sell it – it is a community, encompassing all our readers, advertisers and more. It is a community, and we are proud to be part of it. As for what tomorrow will bring, that we shall await.

I bring your attention to a Tribune article published on Monday, June 10, 2024, written by Lynaire Munnings. The headline “One year later the family still waiting to bury Rony Jean-Charles”. For those who are unaware, Mr Rony JeanCharles, a Bahamian of Haitian parentage, was arrested and detained for immigration violation. His detention at the Detention Centre, Carmichael Road, was designed for aliens. He was held for an inordinate time stripped of his dignity and rights as a Bahamian. Subsequently, he was deported to Haiti.

Armed with a court order that suggested the Government of The Bahamas may have done some impropriety, Mr Frederick Smith, senior partner at Callenders and Co travelled to Haiti, while that country is experiencing violent turmoil, located Mr Jean Charles, and brought him back to The Bahamas. The landmark decision of the upper court would bring much-needed relief to thousands of Bahamians of Haitian linage caught in the dilemma in

which Mr Jean-Charles found himself.

Mr Jean Charles was tragically killed in 2023.

Since then, the case against the government of The Bahamas is stalled. His alleged killer has been arrested and charged with murder. He is on remand, but the state cannot prosecute because they need the same thing Callenders and Co needed. The elusive death certificate of Mr Jean-Charles.

This is where, in my opinion, the action of the Bahamas government becomes diabolical.

Mrs Kara Turnquest Deveaux, acting coroner, a reputable person, has been acting in that capacity in excess of three years, finds herself in the middle of this storm. One does not have to be a holder of an LLB degree to understand her instructions are above her pay grade, hence access to the death certificate via her office is not accessible. Humbly, I ask the government to be fair. Release the body of Mr Charles in accordance with the already established protocols, give Callenders and Co access to the death certificate and let the court decide whether it is fair for the government of The Bahamas to continue to perpetuate the apartheid-like conditions they bestow upon the Haitian Bahamian people. Additionally I ask the government to stop playing with Mrs Kara Turnquest Deveaux and confirm her to the post of Coroner. She is doing an excellent job.

AMBROSE GIBSON, Esq St Ambrose Funeral Home. June 2024.

Mr Jean-Charles’ family contacted St Ambrose Funeral Home to facilitate a burial. We, St Ambrose Funeral Home, followed every known practice and protocol for his remains to be released from the Princess Margaret Hospital’s morgue. Every step of the way the government has moved the yard stick relating to this particular release. As a result, Mr Jean-Charles is in a 40ft refrigerated container in the rear of the morgue decomposing, and the government has the right to bury him as an unclaimed or abandoned body since a year has passed and the family cannot comply with government’s obscure request.

Moms,

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE public was recently advised by a senior member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force “to know where their children are” in view of the number of crimes committed allegedly by teenagers. This reminds me of what a television network in Miami, Florida (I believe it was Channel 10) used to do during the early seventies and early eighties when just before the 11 o’clock nightly news, a voice would say: “Parents Do You Know Where Your Children Are”. Perhaps, the RBPF and Social Services Department can invite/urge the local television networks responsible

for broadcasting the news to do the same thing.

Because the majority of households in our country being headed by single mothers with many of the alleged crimes committed by males, whether Bahamians or migrants --- the question best posed might be: Mothers Do You Know Where Your Sons Are.”

As to the many recently reported traffic offences (many of which were alcohol related as reported by the police) where the road traffic users have committed infractions of the provisions of the Road Traffic Act such as driving without due and attention; driving recklessly; speeding; vehicular homicide; etc., the

police may want to invite the Ministry of Works to put up signs in front of the entries to graveyards and cemeteries which, after warning drivers to slow down, very prominently states: ‘We Can Wait”. Whether the said signage was effective back in the day - I am told that many young drivers, whilst so driving and drinking, reluctantly thought of taking a swig of booze when driving past the particular burial ground or cemetery for fear will end up Dead and laying out right there in the particular cemetery or burial grounds.

ELEANOR ALBURY Nassau, June 6, 2024.

JIM Comunale and Pam Mervos walk down Arthur Street as heavy rain floods the surrounding neighbourhood yesterday in Hollywood, Florida. Photo: Matias J.

Minnis: Davis administration being hypocritical by purchasing Bazaar

Lucayan Towers south condominum in deplorable condition, says former tenant

up all kinds of property to intervene in Freeport. This is hypocrisy. Hypocrisy at its worst.”

In 2018, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said if he were the country’s leader, he would not let the government buy the Grand Lucayan hotel properties.

He said he would fight to find a private buyer, insisting it would be too costly for the government to own and operate a hotel that was not making a profit even before it was shut down.

Yesterday, the director of communications in the Office of Prime Minister, Latrae Rahming, said comparing what Mr Davis seeks to do to what the previous administration did is “apples and oranges”.

Mr Davis has said the government will acquire the International Bazaar, reopen West Sunrise Road and buy the Princess Towers Hotel for less than $4m. He said $30m has been budgeted to develop the sites. from page one

FLOOD WATCH ISSUED FOR NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AS HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY

By DENISE MAYCOCK

A FLOOD watch alert

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Lucayan Towers South condominium in Grand Bahama is still deplorable, and the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s response to the problem remains elusive.

A year ago, the authority issued a final notice to the Condominium Board at Lucayan Towers South to address longstanding code violations and serious safety hazards. The board was given a 30-day deadline to submit a plan to address the issues or have its Certificate of Occupancy revoked.

The board submitted a proposed plan and was granted a brief extension. Since then, this newspaper has been unable to determine how the authority would act.

Condo owners claim that the board has failed to carry out proper maintenance and repairs at the building. They report that elevators frequently break down, balconies are falling apart, and fire alarms are said not to be working. They also complained that the building looked deplorable.

Paul Joseph, a former tenant, told The Tribune that the building

remains in “horrific” condition and should not be occupied now.

Mr Joseph was passing through the area on Tuesday and was speaking of what he saw.

“When I saw the condition of the balconies, I was shocked. All the steel is exposed, and some of the units are boarded up,” he added.

“We don’t want a situation that happened in Florida to happen here,” he said, referring to the deadly collapse in Surfside, where many died when the Champlain Towers South building collapsed unexpectedly in June 2021.

Mr Joseph said it is time for officials in Grand Bahama to take proper action, adding that the once upscale condominium complex is now an eyesore and a danger.

“The Grand Bahama Port Authority, or whoever is responsible, needs to take a proper action and put their foot down to bring some resolution to the tenants that live there and occupy the complex,” he said. “Human lives are at stake. You don’t want something to happen and then respond to it after the fact. That is not good enough.

“It is really and truly an eyesore compared to what it used to be in the glory days.”

Mr Nixon said residents can expect to experience periods of heavy rainfall, but mostly light to moderate rain. He said there could be embedded thunderstorms, downbursts, and hail. Freeport administrator Kenwood Cartwright reported no major flooding

has been issued for the northwest Bahamas, impacting Abaco, Grand Bahama, and Bimini. Chief meteorologist Orson Nixon said anywhere between three to five inches of rainfall is expected through Friday.

issues yesterday as rain fell in Grand Bahama. Flooding in Eight Mile Rock, West Grand Bahama, has been challenging due to faulty drainage systems. The West Grand Bahama administrator, Leonard Dames, told this newspaper his team was still assessing areas when contacted yesterday.

KILLARNEY MP and Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis

SOME light flloding starting to impact roads in west Grand Bahama yesterday.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

The folly of electoral predictions

PSEPHOLOGY is “the statistical study of elections and trends in voting”.

Along with seasoned political analysts, psephologists carefully examine elections. They offer insight on the decisions and behaviour of voters and the performance of political parties.

Contrarily, many supposedly professional prognosticators and pundits are more often in the business, literally and figuratively, of offering less informed predictions and analysis. Sometimes they are on the mark. More often, they are egregiously wrong.

These political soothsayers occupy cable television sets, talk radio, and other haunts, dissecting and trumpeting the latest polls and their supposedly vaunted experience as journalists, former politicians or political advisers.

The worst in the prediction business are cossetted and removed journalists, who travel in packs in designer bubble wrap disconnected from many of socio-economic realities in which voters live.

They are often mesmerised by the news cycle, the relentless stream of social media posts, gossip from party insiders, and the latest polls, much of which are often meaningless and reliably trite. Approximately 50 percent of people in the world will go to the polls this year,

which, according to Time, includes at least 64 countries plus the European Union.

The recent surprising election results in India, which saw Narendra Modi’s, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lose its majority; the further collapse of the African National Congress’s vote in South Africa; the two-thirds majority attained in the Mexican Congress by incoming president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s, Morena Party; and the mixed results of the European Union’s parliamentary elections, have given psephologists and journalists much to digest. What are some of the ingredients for understanding elections and campaigns? The best predictors are individuals

like David Axelrod in the United States, an experienced politico who helped Barack Obama win the presidency.

A political consultant, he also worked as a White House advisor, after which he served as director of the non-partisan University of Chicago Institute of Politics. A regular contributor on television, he hosts the CNN podcast, The Axe Files.

The best observers of elections and politics are typically those with experience in campaigns and government. This experience hones instincts and engenders a more informed perspective than those opining from the proverbial armchair or arms lengths.

Individuals like Axelrod, possess experience, calm, and a perspective borne of electoral wins and losses. Which is not to say that they always get it right. They also bring humility and the refreshing honesty to say, “I don’t know!”

In 2016, many people, pollsters and pundits were convinced that Hillary Clinton would beat Donald Trump for the presidency. Many of us could not conceive that the US would elect Trump. The polls appeared to align with our presumptions. Quite a number in Trump’s campaign did not foresee his victory.

In the lead-up to the election, Axelrod, who has a home in rural Pennsylvania,

“Forget the polls, forget the pundits. Polls six months, five months, even closer to the election have zero predictive value.”

- Allan Lichtman

was seeing increasingly more Trump signs in the yards of neighbours and others. He reportedly reached out to the Clinton campaign, informing them of what he was spotting on the ground.

Clinton won the popular vote convincingly. However, because of the nature of America’s Electoral College, Trump won. There were varied reasons for Clinton’s loss. Some polls in the pivotal states Trump eventually won were close, eventually breaking for him. It is a reminder of the limits of internal and independent polls. Axelrod blamed mistakes in the Clinton campaignfor her loss. These included two key states she lost. He believes she should have campaigned in Wisconsin after the Democratic Convention and invest more resources into Michigan before the final week of the campaign.

...many

and a half years to go, there will inevitably be more mistakes.

supposedly professional prognosticators and pundits are more often in the business, literally and fguratively, of offering less informed predictions and analysis.

Despite the numerous and sophisticated assets at hand, and varied human and signal intelligence, intelligence agencies and militaries often fail to see looming and near obvious catastrophic failures and disasters on their doorstep. Likewise, campaigns and governments often suffer from a similar failure of imagination. A fail ure to believe that something can or cannot happen.

It remains unfathomable to many that the last FNM government called an early general election amidst a deadly COVID-19 wave, and without health protocols for Election Day, such as were enforced in Jamaica.

Fast forward to today. Many in the PLP giddily believe they will win the next election. Ah, well, here we go again. The cost of living crisis is burdensome for scores of voters.

A number of cabinet ministers in the PLP are conducting themselves with the same arrogance as the last FNM government.

The PLP has made a number of errors, some unforced. There are numerous unfulfilled promises. There is a tone deafness by some. We have not reelected a government for decades, which poses a structural problem for both major parties. With two

Still, the PLP may win the next election. But those in the PLP convinced that they will be re-elected are as foolhardy as those in the FNM who believe that they will definitely defeat the PLP. However, the FNM may win the next election. At the next election, what will the economy look like? How will the leaders of the major parties perform in the months ahead? What scandals may unfold on both sides? What role will third parties play in siphoning votes? What are the many other unknowns? If someone brings you a poll right now that they believe is predictive of the next general election, offer this insight from The American University Professor of History, Allan Lichtman, who correctly predicted the outcome of nine of the past ten presidential elections since Ronald Reagan’s 1984 re-election.

His advice: “Forget the polls, forget the pundits. Polls six months, five months, even closer to the election have zero predictive value.”

Lichtman predicted Al Gore would beat George W Bush in 2000. If a partisan Supreme Court did not hand Bush a victory based on what many believe was specious legal reasoning, Lichtman would be 10 out of 10. He correctly predicted that Trump would beat Clinton. But back to polls. A colleague who is something of a statistics and data nerd offers that polls are probabilities that certain numbers are correct. He notes that polls offer a range or band of possibilities, especially when they are relatively close. A margin of error means there is no certainty. He emphasises that polling is rightly ironically labelled an “inexact science”. Many elements go into polling including sampling size and demographic analysis, along with how and when a poll is conducted. It makes a difference whether one is reaching a respondent by landline or cell or another means. A friend with a mordant wit

quips: “Polling is a snapchat of the schizophrenic human mind at a given moment.”

Professor Lichtman is not a fan of polling for presidential races. Instead, his metrics are 13 historical keys or factors. A USA TODAY article notes: “four of those factors are based on politics, seven on performance, and two on the candidate’s personality. The incumbent party would need to lose six of those factors, or keys, to lose the White House.” In a May article in the journal, Elizabeth Beyer interviewed Lichtman, who commented: “In 2019, Trump was only down four keys. Remember, it takes six keys to count out the White House party. I hadn’t made a prediction yet, but things were looking pretty good. Then the pandemic hit.

“The big message: It is governance, not campaigning, that counts. Trump didn’t understand that. So when the pandemic hit, instead of dealing substantively with the pandemic like the keys would have indicated, [Trump] tried to talk his way out of it.

“Of course, it didn’t work; the economy tanked, and he lost two additional keys: The short- and long-term economy. That put him down six keys, enough to predict his defeat.”

And what of the upcoming election? Notes Lichtman: “Forget all of the pundits who have said Biden’s too old. Democrat’s only chance to win is with Biden running for reelection. One of my keys is incumbency, he obviously wins that.

“Another key is party contest, he’s not been contested. That’s two keys off the top that Biden wins. That means six keys out of the remaining 11 would have to fall to predict his defeat.” Lichtman does not have a final prediction for this November.

“I’ve also said while I have no final prediction, a lot would have to go wrong for Biden to lose.

Right now, Biden is only down, for sure, two keys: The mandate key, because the Democrats lost seats in the House 2022 elections; and the incumbent charisma key because Biden is no JFK. But there are four very shaky keys.” It is a long way from the US general election. It is even longer to ours. While one may make relatively educated guesses about electoral outcomes, only the foolhardy and the true believers would dare predict.

Isaiah 23

1

The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

2

Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

3

And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

4

Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.

5

As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

6

Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.

7 Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

8

Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffckers are the honourable of the earth?

9 The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

10Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.

11He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

12And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.

13Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.

14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

15And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.

16Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

17And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

18And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat suffciently, and for durable clothing.

Teens accused of having 9mm pistol and two AK-47s remanded to Simpson Penn

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 19-YEAR-OLD teenager admitted yesterday to having a loaded gun that he threw out of a car window during a police chase in Montell Heights last weekend. However, he denied having two assault rifles that were allegedly recovered during the incident.

Magistrate Lennox Coleby charged Shakeil Taylor, 19, and two

16-year-old males whose names are being withheld because they are minors, with possession of unlicensed firearms with intent to supply, possession of ammunition with intent to supply, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition. The juveniles were arraigned in the presence of their parents and guardians. One appeared before the magistrate with his right arm in a sling.

Police allegedly caught them speeding in a

MAN ACCUSED OF THREATENING

month.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted $6,000 bail yesterday after he was accused of using a gun to threaten another man on Wulff Road last

heavily tinted silver coloured Suzuki Swift around 10pm on June 9. During a high speed pursuit, Taylor threw a blue and black 9mm Taurus G2C pistol out of the window before the vehicle crashed into a wall on Ethel Street. The defendants were allegedly found with a black AK-47 rifle, a black and brown Draco AK-47 rifle, and 53 rounds of 7.62 ammunition. When police recovered the 9mm pistol, they found it had 10 rounds of 9mm

SOMEONE

Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged Isaiah Sands, 31, with assault with a deadly weapon. Sands allegedly assaulted Rodney Rolle with a dark firearm on May 25. After pleading not guilty,

WITH GUN

the defendant was informed that he must sign in at Carmichael Road Police Station every Thursday by 6pm. He was also warned not to interfere with the complainant or witnesses. His trial begins on August 1.

MAN ADMITTING TO HAVING DRUGS GETS PROBATION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was given a conditional discharge after admitting to having drugs in New Providence earlier this week.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville initially charged Dominic Miller, 29, with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. This charge was reduced to simple possession of dangerous drugs. Miller was reportedly

found with a small quantity of marijuana on June 11. Following his guilty plea, he was placed on one month’s probation. Should he default, he would face a $750 fine or three months in prison.

ammunition. Taylor was the sole defendant to plead guilty to the firearm and ammunition charges. All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges.

Nathan Smith, Taylor’s attorney, informed the magistrate that this was his client’s first offence and that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. After claiming that Taylor was not the driver that night, Mr Smith said that

the defendant put himself at the court’s mercy and is capable of rehabilitation.

Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent Lincoln McKenzie asked that the remaining two defendants’ bail hearing be deferred to Monday so that he could review their criminal status.

Magistrate Coleby granted this request despite the protest of David Cash, who represented one of the juveniles. The two juveniles will be

remanded to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys until their next court date, while Taylor will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Taylor’s sentencing was deferred until the conclusion of the trial related to his remaining firearm charges, and his future sentence will be backdated to the day of his first conviction.

The trial in this matter begins on August 8.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Photos: Nikia Charlton

Democrats disrespect of MAGA demographic key to their support of Trump

THE political director was arriving at a big regional conference, surrounded by several party associates. She wields quite a bit of power as the regional eyes and ears for a Democratic governor in a reliably blue state where Republican victories in statewide elections are an anomalous oddity and GOP power tends to be concentrated in isolated rural areas with low population and almost zero national political visibility.

Striding toward the hotel ballroom where the conference was to be held, the political director moved confidently and engaged with a new acquaintance, the president of a local association. The conversation quickly moved toward a fundamental question that continues to vex Democrats, including the incumbent president and, to judge by their public comments, most of his senior advisers as well.

“Why do so many people vote against their own economic self-interest?” the director asked. “What are these millions of Trump supporters and MAGA fanatics thinking? Don’t they realise that Trump only cares about himself and wealthy cronies who will bow down to him? He won’t help them.

“It’s the Democrats and liberals who keep propping up welfare for the poor, tax breaks for low-income people, and Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security as a dependable economic safety net. So many MAGA supporters would have much worse lives without the steady economic support from Democrats that sustains them.

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

“And what about military veterans? Polls show they support Trump. Yet with Biden over in France for the D-Day anniversary, honouring the brave Americans and Allies who died heroically to liberate Europe and save Western democracy, we are reminded of Trump supposedly calling POWs and military casualties ‘suckers and losers’.

“What in the world are these Trumpers thinking? There’s just no evidence that he cares about really helping them, even as they continue to help pay his legal bills by contributing small amounts to his campaign as reliably as people used to tithe to the Church.”

The group now stood around the conference entry hall, cups of coffee in hand as the director smiled, winding down from her unexpectedly impassioned disquisition. She clearly meant her query to be rhetorical, but her new acquaintance replied nonetheless.

“I have a theory, if you’re interested,” he answered. “OK, go ahead,” she replied. “We have a few minutes before the meeting starts. Let’s hear what you think.”

“I think it all goes back to a movement founded on resentment and led in its early stages 30 years ago

by outspoken, iconoclastic Republican operators like Pat Buchanan, who ran for president three times in a row between 1992 and 2000. His campaigns centred on non-interventionism in foreign affairs, opposition to illegal immigration, and opposition to the outsourcing of manufacturing from free trade. Doesn’t that sound like much of Trump’s message today?

“Buchanan’s theme was picked up and carried forward by a Georgia congressman named Newt Gingrich, who directed a revolt against a half century of Democratic rule in the House of Representatives by leading the GOP to a stunning 1994 takeover of the House. Demagogic positions developed by Buchanan and Gingrich fueled the rapid development of the tea party movement that splintered the Republican Party and enabled Barack Obama to not only win the White House in 2008 but to maintain a Congressional majority long enough to pass Obamacare.”

The political director paused, sipped her coffee and replied. “OK. I get that. But the tea party was a fringe movement. It was significant mostly because it splintered the Republican Party when they could

easily have won in 2012 against Obama. Now their MAGA heirs are in control of the GOP.”

“Yes,” the association president agreed. “But there’s a big difference now. That difference is Donald Trump.”

“Oh, Trump again. What a fatuous toad he is,” the political director exclaimed. “I realise he is a talented demagogue. Not denying that. But he’s so transparent. He clearly cares about no one except himself – and maybe his immediate family. That’s it. Who can support that?”

The association president paused, listening to an announcement that the conference would soon begin.

“That’s just it,” he finally said. “The people who can support that message and that behaviour also only care about themselves – and maybe their immediate families and maybe their neighbours. They’re not interested in abstract liberal bromides and remedies. They want to hang onto what they have and share it with as few others – immigrants, minorities, radical socialists, sexual ‘misfits’ – as possible. Trump’s selfishness and self-orientation, his jingoism and isolationism mirror their own feelings. That he so

consistently derides the pomposity of the welleducated class in the media is only frosting on the cake for them.

“Remember when Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign called the people who became the MAGA movement the ‘Deplorables?’ Well, from a liberal perspective, the Trump followers are indeed deplorable. But as long as we Democrats pay so little careful attention to them and to their grievances, they will continue to act out and support Trump, no matter what he says or does, or wherever he is convicted of felonies.

“We Democrats don’t respect them, and they are only too pleased to return that disrespect through Trump.”

The group surrounding the political director all looked up as the conference was called to order. She looked at the association president and grinned.

“Guess we’ll have to continue this conversation later,” she said.

“See you around.”

She and her entourage moved to the front of the conference hall and were seated in prime positions near the speaker’s podium. She did not pause and she did not look back.

GERMAN MARSHALL FUND FEELING BENEFITS OF REFOCUSED AMERICAN ALLIANCE

US President Joe Biden’s recent D-Day visit to France and the upcoming July summit meeting of NATO allies have refocused America on the history of the great Western Alliance.

Two retired generals were perhaps the most important Americans of the middle of the 20th Century. The more famous was Dwight Eisenhower, who led the Western Allies to victory in Europe in World War II and later served two terms as President of the United States.

George Marshall was the other. Marshall become Chief of Staff of the US Army under Presidents Franklin D Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, then served as both Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under Truman. By far, Marshall’s greatest achievement was the establishment of the European Recovery Act. This transformative legislation, aptly nicknamed the Marshall Plan, undergirded Europe’s post-war economic recovery and set the context for peace in Europe for most of the next 75 years.

In grateful response, German Chancellor Willy Brandt unveiled the German Marshall Plan in 1972. According to its own website, the German Marshall Fund of the United States

(GMF) is a nonpartisan policy organisation committed to the “idea that the United States and Europe are stronger together. GMF champions the principles of democracy, human rights, and international cooperation, are now under increasing strain”.

A senior GMF official recently offered valuable insight into European perspectives on American foreign policy, which in the past decade has shaken European faith in the steadfastness of the US in defending the postwar Western hegemonic,

democratic order. Donald Trump and his threats to withdraw the US from the NATO alliance have intensified this scepticism. But Trump speaks for millions of isolated, isolationist, noncoastal Americans. In an effort

to understand and perhaps counteract their persistent isolationist view, GMF’s Kristine Berzina leads Across America, an effort to cultivate US regional dialogue on transatlantic issues by taking policy conversations to communities across the United States. Her impressions, shared recently with the press, include the following: “I feel much more optimistic about whether the US cares about Europe specifically when I’m outside of Washington. The three areas that we see really resonating are economic, military, and a kind of cultural, intellectual, moral affinity, right?

“The most important one, really, though, is the economic one. The economic relationship between the US and Europe is incredibly strong, and so it matters that across communities in the US, European companies are making major investments in everything from automotive manufacturing to serving as an export market for American natural resources for the oil and gas industry. Right?”

As managing director of GMF East, Michal Baranowski provides the overall strategic direction and leadership for the organisation’s work in Poland, the Baltic states, and the V4 countries – Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.

REPUBLICAN presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump motions as he walks on stage at a campaign rally, June 9, 2024, in Las Vegas.

Photo: John Locher/AP

GEORGE C MARSHALL

‘Coach Yo’ hosting training camp

Grand Bahama

native Yolett

“Coach Yo”

McPheeMcCuin has returned to home soil and has already hit the ground running in terms of hosting the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s (BBF) senior women’s national team training camp over at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.

The national team training camp officially got underway on Monday and sessions will continue until June 17 at the same facility. Yesterday, the group of women went through a few defensive and transition drills with the decorated National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

For senior women’s national basketball team

DI coach and they will resume the training sessions at 7pm tonight.

McPhee-McCuin talked about what she has seen so far from this particular pool of basketball players.

“I have actually been very pleased. A lot of these players have actually played in college and some haven’t but they have been holding their own and learning a lot.

“We have been having two workouts a day. They come at 11 in the morning and in the afternoons and they have not been late. I am just really blessed and grateful to be able to come back. I had to take a break and I have been beating myself up for it since I have

done it. It was necessary but now it is time for me to come back and do this,” she said.

“Coach Yo” has returned after what can be deemed yet another successful season with the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels in the Southeastern (SEC) Conference. Her team earned a 12-4 SEC (win/loss record) which was the best in programme history.

Additionally, in her seventh season on the sidelines for Ole Miss, she was awarded her 100th win as a coach.

Despite the long list of accolades achieved in Oxford, Mississippi,

Bahamian wrestler Kaylia to compete at Baha Bash

By TENAJH SWEETING

THE Bahamas continues to expand its sports tourism brand and it will continue to flourish now with live pro wrestling set to touch down in New Providence om June 29 over at the Baha Mar resort.

The pro wrestling event

‘Baha Bash’ presented by All Caribbean Wrestling (ACW) is slated to begin at 5pm in the Andros Ballroom.

The one-day event is set to bring out some big names in pro wrestling, including The Bahamas’ very own Alexis Gray who is also known by her stage name Kaylia Capri.

The event’s promoter Jeff Brazzle said the event is gonna be truly electrifying as some of the top wrestlers will be competing on the card.

“It’s gonna be an action packed night filled with 8-10 matches and electrifying energy at Baha Mar inside the Andros Ballroom. People will get a chance to meet their favourite wrestlers in the ring along with celebrities like WWE Superstar and Hall of Famer the World’s

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

‘COACH YO’ BASKETBALL CLINIC WOMEN’S national basketball coach Yolett McPhee is in town this week conducting a free basketball clinic at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. The Ole Miss University women’s head coach will host the clinic in two sections. Students in grades 1-4 will be in session from 9-10am and 5-8 will go from 10-11am. All participants are asked to bring their own basketballs, but they will receive a t-shirt from the Coach Yo Foundation.

BASKETBALL

“Shooting

she expressed why it was so important to return home for the senior women’s national basketball programme.

“I am really passionate about bringing The Bahamas basketball back for women and, in order to do that, we have to start from somewhere and somewhere is initially training camp.

“I am putting myself in front of these girls so that they could see that this NCAA DI college coach is making a commitment and believes that we can do it. That is really it in a nutshell, bringing pride back, mending relationships

BAHAMIAN pro boxer Carl Hield finally has a chance at the coveted world title opportunity he has been waiting on since making his pro debut in boxing late last year.

Hield will go blow-forblow with Colombia’s Chrisitian Bautista in hopes of being crowned the new title holder of the World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedecaribe Super Welter Title on June 21 at the Boxing Night in Cartagena, Colombia.

Currently, the Bahamian pro boxer has a spotless 6-0-0 (win/loss/draw record) going into the featured bout. Meanwhile, Bautista, who is the hometown favourite, has a 6-2-0 record in eight bouts coming into the super welterweight title showdown.

The undefeated pro is prepared to do whatever he has to do to ensure that the championship title is around his waist at the end of the match. “First of all, I wanna give God thanks for

June, 2024

Hoops instead of Guns,” is scheduled for July 15-21 at the Michael ‘Scooter Reid” Basketball Center at the Hope Center. All games will start at 6pm each day. Categories include 12-and-under, 16-and-under, 20-and-under, government ministry, church and open divisions. The event is being promoted by Guardian Radio and Radio House Outreach. CLERGY VS POLITICIANS BASKETBALL AS a part of the annual Peace ON Da Streets Basketball Classic, organisers will once again stage the showdown between members of the Clergy against the Members of

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

THE NBA has never con-

firmed the worst-kept secret in basketball, that Jerry West is the player whose silhouette is depicted in the league’s logo.

There’s probably a reason for that: West never wanted to be the logo.

“I’m just part of the game,” West said in a 2021 interview.

“I never wanted to be any more than that. I’m extremely fortunate to have had the life that I’ve had, and that’s enough for me.”

His was a life like few others: an NBA and Olympic champion as a player, a champion as an executive and someone selected to be enshrined by the

of Fame not once, not

BAHAMIAN wrestler Kaylia Capri is expected to bring her talents home to wrestle against JC Storm at the Baha Bash wrestling event on Saturday, June 29, at Baha Mar.

COACH Yolett McPhee-McCuin speaks with reporters as she hosted the senior women’s national basketball team training camp at Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium last night. Photo by Chappell Whyms Jr

IN an effort to provide some interest to the people on the island, softball player Oran Davis planned, organised and executed the Inter-Islands Sports Day for Central Andros.

The 29-year-old IT technician, who hails from the settlement of Calabash Bay, said it was an experience to behold.

After returning home last year, January 2023, Davis longed for something to do in his hometown. There was nothing substantive to do after work and on weekends. The vision of softball competitions was born. He shared the vision with some friends and the island administrator.

He also reached out to several businesses in the community for sponsorship but received minimal assistance.

This young trail blazer was not giving up on his dream. He gathered up a few friends who showed interest, namely, Wayne Cleare Jr., Ronie Scoot, Derio Bridgewater, Darrel Rolle Sr, Chris Hinsey, and other community builders.

After collaborating with the island administrator, Marlon Leary, who immediately embraced the vision, Davis’ dream began to flourish with his personal friends.

Small Hope Bay Lodge Resort, Ronnie’s Auto Dj’s Plumbing and Hardware & White Crown were the only corporate sponsors, injecting funds to clean the softball field and made the field ready for softball games. Davis then founded the Central Andros Softball Association.

The board members are the following persons, Wayne Cleare Jr., Bianca Hall, Lamour Rolle, Garrett Rolle, Chris Hinsey, Teddy Breynen and Fr Welcott Bain.

ORAN DAVIS MAKES IMPACT IN ANDROS

Strongest Man Mark Henry, WWE Superstar “Pope” Elijah Burke, WWE Superstar Velveteen Dream and WWE Superstar Lince Dorado and from Nassau, Bahamas, formerly from WWE NXT, Kaylia Capri…We are bringing in an action packed roster of people for the wrestling fans,” the ACW promoter said. The wrestling extravaganza will also highlight other wrestlers such as ROH/TNA Superstar Kenny King, FEW Flares Women’s Champion Cassandra Golden, ACW Women’s Champion Mazzerati and International superstar tag-team, hailing from Africa, NU Nation. Brazzle said wrestling fans can expect a totally different viewer experience watching the action in-person versus viewing it on the television.

“You are looking at the quality of talent that is seen on TV. You do not have to sit at home and watch this on TV. You get to come see it live. You are getting the quality and level of competitors that have competed on the highest level in the WWE. We have the World Strongest Man Mark Henry, WWE Superstar Lince Dorado, who is gonna bring his luchador style, so it is gonna be a lot of exciting flips and jumps off the top rope.

“We also have women’s wrestling with four women matches that are gonna be on display which is unheard of in all of professional wrestling. Most wrestling shows have one or two matches but we are doing four women matches because the women are just as competitive as the men today,” he said.

Capri, who is also known as Sierra Breeze on the Women of Wrestling (WOW) Superheroes brand, made her wrestling debut against Penelope Pink last week. She had some big moments in her first wrestling match but Pink finished her off with an inverted DDT followed by a three-count pinfall for the victory.

She spoke with Tribune Sports on Wednesday and expressed her excitement about being able to compete in front of a home crowd at Baha Bash.

ANDROS EXPERIENCE:

the Inter-Islands Sports Day for Central Andros in an effort to provide some interest to the people on the island.

The initial softball practice was very encouraging and successful - 50 people showed up. The excitement was contagious, Davis and his team could not believe that so many people were interested in participating in the softball games. The island administrator was also impressed with the response from the community.

and creating opportunities for these young women. We have a talented young group and we have to help them and provide for them and give them hope. This is not the short game, this is the long game,” McPhee-McCuin said. Among the talent pool at the Kendal GL Isaacs gym were current Ole Miss sophomore Rhema Collins and former Ole Miss player Valerie Nesbitt. Additionally, former Texas Longhorns guard Lashann

He liaises with Davis, and less than one month later, a softball competition was organised in the community. Leary invited a team from Eleuthera, the Eleuthera Unity Builders, to Central Andros to play softball and host a softball clinic for all ages, and hence, the competition started.

Higgs was on the court, Dayton Flyers sophomore Denika Lightbourne and Garden City sophomore Antoinicia Moultrie. High schoolers Terrell McCoy and Shanell Stewart were also in the mix.

Coach Yo, who previously led the senior women’s team to a CBC Basketball Championship in 2015, is optimistic about this group of athletes.

“We have a lot of nice young talent. That is what I am excited about.

Eleuthera Unity Builders arrived in Central Andros bearing gifts for the primary school children and ready for a game of friendly competition. What a wonderful gesture.

The children were tinkled pink when they received the gifts.

Three other teams emerged to participate in the competition - Central Andros High School, Bowen Sound Strikers, and Fresh Creek Survivors.

What a weekend! Central Andros hadn’t seen this many people at a sporting event in many, many years.

Audience cheered for their favourite team. The

excitement and noise from the excitement could be heard miles away.

Central Andros was lit, and there was no stopping them. The event was a huge success, no doubt.

Both games on Friday between Eleuthera Unity Builders & Fresh Creek Survivors, Central Andros High School vs. Fresh Creek survivors were a tie.

On Saturday, there was a training clinic. However, this did not stop the biggest fun of the weekend.

Central Andros High School got bragging right as they cleaned up on Saturday. Central Andros High School beat Bowen

Sound and Central Andros High School also won over Fresh Creek. Eleuthera won over Bowen Sound in the other game played.

On Sunday, sadly the events came to a close but Eleuthera wasn’t going home defeated as they won over Central Andros High School. Bowen Sound also won over Fresh Creek.

In a ladies game played, the high school girls won over the Fresh Creek ladies.

Davis, with the help from Mike Dorsette from Eleuthera, are looking forward to another fun-filled, inter island softball game in the near future.

“At some point we have to allow the young talent to come and build them up especially if you are planning on going the long game. Clearly we are not playing in the Olympics this year but we have to start from somewhere. This crew that we have I feel incredibly positive about,” she said. McPhee-McCuin was

“My excitement level has to be on a 50 out of 10 right now, especially because everywhere I go more and more people are showing how they know about it. Our VIP section is pretty much sold out and we are at least three weeks away from the event. The fact that we already sold out tells me that people are invested and actually want to see what I can bring to the table so I am extremely excited to be able to perform in front of a Bahamian crowd. I think that the little things that I do only Bahamians can pick up on so it is an amazing opportunity right now. Mentally, I am locked in and I am ready for this,” she said. The Baha Bash main event is on Saturday, June 29 but wrestling fans can get a more personal interaction with Capri on June 22 at a Meet-and-Greet scheduled to be hosted at Fusion Superplex.

After making her pro debut, videos of her match were shared all over social media and she saw the support Bahamians extended to her and had this message for them.

“I would like to say to my fans thank you very much for taking that role to support me…I think what I want to bring to wrestling is a real person. It is not a script telling me how to talk, this is not me forcing a look but this is me genuinely coming from my soul. If you like a genuine person and someone you can put your trust into and you wanna be entertained, keep rocking with me in any way, shape or form. This is gonna be a wild ride,” she said.

Tickets start from $10 for general admission and it is free for children under 10 years of age. The Meet and Greet is also priced at $10.

Doors open at 3pm.

Individuals interested in attending can purchase tickets at https://BahaBash. eventbrite.com

Softball player Oran Davis, top left, planned, organised and executed

COACH Yolett McPhee-McCuin gives instructions to the players last night as she hosted the senior women’s national basketball team training camp at Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

Summer Squashathon hits the Four Walls

THE 2024 Summer Squashathon at Four Walls Squash and Social Club kicked off on June 10 with an enthusiastic start, welcoming a dozen new squash players eager to try out the indoor racquet sport.

Over 60 people have already signed up for the week of free squash classes offered by Four Walls to the general public (ages 18 and over).

It’s designed to introduce new players to the growing sport, which provides a fun, indoor option for working out during the summer heat. There are still spots available for those interested in joining.

Registration is available on the Four Walls website for the remaining sessions, which run until Saturday, June 15.

Evening classes run until Friday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, with morning sessions on Saturday from 9am to 12 noon.

“We’re very happy about the registration so far and the fantastic kick-off. One of the participants already sign-up for ongoing coaching and membership,” said Noelle Nicolls, managing director of Four Walls.

“We’ve had participants looking to escape the summer heat with an indoor activity and many simply curious about the sport. One of the participants learned the game as a child but hadn’t touched the court in 20 years,” said Nicolls.

Squash is an excellent way to burn calories, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance agility and coordination. The sport is suitable for people of all

CARL HIELD FROM PAGE 13

giving me the opportunity to be fighting for a world title in the next eight days. My last fight was an elimination match so that put me in the position to be able to fight for a world title. It is just another step forward in making my dreams come true. I am just gonna go in there and do what I gotta do to get the victory. I want to take the title, carry it home and not leave it here in Colombia,” Hield said.

It is no secret that Hield has openly expressed his desire to compete for and attain a world title since his opening match in the pro ranks against Colombian Elkin Bolaño.

Despite finally having his shot at becoming a champion, the 37-year-old acknowledged that the road leading up to June 21 had its bumps along the way.

“My journey up to this point was hard but I had to keep faith in God and let him open the doors for me to get where I wanna go. I want to give thanks to the sponsors for covering some of the expenses to get to Colombia to help me be able to fight and get my rankings up,” he said.

The journey certainly had its ups and downs which included the Bahamian boxer coming up short against Israel’s Miroslav Kapuler at the 2024 World Olympic Boxing Qualification 2 in Bangkok, Thailand at the Huamark Indoor Stadium. Hield was defeated by Kapuler in three rounds via unanimous decision in the super welterweight division at the amateur level.

ages and body types, requiring no prior experience or special equipment.

Four Walls provides racquets, balls, and optional safety goggles for all participants in the Squashathon.

FROM PAGE 13

Parliament. The game is scheduled for 8pm Sunday, July 21 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

JOHNSON’S BASKETBALL CAMP GET ready for the annual Coach Kevin Johnson’s Basketball Camp 2024. Coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson has announced that his camp will run from June 24 to July 12 at the CI Gibson

To make the experience even more rewarding, participants in the Squashathon can enjoy a special offer of 50% off Four Walls Squash memberships for two consecutive months.

will take on Colombian Christian

boxer Carl

for the WBA Championship on June 21 in Cartagena, Colombia.

Although it did not go the way the 37-year-old pro boxer had hoped for, it did not deter him from another major goal of his.

“It didn’t go as planned but I went and gave it my all. I went out there and did what I had to do but it didn’t go my way so I kept preparing for the title fight. I trained with my old Cuban coach in a different country and I finished preparing with other boxers from other countries for this match,” he said.

Hield improved to 6-0-0 after he won via technical knockout in the second round against Colombian Fabian Morimon at the Round a Round Fitness Club in Santa Marta, Colombia back in March. It was his sixth consecutive pro win and he is surely riding a hot streak headed

Secondary High School and will run daily from 9am to 1pm. Campers will get a chance to play and learn the fundamentals of the game of basketball from professional instructors. Interested persons can sign up by contacting coach Johnson at 636-9350 or email: coachkjjohnson@ gmail.com

third annual Nex-Gen Elite Training

Camp, hosted by JR Basketball Academy,

into his match against Bautista.

On the other side of the ring, Bautista returned from an almost two-year hiatus from boxing and defeated Colombian Nicolas Montoya via a technical knockout in the fourth round on March 15 in San Pedro de Uraba, Colombia.

The former Sugar Bert Boxing gold medallist is planning to use his recent winning streak along with Colombia’s crowd as fuel to power him to a title win.

The match is dedicated to his mother, the late Norma Hield. He thanked sponsors Rollin’ Tyre Imports (Trinidad and Tobago), West End Construction, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC) along with the Bahamas Boxing Federation for continued support.

is all set for June 24 to July 13 from 9am to noon at the Telios Indoor Gymnasium on Carmichael Road. The camp, powered by Frazier’s Roofing, will provide training for game situations, shooting, passibng, ball handling, defense and footwork for boys and girls between the ages of 8-19 years. Registration is now open. Interested persons can contact Cadot at 535-9354, email jrcbasketballacademy.com or go online to www.jrcbasketballacademy. com

This membership includes two months of complimentary coaching, waivers on court fees, access to the club’s facilities, locker room access, guest passes, and more.

“We want to encourage more people to sign up and take advantage of this unique opportunity. Squash is a great way to stay active, meet new people, and enjoy a sport that offers a fullbody workout. At Four Walls, we’re committed to making squash accessible and enjoyable for everyone,” said Nicolls.

Squash newcomers are invited to join the remaining sessions of the Summer Squashathon. For more information about Four Walls Squash and Social Club and upcoming events, please visit https://www.fourwallsbahamas.com/product/squash-2/ summer-squashathon-2024 or contact (242) 394-5042.

BAHAMIAN

Hield

Bautista

FOUR Walls coach Scott Jupp coaching Squashaton participants.

SQUASH member Andrew Hanna, right, coaching a Squashaton participant.

SQUASH member Andrew Hanna coaching Squashaton participants.

FOUR Walls coach Scott Jupp coaching.

PLAY ACTION: The Bahamas Baseball Association Andre Rodgers Senior Nationals Championships concluded on Sunday. The Community Baseball League turned out to be the spoilers, while the Junior Baseball League of Nassau lived up to their expectations as they emerged as champions of the Bahamas Baseball Association’s Andre Rodgers Senior Nationals Championships. The three-day tournament was held at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium with the CBL whitewashing JBLN 2-0 in the 23-and-under final after the JBLN 16-andunder team routed Freedom Farm 9-1.

Photos by Chappell Whyms Jr

BASEBALL DIAMONDS: The three-day Bahamas Baseball Association Andre Rodgers Senior Nationals Championships concluded on Sunday. Shown here are some of the winning teams with their trophies. The Community Baseball League turned out to be the spoilers, while the Junior Baseball League of Nassau lived up to their expectations as they emerged as champions of the Bahamas Baseball Association’s Andre Rodgers Senior Nationals Championships. Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr

Tatum, Brown help Celtics hold off huge Mavs rally for 106-99 win, 3-0 lead in NBA Finals

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer

DALLAS (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, Jaylen Brown had 30 and the Boston Celtics held off a furious Dallas rally to reach the brink of a record 18th championship with a 106-99 victory over the Mavericks last night for a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

Brown finished with eight rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics extended their franchise record with a 10th consecutive playoff victory and moved to 7-0 on the road this postseason. They can win the series and break a tie with the Lakers for most NBA championships with a victory Friday in Dallas.

Boston also improved to 10-1 in these playoffs without Kristaps Porzingis after the 7-foot-2 Latvian was ruled out about two hours before the game because of a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg sustained in Game 2.

The status of Porzingis for the rest of the series appears in doubt, but it might not matter. None of the previous 156 teams to

face a 3-0 deficit has rallied to win an NBA playoff series.

The Mavs almost pulled off a crazy comeback to avoid the big hole — 13 years after the only other rally to match it in the NBA Finals sparked Dallas’ run to its only title against Miami.

Boston led 91-70 at the end of a 20-5 run early in the fourth quarter before Dallas answered with a 22-2 spurt to get within a point with 3 1/2 minutes remaining.

Problem was, Luka Doncic picked up his sixth foul with 4:12 remaining when a challenge was unsuccessful before Kyrie Irving, who scored 35 points, hit a jumper to get Dallas within one.

Tatum and Brown saved the Celtics from there, with some help from Derrick White, who scored 16.

Those three combined for the remaining 13 Boston points to get the Celtics within a victory of their first title since 2008, and just the second since 1986. In a game that seemed over early in the fourth, the score was stuck on 93-90 for more than three minutes.

That included when Doncic was called for a blocking foul on a driving Brown.

The Mavs had nothing to lose with the challenge, since it meant trying to save their superstar from disqualification.

Without Doncic, Dallas managed to get within two before Brown hit a pullup jumper with a minute to go.

P.J. Washington Jr., Irving

and Tim Hardaway Jr. each missed a 3-pointer in the final minute as Irving’s personal losing streak against his former team reached 13 games.

The Mavs used the needed boost coming off two losses in Boston, taking their biggest lead of the series while running out to a 22-9 lead.

Doncic and Irving drove for buckets while also hitting a 3 apiece.

The Celtics answered with a 21-9 finish to the first

An energised Dallas crowd was ready for its first finals game in 13 years, with Super Bowl-winning quarterback and Mavs fan Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs frequently getting out of his seat near midcourt.

quarter. Sam Hauser hit two of his first-half 3s — on three attempts — to help wrap up a run that started with four points from Brown and a 3 from Tatum. Defence dominated the start of the second quarter, Boston holding a 5-2 edge nearly six minutes in before Irving and Tatum traded three pointers to start a scoring burst.

JERRY WEST, 3-TIME HALL OF FAME SELECTION, DIES AT 86

West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game exploits as a player, went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called West “one of the greatest executives in sports history.”

“He helped build eight championship teams during his tenure in the NBA — a legacy of achievement that mirrors his on-court excellence,” Silver said. “And he will be enshrined this October into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor, becoming the first person ever inducted as both a player and a contributor. I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over many years about basketball and life.”

West was “the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him,” the Clippers said in announcing his death. West’s wife, Karen, was by his side when he died, the Clippers said. West worked for the Clippers as a consultant for the last seven years.

He was an All-Star in all 14 of his NBA seasons, a 12-time All-NBA selection, part of the 1972 Lakers team that won a championship, an NBA Finals MVP when the Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics in 1969 — the first year that award

was given out, and still the only time it went to a player on the losing team — and was selected as part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.

“He was absolutely my basketball sage: wise, loyal and so much fun,” Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said. “If you were in his presence, you felt his competitiveness and his drive. He cared about everything and everyone. From the first day I met Jerry seven years ago, he inspired me with his intellect, honesty and enthusiasm. He never stopped.”

West was general manager of championship teams with the Lakers, helping build the “Showtime” dynasty.

He also worked in the front offices of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers. Among his many highlights as an executive with the Lakers: He drafted Magic Johnson and James Worthy, then brought in Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal to form a powerhouse title-winning duo. His basketball life bridged generations: West played with Elgin Baylor, whom he called “the most supportive and the greatest player of that era,” and Wilt Chamberlain.

As a coach and executive, he worked with a who’swho of NBA stars from the last 40 years: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, Worthy, O’Neal, Bryant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George among them.

“I marvel at them, at the joy they brought basketball fans all over the world,” West said in 2019.

Even in the final years of his life, West was considered basketball royalty. He routinely sat courtside at Summer League games in Las Vegas, often watching many games in a day while greeting long lines of players — LeBron James among them — who would approach to shake his hand.

“The game transcends many things,” West said while attending Summer League last year. “The players change, the style of play may change, but the respect that you learn in this game never changes.”

James, on social media, offered his condolences: “Will truly miss our convos my dear friend! My thoughts and prayers goes out to your wonderful family! Forever love Jerry! Rest in Paradise my guy!” the NBA’s all-time scoring leader wrote yesterday.

West is 25th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He knew he was the model for the league’s logo — a player dribbling a ball, set against a red-and-blue background — but suggested in recent years that he wouldn’t mind if the league changed it.

“While it’s never been officially declared that the logo is Jerry West,” Silver said in 2021, “it sure looks a lot like him.”

West is still the NBA Finals’ all-time leader in total points, along with field

goals made and attempted as well as free throws made and attempted. He played in the title series nine times with the Lakers; his teams went 1-2 against the New York Knicks, and 0-6 against the Celtics.

“Those damn Celtics,” he often said.

West also hit one of the most famed shots in finals history, a 60-footer at the buzzer of Game 3 of the 1970 series between the Knicks and Lakers to force overtime.

Tributes from across the sports world flowed freely yesterday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers released a statement calling West “an indelible figure on the Los Angeles sports landscape for more than 60 years,” and the NBA was planning a pregame tribute to West before Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

West is survived by sons David, Mark and Michael from his first marriage to Martha Jane Kane, which ended in divorce. He and second wife Karen had two sons, Ryan and Jonnie, who is married to former LGPA Tour star Michelle Wie.

Riley recalled times where, after a Lakers shootaround practice, he and West would head to a nearby drugstore “to eat the best burgers, drink milkshakes and savour a great custard pudding with fresh whipped cream” before

going home to nap and get ready for that night’s game.

Evidently, burgers, milkshakes and custard worked wonders for West.

“Jerry would kick (butt) in a way that was so skilled and relentless,” Riley said. “I was so proud to be there in his presence. I watched, I learned. He made me believe. Being in that aura of greatness was mesmerising.” Michael Jordan said he considered West “a friend and mentor — like an older brother to me.”

“I valued his friendship and knowledge,” Jordan said. “I always wished I could have played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate. I admired his basketball insights and he and I shared many similarities to how we approached the game.”

A native of Chelyan, West Virginia, West was known as a tenacious player who was rarely satisfied with his performance.

He grew up shooting at a basket nailed to the side of a shed and often shot until his fingers bled. He became the first high school player in state history to score more than 900 points in a season, averaging 32.2 points in leading East Bank High to a state title. Basketball, he would later reveal, was his therapy. In his 2011 memoir, “West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life,”

West chronicled a lifelong battle with depression. He wrote that his childhood was devoid of love and filled with anger as a result of an abusive father. He often felt worthless, and to combat that, he said he put his energy into playing the game.

West led West Virginia University — where he is still the all-time leader in scoring average — to the NCAA final in 1959, when the Mountaineers lost by one point to California.

“Today is one of the saddest days ever for West Virginia University and the state of West Virginia,” Mountaineers athletic director Wren Baker said. “Mountaineer hearts all over the world are broken with the passing of the great Jerry West.”

A year after he won Olympic gold in Rome, West joined the Lakers, where he spent his entire pro playing career.

He was honoured as one of the league’s 50 greatest players in 1996 and when the league expanded the polling to 75 players to commemorate its 75th anniversary in 2021, West was selected again.

“You know, it never ceases to amaze me the places you can go in this world chasing a bouncing ball,” West said in 2019, when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honoor — by thenPresident Donald Trump.

“My chase began in Chelyan, West Virginia, where I strung a wire basket with no net to the side of a bridge. If your shot didn’t go in, the ball rolled down a long bank and you would be chasing it forever. So, you better make it.

“I was a dreamer. My family didn’t have much, but we had a clear view of the Appalachian Mountains, and I’d sit alone on our front porch and wonder, ‘If I ever make it to the top of that mountain, what will I see on the other side?’ Well, I did make it to the other side, and my dreams

have come true. I’ve been able to see the sides, thanks to that bouncing ball.”

FORMER basketball players, from left, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Bill Russell watch during the first half of an NBA All-Star basketball game on Sunday, February 18, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

BOSTON Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts after scoring a basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half in Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals last night in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)