06192023 NEWS AND SPORT

‘Slow down on pa SSenger tax’

Cruise lines push govt to postpone increase due to short notice of change

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CRUISE lines are pushing the Davis administration to postpone the implementation of new passenger tax increases, arguing they were not notified early enough to prepare for the rise.

The Passenger Tax (Amendment) Bill would require cruise passengers

leaving by way of Nassau and Freeport to pay $23, up from $18. Those exiting by sea from a private island without visiting any other port in the country would pay $25.

The legislation says the amendments would take effect on July 1, 2023, the start of the new fiscal year. Another new fee –– a tourism enhancement levy of

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not all questions answered on long island Plane crash

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

AIR accident investigators found that “loss of power resulting in a loss of control inflight” caused a plane crash in Long Island last year that resulted in a woman’s death.

However, investigators could not determine the contributing factors to the

crash.

A PA-31-310 Piper Navajo aircraft crashed moments after takeoff from the Deadman’s Cay airport on June 5, 2022. The plane, which was headed to the Lynden Pindling International Airport, had seven people on board.

Aleitheia Newbold, a mother of a seven-monthold baby, died in the crash.

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‘I pleaded with my son to change’, Dad says

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE father of a teen boy shot dead by police last week said he sat with his son for nearly two hours, begging him to change his life a day before the fatal incident. Elron Johnson, 17, was killed by an off-duty officer during an alleged attempted armed robbery at the Double Dragon restaurant on Deveaux and East Bay

Street on Thursday night.

Police said shortly before 10pm, two men, one armed with a firearm, entered the establishment and demanded cash.

When an off-duty officer identified himself as police, the suspect allegedly fired at him, prompting an exchange of gunshots that resulted in the suspect being shot.

Police shooting ruled homicide by manslaughter

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

RELATIVES of Shanton Forbes breathed a sigh of relief and hugged each other Friday after a Coroner’s Court jury ruled that the 21-year-old’s

police-involved killing in 2019 was a homicide by manslaughter. This ruling comes weeks after the police involved killing of Azario Major was also ruled a homicide by manslaughter. Findings against the police are rare.

In addition to homicide by manslaughter, jurors could have returned a result of justifiable homicide or homicide by murder.

On the night of March 25, 2018, PC 3731 Greenslade and PC 3725 Young went to

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were killed over the weekend, bringing the murder count for the year to 52.

Police reported that around 7am on Saturday, a 27-year-old man was found dead in a onebedroom structure in the Haitian Village, Cowpen Road. The man, who was identified as a Haitian national, was found with apparent gunshot wounds to the upper body.

Police are uncertain of the circumstances surrounding the 27-year-old’s death, but said gunshots were reported in the area three hours before the body’s discovery.

In the second killing, police on Saturday were reportedly alerted to an incident in the area of Wulff and Claridge Roads around 9pm.

A 39-year-old man from Culmersville and another

Rush, Sip and Paint event held at Collins House

Twelve Bahamians To receive 2023 King’s birthday honours

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWELVE Bahamians will receive the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours.

The late Warren Logan Rolle will receive the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to the public, according to the United Kingdom’s government website.

Former Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant will receive the Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to politics.

The recipients of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) include Austin Bernard

Davis for services to the community; Pericles Maillis for services to the environment; Andrea Elizabeth Eyvonne Archer for services to the public; Thomas Maitland Cates for services to the community and Colin Higgs for services to the public. British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients include Bonnie Basden for services to sport; Clayton Curtis for services to culture; Edison Alric Dames for services to culture; and Frederick Kendal Taylor for services to sport.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Leamond Deleveaux will receive the King’s Police Medal for service in the police force.

A Rush, Sip and Paste event took place at Collins House on Friday as part of the countdown to Independence. The event included Junkanoo music, painting and pasting, live music, food and drinks and more. Photos: Moise Amisial

‘I pleaded with my son to change’, Dad says

Johnson was taken to the hospital where he later died.

His father, Ashley Johnson, said he had pleaded with his son to turn his life around the night before he was killed.

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bail for robbery and was scheduled to return to court later this year for trial. According to Mr Johnson, his son leaves behind a child and a pregnant girlfriend.

“Elron was hardheaded, but even though I used to sit down and talk with him, he still tried

to do his own thing,” Mr Johnson said. “He does sleep by me and the day before, I sit down with him almost like two hours and me and him just sit down and I told him that this is not worth it.”

shove, I end up hearing all of this garbage.”

make sure he couldn’t run or nothing but to shoot him to kill him?

No, I couldn’t believe that. I consider them wrong.”

Road a year ago and that’s when everything started to change when I sent him by his daddy to try get close to his daddy.”

“He said yeah, he understands why I saying that, but push comes to man were reportedly outside a business establishment when they were approached by a man wearing a dark hooded jacket and blue jeans.

Mr Johnson said he didn’t find out about his son’s death until the next day –– just days before Father’s Day. He couldn’t say whether he accepted the police’s version of what happened.

He said his son was on

Johnson’s mother, Relinda Johnson, said her son was a “bubbly person” with a bright future.

“I still don’t want to accept the fact that my baby gone,” she said.

When the 39-year-old got into a verbal argument with the suspect, the

hooded man pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times. The 39-year-old died of his injuries at the scene. A 32-year-old man who received gunshot wounds to his buttocks while leaving the store was successfully treated at the hospital.

“Police are following significant leads into this

Two murders aT weekend search effor T s for a merican diver who wen T missing near bimini called off

SEARCH and rescue efforts for an American diver who went missing in The Bahamas have been called off.

Connecticut resident Ryan Proulx, 31, reportedly went missing on Friday near the Bimini barge wreck. According to the Palm Beach Post,

he sailed to The Bahamas on a boat from Palm Beach County last week. The US Coast Guard said he wore a green top with red fins. The Coast Guard was working with local authorities to find the diver, but the search has since been called off.

matter and are appealing to members of the public, to find alternate ways to resolve their conflicts. Additionally, members of the public are encouraged to anonymously report persons who are in possession of illegal weapons, to further prevent shooting,” police said.

“The neighbours had to call me and ask me if I hear what happened,” he recalled. “I asked them, ‘what you mean what happened?’ They say my son get killed and I said who? I said muddasick. I almost fall out.”

“I could see if they say shoot him in the leg to

She said it wasn’t until Johnson moved to Kemp Road with his father that he started getting into problems.

“Elron spent the majority of his time growing up in Fox Hill,” she said.

“Elron moved to Kemp

“In Fox Hill, he was never in no gang. He was never in no police hand until last year September when he started to rebel.” She said Johnson would have graduated high school this year had he not dropped out.

“We was looking forward to it,” she said. “His goal was to go to college but all of that changed when he dropped out of school. Now my child is dead. It’s because of the friends he keeps.”

“We offer our deepest condolences to the Proulx family,” Coast Guard Liaison Officer Lt Cmdr Matt Spado said on Twitter.

A Gofundme page to find the former police officer raised $8,919 up to press time.

17-year-old Elron Johnson died after being shot by police in what was reported as a failed robbery on Thursday night. His father Ashley Johnson said he left behind a child and a pregnant girlfriend.

‘Slow down on passenger tax’

CRUISE lines are pushing the Davis administration to postpone the implementation of new passenger tax increases, arguing they were not notified early enough to prepare for the rise.

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of $2 for passengers arriving or leaving the country –– would take effect on January 1, 2024.

The Tribune understands

cruise line representatives lobbied Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper

to postpone the new tax increases when he met them in Florida on Friday.

A source familiar with the matter but not authorised to speak publicly said cruise lines believe they were not given adequate time to prepare for the hike. They note that many passengers book their trips a year or two in advance,

making it “unreasonable” for the tax increase to take effect so soon.

Asked about this yesterday, Mr Cooper said: “There has been no change to the Bill that was laid.” He declined to comment further. Travel Weekly, a news source on the travel industry, reported on Thursday

that Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy wants the tax delayed. She reportedly said: “There’s a lot of development happening in The Bahamas, and we’re working with the officials in The Bahamas to see if at least, can it get pushed out?” She also said the tax

increase would affect some passengers.

“Look, if I’m on a budget, this is my budget,” she reportedly said. “This is what I can spend. But I mean, look at resort taxes and resort fees. I don’t want to say people have gotten used to it, but it has been piling on.”

A delay in implementing

the tax increases could affect the government’s revenue projections. According to the budget, the government aims to nearly triple revenues earned from departing cruise passengers, projecting $145m in revenue in the 2023-2024 budget, up from $50m in the current fiscal year.

Not all questio N s a N swered o N l o N g i sla N d Pla N e crash

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She was ejected from her seat. Other passengers found her lying about five feet from the rear door of the fuselage as they left the aircraft.

Investigators said it’s possible the passenger seat restraint did not properly secure the woman. An autopsy determined she died primarily due to impact and blunt force trauma.

The 45-year-old pilot was certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration

and was issued an airline transport pilot license, airplane multi-engine land, on October 30th, 2014.

The report said: “The aircraft was certified and equipped in accordance with existing US CFR regulations Part 91 and approved procedures. The aircraft had a valid certificate of airworthiness. The aircraft was properly registered in the United States of America. No evidence of a weight and balance for the aircraft was found during the investigation.

“The pilot possessed an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) with airplane multi-engine land, and private pilot privileges with airplane-single engine land, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States of America (USA) on October 30, 2014. He also held a type rating on the BE-1900 aircraft.

“The pilot in command First Class Medical Certificate was issued by the FAA in May 2016. Title 14 US Code of Federal

Regulations Part 61.2 (b)

(1) states: ‘No person may: Exercise privileges of an airman certificate, rating, endorsement, or authorization issued under this part unless that person meets the appropriate airman and medical recency requirements of this part, specific to the operation or activity.’

“In accordance with Title 14 US Code of Federal Regulations Part 61.23 (d), the expiration of a First Class Medical Certificate issued under this part for an individual age 40 or over, exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate is as follows, ‘24th month

after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.’”

The report said the aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or a cockpit voice recorder, neither of which regulations required.

Maintenance records show the aircraft was maintained per the manufacturer’s approved maintenance procedures.

The crash and other incidents involving US-registered aircraft operating in The Bahamas prompted the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) to raise a safety concern

with the FAA on February 21, 2023.

“The safety concern identified the need for enhanced surveillance activity which can potentially serve as a mitigating measure against future occurrence of accidents/incidents. The FAA responded on February 22, 2023, and advised that there will be enhanced efforts in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (CAA-B) to address safety related issues with an aim of reducing the occurrence of accidents/incidents involving United States registered aircraft operating in The Bahamas,” the report said.

Ma N accused of robbiNg store of $1,400 with M achiNe guN re M a Nded to PrisoN No bail gra N ted for M a N accused of P ossessio N of a firear M while o N bail

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison on Friday after being accused of holding up a grocery store with a machine gun last October and stealing over $1,400 in cash.

Terry Williams, 29, was charged with two counts of armed robbery before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain.

Williams is accused of robbing the East Street South Super Market on October 21, 2022, along with others and armed with black machine guns. There the suspects

reportedly robbed cashiers of $1,426 in cash.

The accused was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Williams’ case will be moved to the Supreme Court by way of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment set for service on July 17th.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who was recently granted bail for murder is once again behind bars after he was accused of possession of a firearm and ammunition on Friday.

Antwan Adderley, 18, and Ramon Rolle, 25, were charged with possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition

before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson.

On June 11 officers allegedly stopped the accused on Palm Beach Street for suspicious behaviour. There officers uncovered a black .40 Austria Glock pistol (S/N: BVVE857) along with fifteen unfired rounds of .40 ammunition.

The accused both pleaded not guilty to the offence. Prosecutor ASP Davis objected to Adderley being granted bail.

This was on the basis that Adderley had recently been granted bail for his alleged involvement in the death of Ingramson Toussaint on March 6.

After denying Adderley’s bail the Chief Magistrate set Rolle’s bail hearing for June 20, resulting in both accused being remanded to prison.

The trial in this matter is set to begin before Magistrate Lennox Coleby on July 14 and 19.

Abaco suffering an electricity crisis causing revenue loss as some tourists cut stay short

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrrolle@tribunemedia.net

ABACO residents say they are suffering from an electricity crisis.

Over the past ten days, electricity has been off in parts of the island for most of each day, according to some residents.

A Bahamas Power and Light notice said the company had transmission line issues.

“Power has been off for now for well over ten days,” said Junior Mernard, a

resident of Hope Town. “In a 24-hour period, we would be off anywhere between 12 to 16 hours a day. It’s off as I speak to you now.”

He said the situation is affecting the island’s efforts to rebound from Hurricane Dorian, with some tourists shortening their vacation time.

“Abaco has done all it can to finally rebuild a robust economy and this utility company is doing everything to kill it, burning up people’s appliances and it’s affecting our visitors too,” he said.

“It’s impacting our tourists so much. I mean a lot of these houses have back-up generators, but the generators are failing. We have people paying ten to fifteen thousand a week for a house and the power goes off.”

Roscoe Thompson, head of the Marsh Harbour/ Spring City Township, said it is uncertain what is causing the outages.

“For the past week, it’s been twice a day,” he said.

“Some areas like the cays are experiencing a lot more outages and certain

areas in Marsh Harbour like Little Orchard, was off for like 16 hours. Last night, we were off from 6 o’clock until I think 2 o’clock this morning, and then we were back off again for an hour.”

Daphne DegregoryMiaoulis, Abaco’s Chamber of Commerce president, said the situation is terrible and is preventing businesses from functioning.

“I do see the complaints in the different chat groups where people are saying, ‘any idea when the power is going to come on’, so I

know from north to south, the power outages have been constant over the last few days,” she said.

“To run the generators, it’s very expensive, or they run the risk of not being able to open or function, and right now we’re having terrible weather. It’s very gloomy and dark and if you walk into a business with no lights in, I mean you’re not going to go in cuz it looks like it’s closed anyway.”

The power cuts also affected island’s airport, with flight agents checking

passengers in manually.

The Tribune was sent a video showing portions of the airport in darkness with tourists sitting on the ground.

Central and South Abaco MP John Pinder said he was aware of the situation and had asked BPL’s team to keep the community updated.

“As your Member of Parliament, I will continue to push for stable power now and rectifying issues for reliable power moving forward,” Mr Pinder said in a Facebook post.

Police involved shooting of shanton forbes ruled homicide by manslaughter

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the backyard of a home in Brahm Drive in Yellow Elder Gardens where a party was being held. There officers shot Forbes multiple times in his chest. The 21-year-old

died later that day at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

The officers claimed the deceased was armed. They said they recovered a black Glock .40mm pistol over the wall near where Forbes was shot.

This same weapon was found along with a .40mm magazine with six rounds in the chamber and blood on it.

Forbes’ relatives insisted he had no gun. Witnesses testified that they saw Forbes try to

leave and that the only gunshots they heard came from the officers.

Dr Caryn Sands, a forensic pathologist at PMH, testified that the gunshot wounds to Forbes’s body suggested that he was in

motion when he was shot.

She listed his official cause of death as gunshot wounds to the torso.

Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest-Deveaux presided over the inquest.

Calvin Seymour represented the family.

PC Greenslade and Young stood silently after the five person jury read the verdict. Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier must now decide whether to charge the officers with a crime.

Wilson City Power Station in Abaco has four 12MW diesel generators, however due to unknown issues many residents have been dealing with extensive power outages for over a week, costing businesses revenue and seeing some visitors leave.

The Tribune Limited

How can we reach other Elrons before it’s too late?

YeSterDAY was Father’s Day, and across the country, the men who have played a part in raising children were celebrated.

It is a day to honour those who have tried their hardest to do their best for their families. that can sometimes be in challenging circumstances – and it is an apt reminder for those men to redouble their efforts for those in need.

there is a tragic story in today’s tribune that tells the story of some of those challenging circumstances.

elron Johnson was shot and killed on thursday night as he took part in an attempted robbery on a restaurant. He was 17.

we say tragic because it is all such a waste – but elron chose to be in that position. He was one of two people who entered the establishment armed with a firearm and demanded cash.

every customer who was present, every staff member who was working, was put in fear for their lives by the choices of those two, one of which was elron.

An off-duty police officer intervened, there was an exchange of gunfire, and elron is dead.

Listening to his father in today’s tribune, he tried to steer his son away from such a situation.

He said the night before elron was killed, he pleaded with him to turn his life around.

He said elron said “he understands why he saying that” but the message did not stop elron from taking part in an attempted robbery the next night.

elron, a 17-year-old, was also himself a father. He leaves behind a child and a pregnant girlfriend.

too young a parent, too young to die.

the choices elron made led him on the path to that robbery. those choices led him to the short life he lived. His father tried to show him another way –as fathers should.

elron is not the only one out there in such a situation. we know there are too many robberies. we see young men appearing before the courts all the time. we see too many of them in body bags at murder scenes on the streets. How can we reach the other elrons?

How can we, like elron’s father, try to steer others away from a path of crime, a path of violence? How can we make them see that it is wrong to subject people to the terror of someone walking into a business and waving a gun?

For those young men who are parents already themselves, how can we make them realise they will never see their children grow up if they take this path?

elron’s mother said her child is dead “because of the friends he keeps”. How do we make a generation choose not to be with those friends?

the simple truth is that for many this is a fight that is failing. Gangs provide something in these young men’s lives they cannot find elsewhere. A sense of belonging. A sense of, perhaps, achievement in the respect from other gang members. It is a castle built on sand, ready to crumble in the face of violence, the courts, trouble with police and a thousand other troubles being part of what a gang brings.

But perhaps there is a layer of support we are not offering – and that is for the fathers, and the mothers too. As we try to reach out to these young men to steer them onto a different path, we should also reach out to their families.

Sometimes, they will not know what to say, how to say it or where to turn for help in giving their children the chance of redemption. And perhaps they need that lifeline.

Make no mistake – these young criminals are wrong. they have no right to inflict suffering on others as they so often do. there can be another way. But they have to choose it – or they may just pay the price.

RCI

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I wrIte to express my enthusiastic support for the timely and patriotic message expressed by Pam Burnside in a recent letter, “we must protect what is ours.”

Her immediate focus was on the lamentable proposal by royal Caribbean Cruise Line, which would flood the sensitive ecosystems and habitats around western Paradise Island with thousands upon thousands of tourists – and all the noise, disruption, foot traffic, trash and human waste that inevitably come with them. the company’s assurances that it has the question of environmental impact under control seems, as usual, too good to be true.

However, Pam also points out that this royal Caribbean project is just one symptom of a much larger disease,

an entrenched system invented, implemented and overseen by our political class to sell our natural heritage, ecological resources and national patrimony to large foreign entities. this system, in operation across the length and breadth of the archipelago, sees our natural treasures traded away in return for a shortlived political boost that the politicians may gain from announcing a handful of jobs. Under this system, resources that are supposed to be held in trust for the benefit of future generations of Bahamians, are being auctioned off at fire-sale prices to further the political careers of a

handful of elites. Meanwhile, the foreign entity takes the vast majority of the profits oversees. Despite following this system for five decades, the country’s under-employment issues and economic difficulties have not been solved. Clearly, the only parties that stand to benefit are politicians and large foreign companies. Pam is absolutely correct – Bahamians need to open their eyes and see what is happening to the treasures that nature has bestowed upon us before it is too late. How many more Bahamian communities must watch as their marine and terrestrial resources, their patrimony, their traditional way of life, is annexed for the exclusive benefit of the few?

JOSEPH DARVILLE Chairman, Save the Bays June 16, 2023

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I reNt Nissan Xtrail SUVS here in South eleuthera. Just today I rented a customer a SUV. Not more than an hour driving south, my customer called reporting having dropped in a pothole and he got a flat tyre. As a result, the customer damaged the aluminium rim and had to abandon the vehicle just south of rock Sound, eleuthera. Sir, your constituency.

Sir, yours and the government’s neglect of the roads is appalling. You are

causing havoc and additional cost and suffering on car owners in eleuthera. Potholes do not discriminate. they damage all cars even those of your supporters. Is this any level of respect paid to them?

It is so easy to organise a crew to continually pay attention to potholes. this level of disrespect for motorists in eleuthera is telling.

You are not here to suffer in your travels. we are here every day watching the roads demise into potholes. what will your public do in

response to this level of disrespect? And, sir, who will pay for my damaged tyres? Did you get a flat tyre while in Dubai, New York or england? Did you observe the standards abroad? the Bahamas is in need of standards.

In fact, all of our utilities are failing us. what a mess. Are these offerings recommended offerings to our tourists? How about our locals? Our natives?

GEORGE MAJOR eleuthera, June 18, 2023

Lightning strike captured offshore near the Ocean Club.

Photo: Adam Darville

Several donors awarded during special

50th Independence blood drive event

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A nATIOnAl blood drive kicked off in Grand Bahama on Saturday as part of activities leading up to the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence.

Several donors, among them two doctors, were honoured by the Blood Donors Society of Grand Bahama for “giving the gift of life”. The honorees received a plaque and a medal for their many years of donating blood.

Dr Elmer Espinosa, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Rand Memorial Hospital, has been donating blood for the past

decade.

“I have been in The Bahamas for ten years now, and donating blood is a passion for me because you never know who will need blood one day,” he said.

“I am so grateful and privileged to be honoured today and as we celebrate our 50th anniversary,” said Dr Espinosa.

Donor Robbie Butler has been donating blood for the last 45 years. He said he will continue as long as he can.

“I have been doing it since I was a teenager,” he said. “I average two or three times a year for the last 45 years. And when I went away to boarding school and college, I would also give blood over there,” he recalled.

Boss CluB Bahamas inspiring young entrepreneurs in gB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

BOSS Club Bahamas, a summer entrepreneurship programme, is inspiring and empowering young future entrepreneurs here in Freeport.

The programme is in its second year and is free to students in grades seven through 12. It will run from July 11-30.

The deadline for registration is Friday, June 23.

Boss Club Summer Programme is being hosted by A Call to Holiness Ministries (Agape House), in collaboration with Borderless Creative Group.

Programme Coordinator and Facilitator Shemia Williams, founder of Borderless Creative Group, said participants will be provided a unique opportunity to explore the world of entrepreneurship and gain essential skills and hands-on experience.

“This comprehensive programme combines self-paced online training, mentorship, collaboration with peers, and exciting realworld experiences to foster creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills that are valuable in both business and life,” she said.

During their online training, Ms Williams said participants will learn about business ideas, market research, financial management, branding and marketing strategies, and effective communication.

The participants will also meet with mentors who will provide them with guidance as they develop their own business ideas.

There will be a Guest Speaker Series featuring local entrepreneurs from various industries who will share their personal entrepreneurial journeys.

Ms Williams said that the series will help to motivate

students and ignite their passion for innovation, perseverance, and creative problem-solving.

She said students will also participate in Peer-to-Peer collaboration which creates a supportive environment to work together and exchange ideas.

During the final week, Ms Williams said participants will take part in an interactive boot camp, where they will engage in various games and activities designed to reinforce the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout the programme.

At the end of the programme, those who have successfully completed the training and mentorship phases will attend a Pop-Up Market & Expo to launch their actual business ideas.

Ms Williams said the event provides a platform for students to showcase their ventures, interact with customers, and earn real income.

“We are thrilled to provide Grand Bahama’s youth with a headstart in exploring the possibilities of entrepreneurship,” she said.

“Our goal is to create that proverbial ‘village’ that helps parents nurture their children’s entrepreneurial spirit, whether or not they decide to pursue entrepreneurship,” she said.

“By partnering with Agape House, we hope to empower the next generation to utilize their God-given skills, talents, and creative ideas to create a successful future, uplift our community, and be guided by biblical principles,” Ms Williams said.

She said parents can learn more and register their students for free at linktree.com/ bossclubbahamas.

Boss Club Bahamas’ email address is bossclubbahamas@gmail.com. Persons can also call Agape House at 242-352-4273.

Mr Butler said while it is nice to be recognised, he hopes more individuals become donors.

“They certainly need to encourage people to get involved and give. I don’t need encouragement because I come every three months, and they would row me at times and say my time not up yet,” he explained.

Mr Butler said it is unfortunate sometimes when someone he knows needs blood, but he can’t give it because he has already

exceeded his limit. An individual can give blood three to four times a year or every three months. Each donation of blood saves three lives.

Trevor Russell, who was hospitalised ten years ago, thanked those donors who came forward and donated the 15 pints of blood he needed for his surgery. He is now also a voluntary donor.

“God give it to us, so why not share; if you can give blood, give it,” he said. lededra Marche, president of the Blood Donors Society of Grand Bahama,

thanked the unsung heroes for “rolling up their sleeves” to help save lives.

“We say thanks to those who give of themselves seemingly effortlessly to help others; we don’t take it for granted that it is because of you that many of us are alive today. The gift of life you give... is immeasurable and treasured,” she said. She said the society continues to strive for more voluntary donors to join the registry.

leslie lewis, co-chairman of the Grand Bahama 50th Independence

Committee, speaking on behalf of the Minister for Grand Bahama, said they are pleased to partner with the society in a national blood drive.

“We have seen countless flyers and calls for blood donations from our fellow Bahamians. Hence, it is fitting that as part of the activities for the celebration of our 50th anniversary of Independence, we partner with other organisations to host this national blood drive,” Mrs lewis said.

Several donors, among them two doctors, were honored and recognized by the Blood Donors Society of Grand Bahama for their selfless act of ‘giving the gift of life.’ The honorees received a plaque and a medal for their many years of donating blood.

Authorities in the spotlightbut where are the cameras?

By Tyler McKenzie

A SERIES of stories in recent times have again raised questions over how people are treated who get caught up in dealings with our forces in uniform.

One that particularly stood out to me was the doomed bid by Fox Hill Prison to seek accreditation from the American Correctional Association.

Last October, Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe announced the bid, saying: “What we’re seeking to do by this intervention by the global service providers of the American Correctional Association is to measure how close we are to the standard. “This is a needs assessment, but they will tell us how far on there to that

standard and the steps that we need to take to hit that standard, and our commitment is to address shortcoming.”

Well, last week the news came in on how the country fared. The report came back earlier this year, and the Acting Commissioner, Doan Cleare, admitted we had failed – and that officials knew the prison would “fail miserably”.

The biggest problem we faced? Apparently that our prisoners are still having to slop out.

He said: “If we don’t solve the toilets, we will still fail the inspection. We can’t be 80 percent complete with the necessary improvements if we don’t solve the toilets.”

The cost of that is $1.8m. To do it would involve uprooting floors and cutting walls, apparently. However, $1.8m is not that much money in the grand scheme of a government Budget. If $1.8m can make prisoners live in slightly more humane conditions, that seems like it should have been money spent long ago. So the question becomes why do we choose to treat people this way?

Another story this week saw five men claim that officers beat them repeatedly after taking them into custody in Bimini.

The incident started with a bar fight between the men and police officers –though one of the men said he did not know the others involved were officers, saying they did not wear insignia or uniforms.

“They were just drinking and carrying on at the bar,” he said. “Nobody knew they were officers.”

The man, Leo Sands, went on to say: “When we were in custody, they beat everybody. They used a PVC pipe, a garden hose and a baseball bat. They struck and beat until everyone was black and blue. It was five of us in custody. There were three police officers.”

A complaint has been filed, but it brings back memories of a case in 2018 in Eleuthera when three people claimed that police tortured them before releasing them without charge – and their complaint ran out of time to be addressed by the police even though they filed it in a timely fashion.

In that instance, the three involved claimed they were handcuffed, beaten and fish-bagged. We hear a lot about body cameras - but where are the cameras in the police stations?

Then there is the mix of stories we have heard about the incident where police shot a dog and ended up hitting a woman at the same property.

First, the bullet

supposedly ricocheted off the dog – now we are told the bullet went through the dog. Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said: “I had experts revisit the scene and what we discover in their findings is that after the bullet hit the dog it exited to the side, to the left side, and it went down into the ground on the concrete pavement. And there are damages there that indicate that the bullet hit the concrete pavement.

“The victim was not too far from that general area, and we suspect she didn’t even realise that she was hit. It wasn’t until some of the officers saw that she was bleeding and everybody in the yard say, ‘oh she was shot;’ she didn’t even realise that she was shot.”

Presumably, then, the ricochet was off the concrete, but that still doesn’t answer why officers would open fire in the direction of a dog while someone was standing close by. Not only was there a risk they might hit that person – they actually did.

Commissioner Fernander admonished reporters over claims that the woman had been breastfeeding at the time, saying: “You are investigators as well. Be very careful with that: Get the facts.”

Well, reporters have been asking for the body camera footage from the incident –that would be one sure way to get the facts. So where is it?

Speaking to the famiy of the victim, relatives suggested that there seemed to be no imminent fear for officers in the situation at all.

“When the officers came to the yard, they stand at the gate and the first thing they did instead of saying ‘we have a search warrant for so and so’ or whatever the case might be, what they did was stick their gun straight through the gate, shoot at the dog and then shoot at the girl,” one relative said.

“That’s out of order, you can’t do that. Then you are shooting through the gate and people inside their yard, no man, they all the wrong. I don’t care what they do or how much they try to cover it up, they are in all the wrong because there is no gun in that yard.”

Then there are two recent cases where the Coroner’s Court has ruled that

police-involved killings are homicide by manslaughter, the latest on Friday in the case of Shanton Forbes, where three officers shot Forbes multiple times in the chest in the backyard of a Yellow Elder Gardens home in 2018. Officers said Forbes was armed. That follows the case of Azario Major, whose death in 2021 outside a bar when shot by police was also ruled homicide by manslaughter.

Curiously, since that verdict, the National Security Minister suggested that the lawyer for the police officers involved in that case was trying to quash the findings based on pre-trial publicity for the case – citing a widely circulated video raising questions about the incident. The lawyer had not at the time – though now has, making some wonder whether Mr Munroe was mistaken or was instead offering a suggestion.

Collectively, what do these incidents show? We see a lack of prioritisation for those in custody, to the extent of efforts to meet international standards being doomed to failure. We seek a complaints process that seems not fit for purpose. We see – if allegations are true – that officers seem to be willing to collectively engage in abuse of detainees. And we see a coroner’s process long derailed finally starting to give some answers.

What level of confidence does this give us in our authorities? Everyone will have their own opinion –but if we are to really see accountability, then let’s see some of that video footage in disputed incidents. Let’s see a complaints process that completes swiftly. Let’s see a minister who doesn’t speak out in defence all the time but waits for the evidence and verdict.

We have all heard more stories than this – but here’s the thing. There are a lot of good officers out there representing us. It is the officers who lead to stories such as these who drag the reputation of those good officers down.

Torture is breaking the law. Manslaughter is breaking the law. The officers who do these things are criminals – and deserve to be investigated as such, for the sake of all of those on the force who uphold the law.

InsIde the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services Fox Hill Prison. A bid for accreditation ‘failed miseraby’ with the biggest issue being raised being the lack of toilets; a problem Acting Commissioner, Doan Cleare said would require a $1.8m expenditure to correct.

How we handle stress can have a significant impact on our health

MY earliest tangible moment of self-reflection occurred when I graduated high school. It was the first time I’d ever looked back on my life and contemplated my future; seriously contemplated that is.

Before that, there were lots of times when I contemplated a piece of that future, like what the next Saturday night would hold or how many more weeks I had to wait to get my driver’s license. But nothing compared to ending the longest chapter of my life to date, the school years before I would have to leave home and all the comfort and familiarity it represented. There was a certain level of immutable excitement handcuffed to the fear of change. I knew I wanted to study abroad and become a doctor but for a short while I had a dormant fear that I might not have what it took to accomplish that goal. I was also unapologetically introverted and loathed the idea of having to make new friends. The reality is that over the years, I’ve come to appreciate that moving outside your comfort zone begets growth and builds character.

Still, I remember clearly the fear and the stress it induced. So, with several of my patients expressing similar fears in recent weeks as June graduations approach, I wanted to share their thoughts and feelings with you for several reasons.

First, to let them know it is not just their generation. Stress caused by fear of change is as old as time itself. Secondly, to emphasise that by letting go of the fear, the stress vanishes and change can bring out strengths in them that they never even knew they had. Thirdly, stress can cause a medical condition known as urticaria. It is nothing to ignore despite others telling you, “Don’t worry, it’s just stress, it will go away.”

Despite the age difference between my patients and myself, it appears that many of those same feelings I experienced years ago are still in play, festering unmitigated by time. Where the differences materialize, however, is the amount of stress they endure throughout their final exam period and college application process and how much they are deleteriously affected by it. Reasons behind the increase in scholastic pressure are unknown to me but two patients, that I know of, took a gap year to either work or travel before making the transition to college life.

At this point, I’d be remiss without mentioning

that many people graduate from high school and go into the workforce immediately without a college degree and become quite successful. But for those who matriculate beyond the secondary level, stressed by applications and dreaded national exams, they soon learn that further challenges loom ahead.

My patient, hereafter referred to as Luke, went to a public school from grade one to grade nine. During such time, he was exposed to gang violence repeatedly and on more than one occasion had a knife pulled on him by delinquent students hoping to confiscate his school bag, watch and footwear. In each instance, Luke successfully defended himself and by grade nine, he’d worked hard enough to earn a scholarship to a private school locally. There, he no longer had to endure school violence, but he quickly became exposed to drugs, teenage rebellion and multiple classmates diagnosed with anxiety and clinical depression.

With a strong moral character and a loving, supportive mother, Luke not only transitioned quickly

By Dr Kenneth D Kemp

but also excelled in his new environment. After graduating at the top of his class, Luke went on to study at an engineering university in the US. He admits that during those first few years the workload was so intense that he broke out in hives so extreme it covered his entire body.

A visit to the on-campus doctor confirmed that he was suffering from chronic urticaria induced by psychological stress and anxiety, which is a condition that he’d never grappled with before. Already accustomed to an intense workload, and being the first person in his immediate family to attend college, his stress level hinged on his fear of failure and having to return home without a degree in hand.

The human body responds to stress by creating an inflammatory response as the nervous system is activated and the delicate hormonal balance is altered. This then possibly contributes to the onset of urticaria in some patients. A direct correlation between the two however remains unclear and requires further investigation. But, beyond the literature, it’s happening with such frequency in college students that treatment recommendations have successfully included advising students on how best to properly manage their personal and scholastic stress levels.

For the wider population, extending beyond college students, this advice has far-reaching benefits considering that in adults, stress may manifest as chronic high blood pressure further exacerbated by insomnia, excessive alcohol consumption, drug abuse

and poor dietary habits. That winding road precipitously leads to Diabetes, stroke and the spread of cancer cells throughout the body. These are all primary causes of death in the Bahamian population undergirding the need for locals in all age groups to manage their stress levels more efficiently.

We have sociology and religious studies classes, students study math, science, history and geography, some schools even offer foreign language, computer and art but at no point are kids ever taught the importance of anger management, balance and coping mechanisms in the classroom setting. If they are, it’s no more than a passing topic sandwiched between arguably less life-pertinent topics. Dr. Carlyne Smith-McKenzie, a former National PAHO consultant, project coordinator for Red Cross and executive director of The Bahamas AIDS Foundation has long advocated for more emphasis in the school curriculum on identifying stressors and teaching students how to effectively use coping strategies.

I recently attended a preparatory school graduation where parents and loved ones came out to support graduates with customised T-shirts, flowers and balloons, clapping, screaming loudly and shaking cowbells to show their support. It takes a village to support one child and I believe a lot of the jubilation centres around understanding the countless sleepless nights that led to this moment. Beyond assisting with homework and class projects and participating in school raffles and plays,

parents are relegated to taxi drivers as they commit to frequent and exhaustive car commutes to and from extracurricular activities and sporting events. Graduation is as much their victory as it is the students. Luke wants readers to know that hard work pays off and after graduation, a winding road lies ahead. He maintains that if you stay the course and successfully balance the stress of the work with gratifying life experiences, nothing can stop you from accomplishing your goals. The sacrifices you make in your formative years yield countless dividends for you and your family and despite all the hardships he’s endured along the way, Luke says he wouldn’t change a thing.

In life, how we respond and adapt to challenges best determines our success and potential life expectancy. Arming recent graduates with the necessary tools to potentiate their confidence and attenuate stress precursors should accordingly be prioritized by educators and parents alike for the continued preservation of their health and well-being. In the long run, it can be a lot easier to get over a cold or virus than stress. We just never see it that way or talk about stress as something perhaps it’s time we did.

This is The KDK Report.

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

In life, how we respond and adapt to challenges best determines our success and potential life expectancy.

‘You six will determine whether or not other women can join.’ First women police showed that they belonged

THE presence of women became more recognised in The Bahamas during the 1960s. It began with an Act being passed granting women the long-awaited right to vote, however this was just the first step. Spurgeon Bethel, a former Police Officer, stood before the House of Assembly in 1964, offering a visionary proposition.

He proposed the inclusion of women in the Bahamas Police Force, recognising the tremendous potential they held. No longer should the force be confined to the traditional role of a Matron, a female civilian, when females or children entered police custody. This was an opportunity to empower women and prove that they could shoulder the responsibilities of law enforcement. Within the same year of 1964, major constitutional revisions occurred which changed the landscape of The Bahamas. Amongst those changes was that for the first time in history, women were welcomed into the force.

One hundred and twenty-two applicants stepped forward, their hearts brimming with dreams of becoming pioneers. Only six were chosen to embark on this extraordinary journey, namely: Theresa Baker, Anita Bethel, Norma Clarke, Hildred McClain, Alsada McFall, and Esther Stubbs. On November 23, 1964, they entered Police Headquarters, East Street, to commence their rigorous training. Under the watchful eye of Sergeant 286 Audrey Weigh, a seasoned veteran from the Metropolitan Police Force in England, they stood

shoulder to shoulder with their eight male counterparts. These women absorbed knowledge, honed their skills, and overcame every obstacle. Their dedication and unwavering resolve propelled them forward, even as dissenting voices sought to undermine their worth. Within the force, resistance lingered as some clung desperately to the relics of the past, resenting the women’s arrival. Some officers, threatened by change, attempted to break the women’s spirit. Little did they know, however, that these extraordinary women had forged an unbreakable bond, an unyielding sisterhood, fueled by a common purpose and a shared mantra: “You six will determine whether or not other women can join!” They shattered the glass ceiling, proving beyond doubt that women possessed the mettle to be entrusted as Police Officers. In 1965, ten more women joined their ranks, and the original six emerged as guiding beacons of leadership, offering counsel and fortitude to the newcomers, forewarning them of the trials they may face.

From that transformative moment in 1964, countless other women have stepped forward to contribute their skills and passion to the force. The legacy of the spectacular six women is an eternal reminder of the power of unity, resilience, and the unshakeable belief that equality knows no boundaries. They paved the way, breaking through barriers, and unleashing a surge of change that continues to shape the destiny of women within the force.

Out of 22 women who applied, only six were chosen to become the first women officers in the RBPF, namely: Theresa Baker, Anita Bethel, Norma Clarke, Hildred McClain, Alsada McFall, and Esther Stubbs. On November 23, 1964, they entered Police Headquarters, East Street, to commence their rigorous training. Under the watchful eye of Sergeant 286 Audrey Weigh, a seasoned veteran from the Metropolitan Police Force in England, and overcame every obstacle to be sworn in as officers.

twO High Commissioners together - the Bahamas High Commissioner to the Court of St James in the UK, Paul Andrew Gomez (right), and his British counterpart in The Bahamas, Thomas Hartley (left), at a reception at Lancaster House in London on Wednesday. They are pictured with the Governor of Bermuda, Rena Lalgie.

the first six women to be added to the royal Bhamas Police force in 1964 overcame obstacles and sentiments that women did not belong, paving the way for many others to join the force over the years.

Strengthening the US-Caribbean relationship: A work in progress

THE relationship between the United States of America (US) and the 14-member independent member states of CARICOM as well as the Dominican Republic has entered a new phase of cooperation after 7 years of neglect between 2015 and 2022.

Renewed US interest in the Caribbean region as a whole, as distinct from a preoccupation with Cuba and Haiti, began at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, hosted by President Joe Biden in June 2022. At that meeting, many Caribbean leaders insisted on a collective meeting with the US President to place serious issues of concern before him. Prior to the Los Angeles meeting, no engagement between Caribbean leaders, collectively, and a US President had taken place

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

since Barack Obama held a fleeting encounter with them in Jamaica in 2015. Donald Trump had no engagement of any kind with Caribbean leaders, collectively. In March 2019, Trump held what many political commentators regarded as a divisive meeting with leaders of five Caribbean countries at his personal estate, Mar-a-Lago, in Florida. That perfunctory meeting with the heads of Government of The Bahamas, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and St Lucia was not in the least

bit substantial. Of the Heads of Government who met Trump only the Jamaican Head of Government is still in office.

Trump was encouraged to hold it by his political advisers as a gesture of appreciation to the 5 leaders who joined him in recognizing Juan Guaidó as the President of Venezuela – a decision which continues to have adverse consequences in the Hemisphere. The promises he made to these 5 leaders of assistance on various matters never materialized.

Eighteen months of

President Biden’s administration elapsed before he – and his policy-making team – widened their Caribbean attention beyond Cuba and Haiti. On Cuba, the Biden team had largely continued the hardline policies inherited from Trump, and, regarding Haiti, the principal concern was restricting the constant flow of refugees, fleeing to the US to escape what was, even then, a humanitarian crisis.

The game changer was the meeting in Los Angeles in the margins of the 2022 Summit of the Americas where Caribbean leaders were persuasive in setting forth the crucial interests shared by the US and the Caribbean. There were, perhaps, two underlining but unspoken issues that helped to re-ignite US interest in the Caribbean. The first was the growing economic, political and diplomatic presence of China in the Caribbean and Latin America, and the other was a new assertiveness by the leftist groups in Latin America who were being elected to government, challenging the traditional US sway over the area.

What the US saw as great value in the Caribbean was that, with the exception of Haiti, the 14 CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic were relatively stable democracies, the majority of which were motivated by their development needs and not by ideologies. Strengthening relations with this group was certainly in the interest of the US.

Regarding China, realization had dawned on US policy makers that China was filling a vacuum that the US had left in the provision of financing for development and, as a

consequence, had become a serious rival in the what the US had traditionally regarded as its sphere of influence.

The wheels of a new cooperation were set in motion with three joint committees established to pursue energy security, food security, and access to financing. While no dramatic results appear to have been achieved by these three Committees, at the very least the US has reengaged in the region. On June 8, 2023, US Vice President Kamala Harris met Caribbean leaders in The Bahamas in furtherance of enhancing the US-Caribbean relationship.

It was clear from the US State Department’s read out of the meeting and the statement issued by the CARICOM Secretariat, on behalf of the Caribbean leaders, that apart from the usefulness of the meeting to ventilate concerns, matters had not progressed in ways that could cause Caribbean leaders to describe it other than as “a useful platform for productive discussions”.

Similarly, the US State Department did not describe outcomes beyond stating that among the issues “discussed” were: cooperation to address the climate crisis and the transition to clean energy; ways to strengthen energy security and enhance resilience; and adaptive capacity to withstand the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.

Still, the US is maintaining a dialogue. So far, it has not delivered results with the immediacy that the Caribbean might like, but this may be due to difficulties of coordination and implementation on both the Caribbean and US side that require fixing. It is in the Caribbean’s interest to

establish a single, focussed mechanism, much like the original 1997 Regional Negotiating Machinery, which was given the authority under Heads of Government guidance to negotiate the region’s trade and investment relationship with the European Union. On the same day that Vice President Harris was meeting Caribbean leaders in The Bahamas, three influential members of the US House of Representatives announced the introduction of the “US-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2023”, which they describe as “a comprehensive roadmap to modernize U.S. engagement with Caribbean nations”.

The US Congress holds the strings to the purse of US monies and the authority to set priorities and instruct on the release of funds. Therefore, this initiative by Joaquin Castro (Texas), María Elvira Salazar (Florida), and Adriano Espaillat (New York) should be bolstered by Caribbean endorsement and support. It requires work and a coordinated Caribbean effort, which could well be placed in the hands of the same single, focussed mechanism described earlier in this Commentary.

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

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

US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks with Caribbean heads of state during a meeting held in The Bahamas to discuss pressing global concerns including climate change, energy management, food security, and the process of rebuilding in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The woman who founded Father’s Day was a renegade, great-granddaughter says

LOS ANGELES Associated

Press

You could call her the mother of Father’s Day.

The late Sonora Smart Dodd launched the celebration of dads in 1910 in her hometown of Spokane, Washington. As a result, she is the one responsible for those annual gifts that run the gamut from embarrassingly silly-looking neckties to kids’ finger paintings crafted with so much love by those tiny hands that they can bring a tear to the eye of even the most stoic father.

It’s a tradition Dodd decided to start as she sat in a Spokane church on Mother’s Day 1909, listening to a sermon about — what else? — Mother’s Day.

“And it bugged her,” Dodd’s great-granddaughter,

Betsy Roddy, told The Associated Press in 2017.

“She thought, ‘Well, why isn’t there a Father’s Day?”

Dodd and her five younger brothers, after all, had been raised by their father after their mother died in childbirth in 1898.

William Jackson Smart became a farmer after fighting in the Civil War. He not only held down both parental roles but did it with “leadership and love,” his daughter always said, and she believed he ought to get some credit.

“So she worked tirelessly with the local clergy and got the YWCA on board, and they had their first Father’s Day in Spokane in 1910,” said Roddy, displaying a copy of The River Press of Fort Benton, Montana, which

reported on the event.

Although that story predicted the celebration would go nationwide by the next year, Father’s Day was slow to catch on. So much so that Dodd spent the next 62 years lobbying everyone from presidents to retailers for support.

Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon declared the third Sunday of June a federal holiday honoring dads. Dodd, who died at age 96 in 1978, had lived to see her dream come true.

A Renaissance woman, the Mother of Father’s Day was a painter, poet and businesswoman, running a funeral home with her husband while raising the couple’s only son, a future father named Jack.

“I take a great deal of pride in that renegade spirit that she clearly had,”

said Roddy, marketing director for a large Los Angeles company.

Dodd’s great-granddaughter inherited some of that spirit herself. Raised in Washington, DC, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Penn State before heading to Europe for several years of backpacking between studies at Vienna’s Webster university, where she earned a master’s degree in international business.

Moving to Los Angeles decades ago, she found her niche here in marketing and stayed, eventually moving into a Craftsmanstyle home on the city’s west side, where she lives with her two dogs.

The only child of an only child and recently widowed after 24 years of marriage, Roddy never had children of her own.

That not only leaves her with the title of GreatGranddaughter of Father’s Day but also assures she is the last direct descendant of the holiday’s creator. Although she’s always been well aware of that legacy, she’s never talked about it publicly until now.

She began to get more involved after MyHeritage.com, the company that helps people trace family histories, asked if she knew her family’s story.

Learning that she did, MyHeritage dug up historical documents about Dodd that Roddy says even she and her mother didn’t know existed. They are considering eventually turning over some of their artifacts to a museum.

As a child, Roddy said, she loved her great-grandmother deeply, visited her every year and treasures

the poems, books and notes she gave her, including one welcoming her to the world on the year she was born. She still keeps it, in pristine condition, in a small box in her home.

Still, as a child, Roddy says, she took Father’s Day largely for granted, concluding the elaborate celebration, including the special card for her greatgrandmother, was just something her family did. Even as an adult, she’s generally kept quiet about being the ultimate Father’s Day insider, leaving it to her mother to spread the word.

But no more.

“It’s time for me to pick up the baton and carry it proudly,” she says with a smile. “I’m the last direct descendant. The legacy is here, which is an honor.”

Betsy Roddy of Los Angeles holds a copy of the Aug. 17, 1910, edition of The River Press of Fort Benton, Mont., on June 12, 2017. The newspaper was one of the first to report on Father’s Day, an event held for the first time in June of that year in Spokane, Wash., after Roddy’s great-grandmother, Sonora Smart Dodd, lobbied local church and public officials for its creation. In the years that followed, Father’s Day grew to become an international event and Dodd lived to see President Richard Nixon declare it an official U.S. holiday in 1972.

Photo: John Rogers/AP

HAALAND SCORES BUT NORWAY LOSES

ERLING Haaland scored on his return to Norway and it wasn’t enough as Scotland came back to win 2-1 on Saturday and keep a perfect record in qualifying for next year’s European Championship.

Elsewhere, Bruno Fernandes scored twice in a 3-0 win for Portugal against Bosnia-Herzegovina as Cristiano Ronaldo played his 199th international game, and Belgium drew with Austria 1-1 without the injured Kevin de Bruyne.

GROUP A

After beating Norway 2-1, Scotland is the group leader with aims of qualifying for back-to-back European Championships for the first time since 1996.

Haaland opened the scoring for Norway from the penalty spot in the 61st minute but when he was substituted, Scotland seized the lead with two goals in two minutes.

Defender Leo Skiri Ostigard tried to intercept a Scottish pass but his touch was heavy and Lyndon Dykes hit the loose ball past goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. Two minutes after that, Scotland took the lead when Dykes passed for substitute Kenny McLean to score his first Scotland goal since 2019. Georgia beat Cyprus 2-1.

GROUP E

Vaclav Cerny scored twice as the Czech Republic beat the Faroe Islands 3-0 to stretch its lead at the top of the group to four points. Albania leapt from the bottom to third by beating Moldova 2-0.

GROUP F

Belgium fought back to draw with Austria 1-1 thanks to Romelu Lukaku after a deflected shot from Michael Gregoritsch gave the Austrians the lead.

Lukaku was playing as captain in the absence of de Bruyne, who played through a hamstring injury toward the end of the season for Manchester City but had to go off during last week’s Champions League final.

Austria stayed top of the group. Azerbaijan drew with Estonia 1-1.

GROUP G

Second-place Hungary had a chance to go top but fell short in a 0-0 draw with Montenegro. Lithuania held on for a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria despite having been reduced to 10 men.

GROUP J

Portugal has three wins from three games after Fernandes set up Bernardo Silva for the first goal in the 3-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina and then scored twice himself.

Ronaldo played the full game for his 199th cap and can next aim to be the first men’s international player to 200 appearances when Portugal plays Iceland on Tuesday. He didn’t score on Saturday but had a headed goal disallowed for offside and the game was briefly stopped when a fan ran onto the field to hug him.

Portugal has 13 goals and has yet to concede any in European Championship qualifying. Slovakia was two points behind in second place after beating Iceland 2-1 and Luxembourg rose to third after it beat Liechtenstein 2-0.

SUPPORT FOR FLICK DESPITE RESULTS

FIRING Germany coach

Hansi Flick is out of the question despite the team’s lack of recent wins, the German soccer federation’s sporting director, Rudi Völler, said yesterday.

Germany’s 1-0 loss to Poland in a friendly on Friday was the third game in a row without a win with a year to go until Germany hosts the European Championship.

Some have voiced frustration at the apparent lack of progress since exiting the World Cup in the group stage last year.

“Hansi Flick will obviously remain the coach,” Völler said ahead of the last of three June friendlies on Tuesday against Colombia.

“We all agree that Hansi is exactly the right coach to play a good European Championship.”

Spain wins Nations League after tense penalty finish

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands Associated Press

GOALKEEPER Unai Simon saved two shots in a penalty shootout to help Spain break an 11-year trophy drought by beating Croatia after a tense Nations League final had finished 0-0 Sunday.

The Bilbao goalkeeper used his feet to save a penalty by Lovro Majer when the shootout was level at 3-3 and then dived full-length to tip Bruno Petković’s spot kick around the post.

Dani Carvajal converted his penalty to seal the victory.

Spain’s last tournament win came at the 2012 European Championship.

Spain did not manage a shot on target until the 84th minute of the tense match and when substitute Ansu Fati finally looked like breaking the stalemate, Ivan Perišic was on the goal line to block his effort. It was Spain’s only goal-bound attempt, compared to five by Croatia.

In the first period of extra time, Majer broke through and fell in the penalty area under a challenge by Nacho, but German referee Felix Zwayer ruled that the Spain defender had played the ball and waved off Croatia’s appeals for a penalty.

Croatia’s fans – many wearing shirts with talismanic captain Luka Modric’s name and No 10 on the back - far outnumbered their Spanish counterparts at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam.

But they were forced to leave disappointed as their nation and the 37-year-old Modric continued their wait for a first international title.

BRAZIL WEARS BLACK IN STAND AGAINST RACISM

BARCELONA, Spain

Associated Press

BRAZIL sent a message against racism by swapping its bright yellow shirts for an all-black look during a friendly against Guinea in Barcelona on Saturday.

Brazil said this was the first time its outfield players have worn black shirts. They changed back to yellow for the second half.

Forward Vinícius Júnior, appearing for Brazil, has been racially abused in Spain this season while playing for his Real Madrid club at away games. Another alleged racist incident occurred on Saturday before the friendly. The abuse reportedly happened to a friend and adviser of Vinicius, Felipe Silveira, at the stadium, the Brazilian Football Confederation said.

“The fight against racism, a crime that needs to stop around the world, is also why we are here,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement. “That’s also why our national team played the first half of the match in black. And today, once again, another criminal was publicly exposed.”

At Espanyol’s stadium, Brazil and Guinea posed in front of a banner that read “With racism, there is no game” in Portuguese. Vinícius and his teammates also took a knee.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO POSTED ABUSE IDENTIFIED

GENEVA

Associated Press

A PROJECT using artificial intelligence to track social media abuse aimed at players at the 2022 World Cup identified more than 300 people whose details are being given to law enforcement, FIFA said yesterday. The people made “abusive, discriminatory, or threatening posts (or) comments” on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, soccer’s

governing body said in a report detailing efforts to protect players and officials during the tournament played in Qatar. The biggest spike in abuse was during the France-England quarterfinals game, said the final report from a project created jointly by FIFA and the players’ global union FIFPRO. It used artificial intelligence to help identify and hide offensive social media posts.

“Violence and threat became more extreme as the tournament progressed with players’ families

increasingly referenced and many threatened if players returned to a particular country – either the nation they represent or where they play football,” the report said.

About 20 million posts and comments were scanned and more than 19,000 were flagged as abusive. More than 13,000 of those were reported to Twitter for action.

Accounts based in Europe sent 38 percent of the identifiable abuse and 36 percent came from South America, FIFA said.

“The figures and findings in this

report do not come as a surprise, but they are still massively concerning,” said David Aganzo, president of Netherlands-based FIFPRO. Players and teams were offered moderation software that intercepted more than 286,000 abusive comments before they were seen.

The identities of the more than 300 people identified for posting abuse “will be shared with the relevant member associations and jurisdictional law authorities to facilitate real-world action being taken against offenders,” FIFA said.

EUROPE ‘SHOULD NOT FEAR’ EXODUS TO SAUDI

GENEVA Associated Press

EUROPEAN soccer should not be afraid of a player exodus to Saudi Arabian clubs, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said yesterday, suggesting the country was making a mistake investing in stars at the end of their careers.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have taken hundreds of millions of dollars to join Saudi Arabian clubs this year and similar offers were made to Lionel Messi and Luka Modrić.

They have combined to win every Ballon d’Or awarded since 2008 and all are aged at least 35.

More players are expected to follow after four top Saudi Arabian clubs were effectively nationalised this month when taken into majority ownership by the Public Investment Fund sovereign wealth operation chaired by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Ceferin was asked by Netherlands broadcaster NOS if he was scared of a player exodus, and answered emphatically:

“No, no, no.”

“I think that it’s mainly a mistake for Saudi Arabian football,” the UEFA president said in an interview broadcast yesterday.

“Why is that a problem for them? Because they should invest in academies, they should bring coaches, and they should develop their own players.”

“The system of buying the players that almost ended their career is not the system that develops football,” he said. “It was a similar mistake in China when they all brought

players who are at the end of their career.”

Didier Drogba was the star recruit to the Chinese league in 2012 as clubs there bought Europe-based forwards like Nicolas Anelka and Frédéric Kanouté. The Chinese league and men’s national team have made little progress internationally in the years since.

“Tell me one player who is top, top age and who starts his career and went to play in Saudi Arabia?” Ceferin asked during the interview on the sidelines of the Nations League Finals

mini-tournament hosted in the Netherlands.

“But it’s not about money only. Players want to win top competitions. And top competition is in Europe,” the UEFA leader said.

The first wave of superstars targeted by Saudi Arabia all won multiple Champions League titles in Europe. Messi won his first World Cup title with Argentina last year and is joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer while Modric seems set to stay at Real Madrid for one more season.

Vinícíus added a goal from the penalty spot to round off a 4-1 win for the five-time world champions.

On Thursday, Vinícius agreed to join a revived FIFA task force to tackle racism in soccer.

Brazil plays Senegal in Lisbon on Tuesday and will continue its antiracism campaign.

BRAZIL’s Vinicius Junior kneels before an international friendly soccer match between Brazil and Guinea at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday.

Photo: Joan Monfort/AP

SPAIN goalkeeper Unai Simon stops a penalty shot from Croatia’s Bruno Petkovic during a penalty shootout at the end of the Nations League final soccer match between Croatia and Spain at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, yesterday.

Photo: Peter Dejong/AP

‘SPURS ARE BACK’ WITH PENDING ARRIVAL OF VICTOR WEMBANYAMA

SAN ANTONIO

Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO businessman Roland Ramirez predicted the outcome of the NBA draft lottery months before Commissioner Adam Silver announced the Spurs had won the No 1 pick.

Ramirez believes it was fate that Victor Wembanyama is on his way to San Antonio as the first overall draft pick.

As the Denver Nuggets continue to celebrate their first NBA championship, fans in San Antonio are counting the days until the 7-foot-3 French phenom officially joins the Spurs. Sure, San Antonio’s front office is doing its due diligence and interviewing other players, but Wembanyama is the unquestioned No 1 pick on June 22.

Ramirez was so sure of San Antonio’s lottery hopes that he put pen to paper. Well, paint to canvas.

The owner of Rudy’s Seafood restaurant, Ramirez had local artist Nik Soupe paint a mural of Wembanyama in a Spurs uniform at the entrance of his restaurant near downtown, about eight miles from the team’s home arena. Ramirez did so. In March. While the season was still taking place. Even when the Spurs were not guaranteed a top three pick.

“Everybody says I brought good luck to them,” Ramirez said. “A few people were telling me, maybe you jinxed them.

I said, ‘It’s either going to give us good luck or jinx them.’”

It was wondrous luck for a franchise and fan base that has never gotten over

Kawhi Leonard’s departure. Leonard was supposed to bridge the championship-winning dominance of the Spurs’ Big Three — Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili — to a new era of prosperity. Instead, Leonard demanded and was granted a trade on July 18, 2018.

After matching a league record of 22 straight playoff appearances, San Antonio has not made the postseason the last four seasons, the longest drought in the franchise’s 50-year history.

Now, the San Antonio Spurs have won the right to draft a transformative player with the No. 1 pick for the third time in franchise history.

Spurs fans haven’t stopped celebrating since Silver’s announcement May 17. “I was like, babe, let’s go downtown! Let’s go

honking,” Jenna Villanueva told her boyfriend, Moses Montalvo.

Fans circling downtown honking their car horns is a San Antonio tradition normally reserved for winning a championship, but Wembanyama’s talent has reinvigorated those title hopes. He is widely regarded as a generational talent, a mobile, ballhandling big man who can shoot like a wing with 3-point range and still provide a strong inside presence.

All of which is why Ramirez had no doubt Wembanyama would be in a Spurs uniform. After all, Wembanyama seems a natural addition to the lineage of a franchise that used its previous No 1 picks on big men David Robinson in 1987 and Duncan in 1997.

Robinson and Duncan led the Spurs to their first

JORDAN’S DECISION TO SELL HORNETS LEAVES SOME TEAM DECISIONS IN FLUX

CHARLOTTE, NC

Associated Press

THE TIMING of Michael Jordan’s decision to sell his majority ownership stake in the Charlotte Hornets has left the organisation in flux, with several looming key personnel decisions.

The Hornets have the No 2 pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night. They also have some difficult decisions to make in free agency in early July, including whether to re-sign embattled restricted free agent Miles Bridges.

With the NBA’s Board of Governors unlikely to approve the team’s sale to an ownership group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall until at least another month or two, the question becomes who will sign off on general manager Mitch Kupchak’s potentially franchise-altering decisions this summer.

Will it be Jordan, a lame duck majority owner? Or will the new ownership have a major input? Jordan will remain on as a minority owner after the sale is approved, so he still has a vested interest in the organisation.

Bobby Marks, a front-office insider for ESPN, said the timing of the announcement makes this an unusual situation.

“Whether it’s Mitch or Michael making the decisions, I think you have to keep these guys from the new ownership group in the loop,” Marks said. “...At the end of the day, they don’t technically have a say in anything yet, but I would think they have to be part of the conversation, particularly when it comes to taking on future money.”

On the surface, the No 2 pick wouldn’t be a complicated one, with the Hornets likely choosing between

G League star Scoot Henderson and Alabama’s Brandon Miller.

But Marks said the trade rumors swirling around the New Orleans Pelicans potentially being open to moving former No 1 overall pick Zion Williamson to secure the second or third pick in the draft complicates things for the Hornets.

Essentially, would a trade that has long-lasting implications sit well with new ownership?

“If they have a chance to move out of the two spot, what happens when you have salary involved that stretches past this year, which means money out of their pockets? I would think you would want to get (the new ownership group’s) blessing before taking on money like that,” Marks said. ESPN commentator Jeff Van Gundy agrees.

“I would suspect there would be conversations about who they want to draft and sign before anything is finalised,” Van Gundy said.

Both Marks and Van Gundy believe the toughest decision ahead involves whether to re-sign Bridges.

A former first-round pick out of Michigan State, Bridges had a breakout season in 2021-22. He led the team in scoring and rebounding and appeared on the verge of a huge payday last summer before felony domestic violence charges put his career on hold.

The 25-year-old Bridges wound up pleading no contest to the charges and agreed to three years of probation. He missed all of last season.

The NBA ultimately determined Bridges will serve a ten-game suspension once he returns to the league. The league officially suspended him for 30 games, but determined 20 games of the suspension have been served because Bridges already missed all 82 games in 2022-23.

“In terms of the new owners you have to wonder, is that what you want your first signing to be?” Marks said.

Added Van Gundy: “There is more to that (decision) than just basketball.”

Van Gundy believes the Hornets are in good hands in terms of personnel decisions with Kupchak at the helm. He believes both Jordan and the new owners will rely heavily upon the longtime GM’s opinion moving forward during this time of transition.

As a player, Jordan was a six-time NBA Finals MVP with the Chicago Bulls, a 14-time All-Star and a twotime Olympic gold medalist. He’s in the conversation as the greatest basketball player of all time.

championships in 1999 and 2003. Duncan later teamed with Parker and Ginobili to win titles in 2005, 2007 and 2014.

Now with Wembanyama, the Spurs’ slogan of “Go Spurs Go” has unofficially been replaced with “Spurs Are Back” by their fans. San Antonio sold 2,500 season ticket packages in the first 24 hours after the lottery. Four days later, more than 3,000 fans showed up at the AT&T Center for a “Select-ASeat” event to choose their season tickets.

Mary Vasquez and Patricia Gabriel were among them. They has wasted no time in buying season tickets. “Boom. Right away,” Vasquez said. “It was like a busy signal, busy signal.

‘Hurry up! Get off the line!’”

Attendance has dropped

from 18,415 in the team’s final championship season of 2014 to 16,937 this past season as the Spurs finished with the second-worst record in franchise history at 22-60. No one is sure when, but they are all predicting far better results soon enough.

Vasquez was a season ticket holder a decade before, but Gabriel purchased them for the first time as did Villanueva and Montalvo after the top pick was locked down.

“That kind of sealed the deal,” said Villanueva, who is having the couple’s first child August 30.

“It’s always been up in the air because of our work schedules and stuff, but after that we were, ‘No, we’ll make time. We’re going to make time,’” Montalvo said.

That is the Wembanyama effect.

WEST VIRGINIA COACH RESIGNS AFTER ARREST

WEST Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins has resigned a day after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving in the latest incident in a Hall of Fame career that imploded quickly.

The university announced the resignation on Saturday night. It came a month after the university suspended him for three games for using an anti-gay slur while also denigrating Catholics during a radio interview.

The 69-year-old Huggins leaves as the third-winningest coach all-time in Division I with 935 career victories, behind only Mike Krzyzewski of Duke (1,202) and Jim Boeheim of Syracuse (1,015), both of whom are retired. Unlike the others, Huggins had no national titles, taking Cincinnati to the Final Four in 1992 and West Virginia in 2010.

Huggins had 16-year stints each with the Bearcats and Mountaineers. Both ended in the aftermath of arrests for drinking and driving.

Huggins was charged with driving under the influence on Friday night after his SUV had stopped in the middle of traffic in Pittsburgh with a shredded tire and the driver’s-side door open at about 8:30 p.m. According to a criminal complaint, a breath test determined Huggins’ blood alcohol content was

more than twice the legal limit.

Huggins was charged with DUI, released from custody and will appear at a later date for a preliminary hearing, according to a police report.

In a statement to the West Virginia community on Saturday night, Huggins said:

“Today, I have submitted a letter to President Gordon Gee and Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker informing them of my resignation and intention to retire as head men’s basketball coach at West Virginia University effective immediately.”

West Virginia’s athletic department said it accepted the resignation “in light of recent events.

“We support his decision so that he can focus on his health and family. On behalf of West Virginia University, we share our appreciation for his service to our University, our community and our state.”

A MURAL of Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-3 French basketball star, painted by artist Nik Soupe is seen on a seafood restaurant in San Antonio, on Thursday. The San Antonio Spurs are expected to make Wembanyama the No 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Photo: Eric Gay/AP

MICHAEL Jordan looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks in November.

Photo: Jacob Kupferman/AP

BOB HUGGINS

US Open champion lives up to call to ‘play big’

LOS ANGELES

Associated Press

WYNDHAM Clark always carried the message from his late mother to “play big”. Nothing was bigger than yesterday when he held off Rory McIlroy with one clutch shot after another to become a US Open champion. The final act was two putts from 60ft on the 18th hole at Los Angeles Country Club, and the 29-year-old Clark pumped his fist when it settled a foot away. He tapped that in for an even-par 70 and a oneshot victory over McIlroy and so many other stars.

Scottie Scheffler, the No 1 player in the world, couldn’t catch him. Neither could British Open champion Cameron Smith or Rickie Fowler, who played in the final group for the third time in a major and watched an exquisite performance by Clark, playing for only the third time on the weekend in a major.

Clark let loose his

emotions at the end, looking to the blue sky in tears and covering his face with his cap as he sobbed on the green. He thought about quitting golf a decade ago when he struggled with the loss of his mother, Lise, to breast cancer. She was who kept him steady in good times and bad.

This was as good as it gets for Clark, who broke through for his first PGA Tour victory only six weeks ago against an elite field at Quail Hollow.

“I just felt like my mom was watching over me today,” Clark said after hoisting the silver US Open

trophy. “I worked so hard and dreamed about this moment for so long. I just felt like it was my time.”

For McIlroy, it was more disappointment in his quest to end nine years without a major.

He opened with a birdie and didn’t make another the rest of the way. McIlroy played a final round that typically wins a US Open — 16 pars, one bogey. Just not this one. Even as Clark showed signs of cracking during the rugged closing stretch, McIlroy missed fairways and didn’t give himself any reasonable birdie chances.

It was similar to St Andrews last summer at the British Open, when he hit every green and couldn’t buy a putt. Instead, he’ll face more questions about when he’ll win another major.

“When I do finally win this next major, it’s going to be really, really sweet,” McIlroy said. “I would go through 100 Sundays like this to get my

hands on another major championship.”

Scheffler missed too many putts early on the back nine and needed help from Clark and McIlroy that never arrived. He also closed with a 70 to finish third, a month after a runner-up finish in the PGA Championship.

Fowler set a US Open record with 23 birdies, but just like so many other majors when he had a chance, he was in reverse before he ever got going — three bogeys in the opening seven holes. He never made up the ground and shot 75.

This day belonged to Clark, who showed remarkable poise and self-belief, not to mention an extraordinary short game and a fairway metal he won’t soon forget.

Already with a two-shot lead, he was a yard away from an easy birdie on the par-5 eighth when his approach hit a steep bank of the barranca to the left. Barely able to see his golf ball, Clark took a whack

and the ball advanced a few inches deeper into thick grass.

He hammered it again, this time over the green, 70 feet away down a firm and scary putting surface. He chipped that to 3 feet to escape with bogey.

“That up-and-down was the key to the tournament,” he said.

More such shots followed. On the par-3 ninth, he was on the bank of a bunker and chipped away from the flag, using the slope expertly to get it to within 7 feet for another big save. And then he clipped a pitch from a tight lie left of the 11th green to 4 feet for par.

The signature shot was his fairway metal from 282 yards on the par-5 14th to 20 feet that set up a twoputt birdie, giving Clark a three-shot lead with four to play.

But he made the only bogey of the day on the par-3 15th, then found a bunker left of the 16th fairway and whacked his

hand on his putter when he missed a 7-foot par putt. His lead down to one shot, he got up-and-down from left of the 17th green to keep the lead. The USGA allowed thousands of fans to circle the fairway short of the 18th green with so few grandstands, creating a big theater for Clark’s finish. Fowler, still chasing his first major, returned to the 18th green to hug Clark.

“I went back in there and just said, ‘Your mom was with you. She’d be very proud,’” Fowler said. Clark finished at 10-under 270 and along with $3.6m — his second such cash prize in the last six weeks — he moves to No 2 in the Ryder Cup standings. Smith shot 67 to finish fourth. Tommy Fleetwood became the first player with two rounds of 63 in the US Open and finished in a tie for fifth with Fowler and Min Woo Lee (67). Fleetwood also shot 63 at Shinnecock Hills in the final round of 2018.

CLOUDS ABOVE AND BOWLERS BELOW IN INTERRUPTED ASHES

BIRMINGHAM, England

Associated Press

ENGLAND’S batters faced threatening clouds above and hostile Australian bowlers below as the latest twist in a dramatic Ashes opener at Edgbaston saw the hosts reduced to 28-2 at stumps in their rain-hit second innings on Sunday for an overall lead of 35.

A pitch inspection at 6pm local time led to play being called off for the day with only 10.3 overs bowled so far in the England innings.

Monday’s forecast is mostly rain-free but Tuesday afternoon could see heavy rain and thunder.

Play was first interrupted early in the afternoon session with England at 26-0 and buoyed from dismissing Australia for 386 right before lunch which gave Ben Stokes’ team a narrow first-innings lead of seven runs. Usman Khawaja was out for a superb 141 as Australia closed in on England’s 393-8 declared. When play resumed after

75 minutes, England went on to lose both its openers in a disastrous mini-session of only four overs under floodlights. Rain was heavier this time and players again left the field — quicker than when they came on — with England having increased its score by just two runs at the cost of two wickets. In one ray of sunshine for England, it survived a potentially match-deciding appeal for a catch against its top batter Joe Root.

Australia captain Pat Cummins, who scored a six-laden 38 at No 8 in sunshine, took 1-9 in 5.3 overs as the weather deteriorated in the afternoon. Scott Boland grabbed 1-1 in two overs.

Ben Duckett (19) edged Cummins to Cameron Green, who again showed his brilliance in the field by diving low to his left at gully. The dismissal survived a review despite the replay initially drawing jeers from home fans.

Three balls later, Zak Crawley (7) was caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Boland.

Enter Root, Australia’s nemesis in the first innings with his 29th test century, who skipped on to the pitch despite the increasing gloom and doom on what had been a mostly unthreatening wicket.

Root survived an early appeal against Cummins for a catch behind. Two balls later, heavy rain forced the teams off again. Ollie Pope and Root are both on 0. Even under England’s aggressive “Bazball” style of cricket, neither batter would have likely wanted to get back out Sunday.

England earlier ran through the Australia tail after the visitors had resumed on 311-5.

England seamers Stuart Broad (3-68) and Ollie Robinson (3-55) bounced their way through the lower order. At 338-5, Australia had looked like taking a useful first-innings lead but Robinson claimed the key wicket of Usman Khawaja

and only Cummins provided more resistance.

England had dominated the morning session to set up a one-innings shootout at a thrilling first test that keeps living up to the hype and hopes of both sides to serve as a showcase for the longest format of cricket.

Khawaja, who hit his first test century in England on Saturday, was bowled after advancing and then stretching in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the ball hitting his off stump. That ended a useful partnership for the seventh wicket of 34, with Cummins providing 27 of those runs. At that stage Australia was 21 runs behind.

James Anderson (1-53) had made the breakthrough for England in the fifth over of the morning session, bowling Carey for a 99-ball 66. It was Anderson’s 1,100th first-class wicket and 686th in test cricket. Carey had already been dropped by his English counterpart Jonny Bairstow off Anderson in the same session.

Cummins came to the crease at the start of the tourists’ tail but again showed he can definitely bat, and smashed Moeen Ali (2-147) for a six and then another in the same over, casting a dampener over the 36-year-old allrounder’s birthday which saw him leave the field with a finger injury and receive a fine for using a hand spray the day before. Ali, who had come out of test retirement for the injured Jack Leach, sent down a couple of full tosses and later left the field.

Australia had reduced the deficit to 16 when Nathan Lyon hooked a short-pitched delivery from Robinson to give Duckett a low catch near the boundary. No. 10 Scott Boland offered a tame close-range catch to Ollie Pope at silly point after another rising delivery from Broad.

Cummins, who hit three of Australia’s nine sixes, was the last man out, again to a short-pitched delivery from Robinson and caught by Stokes.

AUSTRALIA’s Alex Carey sprints off the field to avoid the rain as the match between England and Australia at Edgbaston is delayed.

Photo: Rui Vieira/AP

WYNDHAM Clark celebrates on the 18th hole after winning the US Open golf tournament yesterday.

Photo: Matt York/AP

RORY MCILROY

Five straight

from page 20

“This one feels good. Just like the CARIFTA team, our goal started from last year. We wanted to win five straight. That was the goal of our coaches, the team captains, all the swimmers and their parents. We were able to pull it off,” McPhee said.

However, he doesn’t want his team to rest on their laurels, as he say they want to continue to match the performances of the CARIFTA team when they go for their sixth straight here at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex next April.

“We’re going to celebrate this one, but we’re also going to start preparing right away for the sixth straight,” said McPhee, who was pleased with their performances across the board.

“Our relay teams dominated from the eight-and-under to our 18-and-over. Everyone came out and performed,” he said. “We did what we planned to do from day

one. I’m just happy with the team’s performance.”

Marvin Johnson Jr, who came home from boarding school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, competed in seven individual events and he won them all in the 50, 100, 400 and 499 metres freestyle; 50 and 200m butterflies and the 200m backstroke.

The 17-year-old Johnson also helped his Mako team to three victories in the relays and second in two others.

“It was a pretty good performance. I was happy with it. Coming back from school, and back in the home crowd environment, it was nice to put on a show in what could be a preview for CARIFTA next year,” Johnson said.

“So it was great to put on the show for the crowd, but the competition was really stiff. We didn’t get to win that by just having some average guys. All of the guys came together and made things happen.”

Taylen Nicolls, who competes in the girls 9-10

division, proved that even though she attended Elva Hilton Primary School where she will graduate from this year, she has the ability to compete just as well as her peers.

But in addition to swimming for Mako, the 11-year-old still find the time to be a speaker, dancer and actress. She noted that she spends about one hour in each segment to be able to perform at such a high level.

“My performance was extremely great, especially how we started training for swimming since September,” Nicolls pointed out. “I feel very excited that I got the high point trophy again because everybody step into pool want it just as bad as I do.”

Nicolls won all of her individual events she competed in, especially for the 200m freestyle where she placed second. She noted that her competition pushed her to the limit.

Saleste Gibson, who competed in the 11-12 girls division for the Barracuda

Swim Club, continued a winning tradition that was left behind by her siblings, Selina and Samuel Gibson Jr, who are both in college, but are done with swimming.

The 12-year-old participated in seven individual events and won seven gold medals.

“I think I did a very good job in my opinion,” she said. “I think it was very good to come here and compete with everyone from The Bahamas.

“It was a really good time for me to show off what I could do. My brother and sister have been supporting me one hundred percent and I know I could ask for advice because they were both swimmers.”

Bahamas Aquatics president Ashley Cargill said they couldn’t ask for a much better showing than what they got for this year’s nationals with a number of national records broken.

Jaylah Threadgill, of Lyford Swim Club, broke the only individual open record in the girls 11-12

50m breaststroke in a time of 35.83, while there were a few team record-breaking performances.

Threadgill’s time also posted a new national record as she joined several other individual record breakers. Among the list were Rhanishka Gibbs of the Barracuda in the girls 15-17 50m breaststroke in 32.93 and 100m butterfly in 1:05.05; David Singh, also of the Barracuda, in the boys 11-12 200m IM in 2:27.46;

Lamar Taylor of Mako Aquatic in the boys 18-andover 50m backstroke in 25.54 and 100m backstroke in 56.47; Zoe Williamson from Mako as well in the girls 13-14 100m butterfly in 1:06.57; Keianna Moss of Mako in the girls 15-17 100m butterfly in 1:05.29; Cailyn Dean of the Blue Waves in the girls 8-andunder 50m butterfly in 38.87 and Saleste Gibson in the girls 11-12 50m butterfly in 29.61. There were also several relay records broken.

“I think the swimmers came out and they

performed exceptionally well,” Cargill said. “We were very pleased with the competition. Even though Mako won by a large margin, there were a lot of impressive performances from the other clubs.”

In a humanitarian effort, Bahamas Aquatics supported Shawn Neely Jr with his battle with cancer by donating $1,035 they collected from the gate and Bahamas Aquatics will also be making a contribution to his cause.

His father, Shawn Neely Sr, thanked the swimming community, especially some of the competitors he swam with and against and even some of Shawn Jr’s peers for providing a helping hand.

Neely Sr, who is the head coach for the Lightning Aquatics, said his son is in high spirits and was appreciative of the support he got from everybody. Neely Sr said they are working on getting him through his treatment so that he can be ready to come out and compete next year.

BAHA JUNIORS TAKE HOME HUMMEL TITLE

from page 20

Alyssa Franklin. Hadassah Knowles of United FC was able to put a point on the scoreboard for her team to keep their championship window open.

However, the Baha Juniors’ Sydney Hector shut out the defending champions after nailing the final penalty kick. The penalty shootout ended 3-1.

Julian Smith, Baha Juniors head coach, said the team’s goal was to limit the passing ability of United FC.

“The whole point of the game was to try and contain them as much as we could because they are really good at making passes so we just had to keep holding on,” Smith said.

The head coach added that he would have liked the team to score but he

was confident in his team’s ability to win the penalty shootout because they are good with spot kicks.

Ellianne Higgs, goalkeeper for the Baha Juniors, played an integral role in the team’s win. She talked about how it felt to contribute to the victory.

“I think my team played really well United [FC] has always been one of our top competitors so we tried really hard to play them today and beat them… I was really glad I got those shots because I know my team wanted this cup so I worked as hard as I could to save them,” Higgs said.

After failing to repeat as Hummel Cup title winners,

Samuel Thibaud, head coach of United FC, talked about the loss.

“It feels terrible because the game was set up to be 20 minutes-20 minutes. We had a strategy to play our second team in the first game and save our energy for the championship game but we didn’t get a chance to wear them down,” Thibaud said. He added that the loss was also disappointing because they fell to the team in the Bahamas Football Association’s (BFA) Women’s Futsal Championship as well.

Third Place

In the battle for bronze, the Cavaliers FC took down the Dynamos FC, last year’s runner ups, 2-0. The Cavaliers’ Jankea Edey was instrumental in the team’s win over their competitors. In the first half of play, Edey sank her first goal of the contest to put the team up 1-0 going into half-time.

Although the Dynamos tried to score on multiple occasions, they remained scoreless. Ultimately, the midfielder scored again off an assist by her teammate late in the second half to solidify the victory for her club.

She said the win was a tough one due to the frequency of games.

“This game was a rough game considering we had two games prior to this so our team was tired so

it took them a lot to keep pushing through to get to win… I am really proud of them because we came a long way and we did good as a team,” Edey said.

Another bright spot for the Cavaliers was the play of their coach, goalie, and BFA vice president Daria Adderley. She said being in the trenches and knowing what the players want helps with the guidance of the executives in the BFA. She added that it’s fun to wear multiple hats in soccer and it’s a joy for her.

The Western Warriors secured fifth place in the BFA’s women’s football Hummel Cup after defeating the Future Stars 3-0 this past Saturday. The men’s Western Warriors FC earned their Hummel Cup victory after beating United FC 2-0 in April.

BAHA Juniors celebrate their triumph, left, and, above, in action against Dynamos FC.

Photos: Tenajh Sweeting/Tribune Staff

MEMBERS of the Mako Aquatic Swim Club celebrating.

Photo: Melinda Moss/Bahamas Aquatics

GAITHER IS BATTLING BACK

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AN illness she sustained at the end of last season has prevented veteran sprinter Tynia Gaither from competing in any meets so far this year on the international circuit.

But after getting the allclearance to train at the end of February, she’s working on coming home to make her season debut at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations National Championships next month.

Full Speed ahead for Bahamians

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN athletes collected a few gold medals at the inaugural Speed Capital International Championships. The three-day meet got underway on Friday and wrapped up on Father’s Day at the Thomas A Robinson. Speed Capital hosted 600 athletes between 72 clubs from seven countries outside of The Bahamas. Competitors from ages 5-18 put on a show for Grenada, Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Canada, United States of America, and Barbados.

Luke Robinson, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Speed Capital, said it was amazing to host the International Championships in The Bahamas for the first time.

“It’s been absolutely amazing one of the best things that we have gotten to see here is the pure excitement on the faces of the kids, I think the coaches are enjoying themselves and not so surprisingly I think the parents are having a blast seeing their kids enjoy themselves,” Robinson said.

Mr Robinson was also impressed with the level of competitiveness from the young and older athletes.

“They never cease to amaze me I think every Speed Capital event that we conduct athletes come and give everything that they have these kids look at it like their job and they come out here and give everything they have,” he said.

Among some of the athletes that gave it their all on the final day of competition was none other than Grand Bahama’s Keyezra Thomas.

The 13-year-old brought home the win for Speed Begins Track Club in the 13 year olds 200m dash. Zara Fraser of Fast Forward Athletics followed behind and third place finish went to Brion Ward of DTSP Wolf Pack Track Club.

Thomas talked about the comfortable win.

“The first 50m I knew I just had to get out and maintain my pace for the next 50m and then run as hard as I can on the last 100m,” she said.

The North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) qualifier said sprint races were not really warm ups for her but

the long jump helped to prepare for the age group championships. Overall, she was proud about completing the season injury-free.

For the boys, Shawne Ferguson of Roadrunners Track Club capped of the event in first with 24.20. Swift Athletics Jireh Woodside placed second in 24.28. Meanwhile, Nathan King of Red-Line Athletics trailed behind for third.

Eagan Neely, winner of the 14 year old boys 200m dash, clocked 23.11 to finish first. Rohman

Rolle of Fast Forward Athletics wrapped up second in 23.83. RedLine Athletics’ Shavano Nixon ran 24.21 for third.

For the girls, Jasmine France from My Brother’s & Sister’s Keeper blitzed past the competition for first. Red-Line Athletics’ Caitlyn Smith claimed second position and Savannah Fraser of Fast Forward Athletics came third.

France traveled to the meet from Florida and said she felt confident coming into the event.

“It felt fine I felt pretty confident coming out here knowing that I had one of the fastest times so I felt pretty good and relaxed,” she said.

Jamiah Nabbie, continued her track momentum at this past weekend’s Speed Capital International Championships. Nabbie outran her competitors with a time of 24.99 in the 15 and 16 year olds 200m dash. Red-Line Athletics Darvinique Dean followed behind in 25.74 and K’Leigh Davis of Fast Forward Athletics claimed third.

Nabbie said it was not her best race but her focus now shifts to the junior nationals set for July 5-7.

“It was bad in my opinion because the wind is very powerful

right now and same with the 100m but I just Thank God for a safe race and I still came out on top,” she said.

Nabbie added that she is looking to achieve a personal best in all events with 23.30 in the 200m and 11.50 in the 100m.

For the boys, Michael Merritt of My Brother’s & Sister’s Keeper notched first place after clocking 22.42. Second position was claimed by Andrew Brown who ran unattached in 22.70. Meanwhile, Jalen Cooper of Quiet Storm Track Association captured the bronze with 22.82.

Nia Richards, of Star Elite Athletics Bahamas, edged out her opponents with a time of 25.67 in the 17 and 18 year olds 200m race. Sage Connor of Heart and Soul Track Club finished second and Nya Wright of Red-Line Athletics finished third.

“It felt really good it is very windy right now I am just grateful it didn’t rain again I really wanted to run the 200m now I have two weeks until nationals,” Richards said.

Despite being unable to qualify for NACAC due to the windy conditions, she said it is her goal to use her final opportunity to qualify.

Richards also was grateful for a new experience than she was not accustomed to at the Speed Capital meet.

“It was a very different experience [that] I was exposed to a lot of new people and networking to form new friendships in the future…something I found particularly interesting is they have barcodes on our numbers and I have never experienced that anywhere else,” she said.

For the boys, Jeremiah Adderley of DTSP Wolf Pack Track Club claimed victory. Samalie Farrington of Swift Athletics followed behind for second and Taryll Thompson of Fast Forward came in third.

In the 200m open event, Brianique Strachan came first for the girls with 26.46.

For the boys, Adam Musgrove finished first with 21.95 for Bahamas Speed Dynamics. Stephen Newbold ran unattached for second place. Quinton Ellis of Phoenix Track Club wrapped up in third. Musgrove said it felt good despite the weather not being the best. His main focus was to execute in the race. He said he enjoyed the Speed Capital meet because it was an efficient process that did not involve a lot of waiting. In the long distance events, Edney Russell of Hurry Murray

Still not in tip top shape, Gaither said she’s looking forward to defending her title in the women’s 100m during the championships, scheduled for July 5-7 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

“Towards the end of February after I got healthy, I started training right away,” Gaither said in an interview over the weekend. “So I haven’t been able to do much. I’m not in the best shape, but I will be home for the Nationals.”

After enduring COVID-19 at least three times last season, Gaither said when she took the vaccine, she got worse and since then, she continued to develop the symptoms that kept her away from the track.

“I was home seeing a lot of doctors, but nobody could tell me what was wrong. They were telling me it was sinus affectation, a bacterial infection, but it was literally the same COVID-19 sickness that I was having before,” she pointed out.

“I went to a new doctor at the end of February and he gave me one shot and it knocked it right out.”

Not being in the type of condition that she want to be in, Gaither said if she can make the women’s relay team for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungry, she will be contended with her comeback, “After the Nationals, I hope to compete in some more meets and try to end my season strong,” he proclaimed. I know I should be able to do something worthwhile.”

Now in her second season with coach Tonja BufordBailey in Austin, Texas, the

Athletics was the lone competitor in the boys 3000m race walk. He finished the technical race in 21:07.81. After a long race, he talked about how it felt to compete.

“It was painful and hard and no one did it with me so it was even worse ….I was just trying to move my arms as much as possible because your arms carry your legs,” he said.

Track Results

1500m Run girls/boys 13-18

1500m 14 year old girlsBreyteisha Kemp (Hurry Murray), Ramonique Mclennon (Hurry Murray), Breynice Kemp (Hurry Murray)

1500m 15 and 16 year old girlsErin Barr (GB Athletics Track Club) 5:11.23

1500m 14 year old boys- Jenico Gibson (GB Heats Athletics Track Club) 4:57.35, Rion Larrimore (Hurry Murray) 5:03.29, and Joel McPhee (Hurry Murray)

1500m 15 and 16 year old boysRoss Martin (Hurry Murray)

4:19.11, Wyndel Beyde (Aruba)

4:20.45, Breck Kemp (Hurry Murray) 4:47.10

1500m 17 and 18 year oldsChristopher Saintus (Swift Athletics) 4:18.40, Raywind Winder (Hurry Murray) 4:20.80,

39-year-old Gaither said without any off-season training, it’s harder to get to the level of competition that she needs be coming home for the Nationals.

“We started off kind of slow, but it’s too late to try and build that off season strength,” Gaither said. “We just jumped right into training and so it was really hard.

“I’ve gained a few pounds since I missed training nd so it was difficult, but it’s one of those seasons where you just have to make due with what you have.”

Gaither said she would love to team up with some of the younger athletes, along with veteran Anthonique Strachan, to provide a presence for the Bahamas in the 4x100m relay in Budapest in August.

But she admitted that she will have to see what happens when she lines up against them.

“These girls are running so well. Anthonique, Anthaya (Charlton), Charisma (Taylor) and Devynne (Charlton), there are so many of them on their A game and I’m so proud of what they have accomplished.

“Even if I don’t make the trip to Worlds, I will be there cheering on everybody else. I think the time is now for the women to get back out there, even the men, especially the men.”

The Grand Bahamian native, who graduated from the university, is coming off her second appearance at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, last where she didn’t advance out of the preliminaries of the 200m, but got to the semifinals of the 200m.

She also went to the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC)) Championships in Grand Bahama where she closed out her season at double silver medalist in the 200m on the women’s 4x100m relay team. Her 200m lifetime best of 22.41 was done at the World’s in Eugene and she clocked her personal best of 11.02 in Miami, Florida, in 2021. She is pegged as the seventh fastest Bahamian female of all-time in both events.

Yeshua Dabian (Aruba) 4:21.32

100m girls/boys 6u-open 100m dash girls 6 and under - Tamorrah Manning (Honest Runners of North Miami) 18.11, Dillon Williams (Delray Track Club) 19.42, Keanna Smith (Roadrunners Track Club) 26.20

Boys - Devin Small (Cobb PAL)

16.98, Jakoby Williams (Running Fire Track Club) 17.85, and Kaden Bullard (Swift Athletics)

18.24

Girls 7 and under - Jazmyn Demeritte (Red-Line Athletics)

16.38, Ava McCall (NVA Track)

16.41, and Harmony Rolle (Andros Heats Athletics) 17.21

Boys - Claudius Burrows (unattached) 15.53, Daythan Ingraham (Swift Athletics) 15.54, and Jose Solano (Phantom Athletics Club)

15.85

Girls 9 year olds - Chrissi Love (Milwaukee Mustangs Track Club) 15.10, Tanaz Davis (Unique Athletics) 15.19, and Trinity Callis (unattached) 15.32

Boys - Judah Thomas (Honest Runners) 14.14, George Brown (Swift Athletics) 14.30, and Zyheir Darks (Austin Steelers Track Club) 14.57

• For remaining track and field results http://milesplit.live/ meets/561623/events.

NIA RICHARDS, of Star Elite Athletics Bahamas, receives gold after winning the 17 and 18 year olds 200m finals.

FATHER’S DAY TREAT IN WILLIAMS BOUT

from page 20

With the win, his second straight for the year, the 29-year-old Williams improved his win-loss record to 8-2. The 37-year-old de la Cruz Sena fell to 23-36-5. Compared to his previous fight when he stopped American Walter Raul Saravia at the same venue on March 18, Wiliams said he was in much better shape because he knew his

JONQUEL JONES POSTS FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE OF THE SEASON

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas’ Jonquel Jones posted her first double-double of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) season this past Sunday.

Jones also turned in a season-high in points as the second leading scorer in the New York Liberty’s win against the Phoenix Mercury.

Although the Liberty team was without their All-Star guard Sabrina Ionesecu, the third-seeded team routed the Mercury 89-71.

The New York Liberty team opened the first quarter on a tear going up 30-17 on the Mercury who played without their star centre Britney Griner.

The Mercury star was sidelined with a hip injury sustained last week Tuesday.

Jones’ teammate Breanna Stewart had her worst game of the season against the Atlanta Dream in the previous game as she only amassed 12 points in 37 minutes of action.

However, on Sunday Stewart collected her fourth double-double of the season with 28 points, and 14 rebounds to pair nicely with 7 dimes.

Jones stepped up to the plate in the 23 minutes she played at the Barclays Center, the Bahamian forward came away with a season-high 13 points, season-high 11 boards, and 3 assists on 50% shooting. Jones also finished the game shooting 100% from the charity stripe.

After taking control in the first quarter, the Liberty went into halftime with a 53-34 lead over the 2-7 (win/loss) Phoenix team.

Jones’ teammate Stewart poured in 23 of her 28 points in the first half making it a big difference from last game’s lone field goal she scored.

In the third period, the last-seeded WNBA team matched the Liberty’s 16 apiece in the quarter. Jones’ Liberty went into the final quarter with a comfortable 19-point lead over their opponents.

However, the Mercury erased the 19-point deficit to 72-64 with 6:01 left in

the game following an 11-0 run.

Stewart stopped the unanswered run, hitting a free throw followed by a field goal from Liberty forward Betnijah Laney.

Despite a fourth quarter push by the Mercury, the New York team held onto their double-digit advantage leading to their bounce back win.

Although the Liberty are 6-3 in their last 10 games and are enjoying a relatively good start to the season, Jones has had some struggles.

However, the forward seems to be headed in the right direction after Sunday’s season high in points and rebounds translating to her first double double of the year. Jones and the Liberry will look to keep the early season momentum going and take the edge in the season series versus the Atlanta Dream this Friday.

The Liberty will take on the Dream for the third time this month at 7pm in the Gateway Center. Both teams will be eager for the win after splitting victories in the last two weeks.

opponent was no pushover. “I was in tip top shape,” he explained. “I usually go into the ring heavy, but I was much lighter. That made the difference in my performance.”

Williams, who trains at the Contenders Boxing Gym in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is now preparing to head to the Central American and Caribbean Games where he hopes to get even lighter than he was Saturday night.

“I have to go running now. Coming off a fight like I had last night, I’m excited about what I can do,” Williams proclaimed. “But I know fighting against amateurs, you have to throw my punches because it’s only three rounds.”

The 24th edition of the CAC Games is scheduled for June 23 to July 8 in San Salvador, El Salvador, and will allow professional boxers to fight against amateur boxers.

RASHIELD Williams evading a punch in the bout.

SEE PAGE 18

US OPEN WIN FOR CLARK

SEE PAGE 16

SEE PAGE 18 IT’S

FIVE STRAIGHT

By BRENT STUBBS

SEE PAGE 19

FOR the fifth straight consecutive year, the Mako Aquatic Swim Club hoisted the Bahamas Aquatics’

National Swimming Championship trophy in the air as national champions. In similar fashion to Team Bahamas winning its fifth straight CARIFTA Swimming Championships over the Easter holiday weekend,

Mako also had a dominating performance as they wrapped up the four-day meet on Father’s Day on Sunday at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex. Mako accumulated a total of 2,698 points to

out-distance their nearest rivals, Barracuda Swim Club, who had 1,569. Not too far behind in third place was the Alpha Aquatics Club with 1,524.50.

The remaining teams in order of finish were the Blue Waves Swim Club with 965.50 for fourth; Black Marlins Swim Club with 608 fir fifth; Lyford Swim Club with 394 for sixth, Lightning Aquatics with 300 for seventh; Mantas Swim & Water Polo Club with 240 for eighth; Freeport Aquatics with 158 for ninth and the Sea Waves Aquatic Team with nine points for 10th place.

In the medal count, Mako collected a total of 87 gold, 64 silver and 71 bronze for a total of 222 medals to dominate the chart. The Barracuda Swim Club was again in second with 46 gold, 43 silver, 34 bronze for 123 medals. Alpha Aquatics completed the top three

with 45 gold, 37 silver and 31 bronze for 113. The Blue Waves were fourth with 15 gold, 25 silver and 23 bronze of their total of 63; the Black Marlins Swim Club was fifth with six gold, 17 silver and 21 bronze for their total of 44. Lightning Aquatics also had six gold, one silver and a bronze for eight medals. Lyford Swim Club had three gold, 14 silver and nine bronze for 26; Freeport Aquatic had a gold, five silver and three bronze for nine and Mantas Swim and Water Polo Club had four silver and four bronze for eight. All season long, Mako’s head coach Travano McPhee said they were working on going for the five-peat and his swimmers worked extremely hard to achieve the feat.

SEE PAGE 17

FATHER’S DAY TREAT IN WILLIAMS BOUT

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RASHIELD Williams, fighting his first eight round bout of his professional career, went the distance to pull off a decision on points over Ramon de la Cruz Sena from Argentina on Saturday night.

In what he described as an early Father’s Day gift to himself, Williams said head difficulty shaking off his crafty opponent, known

as ‘El Correntino’, but he was committed to securing the win at the Alessi Gym Fitness Center in Tampa, Florida.

“He was a veteran fighter, who had been in many fights, so it was difficult to shake him off,” said Williams, who dedicated the fight to his son Reagan, “He knew exactly what he was doing, so I couldn’t knock him out. I had to our-box him.”

SEE PAGE 19

BAHA JUNIORS

TAKE HOME HUMMEL TITLE

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Baha Juniors women’s team will now join the Western Warriors men’s football club (FC) as Hummel Cup title winners. The team secured their championship hardware after defeating the defending champions, United FC at the Roscow AL Davies new soccer field.

Despite a delay due to inclement weather, the matches rolled on and saw the Western Warriors finish fifth, Dynamos FC in fourth place, Cavaliers FC claim third, and United FC as runner ups this time around.

First place

In a tightly contested match, the Baha Juniors women’s team was able to topple the defending champions United FC. Both teams battled for a score in each of the 15-minute halves.

However, neither were able to score a goal which led to a penalty shootout.

Annisa Albury, first Bahamian woman to officiate at CONCACAF Beach Soccer Pre-World Cup, was the first to sink the ball to the back of the net for her team. The next score came from

SEE PAGE 17

RASHIELD Williams celebrating his victory.

Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Mako Aquatic Swim Club celebrating.

Photo: Melinda Moss/Bahamas Aquatics