06212024 NEWS AND SPORT

The Tribune

Pintard says planned BPL split up will not benefit Bahamians

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration’s plans to reform Bahamas Power and Light amount to a “bad deal” that will leave Bahamians in a financial bind for years to come, Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard said yesterday.

He criticised the administration’s pursuit of a joint venture with Island Grid

Solutions to upgrade and manage BPL’s transmission and distribution network (T&D). Under the joint venture, the government would own 40 percent of the shares in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called Bahamas Grid Company, and Island Grid Solutions would own 60 percent. BPL, according to Energy Minister JoBeth

‘Don’t

jump to conclusions,’ as police look into recent dog killing incident

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Luck’s cofounder yesterday called for hotel-based casinos to “pay their fair share” and an end to the rate disparity that

sees web shops paying twothirds of the gaming sector’s total tax contribution.

Sebas Bastian argued that “it’s about time” casinos and web shops pay the same rates.

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY

Commissioner of

Police Leamond Delevaux said he and police Commissioner Clayton Fernander are “true believers” in animal rights and urged the public not to jump to

conclusions before police finish investigating a recent dog killing incident.

Police were looking for a man who reportedly tried to remove his ankle bracelet when they shot and killed a family’s dog in Kemp Road.

The incident incensed the public, especially after the

owners said police failed to apologise and show remorse. DCP Delevaux said Chief Superintendent Marlon Fulford, the officer in charge of the complaints and corruption branch, is

Govt will launch catastrophic insurance initiative for the vulnerable

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder announced that government will launch a catastrophic property insurance initiative to help vulnerable people. He did not provide significant details on the

plan, such as how it will be funded.

During his budget contribution in the Senate, he said the initiative is being developed in partnership with the Bahamas Insurance Association, a “global insurance leader,” and the government.

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

UP to 70 percent of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) were yesterday said to be bracing for increased electricity bills because they use more than the Government’s chosen threshold.

Mark A Turnquest, SBARC founder, told Tribune Business the Government appeared not to understand that “the majority” of SMEs - especially those in the retail sector or who sell product from a physical location - easily consume more than 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month.

FREE National Movement (FNM) leader Michael Pintard speaks during a press conference at FNM Headquarters on June 20, 2024.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder KC

Straw Market to host inaugural craft festival to benefit struggling vendors

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Straw Market Authority will host its inaugural craft festival at Arawak Cay next weekend so vendors, some of whom are struggling to make ends meet, can showcase their crafts.

This year’s event, under the theme “Bridging The Islands through Straw Industry”, will be held on June 29 and 30. Other activities leading to the festival include a church service at Zion Baptist and a courtesy visit to the Governor General.

Delores Adderley, deputy chairman of the Straw Market Authority, said the event is meant to empower straw vendors, especially those from the Family Islands who have struggled to keep their businesses afloat.

Recalling a trip to the Family Islands as part of a fact-finding mission on the future of the industry, she said: “We found out how difficult some of the islands have it economically to sustain themselves after the arduous work of finding the tops in the deep bushes and then processing the straw for plaiting and stitching.”

“We actually had the experience in seeing the silver top thatch tree, the drying of the straw, the stepping of the straw and the plaiting of the various types of strings, also the dying of the different colours of the straw.”

She said their findings encouraged them to host the festival, which they hope would become an annual event.

Some vendors told The Tribune they knew little about the event and were uncertain whether they would attend.

Ms Adderley later said the purpose of yesterday’s press conference was to help spread the message about the event.

Caroline Wright, a longtime

vendor, said she heard about the event, but won’t participate.

In fact, she knew of no vendors from the downtown Straw Market who would participate.

“They’re bringing people from the Family Islands, and they are helping them by putting them up in hotels, and they’re giving them the stalls for free,” she said.

Delores Andrews, an 82-year-old vendor, said she heard details about the festival “through the grapevine” and believes it could be a good initiative.

Asked about business at the straw market, Ms Wright said vendors have good and bad days.

Ms Andrews said many ships are coming to the country, but the passengers are not spending money.

“By the time they get over here to us, they already spend what they want to spend,” she said, suggesting the Nassau Cruise Port has made business worse for vendors.

Vendors are also concerned about increasing costs for materials such as straw to make their products.

Ms Wright said straws are difficult to procure, and tops are obtained from the Family Islands.

“One time ago, the old people could’ve just walked to the field and get the top, but now they have to pay people to go to the fields to get the tops, and then they plait it, and they charge us to get the top,” she said.

Ms Andrews said another concern for vendors is the unbearable heat in a building that lacks proper ventilation.

“The tourists, when they come in here, they want to run, so we just try to put a little fan so we help them out,” she said. “Other than that, they have to go because it’s too hot. There’s no ventilation.”

She said their cries for help continue falling on deaf ears.

STRAW vendor Caroline Wight.

STRAW Market Authority announces inaugural craft festival.

Photos: Leandra Rolle

GOVERNOR General Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt and acting Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Technical and Vocational Training, Glenys Hanna-Martin, signed

‘Bad deal’

from page one

Coleby-Davis, would contribute the book value of its New Providence T&D network in exchange for 40 percent of the SPV’s shares, while Island Grid –– the local management company for Pike Corporation –– would raise and contribute $130m to the SPV through private investors for the remaining shares.

Yesterday, Mr Pintard said the “significant difference in the equity ownership” does not benefit Bahamians, insisting BPL’s T&D assets are well above $100m.

Additionally, he said: “The Davis administration also indicated that the new entity would go out and raise an additional $100m in debt to fund the upgrade of the T&D system. Imagine being able to get $20m per year for an investment of only $30m, what a sweetheart deal, and the deal even allows you to go out and borrow $100m.

“Bahamas Grid company gets the assets and the profits, and the people of The Bahamas get to share a big chunk of the debt. It begs the question; will the T&D assets be leveraged as collateral to support the debt financing? Will BPL be purchasing goods from Island Grid whereby Island Grid will also be earning a profit from the markup of these goods?”

Mr Pintard recommended the government transfer none of BPL’s T&D assets to the new company, but rather enter into a long-term service agreement allowing the grid company to purchase new T&D equipment as needed.

He suggested the government negotiate a Power Purchase Agreement price for electricity generation that assures a reduction in energy costs for consumers and additional margins for BPL.

He added: If one considers that historically internal generation costs for BPL is approximately 5.4 cents/kWh, and if we are to take into consideration the assumption that the PPA price that BPL has negotiated to pay Bahamas Utility Company is 5 cents/kWh, this will leave 2.5 cents for BPL to cover its customer service and operations costs, pension obligations, and remaining debt obligations.

“It is our assertion that given the current average energy tariff rates and the costs communicated by the Davis administration, the proposed T&D and Generation agreements will be financially untenable and unsustainable over the short and long-term.

“Additionally, if the Davis administration reduces the tariff rates, as planned, BPL’s operations and customer service revenues will drastically decrease because, according to the agreements with the T&D and Generation services providers, their fees are fixed regardless of what fee is charged to the customer by BPL. It also appears that this convoluted initiative will leave The Bahamas in the top 20 percentof expensive countries in the world in terms of electricity.”

Mrs Coleby-Davis countered that the Minnis administration had four and a half years to address the crisis at BPL, but “produced only scandals, astronomical debts, and failures”.

She said Mr Pintard’s response shows he does not understand the complexity of BPL’s issues.

Pintard bashes Davis administration on $2.5m allocation for seized plane

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard bashed the Davis administration for allocating $2.5m to repurpose a seized plane for government travel, insisting the maintenance cost of the aircraft will be “exponentially higher” than travelling on a local airline.

Before the recent budget exercise ended in the House of Assembly on Monday, members of the opposition asked for details about a line item in the Ministry of Finance’s capital expenditure budget concerning $2.5m for a plane.

Leon Lundy, a minister of state in the prime minister’s office, said the funds were

for “the procurement of an aircraft to facilitate travel of government personnel throughout the Family Islands.”

On Wednesday, the Office of the Prime Minister clarified that police confiscated a plane that will be repurposed for official government use and refurbished for $2.5m. Yesterday, Mr Pintard questioned the OPM’s response, saying opposition members in the House of Assembly gave Mr Lundy multiple chances to clarify matters related to the plane. Mr Pintard noted the government has not said whom the plane was confiscated from or its size, model, or mileage. He said that, to his understanding, work on this

aircraft has already been completed, adding: “If that is the case, then we find the statement from the Office of the Prime Minister rather troubling.”

Mr Pintard said the $2.5m could have been used for more pressing matters like buying fire trucks for Family Islands, enhancing medication supplies in clinics, or acquiring more dialysis machines.

“In terms of the maintenance costs, we believe it’s going to be high; you know, they love to fly,” he said. “So yes, we believe that the cost is going to be exponentially higher. For government officials, we believe they should travel where possible on the local airline so they can interact with the Bahamian people.”

FREE National Movement (FNM) leader Michael Pintard speaks during a press conference at FNM Headquarters yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

AG: Govt will launch catastrophic insurance initiative for the vulnerable

“We can all agree that given climate change and the increase in frequency and severity of hurricanes that catastrophic property insurance has been priced at a point that is out of reach for many Bahamians and most of the vulnerable in our society,” he said.

“The aim of this project is to significantly mitigate the strain on both public finances and private damage following natural disasters, allowing for a more efficient and effective disaster relief efforts.”

“The government, in collaboration with local private sector partners has been engaging in discussions, actuarial studies and framing out a proper insurance product to expedite the development and rollout of a new parametric insurance product in The Bahamas.”

He said the initial phase of this programme will focus on people who are uninsured and lack adequate insurance coverage for their homes, are Bahamian citizens residing in this country, are pensioners and occupy homes valued under $300,000.

He said the programme will extend coverage to registered farmers and fishermen, given the need to ensure resilience in this sector to achieve food security.

“The parametric nature of the insurance policy will ensure prompt and efficient payouts upon the occurrence of specific natural events, streamlining the recovery process,” he said, adding that the government hopes to launch the product this year.

He said a memorandum of understanding outlining the key terms and commitments of the participating parties is expected to be signed shortly.

“We propose to have a private sector component of the management and administration of this programme,” he said. “We are also considering establishing an independent insurance company to offer this product because what we would like to do is see this as a model for the region and have this programme that originates in The Bahamas, formed in The Bahamas, capitalised in The Bahamas, is operated in The Bahamas, but is distributed through the entire Caribbean region.”

He added that the government is committed to finalising the concept and determining the optimal funding model to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness.

REGISTRAR GENERAL PLATFORM EXPECTED BY END OF YEAR AS DIGITISATION BEGINS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

LONG lines at the Registrar General Department may start disappearing soon as the department launches a digital platform today letting residents incorporate new companies, file corporate documents, pay annual fees and obtain certified copies of corporate documents from home without physically visiting the department.

Attorney General Ryan Pinder also revealed yesterday that after the launch of this Corporate Administrative Registry Services (CARS) portal, the department will immediately begin digitising the civil registry, letting people obtain certified copies of birth, death, marriage records and other recorded documents without visiting the department. He said the new civil registry platform is expected to be launched by the end of this year.

“Gone will be the days of having to

line up outside in the elements to file registrations and get documents,” he said.

Mr Pinder said the business community will appreciate CARS, “the culmination of years of work in development, data integrity projects and data migration”.

He also said the government will pass legislation splitting the Registrar General into a Registrar of Companies and a Registrar of Records in the coming months.

“As part of this civil registry modernisation, we will pass the Movable Property Security Interests Bill and launch a moveable assets and collateral registry,” he said in the Senate yesterday. “We will table this legislation before the summer recess for all to see over the summer, and it will be integrated into the new digital civil platform that we’re developing now.” He said the movable asset collateral registry will “revolutionise access” to capital for small and medium-sized businesses.

Govt to review Penal Code next fiscal year with view to ‘change status quo,’ says AG

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder said the government will review the Penal Code in the next fiscal year to “change the status quo” and is actively exploring litigation strategies to reduce and gain compensation for gun trafficking to this country.

The Davis administration has shown greater willingness than its predecessors to identify the role the United States plays in this country’s gun problem and to seek remedies.

In 2023, the country joined Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago in a $10bn lawsuit to hold US gun manufacturers accountable for the spread of firearms throughout the region. Mexico is appealing its case against US gun manufacturers after a US District Court dismissed their matter in September, concluding that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act barred such lawsuits. The defendants in the $10bn suit include seven major gun manufacturers and one gun wholesaler and

distributor.

Yesterday, Mr Pinder noted The Bahamas suffers one of the highest gun homicide rates in the world, adding: “It is not a problem of our own making. The Bahamas does not make guns, and it has strong gun laws, laws which we are strengthening.”

“However, our policies are undercut by a flood of guns from the United 46 States. It can be argued that this flood is a direct result of deliberate, reckless, unlawful business practices of gun dealers, manufacturers, and distributors, who choose to place personal profits over public safety.”

He said litigation may be the most effective way to take on the gun industry.

“We are actively exploring multiple litigation strategies with the goal gaining compensation for The Bahamas and reducing gun trafficking,” he said.

“There are viable claims The Bahamas can pursue. Needless to say, we will not stand by and allow reckless and negligent activities of other jurisdictions and companies within those jurisdictions to continue to put our citizens at risk. We will

do something, we will be aggressive, and we will pursue our fights on this matter.”

During her visit to The Bahamas last year, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced efforts to combat gun trafficking, revealing that a coordinator for the Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions at the US Department of Justice would be appointed to help crack down on firearm smugglers.

Since then, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the United States of America has made headway toward decreasing the illegal trafficking of firearms to The Bahamas. He cited a law passed in the United States to curtail the sale of guns “to what they call straw purchasers”.

As for the penal code, Mr Pinder noted the law originated in 1927 and has had “piecemeal amendments” since then. He said it is appropriate to do a comprehensive review of the code and bring a new one to Parliament.

A penal code is a set of laws and regulations that define crimes and specify the punishments that can be imposed for committing those crimes.

ATTORNEY GENERAL, Senator and Minister of Legal Affairs, Ryan Pinder KC, during his budget contribution in the Senate yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

‘Don’t jump to conclusions,’ as police look into recent dog killing incident

from page one

leading the investigation.

He insisted the public will be “advised and informed” about the matter when the investigation is done.

“I ask the public not to rush to judgment as this is an ongoing investigation –– the public will hear from us,” he said.

Yesterday, Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness (BAARK) vice president Lissa McCombe-Pinder expressed “deep concern and frustration regarding the apparent lack of accountability” by police.

“It is disheartening to witness the reoccurring instances where accountability is either avoided or overlooked, despite all of the clear expectations from the animal rights groups and the public,” she told The Tribune

“I would hope that there are immediate steps taken to address this issue and promote accountability.”

Tiana Ferguson, 21, said police showed up at her two-storey apartment complex in Kemp Road on Sunday looking for someone with an ankle bracelet.

When she opened the door to two men in camouflage uniforms, her dog, Milo, went outside.

“My dog went towards one of the police, and I tried to grab the dog back,” she said. “I was like inches away from the dog. I heard two shots. My dog was down, and I was crying.”

POLICE STILL INVESTIGATING WOMAN’S CLAIM OFFICERS TOOK $9K FROM HER HOUSE

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are still investigating a couple’s claim that $9,000 went missing from their home after police mistakenly searched their house last month, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Leamond Deleveaux.

He said the investigation will be completed “very shortly” and the public will be informed of the results.

Aynalel Deveaux, 50, and her husband Marvin Deveaux, 58, said police showed up last month at their Marathon Estates home looking for drugs and firearms.

They said officers went into a room of the house where important items, including American dollar notes amounting to $9,000, were located.

They said they later

realised the money was gone. They said the money is intended for a trip to Turkey where Mr Deveaux is supposed to have back surgery.

Yesterday, Mrs Deveaux said they have not been updated about the police investigation.

She said: “I don’t know, police mussy want my husband to die?”

She added that her husband’s health issues have not improved and that he is “having too many issues now”.

She said her husband tried to go to the store himself recently, but after returning home and getting out of his vehicle, he fell, feeling pain in his bones, particularly around his knees.

She said: “You know how hard it is to take care of a patient, and now this?”

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE LEAMOND DELEVEAUX.

POLICE shot and killed a family dog named Milo while they were searching for a man with an ankle bracelet at the wrong apartment.

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Legitimate answers on BPL deal in short supply

THE government is firmly set on its path to reform BPL – like it or lump it, it would seem. There remain plenty of questions to ask – albeit there are few coherent answers coming from the Energy Minister.

Yesterday, JoBeth Coleby-Davis’ response to questions raised by Opposition leader Michael Pintard amounted to well, the FNM should have fixed it during the Minnis administration. She’s not wrong, but then the same can be said about the Christie administration, and so on, and so on down the years.

What she did not address was the substance of Mr Pintard’s claims – that essentially we are not getting anywhere near value for money in this deal.

Under the deal, BPL will put down its transmission and distribution (T&D) network in exchange for shares in a new company, a special purpose vehicle called Bahamas Grid Company.

That network will in return get The Bahamas a minority share in the company – 40 percent. The value, purportedly, of that network is about $30m in the government’s reckoning.

Meanwhile, management company Pike Corporation will raise $130m from private investors for the remaining shares. Now a quick look at the maths on that seems uneven to begin with – if $30m is 40 percent, then 60 percent is not $130m. Clarification there would be helpful for starters.

Meanwhile, Mr Pintard is calling this a bad deal, saying that the T&D assets are actually worth well above $100m.

One would think an audit of the assets would have been a valuable thing to do before putting them on the table – and if one was done, it should be tabled in the House of Assembly. If one was not done, then how do we know the real value of the assets involved?

Mr Pintard says that this is a

sweetheart deal for the private partner – being able to get $20m a year for an investment of only $30m while being able to go out and borrow $100m from other partners. His suggestion was instead of transferring the assets, have a long-term service agreement where the company manages the assets and buys new equipment as needed.

In today’s Tribune Business, we further report that the country will be able to buy back the assets at the end of the management period – but at market value, whatever that might be at the time.

Muddying the waters in all of this is concern over whether the government truly cast its net wide enough to find the best partner for the deal, considering they ended up with a company operated by a man who is a business partner of a prominent PLP supporter.

The fact that BPL staff still seem to be largely left in the dark over what their future might bring does nothing to encourage confidence in transparency over the arrangement.

And the news, again in today’s Tribune Business, that companies are doing their own sums and realising they are going to end up paying more under the new arrangement shows what a gamble this will be for the government as it moves towards the latter part of its term in office and the next election, whenever that arrives.

If the deal pays off, and people see savings and reliable energy, then perhaps it will be cheers all round. If it doesn’t, and we’re still paying through the nose for a service that falters every summer, then people will wonder why we have parted with the family silverware, and what we really got in return.

Politics is of course a knockabout sport – but Mr Pintard has valid points to make about the BPL deal. That the best rebuttal there has been from the Energy Minister is that the opposition should have sorted it while they were in office shows that the answers are in short supply.

Sands needs to run in a safe seat

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I WOULD like to extend belated congratulations to Dr Duane Sands on retaining the post of chairman of the Free National Movement in the recent National Convention in New Providence. It was an impressive showing on the part of Sands, who shrewdly tied his chairmanship campaign to FNM leader Michael Pintard. FNM delegates obviously feel comfortable with him as chairperson of their great political organisation. Now that the leadership question has been finally settled, the hard part begins for Sands, assuming he is aspiring to re-enter the House of Assembly. If so, Sands should not run again in the Progressive Liberal Party stronghold of Elizabeth, whose current MP Jobeth Coleby-Davis has become

a PLP heavyweight in the two-plus years she’s been there. It will not be easy unseating her in that area. Sands knows firsthand how difficult it is to win in Elizabeth. Sands has contested Elizabeth four times, in 2010, 2012, 2017 and 2021; winning just once. His success rate in Elizabeth is a paltry 25 percent. In a May 2017 Tribune article about the contest for Elizabeth between Sands and the PLP standard bearer Alex Storr, several voters expressed their dissatisfaction with former MP Ryan Pinder, whom they accused of abandoning their constituency after he landed a lucrative job in the private sector in 2014. He resigned as financial services minister in the Christie administration. Yet despite this, one elderly voter stated that she’ll vote for Mr Storr with the hope he

would perform better than Pinder. Yes, Sands was able to win in 2017. But that particular election was an outlier for both the PLP and the FNM. That was the first general election in which a sitting Prime minister lost his seat. We might never see something like that again. I would suggest running in a safer area like Yamacraw or Free Town. Nothing stands out about the two particular representatives in these constituencies. Sands, I believe, stands a much better chance of winning in Free Town or Yamacraw than in the PLP bastion Elizabeth. Winning would help to solidify his political career. Running in Elizabeth again presents a huge risk for the FNM chairman.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama June 19, 2024.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE traditional Bahamian father is an almost extinct relic of a long ago forgotten time. Way back in the day, especially the 1950’s and 1960’s ‘stable’ nuclear families, with a father and mother, were the norm. In many cases, the father and mother were not, in fact, married in the legal sense but shared their lives and that of the children with what was commonly known and societally accepted as ‘common law marriage’. Mind you, from a legal point, there is no such phenomenon.

What is remarkable about ‘common law’ marriages is that a cohesive; well disciplined and relatively ‘happy’ family life was enjoyed by all. The mother did not necessarily work outside of the home and kept busy rearing the off spring/s from the union and taking care of the home, usually a small two or three bedroom traditional clap board or concrete structure. The yards were kept clean and well appointed. The father, whether married or not to the mother was the bread winner; disciplinarian and, of course, the leader within the family.

Today, most of that has changed and countless households are set up and administered by the female of the species. Either due to separation; abandonment or death, the traditional father is no longer, seemingly, relevant. In fact, many so called liberated Bahamian single mothers crow that they really only need a male to procreate or to fleece, when and where necessary. Children have been and can still be reared by unattached females but the consequences are threatening the very fabric of our society.

Available statistics here in The Bahamas has long demonstrated that almost 85 percent of the male population up at The Bahamas Correctional Centre come from single parent homes where there is a stark absence of a father. They would have been reared, successfully in many cases, by their single mothers. Statistics have also shown that children, whether in or out of wedlock, seem to have a better societal upbringing

where the traditional nuclear family exists.

Females, God bless them all, are designed to nature children as opposed to the real male father who instills discipline and demonstrates responsibility and upward mobility. In other words, it takes joint team work by fathers and mothers, in most cases, to successfully raise a child/children, especially with boys. A mother’s love is almost unquantifiable , as it should be, but the discipline ; love and presence of the father is, in my considered opinion, is critical. As a legally trained individual; a father and now, a grandfather. I am able to speak, first hand, about the necessity of having a caring; loving and disciplined father figure in my personal life growing up back in the 60s. My parents were not married but cohabited within a ‘common law’ arrangement. My father, the late Reverend Ortland H Bodie Sr. (a/k/a Bode) came from Mangrove Cay, Andros, in his early 20s. He started out as a carpenter at what was then known as The Oakes Field Airport.

He quickly was elevated and promoted to managerial level. Later he became an informal ‘banker’ for many male Bahamians who migrated to the USA, especially the State of Florida and Georgia. He was unable to further his education other than what he would have received at The All Age School in Mangrove Cay, Andros. Nevertheless, by the time he was in his late 20’s he was a self made millionaire with a diversified business empire.

Those were the days when a Black Bahamian male, unless he was in one of the professions, could aspire to very little materially. My father fortuitously, met my late mother, Annie Hepburn-Deveaux, who was a humble straw vendor and executive housekeeper for a white Bahamian family on the Eastern Road. She was ‘wealthy’ long before she and my father hooked up. They never married but they provided my siblings

and I would a stable and vibrant family life.

We lacked for nothing and, if I may say so, the four of us out of wedlock children turned out well, without bragging.

I was my father’s favourite child and he groomed me into a successful business path beginning at aged 16 years of age. By the time I was 18 years old I had amassed a small personal savings account in excess of B$25,000 on fixed deposit at FINCO. I later went off to law school in the UK with the full financial support and encouragement of my father. The rest, of course, is history. My Dad was always right there for me. I was constantly in his company and accompanied him on most of his overseas trips, especially, to the USA and parts of the Caribbean, such as Jamaica and Haiti. He and my mother actually took us to church as opposed to simply sending us. My mother was a life long member of Mount Carey Baptist Church on Fox Hill Road while my Dad was, initially, Catholic, but later transitioned over to the AME Church on Blue Hill Road which was founded by the late Reverend Alpheus Rolle.

Our spiritual life was solid and has contributed to the man; father and grandfather that I am today. The actual presence of a father, within or out of wedlock, is critical/ The stark absence of the same has and is wrecking havoc within the ranks of our boys and youths. Not ‘knowing’ and interacting with one’s father is one of the causations of our jail being filled to the maximum of Bahamian males searching for a father figure for guidance; discipline; material support and, of course, love. There are serious consequences to this absence and I now call on all fathers to step up to the plate. The responsibility to correct what has been going on for so long, is that of the father. No government or no church is able to fill this gap. To God then, Who is Our Father, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, June 16, 2024.

A BOTTLENOSE dolphin swims off the coast of Niteroi during a whale-watching tour in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, yesterday. The whale-watching season has begun for tourists taking part in expeditions to get close to the humpback whales coming from Antarctica in search of warm waters to breed and have their babies.

Photo: Silvia Izquierdo/AP

Shirley Hall Bass dance initiative embracing diversity in the arts

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN dancers and dance teachers had an opportunity to hone their skills at the recent Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project summer dance initiative and sixth annual dance instructors forum.

The five-day event took place last week at the University of The Bahamas Performing Arts Centre and was open to advanced and pre-professional Bahamian dancers and dance teachers.

Students were offered free classes in ballet, Katherine Dunham Technique, composition, and Urban Jazz.

“Our focus this year was on celebrating diversity through dance and culturally responsive teaching methods,” said Cristin Carole, co-founder of the Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project. “We were thrilled to welcome talented American guest artists: deaf dancer Antoine Hunter, Amansu Tolewa Eason, Pierre Lockett, and Linda Steele II, who led classes in various dance genres emphasizing diversity in teaching methods.”

The week started with the movie Renaissance Man - about the impact of

Jamaican dancer, scholar and educator Dr Rex Nettleford, OCC (Order of the Caribbean Community).

On Thursday, an allmale dancer panel was held featuring the international guests and local Classical Indian dancer, Carlito Catalano. The engaging discussion was moderated by Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Award winner (2020), renowned Bahamian dancer, educator, and choreographer Yorick Lawrence Carroll.

Panelists discussed topics such as socio-economics, stigma, self-determination, and the resilience necessary for a male to pursue a career in dance. Ian Poitier, policy and communications advisor to the Prime Minister, spoke about the importance of performing arts education for all, and the benefit of life skills such as confidence and conflict resolution.

And in an effort to promote diversity, the SHBLP was excited to establish a relationship with the Centre for the Deaf.

International guests and deaf dancers Antoine Hunter and Zahna Simon visited the centre interacting with children through movement activities and discussing the differences of language and culture. The sixth annual dance

education forum was held on Saturday under the theme “Moving in Harmony: Celebrating Diversity Through Dance.”

It was attended by primary and secondary teachers who were provided with professional development credits.

Ministry of Education senior education officer, Christine Cunningham, served as the plenary speaker and spoke passionately about the importance of inclusion of performing arts in education in The Bahamas.

At the culminating performance on Saturday, SHBLP honoured the late Meta Davis Cumberbatch with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Bahamian performing arts education.

Family members Dr. Peter Maynard, Greg Barrett, Dianne Maynard and Gail Lockhart-Charles were in attendance to accept the award. Summer Dance Intensive students, The Bahamas All-Stars, and students from The Centre for the Deaf also performed for the audience.

The event was sponsored by Dr Maria Oriakhi and the Office of Academic Affairs, Dr Ian Strachan and the Office of the Executive Vice President at the University of The Bahamas, and the Ministry of

Youth, Sports and Culture, in partnership with the US Embassy’s American Corner and The Bahamas Ministry of Education.

The Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project supports performing arts education in The Bahamas through youth programmes, scholarships, research, curriculum development, and advocacy work. Its mission is to inspire possibilities and promote nation-building through arts education that strengthens schools and communities. More information about this organisation can be found at www.shirleyhallbassfoundation.org.

CORONER’S COURT FINDS JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE IN POLICE-INVOLVED KILLING OF RASHANDO GIBSON

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A CORONER’s Court jury returned a justifiable homicide finding yesterday concerningthepolice-involved killing of Rashando Gibson, 31. Gibson was killed near Soldier Road in 2022.

Sergeant Jamal Johnson and Corporal Giovanni Davis, the two subjects in the inquest, appeared relieved when the finding of the five-person, all-female jury was read.

Officers, including Owen Hanna, the chief welfare officer of the Police Staff Association, embraced and

congratulated the pair after the inquest. Relatives of the deceased were not present in court during the reading of the finding.

The officers reportedly shot and killed Gibson on Shahs Drive and Goggle Eye Road on July 1, 2022

This is the sixth consecutive justified homicide finding, with jurors returning the same finding last week in the case of 40-yearold Walter Johnson killed on Hospital Lane in 2022. Two other inquests this year had findings of homicide by manslaughter.

An inquest in May, the 2017 police-involved

shooting of 21-year-old Aliko Collins, was dismissed and rescheduled for later this year after the coroner dismissed jurors for allegedly exhibiting inappropriate behaviour during an officer’s testimony.

Officers testified that they were responding to information on an attempted armed robbery near Beauty Shack on Soldier Road before killing Gibson, who reportedly matched the description of the suspect in that incident. Sergeant Melbert Munroe, the investigating officer that day, said the deceased raised a firearm in the direction of officers before he was shot.

MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING YOUNGER BROTHER BY RUNNING HIM OVER WITH HIS VEHICLE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sent to prison yesterday accused of causing the death of his younger brother last weekend by running him over with his car.

Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Elliot Williams, 42, with murder. Williams allegedly argued with his younger sibling, Ryan Williams, in his Nissan Note at the intersection of Sir Milo Butler Highway and Carmichael Road on June 15.

After the argument reportedly became physical, the younger Williams got out of the vehicle. The defendant is alleged to have fatally struck the victim with his car.

Williams was informed that his matter would be transferred to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

The defendant will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on September 12.

Jeff Farquharson represented the accused.

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 24-year-old man was remanded in custody after he was accused of attempting to kill someone last weekend.

Chief Magistrate Roberto

Reckley charged Alano Stringfield with attempted murder.

Stringfield allegedly attempted to cause the death of Berrine Fenelus on June 15 in New Providence. The defendant was not required to enter a plea at this time as he was informed

his matter would move to the higher court by way of voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Stringfield will be remanded to prison until his VBI is potentially served on August 15.

Inspector Deon Barr served as prosecutor.

A forensic officer confirmed that the weapon reportedly belonging to the deceased was capable of firing.

Before the finding was read, Inspector Christoph Greenslade, a firearm expert, reviewed body cam footage of the shooting from SGT Johnson.

It showed Sgt Johnson getting out of the police vehicle with his weapon drawn, approaching the deceased.

Sgt Johnson repeats the command: “Let me see your hands” several times before yelling: “Get on the ground.”

As the deceased appeared

to surrender, Sgt Johnson discharged multiple rounds in his direction.

Inspector Greenslade alleged that while the suspect initially raised both hands, the deceased put one hand down to reach for a weapon. He said the manoeuvre shows false compliance and that officers are trained to be cautious of it. He said officers could have seen the man’s actions as a red flag and that officers are justified in using force if a suspect has a weapon in hand.

Dr Caryn Sands, a forensic pathologist, said Gibson’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the

torso. She also said that the bullet entered the deceased from his back and went in an upward trajectory before exiting through the centre of his throat.

In his closing remarks, K Melvin Munroe, the officers’ attorney, argued that the officers commanded the deceased to surrender seven times and that he failed to comply.

He insinuated that the deceased was a criminal by referring to his chest tattoo that said: “Salute me or shoot me.”

Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest Deveaux presided. Angelo Whitfield marshaled the evidence.

Teen charged with manslaughter in the death of Maigen Bethel

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE parents of a 17-yearold boy were emotionally distraught when their child was charged with manslaughter in the death of

Maigen Bethel, a 23-year-old woman killed last weekend.

The teen, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, was allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Bethel outside a residence on Vinspen Road on June 13.

Senior Magistrate Kara

Turnquest Deveaux told him that his matter would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was remanded to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys until his VBI is served on October 1.

DANCE students pose with their teachers after the performance.

SHBLP Board members and guests, along with the male dancer panelists, pose with Minister Fred Mitchell.

The Cygnet sunk by an Italian sub

THE steamer Cygnet was sunk by the Italian submarine Enrico Tazzoli in sight of San Salvador early in World War II, when Bahamians were not expecting attacks. The ship was Greek-owned, Panamanian-flagged, 3,628tons, and her 30 crew were mostly Greek. The ship was carrying ore from South America to Canada through The Bahamas.

On March 11, 1942, Captain Mamais, age 37, Chief Officer Falangas, radio man George Lemos and a helmsman were on lookout. At 4:48pm, Falangas saw a torpedo emerge from beneath the ship and go towards the lighthouse at Dixon Hill, on San Salvador, six miles away. Suddenly there was an explosion at the forward hatch, and “a cloud of dust and debris rose several hundred feet”, so they stopped the engine. The donkey motor was shattered into little bits and “large pieces of debris covered the deck, and the ship started listing immediately at the bow”.

By Eric Wiberg

The Italian submarine crew recorded “there lies San Salvador...!” Only half an hour later their first target loomed over the horizon.”

They overheard Lemos on the Cygnet’s radio; at 3pm the gunner spotted a ship. At 4:45pm the Italians fired. Two stern torpedoes were first, the first missed, the other struck after 30 seconds. Lemos ran from the radio shack to the bridge to jot the position down, but the officers beckoned him to join them in the lifeboats. The attack was witnessed ashore by residents drawn by the sound of shells exploding. Mamais said “a submarine appeared, and fired a blank shell to warn the life boats way from the ship”. Sofos observed “the submarine surfacing … two members of the crew on the tower were waving their hands in salutation.

While we were saluting back. They started firing at our ship, which seemed like a fearless giant refusing to yield to the enemy’s gunshots. …the ship’s steam boiler’s safety valves began to whistle, as if the ship was sending us its farewell, which lasted until the ship sank, after the 7th and last missile.”

The Tazzoli men “returned the salute in disbelief then shelled the starboard side, and rounded the stern to puncture the port side, filming all of it. ….the Greeks were commenting on the accuracy and the effects of our fire. …at the survivors they shouted ‘Good luck!’ Commander di Cossato waved the Italian Tricolore flag in the air and shouted in English: ‘Tell the Americans ‘It is true: the Italian submarines have come here to sink their ships!’

The castaways waved and shouted cheerfully.”

Vlachakis said the Tazzoli looked old and rusty when it motored off toward Eleuthera. Captain Mamais wrote that “the life boats… pulled for San Salvador. Three or four crew suffered minor injuries during the explosion.” The Cygnet was sank at 6:20pm. Maronari wrote “Flaming clouds to the west swallow to last tendrils of gold. …light sparkles on the trees and the tall lighthouse tower, Cygnet suddenly glows red, followed by a piercing roar, as water shocked the boilers and the greedy ocean swallows those old tons” Islanders were waiting for them past 5am; “Mr AB Nairne, a one-legged American came out in a dory with two natives to lead the boats

through the reef”. Emile and Elmore Nairne lived on San Salvador, described as “light-skinned” Bahamians, but had all their limbs. Thomas (Tom) Williams, whose family had lived on Sal Salvador since the 1780s, had lost a foot in a boating accident; he must have been the man described.

Sofos said “at 8pm we entered a cove, but our lifeboat hit a reef and water started gushing in. We anchored, and used five buckets to bail out the water. The second lifeboat continued towards the shore to offload the men and pick us up. However, the cove was packed with reefs, which forced it to lay at anchor as well. Then a small boat appeared with two black men and a onelegged white man …we begged them to guide us, and our two life boats, following the small boat as a pilot, reached the shore around 5am.” That was East Beach, which is rarely calm.

A boy of 10 years

“remembers hearing an explosion and the sailors being transported to townan uncle or cousin had one

of the few vehicles. The ship was carrying rubber, as large bales of rubber washed ashore. People would collect and sell these to Nassau.” The Greek men

“were led to the house of a native, just a few meters away, where we were treated to a cup of coffee.

A small truck, picking up ten at a time, made three trips to the other side of the island. Cockburn Town consisted of a few wooden houses, the population of the island being about 300 inhabitants.” Nothing was spared for their comfort.

“Our lodging was arranged in the church, and the island administrator, an educated black man, extended a fine hospitality. He promptly telegraphed a list of our names to our New York office and Nassau. He witnessed the whole drama of the attack and sinking and started sending SOS hoping that an airplane would come and sink the submarine.” The SOS was merely a whistle in the wind

The Cygnet crew boarded the Monarch of Nassau and arrived at Nassau the next day. The Nassau Guardian wrote they “are all safe, being taken care of by the Greek Consul and the Red Cross.” Ena K, took them to Miami; they missed sailing with Sydney Poitier by weeks. Overall, the men travelled by lifeboat, lorry, passenger ship, a motor sailor and train over two weeks to reach New York, albeit in exile. Some of them stayed in the US. Within a year, the Enrico Tazzoli lay on the floor of the Bay of Biscay, her commander di Cossato dead by his own hand. The Italian Navy named a submarine after him.

COMMANDER Di Cossato (right), the Duke who became a war-time suicide and namesake of a post-war sub.

CONSTANTINOS SOFOS, whose son provided the author with a detailed diary first-hand of the events.

THE STEAMER CYGNET

ENRICO Tazzoli and crew in Gironde Estuary after Cygnet attack.

Where do new ideas come from?

INSPIRATION for the column – how new ideas are born – came from a chance sighting of a man photographing his wife with an umbrella that could revolutionise the humble umbrella. Bahamian field engineer Eugene Morley looked at that boring umbrella and saw opportunity. What he created is a temperature cooling, reverse operating, Bahamas-branded product that will make its way through rain or shine around the world, promoting the country of his birth. What is it about creativity that some people have it and others don’t? Morley is pictured with the columnist. What does it take to look at an ordinary, everyday thing, the kind of thing you don’t even think about, and say, ‘Hey, I can make a better one?’

I’ve always been curious about how some folks can do that – take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. Like a man I met quite by accident along with his wife on the beach at Montagu one Saturday. He was taking photos of her holding an umbrella. This was no ordinary umbrella. Its interior was an image. In fact, he had invented umbrellas with different images – all portraying The Bahamas. There was one with the famed red and white striped lighthouse in Elbow Cay, Hopetown, Abaco, another with Nassau Cruise Port, a third showing the waters of Exuma. Five choices in all, why look up and see the rain when you can capture

an unexpected glimpse of The Bahamas even on a rain-soaked day? And revolutionising the everyday umbrella did not stop there. Its exterior is a silver film that reflects the heat, making it 20 percent cooler underneath. Of course, the open and close is the newer reverse style so any water that lands on the top does not come gushing down on you. Push the button to close and the umbrella inverts so water flows outward. That part is not so new but this young man’s adaptation turning the everyday umbrella into an instantly perfect Instagrammable moment IS new. Inventor of The Bahamas reverse operating, temperature cooling, Bahamas-branded umbrella (Sunguard.com) is a young entrepreneur named Eugene Morley. He happens to be a field engineer with a degree in electronic engineering from the University of South Dakota, none of which explains why he turned to umbrellas or opened a boat-and-water based tour company called Reel Adventures.

So back to the basic question – what does it take to come up with a new idea, a better mouse trap? Where do ideas come from? And I don’t mean ChatGPT or any form of Open AI. Where does originality start? Why does a young man like Eugene Morley have what it takes to look at the ordinary and see the extraordinary?

There has been a lot of research on creativity,

IN THE AFTERMATH

LAST week’s column, Billboard blight is a sad, sad sight, and The Tribune editorial of the same day supporting the call for updated signage policies and regulation, evoked a tremendous response from readers.

The most interesting, though, might have been from a successful businessman who detests signs blocking the view of the sea as much as I do. What happens in a hurricane when a strong wind

attempts to discover what leads to the muse moment. Left brain, right brain is not enough to explain why a Eugene Morley looked at an umbrella and saw it as a canvas for The Bahamas or why someone stepped into a shower, pulled back a vinyl or cloth shower curtain or a sliding door and decided I can do better. I’ll install solid glass a little more than halfway across. It doesn’t blow, attract mildew and never needs to be replaced. It looks a whole lot more modern and best of all, it miraculously keeps shower water where it is supposed to be, on the shower floor. One the contemporary fixed glass shower was created, there was no going back. But the question remains – how, why did the better shower get invented or the reverse cooling umbrella with a portrait get designed?

MUSE CHROMOSOME?

No one knows why one person invents and another consumes. Author Amy Tan explored the muse chromosome, then discarded it, though it would be such a game-changer if there were a single chromosome that explained creativity. That way, we could clone it and all newborns would crawl around inventing the best of everything, and every day there would be a newer, shinier, brighter toy.

Despite the desire for a simple answer for an explanation of the origin of ideas, scientists who

OF BILLBOARD BLIGHT

hits these signs, he asked?

Who is responsible when huge billboards break loose and fly with the powerful force of a speeding bullet? What if they smash vehicles or windows or worse yet, kill a child? Who is responsible? Is it government? Government either turned a blind eye or allowed them to be erected. The signs are on public property. Is it the sign manufacturer or installer? Or the company that ordered and

owns the sign? He is right, who is responsible if a strong wind whips a billboard and damages property or strikes a human? We could answer the question or continue to bury our heads and hope nothing worse than an offensive view is the outcome of a billboard blight that blocks our sight of one of the last public beaches in New Providence and defiles otherwise magnificent limestone walls.

study the phenomenon have concluded that there is none. But there are a few very interesting patterns, or what Steve Johnson said in a TED Talk about coffee houses and creativity that made a lot of sense. “An idea – a new idea – is a new network of neurons firing in sync with each other inside your brain. It’s a new configuration that has never formed before.” And where and when is that new configuration most likely to occur? It turns out that it is more likely in a group setting than alone, more likely when there is a degree of interaction, even bordering, some argue, on chaos. New ideas are born when a network of neurons fire in sync inside your brain in a way they have never collided before, says Johnson – and those Eureka moments occur in discussions where a problem, a situation, a trend is being dissected, explored and examined, when a puzzle is pulled apart into a thousand smaller pieces before it is put together again.

Whether in a heated argument or calm moment, the split second when those neurons clamber all over one another to get together is the mini-second when the light bulb bursts to life. Neurons fire, energy of an idea newborn bursts into mental flames, most likely birthing in a communal setting. It could be a coffee house, at a conference table, an

open office, at the water cooler. It is not the gathering that created the new idea, it merely helped to cause all the information stored from hours alone, from studying, reading, living, or examining the world through a microscope to connect, firing off the network of neurons in a never-before-configured brain pattern. That is the moment of creativity, when a spark ignites, though what led to that spark were the experiences that came before it, including those tedious hours at the microscope.

Creativity only feels like it is spur of the moment. It is the summation of

experience observed and inhaled, then exhaled as those neurons collide and fire away like fireworks of the brain. Eyes shine, a smile creeps across your face and you suddenly know what a Eureka moment feels like. Now, can someone please fix the obnoxious hand vacuum that refuses to get into the very tiny corner where dust stares at you, the hand vac that refuses to squeeze down to a smaller size no matter how hard you push it, twist it or mutter under your breath in case it can actually hear you and decide to take the upper hand and quit altogether.

DIANE Phillips pictured with Eugene Morley showing off one of his umbrellas.

Anglican Central Education Authority

THE Anglican Central Education Authority (ACEA) has been a beacon of education in The Bahamas for more than 60 years. Our schools stretch over three inhabited islands; New Providence, Grand Bahama and Exuma and provide a wellrounded educational product that fosters the development of students’ spiritual, academic, physical, social, emotional and community engagement.

The ACEA in recent years, owes a lot of its accomplishments, to the outgoing Director of Anglican Education, Italia Davies who will be retiring effective June 30. She was appointed in June 2013 and has given the ACEA 19 years of unwavering service which includes her stint as Deputy Director – Administration and Personnel.

Mrs Davies’ successor, Alphonso Major Jr, is no stranger to the ACEA. He was employed with the ACEA previously, where he served with distinction for five years at St Anne’s School. During his tenure, Mr Major served as Guidance Counsellor of the Middle School, Sr Master/ Tourism and Hospitality Teacher and Vice Principal of the Primary Department. The ACEA wishes him, every success as the director’s baton is officially passed on to him on July 1.

In preparation for the start of the 2024-2025 academic school year, the ACEA is chartering a new direction through shifting the paradigm while maintaining excellence and unity. The ACEA is committed to providing our schools with the best and brightest faculty and staff, with competent leadership who possess a firm belief in Christianity, love, and compassion.

The ACEA is excited to announce the strategic transfer of principals across its schools. This initiative aims to leverage the strengths of our most accomplished leaders to benefit a broader range of students and schools within our system.

The decision to transfer principals is rooted in a commitment to continuous improvement and the dissemination of best practices. Through this opportunity, that is historic for the ACEA, we seek to strategically place experienced and successful principals in new

schools to elevate educational outcomes and foster systemic improvement. This move will enable the ACEA to undertake specific challenges, promote innovation, and drive academic success across the entire school system.

Our leaders for the 2024-25 school year will be as follows:

Cynthia Wells - will serve substantially, as Principal for Bishop Michael Eldon School in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Mrs Wells is a veteran educator within the ACEA, having given 30+ years of service to the system in several capacities. She started as a science teacher at St Anne’s School and moved up the ranks in administration ending her tenure upon her retirement in 2019 as the school’s longest serving principal. Following this, she was appointed to the post of deputy director and served for one year. Since then, Mrs Wells has served as a beacon of support to the ACEA, assisting wherever possible and sharing her expertise to further develop the

KIWANIS CLUB OF NASSAU

Our KKids Club collaborated with our school’s Eco Club to help keep our school’s environment clean. The students from both clubs picked up litter during the peak periods. Along with picking up trash, they also raked up the leaves that fell all over the playground. With this project, the students learned the importance of working together (with other clubs). Another life lesson they gained was keeping one’s environment clean.

JOIN THE CLUB

OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers.

To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line. For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 826-2242.

system. She most recently served as Principal Pro-Tem of Bishop Michael Eldon School from April to June of this year.

Junann Lewis - will be transferred from St John’s College, after serving as principal for the past four years. The ACEA publicly thanks Mrs. Lewis for her contributions and wishes her every success as she transitions to head St Anne’s School as principal.

Quinn McCartney - will be transferred from St Anne’s School, after serving as principal for two years. The ACEA publicly thanks Mr McCartney for his contributions and wishes him every success as he transitions to head St John’s College as principal.

G Leon Mars - will be transferred from St Andrew’s Anglican School in Exuma, after serving as principal for four years to St John’s college as vice principal of

the Preparatory Department. Mr Mars has demonstrated exemplary leadership at St Andrew’s where he has successfully implemented innovative programmes, improved student outcomes, and fostered a positive school culture. His experience and expertise are valuable assets that can contribute significantly to the administrative team at St John’s College. Moving to a larger school provides an opportunity for Mr Mars to expand his influence and implement successful practices on a broader scale. As vice principal, Mr Mars will be able to support a greater number of students and staff, driving positive change and promoting academic excellence across the larger school community. This transition allows Mr Mars to develop new skills and gain experience in a larger, more complex school environment. By working alongside the principal and other administrative leaders at St John’s College Mr Mars will enhance his leadership capabilities, preparing him for future opportunities and further strengthening our system’s leadership pipeline. The ACEA publicly thanks Mr Mars for his contributions and wishes him every success as he transitions to St John’s College as vice-principal of the Preparatory Department. Tamara Moncur - will be transferred from St John’s College, after serving as vice-principal of the Preparatory Department for three years. The ACEA publicly thanks Mrs Moncur for her contributions, and wishes her every success on her promotion to Principal of St Andrew’s Anglican School in Exuma.

The ACEA is indeed grateful for the unwavering commitment of our leadership teams and their service in education. We are One Bus, One Voice, One Direction – working together for equal opportunities for all students to achieve excellence. We look forward to building a stronger, more cohesive school system where each school thrives. We trust that the new leadership changes lead to renewed motivation and creativity which rejuvenate our school communities, break down barriers, and inspire staff and students alike, contributing to a more dynamic and engaging learning environment.

PICTURED are, top row, from left, Tamara Moncur, Junann Lewis, Leon Mars, (second row) Cynthia Wells, Quinn McCartney, Italia Davies, and (bottom row) Alphonso Major Jr.

SCENES from the Rotary Leadership Institute events in Grand Bahama earlier this month.

SPORTS

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2024

Coach Norbert Elliott retires

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ne of the coun-

Otry’s most prolific collegiate coaching careers came to an end as Norbert Elliott announced his retirement from the Boilermakers Track and Field programme at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Elliott, a graduate of St Augustine’s College where he excelled as a versatile athlete in different sports, but went on to achieve international prominence in track and field as a triple jump specialist and a twotime Olympian, closed out his 35-year coaching

career as Purdue’s track & field and cross-country head coach. “First, I want to thank Mike Bobinski for giving me this opportunity,” Elliott said. “Thank you to our sport administrator, Calvin Williams, for his wisdom and guidance, and thank you to the numerous members of our support staff that have been so instrumental in helping our programme.

“Of course, I want to thank and recognise the numerous student-athletes that I’ve had an impact in coaching and guiding. I’ve enjoyed my time working with them, and I want to wish them all good luck in their future endeavours.

“It has been a privilege and honour to be a part of

the Purdue track & field and cross-country programme. I know a bright future is ahead, and I’ll certainly be a Boilermaker for life,” Elliott summed up in his statement.

Elliott’s coaching career began at his alma mater, UTEP, in 1989, and continued with stops at Georgia, Murray State, Tennessee and Campbell. He spent the last 12 years at Purdue and served as the programme’s head coach since 2018.

His Boilermaker tenure includes a Big Ten team title in 2017, the best NCAA cross country team finish in nearly 70 years in 2019 and numerous school records, All-America accolades and top-10 individual finishes nationally.

Before he ventured into coaching, Elliott set the pace as a two-time Olympian in 1988 in Los Angeles, California and again in 1992 in Barcelona,

Spain, where fellow Bahamian and arch-rival Frank Rutherford secured the Bahamas’ first individual track and field medal at the games with his bronze as the two competed in the triple jump.

Elliott coached 12 Olympians throughout his career, including Boilermaker greats Devynne Charlton, Samson Colebrooke and Carmeisha Cox.

Mike Bobinski, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, had nothing but high marks for Elliott in his departure.

“Norbert Elliott has been a great colleague and positively impacted so

PAGE 13

Ayton, Page 12

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RECORD breakers

Nigel Forbes, Harold Simmons, Emmanuel Gadson, Marvin Johnson, Siann Isaacs and Sean Longley took some of the spotlight on day one of the Bahamas Aquatics’ 52nd Bahamas National Swimming Championships.

However, the spectators in the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex got a treat from some of the visiting international swimmers as they took their share of the limelight in yesterday’s evening session.

The meet, which has attracted around 90 international swimmers, is serving as the final qualifier for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France, as the qualification process closes on the final day of competition on Sunday.

Forbes, a member of the Alpha Aquatics Club, opened up his participation in the meet with a victory in the boys’ 18-and-over 50m backstroke in 26.22, ahead of Mako’s Davante Carey, who got second in 27.32 with Luke Thompson of Alpha third in 28.62. But Forbes saved his best for the final individual event of the night when he won the 100m butterfly in 53.99 to erase Olympian

Jeremy Knowles’ national record of 54.00 that he established back in 2008.

“It was really good. I wanted to hit that 53-seconds so bad,” he said.

“After I messed up in the 50m back, I knew I had to come back and redeem myself. Thank God I got

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

the race out my head and refocused on this one.”

Joshua Murray of the Black Marlins was second in 57.85 and Jake Thompson of Alpha Aquatics got third in 59.04.

Yulia Efimova, the 32-year-old Russian attempting to qualify for

BASEBALL FORD CAMP

THE annual Mario Ford Summer Baseball Camp is all set for July 1-12 from 9am to 1pm at Windsor Park on East Street and Wulff Road. It’s open to campers between the ages of 7-15 years. Interested persons are urged to contact Mario Ford at 556-0993 for more information and to register their child or children.

SOFTBALL ATLANTIS LEAGUE

THE Atlantis Softball League will get started this weekend at the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park at the Southern Recreation Grounds.

June, 2024

Saturday 10am - MWPO vs Marina Village Sunday Noon Fm/HR vs Nobu BASKETBALL PEACE ON DA STREETS

THE annual Peace On Da Streets Basketball Classic, dubbed “Shooting Hoops instead of Guns,” is scheduled for July 15-21 at the Michael ‘Scooter Reid” Basketball Center at the Hope Center. All games will start at 6pm each day. Categories include 12-and-under, 16-and-under, 20-and-under, government ministry, church and open divisions. The event is being promoted by Guardian Radio and Radio House Outreach.

SEE PAGE 15

her fifth Olympics, said while she fell short of the standard in the women’s 200m breaststroke, she’s confident that she can attain the standards in the 50 and 200m breaststrokes.

“I’m just happy to have this opportunity because this is the last chance. I just

got here from Russia yesterday,” said Efimova, who is coming back after a twoyear hiatus.

“I didn’t do well in my first race, but I’m looking forward to the rest of the meet in the 50 and 100m

14

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

RHEMA Otabor, the newest national record holder for the women’s javelin event, made the semifinals cut for the prestigious Bowerman Award on Tuesday.

June has already shaped up to be an unforgettable month for the two-time NCAA javelin champion and she is now one of 10 athletes to remain in contention for the grand track and field distinction.

The Bowerman Award, presented by the USTFCCCA, is the highest honour that can be obtained for top male and female student-athletes in American collegiate track and field.

Otabor, who recently erased Laverne Eve’s

PAGE 15

‘IT HAS BEEN GREAT, WE HAVE ONE MORE PRACTICE’

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MEN’S national basketball team head coach Chris DeMarco liked what he saw from the players in attendance at the training camp in Houston, Texas.

More than 20 players are participating in the camp that will conclude today before the team is cut and headed off to Europe to begin the trek towards the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain, in July.

“It’s been great. We have one more practice, but it’s been a great week. We had a lot of guys in, trying to get the top 20-25 Bahamian basketball players here.

“I think we did a great job. The Bahamas Basketball Federation, LJ Rose, our general manager and Moses Johnson and the rest

SEE PAGE 12

IS IT OKAY TO PLAY IN THE RAIN?

AS the rainy season envelops our beautiful Bahamas, parents, coaches, and athletes face a perennial question: is it okay to play sports in the rain? With outdoor sports camps in full swing, it’s essential to address the concerns about the health risks associated with playing in wet conditions. Let’s dive into the science behind this topic to provide a comprehensive understanding. The Science of Playing in the Rain First, it’s crucial to dispel a common myth: getting wet in the rain does not directly cause illnesses like colds or the flu. These illnesses are caused by viruses, not by being exposed to rain. According to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the common cold is more likely

to be spread through close contact with infected individuals rather than through environmental exposure. However, playing in the rain can create conditions

that might contribute to illness indirectly. Prolonged exposure to cold, wet conditions can lower the body’s immune response, making athletes more susceptible to infections. Moreover, wet and slippery conditions increase the risk of injuries, such as sprains and strains, which can sideline young athletes.

Health Risks and Considerations 1. Hypothermia and Exposure: Prolonged exposure to cold rain can lead to hypothermia, a condition where the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Hypothermia is more likely to occur when temperatures drop, and athletes are not dressed appropriately. Symptoms include shivering, confusion, and fatigue.

SEE PAGE 15

NORBERT ELLIOTT

TOP swimmers compete yesterday on day one of the Bahamas Aquatics’ 52nd Bahamas National Swimming Championships at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Deandre Ayton pleased to impact youth at Jr NBA Clinic

By TENAJH SWEETING

Sports Reporter

PORTLAND Trail Blazers centre Deandre Ayton is currently at The Bahamas senior men’s national basketball team training camp in Houston, Texas, in preparation for the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament set to take place in Valencia, Spain, July 2-7.

Before making his journey with the national team on Monday, Ayton engaged with the 50 youth athletes at the Jr NBA clinic hosted by the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) a week ago.

The 2018 no. 1 NBA draft pick along with men’s national team head coach Chris DeMarco and other officials conducted the clinic at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium, showing the athletes in attendance the skills needed to get them to the next level of basketball.

The youth had the opportunity to run through shooting and ball-handling drills and were also given tips on how to improve on the defensive end.

The Bahamian big man gave his perspective on the significance of hosting basketball clinics for the potential next generation of ball players.

“It helps them to understand you can be around more great athletes and people on the same level as you from different places… I really want them to understand that basketball

can really do a lot for you and your family. I need them to understand that this is just not a sport. This thing is really important if you really take it seriously and you start from now because this is the age I started at,” he said.

Ayton got his initial start with basketball in the fourth grade and he then moved to the United States at age 12 after experiencing a growth spurt.

He attended the Balboa City School in San Diego, California until his junior season when he transferred to the Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.

The post player was a five-star recruit before making the decision to compete for the Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball team and the rest is history.

He shed light on some of his goals while working with the kids at the Jr NBA Clinic.

“Mainly just bringing the NBA here and showing them that it is a possible opportunity for everybody to showcase their talent and bring it to the United States. Knowing that there are women and males here there is a WNBA and NBA so it is just an opportunity for the kids to know that they can do it too.

“I told them to just get the butterflies out the way, come out here and try to represent yourself and also your country and just have the pride knowing you are from a small place but you can be somewhere big just

like where I am at. It is possible for anybody to do it,” he said.

The Jr NBA Clinic certainly made an impact on Zhyon Thompson and Zuri Hanna.

The former attends ISBET Bahamas and he found the experience to be very insightful.

“My experience here was very nice. I had the opportunity to meet new people

and learned a lot of new things. I enjoyed myself and saw an NBA player, NBA coach and executive. They told us all the things we are supposed to learn and do if we want to compete at a high level,” he said. It was a plus for the 15-year-old to brush up on some of his basketball skills.

“The new skills I picked up are footwork, ball-handling and a lot of shooting. To

sum it up, it was very exciting,” he added.

Hanna, who attends St John’s College, said Ayton educated the group about the NBA game and gave them good pointers.

“My experience here was very good. It was exciting because I got to learn new stuff and learned how to do them better than I was doing it. I got to work on my shooting skills, layups and my defence. I got to interact with people and it wasn’t too tiring. It was pretty exciting to come here,” she said. Ayton and national team are gearing up to compete in an Acropolis Tournament in Greece next week and then Bahamas will look to make sporting history at the 2024 FiBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament scheduled for July 2-7.

CHRIS DEMARCO PLEASED WITH WHAT HE SEES FROM THE PLAYERS AT HOUSTON TRAINING CAMP

of the coaching staff organised a very well attended camp. The talent in the gym has been exceptional.”

As they head off for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, scheduled for July 1-4 in Valencia, the team will travel to Greece to play in two exhibition games during the Greek Basketball Federation’s Acropolis Tournament June 25-27.

The Bahamas faces off against Montenegro first on June 26 and then the national team will take on the host country on June 27.

DeMarco said their task is now to trim the team down to the 12, but they will probably take at least 15 players from a list of players in the camp that include VJ Edgecombe, Donnie Freeman, AJ Storr, Deyton Albury, Sammy Hunter, Keino Burrows, Lourawls Nairn, Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon.

“Obviously, we know what’s at stake and the challenges ahead of us, but we want to make sure that we put the best 12 players available to us so that they can compete in the qualifier in Valencia,” he stressed.

Following the trip to Greece, DeMarco said the team will head to Valencia where they will continue their preparation to play against Poland and Finland in their pool competition at the Olympic qualifier.

“Our whole goal is building chemistry and be as prepared as possible

when the games count,” DeMarco said.

“Obviously, we think we can play with anybody. We proved that last summer. But there’s a lot of growth for us. We still have to build chemistry with this new team.

“We have to make sure we’re sharp defensively and offensively. We still have a lot to cover, but it was great to get everybody in the same place and for us to get together and to get to know each other.

“Now it’s time for us to get to that next step and get ready for Spain.”

Looking at the calibre of players in the camp, DeMarco said the players’ “toughness, our physicality and our versatility” will make a difference when they play their exhibition games before the tournament starts.

“The stakes are really higher now going into the tournament,” he said. “So we have to be prepared from all areas of the game.”

If there’s anything lacking, DeMarco said it would be the time they had to prepare the team, considering the fact that they have added some new faces to the team that won the preOlympic Qualifier last year in Argentina.

“You always want to be prepared as best as you can and experience does that,” he said. “But if there’s any concern, it would be our time together. That’s why it was so important for us to try and build our chemistry together this week.”

As an assistant coach with the Golden State

SHARPSHOOTER: Chavano “Buddy” Hield, of the Philadelphia 76ers, in action during the senior men’s national basketball team training camp in Houston, Texas, ahead of June’s Acropolis Tournament in Greece and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament set for July 2-7 in Valencia, Spain.

Warriors, DeMarco said he was glad that free agent Klay Thompson came along and made a contribution to the team in practice in Houston. “It was great to have Klay here. We all know how passionate he is sbout the Bahamas, although he won’t be able to play with us,” said Demarco of

Thompson, who won’t get a release from USA Basketball to play with the Bahamas team in the Qualifying Tournament. “It was good for him to be out there and working out with the team. I think the players also enjoyed the time he spent with us. “We wanted to have him

included in what we’re doing, so to have him there only elevated our practices.” DeMarco, however, said he has all of the confidence in the team and he’s convinced that they will go to Valencia and get the job done. If the team qualifies, they will become the first team sport for the Bahamas to compete in the Olympic Games. This year’s games are scheduled for July 27 to August 11 in Paris, France. The Bahamas is hoping to have representation in track and field, swimming and possibly boxing, along with basketball, if they qualify, for the Olympics.

THE Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF), in conjunction with the Jr National Basketball Association (NBA) programme, hosted a coaches and player development clinic on Friday at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.

Photo: Nikia Charlton

Photo: John-Marc Nutt/10th Year Seniors

Former pro boxer ‘Marvelous’

Marvin Smith gets sponsor for his Emancipation Day show

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

FORMER professional

boxer

“Marvelous” Marvin Smith said he’s gracious that his employers have agreed to step in and sponsor his Emancipation Day Boxing Show. Smith, who has been employed as a foreman for Enviroscape for the past 12 years, received a cheque from president Geno Kemp and vice president Nicolette Kemp-Johnson for his inaugural Emancipation Day Box Arama to be held on the Cynthia “Mother” Pratt Community Park at Fifth Street and Coconut Groove

on Monday, August 5, starting at 6pm.

“I’ve decided to give these young kids the exposure to compete because somebody did it for me when I was coming up as an amateur fighter,” Smith said. “Hopefully, the wayward kids in the area would see the positivity of what we are doing and would turn to something more productive and more positive.”

Smith, a former super middleweight contender, said he has gotten the approval from the Bahamas Boxing Federation, headed by president Vincent Strachan, and will be working directly with Valentino Knowles, the president of

the New Providence Boxing Association.

During the night, Smith said he will honour Mother Pratt, now the Governor General of the Bahamas, as well as Nathaniel ‘Nat’ Knowles, one of the Bahamas’ premier amateur boxers and former national team coaches, for his contribution to the sport.

“They are both products of the Grove and they continue to live in the Grove and make their impact in the community,” Smith said. “So we’re happy to be able to honour and recognise them for their contributions.”

Smith, who grew up in the Grove, said he remembers

how people gave him the opportunity to be seen and so he wanted to give back to the community.

“Hopefully, they would want to get into the ring and fight and not be out in the street fighting,” Smith said. “Sorry I took so long to do it, but what better place for me to do it than in the Grove where I grew up.

“It’s so ironic that the same park that I am doing it, I actually grew up there in the 1980s. So I know what it is to be in the community and to be able to give back to the place that played a role in my early development.”

Also during the show, Smith and fellow retired

Norbert Elliott retires

PAGE 11

many student-athletes during his years as both an assistant and head coach here at Purdue,” Bobinski said.

“The Purdue Athletics family would like to thank Norbert for his unwavering commitment to integrity, student-athlete success, and for the leadership he provided to our track & field and cross-country programmes over his tenure as a Boilermaker. We all wish him the very best in this next chapter.”

Elliott’s influence also includes a number of his athletes that went on to become coaches. Among them are a pair of Olympic champions, 19-time All-American Debbie Ferguson McKenzie, an assistant at Kentucky, and 110-metre hurdle world record-holder Aries Merritt, an assistant at Brown.

At Purdue, Elliott served as an assistant coach under fellow Bahamian Rolando “Lonnie” Greene, who has since moved on to become the head coach at the University of Kentucky.

Elliott arrived at Purdue in 2012 as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in 2015. Prior to being named head coach in 2018, Elliott primarily worked with the Boilermakers’ sprinters, hurdlers, horizontal jumpers and relay teams.

In Elliott’s 12 seasons, the Boilermaker women won a Big Ten title outdoors in 2017, just the third in programme history.

Since 2012-13, Elliott helped the men’s and women’s track & field teams to 11 top-four finishes indoors and outdoors and 19 topsix finishes.

The men’s cross-country team added five top-five finishes in six seasons with Elliott as head coach.

Elliott’s achievement nationally has pegged him as one of the top coaches in the nation after he got top team finishes with an eighth-place finish outdoors by the women in 2018, the best in team history.

The women also placed in the top-25 indoors in 2014 (T-19th), 2017 (T-14th) and 2018 (T-14th) and outdoors in 2015 (T-20th) and 2017 (T-21st). In 2016, the men were 13th and 15th indoors and outdoors, respectively, along with two more top-25 showings (T-15th, 2016 outdoors and T-18th, 2013 indoors).

Elliott also helped guide the men’s cross-country team to an 11th-place finish nationally in 2019, its best finish since 1950.

The Boilermakers won their first NCAA Regional title as Elliott was named the Great Lakes Region Men’s Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA, the first Purdue coach to earn the accolade since at least 1998.

A third consecutive NCAA berth for the crosscountry men followed in the 2020-21 season, a feat not achieved by Purdue since 1946-50. During his tenure, Elliott got to coach several

athletes to Big Ten Athletes of the Year honours, including Devynne Charlton, Jaret Carpenter and Raheem Mostert.

Charlton, an eight-time All-American and now a world record-holder in the 60-metre hurdles, was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year three times (indoors in 2017, outdoors in 2017 and 2018) and the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Championships four times (indoors in 2016 and 2017, outdoors in 2017 and 2018). Mostert, a four-time Big Ten champion in 2014, was the Big Ten Athlete of the Championship both indoors and outdoors in 2014.

Carpenter was named the 2019 Cross Country Athlete of the Year after he placed 10th overall at the national meet, Purdue’s top individual finish since 1949. Elliott was also partly responsible for having inked their names in Purdue’s record books with as many as 40 school records, several marks of which broke records that had stood for decades.

Countless more top-10 marks in school history were achieved in Elliott’s tenure leading the Old Gold and Black.

Prior to Purdue, Elliott was the head track & field and cross-country coach at Campbell in 2011-12, and he was an assistant coach at Tennessee for seven years before that and the head coach at Murray State for two years. His coaching career began in 1989 at UTEP,

and, after three years, Elliott went to Georgia, where he was an assistant for nine seasons before taking over at Murray State.

Elliott won conference titles at Purdue, Georgia and Tennessee. In addition, he was named the 2007 Mideast Assistant Sprints Coach of the Year.

In 2001, Elliott was selected as the head men’s team coach of the Bahamas at the World Championships in Canada. His athletes won world championships in the men’s 400m and women’s 200m, silver in the men’s 4x400 and bronze in the women’s 200m.

boxer Kenny Smith will put on another three round exhibition match, similar to what they did recently at the amateur boxing show that was staged at the National Boxing Center for the late Ray Minus Jr. Smith said he’s really appreciative of Enviroscape for throwing their financial support behind his initial venture.

“When I asked them to sponsor the event, they didn’t think twice,” he said.

“It just shows the level of respect that they have for me and how much they value me as an employee.

“Special thanks to Enviroscape for their tremendous support.”

Enviroscape, a member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, has over 30 years of expertise in landscape maintenance and landscape construction for residential and commercial properties in The Bahamas. Their notice on their website that states that “we look forward to working with you on your project” fits right into the game plan by Smith, one of their longtime employees.

“This is my first time venturing into something like this and they are supporting me wholeheartedly. Hopefully we can work out everything and it becomes a staple.

NEW YORK COMMISSION SUSPENDS GARCIA FOR

A

YEAR AND RULES HIS WIN OVER HANEY A NO-CONTEST

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer

RYAN Garcia was suspended for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission, which also ruled yesterday that his April 20 victory over Devin Haney would be considered a no-contest after he tested positive for performanceenhancing drugs.

The commission also said Garcia would have to forfeit the $1 million he made on the fight and pay a $10,000 fine.

Garcia would be eligible to fight again in New York state after April 20, 2025, if he passes a drug test, the commission ruled.

“The Commission will continue to hold athletes to the highest professional standards and protect the integrity of all sports under our jurisdiction,” NYSAC said in the statement.

Though the suspension applies only to fights in New York state, athletic commissions typically abide by rulings in other jurisdictions.

Garcia said several times on X, previously known as Twitter, before news of the suspension that he was retiring from boxing and later even posted that he wants to talk to UFC president

Dana White about joining that organisation.

“I really hope boxing good without me,” Garcia posted.

“I fought everyone and was willing to. They have turned there (sic) back on me. I’m innocent. I stand by that I don’t care what everyone says. Gun yo my head I say I didn’t take PED’s.” Garcia’s attorneys said in a statement he “was a victim of substance contamination” and that the boxer has repeatedly passed drug tests, even when not in training for a fight.

The statement said: “... he never intentionally took any banned substance. It’s simply not in his nature.”

ESPN previously reported that Garcia’s A-sample tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Ostarine the day before and the day of the bout with Haney, citing a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association letter. Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator, and its use can stimulate muscle growth.

It is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The results of the test weren’t known until later.

Garcia defeated Haney by majority decision in New York.

ENVIROSCAPE’s vice president Nicolette Kemp-Johnson and president Geno Kemp present Marvin Smith with a cheque for his Emancipation Day boxing show.

VALENTINO Knowles receives a cheque from Marvelous Marvin Smith for the Emancipation Day boxing show.

COACH Norbert Elliott embracing one of his Boilermaker athletes. PURDUE University Boilermaker coach Norbert Elliott.

SWIMMERS compete yesterday on day one of the Bahamas Aquatics’ 52nd Bahamas National

Record breakers take spotlight on first day

PAGE 11

breaststroke. I am going to try and qualify there.”

Jorge Murillo Waldes of Colombia was the winner of the 15-and-over 200m breaststroke, but like Efimova, his performance didn’t count in the medal count. But he said he was just delighted to be back in the Bahamas attempting to make the Olympic cut another time.

“I’m really happy to represent my country here. The first time I was here was in 2012 when I was looking to make the qualification for the London Olympics,” he said. “Now 2024, I’m looking for my cut for Paris.

“I’m really excited. I know this is a new pool. It feels really good, the water is good and the people here are so friendly, so I’m hoping that I can make the cut here, hopefully in the

100m breast. This event was to wake up my body for the competition here.”

Caden Wells of Mako was the declared winner of the event in 2:27.00

“I wanted to try something new, I didn’t go out as slow as I usually do,” he said. “Now I know it’s not the approach for the race for me, but overall I felt pretty good about the race.

“There were a lot of competitors and they pushed me. I really wanted a better time, but I’m satisfied with what I did.”

Marvin Johnson, competing in the boys 15-17 100m butterfly, touched the wall in 56.30 to lower his own Bahamas record of 56.69 that he set in 2023. His team-mates Asher Johnson and Ayrton Moncur were second and third in 58.28 and 58.62 respectively for the sweep.

Harold Simmons, also from Mako, won the boys’

11-12

50m backstroke in 30.56 to replace Davante Carey’s national record of 30.75 that he set in 2015. It was another Mako sweep as Sean NorvilleSmith was second in 32.94 and Kai Bastian got third in 33.86.

Emmanuel Gadson of the Barracuda’s clocked 2:16.54 in the boys 18-andover 200m breaststroke to replace the open record of 2:24.09 that Sam Williamson set in 2023.

Mark-Anthony Thompson lowered his Bahamas record of 2:31.26 from 2022 to 2:29.39 for second.

During the morning session to get the meet started, two long distance records were also set.

Sean Longley won the boys’ 18-and-over 800m freestyle in 9.31.18 to improve on his national record of 9:31.10. His Barracuda’s team-mate Msanan Bosland was second in

Photos by Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

10:33.88 and Latrell Brooks of the Blue Waves was third in 10:37.88.

Siann Isaacs of Alpha got the other national record in the girls’ 13-14 1,500m freestyle in 19:39.68. Lelah Lewis of the Barracuda’s was second in 19:58.00 and DF McKenzie of Mako was third in 20:13.98.

At the end of the night with the 4 x 200m relays added, Mako Aquatic surged out front in defence of their title with 629 points.

The Barracuda was second with 369 and Alpha Aquatics was third with 283. The Blue Waves were fourth with 244 and the Black Marlins rounded out the top five with 140.

The meet will continue with day two today at 9am when the third session gets underway. The fourth session will follow at 6pm.

The meet will continue at the same times on Saturday and Sunday.

COLINA Financial Advisors Ltd. (CFAL) continues its steadfast support for youth athletics, donating $5,000 to the Bahamas Aquatics Federation’s 52nd National Swimming Championships.

This premier event, taking place at the Betty Kelly-Kenning National Swim Complex from June 20-23, will see nearly 500 swimmers compete in the season’s final swim meet, which also serves as the last qualifier for the Paris Olympics.

Algernon Cargill, president of the Bahamas Aquatics Federation, expressed deep appreciation for CFAL’s ongoing support.

“We are very grateful to CFAL for its continued support of Bahamas Aquatics. Corporate sponsors tend to move more to track and field, but swimming is a sport that has really done the most. We are the only federation to win CARIFTA for six consecutive years in The Bahamas and in the region,” he said.

Cargill emphasized the impact of swimming on the academic development of

young athletes, noting that more than 150 swimmers with GPAs of 3.5 and above will be honored this year.

“The support from corporate Bahamas goes a long way. It shows the commitment, and it shows that when the swimmers work hard, they will be rewarded through the support of corporate Bahamas,” he said.

CFAL’s latest donation follows a similar contribution to the 2024 CARIFTA Swimming Championships held in April. Pamela Ferguson, Vice President of Investments at CFAL, highlighted the company’s dedication to community and nationbuilding through supporting youth sports.

“I think sports are such a valuable tool to aid in the development of our youth. I fell in love with swimming a few years ago when I had some family members who were competing, and I continue to love and support the sport,” she said.

“Swimming provides so many opportunities for our young people to travel the world for meets, and gain access to scholarship opportunities. Swimming helps to build their lives and in turn help to build the lives of others.”

CFAL’s contribution underscores its commitment to fostering youth development and athletic excellence in The Bahamas.

Swimming Championships at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

Rhema Otabor makes semifinals

cut for the Bowerman Award

FROM PAGE 11

24-year-old javelin throw national record, said she was honoured to have her tremendous collegiate season recognised in this way. “I think it’s great news. I am just very grateful to be recognised as one of the semifinalists for such a prestigious award.

“I think it is definitely an honour and gives me a lot of pride to know that the work that I was able to produce this season was recgonised at such a level to the point of me being pointed out as one of the potential best competitors in this 2024 collegiate season. I am definitely happy about that,” the two-time NCAA javelin champion said.

It is no surprise that the 21-year-old is in contention for the Bowerman trophy, considering the accolades she has racked up this collegiate season for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The national champion of the women’s javelin opened her season with a first-place finish at the Jim Click Shootout & Multis in Tucson, Arizona in early April. She pulled off a

winning heave of 58.47m which was her third best throw of the season to date.

The top javelin thrower had a strong season opener for Nebraska but that does not compare to her brilliant performance at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships which took place this month in Eugene, Oregon.

Otabor turned in a massive personal best toss of 64.19m which was good for a new national, collegiate, meet and school record. Additionally, she retained her NCAA DI javelin crown and qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Making it to the shortlist of semifinalists in the conversation for the Bowerman Award cements the javelin maestra as Nebraska’s first semifinalist in the history of the school’s track and field programme.

“I didn’t realise that I was the first semifinalist in Nebraska’s programme history so it makes the moment extra special. I am very appreciative and, like I said before, it’s a huge honour and I am glad I was able to represent Nebraska well,” the women’s javelin national record holder said.

programme, has a long list of achievements, including consecutive Big Ten

FROM PAGE 11

It’s crucial for coaches and parents to ensure athletes have proper clothing to stay warm and dry.

2. Injuries from Slippery Conditions: Rain-soaked fields and courts become slippery, increasing the risk of falls and injuries. A study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine highlighted that wet conditions significantly raise the incidence of ligament injuries, particularly in sports like soccer and football. Ensuring proper footwear and monitoring the field conditions can mitigate these risks.

3. Skin Infections: Wet conditions can lead to skin infections such as athlete’s foot and other fungal infections. Keeping the skin dry and clean, and changing out of wet clothing promptly after play, can help prevent these conditions.

The Benefits of Rainy Play

Despite the potential risks, playing in the rain isn’t without its benefits. Rain can cool down the playing environment, which might be a relief during our typically hot Bahamian days. It can also provide a unique and enjoyable experience for athletes, fostering resilience and adaptability.

Recommendations for Safe Play

1. Appropriate Clothing: Ensure athletes wear moisture-wicking fabrics that keep them dry. Layers can help maintain body heat, and waterproof gear can protect against wind and rain.

2. Footwear: Invest in cleats or shoes designed for

wet conditions to reduce the risk of slips and falls.

3. Monitoring Weather Conditions: Coaches and camp organizers should closely monitor weather forecasts and have a plan in place for severe weather. Lightning, in particular, poses a significant risk and should prompt immediate cessation of outdoor activities.

4. Warm-Up and CoolDown: A proper warm-up can prepare the body for exertion in cold conditions, while a cool-down can help prevent muscle stiffness post-activity.

5. Hygiene Practices: Encourage athletes to change out of wet clothing immediately after playing and to dry off thoroughly. Keeping gear dry and clean is also essential to prevent infections.

Conclusion

Playing sports in the rain can be a safe and enriching experience when appropriate precautions are taken. While the rain itself won’t cause illnesses, the associated conditions can increase health risks. By understanding and mitigating these risks, athletes can enjoy their sports safely, even in wet weather.

In our Bahamian rainy season, let’s ensure our young athletes are wellprepared and informed. Remember, with the right gear and a bit of vigilance, playing in the rain can be a refreshing and exhilarating part of the sporting experience. So, is it okay to play in the rain? With the right precautions, the answer is yes.

Dr. Kent Bazard, a sports medicine physician

Bazard provides insights.

Championships, 2024 Midwest Region Women’s Field Athlete of the Year, 2023 Pan American Games silver medallist and three-time All American honours.

Next week Monday, three women and men will be announced as the finalists for the Bowerman Award. The winners will be announced on December 19 at the USTFCCCA Convention in Orlando, Florida. Otabor will look to defend her national javelin title at the BAAAs Kid Athletics, Junior and Senior Track and Field Nationals. The latter event is slated for June 26-28.

PAGE 11

CLERGY VS POLITICIANS

AS a part of the annual Peace ON Da Streets Basketball Classic, organisers will once again stage the showdown between members of the Clergy against the Members of Parliament.

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

JOHNSON’S BASKETBALL CAMP

GET ready for the annual Coach Kevin Johnson’s Basketball Camp 2024.

Coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson has announced that his camp will run from June 24 to July 12 at the CI Gibson Secondary High School and will run daily from 9am to 1pm.

Campers will get a chance to play and learn

the fundamentals of the game of basketball from professional instructors. Interested persons can sign up by contacting coach Johnson at 636-9350 or email: coachkjjohnson@ gmail.com

BASKETBALL

NEX-GEN THE third annual Nex-Gen Elite Training Basketball Camp, hosted by JR Basketball Academy, is all set for June 24 to July 13 from 9am to noon at the Telios Indoor Gymnasium on Carmichael Road.

The camp, powered by Frazier’s Roofing, will provide training for game situations, shooting, passibng, ball handling, defense and footwork for boys and girls between the ages of 8-19 years.

Registration is now open. Interested persons can contact Cadot at 535-9354, email jrcbasketballacademy.com or go online to www.jrcbasketballacademy. com

at Empire Sports Medicine, specializes in ensuring athletes reach their peak performance safely. With

extensive experience and a passion for sports health, Dr.

The gifted javelin thrower, who is a product of the Blue Chip Athletics

RHEMA OTABOR, top right, getting ready to throw the javelin at the NCAA Championships.