06222023 NEWS AND SPORT

Classically Delicious Big Mac!

HIGH 90ºF

LOW 80ºF

McGriddles

OBITUARIES Biggest And Best!

The Tribune

Sweet

& Savory Mornings

Missing sub’s link to bahaMas

Company tested vessel in nation’s waters and partnered with university

By LETRE SwEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

AS rescue efforts continued for five people missing in a submersible expedition running out of air after descending to the sunken Titanic, details emerged of the company behind the expedition’s links to The Bahamas - including a similar trip offered in our waters.

Insight into OceanGate and its Bahamian links comes as the search for

five people who went missing in a Titan submersible headed for the Titanic’s wreckage has captivated global audiences. Up to press time, the vessel had still not been found, dimming hopes that survivors would be rescued.

The company features its partners on its website - including the University of The Bahamas - while the website also advertises four expeditions: the Titanic Expedition, an Azores Expedition, a

SEE page eight

Rahming calls foR gun amnesty to Reduce violence on st Reets

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A TWO-WEEK gun amnesty is to be called for by Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander to help reduce gun violence in the country.

State Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said it is time to

COP pleads with court: We need to get it right

“give it up and bring it in” as she announced the planned initiative yesterday, saying Commissioner Fernander would seek a declaration for the amnesty programme from Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.

Ms Rahming said the initiative is part of the Urban Renewal and Royal

SEE page three

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

AFTER an 83-year-old woman was reportedly sexually assaulted in her home by a teenager out on bail, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander has pleaded with the court system to “get it right”.

The sex attack on the 83-year-old is the latest

incident amid a wave of concern about escalating sexual assault attacks. Commissioner Fernander said yesterday that “we have to protect our women”.

Police said the victim was at her home on Market Street when a man beat and assaulted her. Police arrested a 19-year-old suspect around 7.30pm on Monday in the Soldier

SEE page three

the titan submersible being towed out to sea from Little Harbour, Abaco, during the testing phase of the craft (main picture) which has vanished in the North Atlantic while taking five people down to the wreck of the Titanic.

Woman accused of stabbing lover granted $5,000 bail

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN has been accused of stabbing her lover multiple times at her home.

The incident reportedly took place at the woman’s house on Sunday night.

Rachel Johnson, 22, reportedly got into an argument with Shadrack Gibson at around 1:30am

on January 19 at her residence in Cambridge Street. After things escalated, Johnson allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed Gibson multiple times about the body.

The victim sustained serious injuries, but was successfully treated in hospital. Johnson was yesterday charged with causing grievous harm as she appeared

before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans.

After pleading not guilty, Ms Johnson’s bail was set at $5,000 with one or two sureties. Under the conditions of her bail, she is

expected to sign in at the Nassau Street Police Station on the last Sunday of every month. The trial is due to begin on October 4.

Road ClosuRes and diveRsions foR PoliCe foRCe Passing

out Pa R ade today

POLICE have announced a number of temporary road closures as well as traffic diversions for Thursday.

The closures and divisions are to facilitate the Royal Bahamas Police Force hosting its graduation ceremony and passing out parade.

The graduation, which is open to the public, commences at 6pm and will be held in Rawson Square.

Bay Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic between 4pm and 9pm.

The following roads also will be closed: West Bay Street between Nassau Street and Navy Lyon Road; Cumberland Street between Duke Street and Marlborough Street; Woodes Rodgers Walk between Charlotte and East Streets; Charlotte Street between Bay and Shirley Streets; Bank Lane between Bay and Shirley Streets; East Street between Bay and Shirley Streets.

Traffic travelling east on West Bay Street will be diverted south on

Nassau Street; Traffic travelling west on Duke Street will only be permitted to travel west onto West Hill Street; No vehicles will be allowed to travel north on Cumberland Street; Traffic travelling north on East Street will be diverted west on Shirley Street. No vehicles will be allowed to travel west and east along Woodes Rodgers Walk between Charlotte Street and East Street. Local traffic in the affected areas will be diverted out of the area. Parking will not be permitted between 1am and 9pm on: Bay Street between Navy Lyon Road and East Street both sides; Parliament Street between Woodes Rodgers Walk and Shirley Street; Woodes Rodgers Walk between Charlotte Street and East Street. Between 5pm and 9pm today, Bay Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic to facilitate the dress rehearsal for the graduation ceremony and passing out parade.

Rahming calls for gun amnesty to reduce violence on streets

Bahamas Police Force’s “Say No To Guns” campaign, which she said will be launched shortly.

She said people who surrender illegal firearms will not be prosecuted. However, she added they will also not be rewarded.

“Gun violence has been endemic and remains a pervasive issue in some of our communities for too long,” Ms Rahming said during her contribution to the Budget debate in Parliament yesterday. “We cannot let another young person be gunned down and just step over their body or create a video and circulate it around to social media.

“It’s not enough to just blame the Minister of National Security and the security forces. We really must join forces to do something that says enough is enough.”

She said Urban Renewal will be sharing flyers and organising community walkabouts and campaign rallies to encourage people to join in the effort.

Ms Rahming pointed to recent crime statistics which she said show 168 firearms were recovered so far for the year.

5,339 rounds of ammunition have also been recovered, she added, while 243 adults have been charged for firearm possession. “The commissioner of police will be seeking a declaration for a two-week gun amnesty by our honourable Prime Minister, which will give persons in possession of illegal firearms the opportunity to surrender these weapons without jeopardy and prosecution,” she said.

“Let me make it clear, there will be no reward for money to surrender any illegal firearm. You will not be paid. The stark reality is that there may be some of us who may have inherited a firearm from a husband, grandfather, or uncle who may have had it locked in a safe and just paid no attention to it.

“We say time to give it up and bring it in.”

She issued the same plea to people who have firearms just to protect themselves.

“We are only providing an opportunity for them to surrender the firearm because we believe if just one weapon is taken off the streets, that reduces the chances of that being used in criminality.”

She said National Security Minister Wayne

Munroe and Commissioner Fernander will give more details about the programme. News of the initiative comes as the country grapples with a recent spate of murders, with three murders recorded in the past

five days.

Yesterday, Ms Rahming also announced plans to launch a Second Chance programme, an initiative meant to help people who served time in prison enter the jobs market.

“The overarching goal

is to equip formerly incarcerated males with the view of rehabilitating them and giving them a second chance of being a productive member of society,” she said.

“The participants will enroll in a six-month

programme that focuses on healing just as much as it focuses on developing work readiness skills.”

She said the programme will consist of in-class academic studies, on-the-job training and apprenticeship.

COP Pleads with COurt: w e need tO get it right

from page one

Road area concerning the matter.

Commissioner Fernander confirmed yesterday the suspect is being electronically monitored and is on bail for a similar offence. The suspect is also being questioned in connection with a separate sexual assault incident.

“We continue to say that the culprits who continue, it’s like a revolving door,” Commissioner Fernander said yesterday.

“This is an individual who should not have been on bail because he went back to his old ways. I’m pleading for the system, we need to get it right because it’s the same revolving door.

“You see the same individuals continue to offend. My heart is heavy today for the elderly lady, all of the victims - all of the victims.”

He said all victims will be provided with counselling in an effort to provide assistance.

He said: “I have instructed the Victim Support Unit to reach out to the family of the victim. She has seen doctors and has been released and is resting comfortably at home. She needs some counselling and we are going to take the lead in doing just

t wenty- One fOreigners arrested with $750k Of COC aine

TWENTY-one people were arrested and 39 kilos of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of $750,000 was seized on Tuesday.

The arrest was a collaborative effort between the Police Marine Unit,

DEU, the DEA, OPBAT and the K-9 Unit. Police said that shortly before 10pm on Tuesday, officers from the Police Marine Unit, while on routine patrol, acted on intelligence and intercepted a white 30ft vessel.

On examination of the Bahamian-registered vessel, officers discovered 18 foreign nationals and three Bahamian males. Twelve of the foreign nationals are females and six are males. Eleven females are

Ecuadorians, and one is a Chinese national. Four males are Ecuadorians and two are Chinese nationals. The foreign nationals were handed over to the Bahamas Department of Immigration.

that, with the 83-year-old and other victims as well.

“We have our Victim Support Unit who continue to stay in contact with victims themselves, so I feel in my heart is heavy for that elderly lady and our prayers are with her and the families at this time.

“We have to protect our women and the Royal Bahamas Police Force is up to the task to do just that. If an

incident occurred, we will go all out in bringing closure. So, we are just pleading to the courts, the system, swift justice for that individual and the other matters which we know are pending.”

Earlier this month, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe revealed there has been a 64 percent increase in rape offences in New Providence.

A TWO-WEEK gun amnesty is to be called for by Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander to help reduce gun violence in the country. State Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said it is time to “give it up and bring it in” as she announced the planned initiative yesterday.

Photo: Austin Fernander

AFTER an 83-year-old woman was reportedly sexually assaulted in her home by a teenager out on bail, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander has pleaded with the court system to “get it right”.

Photo: Moise Amisial

Road Traffic to implement automated vehicle inspection system

By Leandra roLLe Tribune Staff reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Road Traffic Department will soon use an automated system to inspect vehicles to ensure cars are roadworthy, according to Transport Minister JoBeth ColebyDavis yesterday.

Mrs Coleby-Davis said inspectors will no longer inspect cars manually once the system is up and running.

She said the new inspection regime is a part of her department’s efforts to crack down on the high number of traffic fatalities in the country.

“In support of a stronger vehicle inspection regime,” she said, “the department intends to move from a manual inspection process to an automated system and digital-aided approach that will include testing of brakes, suspension and shock systems, wheel alignment and light intensity.”

“The new inspection regime will not inconvenience or prohibit vehicles from being on the road, rather the process is a new process that will be designed to ensure that our

vehicles are safe and they are roadworthy.”

She said the national road safety committee will lead efforts to reduce road deaths.

“Road safety will continue to be a key focus of the department,” she said.

Mrs Coleby-Davis also noted improvements are on the way for the jitney industry. Regarding the taxi industry, she said increases in taxi fares are on the way.

“It was under the last PLP administration that taxi

fares were increased, and it is the PLP again that is raising the fare,” she added.

“By the end of September 2023, a code of conduct for all public service drivers and franchise owners will be in place. Breaches to the code will be subject

"By the end of September 2023, a code of conduct for all public service drivers and franchise owners will be in place. Breaches to the code will be subject to a hearing and action by the Tribunal. A special app will also be launched very soon for members of the public to provide feedback on drivers."

- Transport Minister

JoBeth Coleby-Davis

to a hearing and action by the Tribunal. A special app will also be launched very soon for members of the public to provide feedback on drivers.”

Mrs Coleby-Davis spoke about the upcoming reforms during her

contribution to the budget debate yesterday.

According to the minister, the road traffic department is projected to earn more than $56m in the 2023/23 budget period.

Gov’t appeals for collaboration on home repairs programme

By Leandra roLLe Tribune Staff reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government has repaired some 380 homes since the relaunch of its Small Home Repair Programme last year, State Minister for Social Services Lisa Rahming said yesterday.

Ms Rahming said in the House of Assembly: “The government’s small home repair programme meets a critical need for addressing housing concerns of many of our less fortunate citizens. Additionally, this programme has provided jobs and financial benefits by hundreds of small contractors, skilled persons and labourers.”

She said the number of people seeking small repairs to their homes continues to grow.

However, she said not all of them will be assisted due to funding restraints.

“We are cognizant of the fact we will never have sufficient funds to meet the needs of all homeowners who make applications for assistance. Taking into consideration the hurricane season which is upon us and the many persons who are in dire need of home repair, the Honourable Minister Wilchcombe - the

great member of West End and Bimini - in early May of this year conceived a brilliant idea to expedite the process.

“And so, I can say this new approach is dubbed the accelerated small home repairs programme. No more screaming for mobilisation. I ain’t got to worry about those voice notes no more. No more carrying on that I need my mobilisation money. We have now went in talks and have negotiated with Kelly’s Lumber Yard, FYP and 21st Century.”

The Senior Pastor's duties and responsibilities include but are not limited too: preaching and teaching the Word of God, weekly Bible study, and spiritual and administrative leadership.

We desire a candidate who is called and chosen by God to lead the membership of New Bethany Baptist Church and is a humble servant of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Interested applicants should send an email to newbethany1965@gmail.com for further details and information required.

Deadline for applicants is July 14th, 2023.

She said home materials can be collected at those businesses once approval has been given by the ministry.

She said contractors are paid a fixed fee of $2,000 to complete the homes within two weeks.

“We have seen it worked,” she added. “I mean I have seen the programme accelerated. We can actually have three or four homes going one time in one area and so we’re asking our good contractors to be patient with us. We know that the $15,000 and the $16,000 and all of that sounds good but we’re asking you to keep the Bahamian people in mind.”

Ms Rahming said the programme’s main goal is to assist the elderly, single-parent families and low-income homeowners.

She also appealed to those applicants who’ve been approved for home repairs to be patient, saying: “We coming.”

The estimated budget for the small home repair programme is $2.1m, according to Ms Rahming.

She added: “I wish to re-emphasise that the government will never be able to repair everyone’s home. To me, this requires a more collaborative approach between the government working in partnership with the church, civic groups such as the Rotary and the Kiwanis Club.

“Private sectors and community leaders, I’m asking you to step forward and help us.”

Minister of transport Jobeth Coleby-Davis

ConstruCtion workers repairing a roof

lisa rahMing

Pintard questions Govt’s handling of cruise tax increase

By EaryEl BowlEg Tribune Staff reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION leader

Michael Pintard yesterday questioned whether the government gave cruise ship companies time to make the adjustment for the new passenger tax increases. He said cruise lines will need consultation on a period of time so that they can advise their customers.

The Passenger Tax (Amendment) Bill would

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

The legislation says the amendments would take effect on July 1, 2023, the start of the new fiscal year. Another new fee –– a tourism enhancement levy of $2 for passengers arriving or leaving the country –– would take effect on January 1, 2024.

Mr Pintard said the

Jamaal Rolle named a mbassadoR and delgate to UnesCo

Opposition do not have a problem with the cruise passengers paying more, but wondered if the government examined whether or not after looking at best practices in all jurisdictions if this was an appropriate decision.

“Did you give them time to make the adjustment because at the end of the day let me say that whenever you impose a tax on, in this case the cruise ship, those persons who are coming in the short to medium term have already paid. So you’re asking the

cruise ships to absorb the costs.

“Now one of the reasons I believe, you know, again, I like the idea when cruise ships pay a little bit more because I know in our waters, there have been some acts that have been carried out that have been concerning and worrisome but we also believe it is important that we look at the process that we’re using in case we are unleashing unintended consequences.” He added: “If this comes into force when it

is projected to come into force, we’re asking them really to eat the cost. And I trust that the government has taken a look at this. I trust that they’ve been advised properly by the former Minister of Tourism for West End and Bimini on all the implications of the decision that they have been considering.”

The Tribune reported earlier this week cruise lines are pushing the Davis administration to postpone the implementation of new passenger tax increases,

arguing they were not notified early enough to prepare for the rise.

Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy was reported in Travel Weekly as saying: “There’s a lot of development happening in The Bahamas, and we’re working with the officials in The Bahamas to see if at least, can it get pushed out?” She added: “Look at resort taxes and resort fees. I don’t want to say people have gotten used to it, but it has been piling on.”

JAMAAL Rolle, the Celebrity Artist and former Tribune cartoonist, has been named the ambassador and permanent delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Mr Rolle’s announcement, which took effect from May 1, was announced by Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training Glenys Hanna Martin.

UNESCO works to ensure every child and every citizen has access to quality education. Mr Rolle succeeds Hope Strachan in the role.

Mr Rolle has previously been operating as Ambassador-at-Large for Cultural Affairs. His artwork has also drawn him worldwide praise, and his portraits include famous figures such as US President Barack Obama, Pope Francis, Oprah Winfrey, Sir Sidney Poitier and many more.

Jamaal Rolle

PRePaRations for the 50th Indpendence Day celebrations are underway as crews construct, build and put together all the pieces for the July 10 bash.

Photo: moise amisial

oPPosition leader Michael Pintard yesterday questioned whether the government gave cruise ship companies time to make the adjustment for the new passenger tax increases.

The Tribune Limited

World leaders, activists in Paris seek financial response to climate emergency, poverty

WORLD leaders, heads of international organizations and activists are gathering in Paris for a two-day summit aimed at seeking better responses to tackle poverty and climate change issues by reshaping the global financial system.

Developing nations point to an outdated system where the United States, Europe, China and other big economies that have caused most climate damage are leaving the poorest countries to deal with the consequences.

The Paris talks also come as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and a global debt crisis have led to a drop in life expectancy and an increase in poverty in most countries around the world, the United Nations Development Program reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who organized the summit, said the fight against poverty, efforts to curb global warming and the protection of biodiversity “are closely intertwined. We therefore need to agree together on the best means to address these challenges in the poor and emerging countries.”

The Paris summit comes in the wake of a plan championed by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley to ease access to financing for climate-vulnerable countries. Mottley and other proponents have argued that developing countries are forced to pay such high interest rates that they struggle to finance adaptation projects, like sea walls, or green energy initiatives, like large solar farms, or simply make payments on outstanding loans when climate-infused disasters strike.

Activists fear the talks won’t meet expectations.

“The current financial system does not just need a bandage, it needs an intensive surgical intervention,” said harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International.

“There are some good ideas on the table,” he noted, “but I must mention that they don’t really go far enough.”

The Paris summit has no mandate to make formal decisions, French organizers stressed, but it aims at giving a strong political impetus to key issues to be discussed in upcoming climate conferences and other international meetings.

“We demand cancellation of debt. We demand public finance for climate action, particularly adaptation. And addressing the loss and damage,” Singh said, referring to the issue of polluters paying for their climate impacts.

Climate activists and developing nations also urge rich countries to deliver on their existing commitments.

Experts are expected to announce Thursday that the pledge to provide poor nations with $100 billion in aid each year to tackle global change is estimated to be met for the first time this year. First made in 2009 and reaffirmed at the 2015 Paris climate summit, the promise had never been fulfilled

Amid key topics to be discussed are changes needed in the way the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are lending and granting money to the most vulnerable countries. Both institutions have been criticized for not factoring climate change into lending decisions and being dominated by wealthy countries like the U.S.

Summit participants are expected to back a tax on the greenhouse gas emissions produced from international shipping, with the aim to enable its adoption at a July meeting of the International Maritime Organization.

To bring more money in, activists are pushing for a tax on the fossil fuel industry and another one on financial transactions — two proposals that appear to have little support from wealthier nations.

Debt restructuring and cancellation are also to be debated, as a growing number of countries are struggling with unsustainable debt aggravated by climate change issues.

Participants are to discuss a debt suspension clause for countries hit by extreme climatic events. Yet it would have no impact on existing debt, activists note.

Cécile Duflot, Oxfam France general director, said there’s a “historic, political responsibility” from wealthy nations and a “duty of solidarity” towards poorest countries. “We advocate for radical measures … because they are the only ones that are in line with the extent of the problem,” she said.

Climate activists staged a demonstration Wednesday near the Eiffel Tower with a banner saying “End fossil finance” and “Make polluters pay.”

Filipino climate justice activist Mitzi Jonelle Tan said “my country is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world and we are experiencing this climate impact every single day. And yet we are expected, our generation and our countries, to go into debt … because most of climate finance is in the form of loans. We are saying: enough!”

Forty heads of state and government are slated to attend the summit, many from poor and climate-vulnerable nations. Only two are members of the Group of Seven most developed countries — Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The U.S. is represented by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and climate envoy John kerry.

Attendees include China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, World Bank head Ajay Banga and IMF President kristalina Georgieva.

Climate activists Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate also are set to attend.

By SYLVIE CORBET Associated Press

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ThANk you for allowing me to make a comment on the continuing discussion about the alleged need for the criminalisation of marital rape by the Parliament of The Bahamas.

I may be mistaken but I do believe that in 1991 when the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act (Ch.99) (”the Act”) which was passed by the Parliament of The Bahamas, they were doing so in fulfilment of their commitment under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which had come into force on September 3, 1981. The Act was assented to by the Governor-General on July 29, 1991 and came into force on August 2nd, 1991.

I say that because I used to be in the Department of Legal Affairs and at the time when the Act was enacted by Parliament, I was serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court hearing criminal and civil matters

including matrimonial cases and I seem to have a recollection of the discussion in the house of Assembly as to why it was necessary to change the law from what it had been to what was then enacted.

In particular, I recall that a new provision that did not exist in any previous law in this country was section 15. That section reads as follows:

15. (1) Any person who has sexual intercourse with his spouse without the consent of the spouse —

(a) Where there is in existence in relation to them —

(i) a decree nisi of divorce;

(ii) a decree of judicial separation;

(iii) a separation agreement;

(iv) an order of a court for the person not to molest or co-habit with his spouse,

or any other order made under Part ii; or

(b) where the person has notice that a petition for judicial separation, divorce or nullity of marriage has been presented to a court,is guilty of the offence of sexual assault by a spouse and liable to imprisonment for a term of fifteen years.

(2) No prosecution of a person under the age of twenty-one years shall be commenced for an offence under this section without the consent of the Attorney-General”.

Madam Editor, do you think that may in fact be a criminalisation of marital rape seeing that under our law a marriage in fact continues in law until a death or a decree absolute of divorce is granted by the Supreme Court?

“For what it is worth” as the late P Anthony White used to say.

JOAN A SAWYER The Right Honourable Dame Joan A. Sawyer, DBE Nassau, June 19, 2023.

Demand to criminalise marital rape Derelict govt buildings are a travesty

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN ThIS our 50th year of independence, when emphasis is placed on patriotism, pride, culture, cleanliness, and the like, I feel compelled to register my displeasure with regard to the dilapidated state of a few public buildings. Now I fully expect some persons to suit up in their partisan political armor and view this letter through a jaundice eye, but I am a nationalist with no political agenda.

The previous Minnisled administration paid no attention to any of the buildings to which I am about to refer, and so far, this Davis led administration seems well on its way of doing the same -nothing - unless something changes in the in term.

The Rodney Bain building sits in the centre of downtown. It is less than two hundred meters - as the crow flies - from our new cruise port. It is a stone’s

throw from our parliament.

Our politicians parade by over and repeatedly, riding in cars with heavily tinted windows that are seemingly stuck in the lock and upright position - to borrow a phrase from the airline industry, yet they pretend not to see it.

The building at the western end of Goodman’s Bay is another display of willful neglect. This is an affront to common decency and offends the sensibilities of Bahamians and visitors who frequently use the Cable Beach corridor. It sits in limbo, undisturbed, and continues to rot like a carcass in the Saharan desert. No one seems concerned about the lasting impressions it has on our visitors. Am I missing something here?

Does anyone in the public domain know who owns the property immediately south of A F Adderley School which once housed the former City Market food store? Whether it is publicly

owned or whether it is owned by some “muckety mucks” with political connections - the latter seems more likely - it is not aesthetically pleasing, to say the least. It looks bad. This level of deterioration and neglect is unconscionable. These abandoned buildings yawn for immediate and serious attention in one form or another. They should be restored to their former glory or be demolished. Our government must lead the way in demonstrating a keen sense of pride in ownership amongst our people. Apathy and paralysis must be replaced by sheer willpower and a bold intervening spirit. Our words must match our actions, otherwise, our messages and pronouncements would ring hallow or simply fall flat. Truth is oxygen for democracy.

With temperatures setting a new record of 108 degrees in Abilene, Texas yesterday, Aloys Baribeshya stood beneath one of the water spouts at the Nelson Park Splash Pad to cool off.

Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter/AP

GB Police arrest man with Gun, other susPect esca Pes

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A 28-yEAR-oLD man was arrested in connection with the discovery of an illegal firearm and a large quantity of ammunition in the Lucaya area early this week.

Police are searching for a second suspect who escaped following a struggle with arresting officers.

According to reports, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department, acting on a tip, went to a

business establishment on King’s Road, off Midshipman Road.

The officers searched a silver-coloured Chevy Malibu occupied by two males and found a handgun with an extended magazine and more than 70 rounds of ammunition.

It was reported that during the arrest of the suspects, there was a struggle and one of the suspects escaped.

Police are aggressively searching for the second suspect.

Sharing national pride; Janaees donates 50th Independence shirts to kids in Children’s homes

CHILDREN from children’s homes in New Providence are able to join in Independence celebrations thanks to a manager at Janaees.

m

an who ra P ed and tried to drown woman Gets sentence reduced

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN, convicted of raping and attempting to drown a woman at Potter’s Cay Dock in 2019, has had his ten-year prison sentence reduced by the Appeals Court.

Elcharrico Sherman is said to have accused a woman of stealing his drugs at Potter’s Cay on the night of November 11, 2019. After attacking the woman, he proceeded to rape her and then threw her into the water naked in an attempt to drown her.

The victim managed to survive by clinging to a

nearby boat for five hours before being rescued.

Sherman made his appeal before Justices Jon Isaacs, Maureen Crane-Scott and Milton Evans.

Upon review of Sherman’s submissions, Justice Isaacs found that the judge who convicted Sherman failed to adequately address the time the convict spent on remand.

For that reason, the two years, 11 months and 22 days Sherman spent in prison prior to his sentencing will be deducted from his overall prison term.

A new certificate of conviction will be prepared to reflect the court’s decision

Martha Wallace, manager of Janaees Uniform Centre on Chesapeake Road, has provided all the children from two children’s homes with 50th Independence Anniversary T-shirts. She paid a visit to the homes, speaking to administrators as well as children.

“I got to meet the children and I chatted with them under a big tamarind tree,” Mrs Wallace said, “They were truly happy.”

The shirts she gifted to them were emblazoned with the Bahamas 50th Independence Anniversary logos.

She encourages public and private institutions in The Bahamas to show a gesture of love to those who may need the attention most during this time of celebrations so that every single Bahamian can feel a part. By letting your fellow citizens know how important they are, she said, the nation grows stronger.

m

an fined $2,000 for failinG to charGe monitorinG device

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on bail for murder has been fined $2,000 for failing to charge his electronic monitoring device.

Charles Whyms, 30, was yesterday charged with four counts of violation of bail conditions before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

This bail was granted by the Supreme Court after he was accused of the murder of omar Dorsette on December 27, 2017.

Whyms was previously charged with similar bail violations last September.

Between June 5 and 15, Whyms failed to charge his EMD on four occasions.

After pleading guilty, Whyms was fined $2,000 which he must pay or risk a six-month prison term. The

accused was also placed on 18 months probation. If he defaults, he faces a ninemonth prison term.

• A woman was granted bail after being accused of stealing two scooters together valued at $4,200.

Dominique Rolle, 36, was charged with stealing and receiving before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis yesterday.

Rolle is alleged to have stolen two 2013 Cross Trade yamaha Scooters, one blue and one red, white and black, belonging to Dario Williams on June 2.

After pleading not guilty, Rolle was granted $1,500 bail. She is expected to sign in at Elizabeth Estates police station every Tuesday and Thursday by 6pm. The trial is due to begin on August 9.

Martha Wallace of Janaees Uniform Centre gave Independence shirts to children in children’s homes in Nassau to help spark Bahamian pride

Missing sub’s link to The Bahamas

Bespoke Expedition and The Bahamas Expedition.

“Dive the Great Bahama Bank to depths far beyond the reach of scuba to research sharks, whales, shipwrecks, and deep marine biology,” the website says.

“The ‘Tongue of the Ocean’ is a deep-water basin that is surrounded by the Great Bahama Bank. Its deep blue waters are home to an abundance of fascinating sea creatures like Cuvier’s beaked whales, deep-dwelling sharks, and several historic shipwrecks.”

The cost of the experience is $45,000, covering one submersible dive, expedition gear, dive training,

meals onboard the vessel and transportation to and from the dive site.

OceanGate’s website says: “The Titan submersible can seat five people. The dive team will usually include: a pilot, three mission specialists, and one content expert.”

The dates listed for The Bahamas expedition are December 23 to January 24.

It is unclear whether people have taken part in the trip or what licences OceanGate has to offer the experience in the country.

It is also unclear whether its Bahamian expedition would raise safety concerns similar to its Titanic expedition; concerns have been raised particularly about the safety of operating the Titan submersible at

extreme depths. Government officials did not respond to The Tribune’s questions before press time yesterday.

In addition to the Bahamian expedition, OceanGate Expeditions’ website details its partnership with the University of The Bahamas for “the development and execution of submersible expeditions and research-based programmes”. The company purportedly mobilised to The Bahamas in April 2017 as part of a long-term testing programme for the Titan submersible.

Dr Carlton Watson, the university’s dean of the faculty of pure and applied sciences, is quoted as saying: “This partnership will further strengthen the

university’s drive to develop flagship programmes in Small Island Studies by facilitating unique learning opportunities, trans-disciplinary research and innovation, as well as the establishment of networks of field stations and centres of excellence across the Bahamian archipelago.”

Dr Watson declined to comment on the partnership yesterday, referring a reporter to former UB president Dr Rodney Smith.

On April 14, 2019, OceanGate Expeditions’ Facebook page posted a video of a team completing maintenance and system checks of the Titan submersible near Little Harbour on Great Abaco.

According to international reports, in 2018 the

company’s expeditions were delayed a year due to difficulties encountered during deep-water testing of its submersible in The Bahamas.

“While we are disappointed by the need to reschedule the expedition, we are not willing to shortcut the testing process due to a condensed timeline,” Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, said in a press release in 2018. “We are 100 per cent committed to safety, and want to fully test the sub and validate all operational and emergency procedures before launching any expedition.”

International reports also highlighted a partnership between OceanGate and the Island School in Cape Eleuthera.

Chris Maxey, founder and board president of the Island School, told The Tribune yesterday that OceanGate Expeditions officials visited his institute ten years ago, but a partnership never materialised.

“We know them. They came, they gave a presentation to our students, but we never actually had a partnership,” he said. “They visited probably ten years ago so there was never any operational partnership, it was just a conversation.

“I remember them visiting our campus and there was a conversation about them using Cape Eleuthera as a base for their submarines because we’re right near the wall here, but nothing ever moved forward.”

TiTan commencing a dive to 4,000m underwater.

Photos: OceanGate

TransferrinG the Titan submersible to the platform at Marsh Harbour, Abaco.

OceanGaTe’s support vessel and Titan platform in Marsh Harbour Boat Yard in Abaco.

The TiTan submersible vessel was tested in Abaco in 2019. Here preparations are being made before towing it to deep water for testing.

Missing Titanic sub: what are submersibles, how do they communicate, and what may have gone wrong?

AN extensive search and rescue operation is underway to locate a commercial submersible that went missing during a dive to the Titanic shipwreck.

According to the US Coast Guard, contact with the submersible was lost about one hour and 45 minutes into the dive, with five people on board.

The vessel was reported overdue at 9.13pm local time on Sunday (12.13pm AEST, Monday).

The expedition was being run by US company OceanGate as part of an eight-day trip with guests paying US$250,000 per head to visit the wreck site. As of Monday afternoon (Tuesday morning in Australia), US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger said the watercraft likely had somewhere between 70 and the full 96 hours of oxygen available to the passengers.

The Titanic’s wreck sits some 3,800 metres deep in the Atlantic, about 700km south of St John’s, Newfoundland. Finding an underwater vehicle the

size of a small bus in this vast and remote expanse of ocean will be no small feat. Here’s what the search and rescue teams are up against.

OceanGate’s Titan submersible goes missing

Submersibles are manned watercraft that move in a similar fashion to submarines, but within a much more limited range. They’re often used for research and exploration purposes, including to search for shipwrecks and to document underwater environments. Unlike submarines, they usually have a viewport to allow passengers to look outside, and outside cameras that provide a broader view around the submersible.

The missing submersible in question is an OceanGate Titan watercraft, which can take five people to depths of up to 4,000m. The Titan is about 22 feet in length, with speeds of about 3 knots, or 5.5km per hour. Although submersibles are often connected to a surface vessel by a tether, video and photos suggest

the Titan was likely oper-

ating independently of the surface ship.

According to OceanGate’s website, the Titan is used “for site survey and inspection, research and data collection, film and media production, and deep-sea testing of hardware and software”.

It also has a “real-time hull health monitoring (RTM) system”. This would likely include strain gauges to monitor the health of the Titan’s carbon fibre hull. A strain gauge is a kind of sensor that can measure applied force and small deformations in material resulting from changes in pressure, tension and weight.

The Titan’s carbon fibre hull connects two domes made of composite titanium – a material that can withstand deep-sea pressures. At 3,800m below sea level (the depth of the Titanic) you can expect pressures about 380 times greater than the atmospheric pressure we’re used to on the surface of the earth

bring it back to the surface.

Alternatively, the vessel may have lost power and ended up at the bottom of the ocean. This would be a more problematic outcome.

The worst case scenario is that it has suffered a catastrophic failure to its pressure housing.

Although the Titan’s composite hull is built to withstand intense deep-sea pressures, any defect in its shape or build could compromise its integrity – in which case there’s a risk of implosion.

Another possibility is that there may have been a fire onboard, such as from an electrical short circuit.

This could compromise the vehicle’s electronic systems which are used for navigation and control of the vessel. Fires are a disastrous event in enclosed underwater environments, and can potentially incapacitate the crew and passengers.

Time is of the essence.

The search and rescue teams will need to find the vessel before its limited supplies of oxygen and water run out.

There’s an ongoing debate in scientific circles regarding the relative merit of manned submersibles, wherein each deployment incurs a safety risk – and the safety

of the crew and passengers is paramount.

Currently, most underwater research and offshore industrial work is conducted using unmanned and robotic vehicles. A loss to one of these vehicles might compromise the work being done, but at least lives aren’t at stake. In light of these events, there will likely be intense discussion about the risks associated with using these systems to support deep-sea tourism.

By Stefan B Williams Professor, Australian Centre for Field Robotics, University of Sydney

Communication and rescue efforts

The Titan would have had an acoustic link with its surface vessel, set up through a transponder (a device for receiving a sonar signal) on its end, and a transceiver (a device that can both transmit and receive communications) on the surface vessel.

This link allows for underwater acoustic positioning, as well as for short text messages to be sent back and forth to the surface vessel – but the amount of data that can be shared is limited and usually includes basic telemetry and status

information.

The Titan is a batteryoperated watercraft. Given it has lost all contact with its surface vessel, it may have suffered a power failure. Ideally, there would be an emergency backup power source (such as an independent battery) to maintain emergency and life support equipment – but it’s unclear if the missing vessel had any power backup on hand.

According to reports, at least two aircraft, a submarine and sonar buoys were being used to search for the vessel. The sonar buoys will be listening for underwater noise,

including any emergency distress beacons that may have gone off.

One of the major challenges in the rescue effort will be contending with weather conditions, which will further shrink an already narrow search window.

What might have happened?

In a best case scenario, the Titan may have lost power and will have an inbuilt safety system that will help it return to the surface. For instance, it may be equipped with additional weights that can be dropped to instantly increase its buoyancy and

This undated image provided by OceanGate Expeditions in June 2021 shows the company’s Titan submersible. Rescuers are racing against time to find the missing submersible carrying five people, who were reported overdue Sunday night.

Photo: OceanGate Expeditions

Photo: OceanGate

US needs a better ‘whole world strategy’ as they show concern over China’s relationship with small and developing nations

ALONG with other Caribbean heads of government, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley bristles at patronising questions, including from journalists, querying the Caribbean’s relationship with China.

As The National reported, BBC presenter Zeinab Badawi strongly suggested to Mottley in an interview: “But it’s not just Barbados that’s moving closer to China, it’s the whole of the Caribbean – I mean, investment from China has gone up many folds in the last few years.” Mottley retorted: “It’s the whole world. If I look correctly, I think the Chinese hold a large, large percentage of assets within the United States of America and a large amount of their treasuries as well.

“So for you to focus on the Caribbean or Africa with China, without recognising the role that China is playing in Europe or the North Atlantic countries, is a bit disingenuous and really reflects more that we’re seen as pawns, regrettably, rather than countries with equal capacity to determine our destiny and to be part of that global conversation to fight the global issues of the day such as climate and the pandemic.”

This exchange between Mottley and Badawi went viral, including in China, with many people around the world tiring of lectures from some in the West

who view leaders in developing states as simpletons who do not understand their national interests. There is considerable condescension, arrogance and hypocrisy by those, including in the United States Government, who lecture other countries on China’s global intentions as the two powers compete for influence. There is also a high degree of propaganda and misinformation that often belies the facts.

This past March, CNN reported: “Gen Glen VanHerck, commander of US Northern Command, told the House Armed Services Committee that China’s expansion has included increased work on the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive international infrastructure project that seeks to

expand Chinese influence around the world, as well as ‘economic coercion’ in The Bahamas and ‘investment’ on South American projects.

“In the Caribbean, China is ‘very aggressive’ in The Bahamas, VanHerck said, where they have built the largest embassy in the world complete with an ambassador who ‘uses the information space to undermine us each and every day’.”

The general’s comments on the size of the Chinese embassy were incorrect. Did the general not consider that such a statement was likely incorrect and that there are many Chinese embassies larger than the one in The Bahamas?

What other facts and analyses are US officials getting wrong about The Bahamas, the Caribbean and other countries? Is it not possible for diplomatic and military officials to write an informed accurate brief on this matter?

Just as the US uses the “information space” to promote its interests, other embassies, including those of the UK, Brazil, Haiti, Cuba and others, have a right to promote their views.

In using this “space” it is essential for the sake of credibility that foreign governments do not engage in outsized hyperbole, misinformation and condescension.

Overblown rhetoric like “aggressive, “stranglehold”, “coercion”, which are precisely the words

many countries employ to describe domination of the global commons by the United States over the past century, are unhelpful. Regional leaders and publics need to be engaged respectfully and intelligently.

The same bombast about the size of the embassy was seen in some of the commentary on the collapse of the cryptocurrency giant FTX last year.

While there were legitimate questions about its collapse, the typical preening and misinformation by certain members of the US Congress revealed a continued belligerent ignorance about The Bahamas by some US officials.

The Bahamas, like other countries, including the United States, has various national interests in areas such as economic development, political affairs and national security. We seek pragmatic engagement and good relations with all countries, especially key allies such as the United States of America.

The Bahamas is grateful for the strong ties with the US, upon which we should continue to build.

The recent visit by Vice President Kamala Harris, primarily because we are currently chairing Caricom, was welcome. The assistance offered the region, though terribly inadequate, was at least movement in the right direction.

The criticism that the less than day-long visit was woefully short and yielded relatively little is not a criticism of Ms Harris, who is carrying out her governments’ foreign policy.

Ms Harris is exceptionally capable. It is unfortunate that she has been the brunt of certain demeaning criticism in the US that is blatantly misogynistic and racist.

A story in the latest edition of The Economist reported: “It [China] went from hardly trading with the region at the turn of the century to overtaking the United States to become the top trading partner for South America, and the second almost everywhere else in Latin America.

“Between 2005 and 2021, Chinese state-owned banks loaned $139bn to Latin American governments. It has invested billions of dollars in the region, mainly in energy and mining.

“Some 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have signed up to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a massive global infrastructure-building spree.”

What some Americans deem as “economic coercion” others view as economic ties that have resulted in significant and necessary investment from China in The Bahamas, including in infrastructure and tourism, especially

after the Great Recession of 2008 when we were in dire straits.

This does not mean that national leaders are naïve about either China or the United States, and the global interests and stratagems of both powers.

Bahamians would enthusiastically welcome more US investment, both public and private. But the US, which appears to see The Bahamas and the Caribbean as mostly security risks, has benignly neglected the region for decades.

Most of our international commercial banks are historically Canadian. Most of the ownership of foreign-owned hotels is non-American. Why is there not more US foreign direct investment in The Bahamas? The region desperately needs infrastructure in areas such as health care, education and infrastructure.

The US has given billions to Ukraine to confront Russia’s aggression, with billions more in aid, military hardware and other assistance to come, including for reconstruction.

Is it not possible for the US government to set up a multibillion-dollar Caribbean Development Fund and to work with regional and international private banks and multilateral finance agencies to provide debt relief and lower interest loans to fund development in the region?

Development assistance to the Caribbean is about more than goodwill between neighbours. As others have noted, the new name for security is development!

To stem the flow of migrants, which is going to increase as the climate warms, to secure its status in the region, and to enhance regional security and stability, the US needs to be significantly more engaged in helping with national development across the Caribbean archipelago.

America is not the only major player in the 21st century. The Caribbean must have practical engagement with both China and the US, India, Europe, Latin America and Africa. For our survival, Caricom must become more cohesive and must act in unison in the global commons.

Bahamian leaders must be practical. We are not a major country like India, which has the heft, resources and strategic position to be engaged and wooed by the United States and China.

India is a member of the BRICS group, a counterweight to the economic power of the US. The group has launched the New Development Bank and is considering a currency that will not be dependent on the US dollar.

India is also a member

of the Quad, which includes the US, Japan and Australia, and is designed to be a counterweight to Chinese military power and general influence in Asia. There are continued tensions on the approximately 2,100-milelong border between China and India.

We are a small nation off the coast of the world’s superpower, which brings a variety of constraints. As a former Bahamas prime minister often said: the world isn’t fair. But we must also not be viewed as obsequious toadies afraid to engage other countries such as China with respect and a spirit of cooperation.

Dr Scott B MacDonald, a Caribbean Policy Consortium Fellow and Global Americans Research Fellow, is the Chief Economist for Smith’s Research and Gradings. In a post on the Jamestown Foundation website, Dr MacDonald notes: “One of the major challenges for the US is to create a coherent Caribbean policy. Indeed, it can be argued that China’s becoming the Caribbean’s significant other has been helped by Washington’s relative disinterest in the region.

“A central component of any coherent US response to China in the Caribbean is for Washington to reconsider its own approach to economic statecraft.

“Moreover, the ongoing US mantra to its neighbours of discouraging doing business with China or accepting its loans (the debt-trap diplomacy argument) has rubbed many Caribbean leaders the wrong way.

“Most Caribbean countries are keenly aware that closer relations with China are not appreciated in Washington; however, the US approach has often had the appearance of the U.S. talking down to Caribbean countries, not to mention a wilful ignorance of Caribbean security needs, which are increasingly defined in terms of sustainability and resiliency.”

If the United States wants to better engage The Bahamas, the Caribbean and Latin America, its needs to have a better “whole world strategy” that views the world more broadly and beyond the strictures of mostly military and security considerations, which though essential, are woefully insufficient in this century.

In so doing, the United States of America may learn a few lessons from the People’s Republic of China.

(Front Porch is now available in podcast on The Tribune website under the Editorial Section.)

BarBados Prime Minister Mia Mottley went viral when she bristled at patronising questions from BBC presenter Zeinab Badawi querying the Caribbean’s relationship with China. Bedawi strongly suggested to Mottley in an interview: “But it’s not just Barbados that’s moving closer to China, it’s the whole of the Caribbean – I mean, investment from China has gone up many folds in the last few years.” Mottley retorted: “It’s the whole world. If I look correctly, I think the Chinese hold a large, large percentage of assets within the United States of America and a large amount of their treasuries as well.

While Trump headlines GOP presidential candidates, Republicans seem unable to leverage voter unease

IT seems like with every passing day, we get more evidence from the media that America just doesn’t seem to know what to do with Donald Trump. But there’s also plenty of evidence that outside the Washington Beltway, there is much more consequential stuff for people to worry about.

The former president gave a rambling, lengthy interview to Bret Baier of Fox News earlier this week, in which Trump did not appear to be at his best. Even his hair seemed unusually frizzy, but not as much as the 45th president himself seemed to be almost discombobulated.

Baier, quietly regarded as probably the most responsible journalist at Fox, did a reasonable job of challenging Trump as he continued to cling to his familiar litany of narcissistic falsehoods. In this, Baier took basically the same tack as had CNN’s newest star, Kaitlan Collins, in a town hall-style meeting with Trump last month. Inside the media cocoon in New York and Washington, there was much indignation and outrage about Trump’s vigorous assertions that he won in 2020, appointed “great people” to his cabinet and could end the Ukraine War in “24 hours”. It’s all Headline News. But only if you actually pay attention.

Outside the narrow, but admittedly heavily populated northeastern American corridor from Washington to New York, there is clearly a different perspective. There, in the vast

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

alarming pollution in a local lake. Perhaps it is a decision by the local authorities that impacts sectors of the local business community. If there are any complaints about politics or politicians, they concern their inability to gain access to state or even federal funding for necessary local projects.

Individuals are concerned about their own lives and families. How will they cope with consumer prices that have not yet subsided in the wake of the COVID-spurred recession/inflation cycle – and may not do so anytime soon? mortgage rates remain uncomfortably high. It’s increasingly difficult to figure out how to afford new car payments. Wages are clearly not keeping pace with price increases.

There is a genuine and entirely understandable unease in the country.

And yet the Republican Party seems unable to leverage that unease into a clear, coherent message could resonate with voters next November.

Well, that’s not entirely true. Several of the dozen or so GOP announced presidential candidates are trying to craft a convincing message. But at least at the moment, none really registers in the cavalcade of polls that relentlessly confirm Trump’s position at the top of the GOP field and Ron DeSantis’ spot well behind but clearly running in second place.

remainder of the US, things are different. While the daily newspapers in many areas continue to cover Trump’s adventures in fantasyland, the “man and woman in the street”

couldn’t care less.

In a vigorous discussion the other day with a group of politicians and civic leaders over 300 miles away from the DC-NY axis, it was clear that none

of the Beltway diversions commanded any serious attention.

Local issues overwhelmingly predominate. It might be a school board election. It might be

The ever pugnacious Trump recently told a crowd of his supporters at his golf club in New Jersey that Biden, “together with a band of his closest

thugs, misfits and marxists, tried to destroy American democracy”. He added: “If the communists get away with this, it won’t stop with me.” Trump again sounded the marxist theme days later during a telephone rally with Iowa voters. The comments came after numerous campaign emails and social posts in recent months in which Trump has claimed that Biden’s America could soon become a “third world marxist regime” or a “tyrannical” marxist nation.

As for the Florida governor, “DeSantis is an opportunistic, ferret-eyed weasel who appears to have no moral compass whatsoever,” one pundit noted recently. “And his wife? A former Fox TV newsreader of surpassing ambition and little evident empathy. What a team! For all those who thought Trump was the worst possible outcome in 2024: Watch out. DeSantis and his wife might be even more dangerous.”

A plausible outcome for the Republicans at this point is that the mAGA base finally, at long last, tires of their hero under the accumulating weight of his brazen falsehoods and indictments. And that DeSantis demonstrates conclusively that he is not ready for prime-time.

What then? Keep your eye on South Carolina senator Tim Scott, the only black member of the US Senate and someone who is quietly picking up endorsements from his colleagues in the American upper legislative chamber. There is still a long way to go until next November.

AmID all this domestic political chaos, for those relatively few paying close attention to the situation, the American position in the world also demands an anxious response from its citizens.

First, there’s still the war in Ukraine and the Western response. As the NATO allies prepare for a consequential July summit meeting in Lithuania, it’s clear that the alliance is planning for Ukraine’s membership after the war with Russia is settled somehow.

NATO defence ministers agreed last week on ways to move Ukraine closer to the military alliance, the alliance’s leader said, but Kyiv will not be offered full membership at the Vilnius summit meeting.

“All allies agree that Ukraine will eventually become a member of NATO,” the alliance’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said at a news conference in Brussels.

And as if to underscore the American commitment, the US State Department reminded us again just yesterday that the US has provided more than $40 billion in military assistance “since Russia launched its premeditated, unprovoked, and brutal war against Ukraine on February 24, 2022”.

At the same time, Russian president Vladimir Putin seems to be trying to emulate the startling outrageousness of Trump’s name-calling in his efforts to rally domestic support. While Trump calls Biden and his team marxists, Putin is attacking his opponents from the opposite end of the political spectrum.

Putin has been painting Ukrainians as Nazis for years, but he is amping up the volume now. The Kremlin is portraying the current war as a continuation of Russia’s fight against evil in what is known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.

In this effort, Putin is counting on lingering Russian pride in the World War II victory over Nazi Germany to carry over into support for his current military misadventure. (He may

be rewarded for doing this. The Russian contribution to the Allied victory over the Nazis was stupendous.) many scholars and pundits have pushed back on Putin’s calumny. While Ukraine has some residual far-right groups, they say, “none of this justifies the Russian aggression and the gross mischaracterization of Ukraine.”

But it’s also widely acknowledged that during World War II as Ukraine found itself caught in the remarkably undesirable position between the forces of Joseph Stalin and Adolph Hitler, many Ukrainians opted for the German, who, after all, had not already pillaged and enslaved them for 25 years as had Stalin’s USSR.

Kissinger’s three great threats to manK ind

HERE’S a bit of possible trivia: Henry Kissinger is still alive at 100, and he is speaking out in a long interview with The Economist magazine on the US in the world. As always, he’s worth heeding.

On Russia: “Putin told (Kissinger) he didn’t object to Ukraine in ‘economic arrangement with Europe’ but NATO membership was something different.” Kissinger feels that the West made “a huge mistake by dangling Ukraine NATO

membership in 2008 and then really not doing anything concrete either to accomplish that or to fortify Ukraine.” Putin’s response was ‘entirely predictable,” the former Secretary of State said. On China: “Both sides (China and the US) have convinced themselves that the other represents a strategic danger. Each feels the other seeks to supplant its domination. And Taiwan complicates this.”

Kissinger said the “situation with an ascendent

China reminds me of the situation with Germany rising in the years before World War I”.

He also said “I have never met with any Chinese or Russian leader who said anything good about the other. There has never been a natural alliance between those two.”

Kissinger sees three great threats to mankind now:

The US – China rivalry; the war in Ukraine, and Artificial Intelligence. “Our machines may refuse to allow us to shut them off.’

As NATO prepA res fOr Ukr A iNe membership, pUT iN dOUbles dOw N ON T heir N A zi pA s T

Former President Donald Trump speaks at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., June 13, 2023.

Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP

NATo headquarters in Brussels, Belgium

ALIV DONATES $50K

ALIV and Cable Bahamas has announced a donation of $50,000 in monetary and in-kind contributions to the Bahamas 50th Independence Secretariat.

ALIV and Cable Bahamas representatives presented Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis with a cheque donation on Friday at the Prime Minister's Office.

Mr Davis said that “over the years ALIV has continuously expressed its corporate commitment to The Bahamas. As a major sponsor of The Bahamas 50th independence celebrations, ALIV has once again proven its patriotism through social partnership. Your contribution to the work of the 50th Independence Secretariat speaks volumes of the legacy you continue to build and your continued connection to the communities you serve. Thank you on behalf of all Bahamians for your kind gift.”

John Gomez, chief ALIV officer, said: "We are honored to stand alongside the 50th Independence Secretariat and actively participate in the festivities commemorating this significant milestone in our country's history. As a company with 100 percent Bahamian ownership, we firmly believe in the nation-building potential of our fellow Bahamians. This donation is a testament to our commitment to invest in the future of The Bahamas and foster a sense of national pride.”

PICTURED from left, Lindsay Thompson, National Independence Secretariat; John Gomez, chief ALIV officer; Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis; Amber Carey, VP consumer solutions and marketing; David Davis, permanent secretary, Office of the Prime Minister.

CLEANING UP THANKS TO MOUNT GAY

THE Mount Gay brand held a beach cleanup on Saturday, June 10, in honour of World Oceans Day, where bags of trash were removed from Coral Harbour beach. The initiative was in keeping with Mount Gay’s commitment to the environment, in particular the ocean, according to brand manager Angela Moss, who called the event a success where Bahamians came together to clean and preserve.

“The brand, Mount Gay, has made an oath to protect the earth’s natural resources and World Oceans Day is near and dear to the brand because of its commitment to keeping the waters surrounding our islands clean and plastic free,” she said.

“On a global scale, Mount Gay has partnered with the 4ocean organisation and have removed over 60,000lbs of plastic from the ocean to date.”

World Oceans Day was celebrated on June 8.

Fifteen volunteers showed up to Coral Harbour Beach for the clean-up that saw them don gloves

and Mount Gay paraphernalia as they filled trash bags, leaving the beach clean and pristine.

Ms Moss added: “We decided to organise a beach clean-up in honour of World Oceans Day to reinforce Mount Gay’s commitment to sustainable practices and protecting our oceans. The ocean is what ties our relationship to the

GETTING IN THE SWING

RBC’s $100k gift

sailing community, and it is our duty as distributors to set the benchmark for change across our industry. This is what makes us more than a rum.”

Ms Moss said the company’s passion for this commitment will see more initiatives aimed at sustainability and the overall well-being of the environment.

RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited has announced it will be a Jubilee Sponsor for The Bahamas’ 50th anniversary of independence celebrations.

During a presentation at the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday, the bank presented a digital bank transfer receipt of $100,000 to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis for the Independence Secretariat.

Mr Davis expressed his gratitude for RBC’s

support, saying: “I applaud RBC’s commitment to the development of The Bahamas for the last 50 years and beyond.

“As a jubilee sponsor, RBC has once again proven its loyalty to advancing the lives of the Bahamian people through social partnership.

“Your contribution to the work of the 50th Independence Secretariat speaks volumes of the legacy you continue to build and your continued connection to the communities you serve.

LOYALTY SCHEME HITS ANNIVERSARY

MYSOLOMON'S Smart

Thank you on behalf of all Bahamians for your kind gift.”

The Prime Minister also gifted RBC representatives the 50th independence anniversary commemorative pin.

LaSonya Missick, RBC’s managing director for The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, and vice president of personal banking and RBC FINCO, said: “RBC is proud to make this investment towards helping our country celebrate its golden jubilee.”

ON SUNDAY, Atlantis will host the 21st Annual Duke of Edinburgh Cup Semi-Finals charity golf tournament at the Ocean Club Golf Course.

Proceeds will be donated to the Governor General’s Youth Award programmes across the islands of The Bahamas.

Teams will be vying for a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to England to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Cup Finals against other countries, as well as a host of other prizes.

Tyreflex Star Motors has donated a brand new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA as the coveted hole in one prize. Tyreflex has supported the young people of the GGYA and this Tournament for over 20 years since the inception.

Anyone interested in joining the tournament may contact the GGYA or Viana Gardiner, VP of Public Affairs at Atlantis Paradise Island.

PICTURED from left, Rose Richardson, Viana Gardiner, and Ryan Knowles

Rewards, the grocery store loyalty programme, marked its first-year anniversary last month with a promotion, giving away $12,000 in prizes. The celebrations were a success, thanks to the contributions of event sponsors Coca-Cola (Caribbean Bottling Co), ALIV, Rev Cable Bahamas, Bahamasair, Cost Right, Domino's, and Blue Lagoon Island. With a minimum spend, customers in Nassau and Freeport were automatically entered to win one of ten incredible prizes. One winner was chosen from both Nassau and Freeport for every prize. The winners in both the Nassau and Freeport markets are: Angelica Hanchell, Debra Lane, round trip ticket from Bahamasair; Katia Campos-Godoy, Ludell Glinton, stay at Comfort Suites; Shaniqua Bowleg, Kathleen Saunders, iPhone 11 & 30-Day Plan; Goldean Munnings, Karen Ferguson, grill with meat pack; Patou Thompson, Julie Glover, 55" Hisense Smart TV; April Knowles, Althea Celestin, Whirlpool washer; Arlene Russell, Shopia Dean, two Dolphin Encounters Experience vouchers; Carl Carter, Bonnie Franks, cooler filled with assorted Coke drinks; Ingrid Darling, April Parker, Rev Trio 30 Day Package; Ethelyn Adderley, Jacqueline Boss, Domino's $100 gift certificate.

LASONYA MISSICK, RBC’s managing director for The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos, and vice president of personal banking and RBC FINCO, with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.

Once starved by war, millions of Ethiopians going hungry again as US, UN pause aid after massive theft

suspects as well.

In Ethiopia, which has a history of deadly hunger, “zero” of the 6 million people in Tigray received food aid in May after the pause in donations by the US and UN, according to a UN memo seen by the AP. That’s unprecedented, it said.

With 20 million people across Ethiopia dependent on such aid, plus more than 800,000 refugees from Somalia and elsewhere, independent humanitarian groups warn that even a quick resolution to the dispute could see many people starve to death.

An EthiopiAn woman argues with others over the allocation of yellow split peas after it was distributed by the Relief Society of Tigray in the town of Agula, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, on May 8, 2021. In 2023 urgently needed grain and oil have disappeared again for millions caught in a standoff between Ethiopia’s government, the United States and United Nations over what US officials say may be the biggest theft of food aid on record.

KENYA Associated Press

An Orthodox Christian priest, Tesfa Kiros Meresfa begs door-to-door for food along with countless others recovering from a two-year war in northern Ethiopia that starved his people. To his dismay, urgently needed grain and oil have disappeared again for millions caught in a standoff between Ethiopia’s government, the United States and United Nations over what US officials say may be the biggest theft of food aid on record.

“I have no words to describe our suffering,” Tesfa said.

As the US and UN demand that Ethiopia’s government yield its control over the vast aid delivery system supporting one-sixth of the country’s population, they have taken the dramatic step of suspending their food aid to Africa’s second-most populous nation until they can be sure it won’t be stolen by Ethiopian officials and fighters.

Almost three months have passed since the aid suspension in parts of the country, and reports are emerging of the first deaths from starvation during the pause. At the earliest, aid to the northern Tigray region will return in July, the US and UN say, and to the rest of the country at some point after that when reforms in aid distribution allow.

Tesfa, who lives in a school compound with hundreds of others displaced by the war in Tigray, laughed when asked how many meals he eats a day. “The question is a joke,” he said. “We often go to sleep without food.”

In interviews with The Associated Press, which first reported the massive theft of food aid, officials with US and UN aid agencies, humanitarian organizations and diplomats offered new findings on the countrywide diversion of aid to military units and markets. That included allegations that some senior Ethiopian officials were extensively involved.

The discovery in March of enough stolen food aid

to feed 134,000 people for a month in a single Tigray town is just a glimpse of the scale of the theft that the US, Ethiopia’s largest humanitarian donor, is trying to grasp. The food meant for needy families was found instead for sale in markets or stacked at commercial flour mills, still marked with the US flag. The implications for the US are global. Proving it can detect and stop the theft of aid paid for by US taxpayers is vital at a time when the Biden administration is fighting to maintain public support for aid to corruptionplagued Ukraine.

At a private meeting last week in Ethiopia, US aid officials told international partners that this could be the largest-ever diversion of food aid in any country, aid workers said. In an interview with the AP, a senior official with the US Agency for International Development said the exact amount of food aid stolen may never be known.

Donated medical supplies also were stolen, according to a Western diplomat and UN official who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

With USAID giving Ethiopia’s government $1.8 billion in humanitarian assistance since 2022, a delay in providing food aid causes widespread pain. Millions of people went hungry during the war while food stocks were looted, burned and withheld by combatants, and UN investigators have warned of possible starvation-linked war crimes. Now the hunger is being traced to corruption.

Preliminary findings released this month by Tigray regional authorities said they have tracked the theft of more than 7,000 metric tons of donated wheat — or 15 million pounds — in their region, taken by federal and regional authorities and others. The findings did not specify the time period. Other regions have yet to report amounts.

Ethiopia’s government dismisses as harmful “propaganda” the suggestion that it bears primary responsibility

for the disappearance of aid in Tigray and other regions, but it has agreed to a joint investigation with the US while the UN’s World Food Program carries out a separate probe.

The way that Western aid officials “distance themselves from the accusations by linking the alleged problem only to government institutions and procedures is absolutely unacceptable and very contrary to the reality on the ground,” government spokesman Legesse Tulu told reporters earlier this month. He and other government spokespeople did not immediately respond to messages from the AP.

Aid workers say humanitarian agencies have long tolerated a degree of corruption by government officials.

Provision of aid in Ethiopia has been heavily politicized for decades, including during the devastating famine of the 1980s, when the thencommunist regime blocked assistance to areas controlled by rebel groups.

The senior USAID official told the AP that the latest theft of US and UN food aid included the manipulation of beneficiary lists that the Ethiopian government has insisted on controlling, looting by Ethiopian government and Tigray forces and forces from neighbouring Eritrea, and the diversion of massive amounts of donated wheat to commercial flour mills in at least 63 sites.

A former Tigray official said government workers often inflate beneficiary numbers and take the extra grain for themselves, a practice that two officials with international organizations working in Ethiopia called widespread elsewhere in the country.

Numerous officials accused WFP of simply dropping off rations in the middle of towns, where much of the aid was looted by forces from Eritrea.

There were also signs that people whom the USAID official described only as “market actors” were forcing hungry families to surrender food aid they received — something that WFP

Tropical S Torm Bre T grow S ST ronger a S ea ST ern c ariBBean iSlandS prepare for heavy flooding

PUERTO RICO

Associated Press

STORM Bret grew stronger on Wednesday as it took aim at islands in the eastern Caribbean that braced for torrential rainfall, landslides and flooding.

Bret had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph late Wednesday afternoon and was moving westward across the Atlantic Ocean at 15 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The storm was located some 375 miles east of Barbados and is expected to grow stronger before lashing several eastern Caribbean islands late Thursday at near hurricane strength. A tropical storm warning was issued for St. Lucia and the French Caribbean island of Martinique as officials in the region urged people to prepare for

Bret. A tropical storm watch was in effect for Barbados and Dominica.

“We all know the uncertainty with forecasting intensity, movement and impact of weather systems,” said Fitzroy Pascal at Dominica’s office of disaster management.

A special aircraft dispatched to investigate the storm on Wednesday found that Bret had grown a bit bigger, with tropical-stormforce winds extending outward up to 105 miles from its center, according to forecasters. Officials said it was too soon to know where Bret's center would pass through, but they warned that up to 10 inches of rain were forecast from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe south to Grenada and Barbados. The government of Guadeloupe warned that inclement

In the UN food agency’s first extensive public comments, the WFP regional director for East Africa, Michael Dunford, acknowledged possible “shortcomings” in its monitoring of aid distribution.

“We accept that we could have done better,” he told the AP this week. But until now, Dunford said, “it’s been very much the Ethiopian government that was managing” the process.

For USAID’s part, the senior agency official cited a

range of reasons that US officials missed the extent of the aid theft for so long. The war blocked the agency’s ground access to the Tigray region for 20 months. Elsewhere in the country, COVID restrictions and security concerns limited USAID’s oversight, the official said.

Some Republican and Democratic lawmakers said the rare countrywide suspension of aid showed USAID is taking the theft of US aid with appropriate seriousness. Asked if he was concerned about USAID oversight, a senior Democrat, Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, said, “I’m concerned about the ways in which the Ethiopian military and government may have systematically diverted food that was meant for hungry Ethiopians.”

Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said “tough questions...need to be answered, and our partner must demonstrate some willingness to cooperate.”

“There must be a fundamental change in how we do food assistance in Ethiopia

if we are going to resume USAID food aid there,” Risch said, and called for accountability and transparency. “The first principle of humanitarian aid is to do no harm. From what I understand, harm has been done. We have to ensure for the American taxpayer that this doesn’t continue to happen.” US and UN officials said they were working to limit — or end — Ethiopian government officials’ role in the aid system.

“We’re taking back all the control over the commodities,” Dunford said. “The entire supply chain, from the time that we receive the food in the country to the time it’s in the hands of the beneficiaries.” Plans include third-party distribution, realtime third-party monitoring and biometric registration of beneficiaries, he said.

The US government wants Ethiopia’s government to remove itself from the compilation of beneficiary lists and the transport, warehousing and distribution of aid, according to a briefing memo by donors seen by the AP.

weather would start Thursday morning and continue until late Friday, with waves of up to 11 feet (3.5 meters).

“Be careful!” officials warned in a statement.

Antigua-based regional airline LIAT and interCaribbean Airways said the storm would disrupt several of its flights scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Bret is expected to weaken after it enters the eastern Caribbean Sea and is forecast to dissipate by Saturday.

The storm formed Monday — an unusually early and aggressive start to the Atlantic hurricane season that began on June 1. A tropical disturbance with an 80% chance of cyclone formation is trailing Bret. No June on record has had two storms form in the tropical Atlantic, according to meteorologist Philip Klotzbach at Colorado State University.

Photo: Ben Curtis/AP

AID JUNIOR NATIONAL TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Jerald wins Triple Crown

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

After multiple days of competition between 100 tennis players in 175 combined singles and doubles matches, the remaining champions hoisted their hardware yesterday at the National Tennis Centre (NTC).

The Automotive Industrial Distributors Ltd (AID)-sponsored junior national tennis championships saw Jerald Carroll become a triple crown winner and both Sarai Clarke and Takaii Adderley take home the double crown honours.

Among the other winners crowned for the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) doubles matches were Alec Hooper/Cohen Knowles, Sarai Clarke/ Briana Houlgrave, and Jerald Carroll/Jackson Mactaggart.

Triple Crown Carroll came into the final day of the junior national tennis championships looking to repeat last year’s feat of becoming triple crown champion once again. Last year, he won the championships for the under 14 and 16 boys singles and under 16 doubles competition.

This time around he took home the championships in the boys singles under 16 and 18 categories.

Additionally, the dynamic duo of Mactaggart and Carroll closed out their competitors in the under-18 boys doubles.

In match one of three, Carroll took down Khai Rees for the under-16 title.

In match number two, he defeated Dentry Mortimer Jr in three sets.

In the opening set, Mortimer capitalised 6-4. However, in set two, Carroll rebounded nicely winning 6-1. He finally closed out Mortimer 6-0 to win his second match of the day.

In his final match, Mactaggart and Carroll claimed a comfortable victory over Patrick Mackey Jr and Miguel Smith in two sets 4-0, 4-0.

Sarai and Takaii earn double honours

The triple crown winner talked about how it felt to win. “It’s great, it is the first time I am winning it and the finals were tough but I got a big breakthrough in the semis beating a player I have beaten for the first time,” he said. He added that after learning the game style of his opponent, he used his energy and stamina to defeat him.

Double Crown

After finishing as the runner up in the under 14 and 16 categories last year, Clarke changed her fate at this year’s junior national tennis championships.

The double crown winner earned her first victory in the under 14 girls singles match against last year’s champion Tatyana Madu.

Clarke opened up her first set with a convincing 6-1 win.

Meanwhile, in set two Madu forced a third set after also winning 6-1.

In the final set, Clarke brought it home after wrapping up 6-3.

The newest under 14 girls champion shared her inmatch strategy throughout the three sets.

“I started off strong. I sticked with my strategy

my gameplan was just consistency and patience in the first set but by the second set my opponent caught on and started playing smarter.

“But I kind of lost it and got distracted, but by the third set I realised just do the same thing you did in the first,” she said.

The 14-year-old added that overall she is very happy to win the championship after training hard.

Her second victory to become double crown winner came against doubles duo Caitlyn Pratt and

Danielle Saunders. Clarke and Houlgrave closed out the under 14 girls 4-0, 4-1.

The doubles victory made it two straight for Clarke at the national tennis championships (2022 and 2023).

Takaii Adderley, a first timer at the competition from Gainesville, Florida, was picked as the Gainesville Sun Girls tennis player of the year in June of last year.

However, this year at the junior national tennis championships, Adderley took the competition by

surprise, winning the under 16 and 18 singles titles.

In a highly competitive first match, Adderley defeated Breann Ferguson in two sets.

In set one, she finished 6-1 and in set two she narrowly edged out her opponent 7-6. Adderley said overall the match was good and she thanked God for the victory because the second set was tough.

But she was able to pull through despite having a tough opponent.

In set two, she managed to stay in control and added that she just wanted to take it one point at a time as she is usually confident going into tiebreakers. In doubles action, Hooper and Knowles were crowned champions for the under 14 boys doubles after winning over Kingston Rees and Synaj Watkins 4-1, 4-0. Next up for the BLTA will be the International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament from June 24 to July 1 at the NTC.

Team Bahamas suffers 3rd straight Davis Cup loss

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas’ Davis Cup team has gotten off to a slow start at the American Zone lll Davis Cup in Asuncion, Paraguay.

The team came into their third matchup of the week looking to bounce back after some tough losses to the Dominican Republic and Paraguay in previous games.

However, the team suffered the same fate once again, this time losing to Costa Rica 3-0 at the International Tennis Club.

The Pool B team needed the win to keep in contention to advance to the Americas Group ll in 2024.

After going into yesterday’s matchup 0-2 at the Davis Cup, Team Bahamas looked to grab a win in one

of three matches against Costa Rica. In match one, Grand Bahama’s Denali Nottage opened against Costa Rica’s Rodrigo Crespo Piedra. The matches went to two sets favouring Crespo

Piedra 6-4 in the opening set and 6-2 in the final set.

Nottage averaged 40% (18/45) on his first serves and 78% (14/18) on first serve points won.

Meanwhile, his opponent averaged 57% on first serves and 81% on first serve points won. The Costa Rica player averaged 100% on second serves compared to Nottage’s 93%.

After 1 hour and 3 minutes of action, Nottage amassed 37 total points won and his opponent capped off at 55 in the match. Kevin Major Jr, who made it to the Davis Cup

for the seventh time, turned in a competitive match against Jesse Flores.

The tightly-contested competition between the singles competitors went to three sets yesterday.

The initial set went to Major, who earned a 7-6 win over Flores after winning the tiebreaker 7-5. In set two, both males were eager to get the win this time the tiebreaker

went the other way favouring Costa Rica 7-6 following a 10-8 tiebreaker.

In the final set, it was all Flores as he defeated Major 6-0 to get the win.

In the final match, Team Bahamas was represented by Donte Armbrister and team captain Marvin Rolle.

The captain is a seasoned member of the Davis Cup team, having earned the most years played (19),

most total wins (43-37), and most doubles wins (29-22).

The Bahamas needed a win to avoid sinking in an 0-3 hole.

Costa Rica’s doubles duo of Luca Lo Nardo and Pablo Nunez brought their A-game and trumped The Bahamas in two sets 6-2, 6-2.

The Bahamas remains last in Pool B with an 0-3 record after losing to Costa Rica, making it their first win of the Davis Cup. Pool B teams include Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Honduras and The Bahamas. The top two teams will be promoted to the Americas Group ll in 2024.

The Bahamas will look for its first win of the competition against Honduras today. Matchups wrap up on Saturday.

JERALD CARROLL, triple crown winner at the 2023 junior national tennis championships.

SARAI CLARKE, the double crown winner of the under 14 girls singles and doubles matches.

TAKAII ADDERLEY, winner of the under 16 and 18 girls singles.

ALEC Hooper and Cohen Knowles are the under 14 boys double champions.

Photos by Tenajh Sweeting

Street Legends summer league returns after three-year hiatus

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Street Legends’ 10-week summer basketball league returned for its 18th year last week Saturday. The summer league was derailed from 2020, like most sporting events, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, basketball action finally kicked off after three years at the Edmond E Moxey Community Center basketball park. The league is played in a constituency vs constituency format across four divisions.

The divisions that will compete until August 19 are 8-11, 12-15, 16-19 and the men’s division.

Wilton Russell, president of the Street Legends Organisation (SLO), said the mission of his team is to bring young men from the various constituencies together.

“Our mission during the summer is to unite the young men of our various constituencies through our “Bridging the Gap” concept. We firmly believe that if we can hub our young men for 10 weeks during our programme with invited mentors speaking with them on a daily basis we can change this negative territory protected vibe,” Russell said.

The president also believes that there are other benefits for the young men partaking in

NUGGETS TRADE INTO 1ST ROUND BY SWAPPING PICKS WITH THE PACERS, SAYS AP SOURCE

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — The NBA-champion Denver Nuggets traded into the first round of the draft by acquiring the 29th overall pick from the Indiana Pacers yesterday, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said. As part of the deal, the Nuggets will also receive the 32nd pick from the Pacers in tonight’s draft. Indiana receives the 40th pick from Denver along with a first-round selection in 2024, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade of picks hasn’t been announced.

the 10-week summer basketball league.

“New friendships will be forged during the summer, new friendly alliances will be made instead of this scared to go into various turfs because I don’t know these fellas [mentality],” he said.

Street Legends, which has been in existence since 2004, is played on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

According to the president, one of the main goals is to remove the stigma from the constituencies through the inner city constituency versus constituency summer basketball league.

Teams included in the league are the Honourable Mario Bowleg Garden Hills Stingers, Honourable Glenys Hanna-Martin Englerston Warriors, FreeTown Superwash Wringers, Honourable Leroy Major Southern Shores Sweepers, Honourable Fred Mitchell Fox Hill A and B team, South Beach boys, St Anne’s High Flyers and the Southwest Plaza Gladiators.

Although the weather has been inconsistent in their opening games, the competition between the boys and older males has not.

Russell said games are going extremely well so far, competition is fierce and talent levels are up there with the best of the best.

He added that the weather has been a bit

challenging but it is also a bond-building exercise because the players work together to dry the courts as a result of being eager to play basketball.

Despite the excitement and talent level of the various constituency teams, event organisers are appealing to corporate Bahamas and members of

Parliament to sponsor the teams that represent their area.

The next Street Legends games will take place on Friday starting at 5pm.

DENVER Nuggets owner E. Stanley Kroenke during a rally and parade to mark the team’s first NBA basketball championship on Thursday, June 15, in Denver.

Denver is trying to sprinkle in an assortment of players around its nucleus of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr and Aaron Gordon. Denver struck gold with Christian Braun when the team took the high-energy player out of Kansas last summer at No. 21. Braun turned in valuable minutes off the bench during the Nuggets’ run to the franchise’s first championship. They also have a 20-yearold shooting guard in Peyton Watson who could get more minutes next season. He was acquired in a draft-night deal with Oklahoma City last June.

THE SUMMER league is played in a constituency vs constituency format across four divisions.

(AP Photo/D Zalubowski)

ABOVE THE RIM: The Street Legends’ 10-week summer basketball league returned for its 18th year last week Saturday at the Edmond E Moxey Community Center basketball park.

Gray has been catalyst for Dream’s recent success

By DOUG FEINBERG

AP Basketball Writer

ALLISHA Gray has been a big reason why the Atlanta Dream have been moving up in the standings after a successful road trip.

The Dream (5-6) swept games at New York, Connecticut and Indiana to move to .500. Gray averaged 22.7 points and six rebounds in the three wins.

Atlanta’s streak ended with a loss at Dallas on Tuesday night.

“She’s somebody who just basically puts on her hard hat and goes to work and just does what she does,” Dream coach Tanisha Wright said after the Dream’s 100-94 win at Indiana on Sunday.

“She did that all throughout training camp. There were times I was like, ‘Oh, this isn’t noticeable.’ But when you go back and you watch the tape, you see all the little plays ‘Leesh’ was making.”

Gray, who earned the AP Player of the Week honours for her efforts, is averaging 18.7 points this season and has scored in double figures in every game.

It’s five points more a game then her previous career best.

With their three victories, the Dream moved up to fifth in the AP WNBA power poll. Atlanta has made its move mostly with point guards Danielle Robinson (knee) and Aari McDonald (torn labrum) sidelined. Robinson returned against Indiana.

Rookie Haley Jones has filled in well, averaging 9.7 points, 5.7

rebounds and 5 assists during the winning streak.

“Haley has done a really good job of stepping in and bringing what she brings to the table from that position. We’re happy to see her growth. At the beginning she was playing nervous and timid, but she’s gotten better. That’s definitely a positive,” Wright said in New York. “She’ll only get better gaining the experience playing against this caliber of teams.” Jones took time out on the road trip to take part in graduation ceremonies at Stanford on Saturday.

AP WNBA POLL

Las Vegas remained the atop the AP WNBA Poll for the sixth straight week. Connecticut and New York followed the Aces despite the losses to Atlanta. Washington and Atlanta were next.

Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago followed the Dream, and Indiana, Seattle, Minnesota and Phoenix rounded out the poll.

GRINER WATCH

Brittney Griner has been recovering from a hip injury she suffered last week against Seattle. The All-Star centre missed games

YOUNG SCORES 23, ACES EASE BY SHORT-HANDED MERCURY 99-79

PHOENIX (AP)

— Jackie

Young made a career-high five 3-pointers and scored 23 points, A’ja Wilson secured her seventh double-double of the season and the Las Vegas Aces cruised past the short-handed Phoenix Mercury 99-79 yesterday.

Phoenix was without Brittney Griner (hip) and Diana Taurasi (hamstring) for the third straight game.

Las Vegas scored 32 points in the first quarter and led 57-40 at halftime after going 8 of 15 from 3-point range. Young had 16 points in the half and Wilson added 12 points and eight rebounds.

Las Vegas extended it to 87-60 with 0.2 seconds left in the third quarter on Candace Parker’s layup, off a nice assist from Chelsea Gray. It moved Parker into eighth in WNBA history for made field goals, passing Cappie Pondexter (2,446).

at Washington and New York, getting ruled out about 20 minutes before each game.

She participated in warmups and coach Vanessa Nygaard said she was day-to-day.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Indiana at Las Vegas, Saturday.

The first of consecutive games between the teams, which play again on Monday. The Aces won the teams’ first meeting 84-80 at Indiana on June 4. It’s a matchup of former South Carolina greats A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston.

Las Vegas led by as many as 29 points.

Wilson finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds for Las Vegas (11-1), which won its fourth consecutive game. Kelsey Plum had 21 points and six assists and Gray added 11 points and eight assists. The Aces had 29 assists on 36 made field goals.

Sug Sutton scored a careerhigh 21 points for Phoenix (2-9), which lost its fourth straight game.

Sophie Cunningham added 14 points, Moriah Jefferson scored 12 and Megan Gustafson had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Thomas and Bonner lead Sun to 85-79 victory over Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) —

DeWanna Bonner scored 20 points to move into 10th on the WNBA scoring list, Alyssa Thomas secured her fifth career triple-double and the Connecticut Sun beat the Seattle Storm 85-79 on Tuesday night.

Thomas tied Candace Parker and Sabrina Ionescu for the most career regular-season triple-doubles with three.

Thomas scored with 1:26 left in the third quarter to reach the mark, before finishing with 13 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. Thomas also had three steals.

Bonner passed Sylvia Fowles to move into the top 10 in league history. She trails Katie Smith by 36 points for ninth. All

five starters for Connecticut (10-3) scored in double figures.

Jewell Loyd, who scored 39 points in a 109-103 victory over Dallas on Saturday, scored 33 points for Seattle (3-8).

Ezi Magbegor had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

LYNX 67, SPARKS 61

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Napheesa Collier had 26 points and 14 rebounds, Bridget Carleton added 14 points and the Lynx beat the Sparks.

Minnesota (4-8) won its third game in nine days against Los Angeles, with the two previous wins coming by five-points apiece.

Collier sank a jumper from the free-throw line,

following an offensive rebound, to give Minnesota a 64-61 lead with 1:26 left.

Neither team would score again until Collier’s free throw with 8.7 seconds left for a four-point lead.

Trailing 64-61, Los Angeles called a timeout with 24.1 seconds left to set up an offensive play.

Tiffany Mitchell intercepted a pass and raced the other way, and Minnesota secured it at the stripe.

Nneka Ogwumike had 20 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles (6-6), which lost its third straight game.

WINGS 85, DREAM 73 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Natasha Howard scored 23 points, Arike

Ogunbowale added 21 and the Wings beat the Dream to end a three-game losing streak.

Dallas went ahead 63-38 in the third quarter after scoring 11 straight points. Atlanta missed its first six field goals of the period, but rallied in the fourth behind rookie Taylor Mikesell, who scored seven points in four minutes to get the Dream within 80-67 with 4:07 left.

Dallas made five of its next six free throws to secure an 85-69 and seal the game.

Kalani Brown had 11 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks for Dallas (5-6). Cheyenne Parker and Rhyne Howard each scored 15 points for Atlanta (5-6).

SEATTLE Storm’s Ezi Magbegor is fouled by Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas (25) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Tuesday in Seattle. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

ATLANTA Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) drives to the basket during a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces on June 2. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

NBA mock draft: Victor Wembanyama easy No. 1

ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS BRANDON MILLER SECOND AND SCOOT HENDERSON THIRD IN TONIGHT’S DRAFT

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

VICTOR Wembanyama’s NBA draft experience will be quite unlike last year’s No. 1 pick.

Paolo Banchero could never be certain he would be taken first. There was too much speculation that Orlando was also considering Jabari Smith Jr. and Chet Holmgren, with some mock drafts listing Banchero below both.

The eventual Rookie of the Year said he didn’t find out he was the Magic’s choice until less than a minute before Commissioner Adam Silver went on stage in Brooklyn.

Wembanyama has no need to wait.

The 19-year-old from France has owned permanent residence atop mock draft boards, including all four versions of the AP’s, and could begin walking to the stage tonight before Silver finishes announcing the San Antonio Spurs’ selection.

Shortly after, two twin brothers could make the same walk. Amen and Ausar Thompson of Overtime Elite are both expected to land inside the top 10.

1. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, FORWARD, FRANCE

His combination of a center’s size and a guard’s shooting and dribbling make the 19-year-old a prospect perhaps unlike any other the NBA has seen, and should end the 13-year streak of the No. 1 pick being a college freshman. The Spurs won five NBA titles after taking Tim Duncan in 1997, the last time they had the No. 1 pick and dream of a similar impact from Wembanyama, who is listed at 7-foot-4.

2. CHARLOTTE HORNETS: BRANDON MILLER, FORWARD, ALABAMA

At 6-9, the SEC player of the year and tournament MVP as a freshman has the size, versatility and 3-point stroke to make him an ideal player for the modern NBA game. But the Hornets, who played without Miles Bridges last season after an arrest for a domestic violence incident against the mother of his children, may have to weigh a negative reaction if they add Miller, who delivered the gun used in a fatal shooting.

3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: SCOOT HENDERSON, GUARD, G LEAGUE IGNITE

Worked out for the Trail Blazers and showed the athleticism and ability to do it all from the guard spot that may have made Henderson the No. 1 pick in many years. This time, he could be part of a trade if the Blazers decide they’d prefer to acquire more veteran help around Damian Lillard — or perhaps Lillard’s replacement if they instead decide to build around youth.

4. HOUSTON ROCKETS: AMEN THOMPSON, GUARD, OVERTIME ELITE

At 6-7, Thompson has great size for a guard and the 20-year old showed the ability to step up when it matters most, averaging 17.2 points, 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in the playoffs to lead the City Reapers to the championship last season. The Rockets, after adding Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. in the last two drafts, are positioned to get another good one.

5. DETROIT PISTONS: CAM WHITMORE, FORWARD, VILLANOVA

The Pistons fell to the lowest spot possible in the lottery after finishing with the NBA’s worst record and sharing the best odds of landing the No. 1 pick. But getting Whitmore, a versatile wing with a strong build, to add to young pieces such as Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey under new coach Monty Williams would help ease the sting.

6. ORLANDO MAGIC: AUSAR THOMPSON, FORWARD, OVERTIME ELITE

Amen Thompson’s twin brother has been the Overtime Elite regular season and finals MVP the last two seasons and the 6-7 swingman plays big on defense, twice blocking seven shots in a game. The Magic were a team on the rise in the second half of last season and Thompson could help ensure that continues.

7. INDIANA PACERS: JARACE WALKER, FORWARD, HOUSTON

Coming from Houston’s rugged program means Walker already plays NBAready defense, and the offensive end could come along quickly under Rick Carlisle. At 6-8, 240 pounds, he already has the size and strength to deal with anyone he could face in the frontcourt.

8. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: ANTHONY BLACK, GUARD, ARKANSAS

With Bradley Beal going and no certainty that Chris Paul will stay, there’s an opportunity for an immediate impact in the Washington backcourt. The 6-7 guard seems to have endless energy, playing nearly 35 minutes a game to lead the Southeastern Conference and all 20 minutes in a half 19 times. That included 37 minutes on an injured left ankle in the Razorbacks’ NCAA Tournament upset of top-seeded Kansas, when he helped hold expected lottery pick Gradey Dick to seven points.

9. UTAH JAZZ: TAYLOR HENDRICKS, CENTRAL FLORIDA

The 6-9 freshman makes an impact inside and outside on both ends of the floor. He led the American Athletic Conference in blocked shots and shot 39% from 3-point range, becoming the only Division I player last season with at least 60 3-pointers, 55 blocked shots and 35 dunks.

10. DALLAS MAVERICKS: GRADEY DICK, GUARD, KANSAS

Dick made 83 3-pointers, most in Kansas history by a freshman, and the 6-8 forward could get plenty of open looks when Mavericks opponents focus their attention on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — if Irving remains in Dallas. The Mavs went to great lengths to protect their chances of keeping this pick, tanking their final couple games to boost their lottery odds while still in play-in contention.

11. ORLANDO MAGIC

(from Chicago Bulls): BILAL COULIBALY, FORWARD, FRANCE Wembanyama’s teammate with Metropolitans 92 is a 6-6 swingman whose stock rose as their team reached their French League finals. He hasn’t reached his potential yet as a scorer, but his 7-3 wingspan allows him to impact the game on both ends even without doing so and could make him a good fit with

2022 No. 1 pick and Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero.

12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: DERECK LIVELY II, CENTER, DUKE

Is still limited offensively, but the 7-1 Lively shows promise as a rebounder and shot blocker, highlighted by 14 boards and eight blocks in a game against rival North Carolina.

13. TORONTO RAPTORS: JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO, GUARD, INDIANA

The Big Ten freshman of the year has great size in the backcourt at 6-6 and could help the Raptors guard against a potential loss of Fred VanVleet in free agency, but needs to become a better shooter after hitting only 40% from the field in his lone season.

14. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: CASON WALLACE, KENTUCKY

A point guard who takes care of the ball and takes it away from opponents, he was fourth in the SEC in both steals per game and assist-to-turnover ratio. At 6-4, has the size and strength to defend some of the marquee guards in the Western Conference.

15. ATLANTA HAWKS: KOBE BUFKIN, GUARD, MICHIGAN

Massive leap from first to second year of college, averaging 14 points as a sophomore after not starting a game while averaging 3.0 points as a freshman. Next leap is to the NBA, where the 6-4 lefty could quickly be a change-of-pace guard off the bench.

16. UTAH JAZZ (from Minnesota): KEYONTE GEORGE, GUARD, BAYLOR

The highest-ranked recruit in program history lived up to the billing in his lone college season, scoring 20 or more points 12 times and averaging 15.3 en route to Big 12 freshman of the year honors. The 6-4 guard could provide scoring punch on a team that stayed in the postseason hunt longer than expected.

17. LOS ANGELES LAKERS: NICK SMITH JR., GUARD, ARKANSAS

After mixed results with Russell Westbrook and D’Angelo Russell last season, the Lakers’ search for guard help could lead to Arkansas, where the 6-5 Smith played in just 17 games in his lone college season after recovering from a right knee injury but

showed the ability to play either guard spot.

18. MIAMI HEAT: JORDAN HAWKINS, GUARD, UCONN Ballhandling still needs improvement, but Hawkins’ catch-and-shoot ability was one of the biggest reasons the Huskies stormed through the NCAA Tournament to their fifth national title, and something the Heat were missing in their NBA Finals loss.

19. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: NOAH CLOWNEY, FORWARD, ALABAMA Clowney put up nearly eight rebounds and a block per game in his lone college season. With just 210 pounds on his 6-10 frame, he will need to add strength for the battles inside against NBA big men.

20. HOUSTON ROCKETS (from LA Clippers): KRIS MURRAY, FORWARD, IOWA

After averaging 20.2 points — with a 30-point, 20-rebound game in one outing — Murray will try to make a similar first-year NBA impact as twin brother Keegan, who after leaving the Hawkeyes became an immediate starter for Sacramento last season and was an All-Rookie first-team selection.

21. BROOKLYN NETS (from Phoenix): JETT HOWARD, GUARD, MICHIGAN

His willingness to fire from behind the arc makes the freshman a perfect fit for the 3-point happy NBA. The 6-8 freshman made multiple 3-pointers in 24 of his 29 games for Juwan Howard, his father, and hit three or more in almost half of them. Howard made 36.8% of them while averaging 14.2 points

22. BROOKLYN NETS: LEONARD MILLER, FORWARD, G LEAGUE IGNITE

The Nets have needed more scoring punch since trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and Miller looks capable of providing it after averaging 18 points last season. The 6-10 Canadian also averaged nearly 11 rebounds, another area Nets leadership has identified as a priority.

23. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (from New York): BRICE SENSABAUGH, FORWARD, OHIO STATE

Averaged 16.3 points and shot better than 40% from 3-point range in his strong one season for the

Buckeyes, where he was the first freshman to lead the team in scoring since D’Angelo Russell in 2015.

24. SACRAMENTO KINGS: MAXWELL LEWIS, FORWARD, PEPPERDINE

The 6-7 Lewis made nearly 80% of his free throws and 36% of his 3-point attempts in his two seasons with the Waves, and improved his ability to score off the dribble while averaging 17.1 points last season.

25. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: G.G. JACKSON, FORWARD, SOUTH CAROLINA

Would have been heading to college now — perhaps as the No. 1 prospect — before reclassifying last summer to enter a year earlier. Instead, the 6-9 Jackson is on his way to the NBA after scoring in double figures in 25 of his 32 games, averaging 15.4 points.

26. INDIANA PACERS (from Cleveland): JAIME JAQUEZ JR., GUARD, UCLA

The do-everything swingman led the Bruins with 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, becoming their first Pac-12 player of the year since Kevin Love in 2008. At 6-7, Jaquez does everything well — he’s No. 8 in UCLA history in both points and steals — but maybe not any of them at the top NBA level.

27. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (from Denver via New York and Oklahoma City): AMARI BAILEY, GUARD, UCLA

Bailey had a strong finish to his lone college season, averaging 16.7 points on 56% shooting in the Bruins’

run to the Sweet 16. The Hornets struggle when LaMelo Ball is out, so the 6-5 guard could be appealing to a team that was fourth-worst in the NBA in scoring.

28. UTAH JAZZ (from Philadelphia via Brooklyn): COLBY JONES, GUARD, XAVIER

With three picks in the first round, the Jazz are positioned to bolster a team that hung around the playoff race much longer than expected. The 6-6 Jones, who made 18 of 21 shots in one torrid stretch last season and shot 9 of 10 on 3-pointers in another, could be a nice late addition.

29. INDIANA PACERS (from Boston): BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI, GUARD, SANTA CLARA

Made 43.8% of his 3-pointers in his lone season after transferring from Illinois, accuracy from behind the arc that NBA teams covet. The 6-5 guard shared WCC player of the year honors after averaging 19.9 points and 8.8 rebounds, finishing in the top three in the conference in both categories.

30. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (from Milwaukee via Houston): DARIQ WHITEHEAD, FORWARD, DUKE

Arrived at Duke as the high school player of the year, but a foot injury led to a delayed start to his college career followed by shooting struggles after it finally began. But the 6-7 forward showed enough defensive and 3-point abilities in his limited time to make himself worthy of a first-round spot.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, a projected first-round NBA draft pick, prepares to throw the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in New York.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

ALABAMA forward Brandon Miller (24) reaches for a rebound against Vanderbilt during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on January 31. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

NBA G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson dunks against BoulogneLevallois Metropolitans 92 during the first half of an exhibition basketball game on October 4, 2022. (AP Photo/John Locher)

SWIMMING NATIONALS: MAKO EARN 5TH STRAIGHT TITLE WITH LANDSLIDE WIN

BAHAMAS Aquatics

completed a successful four days of competition of its 51st National Swimming Championships on Sunday at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex. The Mako Swim Club once again emerged as the national champions, earning their fifth consecutive title with a landslide victory over their nearest rivals, Barracuda Swim Club.

At the end of the competition, Bahamas Aquatics presented a number of awards, including the high point winners in each age group. Here’s a look at the top performers:

Girls 8-and-underCailyn Dean of the Blue Waves Swim Club with 57 points, followed by runner-up Rinia Johnson, her team-mate, with 43. Third place went to Kirsten Rolle, also of the Blue Waves, with 38.

Boys 8-and-underKymani Cooper of Mako Aquatics Club with 49 points. Dylan Musgrove of Blue Waves was second with 41 and Cole Albury of the Barracuda was third with 39.

Girls 9-10 - Taylen Nicholls and Sienna Campbell, both of Mako Swim Club, took the top two spots with 61 and 55 points respectively. Sharlkette Donaldson of the Mantas Swim & Water Polo Club was third with 40.

Boys 9-10 - Nitayo Knowles of Alpha Aquatics won with 63 points. Dexter Russell of Freeport Aquatic got second with 47 and Logan Comarcho.of Alpha Aquatic was third with 33.

Girls 11-12 - Saleste Gibson of the Barracuda took the title with 63 points with Skyler Smith of Alpha Aquatic trailing with 49.

Alisaa Ferguson of the Barracuda had 45 for third.

Boys 11-12 - Christon Joseph of the Blue Waves won a closely contested battle with 56 points, followed by David Singh of the Barracuda with 54 and Harold Simmons of Mako with 53.

Girls 13-14 - Zoe Williamson of Mako topped the field with 61 points. Lelah Lewis of the Barracuda had 57 for second and her team-mate Madison Gilbert got third with 51.

Boys 13-14 - Tristen Hepburn of Alpha Aquatics took a two-point margin for the win with 63 over Donald Saunders of Lightning Aquatics with 61. Malcolm Menzies of the Black Mantas Swim Club ended up third with 49.50.

Girls 15-17 - Keianna Moss of Mako Aquatics Swim Club won with 61 points. Mia Patton of Alpha Swim Club came second with 53 and Kyana Higgs of the Barracuda Swim Club got third with 50.

Boys 15-17 - Marvin Johnson of Mako Aquatic won the title with 63 points. Ellie Gibson of Alpha Aquatic got 50 for second and Emmanuel Gadson of the Barracuda Swim Club was third with 46.

Girls 18-and-over - Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson of Alpha Aquatic was the winner with 54 points.

Katelyn Cabral of Mako Aquatic got second with 50 and Delaney Mizell of Lyford Swim Club came in third with 49.

Boys 18--and-over - Sean Longley of the Barracuda Swim Club was the winner with 48 points. Lamar Taylor of Mako Swim Club got second with 45 and Mark-Anthony Thompson of Alpha Swim Club finished third with 42.

DONALD Saunders

KATELYN Cabrel

KEIANNA Moss

KYMANI Cooper

LONGLEY and Taylor

ZOE Williamson

TAYLEN Nicolls

MARVIN Johnson