06232023 NEWS AND SPORT

‘I wIsh you rot In

jaIl’ says vIctIm

Man sentenced to 15 years for running over mother of his child

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

“I WISH you rot in jail,” a woman told the father of her child yesterday as he was jailed for 15 years for trying to kill her by running her over with a car as she held their infant.

Petra Curry addressed her attacker, Ray Sands, 34, from the witness stand in court yesterday as he appeared for sentencing.

Sands faced charges of

New recruits graduate to fanfare

attempted murder and exposing a child to grievous harm.

The incident dates back to November 15, 2021 –and video of the attack was widely shared on social media at the time. Sands drove to Petra Curry’s home to speak with her that night. After an argument, Sands headbutted the woman and dragged her in the road, pulling her hair while she

SEE page seven

Cooper: passenger Tax To be delayed To January 1, 2024

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff

Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Chester Cooper said the implementation of new passenger tax increases would be delayed to January 1, 2024. A bill the Davis administration tabled in the House of Assembly last month said the increases would take effect on July 1, 2023.

It said another fee –– a tourism enhancement levy of $2 for passengers arriving or leaving the country –– would take effect on January 1.

The Tribune understands cruise lines lobbied Mr Cooper to delay the implementation of the passenger tax increases when they met him last Friday in Florida.

In an interview with

SEE page five

l aroda: g ov T agen C ies owe nib $8m

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

MYLES Laroda, state minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, said government agencies owe $8m to the National Insurance Board.

He agreed with Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard that the Davis administration must crack down on this. His comments come after the government announced

that NIB contribution rates would increase next year.

“The government has an obligation to follow the law,” Mr Pintard told reporters yesterday. “We know that this administration, they are serial law breakers, so we have very little expectation of them following the law.”

He continued: “The government has loaned millions of dollars to NIB

SEE page four

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE University of The Bahamas said it signed a memorandum of understanding with OceanGate, the company behind a missing submersible that has captured headlines worldwide, but never collaborated with the company on any project.

“We are deeply saddened by news of the missing Titan submersible and its passengers,” the university said in a statement to The Tribune

“University of The Bahamas signed a memorandum

SEE page three

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE passport office will begin accepting applications from people affected by the landmark Privy Council ruling on citizenship as of June 26 if the applicant’s father is identified on their birth certificate.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said in a press statement yesterday that he instructed the Passport Office to begin accepting such applications affecting people born to unwed Bahamian fathers and foreign mothers.

“The ministry is working

SEE page four

oCeangaT e had mou wi T h ub bu T never CollaboraT ed

Children of unwed dads may apply for passpor T

the royal Bahamas Police Force held its graduation ceremony and passing out parade yesterday, with officers putting on a show along Bay Street and in Rawson Square. As well as music from police band members, there were displays by the motorcycle team and more as recruits ascended to the ranks of the force. See PAGE TWO for more pictures.

Photo: austin fernander

New recruits graduate to fanfare at police passing out ceremony

Photos: austin Fernander

OceanGate had MOU with UB but never collaborated

from page one

of understanding with OceanGate Inc in 2018 for potential research and educational collaboration.

However, no collaborative projects ever emerged.

“Like the rest of the world, we are watching

this event and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the five people onboard.”

The five people aboard the submersible that went missing on Sunday were presumed dead yesterday after debris from the vessel was found near the wreckage

of the Titanic. A US Coast Guard official said the debris was “consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vessel”.

Yesterday, The Tribune reported OceanGate’s ties to The Bahamas, which includes an advertisement for a $45,000 Bahamas

expedition in the Tongue of the Ocean involving the Titan submersible.

The company lists UB as a partner on its website, saying it involves “the development and execution of submersible expeditions and researchbased programmes”.

The website features

a quote from Dr Carlton Watson, the university’s dean of the faculty of pure and applied sciences, saying the partnership would “strengthen the university’s drive” in developing specialised programmes and other learning opportunities.

The Ti Tan submersible imploded, killing all 5 on board, says us Coas T guard

Associated Press

A SUBmerSIBLe carrying five people to the Titanic imploded near the site of the shipwreck and killed everyone on board, authorities said Thursday, bringing a tragic end to a saga that included an urgent around-the-clock search and a worldwide vigil for the missing vessel.

The sliver of hope that remained for finding the five men alive was wiped away early Thursday, when the submersible’s 96-hour supply of oxygen was expected to run out following its Sunday launch and the Coast Guard announced that debris had been found roughly 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the Titanic in North Atlantic waters.

“This was a catastrophic implosion of the vessel,” said rear Adm. John mauger, of the First Coast Guard District.

After the craft was reported missing, the US Navy went back and analysed its acoustic data and found an anomaly that was “consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the Titan submersible was operating when communications were lost,” a senior Navy official told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive acoustic detection system.

The Navy passed on that information to the Coast Guard, which continued its search because the Navy did not consider the data to be definitive.

OceanGate expeditions, the company that owned and operated the submersible, said in a statement that all five people in the vessel, including CeO and pilot Stockton rush, “have sadly been lost.”

The others on board were two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

“These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans,” OceanGate said in a statement. “We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.”

OceanGate has been chronicling the Titanic’s decay and the underwater ecosystem around it via yearly voyages since 2021. The company has not responded to additional questions about the Titan’s voyage this week.

The Coast Guard will continue searching for more signs about what happened to the Titan.

While the Navy likely detected the implosion Sunday through its acoustics system, underwater sounds heard Tuesday

and Wednesday — which initially gave hope for a possible rescue — were probably unrelated to the submersible. The Navy’s possible clue was not known publicly until Thursday, when The Wall Street Journal first reported it.

With a search area covering thousands of miles — twice the size of Connecticut and in waters 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) deep — rescuers all week rushed ships, planes and other equipment to the site of the disappearance. Broadcasters around the world started newscasts at the critical hour Thursday with news of the submersible. The Saudi-owned satellite channel Al Arabiya showed a clock on air counting down to their estimate of when the air could potentially run out.

The White House thanked the US Coast Guard, along with Canadian, British and French partners who helped in the search and rescue efforts.

“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives on the Titan. They have been through a harrowing ordeal over the past few days, and we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers,” it said in a statement.

The Titan launched at 6 am Sunday and was reported overdue that afternoon about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. By Thursday, when the oxygen supply was expected to run out, there was little hope of finding the crew alive.

In 2021 and 2022, at least 46 people successfully

travelled on OceanGate’s submersible to the Titanic site, according to letters the company filed with a US District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, that oversees matters involving the shipwreck. But questions about the submersible’s safety were raised by former passengers.

One of the company’s first customers likened a dive he made to the site two years ago to a suicide mission.

“Imagine a metal tube a few meters long with a sheet of metal for a floor. You can’t stand. You can’t kneel. everyone is sitting close to or on top of each other,” said Arthur Loibl, a retired businessman and adventurer from Germany. “You can’t be claustrophobic.”

During the 2 1/2-hour descent and ascent, the

lights were turned off to conserve energy, he said, with the only illumination coming from a fluorescent glow stick.

The dive was repeatedly delayed to fix a problem with the battery and the balancing weights. In total, the voyage took 10 1/2 hours.

Nicolai roterman, a deep-sea ecologist and lecturer in marine biology at the University of Portsmouth, england, said the disappearance of the Titan highlights the dangers and unknowns of deep-sea tourism.

“even the most reliable technology can fail, and therefore accidents will happen,” roterman said. “With the growth in deep-sea tourism, we must expect more incidents like this.”

OceanGate Expeditions Titan submersible is suspected to have imploded with five people on board.

In this satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies, from top to bottom, the vessels Horizon Arctic, Deep Energy and Skandi Vinland search for the missing submersible Titan, Tyesterday in the Atlantic Ocean.

Photo:Satellite image ©2023 Maxar technologies/AP

Children of unwed dads may apply for passport

closely with the Office of the Attorney General and will further advise the public on any amendments or procedural changes regarding the issuance of travel documents as a result of the decision of the Privy Council to uphold the judgment made by the Supreme Court Chief Justice Ian Winder in 2020 in Shannon Tyreck Rolle and four others,” according to the press statement.

Attorney General Ryan Pinder told reporters on Tuesday that affected by the ruling whose father is not identified on their birth certificate must produce genetic test results proving paternity to get a passport.

FoREIgn Affairs Minister

Fred Mitchell said in a press statement yesterday that he instructed the Passport Office to begin accepting such applications affecting people born to unwed Bahamian fathers and foreign mothers.

results and only down so many generations in these types of questions.”

Kingsley Smith, the chief passport officer, said accepting the applications of people affected by the Privy Council’s ruling and the usual applications will be challenging.

He said his office is preparing to deal with the challenge.

He said officials are considering work shifts “that go into the night” to deal with the influx of applications.

in those circumstances and we’re working with the Ministry of Health to properly define that protocol,” he said. “As you can imagine, it has to be by way of certified laboratories and properly recognised DNA

“Those persons renewing an e-passport don’t have to come in,” he added. “If they are 15 or over, we would encourage those persons to use an online portal to make sure those persons who have to come in, there are slots available for them.”

Laroda: Government a G encies owe ni B $8m

from page one

“We’re looking at a protocol involving DNA evidence to other government agencies. What is the payment schedule with respect to that, because we definitely need to know which departments, which agencies have not repaid the government. All of that has to go in tandem with the rate that has been announced.”

Responding yesterday, Mr Laroda said: “The prime minister, the leader of the opposition and myself, we are all on one accord on that. The government should lead on being compliant.”

“The ones who have promissory notes, there have been agreements. I can’t give an exact date. But they, the prime minister, has made it very much an urgency. And I think, if I’m not mistaken, maybe two of those funds would be coming from finance or it wouldn’t be as if they would

be sent in to us. Those funds would be sent directly from the Ministry of Finance. And so those payments would be insured.”

Mr Laroda reiterated that multiple contribution rate

increases would be needed to stabilise NIB.

“It wouldn’t be ad infinitum until we are at 100 per cent,” he said. “There will be multiple increases. Let’s just use a figure, it’s

going to be eight per cent in total. So, rather than put the whole thing out, we do it incrementally and so it doesn’t create such a shock.

“So 1.5 per cent for the

minimum wage person at $260 is $1.95 per week. The person on $740, which is the highest insurable wage, their portion along with the employee will be $5.55. And so if you do it incrementally,

it’s not as shocking as if you just try and go to that figure that will put you in a position where, within one year or two years, you will be in a position financially to stop bleeding.”

Pm is waitin G on detaiL s from Ur B an r enewa L on GUn a mnesty initiative

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he is awaiting details from Urban Renewal regarding a gun amnesty initiative.

State Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said the government would declare a two-week gun amnesty. Asked about this yesterday, Mr Davis was unable to give specifics.

“The gun amnesty is an initiative that Urban Renewal thinks they should implement,” he said.

“I understand that they are having discussions with the commissioner of police,

and I am awaiting their conclusions on the matter and once I get that we will see how it works.”

He couldn’t give a timeline for when the initiative between Urban Renewal and Royal Bahamas Police would be launched.

Ms Rahming discussed the initiative during her contribution to the budget debate. She noted 168 firearms and 5,339 rounds of ammunition have been recovered this year, 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.”

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said yesterday he is also awaiting further details from Urban Renewal.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he is awaiting details from Urban Renewal regarding a gun amnesty initiative.

MYLES LaRoda, state minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, said government agencies owe $8m to the National Insurance Board.

Davis and Pintard clash over $1bn pre-election difference in Minnis administration report

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip

“Brave” Davis and Opposition Leader Michael Pintard clashed in the House of Assembly yesterday after government MPs rehashed accusations that the Minnis administration did not reveal accurate figures about the government’s true liabilities in a pre-election fiscal report.

Tensions rose between the two sides after Central and South Andros MP Leon

Lundy laid contents of a report from the Deloitte firm which, he claimed, showed a $1bn difference in the former government’s pre-election report and the country’s actual liabilities.

He said the documents supported comments made in an earlier sitting by Centreville MP Jomo Campbell.

However, East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson denied the allegations yesterday.

He said: “The allegation that the other side has put was that the ministry

of finance said there was one billion dollars worth of expenses that was left out of the pre-election report. They also said that the Deloitte report backed up this allegation.”

“The Deloitte report does not back up that allegation. The Deloitte report specifically says that there was a different of interpretation of the law as to what was required. It also said that the previous administration had a specific interpretation as to what should be included in the pre-election report and

Cooper: passenger Tax T o be delayed T o January 1, 2024

from page one

Travel Weekly, Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said she hoped for a delay in the tax increase.

“They’ve made certain representations,” Mr Cooper told reporters yesterday. “We’ve taken those into consideration. The prime minister and I have spoken. We will speak at our cabinet level. One of the issues were that they wanted to be able to recapture all of the taxes from their customers, etc. I won’t go into all of the details in terms of what their representations were. Suffice to say, we’ve already given a seven-month delay in the implementation of the tax.

“The tax does not go into force until January 2024, and that’s been a sevenmonth notice period. So I don’t have anything else to say at this point except that they are important partners as are all of our

stakeholders in the cruise business, but our taxes are essential to build roads and schools and docks and to revitalise Bay Street.”

The government aims to nearly triple revenues earned from departing cruise passengers, projecting $145m in revenue in the 2023-2024 budget, up from $50m in the current fiscal year.

Asked if delaying the tax increases could affect the government’s revenue projections, Mr Cooper insisted the government’s anticipated date for implementation was always January 1, 2024, despite what was in the bill tabled in the House of Assembly.

“The intended date of the tax is and always was January 1, 2024,” he said. “It’s always been that. That’s factored into the revenues, and as it stands, that’s the date for implementation.”

During his contribution to the Budget debate on Wednesday, opposition

leader Michael Pintard criticised the July 1, 2023, implementation date for the passenger tax increases.

“While everyone believes that the passengers who take cruises through The Bahamas should contribute more to our economy, the government must be careful not to raise too much too fast with the effect that the cruise companies are minded to take their passengers to less expensive destinations,” he said.

“In addition, cruise companies typically pass government taxes and port fees straight through to their customers. By making the effective date of almost all of these new taxes July 1, 2023, one month after being proposed, the cruise companies will not be able to pass these increased taxes through to cruise passengers who have already booked and paid for their cruises.”

this administration had a different interpretation of what should be included.”

He was supported by Marco City MP Michael Pintard who denied that the Minnis administration left behind $1bn in unpaid bills.

But, Mr Davis shot back and called the opposition leader “disingenuous”.

He said: “The character of the member is continually revealing itself. It does not match his words. I say now that he is being very disingenuous who is suggesting that there was not near a

billion dollars outstanding right and that report speaks to that.”

Mr Pintard said the opposition never disputed the amounts that were owed.

He said they disagreed with the prime minister “seeking to mislead the public” that the Minnis administration was obligated to include that in the pre-election report. “He has now modified his position,” Mr Pintard said. “His original position is they couldn’t find this one billion. Now all of a sudden, it is simply obligations.”

l eaders paying respeCT s To Former mp george smi T h and Family

THE Governor General, His Excellency Sir Cornelius A. Smith (top), Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Philip ‘Brave’ Davis (middle), and Opposition Leader Michael Pintard, sign the Government’s Book of Condolence for the late Hon. George A. Smith, Signatory to the Constitution, Former Cabinet Minister, Parliamentarian and Diplomat, at ceremonies in the Foyer of the House of Assembly on yesterday. A State Funeral will be held Friday morning, June 23, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, West Hill Street.

Photos:Patrick Hanna/BIS

The Tribune Limited

Why the silence as rape rises

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ONCe again, I find it necessary to ask for space in your daily to voice a nagging concern. I read in the news a few days ago that crime is down, but rape is UP. That headline stood out and peaked a lot of interest and left unanswered questions for me.

The world’s eyes on submersible search

THe world’s attention focused over the past few days on the lives of five people in a submersible deep under the ocean seeking to visit the wreck of the Titanic. The story did not have a happy ending. Yesterday, rescuers admitted that all five are dead – and likely the end came not with an agonising wait for rescue as air ran out, but in an instant, with the crushing depths bringing an implosion that likely killed all on board in less than a second.

Questions have already been raised about the safety of the vessel – and not just in hindsight, but with members of the undersea exploration community having raised concerns before the incident.

Movie director James Cameron –who directed the film Titanic and who has himself spent many hours exploring the wreck of the vessel – compared the tragedy to that of the famous ship itself, noting the many warnings that were ignored by OceanGate, the company who operated the vessel. He said it was similar to the captain of the Titanic ignoring the news that an ice pack was ahead and proceeding at full speed on a moonless night toward disaster.

Many of these questions are for the international community at large, but we have a few questions of particular relevance to The Bahamas – for it was here that some of the testing was done, and it was here that OceanGate offered trips too. Those came at a high price – many thousands of dollars – but OceanGate was aiming at the rich adventurer. Those on board the imploded vessel were billionaires, not paupers.

Quite what safety assurances were given for those trips in our waters is unclear. what licences were approved remains unresolved. If there has indeed been negligence by the company, was it just luck that stopped it being in our waters?

Then there are the partnerships and link-ups the company announced. Its website touts a partnership with the University of The Bahamas that the university, in today’s Tribune, says never really materialised. In yesterday’s Tribune, the dean quoted on the company’s website pointed reporters not to the

current head of the university, nor to the one just departed but to the one before that, Dr Rodney Smith. Similarly, a partnership was touted by the company with the Island School in Cape eleuthera, but when the school was contacted they said there was a conversation but nothing ever went further.

How many of these supposed partnerships take place that never really go anywhere – and what was the purpose of seeking them in the first place? Did having a partnership with the university touted on its website lend the company an air of authenticity when courting customers? Or was it simply a photo opportunity that no one ever followed up?

we do not ask this just for this particular case – over the years there are constant photographs of hands being shaken, pledges being made, memoranda being signed. Remember the much-vaunted Dubai trip the government took? what tangible benefits came of that? Remember the pledge conference after Hurricane Dorian where actual donations were thin on the ground but big numbers were touted because of proposed loans that never amounted to anything?

To what extent do such things really benefit the Bahamian people? Or are they just tick boxes on the to-do list of the would-be investor who doesn’t need to follow through?

In the end, here we are left with a disaster that many say was avoidable, followed by an intense search the likes of which is not done when the vessel is full of migrants rather than billionaires.

Our own part in proceedings may be minor, but there for the grace of God it might have been our nation’s waters where the tragedy took place. Had we done all we could to avoid it? Are we doing all we can to ensure other partnerships accurately reflect the relationships between companies and our national entities?

we pay our respects to the lives that have been lost. There will, no doubt, be a full accounting of the decisions that were made, the advice that was ignored. A full accounting of our own involvement with this company would not go amiss.

Rape is up and what are we, as a nation, doing to eradicate this heinous crime? why is the silence so deafening? Over the past two months, we have heard of several acts of rape and sex crimes committed, including that of a woman against a teen boy.

Today the news of a teen boy raping an 83-yearold woman was shared on the crime news. It is despicable and we are not standing together to push and enforce stricter laws for acts of violence against women and children. we have so many activists that are agitating for various causes, but the safety and well-being of people should never play second fiddle.

A new budget is being debated and still not enough being allocated for safe-houses or facilities to protect women and children in crisis. Still not enough being allocated for the education of young men and women to deal with conflict resolution and not enough allocated for the rehabilitation of offenders. Priorities must shift if we are to move forward. we must stand up to our lawmakers and cry shame on wasted travel funds. wasted entertainment funds. we must speak up for funds and provisions to be properly allocated for Social Services and shelters and we must follow through until it happens. we call ourselves a tourist destination, but what happens if we become

blacklisted as a crime-ridden destination and tourist no longer feel safe to visit?

what happens if our little country is called lawless?

It is good when we hear that the perpetrators are arrested and charged within days of committing such acts, but what message do we send when a Member of Parliament can continue to evade being charged because all “I’s” must be dotted and all “T’s” must be crossed. Is the process longer because of status or the other alleged offenders have a different process.

Certainly they must think that if he can do it and get away with it, then why can’t they. where are the voices of women, organisations and the church? Does it have to touch home before it is addressed? what information is so difficult to gather that this man cannot and has not been charged after all this time? The alleged victim has indicated emotional distress as well as the physical abuse afflicted. All victims are often left damaged in some way. Can you imagine the psychological trauma that 83-year-old is going through right now?

Can you imagine the emotional damage suffered by that 13-year-old boy? Rape is up and that is only the ones that are reported. we live in a society where it is not always good or safe to speak up. This must stop. every police station should have officers who are trained to handle domestic violence and sex crimes and these officers should be “on call” when not “on shift” to handle cases 24-7. we should have the comfort of safety when seeking help at the Police Stations. For the most part, officers are empathetic but there is room for improvement. Female officers should be trained to deal with rape victims and such victims

should and must not be subjected to harsh and crude treatment or questions from male officers. we must take this seriously. Rape and sex crimes against women, girls and boys should not be subject to bail and should carry stiffer penalties. No one should be above the law and once a complaint is made, the alleged offender, once known, should be questioned. If the alleged offender is unidentified, and a search is launched, then and only then, should it take weeks or months to charge someone. Rape is up should not be a headline. No crime should be condoned but crime against women and children should be a priority, and sex-offenders should be known, especially the repeat offenders. we must stop talking about the rights of convicted offenders and protect the rights of the innocent victims that fall prey to these monsters. A Sex-Offenders Registry should be in place for public access regardless of who is on the list. Victims Rights should be protected and information that may prevent incidents should be readily available. As we travel this road to 50, let us be pro-active with legislation, laws, policies, amendments, etc. to allow the sustainability of peaceful shores that we can be proud to call home. A land where we can freely roam without fear of lawlessness and crime. A land that will truly be the gem of the region. I call on all women … let us fight for our rights. Let us fight to protect our children and those yet unborn. we can do it … we must do it.

VANESSA A SCOTT, JP Nassau, June 20, 2023

The time to draw the line is now

EDITOR,

A F ew minutes ago, I observed a young man walking past my residence uttering profanities with every step he took. No, his expletives were not directed at me or anyone in the vicinity. He was unaware of my presence, there, alone on my neighbour’s porch. No one else was in sight. He was clearly “talkin’ out of his head” to himself.

This young, delirious person is not the only one in this neighbourhood who wanders around with obvious mental/emotional issues. In fact, this condition appears to be on the increase here and throughout the land.

In the days of Maxwell Thompson’s court, five-pound-words could not be carelessly uttered in public places. Today, those five-pound-words (without inflation) would cost the users about $15 each. Ok, not much, but to have police officers citing such violations alone would result in a constant overflow of funds into the Public Treasury. But, I digress.

Recently, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that vagrants and other undesirables/questionable

characters will no longer be allowed to disturb the good peace on Bay Street. So far, I have not heard the expectant backlash to his statements. I did, however, hear some murmurings on one or two radio talk shows about profiling and infringement of some people’s rights. In any case, a line seems to have been drawn on Bay Street, but exactly where do we all draw a line throughout the rest of the nation remains the bigger question.

Drawing the line for this country should not be at all like hop-scotch. No hopping and skipping about, in avoidance of the lines, as many among us are wont to do.

Are certifiable crazy people able to roam our streets and everywhere else totally unrestricted?

Are they only to come to our attention when something tragic happens? Or, do we wait for some personal encounter before we take notice or action?

Sometimes, these people crying out for our correction and assistance are dismissed with the comment “Oh, he/ she must not have taken their meds today.” Are we to wait for some major

incident to happen before necessary treatment is addressed? It seems crazy to me that we maintain that reactive posture, rather than proactive efforts, while looking for different outcomes.

Recently NYC initiated a task force to involuntarily remove mentally ill and homeless people from public places (parks, subways, streets, etc). You may google the particulars for insights which might be instructive for our situation.

Looking around, and at my watch, I would say that it’s high time, if not after time, that we, Bahamians, collectively draw the line as to what is to be socially acceptable with regards to those among us who are clearly in need of special care and attention. The fuses are lit and smoldering. These people pose potential dangers to themselves and to us. we may continue to conveniently turn a blind-eye and join in the singing of “Que sera, sera”, or draw the line somewhere.

MB Nassau, June 22, 2023.

$247k budgeted to help push for more inclusion for disabled people

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

SOCIAL Services Minister

Obie Wilchcombe announced his ministry’s plans yesterday to push for more inclusion of disabled people in The Bahamas, with $247,000 budgeted for the initiative.

He said the figure was a major jump from the initial $147,000 that was budgeted.

He said for far too long, the country has not been moving with haste to recognise the needs of the community.

“We intend to get more facilities,” said Mr Wilchcombe. “We intend to call for more public relations to be done. Public relations because we have to ensure that they understand their rights and we have a greater appreciation in our country of the disabled.”

“And the numbers in our country, we don’t know. We’ve gone to some of our

‘I w Ish you rot In ja Il’ says VIct Im

from page one

held their one-year-old daughter. When onlookers separated the two, Sands entered his Nissan Note and ran over Ms Curry before crashing into a wall.

Ms Curry suffered from multiple broken bones and ribs, and road rash.

In his latest court appearance, Sands accepted a plea deal negotiated by his attorney Joel Seymour and pleaded guilty to the offence.

When the judge asked him what he thought about

his actions, he said nothing.

Ms Curry was asked if she wanted to address him, and she limped to the witness stand.

On the verge of tears, she said she doesn’t remember the incident but believes she would have died that day if not for bystanders. She told Sands taking the plea deal was the easy way out.

“Me and my child could have been dead,” she said.

“I don’t know how I’m still alive. My life will never be the same and you took the easy way out by taking this plea deal. I wish you rot in

jail.”

Justice Turner told the convict his prison sentence would have been much steeper if he were convicted following a lengthy trial.

Sands was sentenced to 15 years for the attempted murder charge and four years for the grievous harm charge to be served concurrently. The judge noted that the one year and seven months Sands spent in prison would be deducted from his sentence. While on remand, Sands will be enrolled in anger management classes.

m an charged In k Ill Ing of two people on m arket s treet last year held In ja Il

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was charged yesterday with killing two people last year on Market Street.

Shanton Swain, 22, was charged with two counts of murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

Swain allegedly shot and killed Leonardo Collie and Theodore Thompson while they stood on Market Street on March 17, 2022.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He is expected to return to court on July 6 to get a trial date. Until then, he will remain on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Another man was fined for breaching his bail while released for a pending murder charge and an alleged botched bid to kill a police officer.

Lorenzo Wilson, 25, was charged with five counts of bail violation.

He was granted bail while awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in the death of Deano Gordon and the attempted murder of

Superintendent Johnson on Hampton Street in 2020.

While on release for those charges, between March 27 and April 9, Wilson breached his court-ordered residential curfew five times.

After pleading guilty to the charges, he was fined $2,500. He will face six months in prison if he fails to pay. He was also placed on 18 months probation. If found in default, he could face a nine-month prison term.

He is expected to pay $600 of his fine before his release, with the remaining balance to be paid off by June 29.

‘I d I dn’t s I gn up for no VBI’ says man accused of sexual assualt

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN refused to enter a plea after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman on a beach last year.

Jason Pinder, 45, was charged with assault with intent to rape.

Pinder allegedly assaulted a 23-year-old woman intending to rape her on Montagu Beach on July 22, 2022.

The accused refused to plea to the offence, saying: “I didn’t sign up for no VBI.” The court entered a not

guilty plea and told Pinder his matter was transferred to Justice Franklyn Williams.

The accused is expected to appear before Justice Williams for a trial date fixture on July 6 at 10am until which time he will remain in prison.

islands just to be surprised to find out that there is disabled and we have to find ways in which we can assist and that’s the work we’re trying to do.”

“I want to thank the member for Cat Island, the Minister of Finance, as their budget has gone from $147,000 to $247,000 - an incredible jump in the figures.”

He said his ministry would start its public relations campaign very shortly.

Dr Deborah Bartlett, a veteran journalist, will be assisting in this regard, Mr Wilchcombe added.

He said not enough people know about his ministry’s work.

“We must have more on the media. We must utilise our space more so we’ve asked Debbie Bartlett to join us to help us develop a communications programme that would help us reach more children,” he added.

Wilchcombe said for far too long, the country has not been moving with haste to recognise the needs of the community

Important to seize the day as Eleuthera poised for growth

THE secret is out. Eleuthera – our beautiful island of freedom famed for its Glass Window Bridge and sweet sugar loaf (pineapples) is seeing unprecedented growth in tourism and development. Several weeks ago, I was given an opportunity to co-moderate the Eleuthera Business Outlook (EBO) that was organised by Joan Albury of the TCL Group and the Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce. There were many presentations pointing to the emerging opportunities linked to developments currently taking place and those slated for Eleuthera in the near future.

Since 2020, the island of freedom has been rated the second most visited destination for foreign air arrivals in The Bahamas. At the EBO, Director of Aviation and Deputy Director General of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, Dr Kenneth Romer, confirmed that Eleuthera clinched the number two spot in foreign air arrivals in The Bahamas for 2022 with 80,662 guest arrivals, while Exuma followed with 78,850. Even for domestic flights, there has been a noticeable increase. Gone are the days when I could rely on the luxury of securing a same-day or lastminute flight headed into or out of Eleuthera. While moderating the EBO, it was evident that Eleuthera is poised for continued growth.

It is anticipated that the island will continue to see increased opportunities in the fields of hospitality and construction and in other areas like Airbnb

By Keyron Smith

rentals and real estate, which are currently experiencing shocks. While there are increased real estate opportunities, these shifts have created some unexpected challenges, such as increased costs and housing shortages. These kinds of shifts allow us to see how growth brings anticipated and unexpected benefits as well as challenges.

At the EBO, we expounded on potential opportunities. Still, one of

the critical factors for sustaining this growth is the need for the people and island of Eleuthera to be ready to seize the moment. Some of the key factors we must tackle to take advantage of this impending growth include the enhancement of our local workforce capacity through training, the improvement of the local energy infrastructure in terms of power generation, which also impacts our water supply

and the current housing shortage which is a barrier for those interested in relocating to explore new job opportunities. These are just a few of the constraints and challenges we face as an island and issues that also impact us at a national level.

In speaking with many entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry in Eleuthera, one of the major challenges is finding reliable, professionally trained staff. “People create memories, not things. If we ask guests what colour the carpet was in their guest room, they probably won’t know. The real value comes from the ladies and gentlemen who bring that hotel to life. Ten percent is the platform, but the rest is people.” — Simon Cooper, former chief operating officer and president of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC. In short, people who provide exceptional service and warm, genuine connections can be found at the heart of every memorable hospitality experience. In fact, over the years, Eleuthera’s tradition of friendly and authentic Bahamian hospitality has played a key role in ensuring return visitors and converting former guests into second homeowners who have become contributing members of our local communities.

Our ability to sustain Eleuthera’s growth will depend on our ability to provide opportunities for people to improve their skills, particularly in the hospitality industry, and to fill the technical skills gaps that exist. We must continue training the people in our communities so that they can fully participate and attain upward mobility. One Eleuthera Foundation and the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) have seen the importance and impact of providing training to our local communities. Our social investment in education to build local capacity has resulted in 95 percent of our alumni being employed and 85 percent being employed in a related field of study. Many of our alumni have gone on to make a greater impact at their workplaces or start their own businesses, which ultimately advances the island’s economic and social growth.

Inadequate power is another significant pain point for residents and business owners across Eleuthera. In preparation

expan- sion, we must drive solutions to address our energy challenges, including the use of alternative sources of power like solar generation. New developments like Jack’s Bay, Ritz Carlton, and Disney’s Lighthouse Point will undoubtedly increase our island’s power needs. Many of the modern developers and builders on the island are now investing in their own energy supply systems to offset their power needs. In many instances, some of these developments can support the local energy demand by generating additional power that can be pushed back to the grid.

Kelsey

Jack, of the University of California, discusses the idea that energy infrastructure is essential to economic growth and development since it supports the delivery of private and public services and that “it may directly improve household wellbeing as well as create efficiency gains, such as in time savings, communication, and educational investments”. While these energy advancements are not simple or cheap, they are long-term solutions we must continue exploring for long-term sustainability. Finding affordable housing in Eleuthera has become a taxing hunt for persons relocating to accept new job opportunities on the island. This is due to the increased demand for housing and Airbnb rentals. The increases in the Airbnb market are not unique to Eleuthera. AirDNA- a vacation rental research company – highlights that vacation rentals of total rooms sold in The Bahamas more than doubled to 290,770 in 2021. With the rise in costs for housing, a one-bedroom monthly rental can range from $750 to $3,000 on the island, depending on where you plan to stay and the amenities included. Overall, the availability of housing rentals and family dwellings is very low, and those remaining on the market are priced out of range for the average renter. As Jit Kumar Gupta states, “Housing has

become the defining economic issue of our times. In addition to being a fundamental need of an individual, housing is an economic engine for lowincome families as it plays a vital role in the growth and development of the family, the community, and the country.” Moving forward, it will be essential to invest in housing programmes and solutions that can provide affordable housing options to meet the current and future demand and support the expansion of our local workforce. It is said that success happens when preparation meets opportunity. Today, Eleuthera is seeing and experiencing growth and new opportunities on both ends of the island, not just in the North, which has benefited most in recent years. We can anticipate that other Family Islands will also see this kind of growth as people are looking for more community-based experiences and destinations to experience culturally rich “local living” and life outside the city.

I believe that we should prepare ourselves for the boom, especially by deepening investments in education and training, improved infrastructure, and more housing developments. We are living in an exciting and pivotal time when we can truly empower our communities. Still, we must commit to and invest in strategic, innovative, and progressive initiatives that support our population and collective vision for a sustainable and equitable future for Eleuthera and The Bahamas.

• Keyron Smith is the chief operating officer at the One Eleuthera Foundation and Centre for Training and Innovation. Established in 2012, the One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) is a nonprofit organisation located in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. For more information, visit www.oneeleuthera.org or email info@oneeleuthera. org. The Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) is the first and only postsecondary, non-profit education and training institution and social enterprise on Eleuthera. CTI operates a student training campus in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, with a 16-room training hotel, restaurant and farm. For more information about CTI’s programmemes email: info@oneeleuthera.org

of One Eleuthera Foundation

Keyron Smith

Keyron Smith (right), COO of Cape Eleuthera Foundation, was co-moderator for Eleuthera Business Outlook, an event of TCL Group’s Joan Albury (2nd from left). Central and South Eleuthera MP Clay Sweeting (2nd from right) also attended.

We’ve never had stricter environmental legislation nor more disrespect for our land, water or our view

We can dress up all we want and glorify the 50th anniversary of independence, but if we do not care, truly care, about the people and the surroundings we call our community, we are throwing a party for the sake of throwing a party.

What has happened to us?

Where did the ‘we’ go who respected our elders, our beliefs, our surroundings?

how did it all slip away so that one day it was okay to backtalk a teacher, another it was funny to make your little sister cry, another to abuse the environment?

Let’s just talk about the last one, the environment. Seriously talk about it.

Never have we had stricter environmental legislation and welcome rigorous regulations nor more disrespect for our waters, our land and our view.

Never have we abused that which we pretend to love more.

Who gave BtC permission to cloud the landscape with oversized signs touting its sunny internet?

Who gave Rentokil the right to splatter pictures of dead rodents all over the roadways?

and if BtC has the right to do so, will Cable or aLIV be far behind? Does BtC really believe that a large sign will sway a customer to drop one service and sign up for another? Or does the company not realise that customers base preferences on value and service? Shouting at me doesn’t build loyalty. I have no horse in this race at all but if you are going to offend me with obtrusive signage everywhere I am tempted to translate BtC into Better try Cable.

By Diane Phillips

Of course, the communications company is not alone is thinking billboard blasting is a sign of the times. Maybe even worse given its messaging is Rentokil.

hello, Rentokil, have you thought about what your messaging about killing rats and roaches does, the vibes it sends, the picture it portrays to locals and visitors, like we live in a world of rats and roaches and we had better call on someone fast to murder them?

I even saw a Rentokil sign along a beautiful stretch of roadway in Eleuthera. Just what residents or visitors cannot wait to see, the giant image of a dead rodent rising against the backdrop of lush greenery on a Family Island. If you think the rodent is offensive, what exactly is our emotional reaction to dead rodents the size of small tVs? how about reworking your messaging if you really want to make friends and build a better mousetrap?

It isn’t only signs that offend. among the most horrific of all infractions that go unpunished is the explosion of boats and barges on

the northwestern shore of arawak Cay across from the old Sand trap.

In what could be a scenic area, heavy equipment jostles for space with tossed propane gas cylinders, abandoned vessels, barges in every variety of condition, small and large boats that will never see the sea again but whose batteries might still be leaching acid into the water, mechanics’ workshops, makeshift or otherwise, where no one is checking to see how waste is handled. Who is responsible for this area and where did the respect for the environment go? that stretch of waterfront has the potential to be a showpiece though its chances for glory might be well over after the abuse it’s taken.

Or look at Bay Street where too many signs are totally out of proportion for an historic district. Bright paint cannot compensate for years of neglect. the single fastest improvement that would positively transform the face of Bay Street is signage. Just imagine if all the gawdy, tacky signage were ripped out and in its place was white marble and gold embossed

The Bahamian whose face graced TV

historic signage with the name of the business and where applicable information about the building, when it was built, of what materials or how thick the walls are or historic event to which it was a party or important witness. Imagine

the Instagram potential, the promotion by selfie. We can dress up all we want and glorify the 50th anniversary of independence, but if we do not care, truly care, about the people and the surroundings we call our community, we are throwing a party for the

sake of throwing a party. If the 50th is not just marking a day in the calendar of history but carving a path for the future, let’s start at home with respect – respect for our seniors, our sisters, our teachers, and yes, respect for our land and our waters.

SOMEtIMES a friendly face and a special smile can make a day.

If you follow golf or accidentally turned on the tV last weekend and happened to catch the moment when a tall man with a familiar face presented the coveted US Open golf championship trophy to a joyous Wyndham Clark, that was Fred Perpall. a Bahamian born in Nassau, Perpall is the first black person ever to head the USGa he lives in Dallas where he is CEO of the Beck Group, an

international architectural, design, construction and real estate development firm. although he has lived there for more than a decade, Perpall returns to the Bahamas often, and last year helped make tee off for hunger, the golf tournament to raise funds for the Bahamas Feeding Network, a huge success. that event will be held again this year so watch for details, but most importantly, consider this: Perpall started with middle class but humble beginnings, earned a Lyford Cay Foundation scholarship,

attended the College of the Bahamas before going on to the University of texas at arlington and harvard and rising quietly to the top and to head the previously allwhite led USGa

Elsewhere the eyes might have been on the winner of the championship, Clark, who at 29 walked away with $3.6m of the $20m purse. But for Fred’s friends and acquaintances in Nassau, the tV camera captured the star, the man who makes all of us proud just by being who he is and what he stands for.

Fred Perpall nominated to be president of USGA, would be first Black man to hold the post in association’s century-long history

Photo: Grant Halverson/USGA

LarGe billboard signs clutter the landscape obscuring our view of the native beauty across many roadways; meanwhile, potentially tranquil scenary along the shore near Arawak Cay is littered with boats and barges and abandoned vessels in questionable condition.

BOYS BRIGADE

AFTER a three-year gap because of COVID-19, the 16th Summer Day Camp returns with daily sessions from 9am to 4pm, August 8-18.

Targeting boys from the Boys’ Brigade, surrounding community and churches and boys under the age of 16 wanting to join the Boys’ Brigade and Summer Camp, the camp aims to bring back Christian-based discipline to our boys by training in sports and the arts, preparing them to cope with the challenges of the teenage years.

The Boys’ Brigade, being the oldest uniformed Christian organisation for boys, attempts to instill good conduct and good habits by its programme of physical, educational, social and spiritual methods.

The camp seeks partners to carry out its two-week programme and will gratefully accept any assistance rendered. This can include a sponsorship fee of $25 per boy. The camp will be held at the Saint John’s Native Baptist Church Educational Building, and nearby playing facilities.

It includes: Hikes, art, crafts and hobbies (Bahamian boats and marine life), lectures on conflict resolutions, discipline, life skills and careers, reading (remedial) and arithmetic, speech and poetry reading competitions, sports such as basketball, table tennis and games, social studies and cooking and tours of famous facilities. There will be daily devotion and meals, Bible study, training and drill, awards and T-shirts.

For details, contact Lt Ellis Bodie-Young, director, on (242) 393-4132 or email ellisyoung2@ outlook.com.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF THE BAHAMAS

The 40th anniversary of the Horticultural Society of The Bahamas (HSB) gala celebrated the 13 presidents guiding the popular green-fingered group since its founding in 1983 by Sara Bardelmeier. Eleven HSB presidents are still alive and active. Ten of them attended and spoke at the luncheon on June 10 at the Nassau Yacht Club ballroom which was draped in symbolic SeaGrapes (both real and balloon sculptures) Amazing orchids on every table were special take home prizes.

The 13 HSB presidents honoured are: (alphabetically) Barbara Archer, Sara Bardelmeier (founding President, deceased), Dorie Bowleg, Eric Butler, Alma Evans, Cynthia Gibbs, Shirlene Godet, Rosemary Hanna, Stephanie Harding, David Higgs (deceased), Sarah Lobosky, Dail Pearce and Cindy Wilde.

President Pearce served as Master of Ceremonies for the sold-out HSB Celebration, masterfully organised by Beryl Sheasby and her committee.

The organizing committee for the 40th anniversary luncheon included: Beryl Sheasby (Chairperson), Dail Pearce, Sarah Lobosky, Pam Palacious Seyfert, Georgette Dames, Cindy Wilde, assisted by Jillian Ferreira, Stephanie Harding, Robin Symonette and Camille Cleare.

The HSB Executive Board members for 2022-24 are:

President - Dail Pearce, 1st Vice President - Pamela Palacious Seyfret, 2nd Vice President – Vacant, Treasurer - Sarah Lobosky, Asst Treasurer - Joanna Robertson, Secretary - Georgette Dames, Asst. Secretary - Barbara Hepburn, Historian - Dorie Bowleg, Asst Historian - Kent Lightbourne.

President Pearce summed up:

“This was not just a flawless celebration of our very productive past in broadening the interest and knowledge of gardening in The Bahamas, but an affirmation of our bright future, with new young members and a strong new executive board.”

He added: “Now, the HSB needs some land and a home of its own.”

Sheasby, John Howson and Eric Butler) in 1993 as part of its 10th anniversary; sent five members to San Salvador to advise on the quincentennial celebrations in 1992; landscaped the Southern side gardens of the Cancer Caring Centre (chaired by Cindy Wilde) 2004; beautification of “Green Hell” at The Bahamas National Trust “Retreat Garden” (chaired by Cindy Wilde) 2009; naming of trees and plants at Sapodilla Restaurant and Estate; and planting a portion of the “Sculpture Trail” garden at the National Art Gallery 2017.

JOIN THE CLUB

Most famous for its gigantic annual HSB plant sale (first held in 1988 in the garden of Berta Sands, and since 1998 at the BNT Retreat, Village Rd.), the HSB also has: Held seven major shows of horticultural excellence and a first mini show in 1985 chaired by Nora Saul and hosted by Madlene Lenssen; donated funds to the Bahama National Trust towards the purchase of land now known as The Primeval Forest National Park 1991; helped replant the gardens of Government House and replanted and beautified the Queen’s Staircase (chaired by Sara Parker, co-chaired by Beryl

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

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

The very first HSB field trip was a Bush Walk in 1984, led by Barbara Brown and HSB founder member Oris Russell to view native trees and plants on the Oakes property. The Society also organised field trips to: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, Coral Gable 1985; A nature Walk in the Bush, led by Joseph Lleida, an expert on local orchids 1989; Redlands Fruit and Spice Park, Fla. 1991, Abaco in 1995, Harbour Island; Marsh Harbour 2010, Abaco Horticultural Society 2014, World Bromeliad Conferences Orlando 96, Houston 98 (where HSB member Janet Brown swept top awards including Best in Show, while Eric Butler and Rosemary Hanna clerked alongside the official

judges), San Francisco 2000, St Petersburg, Fla. 2002, Chicago 2004, San Diego 2006, Cairns Australia 2008, New Orleans where Beryl Sheasby was a speaker on “Landscaping with Bromeliads” 2010, Orlando with David Higgs and Dail Pearce as accredited Bromeliad Society Judges 2012.

Of the Bromeliad Conference trips, the first three were organised by Beryl Sheasby, an HSB member for 39 years, acting as historian for the first 18 years. The HSB is an affiliate of the World Bromeliad Society.

In 2010, The HSB was the host for a major field trip the “Ramble of all Rambles” when 31 members of the Bromeliad Society of Broward County celebrated their 45th anniversary by traveling to Nassau to visit the gardens of Janet Brown, David and Beryl Sheasby and Gordon and Cindy Wilde.

The HSB had 38 founding members in 1983. By 1987, 80 members were registered and in 1994, the number hit 100. By Its 25th Anniversary in 2009, the HSB had 200 members, from all walks of life. March 7, 2020, was the last meeting of the HSB before the Covid 19 shutdown. Meetings resumed April 2, 2022, to cheers in the Camperdown garden of treasurer Sarah Lobosky. The HSB now has 99 registered members, about 70 percent attended the 40th Anniversary Luncheon.

HSB meetings are held on the first Saturday of each month from September to June, usually in a member’s garden. Members donate plants and garden items to a raffle table, which is a valuable source of income for the HSB. Refreshments are served.

The HSB welcomes anyone interested in its objectives:

1. To bring together people interested in horticulture who want to become more knowledgeable;

2. To promote the exchange of horticultural knowledge among members and invite experts to share knowledge and techniques;

3. To help educate the interested public in the care and maintenance of trees and plants, enhancing the beauty of our islands;

4. To promote awareness of the natural beauty that surrounds us, including animals, helping us improve the quality of life in our islands;

5. To promote horticultural excellence among our members.

6. To stage a horticulture show by members from time to time, open to the public, for Horticulture displays only, with no artistic arrangements.

7. To encourage the formation of satellite groups of clubs for special interests, affiliated with the HSB for mutual interest, such as special demonstrations, speakers, shows and other interests.

Lady Dorothy Cash, an avid gardener, was the first patron for the HSB from 1984, followed by Lady Ingrid Darling in 1993, Lady Edith Turnquest in 1996, and Dame Ivy Dumont from 2002-2005.

SeaGrapes are the logo and symbol of the HSB, designed by noted artist Berta Sands, HSB member and host for the first decade of annual plant sales. She also designed the programme

covers for each HSB Show of Horticultural Excellence.

In addition to informative newsletters through most of the 40 years, by mail for 18 years by Cicely Hall and then email, The HSB has had its own Facebook page since 2010, created by past president Rosemary Hanna, a noted author,and a very active WhatsApp chat group, created and guided by secretary Georgette Dames, who brought the HSB into the digital age. Founder member Sara Parker has covered HSB events, sales and shows for 38 years and was honoured for her contributions during the 10h Anniversary Show.

Beryl Sheasby, in addition to organising a flawless 40th anniversary celebration, also literally wrote the book on the HSB with an exhaustive 18 pages of “Historical Dates and Notes 1983-2023”. Each member took home a copy and a tumbler as a souvenir of the event.

Sec Dames reports: “I am delighted with the feedback and comments from our 40th anniversary luncheon celebration. Thank you to our President Dail and to Beryl and the entire organising committee. They followed through on the vision to honor our presidents. It was a deserving occasion. They each represent what can be achieved by our future leaders as presidents.”

Tributes to the event poured onto the HSB chat group, where Pres. Pearce wrote, “This IS the best club. Indeed, our future is great. Thanks to Beryl Sheasby and the entire Organising Committee. Thanks to our wonderful members. Without you. it would not have been possible. Yes, we now can plan our long awaited show.”

YOUNG WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

CONGRATULATIONS to ‘Laila’ - D’Nae Laila Whyms of Saint Cecilia’s - for emerging as winner of the first YWCA Chess Programme Beginners Fun Tournament on Saturday, June 17, at the YWCA Activities Hall. Well done to all of the other participants! Laila is pictured below with her trophy.

FROM top, the Horticultural Society of The Bahamas organising committee, executive committee and HSB presidents.

DEION SANDERS SAYS HE WILL UNDERGO SURGERY FOR BLOOD CLOTS IN BOTH LEGS

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

DEION Sanders is scheduled to undergo surgery today for a blood clot in each leg, the University of Colorado football coach revealed in a video he posted.

The news of Coach Prime’s impending procedure began to spread yesterday after Pat McAfee discussed what was called an emergency surgery on his podcast with longtime NFL defensive back Adam Jones.

Final four teams target the flag football title

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Flag Football Finals is scheduled to get underway at the Winton Rugby Field starting at 2pm this Sunday.

The Fidelity/Money Maxx Phoenix Fire will battle against the Caro Contractors Lady Avengers in Sunday’s opening match in women’s division.

Meanwhile, the Oasis Team Red Dot will face the EDLC Lions. The four teams are competing for the 2023 Bahamas Flag Football League (BFFL) title honours. With last year’s defending champions for the women’s division Paradise Games Wildcats and men’s Avengers teams now gone from the postseason, there will be a new champion crowned this Sunday.

The Phoenix Fire are looking to capitalise on their semifinals momentum after stopping the Wildcats’ quest to four-peat.

The Fidelity team upset the defending champions, winning 8-6 over the 2023 BFFL pennant winners.

Ultimately, they booked their ticket to the finals against the Lady Avengers. Jayson Clarke, head coach of Phoenix Fire, talked about the expectations of his team.

“I expect to win to be honest. I think it is going to be a very evenly matched game, they beat us the first time we played and we beat them the second time we played in the regular season, so it is really going to come down to managing the game, coaching and execution,” Clarke said.

Overall, the head coach said it was a good season for the league but despite the underperformance of his team in the regular season as the fourth seed, he felt they proved what they were made of after taking down the Wildcats. The Lady Avengers solidified their spot in the finals after dropping the Sands Passion Fruit Hawks 7-6. Now with the Phoenix Fire being the only team separating them from the championship hardware, expectations are high.

Cordero Fernander, head coach of the Avengers, said he expects the team to bring it in the final game of the season.

“I expect the team to play this game like it’s the last game of the season, the girls put in work all season [long] so their fruits are going to bear into fruition after Sunday,” Fernander said. He added that the team is preparing in all aspects and are not taking the Phoenix Fire lightly after they defeated the threetime champions. The Lady Avengers have watched film and refined their craft ahead of Sunday’s game. For the men’s division, the Lions entered the finals after winning over the Predators 10-6. Despite it being a good win for the team, their quarterback

Theran Evans got a hyperextended knee injury in the victory, leaving them shorthanded going up against Team Red Dot. Evans said the team’s expectations are the same as any team to win the championship by any means. He added that preparation has been a bit hard because they had to prepare now with the backup quarterback, but they will just have to stick to their game plan despite knowing the tendencies of Team Red Dot.

Meanwhile, Team Red Dot charged to the finals after sending home last year’s champions - the

Avengers. They defeated the men’s team 29-0.

Edward Campbell, head coach of Team Red Dot, said preparation has been going good so far and the team has been as focused as they have been all year.

With it being the team’s first time in the flag football finals, the coach said they have been focusing and preparing for this moment for a while.

In addition, he said the things they did in the regular season games mean nothing if they do not come away with the championship.

Games begin at 2pm and tickets are $6 for fans and kids under 12 get in free.

Later in the day, Sanders posted a video to clarify: “It’s time for the horse to talk. You heard from everybody else but you hadn’t heard it from me.”

Sanders explained in the video on YouTube that his doctor found a blood clot in both legs, including one in his left thigh. He’s struggled with the left foot since having two toes amputated in 2021 due to blood clot issues while at Jackson State.

He said that two of his three remaining toes on that foot are what he referred to as “hammer toes,” a condition where there’s an atypical bend in the middle joint.

The procedure he’s having today is to “try to get those clots so I can have proper blood flow to the leg so they can fix the toes. That’s what’s going on.”

Last week, Sanders revealed he might lose his left foot as a result of circulation issues.

Sanders allowed camera crews with “Thee Pregame Show” to film a meeting with his medical team at the University of Colorado, where he’s preparing for his first season as head football coach.

Yesterday, Sanders said: “There is no talk of amputation. There’s no talk of any of that whatsoever.” Sanders laughed as he told a story about someone reaching out that they had a remedy to have all his toes grow back. He later thanked everyone for their support and well-wishes.

“I ain’t going nowhere because we’re comin’,” Sanders said. “I’m just trying to get all this straight. So when I walk that sideline, and I walk my walk, because I’m gonna talk my talk, that I’m going to walk my walk. ... I appreciate you. I truly do.”

The interest in Colorado football has soared since Sanders was hired last December to turn around the Buffaloes following a 1-11 season in 2022. Colorado sold out of its season-ticket allotment, marking the first time that’s happened since 1996.

THE BAHAMAS Flag Football League (BFFL) play resumes with the 2023 finals this Sunday at the Winton Rugby Field. Photos by O L Wilkinson

FLAG FOOTBALL enthusiasts in action at the Winton Rugby Field. Play resumes with the 2023 finals this Sunday.

Venus loses to Ostapenko after concern over injury

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Venus Williams couldn’t cause an even bigger surprise at the Birmingham Classic.

The 43-year-old American, now ranked No. 697, lost 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 to secondseeded Jelena Ostapenko yesterday in the second round of the grass-court tournament that is serving as a warmup for Wimbledon.

On Monday, Williams defeated 48th-ranked Camile Giorgi for a first victory over a player in the top 50 in nearly four years. She has just returned after six months out with a hamstring injury sustained in Auckland in the first week of the year.

Williams, who played with strapping around her right knee against Ostapenko, received an off-court medical timeout when at 2-2 in the second set. She looked uncomfortable when she returned to the grass but continued to play, fighting for every point and even saving a match point at 5-3 before recovering to win four games in a row and take it to a decider.

By the end of a 44-minute third set, Williams’ mobility was limited and Ostapenko sealed victory with a forehand down the line.

A seven-time Grand Slam champion and five-time winner of the Wimbledon singles, Williams was this

MARVIN ROLLE

FROM PAGE 16

played in 62 matches and has amassed a 14-15 win-loss record in singles and 29-22 in doubles for a total of 43-37.

The Davis Cup recognised Rolle for his 25th nomination to Team Bahamas, having played for 15 consecutive years. He was recognised for his tennis strength, skill and class.

Rolle said he enjoyed his time as a member of Team Bahamas, either as a player or the captain. Now in his role as the player/captain in Paraguay, Rolle said he intends to play until he’s beaten out of the opportunity to make the team.

As a second generation player, following in the footsteps of his father, legendary Leo Rolle, the 39-year-old Rolle said he never envisioned he would have had the incredible career that he had so far. “I’ve represented the Bahamas for so long that I’ve been there with so many players,” Rolle said.

“I’ve been through it all. I’ve played with so many players.”

The list includes Mark Knowles, Roger Smith, Mark Merklein, BJ Munroe, Lavaughn, Munroe, Dentry Mortimer, Devin Mullings, Timothy Neely, Jamaal Adderley, H’Cone Thompson, Jared Turnquest, Ryan Sweeting, Chris Eldon, Matthew Sands, Spencer and Baker Newman, Kevin

KEEGAN BRADLEY SHOOTS 62, TAKES THE EARLY FIRST-ROUND LEAD AT THE TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

By PAT EATON-ROBB AP Sports Writer

CROMWELL, Conn.

(AP) — Keegan Bradley shot an 8-under par 62 to take a two-shot lead after the morning rounds yesterday at the Travelers Championship.

Shane Lowry and Chez Reavie each finished with bogey-free 64s, one shot better than a group of five golfers including Kevin Streelman and Patrick Cantlay.

Bradley got things started early, with birdies on his first five holes. That included sinking a 75-foot downhill putt from just off the green on the 17th hole, which kept gaining speed, but hit the flag and dropped straight down.

The TPC River Highlands course is known for giving up low scores, including the record 58 shot by Jim Furyk during the final round of the 2016 tournament.

Bradley, a 37-year-old Vermont native, said he could not help but think about matching that.

week granted a wild card by the All England Club for this year’s championships and she has justified it.

Top-seeded Barbora Krejcikova earlier maintained her confident progress by reaching the quarterfinals with a straight-set win over

Major Jr, Philip Major Jr, Rodney Carey, Jodi Turnquest, Justin Lunn, Justin Roberts, Donte Armbrister and Denali Nottage.

“It’s been a pleasure playing with everybody. We had our ups and downs, but more ups than downs,” he reflected. “Just being on the team with those guys was a pleasure.

“We had some fun times. If I had to do it all over again, I definitely would.”

If there were any highlights for him, Rolle said it would have been going to so many different countries.

“The highlight was having the Bahamas on your back because you’re not just representing yourself. You are now representing close to four hundred thousand people,” he pointed out. “So it’s definitely a lot of honour.

“People might think it’s a heavy load to carry, but when you love your country so much, it’s pretty easy. So, definitely the highlight is always playing for the country.”

When he got started, Rolle said he remembers only having to worry about leaving his parents, Leo and Erica Rolle, at home.

Now he has his own family, including his wife Jem and daughter Sariyah.

“The low points, there wasn’t much, except for losing some close matches. And spending long hours on the plane. Coming here to Paraguay, we had to spend eight hours on the plane and there is a six-hour lay over.

The travelling is a low point.”

fellow Czech player Tereza Martincova. With the 6-4, 6-4 victory, Krejcikova has yet to drop a set at the tournament.

The No. 12-ranked Krejcikova won her first-round match 6-3, 6-3 against Cristina Bucsa.

Eighth-seeded Sorana Cirstea of Romania was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-4 by Magdalena Frech of Poland, and Rebecca Marino of Canada defeated 150th-ranked American player Emina Bektas 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (1).

“When I made that really long putt on 17, and it could have gone in the water, I don’t know, it crossed my mind,” he said.

“I wasn’t thinking about it a lot, but I certainly was going to try and do it.”

Wyndham Clark, fresh off his U.S. Open win, finished the day at 2-under 68.

The 29-year-old Denver native, who earned his first PGA Tour victory just last month at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, said he got emotional after being introduced on the first tee as the U.S. Open champion.

“It kind of caught me off guard a little bit,” he said.

“I actually got a little nervous. But then I hit a great shot and I hit it farther than I think I would have, just because of the nerves.”

Clark also hit a spectator in the head after slicing his tee shot on the par-3 fifth hole, but he hit his next shot on the green and made a 16-foot putt to save par.

The Travelers Championship was elevated this year to one of 17 socalled “designated” PGA Tour events, with the total purse raised from $8.3 to $20 million.

The top PGA Tour players are required to play in 16 of the 17 designated events, prompting many to make the trip across the country from last week’s U.S. Open in California.

I-BAP

FROM PAGE 16

May 2021, event organisers said that fans will be in for a real treat as the talent pool contains softball players from high school and college.

“Fans can expect high-level softball play and coaching as we move into the weekend where we play the talent filled All-Star series…the talent pool is so good you can’t call it in advance, each All-Star series comes down to the wire in determining a winner every year,” Stubbs said.

The I-BAP softball programme is a part of the International Sports Academy and has been responsible for securing professional sports contracts and collegiate scholarships for athletes and assisted high-school student athletes with financial aid.

Over the years the programme has expanded since its start with 26 girls and six coaches to 100 girls and over 20 coaches this year.

The programme has blossomed from New Providence to showcasing athletes from Grand Bahama, Abaco, Long Island, Exuma and Eleuthera.

The programme aims to have at least one player and coach from each major island in the upcoming years.

Individuals interested in witnessing the best youth in softball can watch the Top 100 combine and All-Star series at the Banker’s Field at a cost of $10 for adults and $5 for kids 10 and under.

VENUS WILLIAMS, of the United States, in action against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in the Women’s Singles Round of 16 match, on day four of the Rothesay Classic Birmingham at Edgbaston Priory Club, in Birmingham, England, yesterday. (Jacob King/PA via AP)

DENALI NOTTAGE stands in front of the scoreboard for the Bahamas Honduras game.

MARVIN Rolle and Donte Armbrister in front of the scoreboard.

Victor ‘Wemby’ is No. 1 pick, with expectations of stardom

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama was the presumed No. 1 pick for months, the rare certainty in an NBA draft process that’s often a guessing game.

Yet as the clock above the stage he was facing ticked all the way down to zero, butterflies set in.

“Longest five minutes of my life,” Wembanyama said.

The San Antonio Spurs are confident he will be worth the wait.

The Spurs took the 19-year-old from France who arrives with enormous expectations to become basketball’s newest sensation last night, triggering chants of “Wemby! Wemby” from a group of Spurs fans waving signs from the first row of seats in Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Wembanyama comes with far more height and hype than most No. 1 picks.

Listed at 7-foot-4, he dominated his French league in his final season there, leading all players in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.

Now he makes the move to the NBA, perhaps as the best prospect since LeBron James came out of high school in 2003. Wembanyama brings a package of skills that seem perfect for the modern NBA and too vast for one player, with the size of a centre and the shooting and ballhandling ability of a guard.

He teared up as he left the stage with his Spurs cap on and hugged his siblings, then joked afterward after how quickly he was handed a white-and-black No. 1 jersey with his name already on the back.

“Someone knew this was happening somehow,” he said.

Just about everyone did.

Wembanyama was the centre of attention throughout the draft process and sat in the middle of the green room — for the short time he was there, anyway. He smiled for young fans who

screamed “Victor!” as he walked around the arena, even encouraging one to throw him a basketball that he signed and tossed back up into the stands.

The Charlotte Hornets took Alabama freshman forward Brandon Miller with the No. 2 pick.

Scoot Henderson of the G League Ignite, whose bling-filled jacket stood in sharp contrast to Wembanyama’s solid green look, was the No. 3 pick by the Portland Trail Blazers.

It was during a two-game series between teams featuring Wembanyama and Henderson last October in Las Vegas that Wembanyama solidified himself as the main man in this draft, scoring 37 and 36 points in front of scouts and some future opponents.

His highlights, such as a follow dunk of his own missed 3-pointer, became can’t-miss content for basketball fans during the past season.

Wembanyama is the Spurs’ third No. 1 pick and the first since Tim Duncan in 1997, which led to a stretch of five NBA championships through 2014 before they struggled in recent seasons.

He became the first international player drafted No. 1 without playing any college basketball since Andrea Bargnani in 2006 and ended a run of 13 straight years where a college freshman went first.

Blake Griffin, a sophomore in 2010, was the last No. 1 who wasn’t a one-and-done.

Henderson was originally considered the likely No. 2 pick before Miller passed him after his outstanding

season for the Crimson Tide.

But the 19-year-old believes the two years he played in the NBA’s minor league has him more ready for NBA success.

“I’m the most prepared player in the draft. That’s what I say,” Henderson said.

“The fact that I went there for two years just taught me so much. On the court, as well, but a lot of things off the court.”

Draft history was made with the Nos. 4 and 5 picks.

CHRIS PAUL TRADED TO WARRIORS, POOLE SENT TO WIZARDS, SAYS AP SOURCE

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

CHRIS Paul’s pursuit of an NBA championship is taking him to the Golden State Warriors, after they agreed to the framework of a trade yesterday that will send Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

The trade also includes a package of draft capital, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been finalised and approved by the NBA.

ESPN first reported the agreement was struck by the teams.

The Wizards agreed to acquire Paul from Phoenix last week, in the deal that sent Bradley Beal from Washington to the Suns.

Paul had two of his titlehope seasons thwarted by the Warriors. In 2018, Paul and the Houston Rockets had a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference finals before he got hurt, missed the final two games and Golden State prevailed — on the way to the NBA title.

And in 2019, the Warriors beat Paul and the Rockets again, that time in the West semifinals before ultimately falling to Toronto in the NBA Finals. The move could also provide the Warriors with financial flexibility in future seasons. Poole is about to

begin a four-year, $128 million deal. Paul is due about $31 million this coming season and has nothing guaranteed after that.

It may usher in something totally new and different for Paul — a bench role.

He has appeared in 1,214 regular-season games and another 149 in the playoffs, and has started every single one of them. But it obviously seems unlikely that he would supplant guards Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson in Golden State’s starting lineup.

So, at 38 years old and about to enter his 19th NBA season, Paul could find himself in a new position. But there is an obvious tradeoff, since the Warriors will almost certainly be considered a title-contender going into next season after winning four championships

in the last decade — and Paul has never gotten his championship.

He went to the NBA Finals with Phoenix in 2021, but the Suns blew a 2-0 series lead and lost to Milwaukee in six games.

The 12-time All-Star averaged 13.9 points and 8.9 assists this past season for Phoenix.

Poole, who turned 24 earlier this week, joins a Washington team now fully in the midst of a complete rebuild. He averaged 20.4 points this past season, one that began with Golden State veteran Draymond Green punching Poole at practice during training camp before taking a brief leave of absence from the team. Green is set to become a free agent, one that the Warriors want to retain.

Twins Amen and Ausar Thompson of Overtime Elite became the first brothers to be selected in the top 10 of the same draft, with Amen going to the Houston Rockets and Ausar following to the Detroit Pistons.

“Means a lot to my family,” Amen Thompson said. “We were going to be happy whoever went first. For us to go back-to-back, be the first twins to go back-to-back in the top five means a lot.”

Anthony Black of Arkansas was taken sixth by

Orlando, ending the run of three straight players who hadn’t gone to college.

But then it was right back to the international ranks when Indiana picked Bilal Coulibaly, Wembanyama’s teammate with BoulogneLevallois Metropolitans 92 whose stock soared in the postseason as the team reached the finals in the Pro A League.

The Pacers dealt Coulibaly’s rights to Washington for Houston forward Jarace Walker, who was taken at No. 8. The Nos. 10 and 12

picks were also swapped, with the Dallas Mavericks taking Kentucky guard Cason Wallace and dealing his rights to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who had taken Duke big man Dereck Lively II.

Gradey Dick of Kansas, whose dazzling red jacket resembled Dorothy’s shoes from “The Wizard of Oz,” went to Toronto with the No. 13 pick before Jordan Hawkins of national champion Connecticut was taken by New Orleans to end the lottery.

WIZARDS TRADING PORZINGIS TO CELTICS IN 3-TEAM DEAL WITH SMART HEADED TO GRIZZLIES, AP SOURCES SAY

THE Washington Wizards have agreed to trade centre Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team trade that also includes Marcus Smart heading to the Memphis Grizzlies, two people with knowledge of the deal said yesterday morning.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreements hadn’t been announced. The trade comes with Porzingis accepting his player option for next season.

The deal also includes the Grizzlies acquiring Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, from Boston in exchange for first-round draft picks in 2023 and 2024. ESPN reported the Wizards are also receiving guard Tyus Jones from Memphis, and forwards Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari and a second-round pick this year from Boston.

The Celtics add the 7-foot-3 Porzingis after they lost in seven games to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals. Porzingis is coming off a solid season in Washington in which he averaged a career-high 23.2 points per game along with 8.4 rebounds. Most importantly, he stayed healthy enough to play in 66 games, his most since 2016-17 when he was with the New York Knicks. Porzingis’ departure completes a swift breakup of Washington’s core

after the Wizards agreed to trade Bradley Beal to Phoenix, and Kyle Kuzma declined his option. Washington has missed the playoffs the past two seasons and is now clearly in a rebuilding mode under new team president Michael Winger.

Smart has played in Boston all nine of his NBA seasons, was its longesttenured player and one of the strongest presences in the locker room. He also ranks fourth on the franchise’s career lists for 3-pointers (911) and assists (2,700). His departure leaves the Celtics with Derrick White and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon as the top two candidates to replace Smart.

Smart brings much needed experience to a young Memphis team that needs help at point guard

following the announcement of Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension for next season. Smart also brings postseason experience to the Grizzlies, who have won only one playoff series despite finishing second in the West the past two seasons.

The Celtics reached the NBA Finals in 2022, but were unable to make it back this season despite their talented tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Boston becomes Porzingis’ fourth NBA team. Drafted in 2015 by New York with the fourth overall pick, he played three seasons with the Knicks before being traded to Dallas before the deadline in 2019 — when he was recovering from knee surgery. The Wizards acquired him from Dallas 16 months ago.

VICTOR Wembanyama poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA basketball draft last night in New York.

SCOOT Henderson arrives at Barclays Center before the NBA basketball draft last night. (AP Photos/John Minchillo)

BRANDON MILLER, right, greets NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected second overall by the Charlotte Hornets during the NBA basketball draft.

CHRIS Paul moves the ball upcourt against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series on April 25, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

MARCUS SMART, centre, looks to pass past Wizards centre Kristaps Porzingis, left, and forward Rui Hachimura, right, during the first half on October 30, 2022, in Boston.

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

OHTANI, ACUÑA JR ELECTED TO START IN MLB ALL-STAR GAME

NEW YORK (AP)

— Two-way star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr were elected yesterday to start in the July 11 All-Star Game at Seattle’s Safeco Field.

Ohtani led the AL with 2,646,307 votes and makes his third straight All-Star start at designated hitter. He also was the American League’s starting pitcher in 2021.

Acuña led all players with 3,082,600 ballots and

was elected to start for the fourth time. Acuña topped the NL for the third straight year, while Ohtani received the second-most votes of any player.

The pair were chosen under rules that began last year and give starting spots to the top vote-getter in each league in the first phase of online voting, which began May 31 and ended Thursday.

Others advanced to the second phase, which runs from noon EDT on Monday to noon EDT on

June 29. Votes from the first phase do not carry over. An individual can vote once per 24-hour period.

Remaining starters will be announced on June 29. Pitchers and reserves will be revealed on July 2.

National League Finalists: Catcher: Sean Murphy, Will Smith

First Base: Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson

Second Base: Ozzie Albies, Luis Arraez

Third Base: Nolan Arenado, Austin Riley

Shortstop: Orlando

Arcia, Francisco Lindor

Designated Hitter: Bryce

Harper, J.D. Martinez

Outfield: Mookie Betts, Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Michael Harris II

American League Finalists: Catcher: Jonah Heim, Adley Rutschman

a run-scoring single against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jeff Hoffman during the seventh inning of a baseball game on June 20 in Philadelphia.

Photo/ Matt Slocum)

First Base: Yandy Díaz, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Second Base: Whit Merrifield, Marcus Semien

Third Base: Matt Chapman, Josh Jung

Shortstop: Bo Bichette, Corey Seager

Outfield: Yordan Alvarez, Randy Arozarena, Adolis García, Aaron Judge, Kevin Kiermaier, Mike Trout

MLB-leading Rays lose ace McClanahan to back tightness and fall to Royals 6-5

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The major leagueleading Tampa Bay Rays lost ace Shane McClanahan to mid-back tightness in a 6-5 loss to the lowly Kansas City Royals last night.

McClanahan, looking to become the majors’ first 12-game winner of the season, left with two outs in the fourth.

The left-hander, 11-1 this season, gave up two runs, four hits and two walks in a 66-pitch outing.

Maikel Garcia drew a walk from Pete Fairbanks (0-2) to start the ninth, then stole second and third.

After Fairbanks got a pair of strikeouts, Garcia scored on MJ Melendez’s infield single to put the Royals ahead 6-5. The Royals stole seven bases overall.

Aroldis Chapman (3-2) picked up the win and Scott Barlow earned his ninth save.

Drew Waters hit a solo homer and drove in two runs with a single in the eighth for Kansas City, which has the second-worst record in the majors at 21-54.

Francisco Mejía homered and Randy Arozarena had a two-run single for Tampa Bay, which slipped to 52-26 overall and 32-9 at home.

BRAVES 5, PHILLIES 1 PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— Marcell Ozuna hit a tworun homer to cap a five-run 10th inning, and NL Eastleading Atlanta beat Philadelphia for its eighth straight win.

Ozuna’s 14th homer of the season followed a two-run single by Austin Riley after Philadelphia left fielder Kyle Schwarber misplayed a ball that would have been the third out of the inning. Michael Harris II knocked in the other Atlanta run of the inning, scoring automatic runner Sam Hilliard on a single up the middle.

Four Braves pitchers didn’t give up an earned

run in 10 innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out 10. Philadelphia’s only run came on Alec Bohm’s sacrifice fly, scoring automatic runner

J.T. Realmuto in the 10th.

Raisel Iglesias (3-2) earned the win. Yunior Marte (0-1) took the loss.

PADRES 10, GIANTS 0 SAN FRANCISCO (AP)

— Manny Machado and Gary Sánchez hit threerun homers and San Diego ended San Francisco’s 10-game winning streak.

Blake Snell (4-6) won his third straight decision, striking out 11 and allowing three singles in six innings.

Snell, García and Ray Kerr combined to retire San Diego’s last 13 batters in the Padres’ eighth shutout this season.

Ha-Seong Kim added a solo homer for the Padres, who went 5 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Juan Soto had his fourth straight multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs.

San Francisco batters struck out 14 times in the Giants’ seventh shutout loss.

MARINERS 10, YANKEES 2 NEW YORK (AP) —

Teoscar Hernández hit one of four early homers and Seattle teed off against Domingo Germán in routing New York and avoiding a three-game sweep.

Touted rookie Bryan Woo (1-1) breezed into the sixth inning with a no-hit bid to earn his first major league victory.

Kolten Wong hit his first home run for the Mariners before Ty France and Cal Raleigh also went deep against Germán (4-5). New York committed three errors in an embarrassing third inning.

Germán gave up a careerhigh 10 runs — eight earned — and eight hits. He threw 93 pitches in 3 1/3 innings as his ERA soared to 5.10.

Reserve utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Yankees and then hit a tworun homer in the bottom half.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, NATIONALS 3 WASHINGTON (AP)

— Ketel Marte hit a threerun homer, leading Arizona past Washington after Nationals manager Dave Martinez was ejected for complaining about umpire Doug Eddings’ strike zone.

Tommy Henry (4-1) earned his first victory since May 31 for the NL

OLYMPICS

FROM PAGE 16

for the Paris Olympics without IBA involvement, as it did for the Tokyo Games in 2021.

It was unclear if boxers representing national federations who stay affiliated to the IBA will be classed as eligible for the Paris competition.

Boxing can now be confirmed on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic programme, which the IOC and Bach withheld as leverage against IBA.

Boxing is “guaranteed” to be in Los Angeles, members were told yesterday.

The sport is good for Olympic business with broad appeal — 25 different countries won boxing medals in Tokyo, with nine taking gold — and the IOC repeatedly said its problem was with boxing officials, not its athletes.

“We appreciate boxing as one of the most global sports. We embrace the

West-leading Diamondbacks, who have won five of seven and moved 16 games over .500 at 46-30.

Henry gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Scott McGough earned his fifth save.

Jake Irvin (1-4) allowed two runs — one earned — and five hits in six innings as Washington completed a 1-6 homestand and has lost 14 of 17.

GUARDIANS 6, ATHLETICS 1 CLEVELAND (AP) — Josh Bell homered and

values of boxing,” Bach said, praising the sport’s “important social role promoting inclusion.”

The IBA, which called the decision a “tremendous error,” can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The expulsion was “catastrophic for global boxing and blatantly contradicts the IOC’s claims of acting in the best interests of boxing and athletes,” the Lausanne-based boxing body said in a statement.

Olympic boxing has had a tainted reputation for decades, typified by notorious judging at the 1988 Seoul Games that denied American light-middleweight Roy Jones Jr the gold medal against home fighter Park Si-hun.

Jones, who now has Russian citizenship, was enlisted by the IBA last year to support its fight for Olympic status. There were allegations ahead of the 2012 London Olympics of cash deals planned to fix medals, and

Myles Straw hit an RBI triple, leading Cleveland to a three-game sweep of Oakland, which dropped its eighth straight.

Bell’s 430-foot shot tied it and Straw put Cleveland ahead in the inning with his two-out shot to left.

The A’s were still within 2-1 in the eighth before reliever Yacksel Rios allowed four runs on two wild pitches and two basesloaded walks.

Nick Sandlin (3-3) worked two hitless innings in relief for the win as four of Cleveland

further doubt cast by fighters on the integrity of bouts at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

At those Olympics, the president of boxing’s governing body, then known by its French acronym AIBA, was long-time IOC member C.K. Wu of Taiwan.

“The IOC has failed to recognise the destructive actions of C.K. Wu, who led the International Boxing Association to bankruptcy, collapse, and corruption at all levels,” the IBA said.

After Wu was ousted by boxing officials in 2017, the sport’s problems with the IOC intensified.

National federations defied IOC warnings in 2018 by electing Gafur Rakhimov as president.

The businessman from Uzbekistan allegedly had ties to organised crime and heroin trafficking.

Umar Kremlev’s election to replace Rakhimov in 2020 followed another round of IOC election warnings that went unheeded. The IBA’s debts

pitchers combined for the three-hitter.

JP Sears (1-5) allowed four hits and struck out eight in seven innings for the A’s, who have baseball’s worst record at 19-58.

MARLINS 6, PIRATES 4

MIAMI (AP) — Garrett Cooper doubled, singled and hit a go-ahead threerun homer in the eighth inning as Miami dealt Pittsburgh its 10th straight loss. Trailing 4-1, the Marlins rallied in the eighth. Jonathan Davis doubled and Luis Arraez and Jorge Soler walked.

Carmen Mlodzinski (0-1) gave up a two-run single by Bryan De La Cruz. Jesús Sánchez reached on a fielder’s choice before Garrett drove Mlodzinski’s first pitch over the wall in right-center.

Arraez went 1 for 3, and his major league-leading batting average slipped a point to .397.

Huascar Brazoban (2-1) got the win and A.J. Puk picked up his 10th save.

Henry Davis hit his first career homer and Ke’Bryan Hayes added a solo shot for the Pirates.

TWINS 6, RED SOX 0

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

— Joe Ryan pitched a three-hitter for Minnesota’s first complete-game shutout in five years and Byron Buxton became the first player in at least nine seasons to hit a pair of 460foot home runs in a game in a win over Boston. Ryan (8-4) pitched his first complete game in 47 big league starts, striking out nine, walking none.

Buxton hit a 466-foot home run in the first inning and a 465-foot drive in the third, his ninth multi-homer game as AL Central-leading Minnesota got back to .500 at 38-38.

Justin Garza (0-2), making his first career start as the Red Sox opener, took the loss.

approaching $20 million were cleared under Kremlev and the IOC objected to the boxing body’s financial reliance on Gazprom.

Kremlev announced last month at the men’s world championships that the IBA was no longer sponsored by Gazprom, and his rhetoric against Olympic officials got more confrontational.

Yesterday’s meeting went ahead after a late appeal by the IBA to CAS against the IOC board’s recommendation failed this week.

IOC vice president John Coates recused himself from the debate and vote on boxing because he has led the CAS management board for the past 12 years.

The IOC can now start to work with a rival organisation created this year called World Boxing.

It has drawn support from officials in the United States, Switzerland and Britain, countries whose national federations resisted Kremlev’s leadership of the IBA.

ATLANTA Braves’ Marcell Ozuna hits a two-run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Yunior Marte during the 10th inning of a baseball game yesterday in Philadelphia.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

LOS Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) throws during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Anaheim, Calif., on Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

(AP

Bahamas beats Honduras to advance to the playoffs

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas, after losing its first three matches in the American Zone III Davis Cup tie, managed to take advantage of Honduras to secure a 3-0 win to advance to the playoffs on Saturday.

Playing out of Pool B at the National Tennis Club in Asuncion, Paraguay, Denali Nottage won his opening singles match 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 over Guillermo

Alfonso Bennaton in two hours and nine minutes. Kevin Major Jr, the top seeded player, needed just 58 minutes to dispose of Alejandro Obando in set scores of 6-2, 6-0. And in doubles, veteran player/captain Marvin Rolle and Donte Armbrister once again teamed up to secure another victory with a 7-6, (7-3), 6-4 decision over Obando and Mario Richmagui in one hour and 25 minutes. Rolle, who the day before was honoured for his longevity as a member of Team Bahamas, said he

LONGTIME DAVIS CUPPER MARVIN ROLLE HONOURED

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MARVIN Rolle remembers when he made his debut on the men’s Davis Cup team in 2001 at the tender age of 16. Now, as the elder statesman of over 20 years as a player/captain, he’s being honoured for his longevity.

On Wednesday as the Bahamas competed in the American Zone III tie in Paraguay, Rolle was one of six persons recognised for their achievement by their respective countries by the International Tennis Federation.

“It’s definitely an honour getting the award. It’s definitely an honour representing the Bahamas,” Rolle said. “I remember my first Davis Cup tie against Chile and Marcelo Rios and Fernando Gonzalez.

“I teamed up with Mark Knowles sand Roger Smith and I think BJ Munroe. I could still remember that tie when I came out with this yellow cotton shirt. It was a funny shirt. They called me the bumble bee. That was pretty exciting.” During his tenure, Rolle has been nominated for a total of 26 ties. He has

SEE PAGE 12

couldn’t ask for a better showing than he got against Honduras.

“Denali had a tough one. He came a little nervous because of the importance of the tie,” Rolle said.

“He came out a little nervous after losing the first set, but he managed to overcome his nerves and he pulled off the second set.

“He just kept his nerves and he continued fighting and pushing. He finished strong. He got his first Davis Cup victory. So I’m really proud of him.”

After losing his first three matches in the previous

IBAP softball programme hosts fifth All-Star Survival starting this weekend

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE I-BAP (Bahamas Athletic Pride) programme will host its fifth edition of The Show: All-Star Survival starting June 25 until July 2. The event is set to commence with an opening church service on Sunday to kick off the series of events for the All-Star week leading up to the Top 100 combine and All-Star series.

The Top 100 combine and All-Star series will get underway at the Banker’s Field, Baillou Hill Sporting Complex for three divisions. This year’s divisions are 13 and under, 16 and under and 19 and under.

The Top 100 event will be a first for softball in the country and will showcase the prowess of athletes while raising more awareness for illnesses and social issues.

Dachye Stubbs, director of softball for the International Elite Sports Academy, talked about the importance of the top 100 combine set for June 29.

“The Top 100 combine or showcase is typically where athletes showcase their athletic skills, including speed, power, strength and agility to identify the top players for the sport and in this instance, The Bahamas,” Stubbs said.

She said it is also essential for softball players as it puts them in good standing for high-level recruiting, especially if their metrics are good.

Each of the participants will compete in a number of drills and based on the criteria and their performances will be ranked 1-100 overall per age division and island.

Although the event is staged to highlight the skills of softball players, since the start in June 2018 it is also hosted to bring

awareness to illnesses and social issues in society.

The director of softball said bringing awareness to these things prompts the children to know more about them as well.

“We wanted to raise awareness to illnesses and social issues that affect women and children. As global minorities, there is a greater disadvantage for us, it prompts the kids themselves to do research about whatever they are representing,” she said.

Stubbs said it also gives individuals suffering from these illnesses or social issues a beacon of hope and a greater sense of knowing that they are sane.

Some of the team names this year will include teams breast cancer, lupus, autism, sickle cell, gender based violence, child abuse and mental health.

Despite the last hosting of this event happening in

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three days, Rolle said Major Jr took his frustration out on his opponent from Honduras.

“The guy didn’t have any chance,” Rolle said.

Like they did in their opening tie, Rolle and Donte Armbrister teamed up for another victory in doubles.

“Nobody got broken until 3-2 in the second when I got broken at 3-2,” Rolle said. “We broke back, Donte held at 4-4, we broke again and I held serve to close it out.

“Overall, it was a good day.”

With today off, Team Bahamas will now play on Saturday when they take on the loser between Bermuda and Panama.

Rolle said they hope that they can face Panama because they don’t want to play against the only other English-speaking team in the tournament.

Looking back at their performance against Honduras, Armbrister said they played extremely well.

“It was a competitive match from the start. We played well from the start and I like how when we were faced with adversity,

we just stayed positive and kept on fighting,” Armbrister said.

“Like I say, I always enjoy playing with Marvin. He always knows what shots to hit at the right time.

“He served well, he volleyed well and did everything right at the right time.”

Armbrister, who is making his second appearance on the Davis Cup team, said it was so refreshing to win all three of their matches played, which gives them the opportunity to play on Saturday.

IOC BANISHES BOXING GOVERNING BODY FROM OLYMPICS, BUT SPORT WILL STILL BE AT PARIS GAMES

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer

GENEVA (AP) — The International Boxing Association was banished from the Olympic family on Thursday, ending a yearslong dispute fuelled by defying advice and instructions from the IOC.

Boxing, however, will keep its status as an Olympic sport at the 2024 Paris Games.

The International Olympic Committee voted to derecognise the IBA at a specially called meeting — an outcome that was inevitable after being recommended two weeks ago by the executive board, a body chaired by IOC president Thomas Bach.

The vote was 69-1, with 10 members abstaining.

Boxing was never really in danger of being kicked out of the Olympics over the four years since the IOC suspended the sport’s governing body in an effort to force changes.

“We highly value the sport of boxing. We have an extremely serious problem with IBA because of their governance,” Bach told IOC members during their online meeting.

The dispute centred on the IBA’s management under presidents from Uzbekistan and Russia who the IOC disapproved of, its finances being backed by

Russian state energy firm Gazprom, plus the integrity of bouts and judging.

“The boxers fully deserve to be governed by an international federation with integrity and transparency,” the IOC president said.

The IOC is already overseeing boxing competitions

A CYCLIST rides past the Olympic House, headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the opening of the executive board meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), at the Olympic House, in Lausanne, Switzerland, June 20. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)

TENNIS ACE MARVIN ROLLE