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‘original Valley Boys will compete on Bay’
JCNP: Adderley’s group registered for parades first, before they split
By KEILE CAMPBELL
Tribune
Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
JUNKANOO Corpora-
tion of New Providence
chairman Dion Miller said the original Valley Boys group, led by Brian Adderley, would participate as the iconic group in the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parade competitions, not the breakaway group Trevor Davis leads.
He said Mr Adderley’s
group registered for the parades first before the organisation split into two. He said Mr Davis’ group was given the chance to register for the competitions under a different name, but did not do so by the registration deadline on June 1. He said the breakaway group could participate in the parades unofficially, but not the competitions.
“This is an internal issue
Gibson calls for puttinG a cap on fees banks charGe
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson called on the Central Bank to put caps on bank fees. His comment in the House of Assembly came after the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced a 50-cent decline debit card transaction fee for ATM transactions involving other banks in the country and purchases at local points of sale starting July 31. Mr Gibson, the latest parliamentarian to lament the state of bank regulations in the country, said the Central Bank must prevent banks from “popping up” with random fees.
‘Hurricane relief arrived in Grenada, more going to other islands this week’
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
RBC’s announcement
DAYS after the prime minister pledged support for countries affected by Hurricane Beryl, Foreign
Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said the government has sent relief supplies to Grenada and will also send aid to St Vincent and the Grenadines this week.
Mr Mitchell also confirmed that a team from his
ministry that visited Grenada ahead of cancelled CARICOM meetings have returned home and are safe. He said Grenada had restored water and
cooper: s tudy ordered on reGional a irport fees
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper said he ordered a study of regional airport fees to ensure the country’s approach is competitive.
He noted the Airport Authority manages 28 airports that must maintain
recognisable safety and security standards.
“This must be paid for and, therefore, it cannot be a fee-less system,” he said in the House of Assembly, adding that efforts to improve infrastructure would let the airports justify their fees.
page seven
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
Long Island MP Adrian Gibson called for creating taxi driver is seekin G damaGes over suspension
A TAXI driver wants compensation after he was allegedly suspended without proper authority or investigation.
He wants a judicial review of the practice where taxi drivers are suspended without proper authority.
Philip Miller sued the Ministry of Transport and the Port Authority after allegedly becoming unemployed from February 19,
page three
tOUrIsM and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper.
the BahaMas senior men’s basketball team were the first team in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament to secure a spot in the semi-finals after defeating Poland 90-81 yesterday in Valencia, Spain. See SPORTS for story.
Photo: Domonique Fernander/BBF
Ministry of Health and Wellness Health Expo
Photos: Dante Carrer/ Tribune Staff
Gibson calls for putting a cap on fees banks charge
frustrated Bahamians who questioned the logic of charging for insufficient funds.
Mr Gibson said yesterday: “They’re telling Bahamian consumers that if you have insufficient funds in your account, they can charge you, although they can see you don’t have nothing there. So you have nothing there, and they charging 50 cents for having nothing there. Imagine that.”
Mr Gibson expressed concern about what happens when people go over a daily limit, saying: “You can be charged 50 cents for going over your daily limit. How can this foolishness possibly be allowed? I call upon the Central Bank to enter.”
He called it “ludicrous and unacceptable” that a cost could be associated with entering the wrong card number and having a transaction declined.
In November, Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard said the Davis administration would get bipartisan support to regulate the commercial banking sector. He spoke after Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell called the cost of banking services “out of control”. electricity by the time the team left.
‘Hurricane relief arrived in Grenada, more going to other islands this week’
He said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis directed pilots heading to Grenada to carry bundles of tarp for hurricane victims, fulfilling a request of that country’s prime minister. Another plane carrying additional supplies was expected to arrive in that country yesterday morning, Mr Mitchell said.
“The housing stock is almost 100 percent destroyed so they have significant issues which they have to face,” he added.
Hurricane Beryl made landfall in the Windward Islands on Monday as a powerful Category 5 storm, causing widespread damages across several island nations with at least six deaths confirmed.
Mr Mitchell said a meeting with CARICOM heads was held via Zoom on Tuesday, with several leaders giving updates on their country’s situation in the aftermath of the storm.
He said Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley told CARICOM heads that the nation’s
fishing sector had been “totally destroyed,” but there were no reported deaths.
He said St Vincent and the Grenadines reported significant property damage and at least one death, but assessment of damage to adjoining islands is ongoing.
He said the government intends to send a plane with supplies to St
Vincent and the Grenadines in the coming week.
As for Jamaica, he said some Bahamians, including the honorary consul general, chose to remain there to ride out the storm.
A group of Bahamians were airlifted home from Jamaica on Tuesday.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared his country a
disaster zone for seven days, and evacuation orders have been issued for communities in low-lying areas.
Mr Mithcell said the government is staying in contact with Bahamians in Jamaica and its international partners to determine the way forward for affected countries after Beryl’s passing.
“This, of course, reinforces why the prime
Taxi driver is seeking damages over suspension
2018, to March 18, 2018, due to an incident with a road traffic officer at Festival Place. After an encounter with the officer, Mr Miller was allegedly denied entry to Festival Place until a disciplinary board meeting on March 15, where he was suspended for four days.
Mr Miller, who was represented by Romona Farquharson Seymour and her co-counsel Samuel Taylor, alleged that Terez Kemp, a road traffic officer at the port, passed Mr Miller’s taxi fare to another driver.
minister has indicated that climate change is the
number one foreign policy issue and we are front and centre trying to mobilise resources on behalf of this country and our region because, essentially, a significant percentage of the GDP of all of these countries has been adversely impacted as a result of these storms,” he said.
“This is at the start of the season. They’re saying that a storm at this time of the year is unprecedented that the waters are warmer than they’ve ever been before, and that these feed these hurricanes. So, it is clear that we are in a significantly difficult period with regard to the climate and we will need to employ maximum pressure on these developed countries to step up to the plate on issues like loss and damage and mitigation for things which we have not contributed to.”
He said he approached Ms Kemp, questioning why she had given his fare
to another driver even though his taxi was next in line. She allegedly said he had taken longer than usual. This led to an argument between the two. Ms Kemp ordered a Royal Bahamas Defense Force officer to remove Mr Miller from the property, and the man’s badge, which permitted him access to the property, was taken away. Ms Kemp later submitted a formal report against Mr Miller. Ms Kemp, a resident of Sir Lynden Pindling Estates, took the stand. Sophia Williams represented the Crown. Ms Kemp accused Mr Miller of using profanity during the exchange. “I didn’t put it in the
report. I didn’t want to because of the foul language,” she said. She said she and Mr Miller had minimal interaction before the incident. She said passing the taxi fare to another driver was not unwarranted.
She said Mr Miller “took long” to respond to the call and noted that his badge was returned the same day as the incident.
Doral Fowler, a taxi cab driver of 36 years, who was present during the incident, took the stand as a witness, saying Mr Miller took between a minute or two to present himself to the call desk. He said that after Mr Miller questioned Ms Kemp about skipping his
fare, Ms Kemp became loud and aggressive, asking: “Who do you think you are talking to? You do not tell me what to do.”
He said Ms Kemp questioned whether Mr Miller “wants to work around here”.
Mr Fowler supported Mr Miller’s claim that he did not curse at Ms Kemp, describing him as a Christian and frequent churchgoer. He added that Ms Kemp had developed a reputation for being rude to taxi drivers. Senior Commander Berne Wright and Janet Thompson also took the stand. The matter appeared before Chief Justice Ian Winder and was adjourned to September 3. from page one
Family members begin to repair their home damaged in the passing of Hurricane Beryl, in Ottley Hall, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on Tuesday. Photo: lucanus Ollivierre/AP
from page one
member OF Parliament FOr lOng island adrian gibsOn
Officer testifies that Finley was unarmed at time he was shot
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THE lawyer for the estate of 15-year-old Gino Evante Finley, Jr, questioned the report of the officer who fatally shot the teen on Prince Charles Drive in 2017.
He claimed there were discrepancies in the officer’s report. He said while the officer claimed he only shot the teen in the chest, morgue photos showed injuries to the boy’s head.
David Cash, who represented the deceased’s estate, cross-examined
Chief Superintendent of Police Tyrell Cox, the chief investigator of the May 23, 2017, shooting at Seagrapes Plaza following a reported armed robbery.
Dennis Sturrup and Denzil Deveaux, both corporals, are the subjects of this inquest. Neither was present during the proceedings.
Supt Cox told Mr Cash that both officers still had their police-issued weapons when he arrived at the scene.
While Supt Cox admitted that he failed to collect these weapons then, he said he eventually collected both weapons. He said they will be tested later in connection with this incident.
He said CSI reportedly collected a Taurus pistol
belonging to the deceased. When Mr Cash grilled Supt Cox as to where Cpl Sturrup shot the deceased, the investigator said he believed the officer reported he shot Finley, Jr. in the chest.
He said Cpl Sturrup never mentioned shooting the deceased in the head.
Mr Cash showed a photo of the deceased in the morgue with an injury to the back of his head.
Supt Cox said that it was possibly a gunshot injury to the back of the deceased’s head and agreed there were injuries to the deceased’s face as well, but did not say they were gunshot-related.
After Supt Cox agreed with Mr Cash that there was no mention of Cpl Sturrup shooting the deceased in the back, the lawyer showed a photo of the deceased at the scene of the shooting.
The photo showed Finlay, Jr, lying face-up with his head in a pool of blood, with blood seemingly draining from an injury near his ear. He is also seen wearing an open white shirt with no visible blood on his chest.
Multiple family members of the deceased became audibly distraught as these photos were shown.
Mr Cash said there were no apparent gunshot wounds to the deceased’s chest despite Cpl Sturrup saying he shot Finley, Jr, at
centre mass.
After morgue photos showing injuries to the boy’s back were shown, Supt Cox could not say if there were gunshot injuries to the boy’s back.
The officer was unaware if any bullets at the scene matched the weapon the deceased allegedly used.
However, he agreed that the deceased was unarmed when he was shot, as Cpl Sturrup reported he dropped his gun during the chase.
Meanwhile, a male pharmacist who was at the QVS pharmacy the deceased allegedly robbed, testified that he was on the phone when the incident occurred.
He said he heard the robbery suspect tell patrons to get on the ground, and he sensed that his co-workers were panicking.
He recounted hearing the suspects tell him and his co-workers to put their hands behind their backs so they could be tied. He said a woman co-worker freed him after the suspects fled when police arrived.
He said the experience was traumatic, one he did not want to relive.
When questioned by Mr Cash, the witness said he was unaware whether police took camera footage from QVS.
A female customer testified that she entered the premises during the robbery
and noticed it was quiet.
She said she was trying to buy candy when two boys in school uniforms, one an RM Bailey student and the other a Government High School pupil, pointed guns at her.
She claimed the one in the RM Bailey uniform ––allegedly Finlay, Jr –– told her this was a robbery and ordered his partner to tie her up. She said she noticed the second suspect was nervous while trying to tie her hands, so she helped him. She said police sirens soon caused the suspects to flee. She was worried about
Bills amending three existing aviation acts were deBated and passed in hoa
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
PARLIAMENTAR-
IANS debated and passed three amended bills that would give the Civil Aviation Authority more autonomy and empower the Governor General to appoint up to four law reform commissioners instead of three.
The Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (Amendment) Bill 2024, Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Law Reform and Revision (Amendment) Bill 2024 were widely supported by all MPs - although not without recommendations from the opposition.
amendment
Mr Cooper, who moved the debate on the bills, spoke mostly about the amended civil aviation bills which he said were essential for advancing the aviation sector and ensuring our aviation practices align with international standards. He said the two pieces of legislation were amended to address concerns raised in
last year’s findings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment
on Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas.
He said the report’s findings revealed the CAAB did not have autonomy in its technical decision-making processes.
Under the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2024, the authority would be able to inspect air operators’ personnel, aircraft, operations facilities, and associated records for the purposes of certification, continued surveillance, and resolution of safety concerns.
The amendments, among other things, also empowers the director general to authorise persons or entities outside The Bahamas to perform specified regulatory oversight responsibilities, enhancing
the country’s capacity to leverage international expertise.
“Most of these amendments simply rephrase the content of the section to give CAAB or the Director General autonomy in its technical decision-making processes,” Mr Cooper said.
“These amendments are designed to enhance regulatory oversight, streamline processes, and ensure that our aviation practices align with international standard.”
FNM leader Michael Pintard said while the opposition supported the changes and believed it was a step in the right direction, there were still some concerns about compliance and potential government interference.
“One of the concerns that we have on this side, Madame Speaker, is that it is possible to put in place legislation that in its language give on the surface compliance by the Bahamas,” he said.
“But, we do know that there is a temptation among some policymakers to interfere in the operations of what would ordinarily be independent bodies whether its the director general or persons who hold key positions.”
“So, we believe the government should give consideration to how can we not only have the appearance of us being compliant but that we would undergird the independence of these actors.” He recommended that government include measures that would protect the
authority of such independent bodies as the director general.
This, he added, can include creating a hiring process that guards against “narrow political hires” and imposing legal penalties to prevent political interference.
Meanwhile, Mr Cooper also had words for the opposition in response to their criticisms surrounding the country’s economic performance amid increasing tourism arrivals.
Mr Pintard has previously claimed that revenue from tourism is falling despite increasing numbers of tourists.
“When we hear someone on the other side talking fool about tourism numbers, I am troubled by their apparent need to talk down our number one industry and its impact on the economy,” Mr Cooper added. “I would have them know that as of May 31, overall stopover arrivals are up 5.8 per cent ahead of the prior year.”
He said due to increased airlift and overwhelming traffic, the government would need to invest an additional $200m to support this growth and promised to give more details on this expansion another day.
“And whilst they persist on talking down on Grand Bahama where they ought to be grateful to represent, I am happy to say that Grand Bahamas’ growth is 14 per cent, one of the fastest in the islands of The Bahamas. We are working for the people.”
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper argues with the opposition during a debate on three aviating
bills yesterday.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
her child during the incident and bawled before the jury, saying she was terrified for her life.
Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest Deveaux is presiding over the case.
K Melvin Munroe represents the officers. Angelo Whitfield marshalled the evidence.
poliCe cars at the scene of the Seagrapes Plaza pharmacy robbery on May 23, 2017.
Lucayan South Towers’ owners hope they can save their complex
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
lUcAYAN South
Towers owners are hoping to revitalise and save their complex before the Grand Bahama Port Authority follows through with its plan to revoke the structure’s certificate of occupancy.
About 30 owners met Tuesday evening after the authority released its notice because of longstanding unresolved code violations and safety hazards.
The owners are planning to meet with GBPA officials to share their plans.
one owner, Julie Glover, said the building is in disrepair, but improving it is not impossible.
She said the complex needs proper leadership and commitment of all involved.
The complex, which comprises 139 units, suffers from crumbling balconies and needs repairs to the elevator, the swimming pool, the parking lot and the fire safety system.
The condominium Board estimated repair costs of $3.5m in its proposed plan for structural and related works, which it submitted to the GBPA last July.
Mrs Glover said the owners had lost all confidence in the board, adding that the building’s state could have been avoided if credible leadership had existed.
She believes that a turnaround is possible if the current board is removed, but said owners have heard
nothing from the members since the GBPA issued its notice on Tuesday.
The owners are worried about their investments. if the certificate of occupancy is revoked, utility services such as water, power, and telephone will be disconnected.
Although the last structural report found that the building was structurally sound, Mrs Glover said the GBPA is concerned about the crumbling balconies and the possibility that parts could collapse and injure someone.
She noted the balconies sustained significant damage during hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004.
The lucayan North Towers were also affected, but issued a levy that facilitated balcony repairs. The lTS assessed the damage, but the board did not pursue repairs.
Mrs Glover said there has never been a report on why the balconies were not repaired. A previous board in 2014 submitted proposals to repair the building.
Mrs Glover, who was then a board member, said the estimated balcony repair costs were $1.5m.
She said the previous board began balcony repairs to the front portion of the southern end of the building, and funds were raised to replace one of the elevators and install a fire safety system.
“it is an ageing building, and maintenance and repairs must be an ongoing thing, and so repairs that should have been happening all along were neglected,” she said.
Police shoot man wielding a cutlass in the leg
Police report that a 29-year-old male from Ross corner is in the hospital after being shot by police while armed with a cutlass yesterday.
According to the police report, shortly before 7
am, a female in the area of Marlborough and West Bay Streets told police she was approached, robbed of her handbag, and assaulted in the face by a man armed with a cutlass. Police upon responding
found a man in the area of Baillou Hill Road and lewis Street who they report was still armed with a cutlass. Police said that when one of the officers approached the suspect, the suspect attacked the officer
and was subsequently shot in the leg.
The suspect was taken to the hospital via eMS where he remains in stable condition in police custody. Police investigations continue.
A photo of the Lucayan South Towers shows the deteriorating condition of the building.
Photo: Vandyke hepburn
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
Picture of the day
LEON E. H. DUPUCH
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
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Sending prayers and support for those in Beryl’s path
t HE sight of Bahamians arriving at Lynden Pindling International Airport to escape the path of Hurricane Beryl was a welcome, but sobering one. For all the talk of the impact of climate change, here were Bahamian climate refugees – escaping from Jamaica, but perhaps a glimpse of the dangers we face if the storm had shifted a few degrees in its path early on. We too could all become climate refugees.
We bear our own hurricane scars of course. t his year is five years since Hurricane Dorian tore into Abaco and Grand Bahama, leaving many dead and huge amounts of destruction. t he number who died can truly not be said to be certain with confidence, but the official figure is 74 in t he Bahamas.
At the time of writing this article, at least seven people had died as a result of Hurricane Beryl. t hree people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou. One of those in Grenada died when a tree fell on a house.
Another died in s t Vincent and the Grenadines. t hree more were reported dead in northern Venezuela – where another five are missing.
Grenada’s Prime m inister, Dickon m itchell, said on tuesday that there was no power and roads were impassable. He also said the possible rise of the death toll “remains a grim reality”.
s t Vincent’s Prime m inister, Ralph Gonsalves, has promised to rebuild after the storm.
Knowing how such storms have affected us, it is only fitting that we have already reached out with aid to those countries.
Bundles of tarpaulins have been
sent at the request of Grenada’s leader, on the instruction of our own prime minister.
Barbados leader m ia m ottley, meanwhile, has said that her nation’s fishing sector has been “totally destroyed”.
m ore supplies are being sent from t he Bahamas to s t Vincent and the Grenadines in the week ahead.
Which leaves Jamaica, still in the path of the storm at the time of writing, and with some of our own country people hunkering down to ride it out too.
Jamaica’s Prime m inister, Andrew Holness, has declared his country a disaster zone for seven days, even ahead of the storm’s arrival.
It is a terrible thing to know disaster is on the way and there is nothing to do in the face of such a powerful force of nature except to brace yourselves and prepare for the worst – and be ready to pick up the pieces afterwards.
We are doing the right thing as a nation. We are offering support to those who need it, just as support was offered to us when we needed it.
We are also speaking up to try to change the habits of our civilizations that may be exacerbating these storms.
Beryl is the earliest category five storm on record, its power fuelled by exceptional sea warmth.
One storm is not evidence on its own – but we keep seeing the evidence stack up for how climate change is making these monsters bigger and more frequent. For now, we must pray for those who still lie in the face of the storm.
And we must stand ready. Our neighbours will need our help. And one day, we may need theirs.
EDITOR, The Tribune.
BOY, minister Bell thought he had found a scandal to crush the Opposition. facts are back-fired big time and he made an absolute idiot of himself.
What am I talking about? NIB selling on instruction of the Governor Central Bank, John Rolle all of the NIB us Equity holdings to bring back the then much needed us’s to back the sovereign Reserves or probably there would have had to be devaluation. Editor...was watching minister Bell’s speech who was it calling on the Lord as minister Bell spoke? Every point he thought he was ramming home the female
EDITOR, The Tribune. BPL...what do we know and what is muddling and what hasn’t been told? 1) Not sold then well not sure...sold but... somehow government only has 40 percent? A sale it quakes!
are involved? 3) Dingman is that the same son of michael Dingman, deceased, who with his siblings created a $1.2m debt from trying
voice was heard calling on the Lord? shame on that female minister...not the first time she has done this. suggest next House meeting she should offer a strong apology. truly disgusted.
JEROME WILSON Nassau, June 20, 2024.
Procurement of government or by government over $50,000.00 in value requires a RFP…when was this advertised? Who responded? What were their bids (detail please). shouldn’t a Court Injunction be placed on any and all parts of this deal to safeguard the interests of the public?
K ALBURY Nassau, June 21, 2024.
EDITOR, The Tribune.
I must agree with a Free National movement (FNm) supporter who recently posted a disclaimer on Facebook that took issue with recent attempts at renaming the minnis administration the minnis/Pintard administration. this is done to tie Pintard to the hip of the unpopular minnis government. Yes, Pintard, after winning the marco City constituency, was given the Cabinet portfolio of youth, sports and culture by former Prime minister Dr Hubert minnis. But for all intents and purposes, Pintard was really a glorified backbencher, as he was never within the inner circle or clique of Dr. minnis. In fact, it was rumoured at one point that minnis did not like Pintard and that the latter was in danger of not receiving another nomination ahead of the 2021 general election. But because Pintard outperformed every mP in the House of Assembly, most notably excelling in the wake of Hurricane Dorian on Grand Bahama, it would have been a disastrous PR move by minnis to deny him a nomination. Anyone familiar with the minnis camp would know that individuals such as former Deputy Prime minister Desmond Bannister and former Cabinet minister Renward Wells were close to minnis. Pintard was never close to minnis.
the events over the past two years leading up to the June 1 FNm Convention proved this, as minnis surrogates worked tirelessly in undermining the FNm Leader. Even Progressive Liberal Party supporters were mocking Pintard by openly campaigning”hard” for minnis’ re-election as FNm Leader. Even they were quick to acknowledge the rift within the FNm between the minnis and Pintard camps. Now they want to make Pintard out to be this powerful key figure within the minnis administration by calling it the minnis/Pintard administration. so which is it? minnis was resoundingly rejected by Bahamians in september 2021. He was further rejected by FNms in June this year. that’s twice he’s been punished. By attempting to tie Pintard to minnis, Pintard detractors seem to be hoping that the Bahamian people will punish Pintard with the same tamarind switch they had used on minnis. But Pintard should be judged on his own merits. You cannot justify punishing a back-bencher who was rumoured to have been disliked by his boss for policies he absolutely had no input in or control over. Consequently,
Pintard, it could be argued, was as much a victim of the minnis administration as anyone else. this attempt at renaming the minnis administration is tantamount to an antiPLP operative renaming the current Davis administration the Davis/Zane Lightbourne administration at some point in the future, in the unlikely event the latter ascends atop the totem pole of the PLP. moreover, there’s no further need to punish the FNm for what minnis did, especially since it has come to light in recent weeks that minnis acted unilaterally on many of the unpopular decisions he made as Competent Authority. At what point are we going to move on from the minnis administration? He’s been out of office nearly three years now. You could probably make the case that it was the minnis/turnquest administration or the minnis/ Bannister administration, as both Desmond Bannister and Peter turnquest served as minnis’ deputy. Now we’re being told that it was the minnis/Pintard administration. I find this latest strategy to be disingenuous and laughable. I also find the move now to rename the minnis administration the minnis/ Pintard administration to be dishonest. that administration never existed.
KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama June 2024.
A greAt hammerhead shark swims through a school of fish.
Photo: Sieuwert Otterloo
Cooper: Study ordered on regional airport fees
from page one
a think tank to review tariffs and fees and the impact these have, saying: “Every time I look around, tickets going up and up and up, you know. I could go to Florida cheaper than I could go home to Long Island.”
East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson raised concerns about increases in landing fees for private commercial aircraft, private flights involving cargo and private recreational flights.
“We would hope that this does not go down the same road that the issue with the boaters went down, and again they say that there was no consultation, no one had spoken to them prior to the increase in those fees and in some cases, the fees would be increased from $50 to $300,” he said.
New Bight Airport runway repaired, Western Air will resume flights
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
AVIATION Director
Dr Kenneth Romer said potholes on Cat Island’s runway that caused Western Air to temporarily suspend flights have been repaired.
“When Western Air raised the concerns, we immediately mobilised a team to address it,” he told reporters outside the House of Assembly. “After a safety inspection, Western Air felt comfortable to deploy their service again. It’s an ongoing exercise to give Cat Island not just a new terminal, but significant improvements to the air side as well.” Western Air temporarily
suspended flights to and from New Bight, Cat Island, because of unsafe runway conditions. The airline revealed on Monday that scheduled flights there had resumed.
“The temporary fixes are expected to support ongoing flight operations until a permanent solution for the runway is implemented,” the airline said. “Affected passengers of the temporary pause are being assisted with alternative flight arrangements.”
Meanwhile, Dr Romer noted that Bahamasair is launching direct flights from the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) to Montego Bay, Jamaica, starting on July 25. Bahamasair, in a Facebook post, said the
roundtrip tickets will start from $526.35. Many expressed excitement over the announcement.
“There’s always been a very close relationship ally between The Bahamas and Jamaica,” Dr Romer said. “We’ve been extending our conversation as it relates to Caribbean travel, so Jamaica continues to be a very good hub.” Dr Romer described Jamaica as a popular vacation destination. He added that Bahamasair listened to the demand of the public to have a larger variety of flight destinations to choose from. He said both The Bahamas and Jamaica have similarities in culture, noting he believes the direct flight will be beneficial.
New Bight-Freetown Settlement Airport on Cat Isand.
TOURISM and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper said he ordered a study of regional airport fees to ensure the country’s approach is competitive, during a debate in the House of Assembly on the new airport fees.
Photo: Chappell whyms Jr
Pandora’s Box: Why residents should not be allowed to gamble in casinos
THERE are few physical reminders left of Hobby Horse Hall, such as the stables, converted into apartments which eventually grew into disrepair.
The eponymous roadway near Commonwealth Bank in Cable Beach, is another reminder of the defunct racetrack once located in the vicinity of the new golf clubhouse at Baha Mar.
A younger generation of Bahamians have no memory of the racetrack which was shuttered decades ago. While many Bahamians over a certain age have some memory of and others over 60 may be somewhat nostalgic about Hobby Horse Hall, many older Bahamians recall the downsides.
Racing was seasonal and when in season it was not daily. Even with limited opportunities for gambling, quite a number of families suffered as scores of gamblers placed bets on the horses in person or by proxy.
A friend recalls that his grandmother rarely missed an occasion to bet on the horses, much to the dismay of his grandfather.
The usually sober-minded lady and daily churchgoer was obsessed with the races.
Vastly more Bahamians than tourists attended Hobby Horse. During the relatively short season grocery stores reported a drop in sales, mortgage payments fell off, and many essential family obligations were neglected, because many breadwinners were chasing the dream of easy money. Quite a number of working people exhausted their
weekly pay cheque in a single day of betting.
The Pindling administration resisted calls to reopen the track. As casino gambling expanded and with the experience of Hobby Horse Hall in mind, the UBP and the PLP agreed that residents should be restricted from casino gambling, because they feared the social and economic havoc it might wreak on the country.
Many church leaders were opposed to gambling.
A sort of historic compromise was reached in which visitors were allowed to gamble but not those ordinarily resident. The compromise was based on a number of insights and had various components. Casino gambling was not an end in itself as the vision was not to make the Bahamas mostly a gambling destination. That was not our brand.
Licences were granted as incentives for investors
seeking to build resorts of a certain size on New Providence and Grand Bahama. Importantly, the restriction on casino gambling was placed on those ordinarily resident, both Bahamian and non-Bahamian. Visiting Bahamians and non-Bahamians living overseas are allowed to gamble in the casinos, an essential distinction largely obscured by some. The question is not about foreigners versus Bahamians. It is about
residents and non-residents. Residents who are nationals of another country are also barred from casino gambling. It is essential that the distinction is appreciated.
There is a question as to whether those ordinarily resident should be allowed to gamble in casinos. Some use the language of discrimination, going so far as to compare the issue with the fight for gender equality. It is a specious argument in significant ways.
A comparison: the restriction on Bahamians owning handguns is viewed as discriminatory by some. For many others, including this writer, it is a reasonable exception in order to avoid the development a broader gun culture which would have negative social consequences.
Residents gambling in the casino and restrictions on gun ownership are reasonable exceptions based on possible wide scale social harm.
There are three broad philosophical clusters constituting the body of opinion on gambling, ranging from the prohibitionist viewpoint to that of the libertarian. Prohibitionists would ban all forms of gambling. Libertarians would allow for all or most forms of gambling.
The third cluster represents a more moderate and intermediate position, prioritizing a communitarian or common good argument of the social effects of certain types of gambling over the question of individual choice and autonomy.
In debating whether those ordinarily resident should be allowed to gamble in casinos, the public policy debate concerns much more than the question of rights. We should be equally concerned about social and economic effects.
There is perhaps a generational divide on the issue, with older Bahamians recalling the effects of Hobby Horse Hall more likely to oppose residents gambling, as opposed to a younger generation with little or no memory more prone to see this as a rights issue.
This may be a stark example of Edmund Burke’s admonition: “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.”
Public policy debates include both philosophical arguments as well as hard realities informed by historical and sociological insight and experience.
Hothouse gambling in a casino environment with free drinks and a carnival atmosphere with flashing lights, scores of fellow gamblers, inducements
to gamble and a panoply of games of chance, is an emotionally quite different form of gambling.
Following legalized gambling activities by web shops, we have seen an increase in problem gambling, with some Bahamians spinning and playing certain games throughout the day.
The further addition of easy access to casino gambling by ordinarily resident Bahamians would have a devastating effect on the Bahamian society socially and economically, in terms of home life and a potential increase in various types of crime. The Bahamas would gambling online and in hothouse casinos gambling. This could turn into a nightmare and significantly increase social problems in a society already engulfed in all manner of crime and social dysfunction.
Cairns, a city of approximately 150,000, is the fourth most popular destination for overseas tourists to Australia. The Cairns Post reported in 2014: “Social workers are struggling to treat large numbers of Far Northern residents for gambling addiction… “Centacare Cairns executive director Helga Biro said local social workers were already at saturation point assisting locals for gambling addictions. ...
“‘These are people who can’t afford to pay their electricity bills, they can’t afford to buy nappies or formula for their babies … so they need to come for social assistance’.”
A report on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation website noted the concerns of “State Coordinator General Markham [who] warned that 1,500 extra poker machines will result in Cairns locals losing an additional $56m a year by 2021.
“That would equate to each adult resident in Cairns spending an extra $240 per year on pokies [slot machines]. He says 60 percent of those new pokie losses would come from around 4,000 new problem gamblers.
“The modelling forecasts $22m lost to poker machines by just 950 high risk problem gamblers.
“A further $12m would be lost each year by around 3,000 so-called ‘moderate risk’ problem gamblers…. His research also shows that about 70,000 new recreational gamblers in Cairns would lose, on average, $16m a year on pokies.”
INSTRUCTIVE
The experience of Cairns, with a population
of approximately 150,000 is instructive and disturbing for a country approaching 400,000 residents.
In such smaller communities, the issue of problem gambling is often more pronounced. Substitute New Providence or Bimini or Freeport for Cairns, with Bahamians being allowed to play the pokies in casinos, in addition to playing through gaming shops.
The owner of a popular restaurant near Paradise Island noted to this columnist that he initially thought that the bulk of his revenue would come from tourists. Instead it is repeat business by residents that is his gravy train.
Imagine near 24-hour year-round access to casinos by residents at Bimini, Freeport and New Providence, with most residents about half an hour or less away from a casino.
This might destroy Bimini and wreak havoc on an already struggling Grand Bahama. In the main population centre of New Providence residents would likely gamble in casinos on the way home from work, on lunch hours, and especially on weekends.
With sports betting in the mix in casinos, the increase in gambling by Bahamians will be phenomenal. In the offseason, resorts will likely market cheap rooms to residents, offering incentives for gamblers, including one-night gambling stands and weekend specials.
Younger residents on New Providence looking for something to do on weekends may flood the casinos in droves, creating a new generation of gamblers. All of this outflow of considerable sums of money will go out of the country, possibly seriously affecting our fiscal position as a country.
Those who are arguing this matter as a rights issue may be quite naïve. We may well happily delight in our newfound “right” or “freedom”, as we spin the slot machines and play other games of chance, all the while gambling away our pay cheques, savings and future as a country. It is a Pandora’s Box we should not open, yet another means for too many seeking to buy hope that rarely comes and instead often leads to despair.
• This column was first published in 2014. It is republished with a number of changes.
What should, and what will, President Biden do?
IT’S Independence Day in the US this morning, the date Americans commemorate their 248th national birthday. But as the US celebrates on its national day with cookouts and fireworks, many minds are distracted by the confused, tumultuous state of the current presidential race.
History may someday record that there has been a more significant presidential debate than the one between Donald Trump and Joe Biden a week ago. But you couldn’t get a lot of support for that proposition today.
That debate was painful to watch. It underlined the awful choice many Americans feel awaits them four months hence on Election Day in November. By some accounts, Trump spewed forth at least 30 outright lies, delivering them with a practised aplomb and no apparent hesitation whatsoever.
But it’s an indication of how poor Biden’s performance was that there has been little attention paid in the national media to Trump’s persistent mendacity. Or to his – and his Republican Party’s – startling lack of policy ideas. The former president offered almost no specific policy suggestions. He was vain, insulting, glib, evasive and – this is the key – energetic and vital.
While Biden was neither
STATESIDE
vain nor evasive, he looked, as he said the other day at a rally designed to rebuild his crumbling brand, like he was about to fall asleep before a national television audience and millions of voters who were already highly sceptical of his acuity and ability to continue to function as the nation’s chief executive. There are a lot of visual bits and audio sound bites flooding the internet now, most of them depicting Biden as somnolent and even potentially under the influence of strong sedative medication. For the many Americans who are concerned about his advanced age, and even for the millions of MAGA voters who were selfishly delighted at what they saw, it was a scary, sobering 90 minutes.
Whatever else the debate may have shown, it’s hard to disagree that Biden did himself and his re-election chances a lot of damage a week ago. Now, most Democratic politicians have given up any attempt to spin a positive version of the
debate. And a few – not too many, but a few – are starting to publicly declare that Biden should do himself, his legacy and the country a big favour and withdraw from the presidential race.
He should, they say, allow other Democratic candidates to step forward from now until the party convention in Chicago six and one-half weeks from now.
What should Biden do, and what will he do?
This morning, most Democrats probably feel that Biden should gracefully step aside, acknowledging what cannot be any longer denied: That his advanced aged and the evident stress of the job he holds appear to render him unfit to continue in office.
This would be a phenomenal but not unprecedented step for a sitting president.
In 1968, Democrat Lyndon Johnson, having succeeded the assassinated John F Kennedy, Jr, five years earlier and having won his first full term as president in a smashing victory over Barry Goldwater in the
1964 election, elected to withdraw from the 1968 campaign.
Johnson, never as popular as JFK but nonetheless an acknowledged master of the American political process and guiding force behind most of the landmark civil rights legislation that conservatives are presently trying to undo, was beset in March 1968 by his decision to persist with and even escalate a pointless war in Vietnam that would cost 57,000 Americans their lives.
The country was in turmoil and cities were literally burning after the assassination of iconic civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Here’s part of what LBJ said to the shocked county as he announced his decision:
“With America’s future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world’s hopes for peace in the balance every day,” he said, “I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal
partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office — the Presidency of your country.”
Soon enough, pundits and columnists will exhume this statement and remark that most of Johnson’s words could apply to Biden’s situation today.
The president, they will say, should follow LBJ’s heroic example and emulate his course of action. Maybe they are right. Certainly, America’s future is under challenge right here at home. In addition to attempting to erode the civil rights protections enacted under LBJ, conservatives continue to worry aloud about the future and efficacy of Medicare and other hallmarks of the Democratic-inspired Great Society launched by Kennedy and adroitly continued by Johnson. And America’s and the world’s hopes for peace are also certainly in the balance every day. This is true not just in Ukraine and Gaza, urgent and compelling as both of those continuing conflicts remain. It is fair to wonder which other flashpoint will erupt into headline-making strife next.
Will President Xi and China decide this is the perfect time to make good on a generation’s worth of threats and actually invade and overwhelm the stubbornly independent island of Taiwan? What if Venezuelan President Maduro sees a chance to annex neighbouring Guyana’s promising oil and gas deposits? There are potential dangers lurking all over the globe.
If Johnson felt overwhelmed in 1968, who would blame Biden if he felt similarly inundated with crises and problems today? Perhaps no one except Biden himself and his family.
A lifelong Democrat and committed liberal was musing about the president and his dilemma earlier this week.
“I don’t disagree that Biden was the only Democrat in 2020 who could beat Trump and repel him and his mobs from our gates,” she said. “And Biden has indisputably racked up a stunning series of legislative accomplishments. So much so that Trump had to order the GOP in Congress to vote against their own position on border security to scuttle an otherwise perfectly acceptable compromise brokered by Biden. Why? Because Trump thought it would deprive him of a reliable campaign issue.
“Trump is who he was as a candidate in 2016 and as he was for four years in the
White House. He’s shallow, impulsive, self-centred, disrespectful of most American institutions. He is indeed unfit for the office he seeks.
“But I don’t think Biden can beat him now.” She slumped in her chair.
Biden supporters cite his ‘Comeback Kid’ persona. On MSNBC on Monday, Mika Brzezinski delivered an eloquent defence of Biden. Reminding viewers of Biden’s history of improbable comebacks and triumphs, often over self-inflicted wounds from verbal gaffes and other missteps, she perhaps inadvertently offered a good explanation for why Biden probably won’t listen to the unsolicited advice of so many of his natural supporters, including the editorial board of the New York Times.
Arguably Biden’s most dramatic comeback occurred just four years ago, when he was left for politically dead after poor finishes in the New Hampshire and Iowa primary elections, only to garner key support from Rep James Clyburn as he swept to a decisive win in South Carolina that propelled him to the White House.
This once-dynamic Delaware senator began actively seeking the presidency almost 40 years ago. He will rely on his selfconfidence and history of comebacks and the advice of those closest to him. He will be extraordinarily reluctant to step away from an office he has so long sought and which he is certain he can fill so much better than his opponent. But as he contemplates his immediate future, Biden must keep in the front of his mind two things. First, any decision to step away from the presidential race needs to be taken almost immediately. If he withdraws, there must be sufficient time for his potential successors in the Democratic Party to sort themselves out so the convention and party can unite behind their new candidate. There is still time. But soon, there won’t be. It’s unlikely the party will quickly unite behind any one candidate. Secondly, if Biden remains in the race, he and his family and advisers must acknowledge that there can be no repeat of the debate debacle. Biden and Co must acknowledge his limitations, and orchestrate his future campaign appearances accordingly. Any high school debater would be ashamed of the president’s performance last week. There can be no repeat.
with Charlie Harper
Former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden on the debate stage last Thursday in CNN.
‘Original Valley Boys will compete on Bay’
that the Valley Boys are going through and it’s the hope of everyone that they can find some common ground to either unite or have a clean break from one another and move forward,” he said. “I think the country, the Junkanoo community are exhausted of the back and forth, the innuendo and we’d like to get back to some sort of normalcy and get to preparing for the upcoming parade.”
In June, Mr Davis said the rupture in the Valley Boys reflects concern about how the organisation had been run over the years. He said it lacked fiscal accountability, avoided elections and failed to copyright its symbols. He believes his group has the support of 60 per cent of people who typically rush with the Valley Boys and said it has secured one major sponsor: Think Simple. Mr Adderley’s group held a press conference on
Tuesday when he accused his counterparts of engaging in character assassination.
Although Mr Miller has said registration as a non-profit organisation is unnecessary for the JCNP to recognise a Junkanoo group, Mr Davis said he registered his group as an NPO under the Valley Boys name after realising the other group was not registered. Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg has said the ministry will
m an accused of T he murder of h es T on a dderley las T weekend
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded in custody yesterday after being accused of a murder in New Providence last week.
Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Cornell Cooper, 38, with murder after he allegedly killed Heston Adderley on June 28. The accused was told that his matter would proceed to the Supreme Court
by way of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
Cooper will be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on October 31.
Inspector Deon Barr served as the prosecutor.
m an ordered T o anger managemen T af T er aTTacking
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was ordered to attend anger management classes after he assaulted a woman with a cutlass and threatened to kill her last week.
Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville charged Deneko Deveaux, 29, with assault with a dangerous instrument and threats of death. Deveaux reportedly assaulted Raven Jones with a cutlass and threatened her with death in Elizabeth Estates on June 29. After pleading guilty to the charge, Deveaux claimed he was employed and had a clean record up to this point. He asked Magistrate Serville for leniency.
Deveaux was granted a conditional discharge and placed on six-month probation. During this time, he must attend anger management classes. Failure to obey these conditions would incur a $1,500 fine or three months in prison.
The defendant must return to court on September 27.
Teen admi T s To s T ealing, sen T To simpson penn
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A TEENAGE boy admitted to breaking into a store on John Chipman Street last month and stealing items worth over $500.
Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr., charged the 13-year-old, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, with
shopbreaking, damage, stealing and causing harm. A guardian was present during his arraignment. The defendant and accomplices reportedly broke into Gibson’s Petty Shop and caused $138.60 in damage to a white security screen between 11.30pm June 1 and June 2. The suspects reportedly stole $590.50 worth of grocery items belonging to Michael Gibson.
The defendant also allegedly injured a fellow TA Thompson Junior High School student during a fight on February 2. While the defendant pleaded guilty to the stealing charges, he entered a not-guilty plea to the causing harm charge. He will be remanded to Simpson Penn until his probation report is produced on October 3.
not intervene in the dispute between the groups. However, he said yesterday that Junkanoo groups should be registered as NPOs.
“All of them should have been from back then nonprofit organisations,” he
said, endorsing a view Mr Davis has expressed. He said for now, groups can still be registered for parades using a business license or an NPO registration as they have traditionally done. He suggested that when
the Valley Boys fight dies down, the ministry will push the JCNP to ensure groups are registered as NPOs. Mr Miller said the ministry and the JCNP will discuss such matters “at the appropriate time”.
Hurricane Beryl makes its way to Jamaica after ripping through southeast Caribbean
St
GEORGE’S Associated Press
Hurricane Beryl roared through open waters
Tuesday as a powerful category 4 storm heading toward Jamaica after earlier crossing islands in the southeast caribbean, killing at least six people.
a hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica, Grand cayman, Little cayman, and cayman Brac. Beryl was losing intensity but was forecast to still be near major-hurricane strength when it passes near or over Jamaica early Wednesday, near the cayman islands on Thursday and into Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday, according to the national Hurricane center.
a hurricane watch was in effect for Haiti’s southern coast and the Yucatan’s east coast. Belize issued a tropical storm watch stretching south from its border with Mexico to Belize city.
Late Monday, Beryl became the earliest storm to develop into a category 5 hurricane in the atlantic and peaked at winds of 165 mph (270 kph) Tuesday before weakening to a still-destructive category 4. early Wednesday, the storm was about 250 miles (400 kilometres) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. it had top winds of 145 mph (230 kph) and was moving westnorthwest at 22 mph (35 kph), the center said.
Beryl was expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica, where officials warned residents in flood-prone areas to prepare for evacuation.
“i am encouraging all
Jamaicans to take the hurricane as a serious threat,” Prime Minister andrew Holness said in a public address Tuesday. “it is, however, not a time to panic.” in Miami, national
Hurricane center Director Michael Brennan said Jamaica appears to be in the direct path of Beryl.
“We are most concerned about Jamaica, where we are expecting the core of a major hurricane to pass near or over the island,” he said in an online briefing.
“You want to be in a safe place where you can ride out the storm by nightfall (Tuesday). Be prepared to stay in that location through Wednesday.”
Storm surge of 6-9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 meters) above typical tide levels are likely in Jamaica, as well as heavy rainfall.
“This is a big hazard in the caribbean, especially with the mountainous islands,” Brennan said. “This could cause life threatening flash floods and mudslides in some of these areas.” a tropical storm warning was in place for the entire southern coast of Hispaniola, an island shared by Haiti and the Dominican republic.
Trail of devastation as the storm barrelled through the caribbean Sea, rescue crews in southeastern islands fanned out to determine the extent of the damage Beryl inflicted on carriacou, an island in Grenada.
Three people were reported killed in Grenada and carriacou and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said. Two other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where five people are missing, officials said. Some 25,000 people in that area also were affected by heavy rainfall from Beryl.
One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, told The associated Press. She said carriacou and Petit Martinique sustained the greatest damage, with scores of homes and businesses flattened in carriacou.
“The situation is grim,” Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told a news conference Tuesday. “There
is no power, and there is almost complete destruction of homes and buildings on the island. The roads are not passable, and in many instances they are cut off because of the large quantity of debris strewn all over the streets.”
Mitchell added: “The possibility that there may be more fatalities remains a grim reality as movement is still highly restricted.”
Meanwhile, ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, promised to rebuild the archipelago in a statement early Tuesday. He noted that 90% of homes on union island were destroyed, and that “similar levels of devastation” were expected on the islands of Myreau and canouan.
Several people evacuated union island via ferry and arrived at the Kingstown Ferry Terminal in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday.
Sharon Deroche, one of the evacuees, said union island is in a terrible state. She bore the hurricane in her bathroom before she fled. “it was a hard four hours battling with six of us in that little area,” she said. The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast caribbean was Hurricane ivan 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada.
Grenadian resident roy O’neale, 77, lost his home to ivan and built back stronger. His current home sustained minimal damage from Beryl. i felt the wind whistling, and then for about two hours straight, it was really, really terrifying at times,” he said by phone. “Branches of trees were flying all over the place.”
Hundreds of people hunkered in shelters across the southeast caribbean, including 50 adults and 20 children who huddled inside a school in Grenada.
“Maybe some of them thought they could have survived in their homes, but when they realized the severity of it … they came for cover,” said urban Mason, a retired teacher who served as the shelter’s manager. “People tend to be complacent.”
One of the homes that Beryl damaged belongs to the parents of un climate change executive Secretary Simon Stiell, who is from carriacou. The storm also destroyed the home of his late grandmother. in a statement, Stiell said that the climate crisis is worsening, faster than expected.
“Whether in my homeland of carriacou … hammered by Hurricane Beryl, or in the heatwaves and floods crippling communities in some of the world’s largest economies, it’s clear that the climate crisis is pushing disasters to record-breaking new levels of destruction,” he said. Grenada, known as the “spice isle,” is one of the world’s top exporters of nutmeg. Mitchell noted that the bulk of the spices are grown in the northern part of the island, which was hit hardest by Beryl.
A mAn covers the windows of a building to protect it from the incoming Hurricane Beryl in Kingston, Jamaica, on Tuesday.
Photo: Collin Reid/AP
THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024
Bahamas tops Poland 90-81 SPORTS
Senior men’s national basketball team advances to
Olympic qualifying tournament semifinals
By TENAJH SWEETING
Sports Reporter
The quest to Olympic qualification got one step shorter for The Bahamas senior men’s national basketball team as they have now advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament where the stakes are even higher.
Team Bahamas outperformed the no.15 ranked Poland 90-81 yesterday at the Pavello Municipal Fonf de Sant LIuís in Valencia, Spain.
The team capped off Group B play undefeated after knocking off Finland on Tuesday in their tournament opener. Baylor commit Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe gave the opposing team problems again on both sides of the ball.
The Bimini native along with National Basketball Association (NBA) pros Chavano “Buddy” Hield and Deandre Ayton all combined for 56 points to advance to the semis.
Hield, the TCL player of the game, dropped 17 points, six rebounds and played the role of facilitator with 10 dimes.
Edgecombe continued to make it look easy against the pros, turning in another strong performance with a team-high 21 points, six rebounds and two assists.
The Bahamian big man got to work and put up 18 points, pulled down nine rebounds and picked the ball off twice in the win.
Eric “EJ” Gordon chipped in with 12 points that included two makes from deep.
“Buddy” said it felt great to get the win and come out of Group B undefeated but the job is surely not
16
Baptist Sports Federation Co-ed Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament AFTER a delay for the funeral service for its former executive, Renee ‘Sunshine’ Curry-Davis, the Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation is all geared up for its softball co-ed slowpitch tournament on Saturday at the Charles W Saunders High School, Jean Street. Six teams are scheduled to participate in the round robin event that will begin at 9am and
July, 2024
am - St Paul’s vs Macedo IA. 11:20 am - New Bethlehem vs Jubilee. 12:25 pm - Golden Gates vs St Paul’s. 1:30 pm - New Covenant vs New Bethlehem. 2:35 pm - Macedonia vs Golden Gates.
SEE PAGE 14
FORMER University of The Bahamas multi-event competitor Ken Mullings became the first athlete from the institution named to a Bahamian Olympic team.
Mullings also is the first Bahamian to make it to a Bahamian Olympic team in any multi-event discipline. World Athletics confirmed worldwide athletes who qualified for the Paris Olympics this month through The World Athletics Rankings system.
Mullings qualified for the 33rd Summer Olympics as he was ranked 21st overall. World Athletics allocated 24 spots for the Paris Games in the decathlon.
“This is a monumental moment for UB athletics,” said UB athletics director Kimberley Rolle. “We see Ken as the first but certainly not the last from
THE Babe Ruth Caribbean Championship and Invitationals will return to The Bahamas for the third time this Sunday at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium and the Baillou Hills Softball Complex.
The five-day event, which is supported by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Ministry of Tourism, the Bahamas Baseball Federation (BBF) and National Sports Authority, will continue from Sunday, July 7 until July 11.
The regional baseball extravaganza features two divisions, including a 12-and-under (12U) division and 16-and-under (16U) division. A combined 14 teams across both
MIAMI (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela tripled, doubled and drove in three runs, Brayan Bello limited Miami to a run over 6 2/3 innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Marlins 7-2 last night. Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida each had two hits and two RBIs to help the Red Sox win their third straight after a three-game slide. In his first start since June 25, Bello (8-5) gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out seven. The right-hander’s previous turn was skipped to help him overcome a difficult stretch, when he dropped three of four decisions.
Red Sox centre fielder Jarren Duran and left fielder Tyler O’Neill robbed Miami’s Josh Bell of extra base hits with standout defensive plays. Duran ran and tracked down Bell’s drive at the wall in the sixth, and O’Neill dove to catch a line drive in the eighth. Boston capitalised on an ineffective outing by Miami starter Trevor Rogers (1-9) with five hits and three walks through the first three innings. Run-scoring singles from Devers and Yoshida in the third erased an early deficit and put Boston ahead 2-1. Yoshida’s RBI groundout in the seventh made it 3-1. The Red Sox broke it open on Devers’ run-scoring triple and Rafaela’s
PAGE 14
TEAM BAHAMAS GIRLS
FINISH IN 2ND PLACE AT U12 TENNIS COMPETITION
IT was another great win for Team Bahamas. Danielle Saunders would have another straight set victory 6-2, 6-0. Marina Bostwick would be up next, winning 7-6, 6-0.
The doubles featured Ellie Nash and Danielle and went to an exhilarating ending 2-1 vs Puerto Rico.
The team, which was captained by coach Paula Whitfield, had an amazing run, winning against three nations and ending the competition 3-1 and a 2nd place finish.
The host nation Dominican Republic ended in 1st place.
On the boys’ side, the team fought hard but ended the competition with a loss to Puerto Rico. They had strong performances on the courts despite not recording any overall wins. Harrison Van Onselen played admirably, winning two singles and the other two singles going the distance in three sets despite losing. The other teammates Kingston Rees snd Oliver Van Onselen also played hard. The team was captained by coach Marvin Rolle. Team Puerto Rico ended in 1st place.
The Bahamas Lawn Tennis (BLTA) congratulates Danielle, Marina, Ellie and coach Paula on a great run, going 3-1. We congratulate the girls on a 2nd place finish, a great performance for the country on this international arena.
We also congratulate Harrison, Kingston, Oliver and coach Marvin on their representation in the Dominican Republic.
Ellie, Harrison and Oliver were all new to the team competition stage, we are pleased that the young athletes continue to develop and that the BLTA
can provide the juniors with these opportunities to compete and shine. This is the 7th and 8th team that have
been fielded and organised by the (BLTA) association for 2024. We note the teams are performing very well representing the Bahamas admirably on the global stage. Keep up the good work.
BABE RUTH CARIBBEAN CHAMPIONSHIP ALL SET TO BEGIN THIS SUNDAY
FROM PAGE 13
divisions are expected to commute to the capital for the summer tournament.
Greg Burrows Sr, Caribbean region commissioner for Babe Ruth, was pleased to have the support of other Caribbean countries and is hoping to see The Bahamas return to its winning ways.
“I appreciate all of the countries that signed up this year. We want to continue to try and grow this tournament. I hope and pray that we continue on with the support from the government, Minister of Sports Mario Bowleg, the Ministry of Tourism and the support of the Prime Minister, who is a baseball guy himself. We lost last year and the year before we won in both divisions. I hope this year we return to the winning record we had in the first year we had this tournament,” he said.
The 12U division will feature some action from teams from Anguilla, Aruba, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands and Jamaica.
With Hurricane Beryl posing a threat to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, officials are carefully monitoring the situation to determine if they will still be able to compete.
For the six 12U teams the stakes are high. The winner of that division will book their ticket to Branson, Missouri for their spot in the Cal Ripken Major70 World Series hosted at Ballparks of America.
The 16U teams will hail from Aruba, The Bahamas,
Belize, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, USA MJBL, USA South and Venezuela, who will be coached by Johan Santana- former starting pitcher for the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins.
The Bahamas will have a direct berth in the tournament thanks to its hosting privileges.
Burrows Sr acknowledged that he is hoping to see the 12U team not only win at home but emerge as champions of the Cal Ripken Major70 World Series like The Bahamas did in 2010.
“We have been running after a championship that we won in 2010 at the World Series. I was told by Greg that we have a very good chance this year of doing very well in the
World Series. I hope this is just the next step before we get to that level,” he said.
Greg Burrows Jr will serve as the head coach of the 12U club and is confident in their abilities to win the tourney.
“We have been putting in a lot of work. The 12U team is ready to go and the 16U team is ready to go. I think we have a strong team this year and we have some guys that will be showcasing for some professional teams that will be coming in to watch the event. Our 12U team is getting a lot of talk about it on the international market because we have scouts coming to see the 12-and unders.
“It is an encouraging group and I think it would be great for the public to come and see them play.
They are very talented, extremely passionate about the game and hard working. It has been a pleasure working with this group and I look forward to what the next week brings,” he said.
The Bahamas’ 12U and 16U teams finished in the fifth and third positions respectively at last year’s Babe Ruth Regional Championships. Despite coming up short to a degree, Burrows Jr assured the public that both teams are equipped to come out with the win this time around.
“We follow the professional training programme. I think with the 12U and 16U teams conditioning, strength, on-field work we have covered everything that we need to cover to be competitive. I think in the game itself there are a lot
‘JAZZ’ SCORES BUT MARLINS SUFFER 7-2 LOSS TO RED SOX
FROM PAGE 13
TRAINER’S ROOM Red Sox: RHP Liam Hendriks (elbow surgery) threw the first of three scheduled bullpen sessions Wednesday. Manager Alex Cora said Hendriks threw only fastballs. Hendriks, who is traveling with the club, will throw Friday and Sunday in New York.
Marlins: Optioned RHP Valente Bellozo to Jacksonville and recalled Anthony Maldonado from the TripleA club. ... OF Nick Gordon (illness) and INF Otto López (back) missed their second consecutive games.
UP NEXT
RHP Nick Pivetta (4-5, 4.52) will start the series finale for the Red Sox on Thursday, The Marlins will go with RHP Kyle Tyler (3.38).
of variables that decide if you win or lose. The boys are ready to play. If the weather is good, umpiring is good and we are having fun we are gonna win. We look forward to the competition and that is what it is all about more than anything,” he said. Ray Stubbs, head coach of the 16U team, was equally as confident that the team’s preparations will translate into good results.
“It is good to be here to represent our country in this year’s Babe Ruth tournament. Our boys are prepared and they have put in the work. We will show our talents on the field,” he said
Kelsie Johnson-Sills, acting director of sports at MOYSC, encouraged the teams to represent the
country well and in winning fashion. “I would like to congratulate the young men who will be selected to represent the country once again. For those persons who will be selected for the first time, it’s an honour to represent your country. It’s an honour to be named to a national team…Some of the persons that you will be playing now, if you were to make it to the majors or to the minors, you’re going to see them because not only you are the future, they’re also the future. I want us to win. Let’s remember that The Bahamas is a winning squad. Let’s swing for the fences, let’s get some home runs and have a good tournament,” she said. Tickets can be purchased at the venues at $10 for adults and $5 kids.
The camp will be held daily from 9am to 1pm. It’s opened to boys and girls ages 7-15 years old. For more information, persons can contact Ford at 556-0993.
vs
5:50 pm - Championship game.
SOFTBALL NPSA ACTION AFTER taking a break over the weekend for the funeral service for the late Renee “Sunshine” CurryDavis, the New Providence Softball Association will be back in action this week with the following games on tap in the Bankers Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. Thursday 7pm - Johnson Lady Truckers vs Black Scorpions (L) 8:30pm - Renegades vs Chances Mighty Mitts(M) BASEBALL FORD CAMP THE Mario Ford Summer Baseball Camp started yesterday and is scheduled to run through July 12 at Windsor Park.
PEACE ON DA STREETS BASKETBALL THE annual Peace On Da Streets Basketball Classic, dubbed “Shooting Hoops instead of Guns,” is scheduled for July 15-21 at the Michael ‘Scooter Reid” Basketball Center at the Hope Center. All games start at 6pm daily. Categories include 12-and-under, 16-andunder, 20-and-under, government ministry, church and open divisions. The event is being promoted by Guardian Radio and Radio House Outreach. CLERGY VS POLITICIANS AS part of the Peace ON Da Streets Classic, organisers will once again stage the showdown between members of the Clergy against the Members of Parliament. The game is scheduled for 8pm Sunday, July 21 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.
MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. is congratulated by the team after scoring during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox yesterday in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
LOCKED IN: The Bahamas 12U and 16U teams are prepared to put on a show at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium from July 7-11 at the third Babe Ruth Regional Championships.
TEAM Bahamas girls’ win vs Puerto Rico ended in 2nd Place at the Under-12 tennis competition in the Dominican Republic.
Coach Cunningham and Spence are putting on multisports summer camp
By TENAJH SWEETING
Reporter
THE summertime is when kids, junior and senior athletes around New Providence utilise their new found free time to pick up new sporting interests, develop new skills or improve their games.
Coach Randy Cunningham and Kevon Spence have teamed up this summer to give boys and girls between ages 5-19 those opportunities with the Summer Basketball, Volleyball and Tennis Camp presented by the Randimac Tigers.
The two-week camp got underway at the DW Davis Gymnasium on Monday and, according to one of the camp directors, the attendance numbers are slowly climbing as 30 participants showed up on Tuesday.
“Our turnout is starting to grow. Today, we have improved in numbers and by tomorrow the numbers will grow as people now know that we are here. It is not about numbers, it is about the quality of the sessions that you give kids.
We are offering basketball, tennis and volleyball and when we’re finished with the camp we will continue with a programme on Saturdays at the Tom the Bird Grant Park so it is an ongoing process,” he said.
The group was split into three sections on Tuesday as they worked on basic basketball fundamentals including conditioning,
defence, offence, passing and ball-handling.
Coach Cunningham said the goal is ultimately to get the youth to improve some of their skills within the next two weeks.
“Our goal is to get the kids to improve within the next two weeks. Basketball wise we are teaching defence, ball-handling, passing, shooting and we are working on conditioning.
We also teach them focus because it is hard to get kids to focus nowadays so we try to give them a lot of breaks, short spurts, run them hard and then hopefully they will receive the message,” he said.
Another underrated aspect of the summer camp is the addition of volleyball and tennis which grants the youth an opportunity to diversify their skillset or
even pick up a new interest.
The camp director believes it is important to allow kids to try out new sports they usually do not have the opportunity or resources to engage in.
“Tennis is not only for the rich so what I am trying to do is get my kids here in the camp to try tennis. In the days coming, we are not gonna let them do basketball, we are gonna let
everybody do a whole session of tennis. Most of the kids come from basketball but if you never try tennis it might be something that you like or you can be a natural. That is why I try to get the inner city kids to be a part of trying volleyball or learning tennis,” he said. Success for both coaches will be measured by witnessing the youth improve their skills from good to
great over the next two weeks.
Doris Johnson student
Anastacia Clarke was delighted to speak about her experience on day two of the camp.
“We are learning new drills and how to build up our endurance. It is a good camp and is very fun, entertaining and competitive,” she said.
She currently plays basketball, softball and volleyball and expects the camp to give her a new bag of tricks headed into the upcoming GSSSA sporting season.
“I think it is helping me to improve my skills. I believe it will help me to prosper more this season than I did last season,” she said.
Noble Prep graduate Jay-Onn Joseph has plans of continuing his basketball career at the collegiate level. He said the camp is helping him to work on his shooting ability and footwork.
“I have been learning how to get off my shot which is something I have been wanting to work on as well as my footwork. I think this can help me to improve my skills a lot so when I transition into college everything will come easier,” he said. The camp continues until July 12. It runs from 9am to 1pm and is priced at $100 per week.
Interested persons can reach out to coach Spence at 242-436-8267 or coach Cunningham at 242-429-3297.
Mingoes Nation to make The Olympics. “While he got his start here at UB, Ken has been a driven professional in his athletic career and was always disciplined and that discipline and tenacity is clearly paying off with him qualifying for Paris. He has always been a humble student-athlete here at UB and we are excited that he’s become the first to carry our banner to the Olympics.”
Mingoes head track and field coach Ednal Rolle coached Mullings at UB to several world rankings in multi-events and national records. “We are excited for Ken making the Olympics,” Rolle said. “When he was here he never gave up hope on his dream of becoming a great athlete. It is clear this will not be his last Olympic Games.”
Rolle added that Mullings making the team speaks to the system at UB. “This proves that the programme is top tier and any Bahamian
to be a
athletes
Bahamas tops Poland 90-81
done yet. “It feels great. The job is not finished and we have to take it one game at a time and watch film. We do not know who we are gonna play but we just gotta keep being resilient on both ends, staying together as a group and take it one game and position at a time,” the three-point specialist said.
The Bahamas got out to a scorching hot start from deep in the early minutes of game two in Group B against Poland. The team canned their first four attempts from behind the arc and got ahead 23-13 at 1:53 mark of the first period. They ended the quarter in the driver’s seat 30-20.
The Bahamas kept their feet on the pedal in the second quarter with Hield scoring eight of his 17 points during this time. With just 11 seconds on the game clock, the NBA free agent knocked down a two-point fadeaway shot to keep The Bahamas ahead 50-38 going into the halftime break.
National team head coach Chris DeMarco admitted that playing back-to-back games was challenging for the team but they answered the call.
turnaround. Poland hadn’t played a game here yet and you never know how a team is gonna come out with playing a game and on our end how it’s going to look on a back-to-back.
Domonique Fernander/ Bahamas Basketball Federation
means to be in this position and what we fought for last summer to even get here right now. I think our guys are locked in and we are gonna give this thing our best shot. You never know when this opportunity is gonna come around again and I think our guys are really focused,” he said. The Bahamas will have two days of rest and return to action on Saturday versus the second best finisher in Group A. If successful, the team will play in the finals on July 7 for a chance to make the Paris Olympic Games. FROM PAGE 13
“I think a challenging part of this was the backto-back with the 5:30 games so we were interested in seeing how our guys would respond with such a quick
“They are a great team. They are really hard to guard and they compete. I thought we had a lot of big plays from our others. I think a lot of times everyone focuses on Deandre, Buddy and Eric and we had other players make big time plays throughout the game down the stretch,” he said.
That other player would be Baylor commit VJ Edgecombe. He once again displayed that he is not afraid of the moment and picked up where Hield left off going into halftime. The athletic wing powered his way to seven of his 21 points in the third, including a massive dunk to close out the period with The Bahamas in charge 73-59. He told reporters at the press conference he was grateful to have the opportunity as one of the team’s youngest players.
“It is super important and I am super grateful for the opportunity that was placed in front of me. Coach Chris trusted me on the floor to do the little things and just compete. I just want to give him credit for that. Overall, I am happy that I am here but now I know what is at stake. I just gotta continue staying focused, continue doing what I been doing the past couple games and just do whatever it takes for us to win,” he said. Poland showed some major signs of life in the
fourth quarter where they came alive for a 14-4 run to shave the deficit from 16 points to just six with 2:10 remaining. However, they did not get a chance to dig deeper into the lead thanks to Edgecombe who iced the game with a big-three pointer with just 34 seconds remaining in the game.
Although the Paris dream is still alive for The Bahamas, the team collectively understands there is still work to be done, according to coach DeMarco.
“I think everybody knows what’s at stake right now. I think we understand what it
By KYLE HIGHTOWER
Sports Writer
GIANNIS Antetokounmpo looked like a player intent on leading Greece to its first Olympic berth since 2008.
Antetokounmpo had 32 points in 19 minutes, going 11 of 11 from the field, as Greece rolled to a 109-82 win over the Dominican Republic yesterday in Group B of the Piraeus, Greece, Olympic qualifying tournament.
Thomas Walkup added 17 points for Greece, which led by as many as 27 and can advance to the semifinal round of the tournament with a victory over Egypt on Thursday.
“Giannis loves to be here. He loves to represent his country,” Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis said. “He’s very humble. He’s part of the team. For a superstar you don’t find this easy. ... He’s about winning.”
The tournament in Greece is one of four that
opened Tuesday to settle the final four spots in the men’s basketball field for the Paris Olympics. Other tournaments are ongoing in Latvia, Puerto Rico and Spain.
Group play at all four sites continues through today, with semifinal games Saturday and the title games Sunday. An appearance in the Olympics is one of the few things Antetokounmpo has yet to accomplish in his basketball career. On Wednesday, he didn’t seem to be bothered at all by the strained left calf that caused him to sit out of the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff run in April. He got to the rim at will, went 9 of 13 from the free-throw line and knocked down his lone 3-point attempt. New Zealand 90, Croatia 86
Croatia is advancing in its bid to earn one of the final Olympic berths, but not with the kind of momentum it had hoped. New Zealand beat Croatia 90-86 in
Group A in Piraeus. Corey Webster had 21 points and Shea Ili added 18, including a go-ahead layup in the final minute to help New Zealand rally for the win.
“I think it’s just a gutsy win from our team,” New Zealand captain Reuben Te Rangi said.
Ivica Zubac had 29 points and 16 rebounds, Dario Saric added 19 points and eight rebounds and Mario Hezonja had 16 points for Croatia, which was able to secure a place in the semifinals with the four-point differential.
The loss, however, kept NBA star Luka Doncic and Slovenia in contention.
Slovenia can make it out of Group A and into the semifinals if they beat New Zealand by 21 points when the teams meet today. If not, New Zealand will advance.
Croatia won its tournament opener 108-92 over Slovenia on Tuesday.
“It was a tough spot playing after an emotional win over Slovenia,” Saric said
of the loss yesterday. “We were hoping we’d be on a level and push the game in our direction. But today wasn’t the case.”
Montenegro 70, Cameroon 66 In Riga, Latvia, Montenegro survived a sluggish start to keep its semifinal hopes alive with a 70-66 win over Cameroon.
Marko Simonovic had 18 points, six rebounds and went 9 of 9 from the free-throw line to lead five Montenegro players in double figures. Nikola
Vucevic finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Cameroon needs to upset Brazil when the teams meet today to advance to the semifinals out of Group B. Otherwise, the second spot would go to Montenegro. Cameroon led 32-29 at the half. But Montenegro opened the third quarter with a 15-2 run to take a 44-34 lead and never trailed again. Montenegro connected on 7 of 9 free throws in the final period and 20 for 24 for the game. Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each had 14 points apiece to lead Cameroon.
Philippines 89, Latvia 80 Justin Brownlee had 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to help the Philippines hold off a late charge and beat Latvia 89-80 in Group A of the Latvia tournament.
Kai Sotto added 18 points and eight rebounds. Latvia trailed by as many as 26 points and cut what was a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 with 1:21 remaining. But Latvia settled down and was able to close it out.
Rodions Kurucs led Latvia with 18 points.
The Philippines is in the driver’s seat to win the group and advance to the knockout stage when it plays Georgia today.
Latvia beat Georgia 83-55 on Tuesday. Spain 89, Angola 81 Santiago Aldama had 24 points and Spain beat Angola 89-81 to win Group A and advance to the semifinals of the Liga, Spain, tournament.
Willy Hernangomez added 22 points and 10 rebounds. The winner of Lebanon and Angola today will join Spain in the knockout round.
Spain carried a ninepoint lead into the fourth quarter and Angola never got closer than six the rest of the way. Jilson Bango led Angola with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Bahamas 90, Poland 81
Valdez Edgecombe Jr. had 21 points, Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds, and the Bahamas advanced to the knockout round with their win over Poland in Valencia, Spain.
The Bahamas led by as many as 19 in the fourth quarter, knocking down 13 3-pointers and assisting on 24 of its 31 field goals for the game. Buddy Hield finished with 17 points and 10 assists to help his team finish 2-0 in Group B. Poland and Finland play today to decide who will join the Bahamas from the group in the semifinals.
Photos:
Jonquel helps New York top Minnesota as Liberty play stellar defence in 4th quarter
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer JONES NAMED
NEW YORK (AP) —
Jonquel Jones had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and New York used stellar defence in the fourth quarter to beat the Minnesota Lynx 76-67 on Tuesday night.
Breanna Stewart added 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Liberty in a rematch of the Commissioner’s Cup championship game that was won by the Lynx a week ago.
New York (17-3) trailed 65-61 before clamping down defensively. Minnesota missed 10 shots and had four turnovers over the next 7 1/2 minutes and the Liberty scored 15 consecutive points to go up 74-65 with 1:07 left on two free throws by Sabrina Ionescu.
Dorka Juhasz finally ended the drought with a layup with 30 seconds left, but it wasn’t enough.
“That was great team defense, everyone was locked in,” said Jones, who was named to the WNBA All-Star team after the game.
TO THE WNBA ALL-STAR TEAM
Kayla McBride scored 17 points for the Lynx (145), and Napheesa Collier had 15. “Hold a really good team to 37% (shooting) on the road, we did what we could to give ourselves a chance to win this game,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said.
LEBRON JAMES AGREES TO 2-YEAR EXTENSION WITH THE LOS ANGELES
LAKERS, AP SOURCE SAYS
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer
LEBRON James is making it official: He’s coming back for a recordtying 22nd season in the NBA, one where the league’s all-time scoring leader could share the floor with his son Bronny as teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James has agreed to a two-year contract to remain with the Lakers, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday.
The second year of the deal is at James’ option and means he could become a free agent again next summer, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced publicly.
ESPN reported that the Lakers and James’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, may agree on a salary slightly less than the max that James could have gotten — a move that could keep the team from reaching the second apron and preserve some roster flexibility going forward.
Either way, the expectation is that James will make around $50 million — give or take a little bit — this coming season, pushing his career on-court earnings to around $530 million and making him the first player in NBA history to eclipse the $500 million mark.
It will be James’ 22nd season in the NBA, tying Vince Carter for the league record.
The Lakers selected Bronny James last week in the second round of the draft, putting them in position to have the first on-court father-son duo in NBA history.
Bronny James already has signed his first NBA contract, the Lakers announced yesterday. It is
a four-year deal, the last of those years at the Lakers’ option, worth $7.9 million — with about $1.2 million as his rookie year salary.
Getting his latest deal done clears one logistical hurdle for LeBron James:
He needed a contract to be in place before he could take the floor with USA Basketball for the start of its training camp in Las Vegas this weekend, one where the squad will start preparations for the Paris Olympics.
James will play in the Olympics for the fourth time, his first since helping the U.S. win gold at the 2012 London Games.
He’ll turn 40 in December and averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists last season — as the oldest active player in the league.
Not only is James the all-time leader in points (40,474), but he’s fourth in assists (11,009), sixth in games played (1,492) and eighth in both 3-pointers made (2,410) and steals (2,275). His 20 All-Star selections is a record, as are his 20 appearances on the AllNBA team. He holds the records for being both the youngest player, and oldest player, to make an AllNBA squad.
James became the youngest to make All-NBA when he was voted onto the team for the 2004-05 season. This past season, he became the first player to be age 39 or older in what became an All-NBA campaign.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan were both just a few days from turning 39 when the regular seasons ended in what became their final All-NBA campaigns, Abdul-Jabbar’s being 198586 and Duncan’s being 2014-15.
James played in 71 games this past season, the last 42 of those coming after he turned 39.
The game was tied at the half and Minnesota went up seven in the third quarter before New York closed to 59-58 at the end of the period. Down three,
Stewart had a nifty block on Courtney Williams’ reverse layup and then hit a floater
in the lane in the final minute.
Jones, who was held without a field goal and had just three points in the Commissioner’s Cup loss, surpassed that total early in the first quarter. She finished the half with 13 points and six rebounds as the game was tied at 42. McBride, who also was named an AllStar after the game, had 13 points and Collier 10 for the Lynx.
“She imposed her will a little bit. (Offensive) boards, hit a couple 3’s, I thought, timely 3’s,” McBride said of Jones.
Ionescu missed shootaround because she wasn’t feeling well. Ionescu, who was also ill in the team’s last game against Atlanta on Sunday, went through warmups and was in her normal spot in the starting lineup. She finished with 17 points.
“She could’ve stayed home, but she understood the importance of this game,” Jones said. “It’s a blessing to have a teammate like her.” UP NEXT
Lynx: Host Connecticut today.
Liberty: At Indiana on Saturday.
BRONNY JAMES SAYS HE CAN HANDLE ‘AMPLIFIED’ PRESSURE OF PLAYING FOR LAKERS WITH HIS FATHER
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.
(AP) — Bronny James says the opportunity to play professionally alongside his famous father played no role in his decision to enter the NBA draft.
Now that the 19-yearold son of LeBron James has been selected by the Los Angeles Lakers anyway, Bronny says he can still handle all the extra attention and pressure while the James family makes basketball history.
“I’m ... trying to get my name out for myself,” Bronny said Tuesday.
“I just want to come in and get my work in and get better every day. I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad. That’s always there to take part of, but it wasn’t a main focus of mine.”
The Lakers formally introduced Bronny James and their first-round pick, Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht, in a news conference at their training complex. Los Angeles selected Bronny with
the 55th overall pick last week, creating the potential for an NBA first.
No father and son have ever played in the league at the same time, let alone on the same team.
“It’s for sure amplified the amount of pressure,” Bronny James said.
“I’ve already seen it in (social) media and on the internet and stuff talking about (how) I might not deserve an opportunity. But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this for my whole life. It’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure, but I can get through it.”
Bronny reiterated that he didn’t jump to the NBA just because his 39-yearold father is still an active player, acknowledging he didn’t necessarily share his father’s oft-stated dream of playing in the league together.
Bronny also knew he couldn’t control where he was drafted, despite what he’s read on social media recently about the Lakers’ pick being a nepotistic effort to keep LeBron James with the Lakers for the rest of his career.
Bronny James is the oldest son of the NBA’s
career scoring leader. LeBron James has spent the past six seasons with the Lakers, and he is all but certain to return to the team even though he is currently a free agent after declining his $51.4 million player option for next season.
LeBron James quietly watched his son’s introductory news conference from the back of the Lakers’ gym at their training complex.
Bronny said he’s better prepared for the challenges ahead of him because of “stuff that (LeBron) has been telling me my whole life. Just having that work ethic, and coming in and getting your work in, and listening to your coaches and being coachable, stuff like that he’s driven into my head my whole life.”
Bronny James deftly answered questions about everything he’ll face after jumping straight to the NBA from one short season of college basketball.
He played inconsistently last winter at USC after recovering from a frightening cardiac event in July 2023.
“The time that I had off, I feel like I could have been perfecting my game more,” Bronny said. “I just feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to showcase what I can really do, because I wasn’t given that much of an opportunity at SC. So I’m excited for what it’s going to be.” Rather than spending another year in college, Bronny said he expects to improve his game in the Lakers’ player development system being set up under new coach JJ Redick, who emphasized the necessity of developing talent from within the organization after general manager Rob Pelinka hired him last month.
“Rob and I did not give Bronny anything,” Redick said. “Bronny has earned this through hard work. For us, prioritizing player development, we view Bronny as Case Study 1, because his base level of feel, athleticism, point-ofattack defender, shooting, passing, there’s a lot to like about his game. As we build out our player development program holistically, he’s going to have the opportunity to be an excellent NBA player.”
JONQUEL Jones and New York Liberty used stellar defence in the fourth quarter to beat the Minnesota Lynx 76-67 on Tuesday night. (AP Photo)
LOS Angeles Lakers draft pick Bronny James, left, and his father, LeBron James, share a light moment as they arrive for the NBA basketball team’s news conference in El Segundo, Califpornia, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Nassau Beach Soccer tournament
all set for kick off this weekend
THE Bahamas Football Association (BFA) is thrilled to announce the kickoff of the highly anticipated Nassau Beach Soccer Tournament.
This exciting event will run from July 5 to August 3 at the Beach Soccer Stadium located at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge.
Event Overview: The Nassau Beach Soccer Tournament promises to be the hottest sports event of the summer, combining the thrill of beach soccer with the vibrant atmosphere of a beach party.
Spectators can look forward to intense matches, featuring the best beach soccer teams in the Bahamas.
The tournament will showcase a mix of men’s and women’s teams competing in a series of matches every Friday and Saturday, starting at 6pm.
Participating Teams:
Women’s Division: Ceba FC
Killarney Waves
Killarney Sharks
Men’s Division: Coastal Crusaders FC Western Warriors Beach Soccer Team
FC
Vendor Line-Up: Attendees will also have the opportunity to indulge in delicious food and drinks from our amazing vendors:
Kayla’s Tacos Big Red Indigenous
Daiquiri Donkey Kone Ice Cream
Renique’s Takeaway
Schedule Highlights:
Week 1 kicks off with exciting matchups:
July 5: Women’s match at 6pm, followed by three men’s matches starting at 7pm.
July 6: Women’s match at 6pm, followed by three men’s matches starting at 7pm.
Community and Support:
The BFA encourages everyone to come out and support their favourite teams and enjoy the funfilled atmosphere. The Nassau Beach Soccer Tournament is not just about the competition, it’s about bringing the community together to celebrate the sport, enjoy good food and create unforgettable memories.
Statement from BFA: Bruce Swan, technical director of the Bahamas Football Association, expressed his excitement for the tournament. “This tournament is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talents of our local players and bring the community together. We’re expecting some thrilling matches and a lot of fun for everyone involved.”
Join us for an unforgettable summer of beach soccer action.
RONALDO VS. MBAPPÉ: CLASH OF GENERATIONS AT EURO 2024 HAS JUST BEEN GIVEN SOME EXTRA SPICE
By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer
HAMBURG, Germany
(AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Kylian Mbappé.
A clash of soccer icons. A clash of generations.
They’ll go head to head when Portugal plays France in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals on Friday, and this heavyweight meeting might have got just that little bit bigger. “It is, without doubt, my last European Championship,” the 39-year-old Ronaldo said after his tearful, emotionally charged performance in Portugal’s penalty-shootout victory over Slovenia in the last 16.
That may have just confirmed what many were presuming anyway.
Still, there’s now a definitive specter of finality to Ronaldo’s long, headlinegrabbing Euros adventure that could be brought to an end by Mbappé, the heir apparent to Ronaldo and Lionel Messi after their long-time dominance of the sport.
Mbappé grew up with pictures of Ronaldo on his bedroom wall.
A photo is inevitably doing the rounds on social media of what is apparently their first ever meeting, at Real Madrid’s training ground at Valdebebas in 2012 when a 13-yearold Mbappé stood beside Ronaldo after a visit to the Spanish club where his sporting hero was the star player.
In 2020, Mbappé posted on Twitter, now X, that Ronaldo was his “idol.”
And only a few months ago, Ronaldo reacted to Mbappé clinching a highly anticipated move to Madrid by writing on Instagram: “Excited to see you light up the Bernabeu.”
That Mbappé can now end Ronaldo’s European Championship career — who knows, it might even be his last ever major tournament — adds an intriguing subplot to a match that will be watched around the world.
“Let’s go, let’s go to war,” Ronaldo said of the match against France, whom he considers as the top contender at Euro 2024 along with Spain.
He said he was driven to tears against Slovenia not at the prospect of elimination but because his main motivation these days is “making people happy” and he had a penalty saved in extra time.
“I’m moved by all that football means — by the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm for seeing my supporters, my family, the affection people have for me.
“It’s not about leaving the world of football. What else is there for me to do or win?”
Ronaldo heads into Friday’s game having failed to score in eight straight matches at major tournaments — Portugal’s last four at the 2022 World Cup
and its four games at Euro 2024 — and with growing concerns about whether he deserves what appears to be a guaranteed spot in the team under Roberto Martinez.
Things haven’t been straightforward for Mbappé, either, at Euro 2024.
He sustained a broken nose in France’s group opener against Austria and has since been wearing a vision-limiting protective facemask during games.
Mbappé has scored one goal and that was from the
penalty spot against Poland – it’s the only goal scored by a France player at these Euros. “He will have to get used to it,” France coach Didier Deschamps said of Mbappé and his mask, “because, to protect (his nose), he will have to wear it for a few weeks — or even a few months.”
Few would have predicted the top scorer at the last World Cup (Mbappé) and the record scorer in men’s international soccer (Ronaldo) to have just one goal between them heading into the quarterfinals.
But no one will be surprised if they come alive in Hamburg, with the pressure on and the occasion so big.
Mbappé, remember, scored a hat trick in the World Cup final and has been logging Ronaldoesque scoring numbers in the first part of his career. He’s already on 48 goals for France at the age of 25, and is also on 48 goals in the Champions League from 73 appearances.
He is chasing down Ronaldo’s scoring records at both international (130) and Champions League
(140) level and will likely only succeed by showing the same undimmed passion and desire as the player he used to copy as a kid.
As their countries’ respective captains, they’ll shake hands and embrace before kickoff. You can bet they’ll do the same after the match.
By that time, one of them will be on his way home. For Mbappé, there will surely be more European Championships down the road.
For Ronaldo, this could be the end of the road.
LONDON (AP) — Coco Gauff likes No. 1 Court at Wimbledon.
It’s where she beat Venus Williams back in 2019 when Gauff made her Wimbledon debut at age 15.
Yesterday, Gauff beat qualifier Anca Todoni 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the third round at the All England Club.
“This is the court where I first started here at Wimbledon. Court 1 is always a special place for me to play on,” the 20-year-old Gauff said in her on-court interview.
The victory also allows Gauff, the No. 2 seed, to move another step away from last year’s first-round exit.
“Overall, I just learned about life a lot,” the U.S. Open champion said when asked about putting that three-set loss to Sofia Kenin behind her.
“I just realized that, yes, what I do I’m very passionate about, but it’s not ever that serious and sometimes the world can make you feel like there’s so much pressure, there’s so much expectation,” she said. “At the end of the (day), it’s a game. It’s sport.” The 19-year-old Todoni is from Romania and was making her Grand Slam debut.
“I do think I could have played cleaner at some moments,” Gauff said.
Five years ago, Gauff beat Williams — a five-time Wimbledon champion — 6-4, 6-4 in the first round
and eventually reached the last 16, all in her Grand Slam debut.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz trailed 6-5 in the first set Wednesday before coming back to beat Aleksander Vukic 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-2, setting up a thirdround meeting with No. 29 Frances Tiafoe after the American eliminated Borna Coric 7-6 (5), 6-1, 6-3. When told by the oncourt interviewer that Tiafoe said he’s “coming after you,” the 21-year-old Spaniard replied with a smile: “I’m going for him.”
“We played a really good match in the U.S. Open,” the No. 3 seed said of their 2022 semifinal that Alcaraz won at Flushing Meadows. In other results, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka
was eliminated in the second round by No. 19 Emma Navarro by a score of 6-4, 6-1, while No. 1 Jannik Sinner got past 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (4) at Centre Court in an all-Italian contest.
“I knew that I had to raise my level today,” Sinner said.
“He is a grass-court specialist. ... I’m very happy how I handled the situation.” No. 11 Danielle Collins completed her first-round match — a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Clara Tauson. It had been suspended Tuesday night at 4-4 in the second
BAHAMAS national team beach soccer sensation Lesly St Fleur.
By KEN MAGUIRE AP Sports Writer
IN this Sunday, October 11, 2020 file photo France’s Kylian Mbappe and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, greet each other before the Nations League soccer match between France and Portugal at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Kylian Mbappe is not just a clash of soccer icons but a clash of generations. They’ll go head to head when Portugal plays France in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals on Friday and their heavyweight meeting just got a little bit bigger after Ronaldo said this would be his last European Championship.
(AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
THE Bahamas Football Association’s highly anticipated Nassau Beach Soccer Tournament is all set to run from July 5 to August 3 at the Beach Soccer Stadium located at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge.
COCO GAUFF, of the United States, celebrates after defeating compatriot Caroline Dolehide in their first round match of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on Monday. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
BAHAMAS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION TO HOST FREE BEACH SOCCER SUMMER CAMP
THE Bahamas Football Association (BFA) is thrilled to announce its free Beach Soccer Summer Camp, scheduled for July 8 to August 16. This exciting camp will be held at the Beach Soccer Stadium, located at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge, and is open to boys and girls aged 8-13.
Running from 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday, this camp is designed to introduce young players to the dynamic world of beach soccer. Participants will have the opportunity to learn new skills, make friends and enjoy the fun and unique challenges of playing soccer on sand.
Bruce Swan, technical director of the BFA, shared his enthusiasm for the camp,. “This camp is a
fantastic opportunity for young players to experience the unique excitement of beach soccer. It’s about building community, having fun, and giving back. We are thrilled to provide this opportunity at no cost and look forward to seeing the joy it brings to our participants and their families.”
The Beach Soccer Summer Camp highlights the BFA’s commitment to inspiring a love for football at all levels and its dedication to serving the community.
By offering this camp for free, the BFA aims to make the sport accessible to everyone and inspire the next generation of Bahamian footballers.
Participants should wear black shorts and white pants. Registration can be completed online at
bahamasfa.net/bssc2024 or by scanning the QR code on the flyer.
Participants are encouraged to bring water, sunscreen and a positive attitude ready for fun in the sun. All necessary equipment, including balls and goals, will be provided. Join us for an unforgettable beach soccer experience that combines skill development, community spirit, and plenty of fun in the sun.
