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By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net FORMER FNM Leader Tommy Turnquest said he does not believe Dr Hubert Minnis has the “leadership ability” or the “personality” to defeat the current administration in the next general election. Speaking with The Tribune on the sidelines of the official launch of Loretta Butler-Turner and Dr Duane Sands’ campaign, Mr Turnquest said he supports the former for party leader because she “has what it takes to take the party to the next level” and “is comfortable in her own skin.” “I have been intimately involved in the FNM since
Dr Minnis remained tightlipped on the future of opposing FNM MPs if he succeeds in his leadership bid, however, stating only that the party will do what it has to do to rescue the country from the Progressive Liberal Party. He added that he was pleased by the outpouring of support displayed at his rally at Christie Park on Wednesday night. SEE PAGE SIX
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Fashion, page 13
‘IT’S NUMBER OF DELEGATES, NOT CROWD SIZE THAT COUNTS’
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday said the number of those attending the two Free National Movement leadership campaign launches does not matter because the decision of who will ascend to the party’s top post comes down to its 410 delegates. The MP, who is rivaling FNM leader Dr SEE PAGE SIX
SPEED AND SEATBELT WARNING AFTER MAN KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION
THE SMASHED wreckage of one of the vehicles involved in yesterday’s collision. By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net A MAN in his twenties is dead and two others are in serious condition in hospital after a head-on collision early yesterday morning. The fatal traffic accident took place shortly after 7am on Tonique Williams Darling Highway and police suggest that speed was a “significant factor” in the
crash and that none of the victims was wearing seatbelts. Superintendent Craig Stubbs, head of the Traffic Division, said the accident involved a white 2002 Honda Accord and a black 2004 Honda Coupe. “The 2002 Accord was travelling west on Tonique Williams Darling, near Christie Avenue, and the black 2004 Coupe was travelling east when for un-
known reasons the black vehicle entered the westbound traffic lane and collided with the white Honda Accord,” Supt Stubbs said. “The driver of the black vehicle was attended to by EMS personnel on the scene but was pronounced dead. The driver of the Accord was taken to hospital in very serious condition with significant damage to his legs and upper torso. “The passenger of the
black vehicle was also rushed to hospital with significant trauma to the upper body, legs, arms, and face. He is also listed as serious.” Supt Stubbs said from the physical evidence gathered at the scene, it is evident that speed played a significant factor in the crash. He also noted that none of the three victims was wearing a seatbelt. SEE PAGE TWO
23 GRADUATE IN FIRST BAMSI CEREMONY
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FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday that the high energy and turnout at the launch of his leadership campaign was testament to a growing momentum that will propel him past the party’s upcoming convention to secure a general election victory in 2017.
Fashion an d passion for Independe nce
1981,” the former minister of national security said. “I have been on the council from then. I have been in practically every sphere of the FNM and I know the inner workings of the party. I have seen the good in the FNM and the not so good in the FNM.” “The FNM has always been made up of a group of different persons. The job of a leader has always been to bring those groupings together. It has never been an easy job and unless you make an effort to bring those persons together you will not be a good leader and Dr Minnis has failed to do this. Minnis did not (do) his job as leader successfully and I think the party SEE PAGE SIX
MOMENTUM FROM LAUNCH ‘TO BRING VICTORY IN 2017’ By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
Pages 14&15
Badge of p ride
Minnis ‘lacks ability to lead’
Turnquest doubts FNM leader can win election
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By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunmedia.net
THE Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) held its first graduation ceremony yesterday, a milestone for the controversial project that Prime Minister Perry Christie has long said will be at the centre of efforts to usher the country into an era of food security.
Top-ranking officials from every sector of the government came together in North Andros to recognise the accomplishment of 23 graduates. One graduate, Sheri Fountain, said her experience over the past two years “was all that was expected and more.” A disability worker, Ms Fountain enrolled at BAMSI as part of a desire to address food security issues
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SEE PAGE THREE
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affecting disabled people in The Bahamas. “I’m associated with several disabled and noncharitable organisations in The Bahamas and we were looking into decent work and projects for people with disabilities,” she said. “One of the challenges we have is with food so I came to assist. For me who had no knowledge about
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THE SECOND vehicle involved in yesterday’s collision.
SPEED AND SEATBELT WARNING AFTER MAN KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION from page one
“We continue to advise members of the public to obey the speed limit when they are travelling,” Supt Stubbs said. “The majority of the accidents in the country, we have noted that speed plays an important factor. So we are asking for members of the public to obey the speed limit when they are travelling. We are also asking members of the public to
stop using their cell phone and texting while driving, while speeding, this is an issue we are faced with daily. “On this upcoming holiday, we are pleading with motorists to exercise extreme caution when driving. Also, if you need to be to work for 7am, leave home an hour early instead of speeding and rushing.” Supt Stubbs said police are having trouble identifying the victim because he had no identification on him and also because the
vehicle was registered in another person’s name. “It seems the car was sold to one individual and it was still registered in the original owner’s name until April and then that person seemed to have sold the car again and the registration did not change. The car was also not insured. This is another issue we seem to be experiencing a lot lately.” He said the deceased is believed to be in his early twenties. Investigations continue.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 8, 2016, PAGE 3
DNA leader seeks clarity over Renew Bahamas By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday castigated the Christie administration over Renew Bahamas, as he demanded transparency regarding the landfill management company saying it came to the country “under very suspicious circumstances”. Renew Bahamas, which is contracted to remediate the New Providence Landfill, has been in headlines this week because of questions over the appearance of hazardous medical waste at the compound and job cutbacks. The former Bamboo Town MP said he was also informed that staff members had been working under unsuitable conditions coupled with strained relations between company executives and employees. These issues, Mr McCartney said, drew questions over the terms and conditions of Renew’s contract, as he criticised the company for failing to control the numerous fires at the dump. In these hot summer months, he said additional fires were bound to burn amid perceived troubles with the company. “We don’t know what Renew Bahamas was put there for,” Mr McCartney said when he was contacted yesterday. “We are still waiting to find out what the deal is with them. They recently
spoke about changing the terms of the contract and we haven’t heard anything further on that. We have heard them speak many times about recycling, but I don’t see where that has gotten us any further. “Now there is this talk about hazardous waste. I don’t know too much about that in terms who dumps there or what they should be doing.” He added: “But what I do know is the dump hasn’t been remediated and the government hasn’t done anything. Soon the fires would begin again and businesses and schools will soon be closing. I do know that Renew Bahamas came here under very suspicious circumstances and I do know that the government is reluctant to say what was the agreement and what their purpose is.” On Wednesday, Environment and Housing Minister Kenred Dorsett said his ministry is addressing the appearance of hazardous medical waste found at the New Providence Landfill. His statement followed a Nassau Guardian report that said an investigation was underway by Renew Bahamas officials to find out how biohazardous waste, said to originate from the Princess Margaret Hospital, made it to the landfill’s site. The material, according to the report, was said to include AIDS and hepatitis waste that was not inciner-
MEMBERS of the DNA including deputy leader Chris Mortimer and leader Branville McCartney showing off their proposal for landfill management during a visit to the dump earlier this year. ated before it was taken to Bahamas has been forced On Wednesday, some the site. to make some “cutbacks” employees also alleged to Regarding the staff lay- as it continues to negotiate The Tribune that they were offs, approximately 40 with the government on re- owed three weeks pay and workers were made redun- establishing the parameters were going to work on “pins dant since the start of June, of its management contract and needles” each Friday, day. 8th July 2016 the company’s new Chief for the landfill. Executive Officer Michael Mr Cox also confirmed Cox told The Tribune. that long-standing CEO and The revelation came as President Gerhard Beukes the company admitted on has stepped down from his "WOW! Do you feel Wednesday that Renew position with the company.
23 GRADUATE IN FIRST BAMSI CEREMONY from page one
agriculture, what the lecturers have placed in me in such a short period of time, (it’s like) an advanced study in a short period of time… I’m pleased and I’m satisfied. “I (now) have a clear understanding of what the wrong things are to do and know what are the best practices to use in agriculture and some of the best practices that I can transfer.” Another graduate, Romeo Josey, said his newly issued associate’s degree in agriculture will be a stepping-stone to further study. “I didn’t want to (come to BAMSI initially) but then after an intervention in my life (I came),” he said. “(My parents and
family) worked really hard to motivate me and even physically moved me from where I was at the time to get me in The Bahamas… to do this programme. When I came I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how to feel about it. I just wanted to move on with my life in terms of getting further education and in pursuing my dream in agriculture.” The experience, Mr Josey said, has proven to be a worthwhile one. He has applied to several institutions, hoping to gain specialised qualifications. “I want to deal with plants because in The Bahamas we have the issue of climate change,” he said. “I want to deal with plants that we can produce in the Bahamas, genetically making plants that can be pro-
duced here in abundance.” Mr Josey said his BAMSI experience was not without issues, noting that despite recent road improvements in North Andros, it was a challenge to adjust to the relatively underdeveloped island. “I come from Exuma, but Exuma is a bit more developed than North Andros and I went to Nassau to attend COB so we didn’t have the amenities here that we would’ve had in Nassau or Exuma to study sufficiently,” he said. For his part, Mr Christie assured the graduates of job provision. “To those of you who have graduated, we know that you will find jobs either here, or where it is you come from,” he said. The graduates, Agriculture Minister V Alfred
CONTRACTOR WHO DIED AS TRACTOR PLUNGED INTO SEA IS IDENTIFIED By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE body of the man found in waters at Deadman’s Reef is that of architect and contractor Claxton Williams. Williams was operating a tractor when it fell into the water near the Seaward Ocean development site around noon on Tuesday. Police were alerted and the victim’s body was recovered from the tractor, which was submerged in the water. Investigations are still continuing and police are awaiting the results of an autopsy report to determine the cause of death.
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US gives tentative OK to flights to Cuba from ten US cities WASHINGTON (AP) — The US government on Thursday tentatively approved scheduled commercial airline service to Havana from ten American cities, further bridging the gulf between countries as close as an hour flight but long kept at a greater distance by the Cold War. The decision is another long stride in President Barack Obama’s effort to normalise US-Cuba relations. “Reopening travel relations with Cuba is about more than just restoring the freedom to travel there for all Americans — it’s about opening Cuba to new ideas, new values and improved human rights that our 50-year-old policy of isolation could not achieve,” said Sen Dick Durbin, DIll. But Rep Jeff Duncan, R-SC, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, expressed doubts about the Cuban government’s ability to prevent attacks by militants, saying the Obama administration is “in a mad rush to sign agreements” before “ensuring basic safeguards of security”. Eight US airlines are expected to begin round-trip service as early as this fall between the US and the Cuban capital, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. The US cities are Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston; Los Angeles; Newark, New Jersey; New York; and four in Florida — Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa. Of the 20 daily nonstop flights allowed to Havana, 14 are from Florida, home to the largest population of Cuban-Americans. The airlines are Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit and United. A year and a half ago, Obama announced with Cuba President Raul Castro that it was time for the longtime adversaries to “begin a new journey.” Washington has since reopened the U.S. Embassy in Havana and taken other steps to bolster ties. Conservatives in Congress have been unwilling to lift the trade embargo of Cuba, which includes a travel ban. That means most Americans still cannot legally visit Cuba. But the administration has eased rules to the point where travellers are now free to design their own “peopleto-people” cultural exchange tours with little oversight. Cuban-Americans have been able to travel to Cuba without restriction since 2009. Airlines still need to record — and keep for five years — the official reason why someone travels to Cuba, so reservation systems have been revamped to allow passengers to select one of the 12 permitted categories. They include family visits, official business and educational or religious activities. Foxx said the decision won’t be final until later this summer in order to provide a 30-day public comment period. Last month, the Transportation Department announced the approval of six US air-
lines to begin service as early as this fall to other Cuban cities. The government’s decision, if made final, would require that the airlines begin service within 90 days of the issue date of a final order. US citizens’ interest in visiting Cuba has swelled since relations between the two nations started to thaw in December 2014. Nearly 160,000 US leisure travellers flew to Cuba last year, along with hundreds of thousands of Cuban-Americans visiting family. Currently, the first commercial flight to Cuba is set to be flown by Silver Airways on Sept 1 from Fort Lauderdale to Santa Clara. Now that the Havana routes have been announced, one of the other airlines might try to start flying even sooner if final US approval comes quickly and airlines operations are ready. US airlines have been spending months working quietly behind the scenes to prepare for Cuban flights. Several carriers already serve the island nation with charter service; American has been flying to Cuba since 1991, the longest of any airline. Last year, American flew 1,084 such charter flights, followed by JetBlue with 221. By Joan Lowy &, Scott Mayerowitz ••••••
CUBA: US TRAVELLERS TO ISLAND UP 84% IN 1ST HALF OF 2016 HAVANA (AP) — The number of American travellers to Cuba rose 84 per cent for the first half of the year compared with the same January-June period in 2015, authorities said Thursday. Cuban state news agency Prensa Latina reported that Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero announced the figure to members of parliament, reflecting a continuing surge in US interest in the island amid a broader diplomatic thaw between the Cold War foes that began in late 2014. The total number of US visitors was not made public, though for all of last year, nearly 160,000 leisure travellers flew to Cuba. The figures do not include the hundreds of thousands of Cuban-Americans who travel to the island each year on family visits. As part of the push to normalize relations, US President Barack Obama has loosened “people-to-people” cultural and educational visits to Cuba, and Americans are now able to plan their own trips and self-certify that they comply with US regulations. Washington is also in the process of approving US commercial airline service to the island, with flights expected to begin in the fall. Overall tourism to Cuba was up 11.7 per cent for the first six months of 2016, with a total of 2,147,600 travellers to the island, Prensa Latina reported. There were also significant increases in visitors from nations such as Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany.
PM: Face up to fundamentalists EDITOR, The Tribune.
I READ with disbelief The Nassau Guardian’s article of 29 June 2016; “Group seeks to pressure PM to resign”. “The Gatekeepers” no less. The plan is to urge Bahamians to boycott all government events until the Prime Minister resigns. Instead of The Gatekeepers urging Bahamians to boycott all government events, how about if all the Seventh Day Adventists working for the government resign their posts? I’m sure that the SDA’s working for the government are doing such a wonderful job that as soon as they quit
the government will fall apart. No need to draw the rest of us into their battle with the PM. And since their god is on their side there is no need to worry about a government pay cheque. (See Matthew 6:25-34) As a matter of fact, what the government should do is to make working on Saturday mandatory regardless of religious affiliation. As for The Gatekeepers promising a diverse and cosmopolitan party, the last time we had a diverse and cosmopolitan party Christopher Columbus came to town and murdered all the indigenous peoples of The Bahamas in the name of his
god and country. As usual, this is one more disgruntled Christian Fundamentalist group trying to destabilise the elected government of The Bahamas. Many of the SDA probably even voted the PLP into office. Now that they are on the wrong side of history they want to weep and wail and gnash their teeth. I urge the Prime Minister to stand firm against the Christian Fundamentalists who wish to destroy this great and progressive country. KIRK CATALANO Nassau, June 29, 2016.
The PLP want Minnis to win race EDITOR, The Tribune. HUBERT Minnis should be ashamed of the dirty tricks he is employing in his bid to retain the leadership of the FNM. The manipulation of the Bahamian public is in high gear by the PLP and the Hubert Minnis faction of the FNM. It is very evident that Dr Hubert Minnis is dedicated to saving his job as Leader of the FNM and hence Leader of the Opposition. His biggest and most ardent supporters in this effort are the PLP. That is why Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcolm and Chairman of W&S Corp, Leslie Miller are so fulsome in their support of Dr Minnis. They understand that if Dr Minnis continues as leader of the FNM, that party will lose the next general election and Dr Minnis will continue in his prized position of Leader of the Opposition…exactly the result they want. Hilariously, Mr Miller attended Dr Minnis ‘Roc wit Doc’ launch to announce that if Loretta Butler-Turner becomes the leader of the FNM, he as a PLP, is assured of re-election in the next general election. Presumably, if Dr Minnis continues as leader Mr Miller’s seat will not be as secure. So we are to believe that Mr Miller wants Dr. Minnis to continue as FNM Leader even if it means that he, Leslie Miller, will lose his seat in the House of Assembly. I for one do not believe him and neither should any true supporter of the FNM. Apart from the PLP, those who most strongly support Dr Minnis remaining in office are led by a curious gathering of former FNMs who eye taking control of the Opposition machinery for their narrow personal gain: – Tennyson Wells, and a number of individuals who depend on Mr.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Wells for salaries or honorariums to meet their living expenses; others receiving incentive payments from Dr Minnis; FNM Councillors and delegates appointed by Dr Minnis with the singular purpose of their keeping him as leader of the FNM; and finally a few misguided old guard FNM who are likely unable to overcome their generation’s aversion to women in leadership positions. The irony of the situation is that Dr Minnis is not truly the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament today. He does not enjoy the support of the majority of the members of the House of Assembly who are in opposition to the Government. He continues to hold that title and the salary and other perks of office solely at the pleasure of the Members of Parliament who oppose the Government and who have, up to this point, saved Dr Minnis the embarrassment of having the position taken from him. The most insidious aspect of the FNM leadership campaign is the adoption by the Minnis faction of the PLP campaign strategy of vilifying the educated and professional segments of our community as “elites” and of resorting to vile racial slurs that belong to a bygone age. Do we really want to say and can we possibly believe that the granddaughter of Milo Butler is not a woman of the people?!! Bahamians must also come to terms with the contradictory behaviour of too many of us. On the one hand, we encourage Bahamians to educate their children and to break down all the barriers that in the past stopped intelligent and talented black and or poor (yes, there have always been and continue
today to be poor white or Conchy Joe’s) Bahamians from accessing the best educational institutions and good job opportunities. Then, having achieved what we sought for so long, we now castigate and badmouth successful Bahamians? Suddenly the children of successful lawyers, bankers and engineers are tainted people? And the children of those who fought for Majority Rule and breaking down racial barriers and opening opportunities for all are no longer qualified to aspire to leadership. This is madness. What is more, Hubert Minnis is a beneficiary of all those efforts – by people like Milo Butler – to open opportunities to young black Bahamians. It was Milo Butler who demanded that the Royal Bank of Canada stop its racial discriminatory practices against hiring black Bahamians as tellers in their bank branches. Now his granddaughter is not a suitable leader simply because she is his granddaughter but Hubert Minnis is ok? Pure nonsense. It cannot be that Hubert Minnis, a millionaire many times over and certainly a more wealthy individual than is Loretta Butler-Turner, should convince poor Bahamians that he is more interested in their welfare than is she. Where does he live? Where does she live? What charities does he support? What assistance did he extend to victims of last year’s hurricane season? How many man-hours did he lend to the recovery effort? Was it the time it took for him to accompany Prime Minister Christie in a flyover impacted communities? Well the newspaper accounts alone can tell you how many man-hours Loretta put into that effort. COMMITTED FNM Nassau, July 7, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 8, 2016, PAGE 5
SOCIAL SERVICES INVESTIGATING CASE OF MAN LIVING IN ‘TOILET’ FOR EIGHT YEARS THE Department of Social Services is investigating the circumstances of a man who a concerned citizen said had been living in an “outside toilet” for eight years. However, an official stressed that the department “is satisfied that the building being occupied is not a toilet, but a renovated wash house.” “And the amenities it lacks are accessible in a family owned house on the same property,” Social Services Director Mellany Zonicle said. “The concerned appears to have some personal issues that will be addressed in conjunction with his family members, the department and other agencies.” Earlier this week, concerned citizen and Tribune reader Deno Ellis shed light on the plight of an elderly Nassau resident who he said was “living in extremely poor and unhealthy conditions.” According to Mr Ellis, inside the structure that the elderly man calls home are a number of buckets that he often used for toilet and water toting purposes. In the wooden structure, there was a dirty bed on bricks with a string tied from one end being used for a closet, Mr Ellis added. He said the elderly man claimed that during rainy conditions, the roof leaks heavily, the sewage overflows in and out of the tiny shack as well as all over the yard that he and his family members share. “I begged my family to have work done to the sewage, because it overflows and settles into the yard, where I can hardly get out unless I walk through it,” the elderly man, identified only as Mr Saunders, said. “But no one wants to do it. I don’t know if they have the money, but it has to be done. I have a few buckets inside that I use when the septic floods and I have to take the stuff (waste) and throw it into the bushes down the road.”
The outside toilet with plywood built around it that Mr Saunders has called home for the past eight years
Roberts relaxed about Sears leadership bid By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday seemed to welcome the thought of former Fort Charlotte MP Alfred Sears running for the position of leader when the party holds its convention in November. Mr Roberts also dismissed assertions that various PLP members are either afraid to challenge incumbent PLP Leader Prime Minister Perry Christie or are more content to tow the party line until he steps down, saying that Mr Christie “has been challenged on many occasions”. On Wednesday, Mr Sears, the PLP’s recently ratified candidate for the Fort Charlotte constituency, told The Tribune that he is “available” to run for PLP leader, adding that “nobody should be afraid” to say whether they intend
PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff to contest the party’s top However, Mr Sears said post. he hopes that his track Mr Sears would not con- record of public service firm if his “availability” “would be viewed as a bameant that he would actu- sis to give the public confially take on Mr Christie; dence” in his “integrity and however he said such con- competence.” firmation would likely come When pressed for comafter he has done “some ment on the issue yesterday, preliminary canvassing to Mr Roberts responded by see and determine the level saying: “We are a demoof support.” cratic organisation. At the
convention that will be held in November, all of the party’s positions will be declared vacant, and all persons in good standing who are interested in contesting any seats will be allowed to have their names placed in nomination.” When questioned if he felt Mr Sears fell into the category of “persons in good standing,” Mr Roberts would only say: “Mr Sears has been elected as a candidate for the party.” And when asked about Mr Sears’ comments that nobody should be afraid to say whether they intend to contest the party’s top post, as well as suggestions that persons are reluctant to challenge Mr Christie, Mr Roberts said: “Why should anyone be afraid? Mr Christie has been challenged on many occasions. Check your record. Many times he has been challenged.” So far, four names have emerged in discussions
‘ANTI-CORRUPTION? SORT OUT YOUR OWN RANKS’ By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday slammed the anti-corruption rhetoric recently put forward by FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, asserting that the Killarney MP has not been able to arrest bad behaviour within his ranks. At his recent “Roc wit Doc” campaign launch, Dr Minnis criticised the Christie administration several times for its lackluster performance, promising supporters that once elected prime minister he would “rid the country” of the Progressive Liberal Party and its corrupt practices. In a statement released to the press, Mr Roberts suggested that Dr Minnis did not have the moral backing to fight corruption as the FNM has been riddled with scandals for much of
his tenure. Mr Roberts asked: “Has Hubert Minnis been asleep at the leadership wheel for the last four years and during the period 2007-2012?” He said as leader of the FNM, Dr Minnis should be the last person to talk about fighting corruption. “Just check his party’s record of recent events that have played out under the glare of the media and in the court of public opinion,” he said. Mr Roberts mentioned the recent legal battle between members of the FNM’s Fort Charlotte Constituency Association and the party’s executives to bolster his argument. Karen Brown, the former chairperson of the FNM Fort Charlotte Constituency Association, brought an application for leave to apply for judicial review before Justice Indra Charles last month over a “tainted
and fraudulent” election process in the constituency. A judge later urged both sides to settle the matter amicably and a new election of officers has been ordered. Among other things, Mr Roberts also referred to the ammunition possession conviction of former FNM Senator John Bostwick II, who was fired from his post by Dr Minnis shortly after being arrested, and former FNM Chairman Michael Pintard’s resignation earlier this year over concerns about his involvement in a private investigation into an alleged murder for hire plot allegedly orchestrated by fashion designer Peter Nygard. “The specter of shame, scandal and corruption reared its ugly head several more times during the past four years and in each case the leadership of the FNM played the starring role as
they stood front and centre,” Mr Roberts’ statement said. He added: “I can go on and on reminding (Dr) Minnis about the massive finder’s fee and massive giveaway of BTC . . . money paid to BTC executives in the wake of the fire sale of BTC to CWC and the $100m in cost overruns of the NPRIP (New Providence Road Improvement Project) that remains unexplained to this day by Minnis and the FNM but Bahamians get the picture.” ‘(Dr) Minnis and the FNM believe that they are above the law and should not be held accountable for their actions as they pretend to embody integrity by lecturing everybody else on integrity and calling others ill names. That is the worst form of deflection and political bluster – not to mention the personification of being delusional.”
surrounding the future leadership of the PLP – Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell and Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald. Former PLP Chairman Raynard Rigby has also hinted that he might run for the position of PLP leader. Both Mr Wilchcombe and Mr Davis have publicly expressed their respective leadership aspirations, but have indicated that their plans depended on whether Mr Christie offered himself for re-election, with Mr Wilchcombe in particular stressing that he would challenge the prime minister. Neither Mr Mitchell nor Mr Fitzgerald would comment on the issue. Last September, Mr Christie declared that he would go into the PLP’s next convention as leader and emerge as leader. He
later told party supporters that he would not allow anyone to put a proverbial political gun to his head telling him when to demote his post. Initially the convention was planned for November 2015 but was rescheduled for April 2016 because of the devastation left by Hurricane Joaquin in the Family Islands and recovery efforts, which were underway at the time. The April date was then rescheduled until later this year to give attention to the June referendum on gender equality. The PLP has not held a convention since 2009, even though the party’s constitution mandates that one be held every year.
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PAGE 6, Friday, July 8, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
‘It’s number of delegates, not crowd size that counts’ from page one
Hubert Minnis for the second time, went on to defend the format of her “ForwardTogether” launch insisting that in planning she was keen on refusing to take a page from the Progressive Liberal Party’s book, with its reputation of giving voters a party. She explained that her Rawson Square rally was heavy on ideas and facts to deliver a “sobering” view of the state of the nation and to raise the standards of events of this kind. The event did not capitalise on complimentary refreshments or live entertainment. In contrast, Dr Minnis’ “Roc wit Doc” event followed the status quo regarding rallies with a live performance and Junkanoo rush out. The day after both she and Dr Minnis kicked off their separate campaigns, discussions were centred on which event attracted more of a crowd. The Tribune estimated that at least 400 people flocked to “Roc wit Doc” at Christie Park, however organisers of that event have claimed it was more like 1,000. Pundits have
THE RAWSON Square crowd for Loretta Butler-Turner’s event. attempted to tie the crowd size at both events to the outcome of the FNM’s convention at the end of the month. To do this is premature, insisted deputy leader hopeful Senator Dr Duane Sands, who is Mrs ButlerTurner’s running mate. “Bear in mind that this is really about the delegates,” he said yesterday. “What we have learned is that numbers don’t tell the full story. If you remember Red Splash we almost sunk Montagu Beach but yet we
didn’t win the 2012 general election. “So if you are trying to determine based on the number of people standing you do that at your own peril. We were gratified by the support and numbers of people out there.” Mrs Butler-Turner added: “I don’t think either events had overwhelming delegate numbers.” “One must realise that I am the contender and I think the leader is the one who has to prove that he has sway and is able to maintain
it. Hence why there was the Junkanoo and party atmosphere. “I didn’t think we needed to do that. I wanted to tackle the serious issues. It clearly speaks to where we are right now. I think we need to look at the message and the dissemination of the message. That is why I employed 21st century media.” “Forward-Together” was streamed live on Facebook. Mrs Butler-Turner said analytical data gathered by Facebook recorded more than 1,000 views and 892 comments. In addition, taking into account users who shared, commented, liked and watched the event, there was a total reach of 226,000 people, she said. She called this the achievement of something unprecedented in the country. “In terms of the physical presence that is one thing, but we had hundreds locked in. Beyond the physical presence we needed to reach people virtually. I had a sober message that tackled the hot button topics. That is the way of things of this nature.” During his rally, Dr Minnis made a plea for party unity.
The Over-the-Hill event saw his team emphasise his “rags to riches” biography, the centrepiece of his pitch to Bahamians and FNM delegates as he seeks to defeat Mrs Butler-Turner at the party’s convention on July 27 to 29 and gather momentum ahead of the next general election. His campaign slogan that appeared on posters bearing Dr Minnis’ name was, accordingly, “The people’s time.” “This is the time for me to give the power back to the people,” Dr Minnis said to cheers from the crowd. “This campaign is all about you.” In a speech frequently interrupted with songs designed to emphasise his statements, Dr Minnis listed a litany of proposals he would implement if elected prime minister. These included such vague proposals as “land reform to ensure Bahamians have an opportunity to own land in this country” to more explicit ones like the alleviation of value added tax (VAT) on a variety of goods and services. He said he would introduce a national “solarisation programme that would result in decreasing elec-
tricity costs and increasing your disposable income.” Absent from his speech, however, were any cutting remarks about his rival, Mrs Butler-Turner, and the FNM officials who have been critical of his leadership. Some notable people who supported Dr Minnis at his campaign launch included FNM Senator Carl Bethel and the party’s Secretary General Michael Foulkes. Progressive Liberal Party MP for Tall Pines Leslie Miller also attended the event and was greeted by loud cheers as he made his way to the front of the rally area. Mrs Butler-Turner was supported by several current FNM members of Parliament as well as former Cabinet ministers, including former FNM Leader Tommy Turnquest, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson, former House Speaker Alvin Smith, former FNM Chairman Darron Cash, Senator Monique Gomez, former Senator Heather Hunt, former Senate President Lynn Holowesko and former Garden Hills MP Brensil Rolle.
MOMENTUM FROM LAUNCH ‘TO BRING VICTORY IN 2017’ from page one
“I feel saddened that the party appears divided. I’m sure that coming out of convention we will speak with one voice,” he said. “When I look around I’m saddened by the amount of people that are suffering, losing their homes, cannot pay their bills or buy food for their families, their children. This disturbs me, this pains me, there is so much suffering, so much crime, murder.” “The only relief will be to see the FNM elected to government to rescue this country, and that is what we are focused on. The FNM will do whatever it has to. The FNM will have to do a lot of examining
in the various government ministries, stamping out corruption, to uplift the poor and support the middle class. The FNM will be focused on this.” The FNM’s convention is scheduled for July 27-29. At that time, Dr Minnis and his deputy East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest will defend their posts against bids from Long Island MP Loretta ButlerTurner and Senator Dr Duane Sands respectively. The convention is widely regarded as a last-ditch effort to quell the bitter infighting that has dogged the party since Dr Minnis assumed the post in 2012. At the party’s last convention in November 2014, Dr Minnis successfully defended his post against
DR HUBERT MINNIS, leader of the FNM, at the launch of his leadership campaign. former Deputy Leader Mrs Butler-Turner by a resounding margin. This month’s convention - pushed up from its initial November date - came after six of the FNM’s 10 MPs gave him an ultimatum: call an early convention or they
would write to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to have him constitutionally removed as leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament. To support their bid, the six MPs issued a scathing assessment of Dr Minnis in a memorandum to the party’s council. That memo described Dr Minnis’ perceived flaws, including his failure to take command of the party “at almost every turn” despite their repeated efforts to support him. When asked whether he would be able to work with dissenting MPs, he said: “Many things are said but despite that the focus will be on working together - if I thought differently - but I don’t think of just myself.
People say many things about my style of leadership. I prefer a more open leadership style. I think the people understand what I want to, to create opportunities for all. I look forward to a system where financial position does not inhibit an individual from rising to the top. “That is the society I think that all Bahamians dream of, and that is the society that I will continue to fight for and to build.” Wednesday’s “Roc wit Doc” rally served to launch Dr Minnis’ leadership campaign under the slogan “The people’s time”. While The Tribune pegged the turnout at around 400 supporters, many in Dr Minnis’ camp took to social media yesterday to dispute
that the number was much higher. The disparity over the number of those attending has become a source of contention for some supporters who believe Dr Minnis’ rally upstaged that of Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands, which was held on the same night. Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells, who moderated Dr Minnis’ event, said: “There were well over 1,500 to 2,000 people. The police estimate was 1,800. All the named candidates were there, nearly every named candidate of the FNM. It’s Minnis in a landslide, there is no comparison.” “Yeah Loretta had gel screens, the latest technology. They spent money on their presentation. But ‘doc’ had the numbers and the message.” Mr Wells, who has not yet received a nomination, said many FNMs have stacked up Dr Minnis’ proposed initiatives against Mrs Butler-Turner’s plans and are not happy with the Long Island MP. When asked about a possible nomination, Mr Wells said: “There is no MP in the House of Assembly who has been nominated by the FNM as yet. The intent is to leave those things to the end.”
MINNIS ‘LACKS ABILITY TO LEAD’ from page one needs to regroup and have a change in direction. Currently there are too many people being pushed aside
in the party and not being utilised because they have a different point of view. That is not how a leader leads.” Mr Turnquest said Dr Minnis has underutilised
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the talent in the FNM and he is unable to deal with “free thinking people.” “The job of a leader is to find within the party the talent and then pull that talent out and Dr Minnis hasn’t done that. I am confident that Loretta is willing to take advice and she is willing to work with all the various groupings in the party and bring out the best in everyone,” Mr Turnquest said. “You need a leader who is comfortable in their own skin to be able to deal with the free thinking people and I believe that Loretta is that person to do that.” When asked if he thinks the Bahamas is ready for a woman prime minister, Mr Turnquest said: “We will see.” However he added that what the nation needs is not a man or a woman, but a “competent leader who takes advice and different views into account.” On Wednesday night, Mrs Butler-Turner called herself and Senator Sands the “best team” not only to lead the FNM, but also to take the country out of the hands of the “worst government the country has ever seen.” The FNM’s convention is slated for July 27 - 29.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 8, 2016, PAGE 7
Independence Day message from Prime Minister Perry Christie ON behalf of the government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and on my own behalf, and that of my wife, Bernadette, and our family, I extend warm greetings and best wishes to my fellow citizens, the wonderful people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of our independence. The passage of time has in no way dampened the sensations of patriotism and national pride that we, as Bahamians, always feel each year as July 10 draws near and even more so when the day itself comes round. 2016 is no exception. This year, we will be experiencing new ways to celebrate and honour the proud heritage of Independence Day observance – this time under the thematic banner: “Honouring our People’s Excellence”. It is appropriate that we should do so. It is undeniable that over the past 43 years, our nation and its people have made great strides towards becoming a more prosperous and socially just society for all. For such a small nation and comparatively tiny population, there is so much in the form of measurable, impactful contributions to nation-building that must be credited to the people of our country whose passion for excellence I cannot applaud enough. It is therefore both right and timely that we should pause at this milestone to reflect upon our collective accomplishments to date even as we set our sights on new horizons. These accomplishments have covered a wide and diverse swath of effort and high achievement in so many areas of national life: in commerce, in the professions and trades, in reli-
PRIME Minister Perry Christie, who last night issued his Independence Day message to The Bahamas. gion, in community uplift, in the care of the poor, the elderly and indigent, in the public service, in the arts, in sports and culture, in education, science, and technology, to name just a few. When one reflects on
where we were in 1973 and where we are today in these areas of national endeavour, even the most cynical and jaded of critics must concede how far we have come in such a remarkably short time. The spirit of excellence of
which I write also pervades the everyday lives of our citizenry, producing in the process exemplary fathers and mothers about whom we hear too little in the media and public discourse. This is unfortunate because amidst all the negative, nay-
saying noise in the market, the most important part of nation building is quietly but inexorably playing out daily in homes and neighbourhoods all across our country. This is where we will find the true heroes and hero-
ines of the modern Bahamas, those who are doing their part to raise good families that lay stress on the virtues of integrity and good character, mutual support and teamwork, mutual respect and goodwill towards all, peaceful conflict resolution, discipline in the pursuit of common goals, and generosity and unselfishness in reaching out to others who are in urgent need of love, compassion and a helping hand in hard times. Such are the values that build not only families and neighbourhoods but entire nations as well. I hope, therefore, that we will redouble our personal commitment as citizens of this beloved nation of ours so that next year this time we can all look back and see where we made a positive difference in the quality of life of our families, our neighbourhoods, and our nation. If we can each do that, just think how much better we can become as a people and as a nation. Let us move in confidence to embrace that challenge even as we rise in unity to meet the myriad (of) other challenges that continue to face us as a people, especially in the areas of economic uplift and respect for law and order. Yes, we have so much to be proud of, so much to be thankful for, but there is still so much unfinished work that lies before us. Let’s band together, therefore, to get the job done, dedicating our best efforts to the glory of God and the continued betterment of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Happy Birthday Bahamas! See today’s 43rd anniversary of Independence supplement
PAGE 8, Friday, July 8, 2016
A tale of two rallies
THE TRIBUNE
A Comic’s View
By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA
O
F ALL the classics I’ve read over the years, the opening of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ still ranks as one of the best. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness… Those immortal words came to mind this week as I watched what should be a united Free National Movement (FNM) launch two separate leadership campaigns. The best of times came in the form of ‘democracy in action’. The worst of times came in the form of FNMs attacking each other on social
media. The age of wisdom came in the form of the technology which was utilised by both camps. The age of foolishness came in the form of Hubert Minnis and Loretta ButlerTurner holding their rallies on the same night. On the surface, the two events looked starkly different. At Rawson Square, we had Mrs Butler-Turner take the stage in front of a sophisticated crowd of a few hundred supporters. Everything about the venue, the set-decoration, the Facebook live stream that drew 30,000 eyeballs (assuming most viewers had two) right on down to the font on her
THE SCENE at the launch events for the leadership bids by Dr Hubert Minnis, above, and Loretta Butler-Turner, right. flyers looked meticulously the live crowd would have put together. It was aes- been much, much bigger. thetically reminiscent of the Meanwhile at Christie way US president Barack Park, Dr Minnis took the Obama’s team used to put podium on a dusty stage that his events together ... except looked like someone pulled it - and most of the decorations - out of their garage a few hours before the event. The basketball court - like most public courts in Nassau - looked scrubby, rundown or as we say ‘where ya put me’. But to the almost 2,000 supporters that went ‘all the same parents’. As to the substance of out to ‘Roc wit Doc’ none of that mattered. Not the the night, both candidates shaky Facebook feed that presented ideas worthy of JOB OPPORTUNITY drew almost 10,000 eyes. a second look. Dr Minnis Not the 1990s style set-up. continues to row the boat Not the throwback posters steadfastly toward bringing and flyers that looked like a relief to depressed ‘Over ABOUT THE COMPANY: government high-schooler’s the Hill’ areas while Mrs The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”) of The Bahamas came into Butler-Turner has made homework assignment. effect on 1 August 2009 as the converged regulator for the Electronic Communications (our declining) education It’s amazing how difSector (ECS) – covering broadcasting, radio spectrum and electronic communications. a major part of ferent in style On January 28, 2016 URCA became the regulator of the Electricity Sector (ES) in The her platform. the two events Bahamas. The new sector was added to URCA’s responsibilities with the passing of Not that any were. Just like “The biggest the Electricity Act 2015 (EA) and the URCA (Amendment) Act 2015 on December 31, of the supthe candidates. question before 2015. porters were Mrs Butler- the event was checking for Turner, for her URCA is further strengthening its capacity and is seeking to employ a suitably qualified any of that. part, spoke with which rally individual to fill the post of Senior Case Officer, Economics in the Utilities and The biggest eloquence and would have Energy department with the requisite competencies and experience. The position question beeven somehow (presumably) will be based in The Bahamas and will report to the Director of Utilities and Energy. fore the event managed to stay was which connected to free food. The SENIOR CASE OFFICER - ECONOMICS would the thousands biggest question rally CORE DUTIES: have (presumof online view- after the event • Analyze/monitor/evaluate the financial, economic and operational ably) free food. ers throughout performance of utilities in the Electricity Sector and assess whether the The biggest the whole event, was which rally question after utilities are likely to meet economic regulation conditions set out in their personally com- had the biggest the event was licences and relevant regulatory measures menting and crowd.” which rally • Research best practices in utilities regulation and recommend policy thanking them had the biggest • Lead the assessment of the development plans for the electricity sector all night. Dr Minnis, for his part, crowd. • Develop and monitor standards for the electricity industry As for the professional has become more at ease on • Assist URCA in ensuring that the operation of the sector is fair and stage, smiling and no doubt politicos, some of the pun transparent and that Plants are utilized in the most efficient and cost effective happy he won the night in dits have criticised Mrs manner terms of crowd size. He has Butler-Turner for launch• Assist in the development of the regulatory framework for and take the lead definitely cemented a fer- ing her campaign on Bay in implementing economic regulation of the Electricity sector vent devotion amongst his Street, but at a time when • Assist in enforcement of regulations and licence conditions followers, who now waste the country is in financial • Evaluate rate applications for Electricity no time verbally taking Hades, and Bahamians are • Any other relevant duties which may be assigned from time to time down his detractors on Fa- fearful of a certain eastern • Work in close liaison with URCA team members in the performance of country ‘tryna to buy up ercebook. various regulatory activities That these two indi- ryting’ I saw it as a power• Research, develop and maintain awareness of best practices in utility viduals were at one point ful statement of Bahamian regulation analysis and disseminate findings to staff a team is remarkable. It ownership. • Make recommendations on the optimal development plan for the electricity But what can be more reminds of when you see sector a brother and sister who powerful than standing up • Make recommendations to on standards for the efficient performance of the looked so different you se- for the people, with the electricity sector cretly wonder if they have people, on their turf? Dr • Monitor the financial and operational performance of the electricity market to ensure that objectives are realized and efficiency maintained • Prepare and submit periodic reports as required and assist in ensuring that the Annual Report is completed on time in accordance with established procedure • Perform the detailed work for the economic regulation of the Electricity market and provide advice and support • Monitor international utility input costs and prices to consumers, particularly in countries having similar economic conditions to The Bahamas ONE of the hottest and carded and laid to waste by • Supervise staff as assigned funniest political rumours the more ‘senior’ MPs and • Provide assistance and training to develop regulatory expertise of case out there comes from the party members, their young officers PLP camp. It seems just like political careers, dreams • Provide assistance in the economic regulation of other sectors regulated their opposition, the FNM, and aspirations dashed in by URCA as required by the Director of Utilities and Energy and other the PLP has its own power the blinking of an eye. The executive members from time to time struggle going on amongst Christie administration factions in the upper ech- has left quite a ‘roll call’ of QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES & EXPERIENCE elon of the party. young politicians as collat• Master degree in Economics, Engineering or Regulation Unlike the FNM the PLP eral damage in its wake. • A minimum of Eight (8) years post-graduate experience with at least five (5) has ‘keeping it house’ down Let’s see: Dr Andre Rolyears of experience working in utility regulation either with company to a science. Nobody sees lins (understandable), Renor regulatory agency with increasing responsibilities and demonstrated the PLP’s laundry, clean or ward Wells, Greg Moss, technical competencies dirty. Damien Gomez and Dr Despite the best efforts Kendall Major just to name • Outstanding leadership skills in the areas of planning, organizing, of senior party officials and a few. coordinating and controlling, etc. the many spin doctors asDespite all of this, Chris• Demonstrated outstanding analytical and research capabilities sociated with the PLP, one tie still obviously has an • Demonstrated understanding of the financial, and economic/ technical particular rumour persists. ear to the ground, not letfactors underpinning the performance of all Utilities, but in particular I’m sure you’ve all heard ting the rumours get to him Electricity, in order to develop pricing models it, the one about “it’s time by outplaying the rumour • Strong theoretical and practical appreciation of critical regulatory issues for PM Perry Christie to mongers at their own game. • Good strategic thinking, analytical, technical report writing skills retire”. Yes, that seems to Allegedly Mr Christie • Demonstrated ability to interact professionally with senior industry and be the consensus within the wants to hand the keys over government personnel belly of the PLP. to ... wait for it ... Minister • Knowledge of the URCA Act, other relevant Acts and government policies Now is the time for ‘Kool of Education and Marathon relating to the regulated sectors PC’ to ‘shuffle’ off into the MP Jerome Fitzgerald! • Working knowledge of international utility regulatory bodies political sunset, Chinese As a professional ‘joke• Computer literacy with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point pyjamas in tow, and make smith’ for over 18 years I and data base tools way for the Davis, Wilch- know a good joke when I combes and Sears of the see one! And that’s hilariREMUNERATION & DEADLINE: world to ascend to the top ous! URCA is a performance driven organization and offers a competitive and attractive of the political summit. This rumor is obviously remuneration and benefits package along with opportunities for further training and Could it be that the a hoax, it could only be a career experience. For an expanded version of the requirements of the role and proud PLP are trying to joke. “Jeromey the Hommore information about URCA, please visit our website: www.urcabahamas.bs reconstruct that infamous ie” as the head honcho in ‘bridge’ between young and charge? Scary! INTERESTED? old leadership within the What does Fitzgerald Interested applicants should email their resume to: party? bring to the table ... hr@urcabahamas.bs Which young ‘leader’ in 1 The ‘Nolle’ signing. the party will rise up and 2 The Marathon gas leak Applications should be received on or before July 8, 2016. URCA thanks all grab the wheel? fiasco. applicants for their interest but only applicants who have been short-listed and have the None I expect, consider3 Political trash can qualifications and experience will be contacted. ing the young talent dis- dumpster diving.
SENIOR CASE OFFICER - ECONOMICS
Minnis certainly won on that front. If you’re sensing hesitation on my part to name a winner that’s because I am. Readers of this column know I call it like I see it but the only thing I see right now is a party that will lose no matter who wins. Where Minnis is strong, LBT is weak. When LBT is strong, Minnis is weak. Together they made a good team but now FNMs (who are sick and tired of this overplayed leadership struggle) are more divided than ever. After the convention, someone’s (or a few someone’s) political career is headed to the guillotine. Meanwhile in the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Jerome Fitzgerald is a leadership front-runner. Heaven help us. It was best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness ... • Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident stand-up comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net
Jerome Fitzgerald for PM? Say it ain’t so 4 National D average again. 5 Unsavoury campaign advisors and alleged generals, surviving quite well off the PLP gravy train. Does he bring change? His underwear maybe. Fitzgerald is just the younger version of what we are seeing now. Part Perry Christie LATE (just ask the Marathon constituency, they are still waiting for all kind of answers.) Part Philip ‘Brave’ Davis - PONTIFICATION Part V Alfred Gray - LUNACY You see where I’m going with this. Fitzgerald is all too familiar with everything that ails this nation. He’s not akin to positive change, transparency and accountability for starters. Fitzgerald wasn’t reared that way politically so to expect anything different from him in a position of power such as PM is a promise to a fool. Fitzgerald offers us nothing new politically, so proceed with caution if you are a young political hopeful wanting to cross that PLP bridge, it’s still very shaky. And if you are a voter, careful not you buy the same old product in new wrappings. Buyer beware!
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 8, 2016, PAGE 9
Four police officers dead as two snipers open fire in Dallas DALLAS Associated Press AT LEAST two snipers opened fire on police officers during protests in Dallas on Thursday night, killing four officers and injuring seven others, police said. Dallas Police Chief David Brown told reporters the snipers fired “ambush style” upon the officers. He said police had a suspect cornered and were negotiating with him. Brown said 11 officers were shot, three of them fatally. Police later tweeted that a fourth officer had died. The gunfire broke out around 8:45pm Thursday while hundreds of people were gathered to protest fatal police shootings this week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and suburban St
Paul, Minnesota. The protesters had gathered after a Minnesota officer on Wednesday fatally shot Philando Castile while he was in a car with a woman and a child in a St Paul suburb. The aftermath of the shooting was purportedly livestreamed in a widely shared Facebook video. A day earlier, Alton Sterling was shot in Louisiana after being pinned to the pavement by two white officers. That, too, was captured on a cellphone video. Video footage from the scene showed that protesters were marching along a street in downtown, about half a mile from City Hall, when the shots erupted and the crowd scattered, seeking cover. Texas Gov Greg Abbott released a statement saying he has directed the Texas
Department of Public Safety director to offer “whatever assistance the City of Dallas needs at this time”. “In times like this we must remember — and emphasise — the importance of uniting as Americans,” Abbott said. The search for the gunman stretched throughout downtown, an area of hotels, restaurants, businesses and some residential apartments. The scene was chaotic, with helicopters hovering overhead and officers with automatic rifles on the street corners. “Everyone just started running,” Devante Odom, 21, told The Dallas Morning News. “We lost touch with two of our friends just trying to get out of there.” Carlos Harris, who lives downtown told the newspaper that the shooters “were
DALLAS Police respond after shots were fired at a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas last night. Four police officers were killed and seven more injured. strategic. It was tap tap pause. Tap tap pause.” The gunshots in Dallas came amid protests nationwide over the recent police shootings. In midtown Manhattan, protesters first gathered in
Union Square Park where they chanted “The people united, never be divided!” and “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now!” A group of protesters then left the park and be-
gan marching up Fifth Avenue blocking traffic during the height of rush hour as police scrambled to keep up. Another group headed through Herald Square and Times Square where several arrests were reported.
GOVERNOR SEEKS PROBE AFTER BLACK MAN SHOT BY POLICEMAN FALCON HEIGHTS Minnesota Associated Press A WOMAN who watched as a police officer fatally shot her boyfriend during a traffic stop streamed the gruesome aftermath of the slaying live on Facebook, telling a worldwide audience that her companion had been shot “for no apparent reason” while reaching for his wallet. Within hours, the Minnesota governor was pressing for the Justice Department to open its second investigation of the week into the death of a black man at the hands of police. “Nobody should be shot and killed in Minnesota for a tail light being out of function,” Democrat Mark Dayton said. “Would this have happened if those passengers would have been white? I don’t think it would have.” The Hennepin County Medical Examiner said Philando Castile, 32, of St Paul died of multiple gunshot wounds but did not give details about his injuries. It was the second fatal police shooting in as many days. A black 37-year-old man was killed Tuesday by officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alton Sterling’s
death was caught on video. The latest death happened late Wednesday in the St Paul suburb of Falcon Heights, a mostly white community of 5,000 people that is also home to Minnesota’s annual state fair and part of the massive University of Minnesota campus. In the video, Diamond Reynolds describes being pulled over for a “busted tail light” and says her boyfriend had told the officer he was carrying a gun for which he was licensed. As word of the shooting spread, Castile’s relatives joined scores of people who gathered at the scene and outside the hospital where he died. He was a well-liked 32-year-old cafeteria supervisor at a Montessori school. Reynolds said Thursday that he was killed even though he complied with the officer’s instructions. She told reporters that Castile did “nothing but what the police officer asked of us, which was to put your hands in the air and get your license and registration.” The Department of Justice announced that it would monitor the investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The governor said he and other state officials
would seek more direct involvement. Speaking to CNN, Castile’s mother said that she suspected she would never learn the whole truth about her son’s death. “I think he was just black in the wrong place,” Valerie Castile said Thursday, adding that she had stressed to her children that they must do what authorities tell them to do to survive. “I always told them, whatever you do when you get stopped by police, comply, comply, comply.” Speaking at a vigil Thursday evening outside the school where Philando Castile worked, Valerie Castile called her son “an angel.” She said she never thought she would lose him. “This has to cease. This has to stop, right now,” she told the crowd. Hundreds of demonstrators braved the rain and gathered to protest the shooting outside the Governor’s Mansion in St. Paul, where a crowd had also convened the night before. The group swelled to over 1,000 for a time as people marched from the school vigil. Dayton waded through the crowd as protesters chanted: “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now.”
Clubs & Societies Ardastra Gardens
Ardastra Gardens. - Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Centre is holding an All T’ings Bahamian Family Fun Day on Monday, from noon-4pm. Cost: $14 for adults and $7 for children (Members are free). Contact 323-5806 or check the FB page for more info.
Cycling Club Bahamas Cycling Club Bahamas. Weekday rides, east: morning, Tuesday & Thursday, leaving 5am sharp from Sea Grapes Shopping Centre, East Prince Charles Drive. This ride is a 17-mile loop to the Northbound Paradise Island Bridge and
JOIN THE CLUB OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers. To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@ tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line. For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 5022373 or 447-3565.
back again (both bridges are sometimes incorporated depending on available time). Open to riders capable of 18mph+ for 1 hour. Lights are essential. Weekday rides, west: morning, Wednesdays & Fridays leaving 4:45am sharp from Fidelity Bank Parking Lot (opposite Cable Beach Police Station), West Bay St. This ride is a 20-mile loop. The route is varied. Open to riders capable of 18mph+ for 1hr. Lights are essential. Contact Shantell to confirm your attendance. Afternoon, Tuesdays and Thursdays leaving 5:30pm sharp from Old Fort Shopping Center east of Solomon’s Fresh Market. This ride is 18-20 miles depending on whether you choose to do a second loop. Recommended for strong riders capable of 20mph+ for 1-1.5hrs. Intermediate Riders 18-22mph -see Spyda Weekend rides: Saturdays leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbuck’s) 30-40 miles headed West. In order to complete this ride it is recommended that you have done some recent cycling! Leaving P/I Bridges optional at the end! The pace will range from 18–20+mph, 2.5 hour duration Sundays leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbuck’s) 40-50 miles
headed east. This ride is not recommended if you have not cycled recently or first timers! P/I Bridges optional at the end! The pace will range from 18–20+mph, 33.5 hour duration (cyclists are invited to join in anywhere along the route). Youth Cycling Developomental Programme each Saturday at The Tracks. Contatct Barron on 5525128. July 16 Seagillian Cycling Fest, Spanish Wells, Eleuthera. July 22-25 Team GearedUp to NYC “Tour of Hilltown”. July 31 & August 1 Grand Bahama Road Cycling Championships 25-mile TT & 75-Mile Road Race Freeport, Grand Bahama. August 13 & 14 Viva! Bahamas Invitational T/T & Road Race Nassau, Bahamas. August 20 BASRA Marathon Swim, Grand Bahama. September 11-18 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Cozumel, Mexico http://cozumel.triathlon. org/event/schedule. September 24 Potcakeman main event triathlon, Nassau, Bahamas. November 5 & 6 Conchman Triathlon 30th Anniversary Race & Party, Grand Bahama. February 4 - 2nd Annual Bahamas Medical Center Dri Tri. February 18 - Ride For Hope, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
SENIOR CASE OFFICER - TECHNICAL ABOUT THE COMPANY: The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”) of The Bahamas came into effect on 1 August 2009 as the converged regulator for the Electronic Communications Sector (ECS) – covering broadcasting, radio spectrum and electronic communications. On January 28, 2016 URCA became the regulator of the Electricity Sector (ES) in The Bahamas. The new sector was added to URCA’s responsibilities with the passing of the Electricity Act 2015 (EA) and the URCA (Amendment) Act 2015 on December 31, 2015. URCA is further strengthening its capacity and is seeking to employ a suitably qualified individual to fill the post of Senior Case officer - Technical in the Utilities and Energy department with the requisite competencies and experience. The position will be based in The Bahamas and will report to the Director of Utilities and Energy. While the primary responsibilities will relate to regulation within the Electricity Sector and other utilities sectors SENIOR CASE OFFICER - TECHNICAL CORE DUTIES: • Analyze/monitor/evaluate the technical and operational performance of Electricity Sector and assess whether the regulated entities are compliant with regulatory conditions set out in the licences and relevant regulatory legislation. • Assist URCA in ensuring that long term and investment plans are developed to provide adequate service levels • Develop standards for utility operations • Keep abreast of developments in renewable energy and energy efficiency in order to advise on the implementation of regulatory mechanisms to promote the sustainable implementation of these technologies in the Bahamas • Keep abreast with technological advancement in order to advice on impact on the regulatory framework • Monitors/evaluates the technical performance of the Utilities • Provides Technical advice and support • Maintains Records and provide Reports • Undertake any other related duties which may be assigned from time to time • Supervise staff as assigned • Provide assistance and training to develop regulatory expertise of case officers and engineers • Provide assistance in the technical regulation of other sectors regulated by URCA as required by the Director of Utilities and Energy and other executive members from time to time. QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES & EXPERIENCE • Master Degree in Engineering (electrical, mechanical, energy) • Professional Engineering registration in The Bahamas • A minimum of seven to ten (7-10) years progressive experience in utilities operation, engineering and/or planning functions • Experience in electric utility regulation would be a distinct advantage • Experience/knowledge of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency programmes will be a distinct advantage • Some commercial knowledge, including a demonstrable understanding of accounting and financial issues and economic analysis • Outstanding leadership skills in the areas of planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling, etc. • Demonstrated outstanding analytical and research capabilities. • Strong theoretical and practical appreciation of critical regulatory issues • Excellent strategic thinking, analytical, technical report writing skills • Excellent inter-personal skills • Demonstrated ability to interact professionally with senior industry and government personnel • Knowledge of the URCA Act, other relevant Acts and government policies relating to the regulated sectors • Working knowledge of international utility regulatory bodies • Excellent computer skills, with competency in software for power system planning, least cost development and economic dispatch of Plants and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point REMUNERATION & DEADLINE: URCA is a performance driven organization and offers a competitive and attractive remuneration and benefits package along with opportunities for further training and career experience. For an expanded version of the requirements of the role and more information about URCA, please visit our website: www.urcabahamas.bs INTERESTED?
Interested applicants should email their resume to: hr@urcabahamas.bs Applications should be received on or before July 8, 2016. URCA thanks all applicants for their interest but only applicants who have been short-listed and have the qualifications and experience will be contacted.
PAGE 10, Friday, July 8, 2016
Cool summer fun
THE TRIBUNE
CENTRAL Division Summer Campers enjoyed a day where police and volunteers from Scotiabank served pizza, ice cream and lots of cold treats yesterday at CR Walker school. Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
PUBLIC NOTICE Cable Bahamas warns of e-mail scam targeting CoralWave users JULY 7, 2016 Cable Bahamas advised today that it has been informed of an e-mail that is currently being distributed that falsely appears to be originating from the company and is targeting users of the company’s CoralWave e-mail service. Cable Bahamas wishes to inform all of its subscribers that this e-mail, which claims that the company is making security changes and provides an unauthorised and fraudulent link for customers to log into their account, is not from the company and warns that no one should click on the link or follow any instructions contained in the e-mail. The fake e-mail is designed to deceive people into logging in to their e-mail account, giving hackers access to the users e-mail. The company stated that it does not give instructions of this kind to its subscribers and advises all users to practice extreme caution when clicking on links, even when they appear to be from a trusted source. Any subscribers that inadvertently clicked on the unauthorised link is encouraged to contact REVON support to reset their password by calling toll free at 1-242-300-2200, by e-mail at support@cablebahamas.com, or on the web at cablebahamas.com/contactus.
SPORTS SECTION E
FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2016
CBC Under-16
Girls Basketball, 13
Bahamas finishes group play with 100-41 rout of Barbados By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas continues its momentum and remains untested thus far at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships for Under-16 Boys. The Bahamas closed out group play yesterday with a 100-41 win over Barbados at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Complex in Georgetown, Guyana. It was a balanced scoring effort from Team Bahamas once again with seven players in double figures led by a pair of doubles from Michael Cartwright and Samuel Hunter.
Cartwright finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds while Hunter added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Detarrio Thompson shot a perfect 6-6 from the field and finished with a team high 15 points, Christopher Johnson stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and five steals, Michael Williams and Alfredo Brown each scored 11 while Domnick Bridgewater chipped in with 10. “We have a lot of chemistry and we just work well together,” Thompson said. “I think we can win it.” Devonte Moxey finished with seven points and Joshua Cornish added six. “We know when to
work hard, we know when to play and we know when it’s time to get serious,” Moxey said. “Everyone is hard working and we have some high basketball IQs.” Once again it was a quick start for the Bahamas as they pressed themselves to an early 13-7 lead. Barbados chipped away at the lead however and drew the Bahamas into the penalty with just over four minutes left to play in the first quarter. For the first time all tournament, the Bahamas appeared to be in jeopardy and clung to just a three-point lead (17-14). Johnson made the play of the game for Team Bahamas when he converted a second chance oppor-
tunity off a missed free throw with a putback to go up by two possessions (19-14). That play sparked a run for the Bahamas and they took their first 10-point lead of the game (24-14) on a Jennings layup. Brown followed with a steal and converted a three-point play following a fastbreak layup. Next up it was Moxey with the threepoint play. The Bahamas ended the period on a 17-0 run and led 34-14 headed into the second quarter. In the second quarter, Barbados showed some signs of life and went on a brief run to make the score 26-42 after a pair of three pointers. The Bahamas would again close the quarter strong on
a 9-0 run to take a 51-26 lead at the half. Barbados never threatened in the second half as the lead grew to as much as 59. The defence from Team Bahamas was once again the catalyst for the win as they forced 33 turnovers and limited Barbados to just 34 per cent shooting from the field. The Bahamas shot 53 per cent from the field, won the rebounding battle 66-31 with 28 steals. They finished with 23 fast break points, 72 points in the paint and 60 points off the bench. As the top team in group B, the Bahamas will advance to the reclassification medal round tonight.
Blue Marlin Track Classic gives athletes last chance to qualify for Rio Olympics By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
W
ith the final day for athletes to qualify for the Olympics set for Monday, the second annual Blue Marlin Track Classic will provide a stage for competitors from around the world in a last chance meet on Sunday. Starting at 4pm on Independence Day, the one-day meet will enable those athletes who are on the border line with the B standard to improve to the A standard, while giving those who have to prove their fitness a chance to do so. Meet director Demarius Cash, a former Bahamian quarter-miler, said the meet will also provide an opportunity for all four of the Bahamas’ relay teams to secure one of the top 16 times in the world in order to be eligible to compete at the games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 5-21. “We have athletes coming in from all around the world to compete,” Cash said. “This is going to be the final meet for those athletes and teams that haven’t qualified to do so, so we are expecting a very exciting meet.” So far, only the men’s 4 x 400m relay team seems to be booked solid as they have posted one of the top three times in the world. As a result, Cash said they would not be contesting the 4 x 400m. However, in order for the meet to constitute to a qualifier, at least three countries need to be represented. Cash said the meet has been designed for the 4 x 100m relay teams to open up with the heats, starting at 4:15pm. The finals will be contested at 9pm just before the women’s 4 x 400m closes out the meet. In between the relays, Cash said there will be a series of individual events, including the heats and finals of the women and men 100 and 110m hurdles, the final of the under-20 and open women and men 100m and 400m, open women and men 200m, 800m and 400m hurdles. On the field, there will be com-
TRAINING DAY: Athletes can be seen yesterday training for the second annual Blue Marlin Track Classic at the TAR national stadium. SEE PAGE 12 Photo by Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff petition in the under-20 boys and open men shot put and men and women open long jump, high jump and triple jump as well as the open women javelin. Cash said they have had a lot of interest from athletes who wish
to take advantage of the meet outside of the United States of America’s Olympic trials that is taking place this week. “We have had a lot of athletes from different countries from as far as Ghana, who are expected
to be here to participate in the meet,” Cash said. “We are looking forward to putting on a high qualify meet and so we are encouraging the general public to come out and support the athletes.”
Franchesca Clarke, the marketing director for the meet, said the Local Organising Committe is appreciative of the many sponsors who came on board to assist with the staging of the Blue Marlin Track Classic.
Team Bahamas ends up 6th overall at the 29th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TEAM Bahamas faced off against the best junior golfers in the region but fell one spot off their pace in recent years. The Bahamas finished sixth at the 29th edition of the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships, hosted in Christ Church, Barbados. The eight-member team concluded the final round yesterday following the three-day competition at the Barbados Golf Club. Puerto Rico led the field from start to finish and claimed their ninth consecutive title. They were
followed by Jamaica who moved up to second from a fourth place finish last year. The best finish for the Bahamas came in the Girls’ 15-and-under division from Haylie Turnquest. The Bahamas junior national champion for her age group, she has also won several tournaments in South Florida, finished second in her division and No.19 overall. Turnquest closed out the competition with a final round of 78 after he shot a second round 79. She shot an opening round 78 on day one for a score of 235. Cameron Riley was the next best finisher for Team Bahamas, 29th overall and 10th in the Boys’ 17-and-under division.
Riley closed out the competition with identical rounds of 80 on day two and three. They followed an opening round 88 for a score of 248. Riley is the Junior boys national champion and a veteran player for the junior national team. He will play collegiate golf for Florida A and M University this fall. Inecia Rolle led the way for the Bahamas’ female members with a team low score of 254, good enough for 7th in the Girls 17-andunder division. She shot an 84 on the opening day but fell two spots to fourth when she followed with a second round 88. She was able to close strong with a final round of 82.
Rolle is the reigning Bahamas Junior girls national champion, Bahamas women’s national amateur champion and longest serving junior team member. She will join the women’s golf programme at Chowan University this fall. In the Boys 15-and-under division, Xavier Robinson was the lone competitor for the Bahamas. Robinson shot an 89 on day three after he shot a second round 88, following his opening round 84. He finished with a score of 261, No. 15 in the division. Robinson is the Boys 14-15 junior national champion and is a member of the Bahamia Country Club Member’s Golf. It was his fifth appearance representing the
Bahamas at the CAJGC tournament. He will also represent the Bahamas at the 2016 R&A Junior Open in Scotland this summer. In the Girls’ 11-13, the Bahamas fielded the duo of Sophie Anand and Ashley Michel. Anand finished with a threeday total of 258 to finish No.3 in the division. She shot 86 in round one, 83 in round two and finished with an 89 in round three. Anand made her first appearance at the CAJGC tournament as a member of Team Bahamas. The sixth grader at Windsor Preparatory School has been playing golf for just two years and is the
SEE PAGE 13
PAGE 12, Friday, July 8, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
For first time, BAAA assembles relay training camp at home ahead of Blue Marlin Classic By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FOR the first time, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAAs) has assembled a Relay Training Camp at home with the view of getting the teams ready to compete in the Blue Marlin Track Classic on Sunday. The Independence Day meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium will serve as a last chance meet for the men and women 4 x 100 metres and women 4 x 400m teams to secure one of the top 16 times in the world before the Monday (July 11) deadline for the qualification process. “Today was the first day that we got everybody into camp and right away we started gelling,” said George Cleare, who is the designated head coach of Team Bahamas for the Olympics. “Having a group of people who are happy to be around each other is 80 per cent of the battle.” Cleare will be working directly with the women’s relay teams and he liked what he saw from the athletes who came home for the training camp. “I think they’re very focused on the goal of making it to the big dance at the Olympics, so I’m looking forward to them executing their baton exchanges before we compete on Sunday. We have a very good chance of running fast here at home and get the teams to Rio.” With the games being held every four years, Cleare said if they don’t do it now, they won’t have another chance to compete and with the mixture of youth and experience meshed together, he’s confident that they can get the job done.
THE BATON EXCHANGE: Women’s relay team members can be seen yesterday training for the second annual Blue Marlin Track Classic at the TAR national stadium. Photo by Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff The members trying out for the team are all excited to be in the training camp. “I just think it’s a good opportunity for me to be on the relay team, although I didn’t run a lot of open 100m races,” said Olympic 100m hurdles qualifier Pedrya Seymour. “I’ve ran a lot of relay teams for my school. “So it’s a good opportunity for me to try and help the Bahamas relay team qualify. We’re looking good. All of the girls are pretty fast and we got our exchanges down in one shot.” For veteran Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, who got fifth in the 100m at nationals, this is expected to be her last hurrah and she’s looking to go out with a bang in Rio, if the team qualifies.
“We have an excellent group of ladies and we are hoping that we can put it all together on Sunday and qualify,” said Ferguson-McKenzie, who missed qualifying in the 100m. “We have the people. We just have to make sure that we get the stick around and be able to come out here and gel as a team.” Anthonique Strachan, who has slowly worked herself back into form after undergoing surgery last year, said she’s delighted to be at home competing again. She was the runner-up in the 200m at the nationals. “This is my fourth meet, including nationals, so I’m excited about it,” Strachan said. “We’re looking strong and good. We stand a strong chance to have a relay team in Rio. Our practices have
been going very well and with God’s grace, it should all go well. I know I’m ready to run.” And Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson, the nationals’ 100m runner-up and 200m third place finisher, said she is excited about the Bahamas’ chances on Sunday. “Everything is looking good. I think we have the legs and the speed to qualify,” she said. “It’s just a matter of us going out there and executing. We are just in the middle of passing the baton and it’s going smoothly. We just have to continue to practice and get ready for Sunday.” She’s one of the two youngest members trying out, but Shaquania Dorsett said she’s not going to let her inexperience deter her. “It’s nice being here be-
cause I’m learning stuff that I didn’t really know about passing the baton,” she said. “So it’s been a good experience. These ladies have some positive vibes about competing and I’m just trying to gain as much knowledge from them as possible.” Double national sprint champion Tynia Gaither said they have all fitted in quite well. “We have a very strong group of girls here. Everyone is finally here. We’re starting to put it together, so I think we are going to do something magical on Sunday,” she said. “I know I’m honoured to be here because I haven’t had the privilege of working with the ladies until now, so it feels good to finally bring all the talent together.”
Tayla Carter, the national 100m fourth place finisher, said she’s just as eager as her teammates in running on Sunday. “I think it’s a privilege and a blessing to be here,” she said. “Not everyone gets this opportunity so to be selected among my countrymen to represent the Bahamas is an honour. “I will do my best to represent the Bahamas at the 2016 Olympic Games if we get to make it there. So I’m excited to see what this weekend holds as we push to strive to qualify for the Olympics.” Carter said the team’s chemistry is coming together. “We are looking very well. Everything seems to be cohesive,” she said. “There are just a couple of things that we need to fix in terms of timing, but everyone is looking healthy and strong. So all we have to do is pass the stick around and finish strong.” Quarter-miler Lanece Clarke has a dual role to play on Sunday, but she said she’s up to the task. “I want to say thank you to coach Cash for putting on this last chance meet because it also gives me the opportunity to chase my Olympic dream of qualifying in the 400, so I am happy for that,” she said. “Secondly, I feel very thankful to be a part of the Bahamas’ relay pool to help us qualify for the Olympics. We know that everybody wants to see the Bahamas compete at the big games. We have a very good pool of sprinters this year with a lot of young athletes. So I think we are all going to do very well.” Also included in the relay pool were collegiate sprinters Jenae Ambrose and Carmiesha Cox and veteran quarter-miler Christine Amertil.
Men’s 4 x 100 relay team hoping to make top 16 cut for Rio Olympics By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay team already locked down for next month’s trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the men’s 4 x 100m team is hoping that they will also get a chance to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games. The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is holding a relay training camp this week for members of the 4 x 100m team as they prepare to run in the Blue Marlin Track Classic, which serves as the last chance for all the relay teams to post one of the top 16 times in the world. The deadline for the teams as well as athletes in individual events to qualify is Sunday - Independence Day when the Classic is held at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. While designated head coach George Cleare will be working with the women’s relay team, assistant coach Shaun Miller will be responsible for the men. “With the group of guys that we have, we have a lot of young guys involved, but they have a ton of experience, so I’m hoping that we will be able to get the stick around pretty fast and qualify,” Cleare said. “They are all excited about the camp and we’re trying to get them all in one hotel so that they can start gelling together. But we have eight guys to choose six spots if we qualify, so we will mix them up and run two teams at the meet. Hopefully, one of them will get us in.” National sprint champion Shavez Hart said they’re ready to put on a show for the Bahamian public. “It feels pretty good, especially that it’s going to be at home. A lot of people are away, so it’s rare that we come home at summer time and we still get to put in the work and try to qualify in front of our home people,” he said. “So I hope that we have a lot of people out there trying to push us. We are looking pretty good. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t qualify. We have two shots at it. We look like a team that can make finals and once in the finals, anything can happen
FAST TRACK: Men’s relay team members can be seen yesterday training for the second annual Blue Marlin Track Classic at the TAR national stadium. Photo by Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff after that.” This year, the BAAA has added University of Alabama senior Tadeshi Pinder to the pool after he came home and finished fourth in the final of the men’s 100m. “It’s an honour to be home. It’s a dream come true for me to be able to compete for the Bahamas,” he said. “I left here when I was very young, but it’s good to come back and represent the Bahamas and not try to compete for the USA. “I just want to make the country and my family proud, so it is a blessing to be here. I’m excited to see what we can do on Sunday. We’re looking good and so if we can stay focused, we can get the job done.” Ian Kerr, who has made some headlines this year, is thrilled that he can get an opportunity to compete on a senior relay team. “It’s a blessing to be chosen among the fastest guys in the country,” said Kerr, who finished sixth in the 100m at nationals. “It’s all God and without him, I
wouldn’t be here right now, so I want to thank him for allowing me to run with them.” In hindsight, Kerr said he’s pleased to have made the switch from the swimming pool where his brother Kohen Kerr is still making a splash. “My mom and my dad were a big part of me switching to track,” he said. “It was a real tough time when I chose to switch to track. I’m just glad that I stuck with him. They kept pushing me and now I’m here today trying to make the Olympic team.” Blake Bartlett has a season’s best of 10.22 (wind-aided) that he did in Rome, Georgia, on May 14. “I think everyone is prepared and everyone is in top shape. We are just trying to put the puzzle together. After that, we should be okay. I think we should be able to qualify,” he said. “I have confidence in us. The team is looking very good. Excluding myself, I can’t speak about anybody else, but I’m in tip-
top shape because this is crunch time when we need to be ready to compete. Teray Smith, a member of the men’s 4 x 100m national record breaking team, said it’s good to be around a crew of competitors who want to succeed. “We are looking good. We have a good squad,” he said. “I think we have a good selection of athletes. Some of us have been running pretty good all year, so those of us who haven’t, this is a chance to prove that we can get the job done.” As one of the veteran members, Jamial Rolle said he hopes to lend his expertise to the other members of the team. “It feels good to help usher in the new generation of future track stars,” he said. “We’re looking good. Unfortunately, it’s kind of late but we are making the best of it.” Another veteran Adrian Griffith, runner-up at the nationals, said the training camp is just what
they needed to get the synergy together. “We have two teams out there so if one doesn’t do it, the other should,” Griffith said. “I have faith in the guys. We are trying to get as much synergy together as possible and as quickly as possible, so hopefully we can run very fast.” Warren Fraser, slowly working his way back into form after nursing a series of injuries, said there’s no feeling than being able to make a contribution to Team Bahamas. “To come back from my injuries is just a blessing,” he said. “I feel good. I’m back on the track now. I’m just glad to get this gelling again. Relays is always fun and we have some good guys out here training. “A lot of them showed up for nationals and competed. Now it’s time for us to all show up when everything matters and hopefully we can do what we have to do to get the Bahamas qualified for Rio.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 8, 2016, PAGE 13
As the Olympic medal chase ensues, kudos to the BSF and its swimmers It’s not how you start, nor how you get there. Most importantly, it’s how you finish • The Finish Line, a weekly column, seeks to comment on the state of affairs in local sports, highlighting the highs and the lows, the thrills and the spills and the successes and failures. THE WEEK THAT WAS THE Bahamas Swimming Federation should be commended for setting another high standard in local sports and inking in another historic performance in the process. The federation, headed by president Algernon Cargill, produced two outstanding high levels of competition in the span of two weeks, featuring both local and international swimmers. The annual Royal Bank of Canada National Swimming Championships made the splash first in the refurbished Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex. The Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships followed. It was the first time that the Bahamas hosted the prestigious international meet. In both instances, swimmers participated in the hopes of securing their qualifying standards to
book their tickets to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August. While it was not disclosed how many standards were attained by swimmers from the visiting countries, the BSF saw Joanna Evans clinching her spot in the Nationals and Dustin Tynes came through at the CISC. The collegiate duo joined pro swimmer Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, who prior to the start of the two events had already earned her third consecutive trip to the games. The BSF must be commended for the high standard they displayed in putting on the meets. Following the CISC, the BSF got some commendation from Lynden Maycock, the director of the National Sports Authority who are responsible for the facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. “Thank you team leader Cargill. Congratulations to Team Bahamas,” Maycock wrote. “The NSA share with pride and gratitude the hard work and dedication done by all stakeholders. The passion continues. Thank you all for allowing us to be a part of history.” The BSF must also be commended for not just winning their first CISC title, but doing it in grand style.
DUSTIN TYNES (in action), Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Joanna Evans will be out to claim an Olympic medal this year. Head coach Andy Knowles said it was all a part of a 30-year plan that the coaches had submitted to the BSF to win CARIFTA and CISC and to have Olympic finalists. All three goals have now been achieved thanks to the fact that Allan Murray broke the ice when he advanced to the final of the men’s 50m freestyle at the 1996 games in Atlanta, Georgia. With the stage set, the focus now switches to Rio where Vanderpool-Wallace, Evans and Tynes will
be out to clinch the only thing missing from swimming’s portfolio, an Olympic medal. Once again, the BSF and its swimmers deserve kudos for setting another banner in local sports. We look forward to the hosting of the Carifta Swimming and the Commonwealth Youth Games next year. THE WEEK AHEAD With the deadline now in sight, it’s a wait and see process for who will make up this year’s team to represent the Bahamas at the
“WITH THE STAGE SET, THE FOCUS NOW SWITCHES TO RIO WHERE VANDERPOOL-WALLACE, EVANS AND TYNES WILL BE OUT TO CLINCH THE ONLY THING MISSING FROM SWIMMING’S PORTFOLIO, AN OLYMPIC MEDAL. ONCE AGAIN, THE BSF AND ITS SWIMMERS DESERVE KUDOS FOR SETTING ANOTHER BANNER IN LOCAL SPORTS.” Olympics in Rio August 5-21. The Bahamas Olympic Committee is expected to officially name the team following the completion of the Blue Marlin Track Classic on Independence Day (Sunday) at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is hoping to take advantage of the meet by having all four of their relay teams – men and women 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 metre –
produce one of the top 16 times in the world in order to make it to Rio. The majority of the top athletes are home in a relay training camp this week. It’s the first time that the athletes have gotten together with such urgency this year. While we applaud all of the athletes in coming together, let’s just hope that their efforts are not too late. It would be good to see the Bahamas represented again by all four teams at a major international meet.
SPORTS NOTES TENNIS ROBERTS SERVING UP A HIT NINETEEN-year-old Justin Roberts, the only Bahamian tennis player with any current ATP computer points, fought off a set point in the first set to overcome 24-yearold Mesa Mei (USA), 7-5, 6-2 and claim his first Futures $25,000 event main draw win for the year. With this performance, Roberts’ professional ranking will get another boost this week. Roberts advanced to the main draw of the $25,000 Futures event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan today with a 6-2, 6-3 win. It is a good start after having their planned trip to play tournaments in Turkey disrupted by the terrorist acts of last week. This week also saw Roberts’ professional ranking improve by 100 places.
TEAM BAHAMAS to the Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s Under-16 Championships for Girls. Photos by Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
Girls ready for Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s U-16 Championships By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AFTER watching the dominating performances turned in by the boys, the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s girls team is hoping that they can go to Guyana next week and duplicate the effort at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s Under-16 Championships for Girls. “The team is looking much better. This is our second month. We started in May. It was a little bit slow then, but we are getting better as the days go,” said head coach Varel Davis. “We have some players who are returning from last year’s team, so the experience that some of them have will take us through. We are hoping that their experience will help to carry us through this tournament.”
Moultrie said the most critithe coaching cal part of their staff has spent a training sessions. lot of time getThe team will ting the girls to be leaving town the level that they on Sunday - Infeel they will be dependence Day. very competitive They will begin at the championplay in Pool B ships. against the two “We did a lot of other teams on work with them Tuesday against from day one, so Suriname. AfI expect for us to ter a day off HEAD COACH Varel Davis. come back with on Wednesday, a medal for the they will wrap country,” she said. “There are up round robin competition on only six teams in the tourna- Thursday against Trinidad & ment, so looking at the competi- Tobago. tion level, I expect that we will Pool A will comprise of Antibe able to hold our own.” gua & Barbuda, Barbados, BritWith a few more days before ish Virgin Islands and Guyana. they leave town, Moultrie said From the tournament, the top they will continue to work on three will earn berths to the the team’s transition from of- CentroBasket Under-17 Chamfence to defence, which has been pionship where they compete
for spots in the FIBA Americas Under-18 Cup, from which they can qualify for the FIBA U-19 World Cup or Youth Olympics. Making up Team Bahamas is Tanisha Seymour, Kendise Smith, Briontae Riley, Valicia Demeritte, Ulrica Woodside, Myah Greene, Diondrea Nixon, Tanae Bowleg, Antonicia Moultrie and Michelle Butler. Both Greene and Nixon are from Grand Bahama, while Seymour and Moultrie will be travelling for the experience. Assisting Davis will be coaches Charlene ‘Swish’ Smith, Anastacia Moultrie and Shakira Farrington, who will be going for the exposure. The team manager is Valerie Demeritte and the trainer is Sasha Ferguson. At least two parents, Gail Butler and Clementina Burrows, are expected to accompany the team.
VOLLEYBALL INDEPENDENCE TOURNAMENT THE TMT Independence Volleyball Tournament is scheduled to begin 6pm tonight at the DW Davis Gymnasium and run through Sunday. CRICKET BCA TOURNEY THE Bahamas Cricket Association has been invited to play in a cricket tournament in Washington, DC, hosted by the Washington Cricket League. The Bahamas team will depart Nassau for Washington DC on Monday, July 18 for the 10-day visit. The team will play two 50 over matches and five 20 over matches against Washington teams. The Bahamas team, managed by Heskett Dean, will comprise of the following: Greg Taylor Jr, captain, Mark Taylor, Albert Peters, Ryan Tappin, Gregory Irving, Hamilton Guilyard, Orlando Stuart, Dwight Weakley, Juliop Jameson, Capri Kemp Sr, Capri Kemp Jr, Nevin Goud, Bwagwanath Jagroo and Mark Levy. The BCA is a member of the International Cricket Council, the governing body for world cricket. The Bahamas has played in ICC Tournaments in the USA, Canada, Argentina, Panama, Kuwait, Jamaica, the UK and Bermuda.
BAHAMAS ENDS UP 6TH OVERALL AT 29TH CARIBBEAN AMATEUR JUNIOR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM PAGE 11 reigning Junior Girls Club Champion at Albany Golf Club. Michel made her third appearance at the CAJGC and finished in eighth place with a score of 314 after shooting 101 on day one, 114 on day two and a low of 99 on day three. In the Boys 11-13 division, the Bahamas fielded a pair of players making their CAJGC debuts, Heathcliff Kane and Dominic Greives.
Kane, a student at IMG Academy, is the current Boys 11-13 Bahamas junior national champion and the reigning Albany Club Junior Boys Club Champion. He closed the tournament with his best round of 85 after rounds of 88 and 94. His total of 267 finished ninth in the division. Grieves’ best round came on day two when he shot 94, bookended by rounds of 101 and 105. He shot 300 to finish in 13th place. The Bahamas finished fifth last
year at the 28th edition of the CAJGC, hosted in St Croix, US Virgin Islands. The eight-member team finished with a total of 77 points following the three-day competition at the Carambola Golf and Country Club. The Bahamas has finished fourth in the previous two editions of the event. In 2014, the Bahamas scored a total of 92 points, behind Puerto Rico (161), Dominican Republic (136), and Trinidad and Tobago (121). In 2013, the Bahamas finished
fourth with a score of 118 behind first place Puerto Rico with 151, the Dominican Republic with 139 and Trinidad and Tobago with 135 at the North Sound Golf Club, Cayman Islands. The championships are played annually and is rotated amongst the members of The Caribbean Golf Association. This team event, first played in Puerto Rico in 1988, is played over 54 holes in three divisions for boys and girls 10-17 years. The Bahamas Golf Federation
will now set its focus on the senior level for the 60th Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships, scheduled to be hosted July 24-30 at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island. Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the US Virgin Islands will all be here vying for the Arthur Ziadie Trophy, which will be awarded to the team with the combined accumulated score.
PAGE 14, Friday, July 8, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
No all-Williams final at Wimbledon after Angelique Kerber stops Venus By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer LONDON (AP) — Instead of the ninth all-Williams final at a Grand Slam tournament, there will be a rematch of another sort to determine the title at Wimbledon. And so as Serena Williams again stands one victory from her record-tying 22nd major title, she will need to beat a woman who already stopped her once this year in that pursuit, Angelique Kerber. After Williams needed all of 48 minutes to overwhelm Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-0 at the All England Club, older sister Venus failed to join in the family fun, losing to Kerber 6-4, 6-4 in yesterday’s second semi-final. Since winning her sixth Wimbledon trophy a year ago to raise her career count at Grand Slam events to 21, Serena has come quite close to pulling even with Steffi Graf at 22 — the most in the Open era, which began in 1968 (Margaret Court’s all-time mark is 24). But the American was surprisingly beaten by Roberta Vinci in the US Open semifinals last September, then by Kerber in the Australian Open final in January, and by Garbine Muguruza in
the French Open final last month. Reaching the final at each of a year’s first three major tournaments might sound good to other players. Not to this one. “For anyone else in this whole planet, it would be a wonderful accomplishment,” Serena said. “For me, it’s about, obviously, holding the trophy and winning, which would make it a better accomplishment for me. For me, it’s not enough. But I think that’s what makes me different. That’s what makes me Serena.” Yes, she is one of a kind. When a reporter asked what she makes of it when others talk about her as one of history’s greatest female athletes, this was the reply: “I prefer the word, one of the greatest ‘athletes’ of all time.” Hard to argue. And the case will be even stronger if she can do what she couldn’t in Melbourne: solve Kerber’s left-handed game. “I know,” Kerber said, “she will go out and try everything to beat me right now.” That Australian Open victory gave Kerber her first Grand Slam title in her first Grand Slam final. She insisted Thursday
ANGELIQUE KERBER, of Germany, celebrates after beating Venus Williams. (AP) she’s more relaxed and more confident on court thanks to that big moment. Didn’t necessarily look that way at the outset against Venus, who at 36 was the oldest major semi-finalist since Martina Navratilova was 37 at the All England Club in 1994. Venus is a five-time Wimbledon champion but hadn’t been to the semi-finals since she was the runner-up to Serena seven years ago. “Steps away from making it to the end,” Venus said. “That’s the position I want to be in, is playing in the semi-finals, playing for a space in the final.”
SERENA WILLIAMS, of the United States, left, and playing partner Venus Williams sit and talk during a change of ends in their doubles match against Russians Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova yesterday. (AP) But against Kerber, Venus was broken the first four times she served. She never recovered. “A very shaky match from her. She was fighting hard, but she was frustrated. I could tell,” said Venus’ coach, David Witt. “Her concentration was up-anddown. The focus was upand-down. That made her game up-and-down.” Perhaps the accumulated court time during this fortnight simply took a toll on Venus, who revealed in 2011 that she had Sjongren’s syndrome, which can cause fatigue and joint pain.
She was a half-step slow to some balls, was breathing heavily after longer points, and wound up with 21 unforced errors, 10 more than Kerber. “I was trying to (move) her, as well,” the fourthseeded Kerber said. “That was the plan.” After a running crosscourt forehand winner capped the 19-stroke exchange that ended her victory, Kerber tossed aside her racket and dropped to her knees at the baseline. That match managed to be more competitive than what transpired earlier,
which more closely resembled a training session for the No. 1-ranked Serena — except she probably gets more of a workout when she practices. “I couldn’t do anything today,” Vesnina said. Serena’s serve was in fine form, reaching 123 mph and producing 11 aces against the 50th-ranked Vesnina, who was making her major semi-final debut. Serena won 28 of 31 points she served, including the last 17. “An almost perfect match,” said Serena’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Serena had Vesnina looking defeated after all of 12 points. That’s when, after sprinting for a forehand that landed in the net, the Russian leaned over, sighed and slumped her shoulders. There would be plenty more of that sort of body language from Vesnina, a two-time Wimbledon runner-up in doubles who later Thursday went out in the quarter-finals of that event and lost to Serena a second time. The Williams-Williams pairing beat Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-2. That means Venus still has a chance to leave Wimbledon with a trophy, just like her sister.
Cavendish wins Tour Stage 6 after mass sprint By SAMUEL PETREQUIN AP Sports Writer MONTAUBAN, France (AP) — Mark Cavendish started the Tour de France fearing that his training on the track for the Olympic Games would affect his chances of stage wins at cycling’s biggest race. After the sprinter from the Isle of Man posted a third stage win in less than a week, it’s now obvious that the long hours spent on the boards have helped him improve his speed. The 31-year-old “Manx Missile,” as he is known in the peloton, used his great tactical sense and impressive burst of speed to win the sixth stage of the threeweek race in another mass finish yesterday. It was Cavendish’s 29th Tour stage win overall. “Oh my god, that was terrifying,” said Cavendish, who also wore the yellow jersey for the first time of his career after winning the first stage of the race last weekend in Normandy. “That was like the old days, wheel surfing. Cavendish, who had never been as successful during the first week of the Tour before, beat German ace sprinter Marcel Kittel by half a wheel, with Daniel McLay third. Kittel launched the sprint but Cavendish attached himself patiently to Kittel’s wheel before
overtaking him in the final 200 metres. Cavendish passed fivetime Tour winner Bernard Hinault to be alone in second on the all-time list of stage winners. Eddy Merckx holds the record with 34 to Cavendish’s 29. “We were a little too far back, (teammate Bernhard Eisel) Bernie and I, going into that,” Cavendish said, revealing the details of his sprint masterclass. “I wanted Kittel’s wheel and I was fighting for it. I knew it would be the right thing to go early because it was slightly downhill, I put the bigger gear on again but I maxed out and should have put a bigger gear on. I held on and held Kittel off, did to him what he’s done to me over the last three years.” While Cavendish benefited from the great work of his teammates in his two previous stage wins, he was left by himself in the southwestern town of Montauban after his lead-out riders fell away. “He sprinted very well today,” Cavendish’ Dimension Data teammate Mark Renshaw said. “Today we have been catastrophic, we were stuck on the left side of the road, it was impossible to get back to the front. I believe the track training he did made the big difference, he prevailed with his speed.” Cavendish, who will be seeking the gold medal in the omnium
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDINGS
BRITAIN’S MARK CAVENDISH, right, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 190.5 kilometres (118.1 miles) with start in Arpajon-sur-Cere and finish in Montauban, France, yesterday. (AP) discipline at the Rio Olympics, has been combining training both on the road and track this season. It clearly helped him recover the burst of speed that had abandoned him over the past two seasons, defeating Kittel after a final kilometre covered at the average speed of 62.6 kilometres per hour. “I knew if I got a good slingshot I could be going 3-4km/h faster than (Kittel) before he had time to react, so that’s what I did and I was happy to hang on for the win,” Cavendish said. The stage took the peloton
from Arpajon-sur-Cere to Montauban in southwestern France on a 190.5-kilometre ride. Greg van Avermaet finished safely in the main pack and kept the yellow jersey going into Friday’s first stage in the Pyrenees. On a very hot day, Yukiya Arashiro and Jan Barta attacked from the off. The peloton did not chase and they built a comfortable lead of 4 1/2 minutes. With temperatures as high as 36 degrees (98 F), the breakaway riders’ lead started to decrease after the first intermediate sprint
when Frenchman Bryan Coquard topped rivals Michael Matthews, Peter Sagan and Kittel in their battle for the best sprinter’s green jersey. They were reined in with 22 kilometres left after Coquard’s Direct Energie team moved to the front of the pack to organise the chase. Late in the stage, a woman with a French flag tied around her neck rode on a white horse parallel to the peloton before the pace ramped up in the closing stages, with riders jostling frantically for prime position. On the eve of the first big mountain stage in the Pyrenees, Van Avermaet enjoyed a quiet day, well protected by his BMC teammates. Defending Tour champion Chris Froome stayed safely in the pack too. Van Avermaet holds a lead of 5:11 over rising French rider Julian Alaphilippe overall, with Spanish veteran Alejandro Valverde third, 5:13 behind. Froome is fifth, 5:17 behind, with his main rival Nairo Quintana in seventh place with the same time. The 162.5 kilometres in Stage 7 on Friday feature the gruelling ascent of the Category 1 Col Aspin, a 12.5-kilometre climb at an average gradient of 6.5 per cent, as well as a very technical descent to the finish line at the Lac de Payolle.
Piscotty, Grichuk both homer as Cardinals beat the Pirates By R.B. FALLSTROM AP Sports Writer ST LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright relished the chance to stop a skid. The Cardinals’ ace worked seven effective innings to help St Louis beat Pittsburgh 5-1 yesterday to avoid a four-game sweep and end the Pirates’ seasonbest seven-game winning streak. “Today, I really wanted to push it as long as I possibly could,” Wainwright said. “I was having fun mixing and matching and mixing my delivery speed. I was pitching out there, that’s how I did it in 2014.” Wainwright (8-5) was a 20-game winner two years ago, but missed most of last season with a torn left Achilles. He is rediscovering his form now, lowering his ERA to 4.49. “He’s been a master craftsman for years,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. “He was on top of his game.” Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run home run and Randal Grichuk also went deep for St Louis, which reclaimed second place in
the NL Central by a halfgame over Pittsburgh to end a rough 4-5 homestand. All-Star Matt Carpenter (oblique) joined Brandon Moss (ankle) and Brayan Pena (knee) on the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day. “We heard the news, then we went about our business,” Piscotty said. “We have to stay the course. I don’t think anyone’s going to give up by any means.” Piscotty’s 11th homer off Arquimedes Caminero was initially ruled off the top of the centre-field wall but the call was overturned after review. Piscotty had three homers during the home stand but didn’t think this one was out. Tyler Glasnow (0-1) was charged with four runs in 5 1/3 innings in his debut. The 22-year-old right-hander was the 11th starter used by the Pirates and, like Steven Brault earlier in the series, got his first career hit. “It was kind of crazy waking up and coming to the ballpark and I really think I took it all in,” the 6-foot-8 Glasnow said. “It was a fun experience.” Hurdle was impressed.
“He commanded the zone, he made his pitches,” the manager said. “He didn’t let things get out of hand at any point in time.” Jordy Mercer doubled and had an RBI for the Pirates, who had come from behind to win the previous six games. They haven’t swept a four-game series in St Louis since 1997 and the Cardinals haven’t been swept in four games at home by anyone since Colorado in 2009. Aledmys Diaz, named an All-Star earlier in the day to replace Carpenter, tripled off the top of the left-field fence and scored on a wild pitch to tie it in the fourth. Grichuk’s first homer since June 12 gave the Cardinals the lead for good in the fifth. Wainwright matched his season best with nine strikeouts and got his 129th career win, passing Harry Brecheen for seventh on the franchise list. He’s permitted one run over 14 innings his last two outings. “The way the first month and a half went for me was a real grind but I knew I was going to turn it around,” Wainwright said. “And I’m
on my way, I wanted that eighth win.” The first pitch was delayed 31 minutes by rain. During the homestand there were 5 hours and 44 minutes of delays. TRAINER’S ROOM Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (triceps) is expected to make a second rehab start on Sunday. Cardinals: 3B Jhonny Peralta (left thumb) missed his second straight start. NICE GLOVE Cardinals 3B Greg Garcia made two nice grabs on liners, robbing Jung Ho Kang in the first and pinchhitter Sean Rodriguez in the eighth. Garcia led off in place of Carpenter and had a double, walk and scored a run. UP NEXT Pirates: Francisco Liriano (5-8, 5.34) snapped a five-game losing streak his last time out, but is 0-2 against the Cubs this year. Cardinals: Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.38) has won three straight starts and faces the Brewers for the second straight time.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 8, 2016, PAGE 15
Griezmann sends France into Euro 2016 final at the double MARSEILLE (AP) France are heading back to a place among football’s elite, with Antoine Griezmann leading the way. The diminutive Griezmann scored both goals in a 2-0 win over world champions Germany yesterday to give the hosts a place in the European Championship final. It was a victory built as much on German errors as it was on Griezmann’s skill, with a handball in the box and a poor defensive pass paving the way for his goals. But that didn’t matter to the fans who made Marseille’s Stade Velodrome ring with the sound of the “Marseillaise”, France’s national anthem. Their team won this tournament in 2000, two years after lifting the World Cup, but since then they haven’t won a trophy. Developed as a player in Spain, Griezmann has been the star of the show for France, leading a highscoring team with six goals, twice as many as any other player in the tournament. “I think there’s a lot of happiness around France tonight,” said coach Didier Deschamps, whose team faces Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the final in Paris on Sunday. “This team has everything it needs to be loved, I’m very proud ... It’s fabulous to be in the final.” Germany could have scored more than once as they dominated the first half. But they were denied by poor shooting from Thomas Mueller, who ended his tournament score-
EURO 2016 AT A GLANCE
Kick offs Bahamian time All matches televised live on ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPN Deportes SEMI-FINALS Wednesday, July 6 Portugal 2 (Ronaldo, Nani) Wales 0 Thursday, July 7 Germany 0 France 2 (Griezmann 2) FINAL Sunday, July 10 Portugal v France Saint-Denis, Paris (3pm) Leading goalscorers
FRANCE’s Antoine Griezmann celebrates at the end of the Euro 2016 semi-final soccer match against Germany at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, France, yesterday. France won 2-0. (AP) less, and a save by Hugo Lloris to block Emre Can’s bouncing shot. France took the lead from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time after Bastian Schweinsteiger handled the ball in an aerial challenge with Patrice Evra. “I really wanted to take a penalty in a big match like that. I was very composed, I didn’t think twice,” Griezmann said. Trailing in a match for the first time in the tournament, Germany could not recover their dominance after halftime. They then had
to cope with losing key defender Kevin Boateng, who picked up an ankle injury after an hour. The German defence had not conceded from open play all tournament, but it fell apart for Griezmann’s second goal in the 72nd minute. A sluggish pass by Benedikt Hoewedes was cut out by Paul Pogba and Manuel Neuer could only palm away the midfielder’s cross to Griezmann, who finished with ease. Germany responded well, with Kimmich hitting the post, Julian Draxler
US ANNOUNCES MEN’S WATER POLO TEAM FOR RIO OLYMPICS By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer FOR his first Olympics with USA Water Polo, men’s coach Dejan Udovicic is bringing along a group of 20-somethings long on athletic ability and short on experience. Oh so short on experience. What comes next is anyone’s guess. While Tony Azevedo and Merrill Moses highlight the 13-player roster for Rio de Janeiro announced yesterday, there are only four holdovers from the United States’ disappointing eighth-place finish in London. The average age of the
nine newcomers just makes the cut for happy hour at 21.1 years old. But there are signs the youthful team is coming together nicely. The US, ranked sixth in the world, is coming off a second-place finish in the FINA World League Super Final last month in China. It posted shootout victories over Australia and Greece before losing 10-6 to Serbia in the final. It was the first medal for the US in a major FINA competition since winning silver at the 2008 Olympics. Next up is an exhibition against Montenegro in Houston on July 30 before the US faces reigning
Olympic champion Croatia in its Rio opener on August 6. Azevedo is heading to his fifth Olympics, a record for USA Water Polo. The 34-year-old captain was born in Rio and plays professionally for Sesi in Sao Paulo. He made his Olympic debut in 2000 in Sydney. Thomas Dunstan and Ben Hallock, two of Azevedo’s teammates for Brazil, turned 3 that year. It’s the fourth Olympics for Jesse Smith and No. 3 for Moses, who turns 39 on August 13 and is the probable starter in goal. John Mann is going back the Olympics for the second time.
sending a free-kick narrowly wide and Hoewedes heading over. But France, while not always assured in defence, came through and their jubilant players celebrated with the fans by performing the “Huh” chant made famous at the tournament by Iceland. The reign of Portugal’s coach, Fernando Santos, will come full circle in the Stade de France on Sunday. His mission to revive Portugal’s fortunes began 21 months ago against France with a friendly that was lost 1-0 on the outskirts of Paris. “My first game at the helm of the team was two years ago, and our goal was to reach here (the final),” Santos said after the 2-0 win over Wales on Wednesday. “Thankfully every-
thing worked out for us. We are stronger, more solid, more united.” Under Santos, a titlewinner with Porto and who took Greece to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals and the 2014 World Cup last 16, Portugal are unbeaten in 13 competitive games. “The final will be the highest point in my career so far,” the 61-year-old Santos said. “It’s about my country, my flag, my fatherland, my friends, and my family. From a personal point of view it’s very important.” For the country it will be a momentous occasion and a chance to banish memories of its only previous final - at Euro 2004 - when the Portuguese lost to rank outsiders Greece on home soil.
6: Griezmann (France). 3: Bale (Wales), Morata (Spain), Payet (France), Giroud (France), Nani (Portugal), Ronaldo (Portugal). 2: Robson-Kanu (Wales), Stancu (Romania), Lukaku (Belgium), Perisic (Croatia), Dzsudzsak (Hungary), Blaszczykowski (Poland), Brady (Ireland), Gomez (Germany), Pelle (Italy), Sigurdsson (Iceland), Nainggolan (Belgium), Sigthorsson (Iceland), Bjarnason (Iceland). “Nobody thought Portugal could reach the final,” Ronaldo said. “I hope that we’ll be smiling and that it will be tears of joy in the end,” Ronaldo said. “I’ve always said my dream was to win a trophy with Portugal. We’re closer to doing it and I believe that we’ll win.”