07132023 NEWS AND SPORT

Police: ‘Stand by’ on MP raPe caSe

Recommendations were given says DPP; but COP doesn’t offer more details

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

ACTING Director of Public Prosecutions

Cordell Fraizer has officially submitted her recommendations to Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander concerning an MP accused of raping and abusing his ex-girlfriend.

On Tuesday, she referred The Tribune to Commissioner Fernander for information about what comes next.

Although Commissioner Fernander confirmed he received the acting DPP’s recommendations, he declined to give more details.

Police officer charged with vehicular manslaughter

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE officer was charged with causing the death of a 28-year-old woman in an alleged drunk driving accident last December near the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium.

Inspector Dalton Knowles, 48, was charged

with vehicular manslaughter before Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley.

Knowles was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, heading south on Yellow Elder Way at around 8.48am on December 17, 2022, when he lost control of the vehicle,

Bell ‘does not need to resign’, says davis

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said Immigration Minister Keith Bell does not need to resign for overseeing a citizenship swearing-in ceremony at a funeral.

During a funeral for Franck Racine, Mr Bell swore in the man’s wife and two children, honouring the dead man’s wish.

“He did not give any citizenship to anyone at the funeral”, Mr Davis told reporters yesterday.

“I think he’s acknowledged that it was unconventional, alright, and I don’t think it rise to the point that he needs to resign.”

Audio of Mr Bell swearing in three people at the

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Supreme Court has ordered the seizure of merchandise in a case involving local luxury goods. Yesterday, The Tribune observed three trucks filled with merchandise outside

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE principal behind a $32m theme park eyed for the Western end of New Providence is promising a holographic experience along with a “re-imaging of Old Nassau.”

Chinese dignitaries tour Nassau Cruise Port

His Excellency Xiao Jie, Vice-Chairman of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China; China’s Ambassador to The Bahamas Her Excellency Dai Qingli; and a Chinese delegation tour Nassau Cruise Port, July 8, 2023 on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Independence of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Bahamas Minister of Transport and Housing JoBeth Coleby was in attendance; and Nassau Cruise Port Ltd CEO and Director Mike Maura conducted the tour.

Photos: Anthon Thompson/AP

Police: ‘Stand by’ on mP rape case

from page one

“Just stand by. There’s still one or two inquiries,” he said yesterday. “yes, some recommendations were made, but just stand by please.” Pressed for more information, he said: “I can’t say nothing with respect to that. Just stand by. She did what she was supposed to have done.”

A woman filed a complaint with police about an MP, her ex-boyfriend, on April 7. She has since hired a lawyer, Bjorn Ferguson, to

represent her interests.

In police documents seen by The Tribune, she accused the man of raping and making death threats against her and her family.

The acting DPP’s deliberations in the matter took about a month. Before sending her recommendations, she had requested the police follow additional lines of inquiry. Some have criticised the length of the police investigation. In response, officials insisted the facts of each case dictate the length of investigations.

ACTING Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Fraizer has officially submitted her recommendations to Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander concerning an MP accused of raping and abusing his ex-girlfriend.

Man on bail for M urder found shot dead in back seat of vehicle

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

POLICE found a 26-year-old man on bail for murder shot and killed in a vehicle at Blackstone

Close and Baillou Hill Road yesterday –– the 57th murder victim for the year.

After receiving a call around 7am yesterday, police found the victim

p olice officer charged with vehicular M anslaughter

from page one

causing it to collide with the guard rails. The crash resulted in the death of his passenger, Temeka Samantha Duncombe.

The accused was told that his case would be transferred to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). His attorney, Ciji Smith Curry, told the court the officer would be interdicted.

After some deliberation, $8,000 bail was granted to the defendant with one or two sureties. He is expected to sign in at the Grove Police Station every Monday by 6pm. His VBI is set for service on October 19.

“with gunshot injuries to the body” in the backseat of a white Toyota Passo.

The victim was reportedly a resident of Marshall Road and was being electronically monitored.

Though Police Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings could not say when the man was killed, she said “rigor mortis” had set in when the body was found.

The killing follows the murder of two men in a separate incident nearly a week ago in the South Beach area.

CSP Skippings said police were alerted to the shooting on Sunset Drive off Sea Link Drive around 9.20pm on July 6. She said the murdered men were being electronically monitored. One was on bail for murder,

the other for attempted murder. One of the men was in his early 20s; the other was in his mid-20s.

She said the slain men were found in a blue Honda Fit. They were approached by two men with firearms, one of which was a high-powered weapon. She alleged that the men killed were affiliated with gangs.

s uspected drowning of s outh a frican wo M an in e leuthera

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

A 45-yEAR-OLD South African woman is believed to have drowned in Eleuthera over the weekend.

The incident reportedly occurred around 11am on Saturday.

“The victim was swimming in waters in the area of the Gully Hole in Deep Creek, when she began to experience difficulties breathing,” police said.

“Subsequently, the victim was retrieved from waters and transported to the local clinic, where she was examined and pronounced dead by the local doctor. Investigations continue.”

This incident appears to

be one of several drowning incidents this year.

On June 13, a 46-yearold North Virginia woman drowned after reportedly experiencing breathing difficulties that afternoon while in waters on Pearl Island.

“As a result, the victim was retrieved from waters and transported to Princess Margaret Hospital, where she was seen and examined by a doctor, who pronounced her dead,” a police statement said.

On March 30, a 51-yearold Korean male cruise passenger was found unresponsive shortly after 1pm at Light House Beach at Ocean Cay.

According to reports,

bystanders pulled the unresponsive male visitor from the waters. He was seen and examined by the ship’s doctor, who found no signs of life.

Then, on May 4, the lifeless body of a 67-year-old man was found floating at Prince George Wharf around 7.15am.

The man was reportedly a resident of Faith United Way in the Golden Gates area. Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers assisted in retrieving the body.

Twelve days later, the lifeless body of a 41-yearold Freeport man was found in waters near the government dock in north Bimini.

A 26-year-old man was found in the back seat of a car ‘with gunshot injuries to the body’ yesterday at Blackstone Close and Baillou Hill road.

Photo: Austin Fernander

Cooper reports no additional progress in securing access to Cabbage Beach

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration has not reported any meaningful progress toward ensuring that one of the access points to Cabbage Beach is always opened.

Some residents were upset to find a closed gate when trying to get to the Paradise Island beach over the holiday weekend.

In April 2022, former Office of the Prime Minister Press Secretary Clint Watson said the Ministry of Tourism was talking to Access Industries, the company that owns the land providing entry to the popular beach, about the matter.

“There is no issue of access just east of Riu,” Deputy Prime Minister and

Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper said yesterday. “I believe the gate that you are referring to may be the Eastern Gate, which is sometimes closed on the weekends. We continue to work with the police and, of course, the property owners in the immediate vicinity to see how we could cause there to be a constant opening of that gate. There have been some concerns there and we’re working along with the Tourism Promotion Board.” He said officials are working with the property owners “to acquire some equipment, ATVs, etc, to give the police a little bit more mobility, to ensure that there is control in the area from any type of nefarious activities”. He added: “We are committed to ensuring that the Bahamian people have full

unrestricted beach access. And we are committed to ensuring that people are able to make an honest

North A Ndros Power Pl AN t rePA irs cost $600k, A s restor AtioN coN tiNues

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

WORKS and Utilities

Minister Alfred Sears said the cost of restoring power to North Andros after last week’s catastrophic fire at Bahamas Power & Light’s Nicholl’s Town plant is about $600k.

He said the costs include purchases for generation and auxiliary parts and shipment fees.

BPL’s efforts to fully restore power to North Andros are continuing.

Mr Sears claimed the company had restored power for 90 per cent of its customers and that the remaining 10 per cent should have their power back on without interruption by today.

“They have acquired new engines from M&E,” he told reporters. “They have transferred engines out of Exuma, and as of present, 80 per cent of the homes and residents in North Andros have power.”

“Now the 10 per cent, there have been load sharing, and I’m advised that by tomorrow, which is Thursday, that that ten per cent, they’re working very hard to get that last ten per cent online full time.”

He said the cause of the fire is still being investigated.

During a communication in the House of Assembly, he discussed challenges BPL encountered trying to restore power to the island.

He said an incident

involving bought contaminated fuel caused a 1.2-megawatt unit to shut down just after midnight on Tuesday, prompting a power outage.

“The one-megawatt unit that was not fuelled from this source and the 1.6-megawatt unit was not started,” he said. “This resulted in outages for all areas of North Andros except Nicholl’s Town and Conch Sound.”

“While the 1.2-megawatt unit requires fuel injector replacement, the 1.6-megawatt unit that was impacted by the contaminated fuel was repaired, and customers were incrementally brought on to the supply starting at around 3pm on Tuesday.”

living.” When the entry point to the beach was closed in 2021, the company

said this was for safety purposes while clearing work for a hotel was being done.

Former Tourism Minister

Residents should soon see a ‘marked improvement’ in

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

WORKS and Utilities

Minister Alfred Sears said a “marked improvement” in New Providence roads should be soon observed as his ministry plans to increase pothole patching. His comments came as a pothole on Shirley Street sparked numerous complaints. Some residents said the pothole was part of a sewer problem that caused delayed traffic.

A business owner in the area said yesterday that workers poured hot tar

Nassau

roads, says Sears

over the pothole, a temporary solution.

Mr Sears said ten contractors are expected to be engaged to address the vexing problem. He said the contractors would supplement the ministry’s road patching unit with a “massive blitz” to fix potholes in the days and weeks ahead.

“This is the first time, madam speaker, in over four years that the ministry has been able to engage staff and obtain equipment to address the issue of potholes. I believe that the public will soon see a marked improvement in terms of safer and drivable

roads,” he said in the House of Assembly yesterday. Plans to begin the exercises follow months of rain activity, which Mr Sears said has hindered road repair efforts. Mr Sears said his ministry would soon begin road repaving works on several roads, including South Beach community roads, portions of Windsor Field, Bay Street between East Street and the Old Bridge, the Eastern Road, Winton Highway, Woodlawn Way, East Street from Palm Tree Avenue to Robinson Road, East Street South, Tonique Darling Highway, Joe Farrington Road and others.

Dionisio D’Aguilar said at the time, the move blindsided him.

THE Davis administration has not reported any meaningful progress toward ensuring that one of the access points to Cabbage Beach is always opened.

‘A

marked improvement’ in roads should soon be observed said MOW Minister Alfred Sears as a pothole on Shirley Street sparked numerous complaints. Some residents said the pothole was part of a sewer problem that caused delayed traffic.

Bell ‘does not need to resign’, says Davis

from page one

Metropolitan Church of the Nazarene last month went viral.

In the recording, Mr Bell acknowledged his actions at the funeral were unorthodox.

He can be heard presenting the people with certificates, saying he was doing so on behalf of the prime minister, the Cabinet, “and Bahamians everywhere”.

The Free National Movement insists the Davis administration has not adequately addressed the controversy, questioning whether the proper process was followed before the people were granted citizenship.

Former Immigration Minister Shane Gibson said he administered citizenship oaths.

Mr Gibson’s successor, Brent Symonette, said he never administered oaths. He said Mr Bell’s actions were “highly improper” and warranted his resignation from Cabinet.

AwA rds presented to foreign dignitA ries during jubilee celebr Ation defended

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis defended honouring Rwandan President Paul Kagame and US Congresswoman Maxine Waters during Sunday’s Golden Jubilee event at

Clifford Park. President Kagame and Congresswoman Waters were awarded the Order of Excellence, a national honours award.

Some have questioned why the Davis administration awarded two foreign dignitaries during the independence celebration.

pM A ffir Ms coMMitMent to getting repA r Ations froM uK

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis affirmed the government’s commitment to getting reparations from the United Kingdom yesterday.

During a Sustainable Development Goals conference at the University of The Bahamas yesterday, Mr Davis, Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin and Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis were on a panel.

An audience member asked the prime minister how committed the country is to pursuing reparations.

Mr Davis said the word “reparations” has been the “boogeyman” during discussions about climate justice.

“I can tell you that we are committed to reparations, not just for the transatlantic slave issue,” he said. “In fact, we recommitted ourselves at our last Heads meeting last week in Trinidad.”

“There was a question of reparations. We had last year written to the UK government, to the Netherlands government, to the Portugal government stating our case in respect to reparations, insofar as the slave trade is concerned.”

“We have now the apologies of the Anglican church,

the Anglican Communion in England — they did their study that’s been published, recognised their role in it. Some families, wealthy families in England have now taken up the cause to assist in promoting reparations.”

Mr Davis said he conversed with King Charles III about the matter.

He said: “They were sympathetic to the thought.”

He said he discussed scholarships in the context of reparations.

“The king has kindly considered to facilitating scholarships for our region and, in particular, The Bahamas for studying at any of the major universities, Cambridge, Oxford –– we’re talking about that,” he said. “Also, he has commissioned a study to determine the role they would’ve played as a monarch in this whole issue.”

On the sidelines of the event, Mr Davis said the scholarship talk was just a “preliminary chat”.

“I don’t want to discuss everything we had, but it was his thought that as part of the discussion on reparations, consideration should be given to us seeking scholarships, which he has agreed that he would facilitate,” he said.

Mr Davis said he is advancing the initiative with the British High Commission in the country.

The leadership of Mr Kagame, in particular, has been controversial because of human rights abuses.

“If you,” Mr Davis said, “go to Rwanda –– talk about ethics –– I gave it to him because of what I felt when I went to Rwanda, what I saw and what he has done, what has been

done to bring African unity, bringing people together in his own country.”

“And under our Act, there is a provision for us, for me to recommend to the advisory committee the award of the Order of Excellence, which is designed for foreign nationals and not Bahamians.”

Pressed on whether it was appropriate to recognise foreigners during the event, Mr Davis said: “Yes, I thought it was. I did it because they were here to celebrate with us, and I thought it was befitting to mark that occasion with their presence.”

The list of national

honours recipients was released on Independence Day. The highest honour, the Order of the National Heroes, was bestowed posthumously to Dame Doris Johnson, the first woman to seek elected office, the first appointed Senate president and the first to serve in Cabinet.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said Immigration Minister Keith Bell does not need to resign for overseeing a citizenship swearing-in ceremony at a funeral.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congresswoman Maxine Waters were awarded the Order of Excellence, a national honours award during the Bahamas’ Golden Jubilee celebrations on Sunday.

The Tribune Limited

Words are easy to say - but what about action?

SOMETIMES it seems politicians say things just so they can hear the sound of their voice.

Certainly, that must be the only reason Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper has weighed in on the matter of access being closed off to Cabbage Beach.

At the weekend, a number of Bahamians seeking to make the most of the independence holiday headed for the beach – only to find a gate closed.

This is not a new issue – this has been the case for some time now. Mr Cooper said the eastern gate is “sometimes closed on the weekends”.

Back under the FNM, in 2021, the company that owns the land said the access point to the beach was closed while clearing work for a hotel was being done.

At the time, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar – whose portfolio also falls under Mr Cooper’s remit these days – said he was “blindsided” by the move.

More than a year ago, then press secretary Clint Watson said that the Ministry of Tourism was talking to Access Industries, owner of the land.

Those talks do not seem to have amounted to much. By admitting the gate is sometimes closed, Mr Cooper is clearly showing the lack of any progress.

He said: “We continue to work with the police and, of course, the property owners in the immediate vicinity to see how we could cause there to be a constant opening of that gate. There have been some concerns there and we’re working along with the Tourism Promotion Board.”

We continue to work … easy to say, what has been done? There has been more than a year of talking, if dialogue

has been continuing since Mr Watson’s statement. What communication has actually taken place?

Saying we continue to work with the police is like saying we continue to watch the sun rise and set each day – there’s nothing meaningful in that statement. What have the police been directed to do? Anything?

For their part, Access Industries seems happy to close the gate and make no comment. We suggest no one holds their breath while they wait for the gate to stay open. With more than a year of nothing being accomplished, there does not seem any likelihood of that changing.

Mr Cooper is not alone in making noise for noise’s sake. Minister of Works Alfred Sears was up in the House again talking about potholes. For drivers making their way along Shirley Street in the past couple of days, an ample crater creating heavy traffic backlogs has been a reminder that whatever is being done is not enough.

Mr Sears is promising more recruits and a team to go and patch up holes. We are not sure why such would not have been in place already as potholes are not new – but perhaps we need to patch up the holes in our manpower as much as we need to patch up the holes in our roads.

Casting an eye along Village Road, long ago supposed to be complete and yet still without completed sidewalks and traffic lights, gives no ringing vote of confidence.

We hope both ministers prove there is substance behind their words. They can prove it with an open gate and smooth roads.

Look how far we have progressed

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS The Bahamas celebrates its golden jubilee by reflecting on how far we have come and look to the future development of our Nation, the health and wellbeing of our people must be high on the agenda.

Since the early 1960s, with the establishment of the Department of Public Health, The Bahamas has made health care available for all citizens.

1. Our early focus on providing health care for all saw many achievements, including tackling communicable diseases, establishing an effective vaccination programme, building health infrastructure across our archipelago, and increasing life expectancy.

2. These successes have been challenged in recent times with the outbreak of COVID-19. The systems built over our history to claim many of the achievements mentioned above were tested to breaking point. It was a poignant reminder that, as a nation, we must safeguard our progress by prioritising investments in the health and well-being of our people.

A starting point for this could be tackling the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs, sometimes called chronic diseases, are illnesses which are not directly spread between people but can have long durations.

3. In 2016, the State of the Nation report noted that levels of obesity,

hypertension and diabetes were increasing, including in youth and children.

This alarm was echoed in the STEPS Survey Report of 2019, which identified that more Bahamians are dying at younger ages as healthy years are reduced due to disease or disability.

4. Our population’s high burden of these diseases has economic and societal costs as household expenses are drained on fees for medicines and treatment, absenteeism from work, and additional caring responsibilities for families. These issues are especially pronounced for the poor and vulnerable in our society.

The Ministry of Health of The Bahamas has long acknowledged the public health threat of NCDs and the need for a Health in All policies approach to tackle their complexities. It is an acknowledgement that the health ministry alone cannot address the multiple factors contributing to the increasing disease prevalence. NCDs are at the nexus of health, economics, society and politics. Therefore actions to address the issue comprehensively will result from multiple sectors coming together to prioritise the health and well-being of our people. Too often, however, profits and politics slow or erase progress where large private sector companies ‘pay the piper’ and political

cycles or changes in administration halt implementing activities.

5. Historically, The Bahamas has led in addressing factors associated with NCDs. In the early 2000s, the country was among the first in the Caribbean to develop local dietary food guidelines. It also signed the historic Portof-Spain Declaration of 2007, recognising the need to address NCDs. The National Multi-sectoral Non-Communicable Disease Strategy 2017-2022 initiated the first steps of the health ministry working alongside the private sector and civil society to promote the prevention and control of NCDs. There is a need to build on these historical feats. For example, we can implement new transformative approaches by 1) declaring NCDs a national emergency; 2) adopting best buys which address system-level factors; 3) empowering communities through healthy food environments, and; 4) developing and funding a national research agenda focused on NCDs as a priority. As we look toward the next 50 years of our Nation’s development, we must move forward, upward and onward toward a national agenda that sees our people thriving in their health and well-being.

DR FRANCIS K POITIER Fellow in International Health Nassau, July 12, 2023.

Mold putting health at risk

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THIS afternoon I went for what I thought would be a quick trip to the Registrar General’s Office. Instead, what I met when I got there was a hallway full of the office’s staff - on strike. I was confused about what to do at first, because what I needed really couldn’t wait until the following day, so I decided to stick around for a few minutes. I came at the right time, because not long after I got there, the “powers that be” who the staff were waiting on had arrived. They walked through the crowd, without a word and into the office to investigate and discuss the issues.

Despite their frustrations, the staff were still very polite to me and were able to advise me on how best to address what I had come there for. During the conversation, I couldn’t help

but to ask what the cause of the strike was. I assumed it had something to do with pay, hours, or benefits, and lightheartedly told them that I hope they get everything they are asking for. I was completely taken aback to learn that it was due to the building having harmful quantities of mold! I was not able to see much from the hallway but I did manage to see that parts of the ceiling in the reception area were pointed out for inspection. That means mold wasn’t just isolated to a few back rooms, but at the very entrance. The staff said that the problem was ongoing and was reported numerous times, to no avail. One staff member even told me that they are sick just about every week due to the exposure to mold. As someone who has suffered adverse effects myself due to exposure to mold, it

is really disheartening to witness that employees - government employeesare expected to work under those conditions. Longterm exposure to mold can have a very serious impact on physical and mental health. This issue should have been addressed when first reported. A strike should not have been necessary to ensure the health of your employees. That’s not to mention the impact this could have had on the public who may have frequented the office. I hope the matter is dealt with immediately!

More information on the effects of mold exposure: https://health. clevelandclinic.org/ mold-what-you-need-toknow-to-cut-your-risk/

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Ann Marie Davis at the Independence Gala ball on Friday.

See pages 22 and 23 for more pictures from the event today.

Photo: Austin Fernander

MPs express outrage over recent

sex assaults on elderly women

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

PARLIAMENTAR -

IANS Jomo Campbell and Adrian White expressed outrage over the recent sexual assault of an elderly woman.

An 82-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in her home off Wulff Road on Tuesday.

Mr Campbell, the MP for Centreville, said the victim lives near his grandmother’s home.

“Let me state for the record, and I’m sure that all of my colleagues will agree with me on this, that sexual assault has no place in our society and we have zero tolerance for this type of sick and ugly behaviour,” he said.

“No Bahamian male or even female, for that instance, should think it is normal or acceptable to be a sexual abuser towards anyone – especially an 82-year-old precious pearl. As Bahamian men, let us learn to

love and cherish all our Bahamian women.”

Mr White, the MP for St Anne’s, said he was startled to learn the suspect had allegedly committed similar acts.

“How is it,” he asked, “that we can have an individual back on the streets when they’re known for these types of offences?

“You have to think now, what are we as legislators going to do for the country? We’re not in the pulpit where we can cast out this type of action as evil and call on God alone to resolve it. We have to make a change to our laws.”

Mr White questioned whether an offender with a history of at least three serious offences should remain in custody for life or the public should be notified when released from prison.

On June 19, police reported another sexual assault involving an 83-year-old woman at her home on Market Street when a man beat and assaulted her.

Supreme COur T SeizeS luxury gOOdS fOr uS COmpAN y

from page one

a dilapidated building on Shirley Street. The building stored jewellery and souvenirs worth thousands.

J Michael Saunders, under the power of attorney of Satish Daryanani, a US-based businessman of East Indian ethnicity, had filed a search order against Michael Hepburn and Naftaly Elias, the respondents.

Mr Daryanani, the principal of the Miami-based Sovereign Jewellery, had previously been in a $34m legal battle with Leon Griffin –– the murdered husband of former Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin –– and a chain of well-known retail stores downtown and at Paradise Island.

According to court documents, Mr Daryanani claimed he owns jewellery, souvenirs and T-shirts held in the respondents custody.

He said the respondents refused to return his merchandise and claimed to own the items.

He said the jewellery is worth $5.4m, and the souvenirs/T-shirts are worth $2.3m.

He claimed the items were placed in the respondents’ custody around January 2022 with the understanding that they would act as his agents and trustees, liquidating the merchandise and forwarding the sale proceeds to him.

He said he had not received any proceeds from the sale of merchandise and was informed that the respondents had been selling the merchandise for personal gain.

Justice Lorein Klein issued a search order in the case on June 5.

He said he made the order after being satisfied that the applicants had a strong “prima facie case”.

He also considered the applicant’s potential loss or damage if his order were not made.

He appointed attorney Bjorn Ferguson as an independent attorney to supervise the execution of the search order.

Under the order, officials were permitted to enter specific premises, conduct a search and detain, take custody of and preserve property, such as jewellery, T-shirts and souvenirs relevant to the case.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

MeMbers of Parliament, Jomo Campbell and Adrian white expressed outrage over recent spate of sexual assaults, especially affecting elderly women.

‘We should not have to beg govt’ for police on the cays, says Hope Town Council chief Sweeting

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A locAl government official in Abaco is appealing to the government to deploy law enforcement officers in the Abaco cays to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.

Jeremy T Sweeting, chief councillor of Hope Town District, said they deserve to have a police presence in their communities as has any other community in The Bahamas.

A violent brawl in Guana cay on Sunday involving American second homeowners and Bahamians has highlighted the lack of law enforcement officers in the Abacos.

charges were expected concerning the two separate incidents that occurred at a resort on the cay. Police said the first incident occurred around

4.30pm when two families, visiting from the United States, were involved in a physical altercation which resulted in three men being injured and receiving medical assistance at the local clinic. Two male Florida residents were subsequently arrested. The second incident occurred after a visiting patron, observing the altercation between the two families attempted to leave the property, but was unable to as the golf cart operated by the patron was obstructed by another golf cart.

It is reported that the patron, a resident of Jupiter, Florida, made inquiries to locate the operator of the golf cart. It is further reported that the operator, a Bahamian woman, after being located allegedly refused to remove her golf cart which resulted in a verbal altercation that escalated into a physical altercation.

During the incident, the sister of the operator, who is also an American citizen from connecticut, also reportedly was involved in a physical altercation with a female resident of Florida. The woman’s father intervened and was then said to have been attacked by residents on the island.

Mr Sweeting said the council was saddened to learn of the “infamous altercation” in Great Guana cay.

There are no permanent police officers stationed in the Hope Town District, which is an amalgamation of some 13 island cays, including Great Guana cay, Scotland cay, Foot’s cay, Fowl cay, Man-o-War cay, Sandy cay, Dickie’s cay, Garden cay, Johnny’s cay, Elbow cay (where the capital settlement Hope Town is located), lubber’s Quarters, Tilloo cay, and the Pelican cays.

Mr Sweeting believes officers should be deployed

throughout the day in the various townships until a permanent solution could be reached regarding housing for the officers. our people deserve to have police presence to curtail many issues from traffic infractions to illegal businesses, to boat thefts, to minor civil disputes. our district being one of the largest contributors to the public treasury, we deserve no less,” he said.

“In our 50th year of independence, we should not have to beg for the government to provide these services, good governance demands that the service of security be provided and tangibly felt to every citizen, resident, or visitor that lives or vacations in these islands. We expect no less.”

Admitting there are housing challenges in the Abaco cays, chief councillor Sweeting said he sympathises with the Royal Bahamas Police Force regarding the challenge

of securing housing for officers.

He indicated the community and the council have tried to help find housing for police officers in their communities.

Mr Sweeting said Guana cay resident Troy Albury accommodated police and defence force officers in his home for five months rent-free after Hurricane Dorian.

A trailer was then provided to house the officers until December of last year, but was determined to be unsuitable by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, he said.

In Hope Town, the community had paid $500 monthly to assist with the cost of housing for officers.

However, he said, a recent change in accommodations resulted in the officers leaving the island after they found the living quarters to be unsatisfactory.

chief councillor Sweeting said over the last several

years the council appealed to the Department of Immigration to have two officers stationed in the district to conduct immigration policing services for six months. He said immigration officers are needed to periodically check businesses and job sites in the townships to ensure people working there were Bahamian or have the right to work.

The council had allocated funds for six months for housing, ground transportation, and food vouchers.

Although it would have cost the central government nothing, Mr Sweeting said their request was ignored by both the previous and present administrations.

“The district council would like to take this opportunity to remind the government of its primary responsibility. It should be the chief priority of any government to keep its citizens, residents, and visitors safe,” he said.

VAT on foreign-owned yAch T s bl A med for decline in business oV er T he l A s T ye A r

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

SMAll business owners said the imposition of VAT on foreign-owned yacht charter fees had contributed tremendously to the industry’s decline in the past year.

The Department of Inland Revenue introduced a VAT rate of ten per cent last year that required foreign-flagged charter yachts to pay this rate on the value of their charter contracts.

The charter yacht industry is often seen as an elite luxury sector lucrative for yacht owners and marina operators. However, some small businesses benefit from vessels that use The Bahamas as a base for charter operations.

Dion Munnings, the owner of Paradise Provisions, said although his business has had a steady flow of customers, he has seen a noticeable decrease during the usual peak season.

“If you compare this year with last year and especially right after the pandemic, you’ll see a serious drop,” he said. “You look at the marinas, they used to be full around this kind of time.

“It’s July now, people coming out of school, this is a busy summer

charter season, and I have had yachts telling me that people declined when they see that that charge come off for VAT.

“When they’re presented with that, it’s like they decline the whole charter because some people just won’t pay it and it is high. It’s really a downfall.”

He suggested that reducing the tax would relieve small businesses benefiting from the yachting industry.

“If you spend $150,000 a week or $200,000 a week to rent a boat or charter boat and you’re going to pay $20,000 on top of that because of 10 per cent VAT, that’s just money you’re giving away,” he said.

Another business owner who requested anonymity because he dislikes publicity shared similar sentiments, saying business is now slower than during the ‘‘slow season”.

The man, an owner of a cleaning company, said he has had one client per month recently.

Meanwhile, Nevron Harris, owner of Slim Upholstery, acknowledged the decline but said his business was not significantly affected because his company caters to various sectors.

He said he still intends to turn “lime into lemonade”.

Hope Town DisTricT council cHief councillor Jeremy sweeTing

Future uncertain on Downtown revitilisation - can the ‘soul’ of Nassau be preserved?

Two prominent figures sit in that most public of squares – Rawson, which in earlier times was simply known as “The Park” and was described by LD Powles in The Land of the Pink Pearl as “an acre in extent…on which were the broken remains of some benches and some dried-uplooking, coarse grass”.

From her Empire Day unveiling in 1905 Victoria Regina (Queen) et Imperatrix (Empress) presided in marbled solitude in Rawson Square for 88 years until an unpretentious bronze bust of Sir Milo Butler entered this privileged space in 1993. while the enthroned monarch is mounted higher than our native son in a square named after a former Royal Governor, her viewpoint is narrower, more stilted, while Sir Milo’s is panoramic.

Most Bahamians fail to notice that Victoria’s head is tilted north-east, while Sir Milo has a forward gaze that surveys east and west and as importantly, south. Fittingly, his gaze cum vision recasts the idea of the City of Nassau and Bay Street, from a clique of historically private interests to a shared civic commons.

while many still pine for the sword and scepter glued to Victoria’s imperial grip, others have cast their lot with the vision and virtues Sir Milo championed, based on the values of the Good Book he clasps in his left hand.

Some of the discussions on redeveloping “downtown” are narrowly commercial, spanning mostly east to west for the benefit of tourists and cash registers. Though essential, those interests are partial and narrow.

while recalling our colonial past as we redevelop Nassau, the city must not be turned into a quaint colonial village with Bay Street

becoming a local version of Disneyland’s Main Street, USA, attraction.

Nassau does not simply stretch east to west, it also stretches north to south encompassing an impressive register of publicly-owned buildings and spaces which are central to the city’s renewal.

In any successful planning exercise, the city’s breadth and depth must be taken into account. The recasting of Nassau is not solely a development project; it is also a vision statement about our future and a historical recognition and reckoning with our past, requiring artistry and careful planning.

Nassau’s restoration is not primarily about creating a nice space for tourists to visit. It is primarily about creating a more welcome space for Bahamians to live, work, dine, shop and play.

There is a historic chord that binds Funky Nassau to Nassau – The Reality of Illusion, a past visual collaboration of artists Paulette Mortimer, John Cox and Jackson Burnside that was part elegy, part love song and part call to action.

The artists shared a

common theme: “Nassau rock /And Nassau roll /Nassau’s got a /whole lot of soul.” Unfortunately, much of Nassau has become soulless with the deprecation of its architectural richness, unkempt public spaces, and almost ghost-town pall once evening settles in.

But there is still much soul in Nassau as manifested by a variety of revitalization projects and the tenacious efforts of some to reclaim the City, including through various advocacy campaigns and architectural projects.

The revitalisation of the City of Nassau, like most city revitalisations, is a longterm and complex process, requiring careful planning, political will and innovative legislation, including on matters of taxation and revenue generation for its beautification, maintenance and ongoing refurbishment.

But there are international models from which we may garner lessons, including Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. The use of solar and renewal energy will also be important in the development of a smart city.

During the last administration of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, a number of advances were made in the revitalisation process, including the City of Nassau Revitalisation Act and the relocation of the Port of Nassau to Arawak Cay, which opened significant space for the redevelopment of downtown Nassau.

The Christie Administration approved The Pointe development, which includes an entertainment complex, restaurants, a marina and a condominium hotel. This development is part of the revitalization process.

The new Nassau cruise port, which was conceptualised during the Minnis Administration,

is a landmark development that has dramatically improved this gateway to the City of Nassau for cruise passengers.

The last government finally tore down the dilapidated Churchill Building, with a new cabinet office to be constructed in its place. The proposed plan includes more open green space and more parking. The Central Bank building was slated to be built on the site where the Royal Victoria Hotel stood.

The new complex, with an impressive modern design, would have done wonders for downtown. Curiously, the current government has cancelled the project on which approximately $10m or more has already been spent.

During his term in office Dr. Minnis observed the critical role of residential development in city restoration:

“Just as with other urban centres around the world, the long-term revitalisation of downtown Nassau will require residential properties for Bahamians and residents, which is necessary for the growth of other businesses, such as restaurants, shops, convenience stores and other commercial enterprises.”

The development of residential properties, especially from the center of downtown going east, may result in hundreds of millions of dollars or more in investment.

The redevelopment of the area from the Paradise Island bridges to East Street must be a part of the reimagining and revitalisation of the City of Nassau. This could include a boardwalk extending from Paradise Island to downtown.

with many more Bahamians and residents living downtown, the City of Nassau can be a bustling

and booming area that does not shut down after sunset.

Reimagining and revitalising the City of Nassau is a journey of self-definition and discovery: a recollection of the history and heritage which define the Bahamian experience. A city’s architecture, especially the capital, chronicles a nation’s history and showcases its ambitions, priorities and dreams.

In ancient Africa and the Americas, in Asian and European capitals, palaces, temples or cathedrals often dominated the city, reminding souls and subjects of their place in a cosmology that bound the sovereign powers of heaven and earth.

New York City’s skyline is dominated by commercial skyscrapers reaching for the heavens in pursuit of economic interests. The mass murderers who destroyed the world Trade Center understood the iconic nature of the twin towers.

Paris’ architectural obsession is French culture and history, from the iconic Eiffel Tower, built to mark the centennial of the French Revolution, to the imposing Arc de Triomphe to the world-renowned Louvre.

A former teacher once noted, “Men come together in cities in order to live; they remain together in order to live the good life.” The teacher was Aristotle, who lived in an ancient city-state with a population about the size of the modern Bahamas.

while the ancient philosopher never experienced traffic jams and the issues related to contemporary urbanisation, he understood the challenges associated with large groups of people struggling to live together in relative peace and stability.

He appreciated how the city might help to cultivate the “good life” and beauty and preserve and transmit

virtues like civility and hospitality.

Those fountainheads of civilisation which socialize successive generations are rooted in the architecture, public spaces and the possibilities of a city and should inform its redevelopment.

The finer cities of the world strive for a balance between commercial, cultural and governmental interests and the need for artistic and religious expression, recreation, entertainment, beauty, shopping, dining and other fine attributes of a city.

The recasting of Nassau is not solely a development project. It is also a vision statement about our future and a historical recognition and reckoning with our past, requiring debate, artistry and careful planning.

Again, Nassau’s restoration is not solely about creating a nice space for tourists to visit. It is primarily about creating a more welcome space for Bahamians to live, work, dine, shop and play, while offering visitors an enjoyable destination.

The reimagining of the municipal area of the City of Nassau will require new governing structures, including possibly a city administrator and a public-private partnership to maintain the City.

Nassau is a 300-year-old plus city with a rich past and a vibrant future. It represents who we are as a country. This includes the decades-long struggle to revitalize, transform and maintain the City, much of which is an urban eyesore.

Moreover, though there has been progress, its renewal seems interminable and much of its future remains uncertain.

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

RAWSON SQUARE, DOWNTOWN, NASSAU

Vice-Chairman of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China makes courtesy call

His Excellency Xiao Jie, Vice-Chairman of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China; Her Excellency Dai Qingli and delegation paid courtesy calls on Speaker of the House of Assembly the Hon. Patricia Deveaux and President of the Senate, the Hon. LaShell Adderley, July 10, 2023 on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Independence of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

m an on bail on charged with touching young girl’s breast

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail after he was accused of touching a child’s breasts last weekend in New Providence.

Denny Fernander, 22, was charged with indecent assault before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans. He faced an additional assault charge. Fernander is accused of touching a young girl’s breasts on Nassau Street around 7.30pm on July 9. The defendant is also alleged to have physically assaulted the minor’s sister.

While he pleaded guilty to the assault, he pleaded not guilty to the indecent assault charge. In accepting his guilty plea, the court ordered him to pay $200 compensation to the assaulted victim. He faces a month in prison if he fails to pay.

He was granted bail at $3,000 with one or two sureties for the indecent assault charge.

Under the condition of his bail, the defendant must sign in at the Nassau Street Police Station on the last Sunday of every month. His trial is set for October 5.

m an on remand a F ter being charged with jet ski theF t

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded in custody after he was accused of jet ski theft while on bail for an earlier offence.

Anesto Armbrister, 47, was charged with stealing and receiving before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain.

Sometime in February 2021 in Long Cay, Armbrister is accused of

stealing a blue Yamaha jet ski valued at $3,500 belonging to Lance Miller. The accused was reportedly arrested in New Providence when he was found with the same stolen vessel on July 4.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was denied bail because he allegedly failed to charge his monitoring device for another pending charge. He will be held in prison until he returns to court on July 21.

Florida man charged with gun possession granted bail

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN AMERICAN man was granted bail after he was accused of taking a loaded gun to the South Bimini Airport last week.

Florida resident Jeffrey Garman, 61, was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition before Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley.

Garman was allegedly found with a Sig Sauer 380 pistol at the South Bimini Airport on July 9. At the time of his arrest, he was also found with eight unfired rounds of .380 ammunition.

After pleading not guilty to the charge, the defendant was granted $10,000 cash bail. If he fails to attend his hearing on September 19–20, his cash bail will remain forfeited.

Photos: Patrick Hanna/AP

Is Russian conflict the real reason for hesitancy to admit Ukraine to NATO?

The just-concluded NATO summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, was at the same time somewhat anticlimactic and newsworthy. Membership issues dominated on both sides of this. And these are really important as the West drifts ever closer to an open shooting war with Russia.

On the plus side, Turkey dropped its opposition to admitting Sweden. This is not insignificant. Geopolitically, Sweden’s accession to the Western alliance completes Russia’s Baltic Sea isolation. A glance at a map of europe shows that the Russian fleet now is practically limited to its extensive Black Sea collection of port cities and the often ice-bound northern ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.

The Turks still control the “narrow seas” of the Bosporus Strait and the Dardanelles which constitute the exit point for the Russian fleet into the Mediterranean Sea and beyond.

Turkey is of course a NATO member. And Arkhangelsk is on an arm of the White Sea in the Russian north, which is ice-covered during half of most years. Murmansk is even farther north, situated on the shore of part of the Arctic Ocean.

It is likely that as seas –including the Arctic Ocean – continue to get warmer in coming decades, naval strategy will evolve. That will impact Russia significantly. But for now, there’s still a lot of ice up north for at least six months each year. NATO and winter ice now have the potential to completely bottle up the Russian european fleet for over half the year.

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

On the other side of the NATO membership question, there is the matter of Ukraine’s membership. This is a tricky question, and there may be room for plenty of skepticism about how NATO in general and the US in particular has handled it over the past decade.

Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, without much of a response from either the US in particular or NATO. The Crimea looks and is strategically significant on the northern Black Sea coast. But Crimea is also historically more a part of Russia than of Ukraine, and there is some basis for the Russian lust to recover it for the motherland.

Nevertheless, since the 1960s Crimea has been part either of the Ukrainian republic within the Soviet Union or a component of an independent Ukraine for the past 30-plus years. The lame, insipid response to Russia’s seizure of Crimea from the Obama administration looks especially lamentable in the rearview mirror.

After Obama, we all experienced four years of startling deference by the American president Donald Trump in his relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, including encouragement of Putin

and Russia to interfere in the American presidential elections in 2016 and 2020. history will likely conclude that both Obama and Trump were clearly guilty of fostering and reinforcing a tone in US-Russian relations that convinced Putin that making a territorial grab for Ukraine would meet little resistance from the West and NATO.

The Ukrainians changed that narrative with their stout defense of their homeland. Ukrainian admission to the NATO alliance has now risen to urgent status. And Ukraine’s amazing president Volodymyr Zelensky has been especially outspoken in his advocacy for immediate admission to NATO in the days leading up to this week’s NATO summit.

NATO membership has been an aspiration enshrined in Ukraine’s Constitution since 2019. At the just-concluded NATO summit in Vilnius, all 31 NATO leaders agreed to offer an invitation – at some point.

But this would only be “when allies agree and conditions are met”. Many of these conditions involve political and economic reform within Ukraine, a nation whose internal politics were hardly free of corruption and anti-democratic tendencies prior to

the Russian invasion. There is speculation that it might be a very long time before Ukraine is allowed to join.

As if to underscore the point about the need for Ukraine to do better internally, the Group of Seven (the US, UK, France, Japan, Germany, Canada and Italy) just yesterday issued a statement spelling out some of the prerequisites for greater Ukrainian integration into the Western economic and political alliances. The G-7 nations urged Ukraine to continue “implementation of the law enforcement, judiciary, anti-corruption, corporate governance, economic, security sector, and state management reforms that underscore its commitments to democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and media freedoms, and put its economy on a sustainable path”.

Zelensky railed against NATO reluctance to admit Ukraine now. he called NATO’s lack of greater specifics in setting admission criteria “absurd”, but he did soften his words after he arrived as a “special guest” in Vilnius.

Still, Zelensky may have a point. Analysts believe the principal reason for denying Ukraine membership at this time is because of the ongoing war with Russia. A commentator in

the New York Times wrote that if Ukraine were to join NATO now, “NATO’s collective defense promise, in the form of its treaty’s Article Five, would mean that every NATO member is obligated to fight for Ukraine. And nobody wants to do that.”

Why, since so much support is already flowing to Kyiv? It’s because directly defending Ukraine, in this sense, would mean overt commitment of air, naval and ground power – and troops. That would in turn inevitably lead to unwelcome headlines back home in NATO capitals as casualties mounted and ships,

aircraft and tanks were destroyed by Russian forces.

Plus, there is the unsettling prospect that an overt war might trigger deployment of Russia’s nuclear weapons arsenal. Thankfully, that eventuality remains unthinkable in Western capitals, if perhaps not so much in the Kremlin.

Thus, there is a big difference between the war-creep now adopted and followed by US president Joe Biden and NATO and full-scale war with Russia. Zelensky and Biden both clearly understand this. But only one of them accepts it.

The Supreme Cour T ha S beCome T he ulT imaT e poli T iC al prize

The US Supreme Court has been in the headlines too much recently. ever since the Democrats killed the nomination of conservative judge Robert Bork to the American high court 35 years ago, America’s top tribunal has become gradually but increasingly politicised.

And it’s not just the highest court that has been infected with political influence. Down through the extensive American federal court system, through the 12 circuit courts of appeal and the 94 lower district courts, more and more judges of dubious legal credentials have been named to influential positions mostly on the basis of their allegiance to controversial political positions on issues like abortion, federal oversight and guns.

At the level of the US Supreme Court, this has worked principally to the advantage of the Republican Party, due mostly to the coincidence of several deaths and retirements occurring during periods when the GOP controlled the White house and the Senate. One of these events

occurred during the second George W Bush administration in September 2005.

Former chief justice William Rehnquist passed away that month, and as a result, John Roberts became Bush’s choice to succeed Rehnquist as the chief justice. An analysis of Roberts’ tenure was offered recently by long-time Supreme Court correspondent Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times. She is regarded as one of America’s foremost commentators on the Supreme Court.

here is what she said about the Roberts tenure: “Suppose a modern Rip Van Winkle went to sleep in September 2005 and didn’t wake up until last week. Such a person would awaken in a profoundly different constitutional world, a world transformed, term by term and case by case, at the Supreme Court’s hand.

“To appreciate that transformation’s full dimension, consider the robust conservative wish list that greeted the new chief justice (Roberts) 18 years ago: Overturn Roe v. Wade. Reinterpret the

Second Amendment to make private gun ownership a constitutional right. eliminate race-based affirmative action in university admissions. elevate the place of religion across the legal landscape. Curb

the regulatory power of federal agencies.”

Today, Greenhouse continues, Roberts has led the high court to conservative “victories” in each of these areas. She posits that Roberts and his

fellow conservative justices have fulfilled conservative dreams to a degree unimaginable less than two decades ago. Greenhouse offers a sober concluding assessment: “The Supreme Court

now is this country’s ultimate political prize. That may not be apparent on a day-to-day or even a termby-term basis. But from the perspective of 18 years, that conclusion is as unavoidable as it is frightening.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses a media conference at a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania yesterday. The United States and other major industrialized nations are pledging long-term security assistance for Ukraine as it continues to fight Russia’s invasion.

Photo: Pavel Golovkin/AP

SUPreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts waves after he received the Henry J. Friendly Medal during the American Law Institute’s annual dinner in Washington, May 23, 2023.

Photo: Jose Luis magana/AP

NATO’s common defence pledge stands in way of Ukraine’s admission while at war

LITHUANIA Associated Press

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may have gotten support and vague assurances from NATO leaders in Vilnius this week, but he ultimately returns home without a clear commitment that his country will be joining the club any time soon.

Instead, the alliance leaders said they were removing obstacles on Ukraine’s membership path so that it can join more quickly once the war with Russia is over.

For many, that argument gives Russia’s president a pretext to prolong the war, which President Vladimir Putin ostensibly launched to keep Ukraine from joining NATO.

But if Ukraine joins NATO in the middle of the war, then Russia is at war with the entire NATO alliance.

At the core of this conundrum is Article 5 - NATO’s common defence guarantee under which an attack on one member is considered an attack on them all.

What does Article 5 say?

Article 5 is at the heart of the 31-member North

Atlantic Treaty Organization. It states that an armed attack against one or more of the members shall be considered an attack against all members.

It also states that if such an armed attack occurs, each of the members would take, individually and in concert with other members, ‘’such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.’’

That security guarantee is the reason previously neutral Finland and Sweden sought to join NATO and why Ukraine and other countries in Europe also want in.

When has it been invoked?

Only once, in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States, paving the way for NATO’s biggest ever operation in Afghanistan.

But NATO allies have also taken collective defence measures including joining the US to fight the Islamic State group in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as help keep the peace in the Balkans.

How does this impact Ukraine?

NATO’s credibility hinges on Article 5 and its commitment to offer membership to any European country that can contribute to security in Europe and North America. But Ukraine, currently in the middle of war with Russia, would oblige all 31 member countries to spring to its defence militarily, potentially igniting a wider war with a nuclear-armed country. Article 5 also becomes problematic when the territory of a member is unclear. For instance, Russian forces entered Georgia in August 2008, a few months after NATO leaders first promised the country it would join, along with Ukraine. That country’s NATO application is still pending. Russia continues to occupy large swaths of Ukraine in the east and south, further muddying the picture.

US President Joe Biden summed up why he didn’t think Ukraine is ready for NATO membership. ‘’If the war is going on, then we’re all in the war... we’re at war with Russia, if that were the case,’’ he said in an interview with CNN ahead of the summit.

resident Joe Biden listens as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Seated right is Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and left, is Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Photo: susan Walsh/AP

Late gospel legends and living pioneers to be honoured at 50th anniversary event

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

FIFTY of the country’s movers and shakers in the gospel music genre will be recognised during 50th Anniversary Bahamian Gospel Honours this weekend.

The national awards were designed to honour 50 of our nation’s gospel recording artists and give them their flowers for the outstanding work that they have continued to produce over the years.

Hundreds are expected to be present at the Dr Myles E Munroe Diplomat Centre for the one of the biggest nights in gospel music. All of the festivities will kick off at 6pm on Sunday. The event is being produced by Oracle Media Consultants.

The awards are the brainchild of well-known gospel promoter Kevin “Minister K” Harris.

Mr Harris said his intention was to have the event

also coincide the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations.

While those who have made exceptional contributions across various sectors were highlighted during the country’s anniversary celebrations last weekend, this event will specifically honour local gospel recording artists who have helped to advance and develop the local music ministry.

“As the country was preparing to host a variety of events to commemorate our 50th Independence as a nation, the idea came to me that we needed to create and produce an event that would celebrate and award gospel recording artists for their invaluable contribution to the country in the area of music and ministry,” he said.

“After speaking with some of the key organizers of this year’s list of independence events, I recognized that there was an opportunity to include in the number of national events, a first-class awards show to highlight the achievements of Bahamian gospel recording artists.”

The blend of gospel legends and newcomers to be honoured include Adrian Edgecombe, Alia Coley, Allison Mason Rolle, Ayanna Cartwright, Barak, Bishop Lawrence Rolle, Chris Fox, Christopher Roberts, Denczil Rolle & Friends, DJ Counsellor, Edison Sumner & Voices of Praise, Hubert McIntosh, Jill Cleare, Kenyatta Taylor, Landlord, Lenora Taylor, Najie Dunn, Nu Generation, Oslien Jadorte , Ricardo Clarke , Richa Sands, Shaback, Sweet Revival, System 3, Tamika Taylor, Tabernacle Concert Choir (TCC), Terrance Forbes, The Curry Sisters, The Dynamic Gospel Flames, The Gospel Elevations, The Gospel Impressions, The Love Singers, The New Inspirational Sons of Joy, The Original Redemption Gospel Singers, The Region Bells, The Visionaries and Touched.

The committee also sought to ensure that the final list of 50 included artists representing some of the Family Islands.

“We strongly felt that we could not have a national gospel award and not recognise the contributions of some of our most talented gospel artists from some of our Family Islands,” said Mr Harris.

“So the final list of 50 include a diverse list of artists representing some of our most popular islands including Brenda Lee Petty, who will represent Eleuthera; Jackie Taylor Smith, who will represent Exuma; Oslien Jadorte, who will represent the island of Bimini, and the award-winning a capella sensation the Rahming Brothers, who will represent Cat Island. The big yard of Andros will also be well represented by the very popular Pratt Brothers and gospel legend Rev Harrington Zippy Frazier and the Sons & Daughters of Andros. The nation’s second city of Grand Bahama will be heavily represented by a cadre of some of the country’s well-known gospel artists, including Cara T Newton, Kelda ‘Timeless’ Sweeting, Decision, Monty G, and singing sensation and

award-winning female vocalist Vanessa Rolle, as well as legendary artists Rev Rudy Roberts and Pastor Simeon Outten.”

Additional awards to given out on that night include the Award of Merit which will be presented to international renowned liturgical dance minister Dr Ann Higgins and actress/ playwright Lynn Terez Davis Nixon.

Dr Mark Anthony Bethel, considered a pioneer of praise and worship in the Bahamas, will receive the Award of Distinction posthumously for his invaluable contributions.

Several other artists will also receive awards posthumously, including the late Kevan McKenzie, a leader in the arena of gospel music that incorporated indigenous Bahamian sounds such as rake n’ scape and Junkanoo. Also being honoured posthumously are two of the country’s most distinguished gospel contemporary and hip-hop recording artists, the late Japheth “Lyrically

Exuma churches display Bahamian pride in a series of Independence events

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

UNDER the theme, “One Nation, Our Legacy, Our Future”, Exuma natives, especially the members of the Ebenezer Union Baptist Church, joined the country in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Independence with a series of events last weekend.

One of the most memorable events, said Vanessa Smith, one of the c church’s members, was an ecumenical service led by Rev Dr John Rolle and the Exuma Christian Council.

“It was a time of prayer, praise and worship for God’s mercy upon the Bahamas over the last 50 years, and especially upon

the island of Exuma, the land called paradise. Pastor Brenda Clarke of The Agape, Prayer and Deliverance Ministry spoke on the theme ‘A United Move’, emphasising the importance of our leaders to ensure that we remain whole and together as a nation,” said Ms Smith.

In her sermon, Pastor Clarke noted: “If we are going to be a people to press forward, we must stand together united. Many of us are very patriotic and know how to show up and support our parties well. We are good patrons of our nation, but like the ending of our pledge, ‘united in service’. If we are going to move forward, we have to apply it to our lives. We must stand and not use our freedom to cover up sin. If we are a Christian nation,

we must put away all other gods and totally surrender our Nation to God.”

Ms Smith said during the evening service, the Exuma mass choir led by Alexandria “Zandy” Taylor performed hymns and songs of praise.

Clergy members from all different denominations attended, including Rev Garth Rolle, superintendent of the Bahamas Baptist Union of Churches; Rev Franklyn McKenzie, president of Remnant of Hope Churches; Pastor Reckley Armbrister of the Church of God of Prophecy; Pastor Ritchie Newchurch of the Church of God; Rev Chitan Thompson, rector of St Andrew’s Anglican Parish, and Father Reginald Demeritte of the Catholic Church.

Blessed” Ferguson and Lavard “Manifest” Parks.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to The Cooling Waters, along with Bishop Washington Williams, considered the “mother” of Bahamian gospel music; Mother Rachael Mackey as well as Dr Myles Munroe, a founding member of the gospel group The Visionaries.

The producers will present another special award on evening; the Emerging Artist Award. The recipients include some of the country’s most talented up-and-coming gospel songwriters and recording artists, including Davian Chase, Kenya Ferguson, Colyn Kristopher, Mr J, Adrianna Munnings and Eman.

Tickets for the 50th Anniversary Bahamian Gospel Honours are $25. For additional information, contact 826-8052 or email bahamasgospelhonors@gmail.com.

Exuma natives, Bahamians from other islands, as well as the foreign visitors and second homeowners enjoyed the 50th jubilee celebrations, including the church services, the Independence Summer workshop led by Dorcas Shuttleworth and the cultural events at the Regatta Park.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, Island Administrator Donald Rolle and Administrator Rochelle Anderson were attendance.

In Farmer’s Hill, Pastor Stephen Smith of Ebenezer Union Baptist Church hosted a live talk show focusing on the country’s progress over the last 50 years. The panel included Rev Cedric Smith, Rev Everette Hart (retired administrator), Reginald Smith, local government representative Vernice Fulford, and retired educator Dorcas Shuttleworth. Also in attendance was the family of the late Lillian Hamilton, celebrating the 50th jubilee in Exuma.

ALIA COLEY

KENYA FERGUSON

THE COOLING WATERS

EDISON SUMNER AND VOICES OF PRAISE SHABACK

BISHOP LAWRENCE ROLLE

KENYATTA TAYLOR

BRENDALEE PETTY

REV HARRINGTON FRAZIER

CARA T NEWTON

SIMEON OUTTEN

COLYN KRISTOPHER

TAMIKA TAYLOR

DJ COUNSELLOR

VANESSA CLARKE

Buccaneers take the gold in soccer

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The New Providence Buccaneers continue to steamroll the competition in the various sporting disciplines with soccer being the latest in the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games.

The home team swept both divisions yesterday to secure yet another gold for New Providence.

The women’s runners-up were the Grand Bahama Lucayans and bronze was claimed by the Abaco Survivors.

Meanwhile, in the men’s division, the Survivors collected silver and the Eleuthera Adventurers came away with bronze.

The final two games of the soccer sporting discipline concluded yesterday at the Roscow A L Davies soccer field.

In the last match of the competition, the Buccaneers completed a clean sheet in the tournament after defeating the Lucayans 1-0.

Both teams remained scoreless in the first half of the game with neither unable to get an edge on their opponent.

However, in the second half, New Providence’s Larry Noel sank the ball to the back of the net for the team’s lone goal.

The Buccaneers won all of their games against the competition in the sixth Bahamas Games.

Noel talked about what the gold medal means to the Buccaneers.

“This means a wonderful thing, thanks to our coach, he was telling us from the start that we ain’t losing we are gonna make it, this is his fifth win [and] we got gold…we came in the second half saying that all

New Providence sweeps both divisions in 6th Bahamas Games

BAHAMAS TEAM NAMED FOR PAN AM JUNIORS NEXT MONTH

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MANAGER Dionne Britton likes the make up of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ team heading to the Pan American Junior Championships next month.

The under-20 team, selected following the BAAA Nationals, will travel to Puerto Rico to compete in the championships from August 2-7.

The team is made up of the following players:

Female athletes - Lacarthea Cooper, Shatalya Dorsett, Erin Barr, Lanisha Lubin, Anaiah Rolle, Calae Jackson, Vanessa Sawyer and Shaunece Miller.

Male athletes - Carlos Brown, Adam Musgrove, Zion Campbell, Jeremiah Adderley (relay pool), Otto Laing, Tayshaun Robinson, Shimar Bain (pending fitness), Justin Alan Hanna, Stephan Farquharson, Mateo Smith, LaQuan Ellis, Jonathan Rodgers, Brenden Vanderpool, Tyler Cash and Kaden Cartwright (pending fitness).

Britton, out of Grand Bahama, will head the management squad that includes assistant manager Emmit Higgins, head coach Daron Lightbourne and assistant coaches Myriam Stapleton and Jamieson Pratt. Dr Kent Bazard is the physician and Lisa Armbrister is the chaperone.

we needed was one, we got that one and came out on top,” he said.

Dion Peterson, head coach of the men’s Buccaneers, said the win was special because it was a new set of guys since the last time he coached and it was special to guide them through their first Bahamas Games.

He credited togetherness, encouraging each

other and a team-first mentality from the opening day, for their success.

In addition to their championship hardware, New Providence also captured more accomplishments in the men and women divisions on the final day of soccer.

Thajay Smith won the golden glove award, Ronaldo Green claimed the golden boots trophy,

and Jean Tilo earned the golden ball honours. Additionally, Melina McClure, who played a pivotal role in the women’s victory on Sunday, was awarded as the golden glove winner. Her teammate Kenyonique Thompson won the golden boots award and Phoebe Wilson of Grand Bahama went home with the golden ball trophy.

Jonquel and Liberty top Fever in overtime, advance to Commissioner’s Cup final

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— Sabrina Ionescu scored eight of her 34 points in overtime and the New York Liberty clinched a berth in the Commissioner’s Cup championship with a 95-87 win over the Indiana Fever yesterday, despite blowing an 18-point fourth-quarter lead.

Aliyah Boston hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of regulation for Indiana, which had a chance to win its last two home games on last-second 3-point attempts. It was the rookie’s second 3 of the season. That tied the game at 80 but the veteran Liberty pulled away in overtime as Ionescu hit two of her seven 3-pointers and the young Fever missed its last four shots.

Brenna Stewart had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Liberty (14-4), who play at Western Conference winner and defending champion Las Vegas for the Commissioner’s Cup on August 15. Grand Bahamian centre Jonquel Jones, wearing No.

The battle between the men’s Survivors and Adventurers ended in a 1-1 draw for both teams to end the competition. After five days of elite matchups, the soccer segment of the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games are officially done.

To follow up with previous scores in the tournament, visit the Bahamas Football Association’s Facebook page.

“From what I see with this team selection, this will be a very strong team under the coaching of head coach Daron Lightbourne,” Britton said. “A number of the qualifiers have been very consistent with their performances.”

As they prepare to travel, Britton said they have very high expectations. “My expectations for the team is

EUBANKS’ MAGICAL WIMBLEDON ENDS VS MEDVEDEV, WHO FACES CARLOS ALCARAZ NEXT

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

WIMBLEDON, England

(AP) — Chris Eubanks woke up yesterday morning ahead of playing for a berth in the final four at Wimbledon against 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev and, first thing, like so many of us, reached for his phone to see what the buzz was about on Twitter.

“It was just constant me,” Eubanks said. “I was just like, ‘This is so weird.’ I looked at it. I was like, ‘Man, I’m really about to play a Grand Slam quarterfinal today. This is cool.’”

He took less than 10 minutes to let that sink in, then, as the 27-year-old American who captivated the crowds at the All England Club and many folks back home put it, “was able to lock back in.” And so he pushed Medvedev the distance, taking a two-setsto-one lead before running out of aces and energy.

Basking in the roars from the stands at No. 1 Court, the unseeded Eubanks

came within four points of winning to extend his deepest run, by far, at a major tournament before Medvedev pulled away for a 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time.

“It’s like his level elevated into the fifth,” Eubanks said, “where I had a little bit of a drop.”

If Medvedev was unsteady for a bit, perhaps distracted by a back-andforth with the chair umpire over a stray ball that headed toward the stands, he gathered himself well.

“Happy that I managed to put myself back together. There was a moment in the match I started just losing kind of everything — the focus, the momentum of the match,” said the No. 3-seeded Medvedev, who will face No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals on Friday.

“When I started losing it, I was like, ‘All right, what’s happening? Why is it happening like this?’”

CLEAN SWEEP: The New Providence Buccaneers pulled off a clean sweep yesterday in both the men and women divisions for soccer at the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games.

Photo: Tenajh Sweeting/Tribune Staff

Courtney Vandersloot had 12 assists, the last going to Betnijah Laney for a 3-pointer that broke

85-85 tie with 1:52 left in overtime.

INDIANA Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) drives on New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis yesterday.

(AP Photo/ Michael Conroy)

LONG ISLAND SHEEP RUNNERS TAKE HOME THE GOLD

The sailing competition at the sixth Bahamas Games in Montagu Bay turned out to be a celebration for the Long Island Sheep Runners and skipper Stefan Knowles.

Knowles skippered the New Legend to the gold in the ‘A’ Class.

The silver medal went to the Andros Chickcharnies’ Ruff Justice, skippered by Joshua Knowles and Mark Knowles.

The Grand Bahama Lucayans’ Silent Partner, skippered by Morris Rolle, won the bronze. Knowles also skippered the New Chase to the gold in class B for

Long Island. The Barbarian II, skippered by Delworth Gibson, won the silver for the MICAL Flamingos. Grand Bahama’s Ants Nest, skippered by Lee Armbrister, got the bronze. And Knowles, in completing the hat trick, skippered the Sassie Sue to the gold in class C for the Sheep Runners. Sacrifice, skippered by Crysto Cartwright, won the silver for Grand Bahama and H2O, skippered by Efford Kemp, won the bronze for the Exuma & Ragged Island Navigators.

Softball shifts into high gear at Bankers’ Field

LONG ISLAND SHEEP RUNNERS ARE HOPING TO MAKE THEIR PRESENCE FELT

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE sixth Bahamas Games’ softball competition is now in high gear in the Bankers’ Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex and the Long Island Sheep Runners are hoping to make their presence felt over the next three days.

On Wednesday’s day two of the five days of competition in softball, the Sheep Runners improved their men’s record to 2-0 behind the pitching duo of Pedro Marcello and Thomas Davis.

Long Island’s ladies, bouncing back from an opening day loss to Columbus Isles Arawaks on Tuesday, knocked off MICAL in their second game yesterday to improve to 1-1.

Sheep Runners 5,

Flamingos 1: Thomas Davis spun a three-hitter with eight strike outs, including the final two batters in the fourth inning to seal the deal for Long Island in their second game of the day.

“We came out a little sluggish, but we put the bat on the ball,’ said Davis as he watched his Sheep Runners’ team-mates erupt for seven hits off losing pitcher Geromme Hanna, who had six strike outs.

“I was a little off with my pitching, but once we get a little sharper, with me and Marcello, we can go all the way.”

Long Island gave Davis enough runs to work with as Isaac Fox led their attack by going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored; Jeeter Miller was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored and Donte Cartwright was 2-for-2. Rodney Forbes was 2-for-2 with two doubles and a run score to pace MICAL.

Sheep Runners 6, Lucayans 2 Garfield Bethel went 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored and Carlos Pratt was 1-for-2 with a run scored to lead Long Island men.

Pedro Marcello was the winning pitcher and Quinten Cooper was the loser.

Sheep Runners 8, Flamingos 6 Sophia Cartwright went 1-for-3 with a double, three

RBI and three runs scored;

Allie Pinder was 2-for-3 with double, two RBI and two runs scored and Chry-

santhia Fox was 1-for-2 with w RBI and two runs scored for Long Island women.

Dorinda Knowles was the winning pitcher and Brendia Ferguson was the loser.

MICAL was led by

Marissa Burrows with a 1-for-2 outing with two singles and as many runs scored. “I think we performed well. We made a couple of errors and I had to make some changes to accommodate everyone,” said Sheep Runners’ manager Donte Armbrister.

“The sun is really hot, so I had to rotate my pitchers and try to keep everybody fresh. We have a good opportunity for these girls to revive softball in Long Island. We don’t have enough players for two teams, so we try to play every other weekend.”

Chickcharnies 13,

Survivors 11

Brenna Carey went 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored and

Vashanna Bastian was 1-for-1 with a RBI and two runs scored to pace Andros.

Vanessa Sawyer was 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored for Abaco.

Tishura Evans was the winning pitcher nd Tracy Albury was the loser.

Survivors 6, Chickcharnies 0

Leon Cooper Jr was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and Jerrod Douglas was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored in the shutout for Abaco men. Leon Cooper Jr was the winning pitcher

with three walks and three strikeouts and Ladanin McKenzie was tagged with the loss on a one-hitter with three walks and a two strikeouts.

Lucayans 15, Navigators 5

Jamese Roker was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and two runs scored; Curtisha Albury was 2-for-3 with three runs and Liberty Thompson was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored for the Grand Bahama women.

Latoya Knowles was the winning pitcher and Patsya Johnson was the loser.

Lucayans 3, Flamingos 0

Tarah Evans was 1-for-1 with a run scored for the Grand Bahama women.

LaBrae Sands was the winning pitcher and Diva Burrows was tagged with the loss.

Adventurers 5,

Survivors 1

Micha Bethel was 1-for-2 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored; Terran Wood was 1-for-1 with a home run, s RBI and a run scored and Marvin Wood scored a pair of runs.

Sheldon Pinder got a win and Frederick Cornish was the loser.

Buccaneers 18, Chickcharnies 2

Thela Stevens was 1-for-2 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored; Jenra Malone was 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored and Apryl Davis was 2-for-2 with a double and home run, driving in five runs and scoring twice. Stevens got the win, while Chalyn Thompson got the loss.

Navigators 2, Flamingos 0

Sherman Ferguson was 1-for-1 with two RBI and a run scored to lead Exuma. Martin Burrows Jr got the win and Garomme Hanna was the loser.

Arawaks 7, Sheep Runners 4: Philleshae Major was 2-for-2 with a run scored; Latoya Johnson was 1-for-1 with two RBI and a run scored and Ebony Higgs was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored.

Major got the win and Leanthia Knowles was tagged with the loss., Buccaneers 12, Chickcharnies 0 Austin Hanna was 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored; Steven Russell was 2-for-2 with two doubles, a RBI and two runs scored; Myron Johnson was 2-for-2 with a triple, a RBI and two runs scored

and Alexander Dillet was 1-for-2 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored.

Deon Whyte was the winning pitcher and Larvick Evans was the loser.

Navigators 10, Arawaks 7 Lathera Petra was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored; Petra Poitier was 1-for-1 with a run scored and Pasha Johnson was 1-for-2 with a run scored to pace Exuma. Shirlene Moss and Phillesha Major both scored a run for Columbus Isles.Grace Chea was the inning pitcher and Triroe Brice was the losing pitcher.

Lucayans 1, Arawaks 0 Centre fielder Desmond Russell was 1-for-2 with a home run, driving in three runs and scoring twice, while Monyan Saunders was 1-for-2 with a double, three RBI and a run scored.

Quentin Cooper got the win and Kayle Carey was tagged with the loss.

Adventurers 6, Survivors 4 Lashanta Carey went 1-for-1 with a walk and a run scored to lead Eleuthera. Solama Brown was winning pitcher and Atarah Brice suffered loss. Games will continue today at 9am with MICAL vs Columbus Isles (W); 10:25am MICAL vs Grand Bahama (M); 12:30 pm Exuma vs Long Island (W); 1:55 pm Andros vs Eleuthera (M); 3:10 pm Eleuthera vs Andros (W); 4:35 pm Columbus Isles vs MICAL (M); 6 pm New Providence vs Abaco (W); 7:25 pm Abaco vs New Providence (M); 8:50 pm Long Island vs Grand Bahama (w); 10:15 pm Grand Bahama vs Exuma (M).

NATIONAL LEAGUE SNAPS ALL-STAR GAME LOSING STREAK, TOPS AL 3-2 BEHIND ELIAS DÍAZ HOMER

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) — Shining brightly in the Emerald City, the National League snapped a losing streak that lasted more than a decade.

An unheralded catcher from Colorado delivered the big blow.

Elias Díaz hit a two-run homer off Félix Bautista in the eighth inning, and the NL snapped a nine-game losing streak in the All-Star Game with a 3-2 win over the American League on Tuesday night.

The NL won for the first time since an 8-0 victory in 2012 in Kansas City, and Díaz became the first Rockies player to win the All-Star MVP award.

“It feels incredible. When we all got here, we all talked about how we were going to bring home the win,” said Díaz, who was non-tendered by the Pirates at the end of 2019. “I just didn’t realise it was going to be me to bring home the win.”

Díaz drove a 2-2 pitch from Baltimore’s hardthrowing closer deep to left to put the NL in front. Díaz

was the lone representative for Colorado in his first AllStar Game appearance. “It does matter. We wanted to win, the American League we wanted to win,” Bautista said through an interpreter. “But overall I think that it’s an experience I’ll never forget and just wish that would have been a little bit different.”

Díaz has nine homers this season, but hadn’t hit a long ball since June 23 against the Los Angeles Angels. “As soon as he walked in the clubhouse and I met him, he said, ‘I’ll do anything you want. If I play, I play. If I don’t, I don’t. I’m just so happy to be here,’” NL manager Rob Thomson said. “So for him to do that, it’s fantastic.”

For most of the night, the All-Star Game was a pitchers’ duel highlighted by a couple big hits and some excellent defense.

It got nervous for the NL with Philadelphia closer Craig Kimbrel on the mound in the ninth.

“I threw way more pitches than I wanted to on an off day,” Kimbrel joked. Wander Franco led off with a fly ball to the

warning track, and Kimbrel issued two-out walks to Kyle Tucker and Seattle star Julio Rodríguez.

The 22-year-old Rodríguez was in position to close it out in front of his home crowd.

“I was definitely trying to win it. But it was a situation where I had to pass the baton,” he said.

Kimbrel recovered to strike out José Ramírez to end it. Kimbrel also pitched

in the previous NL win, recording two outs in 2012.

“The ninth inning in the dugout was just a lot of fun to experience,” said San Diego’s Josh Hader, who pitched the eighth for the NL.

Yandy Díaz hit a solo homer in the second and Bo Bichette’s sacrifice fly in the sixth gave the AL a 2-1 lead. J.D. Martinez doubled and scored on Luis Arraez’s

single in the fourth against Seattle’s George Kirby, tying it at 1. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. appeared to tie the game again in the seventh when his shot down the left-field line was originally ruled a homer but was overturned as a foul ball on replay.

The All-Star Game returned to Seattle for the first time since 2001 when the Mariners were in the middle of their magical 116-win regular season, Cal Ripken Jr. said goodbye to the All-Star stage and Tommy Lasorda took a tumble.

Gerrit Cole became the first New York Yankees pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roger Clemens in that 2001 game. He needed a pair of spectacular leaping catches from Adolis García and Randy Arozarena near the wall to escape the first inning unscathed.

Pitching was the story of the night. Only nine balls were hit over 100 mph. There were 20 combined strikeouts, including Camilo Doval silencing the home crowd with a strikeout of Rodríguez in the seventh inning when four of

the five pitches topped 100 mph.

“You can tell, our guys, we wanted to win. They wanted to win,” AL manager Dusty Baker said. “There was a lot of pride out there and a lot of competitiveness out there. You could tell by the energy on both sides and the energy in the ballpark.”

SIX PACK

The Rangers made AllStar history when Nathan Eovaldi took the mound in the second. That marked the third time in an All-Star Game when there were six players from the same team on the field at the same time. It also occurred with the 1939 Yankees and 1951 Dodgers.

The Baseball Hall of Fame said a ball signed by all six players in the game would be headed to Cooperstown.

“That’s got to be one of the cooler moments in sports when you’ve got half the team on the field is your team, especially under these circumstances,” catcher Jonah Heim said. “It’s really special and I was glad I got to share it with these guys today.”

MICAL’s losing pitcher Brendia Ferguson.

LONG Island’s winning pitcher Dorinda Knowles.

LONG Island batter at the plate.

LONG Island Sheep Runners in the huddle.

Photos: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

NATIONAL League’s Elias Díaz, of the Colorado Rockies (35), celebrates his two run home run with Nick Castellanos (8), of the Philadelphia Phillies, in the eighth inning during the MLB All-Star baseball game in Seattle, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Basketball action heats up on day 2

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

BASKETBALL action

continued for the 10 islands of The Bahamas yesterday at the D W Davis and Kendal G L Isaacs gymnasiums. Gameplay for the sport in the women’s and men’s divisions got underway on Tuesday leading up to the championship games on Saturday.

In their first appearance at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium, the New Providence Buccaneers pummelled the Long Island Sheep Runners by 72 points to win 109-37.

The Buccaneers asserted their dominance early in the game, leading 11-1 in the first few minutes. The Sheep Runners only managed to add six more points to their score in the third quarter meanwhile New Providence had 47.

By the final buzzer, the home team had already laid their opponents to rest.

Richard Lowe led the way for New Providence, turning in 17 points and 11 rebounds for a double double in the game.

The Bucs scored at will on an efficient 51 per cent shooting clip from the field. Although the Sheep Runners appeared outmatched, the difference maker was on the defensive end. The winning team stole the ball 18 times and rebounded 56 boards compared to 25 from the Sheep Runners.

Deven Johnson, head coach of New Providence, talked about the dominant win.

“We told the guys just to have fun, that is what they were doing, they executed and did what we told them to do and that’s how the game ended,” Johnson said.

He added that the team is looking to play in the gold medal matches and once they commit on the defensive end, they can beat anybody in the competition.

The Abaco Survivors defeated the Columbus

Jonquel cans 12 to help

Liberty top Fever 95-87

FROM PAGE 15

Vandersloot’s layup with 7:27 left in regulation had the Liberty up 74-56 but their next field goal was Ionescu’s 3 to open overtime. The Fever reeled off 16-straight points and Erica Wheeler had a three-point play with 12.9 seconds to go and Boston’s 3 completed the comeback.

Boston had 23 points for the Fever (5-15), who have

lost eight-straight. Emma Cannon had a career-high 19 on 7-of-9 shooting, Kelsey Mitchell added 16 and Grace Berger also had a career high with 15. The Fever had a different starting lineup for the first time this season with leading rebounder NaLyssa Smith and Lexie Hull injured. Smith will miss two weeks with a stress fracture in her left foot and Lexie Hull has a broken nose. Both played Sunday.

IN THE HUDDLE: The Bimini and Berry Islands Marlins dropped the Andros Chickcharnies 47-38 at the DW Davis Gymnasium yesterday during the 6th Bahamas Games.

was

65-36.

Isles Arawaks 74-52. The Survivors led the game at halftime 42-33 and extended the score to

Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

The Bimini and Berry Islands Marlins dropped the Andros Chickcharnies 47-38 at the DW Davis

Gymnasium. Marlins’ Raymond Louis scored 18 points and Marvin Saunders pulled down 14 boards in the game.

The Grand Bahama Lucayans won against the Exuma and Ragged Island Navigators 57-46.

Women’s Division

The Adventurers toppled the Lucayans 51-45. Lashann Higgs poured in 30 points to pair with 15 rebounds. On the opposing side, Karen Barr dominated the boards with 17 rebounds and Arlia Greene scored 18 for the losing team.

The Survivors won in double digits over the Arawaks 62-47. Raven Nixon scored 13 points.

Meanwhile, Tania Kerr pulled down 14 rebounds. Live results from the game can be accessed via https://fibalivestats.dcd. shared.geniussports.com/u/ BBFN/2281936/

Basketball will continue for the rest of the week at DW Davis and Kendal G L Isaacs gymnasiums.

FEVER forward Emma Cannon (32) holds back Liberty guard Jocelyn Willoughby (13) and forward Jonquel Jones (35) as the ball goes out-ofbounds in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis yesterday.

TOUR DE FRANCE: PHILIPSEN SECURES 4TH SPRINT VICTORY, VINGEGAARD KEEPS YELLOW JERSEY

MOULINS, France (AP)

— Jasper Philipsen is in a class of his own when it comes to sprinting at the Tour de France.

He is so strong that even when the teammate in charge of setting him up is not there, he still wins in the end.

The Belgian sprinter posted his fourth stage win at this year’s Tour de France yesterday, taking his career tally to six.

“It’s been an incredible Tour so far,” Philipsen said after outclassing the field. “I can’t realise how good it is all going, so I’m super proud and really happy with my shape. And also, to get through the final without problems is also a big challenge, and we managed to do it four times, so I’m super happy.”

There were no major changes in the general classification: Jonas Vingegaard kept his 17-second lead over two-time champion Tadej Pogacar. Jai Hindley remained in third place, 2 minutes, 40 seconds off the pace.

Philipsen, who rides for Alpecin–Deceuninck, had been perfectly guided by his leadout man Mathieu van der Poel in his three previous stage wins.

Left on his own this time, he perfectly timed his move and once again proved strongest in the frenetic last kilometre of the 180-kilometre (112 miles) Stage 11 from Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins in central France.

Philipsen has lost just one of the five mass sprints that took place at this year’s Tour when Mad Pedersen won Stage 8. With van der Poel not taking part in Wednesday’s sprint, Philipsen navigated his way through traffic at an average speed of 65.6 kmh (40.8 mph) in the last kilometre to join Mark Cavendish as the only active

rider with at least four stage wins in a single Tour edition. Cavendish crashed out of the race last week.

“I can also win without (van der Poel), but of course, he makes it more easy,” Philipsen said.

After Alexander Kristoff launched the sprint, Dylan Groenewegen countered with Philipsen on his wheel. The Belgian’s power

was too much to handle for Groenewegen, who had to be content with a runner-up finish. Phil Bauhaus completed the stage podium.

“I had to find my wheel a little bit, and it’s also finding the space, and it’s hectic and dangerous for crashing, but I’m happy I could find a good wheel — Groenewegen — in the end, he opened up early, and I

could go over,” Philipsen summed up.

Following a day of furious racing in hot weather that took a toll on the peloton, Andrey Amador moved to the front immediately after the start of the stage but quickly noticed there were not a lot of riders interested in jumping into a break. Amador for a while rode only a few metres ahead

of the bunch before Matis Louvel and Daniel Oss joined his effort as they broke away without facing resistance from the peloton.

With only three riders in the lead group, the breakaway was doomed to failure and the sprinters’ team did not react, well aware that they would catch the trio further down the road. The main bunch was happy to sit back for a while, riding at an easy pace on long stretches of flat roads bordered by sunflowers and fields.

But amid crosswinds that made the teams of contenders nervous about possible splits, the chase started quite early, with the three-man lead dropping to just 30 seconds with some 75 kilometers left.

Louvel was the first to sit up, before Amador gave up too. Oss kept fighting alone at the front a bit longer and managed to regain some time.

A heavy downpour with 30 kilometres left didn’t slow the peloton, which swallowed up Amador some 14 kilometres from the finish.

Today’s 169-kilometre (105 miles) Stage 12 from Roanne to Belleville-enBeaujolais will take riders on a hilly route that could favour a breakaway.

The battle for the yellow jersey is expected to resume on Friday with the ascent of the Grand Colombier, a mammoth climb concluding the stage.

Leon Cooper

the team’s highest scorer with 13 points. He also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

Photo:

(AP Photo/ Michael Conroy)

BELGIUM’s Jasper Philipsen celebrates his fourth stage victory as he crosses the finish line yesterday ahead of Netherlands’ Dylan Groenewegen, just behind Philipsen, and Germany’s Phil Bauhaus, left, as he crosses the finish line to win the eleventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 180 kilometres (112 miles) with start in Clermont-Ferrand and finish in Moulins, France.

(AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Andros Chickcharnies take lead after first day of golf

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER the first day of the sixth Bahamas Games’ golf competition at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island, the Andros Chickcharnies have taken a slight lead over the other eight teams in the field. The Chickcharnies have surged out front with a

total of 186 points, followed closely by the Grand Bahama Lucayans with 183 and the New Providence Buccaneers with 182 for third place. The rest of the field are as follows:

MICAL Flamingoes with 174; Exuma Navigators with 146; Long Island Sheep Runners with 143; Eleuthera Adventurers with 141; Bimini & Berry

Islands Marlins with 118 and the Abaco Survivors with 80.

In the adult male category, Andros is out front with 54 and Abaco and Grand Bahama are tied for second with 48.

Richard Gibson of the Chickcharnies is leading the way with a round 54. Broderick Pinder of the Lucayans and Keathen Stuart, representing

the Survivors, are tied for second with 48.

Grand Bahama leads the junior boys with 53, Eleuthera is sitting in second with 47 and New Providence is in third with 46. Adrian Stan-Busuioc of Grand Bahama tops the field with 5.

Zion Taylor of Eleuthera is next with 47 and Alexander Dupuch is sitting in third with 46.

Grand Bahama also leads the adult females category with 39, well ahead of second place New Providence with 25 and Long Island with 24.

Teenager Tynesha Tynes of the Lucayans is out front in the adult female category with a 40, one stroke ahead of Lucayan’s veteran Michelean Poitier. Long Island’s Kyshan Radnetter is in third with 32. Tynes has

also taken control of the junior girls’ division with 52 for the Lucayans.

Haley Hall of the Chickcharnies is in second with 46 and there is a tie for third with Chickcharnies’ Chemari Pratt and Flamingos’ Maddison Carroll, both with 41.

The final round of competition will take place starting at 10am today at the Ocean Club golf course.

Alcaraz’s 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 6 Holger Rune at Centre Court was the first men’s quarterfinal at Wimbledon in the Open era, which dates to 1968, with two players who are not yet 21. Both Spain’s Alcaraz, who won last year’s US Open, and Denmark’s Rune are 20.

When Alcaraz smacked a backhand return winner to seal the first set, he threw his head back and screamed. He paused for a second and screamed again. He strutted to the sideline, head held high, and yelled, then got to the sideline and yelled “Vamos! Vamos!”

“It was nerves. Tension.

It was everything,” Alcaraz explained later.

In the women’s quarterfinals, Ons Jabeur eliminated defending champion Elena Rybakina 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1 in a rematch of last year’s title match, and reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated No. 25 seed Madison Keys 6-2, 6-4.

Jabeur, known more for her spins and slices and variety than her power, actually opted for trading big swings with Rybakina, whose game is built that way.

“If you want to hit hard,” Jabeur said, “I’m ready to hit hard, too.”

No. 6 Jabeur plays No.

2 Sabalenka today, when the other semifinal will be between unseeded players Elina Svitolina and Marketa Vondrousova.

None of the four remaining women has won Wimbledon; Sabalenka is the only one who already owns a major trophy.

Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, and Medvedev, who is from Russia, were banned from the All England Club a year ago, along with every player

representing those two countries, over the invasion of Ukraine. The war continues, but Russians and Belarusians were allowed back this time.

If Alcaraz’s victory was altered by the first-set tiebreaker — “He gained more confidence from that set; I didn’t,” Rune said — Medvedev’s started to tilt midway through the fourth-set tiebreaker.

Eubanks put a forehand in a corner that drew a netted backhand from Medvedev, making it 3-all. Many in the seats rose, cheering wildly, and Eubanks pumped his right fist, staring toward the support.

“The fans,” he would say afterward, “definitely got their money’s worth.”

Medvedev’s take on the way spectators backed Eubanks over the past 1 1/2 weeks, which included wins against No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 12 Cam Norrie: “Maybe his tennis. Maybe he’s underdog.”

Maybe. And maybe Eubanks, who is from Atlanta and was a college All-American at Georgia Tech, enjoyed that 3-all moment in the tiebreaker just a tad too much.

Then again, hard to blame a guy who came into this tournament with a career record of 2-8 at the majors and who never had won an ATP title until the week before Wimbledon began.

So close to moving on, Eubanks faltered. So close to the brink, Medvedev surged, taking four of the following five points and pushing things to a fifth set.

Medvedev smacked a forehand winner. Eubanks sailed a forehand wide. Eubanks pushed a forehand return long. After Eubanks saved one set point with a service winner, he ceded the next by flubbing a forehand volley.

Medvedev, who won 28 of the 30 points he

served in that set, shook his racket. He was fully back in the match — and, it turned out, on his way to a win.

“That’s why he is who he is,” Eubanks said, “and that’s why he’s done the things that he’s done in the sport.”

As intimidating a server as the lanky, 6-foot-7 Eubanks might be, Medvedev hit more aces, 28-17.

And while Eubanks finished with more winners, 74-52, to raise his tournament total to 321 and break Andre Agassi’s 1992 mark for most winners at a single Wimbledon (since 1977), Medvedev played incredibly cleanly.

He only made 13 unforced errors, 42 fewer than Eubanks — although Medvedev questioned the accuracy of his count.

When the match ended, when Eubanks’ wonderful ride was over, he was sent off toward the locker room by a loud and lengthy standing ovation — as his pal, 2022 French Open

TEAM BAHAMAS NAMED FOR THE PAN AMERICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

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to go there and perform like fearless champions in this new horizon,” Britton said. “These athletes are talented like any other country and capable of achieving and accomplishing great things.

“I want every athlete to continue training, fine tuning, anything that can get them at the top, mentally prepared to compete with the best and to remain healthy leading up to the championships.”

majority of the team have won a medal at the CARIFTA Games,” Britton said.

“They know what it takes to rise to the occasion when it matters and none of them will back down from the challenge.

“We are taking this team straight into Puerto Rico and having the mindset like Pauline Davis-Thompson said to ‘cut a movie.’

The female side is slightly weaker due to some of the athletes returning to college to prepare for their first experience as a student-athlete.

runner-up Coco Gauff, captured the scene with her phone camera.

Eubanks paused his walk. He turned to all sections of the arena to wave and then put his hands together overhead in the shape of a heart, soaking it all in.

As this is the last junior team to represent the country this year, Britton said she wants every athlete to leave it all on the track or field as they go out and achieve their accomplishment.

“The strength of this team is that if not all, the

“Some athletes have prior obligations to another team travelling around the same time as Pan Am Juniors and recovering from minor setbacks.”

Despite all that is going on, Britton said she’s confident that the team will perform exceptionally well.

CARLOS ALCARAZ, of Spain, reacts after beating Denmark’s Holger Rune to win their singles match on day 10 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London yesterday. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)