07172023 NEWS AND SPORT

BROTHER ‘BEATEN BY POLICE’ IN CUSTODY

call to look at NORTH A NDROS beach clean-up pay receipt

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

WHEN Hercude Estime visited his brother at the Central Detective Unit on Thursday, Leroy Estime appeared to be in perfect health.

However, his brother alleged that officers had placed a bag over his head, tightened his handcuffs and

beat him on his bottom with a machete to force his confession to severe crimes.

Even then, Mr Estime said he couldn’t imagine that two days later he would get a call from a woman at Princess Margaret Hospital saying his brother had arrived suffering from bruised ribs while coughing blood.

MONTHS LATER, NO UPDATE over ‘attack’ on barbers

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

MORE than four months after two immigration officers allegedly assaulted two Haitian barbers in an attack that went viral, Immigration Minister Keith Bell said the investigation is still ongoing.

Asked yesterday if he is certain the investigation is happening, he said: “I

would like to think so.”

Residents often complain that authorities rarely discipline officers and that officials spend months claiming that investigations are ongoing when none are taking place.

In February, not long after the video surfaced, Mr Bell told reporters he hoped the investigation would be completed within

atlantis received

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR Minister Keith Bell said Atlantis received a report about the Department of Labour’s investigation into comments by the resort’s president last week. However, he declined to disclose details about the results.

In May, Mr Bell said the

l abour’s investigation results

of complaints” from employees of Atlantis who felt “pressured and intimidated” to stand against Royal Caribbean International’s proposed Paradise Island Beach Club project.

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

NORTH Andros Chamber of Commerce Darin Bethel called for the police to investigate the North Andros District Council after a receipt suggested the body was paid to have a beach cleaned. It is unlawful for a council to undertake revenue-generating schemes. They can only receive money from the central government.

FOX DALE MAN becomes 58th murder victim

A 46-YEAR-OLD Fox Dale man was murdered yesterday morning. Police said sometime around 3am at a nightclub in Fox Hill, the man was involved in a physical altercation with another man who, moments after the encounter, produced a firearm and shot him. This was the 58th murder of the year.

Department of Labour launched the investigation after receiving “a number

Atlantis president and managing director Audrey Oswell had urged staff to take a position regarding RCI’s $100m project, which executives have persistently

‘They put a bag on his head and struck him with a machete’

BPL struggles persist as power failures continue

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Power and Light’s struggle to provide reliable electricity this summer continued over the weekend, with outages on various islands.

Days after a fire caused catastrophic fire to a power station in North Andros, BPL encountered problems with a station in Central Andros.

“One of the units at the Central Andros power station developed a problem,” said Arnette Ingraham, BPL’s communications manager. “As a result, there

was insufficient generation to supply customers from Staniard Creek to Behring Point. A specialist team is at the power station now trying to return the unit to service. If they are successful, all customers will be restored.

“For clarity, our North Andros power station, which was destroyed by fire, supplies power from Morgan’s Bluff to Stafford Creek. Central Andros’ power station in Fresh Creek provides power to all customers south of Stafford Creek to Behring Point.”

BPL said load sharing in Eleuthera also increased because of heavy load

Jill Stewart loses battle with cancer

volume. North and South Eleuthera residents experienced outages. A Harbour Island business owner said her island has had outages every day for two weeks, some lasting up to eight hours.

According to BPL’s Facebook page, outages occurred throughout New Providence, including in Chippingham, South Beach and Stapledon Gardens. Last week, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) said it is investigating BPL because of its struggle to provide reliable electricity.

A NATIONAL Independence Jubilee Worship Service was held honouring signatories of the 1973 Constitution, under the Distinguished Patronage of Governor General, Sir Cornelius A. Smith and Lady Smith on yesterday at Bahamas Faith Ministries (BFM) Myles Munroe Diplomat Center. Four signatories are still alive; two attended in person to receive their awards - Philip Bethel and A. Loftus Roker. Pictured on stage at the ceremonies, conveying the honours to the honourees or their representatives are: Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper, left; former Governor General and wife of former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, Dame Marguerite Pindling centre; BFM Pastor Dave Burrows, second right; and BFM Director and programme chair, Dr. Kendal Major, right.

DeathAnnouncement

SANDALS’ executive chairman, Adam Stewart, has announced “with unbearable grief” that his wife, Jill, has died after a battle with cancer.

Mrs Stewart had been diagnosed with sarcoma just over a year ago. The Bahamian and her husband were high school sweethearts and made their home in Jamaica where she had a pilates studio. She was also a keen runner and supporter of running events. She was 43.

Mr Stewart posted on social media: “It is almost unimaginable that it has come to this. Still, with unbearable grief and a broken heart, I let you know that my wife Jill, the love of my life, my best friend of 28 years, and mother of our three wonderful children passed away peacefully and surrounded by love.

“From the moment we received her terrible diagnosis a little more than a year ago, Jill was certain she wanted to share her journey, our family’s journey, wherever it led. Opening herself to this community was brave and generous. Just like Jill. She remained deeply touched by your words of comfort and she hoped her story

Hugh Edmund Rollins

Hugh Rollins, 90 of Robinson Rd died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Friday 14th July 2023 He is survived by his children: Steve Rollins, Joy Rollins Reckley, Hugh Patrick Rollins, Adrian Rollins, Raymond Rollins, & Keith Rollins Brother: Lester Rollins

Sisters: Ruth Henry of San Francisco, California and Rosie Rollins

Daughters -in- Law: Noella-Donna, Charmaine, Millicient and Eloise Rollins; 26 grandchildren, 8 great grand children and numerous other relatives and friends Funeral arrangements are being planned for 11a m Friday, 21st July 2023 at Hillview Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Tonique Williams Darling Highway, New Providence

would serve to impact and protect others in the pursuit of prevention. Time with the ones you love is what life is all about. Jill believed this to her core and told us so time and time again.

“She fought harder than anything I have ever seen and never ever gave up. Hers will forever be a story of courage, strength, and grace. We are shattered to begin this new journey without her, but the love she left us will be our guide. To our beautiful Jilly, you taught us the true meaning of selfless love and we will love you forever. On behalf of my family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking part in our story. Your support and encouragement have been one of the most sacred things we have ever experienced. We are deeply aware and forever grateful for your time. It is everything.”

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Mrs Stewart’s death was “a devastating blow that has left us all with a profound sense of grief”.

He said: “Her story will forever be etched in our hearts as a testament to her courage, grace, and resilience. We grieve with you, and we are here to provide comfort, strength, and

solace in the face of your immense loss.”

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis also paid tribute to her on Twitter.

“With profound sadness, my wife Ann Davis and I extend our deepest sympathies to Adam and his family for the immeasurable loss of Jill, a daughter of The Bahamas who embodied strength, bravery, and selflessness throughout her journey,” he said.

“She was an inspiration to all, always shining light onto others, even in her toughest battles. Her legacy will continue to thrive through the three wonderful children she and Adam brought into this world. We share in your sorrow and the honouring of Jill’s remarkable life and enduring spirit.

“As we mourn, we are reminded of the immense power of community and love, as evident through the support shown to the Stewart family. We appreciate your courage in sharing your journey with all of us, and we stand with you during this difficult time.

Let’s pay tribute to Jill by following her example of cherishing loved ones and making a positive impact in the lives of others.”

JILL Stewart with her husband Adam

Photos: Patrick Hanna/AP

Brother ‘beaten by police’ in custody

evidence.

Mr Estime raced to PMH but said police prevented him from seeing his older sibling.

“I actually stormed out the hospital because I was mad,” he said yesterday.

“When I saw him that Thursday, nothing was wrong with him.”

Mr Estime said officers contacted him Saturday night to bring medicine to his brother at CDU.

“I think he’s going to be charged in court,” he said, confirming his brother

was out of hospital on Saturday and arrested concerning armed robbery and attempted murder.

“I don’t like it. I feel it’s an injustice. You know, if you’re going to do a proper investigation, do it the right way. If he’s guilty, do it the right way, but I feel as if the way they went about it is inhumane, and no humans should be subjected to that.

That’s just how I feel.”

Mr Estime said his 27-year-old brother had been locked up before.

However, he said the man became a Bahamian citizen

and held a string of jobs since then.

Asked about the allegations yesterday, Chief Superintendent of Police Michael Johnson, the officer in charge of the CDU, said: “I have no information on that, I cannot help you with that.”

Concern about forced confessions has persisted for years.

Last month, the Privy Council overturned a ruling after a man spent 12 years in prison based on a confession the judges said should not have been admitted as

The court expressed “deep concern” about how the case was handled and found it improbable that the man, Vinson Ariste, would confess to multiple crimes during his short detention.

Defence lawyers said the ruling highlighted longstanding problems involving confessions.

However, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe has said he does not believe there is a culture of forcing confessions in The Bahamas.

WHEN Hercude Estime visited his brother at the Central Detective Unit on Thursday, Leroy Estime (pictured) appeared to be in perfect health. However, his brother alleged that officers had placed a bag over his head, tightened his handcuffs and beat him on his bottom with a machete to force his confession to severe crimes.

Months later, no update over ‘attack’ on barbers

from page one

a week.

“I cannot say anything much further because as you know, the matter is still active,” he told reporters on Friday. “And I don’t want to prejudice the individuals or the officers. But I can assure members of the public that we are here to ensure that we treat everyone with basic dignity, human respect. And we also have to ensure that the officers are always protected once they act in the confines of the law.”

In February, two Haitian barbers with legal work permits said they were traumatised after being “slapped” and “beaten” by men dressed as immigration officers at their workplace.

Gary Philius and Wilfort Senatés, two Haitian nationals with legal work permits and who have been working at Adam’s Barbershop in the Bacardi Road area, spoke to The Tribune after the incident.

The men said on

February 11, around 11am, two men wearing immigration officer uniforms went into the barber shop to check the status of their work permits.

Mr Philius said he and Mr Senatés went for a medical check-up and filed a complaint with the police after the incident.

“The business is still running, but we are not working because we had to go to the hospital and one of my eyes is bruised,” Mr Philius said in February.

“How I feel about the situation, because I came from home and I am here in The Bahamas and I am legal, I have a work permit to work and I identified myself.

“They did not identify a second time when they came inside. They just came in and beat us for no reason. We didn’t talk to them bad. We didn’t insult them. We are not gangsters. We are not criminals. We have work permits, and this was not fair, what happened yesterday.”

call to look at north a ndros beach clean-up pay receipt

from page one

When residents complained that garbage was not removed after a party was held on Cedar Beach over the Independence weekend, the party promoter addressed them by disclosing a receipt that said: “$400 for cleaning Cedar Beach after beach party July 8, 2023.”

The name on the receipt was “North Andros District Council”, leading some North Andros residents to conclude the council violated the law.

Last week, North Andros Island Administrator Beverley Laramore said she would investigate the matter. She declined to discuss it yesterday,

citing a funeral she had to attend.

Mr Bethel said members of the council and the island administrator must be held accountable.

“The question,” he said, “needs to be where did the $400 go? Who collected it and what did they do with it? From my understanding, local government employees cleaned up the beach.

“Now, why would local government employees clean up the beach if local government did not receive the money? The administrator has to know.”

Mr Bethel said the party promoter should reveal what happened.

“He needs to come out

Fox dale M an becoMes 58th Murder victiM

now and say who exactly he paid the money to.

“The council needs to dissolve and that’s just the way I feel.”

Mr Bethel said the island administrator should not be the investigator.

“Even people who are supporters of the Progressive Liberal Party are outraged and upset about this group of council members because of many different things that they do, but like I say, it didn’t make no sense just listing them off because that’s just hearsay and we don’t have anything to prove it but at least this one particular incident he had provided the documents,” he said.

RESIDENTS complained that garbage was not removed after a party was held on Cedar Beach over the Independence weekend. The party promoter produced a receipt showing that he paid $400 for the cleanup of the beach which has since instigated an investigation.

THE BODY of a lifeless man found on Pioneers Way in Freeport last night being taken away from the scene.

from page one

In a separate incident, as The Tribune went to press, police reported

the body of man had been found on Pioneer’s Way in the area of Christ the King church in Freeport.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

TWO migrant barbers, Gary Philius and Wilfort Senatés, pictured above in red shirts outside the barber shop where they work. Inset is a screenshot from a video showing the incident.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

GBPA gives Lucaya Towers South 30 day ultimatum - threatens to revoke occupancy

By: RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama Port Authority has given an ultimatum to the board of the Lucayan Towers South: provide a plan to fix the complex in 30 days or have your certificate of occupancy revoked.

The condominium has been deteriorating for years. In 2019, The Tribune reported that the once premier institution showed severe neglect. Owners claimed someone on the board responsible for managing the building failed to ensure maintenance and proper money accounting. There are 136 units in the building.

“We have heard the cries and concerns of the families and residents that reside at Lucayan Towers South and have worked with them, and for them,

to have several code violations and serious safety hazards addressed by the condominium board,” the authority said in a statement. “We have exhausted every avenue to appeal to and have the board address the growing number of risks like deteriorating balconies and handrails, the inoperable fire pump and tank system and the defective exhaust fans on the roof of which are required for ventilation of the hallways and laundry rooms. Not to mention the defective elevator that limits mobility for residents, especially the elderly and those with health issues.”

“Unfortunately to date, these critical items have yet to be remedied and so we have issued a final notice to the board in which they have 30 days to present a tangible plan of action, or we will have no other alternative than

to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy. We empathize with the residents of Lucayan Towers South who deserve the same basic right to a safe and hazard-free place to live as everyone else does in the country. We will meet with them to help them navigate these actions. “We do not take such actions lightly. However, the serious nature of these safety violations, if left unchecked, could lead to possible tragedy. With sombre reflection, we recall the not-too-longago catastrophic incident that occurred in Surfside, Florida where the collapse of a 12-storey condominium resulted in 98 deaths. GBPA cannot allow this to be a possibility for the families and residents of Lucayan Tower South. This was not an easy decision, but an absolutely necessary one as even one tragedy is one too many.”

Funeral Service For Althea Arahna Turnquest, 76 née Brennen

of Freeport, Grand Bahama will be held on Tuesday, 18 July, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Restview Memorial Funeral Home, 11A East Coral Road, Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas. Officiating will be Mr. Hamilton. Interment will follow at the Grand Bahama Memorial Park, Settler’s Way, Grand Bahama.

Althea will forever be loved by her husband: Roderick Alphege Turnquest; sons and their spouses: Alphege V. Turnquest (Clarice), Kevera L. Turnquest (Janace) and Roderick L Turnquest (Beverley); grandsons: Antoinne, Kevera II, Alkero, Atreu, Roderick-Caerwyn Turnquest; grand daughters: Ariel Knowles, Ashley, Alexis, Alyssa Turnquest and Adina Russell; great grandson: Zion A. Turnquest; sisters: Ingrid (Willard) Clarke, Cleo Johnson; brother: Dennis (Patricia) Brennen; brothers-in-law: Mertland Turnquest and Frank Dean; sisters-inlaw: Shirley Turnquest, Linda Cartwright, Elsa Ritchie, Carolyn Dean and Hazel Turnquest; uncle: Samuel Brennen; nieces: Charmaine Kelly, LaCoya Johnson, Toni Cartwright, Llakel Hart, Chavanne and Carol Knowles, Darnell and Michelle Ritchie, Nicolette Gibson, Sharon Francis, Raquel Maycock, Linda, Chavasse, Charesa, Alexandrea and Natasha Turnquest, Charmekka Laramore, Charmaine Burrows, Arica and Katrina Dean, Altrece Woods and Churaine Duncanson; nephews: Kendra Clarke and Stacey Brennen, Kevin Clarke, Kenron Clarke and Christopher Brennen, Dex, Kendal and Philip Ritchie, Lester, Stephen, Andrew, Whanslaw, Wayde, Aisne and Rev. Fr. Shazzasbazzar Turnquest, Clete and Dudley Dean and David-Dishon Cartwright; extended family from: Berry Islands, The Watsons and Nicholls and many other family, friends and associates.

Viewing will be held in the Celestial Suite at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Creatorium Limited on (TODAY) Monday, July 17th, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, July 18th, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

NATION AL T RAINING AGENCY CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF SERVICE

LABOUR

10th Anniversary luncheon noted the critical role NTA has played in the country. “The National Training Agency has played a critical role, fundamental role, in ensuring that our young people are given every opportunity and that they are prepared for the workplace.

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune S taff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE National Training Agency (NTA) held a luncheon on Friday to celebrate its 10th anniversary of service.

The celebratory event was filled with dozens of NTA staff who have contributed to the development and operation of the agency throughout its

Photo: Mia Gardner 10 years. Some employees also were highlighted particularly for their service.

Officials praised how NTA has aided in job readiness preparation along with other essential job assistance for Bahamians.

In attendance at the event included Ann Marie Davis, the wife of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, along with Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell.

Mr Bell during his remarks noted the critical

role NTA has played in the country.

“This country has gone through a lot over the last few years particularly with - people losing their jobs and the need for screening and retraining,” Mr Bell said. “The National Training Agency has played a critical role, fundamental role, in ensuring that our young people are given every opportunity and that they are prepared for the workplace. I dare say that the best is yet to come.”

SECOND SUSPECTED DROW NING RECORDED FOR THE MON TH

A 59-year-old man is suspected to have drowned yesterday.

Police said that, shortly after 3.14pm, the victim had a seizure that caused him to experience breathing difficulties.

Emergency resuscitation efforts was unsuccessful at reviving him.

His death is one of several drowning incidents in 2023.

Earlier this month, a 45-year-old South African woman reportedly drowned in Eleuthera.

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

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

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

and Immigration Minister Keith Bell during his remarks at the NTA

THE GBPA has warned Lucay Towers South that ‘...we have issued a final notice to the board in which they have 30 days to present a tangible plan of action, or we will have no other alternative than to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy.’

Atlantis received Labour’s investigation results

from page

questioned.

“The matter has been concluded by the Department of Labour; a report has been generated,” Mr Bell told The Tribune on Friday. “The report has been shared with the Atlantis executives. So, I’m not able to comment any further on it, but it has been shared with Atlantis.”

Pressed for details, he said Atlantis is “free to do so” if the resort’s executives choose to reveal that information.

An Atlantis representative declined to comment.

Atlantis has continually denied allegations of pressuring workers to oppose RCI’s project.

“Atlantis has never opposed or pressured our team members to oppose Royal Caribbean’s

proposed Paradise Island project,” the resort said in an earlier statement. “Our sole focus is to ensure that Royal Caribbean’s development undergoes environmental due diligence and that the natural beauty of Paradise Island and the vitality of The Bahamas remain protected.”

“Much of the pride our 6,000+ members share about working at Atlantis is our long-term commitment to the community, marine life, the environment and our record for doing the right thing, even when it is not the easiest path. While we pride ourselves in keeping our team members informed. We are confident in our team members’ ability to draw their own conclusions and make the right decisions.”

CALL FOR GREATER PROTE C TION FOR UNION MEMBERS ENDORSED BY B ELL

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR Minister

Keith Bell endorsed a call for greater protection for union members, saying legislation is on the way to achieve this.

Dwayne Woods, president of the Bahamas Utilities Service and Allied Workers Union (BUWASU), called for stronger laws to help unions last week after one of the union’s chief shop stewards at Atlantis was fired.

“We believe if we sit down and allow this to happen with the chief shop steward, trouble is going to come because, in some spheres, we still have officers of the union who are employed. And for us, we believe that the time has come and is long overdue for legislation to protect unions, union officers, and the like in this country,” he said.

Asked if the Department of Labour is investigating the termination of Princess Adderley, Mr Bell said: “The employee has a particular cause of action if she wishes to pursue. I am not aware of any formal

complaint or report, or grievance being lodged with the Department of Labour as yet.”

However, Labour director Robert Farquharson said last week that the union did file a trade dispute over the woman’s dismissal.

As for legislation, he said: “It’s a work in progress. We meet with the union every quarter, and that’s one of the matters that we addressed. We’re looking to continue to work with the union and, of course, the employers to ensure that we put more teeth in our legislation. But we want to ensure that we maintain a harmonious relationship between the workers and the employers and, of course, the government.”

Atlantis fired Ms Adderley for alleged insubordination and incitement of work stoppage. The union claims workers had objected to paying for new independence uniform shirts because their demands for a new industrial agreement have not been met.

The BUWASU protested the woman’s termination in front of the Department of Labour.

MEMBERS of the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union stood in solidarity with an Atlantis chief shop steward, who was terminated for “insubordination” and “inciting work stoppage”, after a clean record on the job for 24 years. Pictured in front in photo: President of Human Rights Bahamas and BHCAWU Union member Princess Adderley, Chief shop steward for Royal Towers Housekeeping Stephanie St Fleur, and Darrin Woods, President of BHCAWU.

The Tribune Limited

Talk of transparency and accountability is cheap

IN recent times, there have been a number of incidents involving members of our uniformed services which have led to promises of investigations.

In last week’s Tribune , we reported on an incident that we reported first more than four months ago. It involved a number of students at Bimini Primary School who were allegedly beaten by a police officer. One boy was just 11 years old, and his mother said in May that no police officer had contacted her.

The school’s principal was reassigned after the incident after the Minister of Education, Glenys Hanna Martin, confirmed the punishment was inconsistent with ministry policies. The Ministry of National Security was asked to investigate.

The parents doubt any meaningful action will be taken – and yet last week Commissioner Clayton Fernander claims there is an ongoing investigation into the matter. He did not explain why such a lengthy investigation was required.

Then there is the ongoing case of an MP who is accused of rape. Commissioner Fernander has told people to “stand by” as there are “still one or two inquiries” despite recommendations having been given to him by the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Cordell Frazier.

Then in June, The Tribune reported claims by five men that they were beaten with a garden hose, a baseball bat and a PVC pipe after being taken into custody after a brawl at a bar in Bimini.

Today, we report on a man claiming his brother had a bag placed over his head, his handcuffs were tightened and he was beaten on the bottom with a machete to make him confess. The man was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital where his brother says he was prevented from seeing him.

We can go back to 2018 too, when three people say they were tortured by police in Eleuthera – handcuffed, beaten and fishbagged – and when

they complained, their complaint ran out of time for consideration despite being made in ample time.

Still further today, we report on the case – again, more than four months ago – in which two Haitian barbers were reportedly assaulted by two immigration officers.

At the time, Immigration Minister Keith Bell said he hoped the investigation would be completed within a week. Months later, when asked if he is sure any investigation is actually happening, Mr Bell says: “I would like to think so.”

There is perhaps no greater indication of the level of priority Mr Bell has in his department for an alleged assault by two of his officers than going from an investigation in a week to him not being sure if any investigation is happening at all months later.

It is not good enough for authorities to simply say they will investigate and then hope everyone will go away and not ask them about it again.

This is exactly why people say they have no faith in such investigations taking place at all.

We do not know if these particular immigration officers are still on front-line duties, we do not know any timeline for the investigation – and if it were not for The Tribune asking questions, we might never know.

Mr Bell, you found your answers quickly enough when questions were raised over your administration of a citizenship oath in circumstances you admit yourself were unorthodox, perhaps you can find answers now on what the state of the investigation is where two people say they were assaulted by your officers. We believe the video of the incident is still available.

There can be delays in investigations for legitimate reasons – but if that is so, inform the public of what is happening. Not least of all, inform the alleged victims. Talk of transparency and accountability is cheap. Delivering on it is invaluable.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHAT’S up with Fred Mitchell and Freeport? During the Budget Debate, his PLP Cabinet colleagues had their say on the future of Freeport, then let the matter rest.

His colleagues must have heard the message from the people of Grand Bahama: “Yes, things need to improve, but government intimidation only makes a difficult situation worse. Please stop making things more dangerous and uncertain for us.”

Brave and the Cabinet heard the message loud and clear, but not Mitchell. He either didn’t hear or he didn’t care to heed.

Mitchell is now the only one persisting, refusing to relent, turning up the pressure on Grand Bahama, issuing warnings and making confrontational statements on a regular basis.

It is unclear why this is happening. Mitchell is not MP for the Freeport area. His constituency isn’t even in Grand Bahama.

Mitchell’s official responsibilities are confined to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and he also serves as chairman of the PLP. None of these positions make his

‘lone wolf’ behaviour on the delicate issue of Freeport relevant or appropriate. In fact, I believe them to be most inappropriate.

Grand Bahama already has five MPs of its own. It has a whole Ministry and Minister, who is Mitchell’s Cabinet colleague. The good member from Fox Hill should try to confine himself to the matters of Fox Hill and the areas covered by his other official responsibilities. On the matter of Freeport, he should either cease and desist, or explain his curious and intense interest in the Second City.

A Grand Bahamian in Economic Exile July 14, 2023

Mitchell, be quiet on Freeport OPM fag not using right colours

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ALL this fuss over 50th and no one can make sure that the correct Bahamas national flag flies at The Office of The Prime Minister. Not colour blind by the

POLL RESULTS

aqua marine/turquoise on the flag flying at OPM is dark blue so is the aqua marine on the PM flag not to be outdone.

Anyway every day the RBDF Marine hoists the flag and doesn’t notice... the

Prime Minister and at least two other Ministers drive into the complex and ain’t anyone looking.

J L STUBBS Nassau, July 8, 2023.

In the last Tribune online poll, we asked readers if they thought a Bahamian should be the president of the University of the Bahamas.

The majority of those voting – 69 percent – thought that a Bahamian should indeed be the president, with 31 percent saying “no”.

Don’t miss your chance to join the conversation and vote in our latest poll on tribune242.com.

AFTER it was revealed that “many” senators and senior civil servants had failed to make their public disclosures as required by law, readers had their say on the matter.

Moncurcool said: “The government does not obey the laws, and there is no consequence. But yet the government wants to squeeze the average Bahamian if they disregard paying taxes. This is utter nonsense. If these people break the law, fine them and send them to jail.”

TalRussell said: “Note: My simple ask of the Red Party’s and King’s Official Opposition Leader Michael Pintard Who is in possession of the full list, Listing, - ALL the names, Must’ve also included the names of

those House-elected mps - And ALL other those, who have not yet complied as lawfully required under the ‘financial disclosures’ act. My ask: Comrade Pintard. Where is the ‘Significance of an Act’ - If you as the King’s Official Opposition Leader,Hasn’t turned over such a list of law breaking names to the Commish of the Policemans’, to conduct full - Subject to terms of imprisonment level - Investigations’?”

Tedb4z said: “It seems they do these things for distraction, this is not new.”

Roda replied: “Maybe, but when the plp wasnt in power this same office was allegedly leaking ppl name to the press who was 1/2 hour late and suggesting other things.”

Longgone added: “What a surprise----I’m shocked!”

While Bahamianson concluded: “Ya charge people interest if they do not pay real property tax, but you can do as you please, have lavish parties during the independence week , and we have to pay for it while watching you dance the night away on OUR MONEY!!! Utter hogwash!. Go to D jail!”

A YOUTH jumps in the water to cool off on a sweltering hot day in the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Lebanon yesterday. Were forecast to reach as high as 104 Fahrenheit, in some parts of Lebanon.

Photo: Hassan Ammar/AP

Small business revenue declines blamed on VAT on charter yachts

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

MAN CHARGED WITH AIDING IN SMUGGLING $9M IN COCAINE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was charged with aiding in the smuggling of $9m worth of cocaine into Long Island late last month.

Androetti Nixon, 43, faced three drug charges before Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley.

These include conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to import dangerous drugs, and abetment to import dangerous drugs.

Nixon was represented by Ian Cargill and Tonique Lewis.

According to police reports, at around 1.30am on June 23, a joint operation between OPBAT, the DEU, the DEA, the US Coast Guard and local

police seized a singleengine Cessna aircraft on Deadman’s Cay, Long Island. A search of the plane uncovered 15 crocus sacks containing 1,122lbs of cocaine. It is alleged that Nixon aided in the drug trafficking, but was not present during the discovery of the drugs.

The four men arrested were Rodrigo Arce, 40, Edgar Ruano, 28, and Jorge Cabrera, 50, all from Mexico, along with local Harry Dolcce, 45. They were arraigned for drug charges last month. Nixon pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Nixon was granted $50,000 bail on condition that he is fitted with an electronic monitoring device. The trial is set for hearing from September 4 to 8.

MAN ON ELEUTHERA ACCUSED OF POSSESSION OF A LOADED GUN

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail after he was accused of having a loaded gun in Eleuthera on Independence weekend.

Willard Johnson, 30, was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux.

He also faced a charge of possession of dangerous drugs.

Johnson was represented by Alphonso Lewis.

Johnson was allegedly found with a black Taurus G2C 9mm pistol, serial

number ABD447195, in Harbour Island on July 9. At the time of his arrest the accused was also found with nine unfired rounds of 9mm ammunition and a quantity of marijuana. After pleading not guilty to the charge the accused was granted $9,000 bail with one or two sureties. Under the conditions of this bail Johnson is expected to be fitted with a monitoring device and must sign in at the Harbour Island Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday by 6pm. Johnson is expected to return to court on September 8 for a trial date.

WOM AN TO REPAY $1,000 STOLEN WHILE E MPLOYED AT STARBUCKS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN was placed on two years probation after admitting stealing more than $1,000 from a Starbucks where she was formerly employed.

Ashley Hudson, 25, was charged with stealing by reason of employment before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain.

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”.

Hudson stole $1,008.10 in cash from Starbucks on East Bay Street on July 12.

After pleading guilty to the offence, the accused was granted a conditional discharge. Hudson was placed on two years probation, which if found in default, would carry a sixmonth prison term.

She is also expected to fully reimburse her former employer or risk 30 days in prison.

Sound policy decisions over soundbites to tackle crime

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

A RECENT spate of shocking crimes – including sex attacks against elderly women – has prompted some familiar talk. We must be tougher on crime, tougher on criminals. Perhaps so – but in our reaction, we appear to be falling into an old trap of seeking to carry out action, any action, without regard to whether or not it really works.

Few ideas for tackling crime are really new –and the suggestion in the House during last week from FNM MP Adrian White was another that has been tried before elsewhere.

He suggested a threestrikes policy. If that sounds familiar, well it should. It’s a 30-year-old policy first tried out in Washington in 1993. Its use was not limited to there, 22 more states following suit in the next couple of years.

Interestingly, the laws were passed at a time when crime rates were falling – though public concern about crime was soaring. That disparity between perception and reality might be a

recurring theme when talking about crime.

Mr White said of his suggestion in the House: “If you have three serious offences, we can debate whether that individual should remain in custody for the rest of their lifetime, three strikes and you’re out, your freedom to be back in society is done, or we can debate it along the lines of three strikes and when you’re out, the public knows that you’re out, the public is on notice, they’re aware and can take precautions.”

Let’s break that down a little – there are two suggestions here. The first is that if you commit a third serious offence then you’re not ever coming back out of prison, the second is that if we do not go down the path of permanent incarceration, then we just tell people when you’re coming out so that the public can “take precautions”. What those precautions are, Mr White did not specify.

One of the biggest problems encountered under the three-strikes law in the US was that it led to a substantial increase in the number of prisoners serving long sentences for relatively minor offences.

One such example was the case of Leandro Andrade. He had a history of drugs and burglaries when he tried to rob two stores of a grand total of $153 worth of videotapes. Because of his past history, he was jailed for 50 years. Another case involved Timothy Tyler who was sentenced to life in prison without parole under the federal version of the three-strikes law even though neither of his two previous convictions were violent – he had not served any prison time previously.

Well, let the criminal be on notice, some might say – why have sympathy with anyone if they are committing a crime? Perhaps so – but the real effect to take notice of when it comes to these measures are whether it serves as a deterrent to crime. Does it drive crime figures down?

With 30 years of evidence to draw on, the answer seems to be there is no significant impact on deterrence. A 2004 study found no significant effect on deterrence –although some of that may be because of pre-existing laws in place.

After all, repeat criminals have always faced

stiffer penalties already. You will note the number of times an attorney defends his client saying this is their first offence and they receive a lighter sentence as a result. A repeat offender? Not so much. Their sentencing goes up, not down.

Another study found that some criminals did indeed stop committing small crimes – but that some were pushed towards more serious offences on the basis that if they are going to get a long sentence regardless if they get caught, they have little to lose by committing more serious crimes rather than misdemeanors. Even worse, a 2015 study found a 33 percent increase in fatal assaults on law enforcement officers as criminals seek to avoid the prolonged punishment if they get caught. Such laws can also slow down the court systems as prolonged appeals seek to avoid longer sentences, and even before any sentence occurs, those prisoners end up in jail because what’s to lose with fleeing the jurisdiction if permanent imprisonment is your alternative? Prisons would need to be bigger, and investment in courts too if they are to keep up with the associated backlog.

Mr White, of course, suggests that this is for serious offences only – and other jurisdictions have done that too. Alaska, for

example, introduced its three-strike policy in 1996 for serious felonies only –with a third strike earning a 40 to 99-year sentence. In the two years following the introduction of such a law, it was used a grand total of once. This is not the only time we have leaned towards implementing programmes that have been tried elsewhere and perhaps found wanting.

The Shock Treatment scheme – which is a social reform programme that has been turned into a TV show – exposes children to the consequences of crime. It is designed to shock participants and show them what lies ahead if they stay on a wayward path. While the intentions particularly of Dr Carlos Reid may be wholehearted, again there is plenty of evidence on whether such a scheme has an effect.

Locally, there are the anecdotal stories – it was recently noted that some of the participants are in prison or have been killed, while other individual success stories of graduates were touted. It feels good to say this person did well, or that the programme is a success even if only one person is helped – but that person may have been helped another way just as much. Taking a broader view shows whether statistically the programme is working collectively – or not.

In the UK in the late 70s, the Short Sharp Shock scheme was introduced – with young lawbreakers placed in an almost military environment. Afterwards? Most went on to commit further crimes and about 90 percent were unemployed.

So what are the alternatives? Well, getting people jobs is a major one. People holding down a job and earning money that way are more likely to steer clear of crime.

But an even bigger one is one that does not work as well as a soundbite: Help.

Many of our repeat offenders also have an addiction to drugs. Treatment programmes have routinely been shown to have a greater success rate in steering people away from crime than repeated calls to be tougher.

If the goal is to reduce recidivism and with it reduce the overall level of crime, the answer lies not in soundbites or kneejerk calls for action, it lies in examining the proven evidence across a number of programmes that have already been carried out across the world.

We do not need to reinvent the wheel, we just need to follow the best examples implemented elsewhere. If in doing so we can reduce our crime levels, then that is the success we must aim for.

‘We do not need to reinvent the wheel, we just need to follow the best examples implemented elsewhere.’

Vox pop: What is your hope for The Bahamas’ next fifty years?

By: MIA GARDNER

AS The Bahamas has reached its 50th anniversary, attention turns to what will come in our nation’s next half century.

The Tribune took to the streets to ask the question: “What do you hope the country will accomplish in the next 50 years?”

The response was mixed – with a range of concerns.

Rose Bethell, an assistant librarian, said she would like to see an improvement in the education system.

“My main concern is our education. I want them to concentrate on the [academically challenged] people because, guess what, they [are] your criminals,” Ms Bethell said.

“[They’re] not being educated, and they feel left out, and the teachers, I can be honest, they bring them down … they have to live, be clothed, they need food, they want a car to drive around in, but they don’t have [their] education.”

She added: “When they go for a job interview, [they] don’t have a high school diploma and

[employers] don’t pay [them] any mind. Our main thing is for us to get our country literate.”

Destiny Josey and Garanique Adderley both agreed that the country can work on the quality of their roads, “Pot holes for sure,” Ms Josey said.

“The thing I really want to see in 50 years, or right now, would be better roads because we have so [many] pot holes, so [many] tyres being ripped up. Your car shocks gone! Better roads is a necessity for everything.”

Ms Adderley added: “I think that we need better government buildings because if you go into Nassau into our main city, the buildings are really bad, especially when we’re the number one industry of tourism.”

She added: “Our buildings are dilapidated and we’re bringing in our tourists, we don’t want them seeing that because [they’re] thinking that we live in shambles already.”

Finally, Barbra Wilson said it was really important that The Bahamas begins to rely on itself. She said: “I feel like

I would like to see us become more self-sufficient. As you know we’ve been independent now for 50 years and we are still very dependent on other countries. I would like to see us get to the point where we can feed ourselves at least for the most part and provide for ourselves so we are not so dependent on other countries. We, obviously, are very dependent on other countries for tourism and we saw the issues happen because of it during COVID but we need to be able to feed ourselves.”

Ms Wilson said through the education system, schools can teach agriculture early and support and encourage self-farming to the younger generation. She said: “We can accomplish that if we put more emphasis from childhood. Back in the old days, children went on the farms with their parents, on their yards, in their homes and planted their own crops and they ate from what they planted and they taught them that when they were young, but we don’t really have them in schools now.

AMONG many concerns of citizens on where The Bahamas needs improvement over the next fifty years are in education, the state of our roads, the quality of our tourism product among others.

“There really [aren’t] any courses that insist that we do agriculture and this kind of thing. It’s how you eat! And I think if we start

from small, between agriculture, and fisheries from childhood from a young stage so that they grow up with that mentality, all we

think of right now is that we grow up and work in tourism. But if the tourists don’t come, we’re screwed.”

SALTHIEL T HOMP SON - FIRS T BAHAMIAN TO BE APPOINTED COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

IN THE previous article, it was briefly mentioned that the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) underwent a change in leadership during The Bahamas’ independence. Salathiel Thompson, a native Bahamian, was selected as the Commissioner to lead the RBPF for the rest of the 1970s decade, marking a groundbreaking achievement. He became the first Bahamian to hold this prestigious position and was also the first to rise through the ranks to become Commissioner.

Born in the small settlement of Bannerman Town in Eleuthera, Mr Thompson spent his younger years there before relocating with his family to Nassau. He completed his secondary education at Eastern Senior High School and subsequently joined the Bahamas Police Force on 11th October, 1937. Mr Thompson’s was first posted at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in August 1938. During his 15-year tenure there, he gained valuable knowledge and experience in investigations and handling various cases. Through his dedication and competence, he progressed from Constable to Sergeant at the CID before being transferred to the Magistrate’s Court in 1953.

Mr Thompson’s background as an investigator equipped him well for this new responsibility as a prosecutor. His comprehensive understanding of criminal offences, file management, and investigation enabled him to excel in his new role. Recognising his exceptional skills, his superiors acknowledged the value he brought to the force. In 1955, he was assigned to the Police Training School, where he shared his expertise with recruits for a two-year period. In 1957,

he was selected to attend a training course for prosecutors held in Jamaica. After completing the course, he returned to the Magistrate’s Court for his second stint as a prosecutor. During this time, he advanced from Sergeant to Assistant Superintendent and, after entering the gazette rank, Mr Thompson took command of two different divisions.

Initially appointed as the Officer-in-Charge of the Southern Division, Mr. Thompson showcased his leadership abilities. He was later assigned to the Central Division, where he continued to excel. On 07th July, 1965, he was promoted to Superintendent and assumed the role of Superintendent of New Providence District. He was later transferred to Grand Bahama as the Officer-inCharge, assigned back to New Providence momentarily before returning

to Grand Bahama. In October 1971, Mr Thompson’s exemplary service led to his promotion to Deputy Commissioner. Shortly thereafter, he was transferred back to New Providence. Finally, on June 1, 1973, Mr Thompson was appointed as the Commissioner of Police in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, ushering in a new era for Bahamians. In conclusion, Salathiel Thompson’s rise from a small settlement in Eleuthera to the Commissioner of Police broke barriers. He exemplified dedication, expertise, and leadership. As the first Bahamian to achieve such a milestone, Mr Thompson paved the way for future generations and left a permanent mark on the RBPF’s history. the Royal Bahamas Police Force

FORMER COMMISSIONER OF POLICE SALATHIEL THOMPSON

Proactive approach need so all are able to afford health care

IN Japanese culture, having a garden pond filled with Koi fish is believed to bring good fortune to home owners and their visitors. Koi fish are considered resilient because they can survive harsh environments, have notable courage and perseverance as they repeatedly swim upstream against the current and are beloved because of their beautiful vibrant colours and their surprising ability to form attachments to their human owners. What makes the legend and culture around Koi even more interesting is that while they are resilient and seen as symbolic of success, universally they are symbols of love and peace.

Beyond that, a garden pond, in and of itself, devoid of fish transforms a backyard into a relaxing oasis. I personally prefer high rise apartments and all the amenities that go along with them but, for those with gardens large enough to accommodate a pond, I appreciate the appeal.

Recently, I was speaking with a friend who complained about the rising cost of water lilies which she needed for her pond. These freshwater flowering plants help inhibit algae growth and provide much needed shade and protection. As she explained to me, apart from their cosmetic appeal they provide a successful breeding ground for her beloved Koi fish.

Later that evening, I couldn’t help but associate her vigorous condemnation over the steadily rising price of what most would consider a luxury purchase with a lot of elasticity, with the ongoing complaints throughout our nation regarding the cost of health insurance. In this analogy, the Koi fish are humans requiring protection and the water lilies represent necessary health insurance required to provide shelter, comfort and an opportunity for the Koi fish to survive longer. Without it, they will still live, but against the harsh sunlight and unspoken elements, life is much more challenging.

On a near daily basis, patients lament the high price they pay to maintain their health insurance, the little they get in return and the challenges they face when they file a claim. In many instances, their protestations have merit. Near tears, I can recall a patient telling me how it costs him over a thousand dollars per month to pay for him and his wife to have health insurance, which was more than they received in their monthly pension. So, this proud man who’d worked hard his entire life now depended on his children to provide him with the basic necessities. Every time he gets sick and has to see a doctor, his eyes say everything without him ever speaking a word. Fortunately, he and his wife live modestly and have no debt.

Others are not so fortunate.

Another patient lost his insurance coverage along with his job when his company downsized. He simply couldn’t afford to keep up with the premiums without any other source of residual income. He and his family struggle to pay their mortgage, their children’s school fees, utilities and provide food. Each month, they grow deeper and deeper in debt and the constant fear and worry has strained their marriage. In the US, nearly 40 percent of all divorces occur (annually) because of financial problems or disagreements and it is rare to find even a happy marriage where finances do not count as a cause for worry or dissension. Local statistics in this regard are unknown, but from the ‘where your

paycheck gone?’ to ‘why did you gamble on that high-risk investment?’ the subject of finances, equivalent to survival, is always present. The difficulty with losing insurance, or attempting to switch to a less expensive provider, is that if you have a pre-existing medical condition, more often than not, you won’t be covered for that illness and if you are covered, payments will likely be too exorbitant for the rank and file. In this scenario, Patient X suffers with a heart condition. Then, Patient X, for whatever reason switches to an alternative insurance provider. In many instances, this new insurance will not cover any future health challenges that Patient X suffers related to his heart condition. So, the patient is forced to stay with the original insurance company and continue paying the ill-afforded increasing costs or switch and pray to never be hospitalized for anything related to their pre-existing condition. It’s not an easy choice.

Another reason for distress that causes frustration is that they can’t use their insurance for approximately one year after activation and then once they start, they can only start submitting a claim after their deductible is met. Meaning, if your insurance policy states that you have a yearly deductible of $500, for example, then you can’t use your insurance until after that $500 has been paid for the year during one of your doctor’s visits. Then, even when you are able to use it, you have a co-payment which varies between 0-20 percent or more of the total cost of the visit, if visiting a specialist physician in a private setting.

Some people have insurance their entire adult life and rarely ever use it. Years later at an age when it’s most necessary, they can’t afford to keep it. It’s an unfortunate paradox common throughout small Caribbean nations like The Bahamas. For a while, there were repeated calls by disgruntled activists for health care to be made more affordable and for people who invested so much money in insurance over the years, to be able to get something back out of it. Those requests have largely been ignored and I suspect will likely never be addressed.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, insurance providers, who for the most part have very good intentions, have an onerous and herculean task ahead of them. They have to provide coverage to an admittedly obese population with some of the worst health statistics in the western hemisphere while reining in costs. If that weren’t enough, they have to do this all the while battling a dramatic increase in their own reinsurance costs following the Covid19 pandemic coupled with increasing administration, taxes and commission costs locally, wherein administration costs alone can total nearly 20% of premium volumes.

In Japan, all 126 million residents have health insurance coverage provided either through their employer or via a national health insurance programme. Medical fees are furthermore regulated by the government in an effort to maintain affordability for the general public. A National Health Insurance (NHI) was initiated in The Bahamas over five years ago but private insurers remain the prevailing source of coverage for Bahamians and there are concerns about the long-term feasibility of NHI given the state of the

population’s health and the demands on the healthcare system. Despite this, there are plans underway to expand the reach of NHI locally ushering forward a promise of hope for the uninsured with no alternative recourse.

Until then, Bahamians will have to bear the costs until they can’t. One way as a nation to help mitigate those costs for citizens and

insurance providers is to limit consumption of alcohol, fried, salty and sugary foods, focusing instead on healthy options like fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, exercise regularly and get regular health check-ups which often don’t require any co-payment when insurance is utilized.

Koi fish ponds adorned with the most stunningly beautiful water lilies

By DR KENNETH D KEMP

are common in gardens throughout Japan. And there, the price of water lilies, like insurance, is affordable to all of their citizens. Interested parties take heed; with a burgeoning elder population and crushing inflationary concerns, proactive counter-measures must soon be adopted to curtail the rising cost of health insurance throughout our nation. Fifty years of

independence have shown us that despite all our progress over the years, we certainly have much more work to do and a lot more miles against the current to swim.

This is The KDK Report. -

Haiti urgently needs a genuine and representative transitional government

HAITI’S non-elected President, Dr. Ariel Henry has been identified as a significant part of the current crisis in Haiti. Henry and a small clique, who surround him, are hardly running the affairs of the state. Indeed, as armed gangs control more than 60 per cent of Portau-Prince and the main corridors throughout Haiti, the disappearance of the state is obvious.

However, Henry and his appointed government have been dismantling what remained of Haiti’s democratic institutions. As a coalition of U.S. based law school clinics describe it, “As of January 2023, there is no longer a single elected official at any level of government in Haiti.”

In the meantime, Henry has been accused by the U.S. law school clinics, including Harvard Law School, and others of taking illegal actions, which are designed to prolong his non-elected role as President. In March, Henry illegally named eight justices to Haiti’s highest court, the Cour

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

de Cassation, undermining the court’s legitimacy to check executive power. Additionally, in December 2022, he organized a “National Consensus Document for an Inclusive Transition and Fair Elections”.

The document hardly reflected a “national consensus” in which key human rights organizations and political actors were excluded – a serious flaw which has been ignored by hemispheric and regional organizations.

This unpopular document would help to consolidate Henry’s power by allowing him to pack the Cour de Cassation, Haiti’s Supreme Court, with his handpicked persons, and putting in place an unconstitutional

Provisional Electoral Council to organize and superintend Presidential and other elections. Haitian civil society, in many public statements, and presentations to members of the U.S. executive and legislative branches and to diplomats in the U.S., Canada and France have made it clear that they object to the December 2022 document. According to a statement made by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at their 50th anniversary meeting in Trinidad from July 3 to 5, Henry told them “that he will not seek election but will head a Transition Government to secure the arrangements to transition the country from the security and humanitarian crises until the holding of credible, free and fair elections”. Insiders reveal that this statement had to be extracted from Henry who resisted being asked to make such a statement on the basis that “Haiti is a sovereign country”.

In any event, while CARICOM leaders say, officially, that Henry has made this statement, he is yet to make such a public statement to the Haitian people. Furthermore, the fact that he and his close group are alone establishing elections machinery assures civil society and political parties in Haiti that “credible, free and fair elections” are impossible.

Significantly, in an article, published in the New York Times on 13 July, an experienced and knowledgeable expert on Haitian affairs, Jake Johnston, as senior research associate at the Centre for Economic and Policy Research, pointed out that “Henry has close links to a prime suspect in the assassination (of former President Jovenel Moïse)”. Johnston reveals the following troubling information: “The former chief prosecutor overseeing the assassination case in Haiti called Mr. Henry to testify. He refused and then called the justice minister and told him to fire the prosecutor. When the minister refused, Mr. Henry fired both. Since then, an audio recording of the judge overseeing the case was leaked to CNN. “Ariel is a prime suspect of Jovenel Moïse’s assassination, and he knows it,” the judge can be heard saying. “Do you think I can touch Ariel now?”

Meanwhile Haiti continues to descend into chaos, lawlessness and wide scale human suffering. The World Food Programme says half of Haiti’s population is experiencing hunger; there is

no functioning criminal justice system, there are no trials and 85 per cent of prisoners have never been tried; the only electricity generation in the country comes from a private company owned by an elite Hattian family; between January and March this year, there have been 398 kidnappings and 1,634 violent assaults – including murders and rapes – took place in Port-au-Prince; many people in Haiti have no birth certificate and no identity papers; officially they do not exist; one hospital in the Canape Vert neighbourhood, south of the Capital, reports that it treats more than 10 patients wounded by gunshots every day.

The Haitian people cannot rely on their government for the basic services that every government is obliged to provide to its people. The state has long since collapsed.

Despite all this, the focus of the international community throughout this worsening crisis has been on whether or not to provide military support to the Haitian Police which is the principal request of the Ariel Henry regime. It is a request deeply feared within Haiti as a ruse to maintain the regime in office, and, consequently, to continue the incapacity to address the dire conditions in which the Haitian people are forced to eke out a miserable life.

Haitian human rights groups and others, who yearn for a better life, do want the restoration of security, but they also want justice and accountability by a government they elect and on which there must be checks and balances, including free and fair elections. Therefore, the start of any international response to the Haitian crisis must be the establishment of a legitimate transitional government,

comprising representatives of civil society and political parties.

After three days of a failed meeting from 11 to 13 June in Jamaica –which Henry had to be cajoled to attend – it was obvious that he has no interest in genuine power sharing.

On the gangs in Haiti, it should be recalled that they were created by members of rival political parties and elite oligarch families for their own purposes. Fed by the greed and ambitions of others, they have become forces with lives of their own. Dealing with them requires careful strategies and even negotiations which are best left to a transitional government that enjoys the confidence of a broad cross section of the Haitian people.

To give the country the chance it desperately needs, and which Dr. Henry clearly cannot provide, he should consider stepping aside to facilitate the convocation of willing parties to appoint a transitional government in which neither he nor any member of his present regime should participate, unless agreed and accepted by the broadbased grouping. And that should be the transitional government which should provide the international community with the country’s priority needs, giving every safeguard against corruption and political misuse of resources.

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com)

HAITIAN Prime Minister Ariel Henry, front left, and Culture and Communications Minister Emmelie Prophete Milce, front right, attend a ceremony in memory of slain Haitian President Jovenel Moise, two years after his killing, at the National Pantheon Museum in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, July 7, 2023.

Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP

Buccaneers run away with gold

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The New Providence Buccaneers left the sixth Bahamas Games as track gold medal winners. With the competition starting on July 7, track was one of the last remaining sporting disciplines to enter the fray.

On the final day of the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games, the Buccaneers ended in the lead with 58 total medals, inclusive of 28 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze. The Grand Bahama Lucayans finished in second with 32 medals with 14 gold, 13 silver and five bronze.

The Andros Chickcharnies finished third with 12 gold medals, 11 silver and 11 bronze.

TRACK

After claiming a win for the Buccaneers in the girls 4x100 metre (m) open relays, Denisha Cartwright emerged victorious in the women’s 100m hurdles. She finished with a time of 13.34. The Lucayans’ Kaily Pratt notched second in 15.04 and MICAL’s Ivaneice Charlton came third.

The Buccaneers’ Kenny Moxey amassed multiple gold medals in the Bahamas Games track and field sporting discipline.

He earned his first medal in the under 17 boys discus throw on day one. Additionally, he secured gold in the under 17 boys high jump with 1.75m.

Moxey then went on to win the 110m hurdles in the same age group. He crossed the finish line first, clocking 14.92. Exuma’s Quinton Rolle followed behind in 15.12

New Providence island dominates track and field

Alcaraz, Page 14

ATHLETES GET SET FOR THE WORLDS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS they prepare for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August, national champions sprinter Anthonique Strachan and high jumper Donald Thomas got in some competition at the Chorzow Diamond League Meet.

In the final event to close out the meet yesterday, Strachan placed sixth in the women’s 100 metres in a time of 11.005 seconds. Strachan, coming off her 100m victory at the BAAA National Championships a little over a week ago, was short of her lifetime and season’s best of 10.92.

American Sha’Carri Richardson took the title in 10.76, just shy of her personal best of 10.71 she also ran this year. Strachan’s training partner Jamaican Shericka Jackson came in second in 10.78 as Eva Swoboda was third in a personal best of 10.94.

In the men’s high jump, Thomas finished seventh with a best of the day of 7-feet, 5 1/4-inches or 2.27 metres, which was below his season’s best of 7-5 3/4 (2.28m) and well behind his lifetime best of 7-9 1/4 (2.37m).

The world’s best high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar took the victory in a meet record of 7-8 3/4 (2.34m).

end the track and field sporting discipline with 28 gold medals and a combined team score of

Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy, the co-Olympic gold medallist with Barshim, was second and Tobias Potye of Germany got third, both with 7-8 (2.34m).

and Zion Munroe of the MICAL Flamingos ended in third.

Sprinter Ian Kerr held off the Navigators’ Samson Colebrooke for first in the open men’s 200m finals. Kerr clocked 21.38 for the win and Colebrooke placed second in 21.53.

Third place went to Grand Bahama’s Taejuan Spence. The 200m winner also earned a gold medal in the 4x400m open relay alongside Quinton Ellis, Joel Forbes and Stephen Newbold. Kerr talked about how it felt to earn gold for the

Minister Bowleg: ‘This was a great Bahamas Games’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS the curtain came down on the sixth Bahamas Games, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said he was pleased with what he saw from the nine days of competition.

“This was a great Bahamas Games,” said Bowleg, who was in attendance for the final event on Saturday night in the men’s softball gold medal game in the Bankers’ Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

“The games started off pretty slow, but as the momentum started to build, we started to see the development of sports in the length and breadth of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.”

Although it was a showdown between the Grand Bahama Lucayans and the New Providence Buccaneers for the most medals accumulated, Bowleg said he was pleased to see the parity from the other islands participating.

Unofficially, Grand Bahama collected 91 gold, 59 silver and 41 bronze for

a total of 191 medals. New Providence had 77 gold, 74 silver and 60 bronze for 211 medals.

The Abaco Chickcharnies got 25 gold, 31 silver and 27 bronze for 83 medals, Columbus Isles Flamingos had 21 gold, 20 silver and 37 bronze for 78 total and the Long Island Sheep Runners followed with 17 gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze for 51 total.

In softball where the Eleuthera Adventurers claimed the men’s gold over Grand Bahama, Long Island stunned New Providence for the bronze and Grand Bahama took the women’s gold over New Providence with MICAL snatching the bronze over Andros.

Bowleg, who just came from watching Eleuthera also win the men’s gold in basketball, said he was able to notice how the talent was spread across the islands in the various disciplines.

“I’m hoping that all federations and associations would see the diamonds in the rough and be able to develop them,” Bowleg said. “These games are uniting the nation through

sports. “But it also gives us an opportunity to see some of the talent that we haven’t seen before and hopefully that can help us to remain as one of the top sporting disciplines in the world.”

With the seventh Bahamas Games already pegged for 2026, Bowleg said they intend to introduce the regional games where there are northern, southern and central games where the islands can be better prepared for the actual games.

“We want these islands to know that we haven’t forgotten about them,”

SEE PAGE 15

Buccaneers. “It feels good to bring points back to the home team. I just wanted to go out there and execute to do the best that I could for the team, so bringing back the gold medal means a lot,” he said.

After the Bahamas Games, his plans are to try

and qualify for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

For the women, Printassia Johnson, who won the gold in the 4x100m open relays on Friday, got another in the 200m open

SEE PAGE 15

Meanwhile, in Canada at the 40th Harry Jerome Classic at Langley Township in British Columbia, Shakeem Hall-Smith, competing for Allstarz MGMT, won the men’s 400m hurdles in a personal best of 49.25. Roxroy Cato out of Ontario was next at the line in 50.02.

OF YOUTH, SPORTS AND CULTURE ANNOUNCES 2026 EDITION

MINISTER

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING the conclusion of the sixth Bahamas Games on Saturday night, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg announced the seventh edition is scheduled for 2026.

The games returned this year to coincide with the country’s 50th year of Independence, fielding 10 teams representing the islands of the Bahamas across 16 sporting disciplines. After a successful return following a 22-year hiatus, Bowleg is optimistic about the future of sports in The Bahamas and has some new initiatives on the ministry’s agenda.

“The games are scheduled to be held every three years. We are going to try and see if we could implement regional games in The Bahamas which will be the year before the Bahamas Games,” Mr Bowleg said.

If implemented, the games will feature the Northern Islands competing against each other, the Central Islands

squaring off, and the Southern Islands battling head-to-head.

“It will be a warmup for these Bahamas Games so that in the absence of the three years they do not feel that long wait but they have something regional that they could compete [in] that will also now prepare them for the Bahamas Games,” the minister said.

Bahamas Games

One of the main purposes of the Bahamas Games when it was initially established in 1989 by Minister of Sports Peter J Bethell was the unification of the Family Islands through sports and discovery of new talents throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

According to the MOYSC, after watching competition from July 7-15, he felt the games had reached its true purpose.

“I thought the games went pretty well, we might have had some loose ends here and there but we tightened up…after 22 years to bring these games back, what was most important for us was to not only unite the country together through these

various sporting disciplines but to unite these young people [and] give them an experience they have not experienced before in their life,” he said.

He added that one of the many benefits of the sixth Bahamas Games was that persons got to meet new people from the Family Islands that they can keep relationships with, especially for inter-island travelling to regattas.

Additionally, the different sporting federations along with the minister were impressed with the talent pool of the Family Island teams.

“It also tells us about how the various sporting federations can find those diamonds in the rough because all have said the games have allowed them to see some talent in the Family Islands that they did not know existed,” Mr Bowleg said.

He expressed that in order to sustain and maintain our level as the best country per capita on the Olympic level, we have to be able to find those diamonds.

SEE PAGE 15

THE NEW Providence Buccaneers

590 in the win.

Photo: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg.

Alcaraz defeats Djokovic for his second grand slam

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

WIMBLEDON, Eng-

land (AP) — A poor start left Carlos Alcaraz a single point from a two-set hole against Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.

That sort of deficit is daunting for anyone, let alone a 20-year-old in his second major final, and against anyone, let alone Djokovic, someone who hadn’t lost at Centre Court in a decade, someone seeking a fifth consecutive championship, and recordtying eighth overall, at the All England Club. Someone who won the year’s first two Grand Slam tournaments and 23 over his career.

Ah, but Alcaraz, last year’s US Open champ, wanted this shot at Djokovic, someone he called “a legend of our sport.” Said it would make winning Wimbledon that much more special. And so Alcaraz managed to come through in that tiebreaker as choruses of “Car-los! Car-los!” from the stands competed with cries of his older, more experienced, more accomplished foe’s twosyllable nickname, “No-le! No-le!” And then Alcaraz came through in a 32-point, 25-minute masterpiece of a game soon thereafter. And, crucially, the Spaniard came

through in the crucible of a fifth set, too. Add it all up, and the No. 1-ranked Alcaraz marked himself as the star people have been predicting he would be, transforming potential into triumph and putting an end to Djokovic’s 34-match winning streak at the All England Club all in one fell swoop by edging him 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in an engaging, back-and-forth final on Sunday. Alcaraz claimed his first title at Wimbledon and second Grand Slam trophy overall.

“Didn’t get down, didn’t give up,” said Alcaraz, the third-youngest man to win the grass-court major in the Open era, which began in 1968, after Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg. “We made great rallies, great points. It was a long, long match. Long sets. It was the mental part that allowed me to stay there.”

He is the first man outside the elite quartet of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to win Wimbledon since 2002 and, to many, this symbolised a transfer of power in men’s tennis.

“I haven’t played a player like him. Ever,” said Djokovic, quite a statement from a guy who competed against Federer and Nadal for so long and in so many remarkable matches.

CARLOS ALCARAZ, of Spain, celebrates after beating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic to win the final of the men’s singles on day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London yesterday. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)

“He’s proven,” Djokovic said, “that he’s the best player in the world, no doubt.”

The age gap between Alcaraz and the 36-year-old Djokovic, who wiped away tears during the trophy ceremony, was the widest in any men’s Slam final since 1974.

So Alcaraz had youth on his side, which he also did, of course, when they met in the French Open semifinals last month. That one was extraordinary for two sets before Alcaraz cramped up and faded. This time, he had the stamina and the strokes to get past Djokovic — and the belief that he could win.

After Alcaraz made nine unforced errors in the opening set to Djokovic’s two, showing signs of the nerves that hit him in Paris, things began to shift Sunday. At 4-all in the second set, Djokovic slipped on a worn patch behind the baseline under the Royal Box, flinging his racket away as he fell. At the next changeover, Djokovic flexed one leg by bending it over the other, then plopped his left heel on the net for additional stretching.

They would head to a tiebreaker, Djokovic’s dominion: He had won all six such set-enders he played at Wimbledon leading up to the final, and 15

straight in Grand Slam action.

Unflustered by a warning from chair umpire Fergus Murphy for taking too much time to serve, Djokovic pulled ahead 6-5. A set point.

But two netted backhands by Djokovic put Alcaraz within a point of that set.

“The backhands kind of let me down,” Djokovic would say later.

Alcaraz then struck a backhand passing winner off the return of a 118 mph serve, holding the pose of his follow-through. As people in the stands rose to roar, Alcaraz spun around with his right hand to his ear, soaking in the moment.

“If I would have lost that set, probably I couldn’t lift the trophy,” Alcaraz said. “I probably could have lost in three sets.”

They were two hours and two sets in.

One set each.

Now it was a match.

It began to feel memorable.

The fifth game of the third set might have been worth the high price of admission, in and of itself. Neither man wanted to bend. Neither wanted to cede a thing. It was one game, yes, but seemed meaningful.

When Djokovic slapped a forehand into the net to

get broken — one of five times he dropped serve in the match, more than his previous six opponents managed combined — Alcaraz celebrated his 4-1 edge in the set by throwing his head back and screaming “Vamos!” But Djokovic did not go away. He raised his level again, pushing this terrific tussle to a fifth set.

One of several reasons to like Djokovic’s chances at that juncture: He went into Sunday with a 10-1 record in five-setters at Wimbledon and 35-9 at all majors.

Those matches, however, were in the past.

Alcaraz is the future.

His serves top 130 mph. His sledgehammer of a forehand tops 100 mph, unleashed in such a manner as to make an observer believe every ounce of strength, every fiber of his being, is invested in each swing. The smack of the racket, and his “Uhhhehhh!” exhale of exertion — along with the gasps of impressed onlookers — reverberated around the arena.

He displays as varied a game as possible, from his volleying ability to the welldisguised drop shots that helped him get back into the thick of it in the second and third sets.

Djokovic, meanwhile, is equipped with

Griner makes emotional, dominant return to recordsetting WNBA All-Star Game

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP) —

Brittney Griner made an emphatic and emotional return to the WNBA’s midseason showcase event.

She scored 18 points, including her team’s first six, and put down two dunks in the league’s AllStar Game on Saturday night.

The sellout crowd roared when Griner was introduced and, clearly moved by the ovation, she tapped her chest over her heart with her right hand. There was no doubt that a year after being forced to miss this event while detained in Russia, Griner was the star of the show.

“To have that ovation and all those little memories that I can cherish now, it means the world,” Griner said. “So it was no question I was going to come and play. They have never wavered in their support.”

Griner led Team Stewart, captained by the New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, to a 143-127 victory over Team Wilson, led by the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson. The 143 points and 270 combined points are All-Star Game records.

Team Stewart’s Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm broke the All-Star Game

scoring record with 31 points, setting the mark on a pass from Griner.

Maya Moore and Kelsey Plum shared the previous record of 30 points. Loyd earned MVP honours for the game.

“I played hard because of my parents; I didn’t get them a gift for their anniversary,” Loyd said. “So I think this was acceptable. I hope it is.”

Plum actually tied her own record with 30 points, one of four Aces competing for Team Wilson, who received loud ovations from the home crowd in pregame introductions. Plum, who also had five assists, said sponsors pledged to donate $1,000 to a Las Vegas charity for each basket and assist.

“So I was gunning,” Plum said. “I mean 17 shots in 21 minutes is wild.”

She raised $16,000.

Griner, at this time last year, was being held in Russia on drug charges, sparking international outrage that she was being wrongfully detained. The WNBA named her an honorary starter, with every player wearing her No. 42 jersey in the second half of last year’s game.

This year, Griner was in the starting lineup — the only one wearing that jersey number — overshadowing almost

everything that happened on the court.

Team Stewart made Griner the focal point from the beginning. She delivered a dunk with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter off an outlet pass from Stewart. Griner also had a dunk 25 seconds into the second half.

“I called my knees and talked to them and gave them a little pep talk,” the 32-year-old Griner said of her dunks. She displayed that same jumping ability afterward, leaping up on

the riser for the postgame news conference.

Griner at one point in the first quarter challenged Team Wilson point guard Chelsea Gray of the Aces, but Gray drove past the nine-time All-Star from the Phoenix Mercury and dropped in a reverse layup from high off the glass. It was one of the few plays that didn’t work out for Griner. At the first media timeout, Griner was shown on the video board as she sat on the bench with

the words, “WELCOME BACK BRITTNEY GRINER” on the screen below her face.

Griner was among the players who wore microphones during the game, joking after missing a 3-pointer that she “got something in my eye.”

The game was played with a 20-second shot clock rather than the usual 24, two 4-point spots on each side of the court were added and there were no free throws. The teams combined to hit 12 4-point shots.

New York’s Sabrina Ionescu, representing Team Stewart, made all three of her attempts from 4-point range in the first half, carrying over her extraordinary shooting from the previous day.

Ionescu set a WNBA and NBA record with 37 of a possible 40 points in the 3-point contest. She finished with 18 points.

Sue Bird, Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles were among the ex-WNBA players in attendance, with Fowles wearing Napheesa Collier’s Minnesota Lynx jersey.

Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Dwyane Wade were among those with NBA ties watching. Wade is buying an ownership stake in the Chicago Sky.

an abundance of talents, too, and so much muscle memory. So often, he would hustle and stretch and slide nearly into the splits to get Alcaraz’s apparent pointending shots back in ways no one else could.

Plus, he’s been there, and done that, in ways Alcaraz, for now, can only dream of.

But if this victory on a windy and cloudy day is any indication, Alcaraz is on his way to achieving quite a bit himself.

He moved out front for good by breaking to go up 2-1 in the fifth with a backhand passing winner. Djokovic, who fell during the point but quickly popped back up, reacted by slamming his racket into the net post, letting go on impact. He destroyed his equipment and earned a code violation from Murphy. “Frustration in the moment,” Djokovic called it.

They would play on for another 24 minutes, but Alcaraz never relented, never gave way, no matter the skill and will possessed by the man across the net.

And it was Alcaraz, not Djokovic, who covered his face and rolled in the grass after the final point, then received the gold trophy.

“It’s something that I will never forget,” Alcaraz said. “That’s for sure.

TOUR DE FRANCE: VINGEGAARD KEEPS YELLOW JERSEY, POELS WINS THE 15TH STAGE

SAINT-GERVAIS MONTBLANC, France (AP) — With just one week of racing left in the Tour de France, the duel for the ages between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar could still go either way.

Vingegaard kept intact his 10-second overall lead over the two-time champion yesterday as Dutch veteran Wout Poels soloed to victory after a tough trek in the Alps with a mountaintop finish.

The 35-year-old Poels, who was part of an early breakaway in Sunday’s 179-kilometre (111-mile) 15th stage, took advantage of a short but very steep ascent located just before the final 7-kilometre (4-mile) climb leading to the finish line to move away.

Wout van Aert, a key teammate of Vingegaard, finished second, more than two minutes behind, with Mathieu Burgaudeau completing the stage podium.

Locked in a pulsating fight for the yellow jersey since the start of the race, Vingegaard and Pogacar once again stayed together and kept an eye on each other throughout the day in the group of main contenders.

The two riders have been a cut above the rest of the field over the last two weeks — third-place Carlos Rodriguez lags 5 minutes, 21 seconds behind — and again proved to be the strongest of all main contenders ahead of today’s second rest day.

Pogacar tried to sprint away from his rival 900 metres from the line but Vingegaard, the defending champion, immediately jumped on his wheel and did not lose any time. Their duel will resume in Tuesday’s time trial.

After the time trial, the pair will have two more mountain stages to settle their exciting rivalry before the race concludes in Paris next Sunday.

PHOENIX Mercury’s Brittney Griner, of Team Stewart, shoots over Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson, of Team Wilson, during the second half of the WNBA All-Star basketball game Saturday in Las Vegas.

(AP Photo/ John Locher)

Andros Chickcharnies take home gold in golf

GRAND BAHAMA LUCAYANS SECURE SILVER, NP BUCCANEERS WIN BRONZE

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Chickcharnies will carry the sixth Bahamas Games team gold medal home to Andros.

After leading from Thursday’s day one of the competition at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island, the Chickcharnies wrapped up their feat on Saturday with a 25-point margin over their nearest rivals the Grand Bahama Lucayans.

Andros topped the field with 568 points for the gold, Grand Bahama got the silver with 543 and the New Providence Buccaneers settled for the bronze with 541.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, Games’ counsellor Craig Flowers, David Slatter of RF Bank and Lloyd Jones, the assistant general manager of the Ocean Club, were all on hand to assist the Bahamas Golf Federation’s executives Gina Gonzalez-Rolle and Georgette Harris in the presentation of medals.

The event turned out to be a really good showing, especially for the younger competitors, who all seemed to have made the difference on their respective teams.

“As a team, I’m happy that we won,” said Gibson, who decided to represent his mother’s side of the country in Andros after he wasn’t selected from his father’s side for Eleuthera.

“I think we did a pretty good job. I think no matter what the circumstances, you could always do a little better,” he said. “We won, so I’m pleased with the performance. This is my first time playing in the games so I’m happy that we won it.”

Gregory Bowe, the manager for the Lucayans, said he was pleased, although he expected a little more from Grand Bahama.

“The overall performance from the team was good. The juniors did exceptionally well. In the big picture, we did fairly well,” Bowe said. “It was a pleasure to be participating in the games, especially in the ladies’ division because we brought two ladies out of retirement and they held their own.”

The Liucayans also had a great performance from their youngsters, according to team manager Oswald Moore.

“The young girls and the juniors carried the weight of the team,” he said. “They did excellent and that allowed us to take the bronze. The competition went very well.

“The golfers made a lot of friends and that is what the

FROM PAGE 13

Minister Bowleg was pleased with the distribution of wins in the sporting disciplines across the different islands.

The NP Buccaneers collected gold in soccer and track, Andros Chickcharnies took home gold for golf, Long Islands’ Sheep Runners made waves for gold in sailing, and Exuma and Eleuthera claimed the gold for basketball.

Despite the Bahamas Games winner being the Grand Bahama Lucayans with 91 gold medals, the minister said the talent was so widespread that each island’s victory is what they want to highlight from The Bahamas Games because each of the islands were able to accomplish something.

Overall, Mr Bowleg said that he is very confident in the future of sports in the country and will look to have the different sporting federations establish associations on 4-5 of the major islands.

games is all about in addition to the competition.”

Team overall - Andros568 (186-194-188); Grand Bahama - 543 (183-178182); New Providence - 541 (182-186-173); MICAL516 (164-168-174); Long Island - 464 (143-162-159); Exuma - 446 (146-152-148); Eleuthera - 397 (136-150111); Bimini & Berry Island - 285 (118-83-84); Abaco242 (80-82-80).

Adult Females - New Providence - 129 (40-46-43); Grand Bahama - 117 (3939-39); Long Island Sheep - 97 (32-34-31); Andros77 (22-29-26); Eleuthera - 77 (23-29-25); Bimini - 74 (23-24-27); Exuma - 69 (22-21-26)

Adults male - Andros158 (54-55-49); Abaco - 151 (48-54-49); Grand Bahama145 (48-47-50); Long Island - 142 (45-50-47); MICAL133 (46-42-45); Exuma - 133

(44-44-45); New Providence - 124 (45-41-38); Bimini113 (39-39-35); Eleuthera - 71 (34-37-0).

Junior boys - Grand Bahama 149 (53-49-47); New Providence - 144 (4650-48); Eleuthera - 137 (47-50-40); Andros - 136 (44-48-44); MICAL - 123 (42-37-44); Long Island114 (32-40-42); Exuma - 88 (30-31-27).

Junior girls teams - New Providence Chickcharnies

(Long Island) - 92 (32-2931); Valron Grimes (Long Island) - 89 (24-34-31); Payton Haye (Eleuthera) 77 (23-29-25); Daphne Haines (Andros) 77 (2229-26); Thaddia Simms (New Providence) 75 (2523-27); Agatha Delancy (Bimini) 74 (23-24-27); Ethelyn Davis (Andros) 70 (22-24-24); Vanria Munnings (Exuma) 69 (2221-26); Pauline Sherman (Bimini) 62 (20-20-22); Katie Roach (Exuma) no score.

Adult male individual scores - Richard Gibson (Andros) 158 (54-55-49); Keathen Stuart (Abaco) 151 (48-54-49); Raymond Gibson (Long Island) 142 (45-50-47); Broderick Pinder (Grand Bahama)

141 (48-43-50); Kelsey Rolle (Andros) 137 (42-4649); Gregory Bowe (Grand Bahama) 135 (43-47-45); Shane Gibson (MICAL)

131 (45-41-45); Edroy Williamson (MICAL)

127 (46-42-39); Michael Reynolds (Exuma) 126 (44-44-38); Oswald Moore (New Providence) 124 (45-41-38); Rodney Miller (Exuma) 124 (42-37-45); Edney Sherman (Bimini)

110 (36-39-35); Jimi Thompson (Long Island)

107 (34-37-36); Dwight Tinker (New Providence)

104 (37-33-34); Demetrio Hepburn (Abaco) 91 (3228-31); Austin Knowles Jr (Eleuthera) no score; Vesco Hanna (Eleuthera) no score; Elijah Delancy (Bimini) no score.

Junior boys individual scores - Adrian Stan-Busuioc (Grand Bahama) 149 (53-49-47); Alexander Dupuch (New Providence)

144 (46-50-48); Zion Taylor (Eleuthera) 137 (47-50-40); Camdyn Forbes (Andros) 136 (44-48-44); Luke Grimes (MICAL)

123 (42-37-44); Christopher Callendar (Long Island)

114 (32-40-42); Tomeco Knowles (Grand Bahama)

108 (33-35-40); Denahj Mortimer (Long Island)

101 (32-35-34); Andrew Benjamin (New Providence) 99 (31-32-36); Juan Wilson (Exuma) 92 (3036-26); Maximilian Landry (Exuma) 87 (29-31-27); Percival Ferguson (Andros)

144 (51-49-44); Andros

Chickcharnies - 137 (46-4546); MICAL Flamingoes - 135 (41-48-46); Exuma

Navigators - 103 (30-35-38)’

Eleuthera Adventurers 86 (28-31-27).

Adult female individual scores - Tynesha Tynes (New Providence) 129 (4046-43); Michelean Poitier (Grand Bahama) 117 (3939-39); Nordaina Martin (Grand Bahama) 96 (2634-36); Kyshna Radnetter

86 (25-29-32); Torrin Sands (Eleuthera) 59 (21-19-19). Junior girls individual scores - Tyesha Tynes (New Providence) 144 (51-4944); Haley Hall (Andros) 137 (46-45-46); Maddison Carroll (MICAL) 135 (41-48-46); Chemari Pratt (Andros) 125 (41-42-42); Kayleigh Rolle (Exuma) 103 (30-35-38); Taylor Sands (Eleuthera) 86 (2831-27); Gabrielle Pratt (MICAL) 82 (25-31-26); Caci Major (Exuma) 38 (19-19-no score).

NP Buccaneers run away with gold in track and field

FROM PAGE 13

dash. She ran a time of 24.48.

CARIFTA bronze-medallist

Quincy Penn clocked 25.35 for the Abaco Survivors. Breanna Pratt, representing the Columbus Isles Arawaks, finished third for bronze.

In the long distance race, Breyteisha Kemp came away as the winner in the under 17 3,000m run. She finished with a time of 12:53.21.

In the 5,000m open, the Buccaneers grabbed gold and silver. Denzel Sawyer ended in 16:34.85 and fellow teammate Nathan Duncan Jr trailed behind with 17:06.04.

The Survivors’ Antoine Russell wrapped up third in the event. The

Lucayans collected gold medals in three out of four 4x400m relays. The team of Sasha Ferguson, Rizpah Thompson, Zion Musgrove and Shania Adderley clocked 4:11.13 in the under 17 category.

The Lucayans’ under 17 boys followed suit and won with a time of 3:25.89, leaving the Long Island Sheep Runners and Abaco Survivors to fend for silver and bronze.

In the women’s 4x400m open, the Lucayans did it again with the team of Treasure Burrows, Janaiyah Rolle, Alfrenique Knowles and Cassidra Thompson. Grand Bahama also captured a win in the under 17 4x100m mixed relays. Meanwhile, the

Chickcharnies came out on top in the 4x100m open mixed relays.

FIELD Rhema Otabor collected another gold medal for the Buccaneers in the open women’s javelin throw. She threw 45.35m.

Vanessa Sawyer of the Survivors finished second with 34.18m and the home team’s Davanna Collie secured bronze.

Kenyce Scavella won the under 17 girls discus throw with a distance of 28.90m. Abaco’s Ramiyah O’Brien notched 23.31m and the Lucayans’ Jasmine McKinney finished with 22.76m for bronze.

The Chickcharnies came up big in the field events. Andros’ Holland

Martin and Nastario Williams collected gold and silver in the men’s open long jump.

NACAC under-23 qualifier Keyshawn Strachan won the gold for Andros with a throw of 62.94m and CARIFTA gold medallist Kaden Cartwright earned bronze for the Chickcharnies in the same event with 52.74m.

For the Eleuthera Adventurers, Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) bronze-medallist Shaun Miller Jr finished tied with fellow teammate Kyle Alcine with 2.06m in the men’s open high jump. The Bahamas Games concluded on Saturday night and is set to return in three years in 2026.

Bowleg: ‘This was a great Bahamas Games’

FROM PAGE 13

Bowleg said. “We will continue with the development of those islands, just as we just completed the facilities in Cat Island.

“We will be in Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, Andros and all of the other major islands and we hope by the

next games, all of these islands will have the proper facilities so that they can improve on their performances at these games.”

Despite the fact that everybody focuses on the overall champions, Bowleg mentioned the fact that teams from Eleuthera, Columbus Isles, Andros

and Exuma were among the different winners. As for the games itself, Bowleg said he saw a lot of excitement from the family and friends of the athletes competing.

The support, according to Bowleg, was fantastic by the general public. “As we continue to be united

through sports, we will be able to move upward, forward and onward to continue to make this nation great over the next 50 years.

“And then we put on the aquamarine, gold and black colours to represent the country at the international level, we can truly mark

our bearings as a sporting nation.”

Reviewing what transpired at the fields, Bowleg said the Games Secretariat through his Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will ensure that whatever went wrong this year will be corrected and improved upon for 2026.

ANDROS Chickcharnies members get their gold medals from Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, Craig Flowers and David Slatter.

GRAND Bahama Lucayans got the silver medals.

NEW Providence Buccaneers had to settle for bronze medals.

Navigators, Adventurers claim their gold medals

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Exuma and Ragged Island Navigators along with the Eleuthera Adventurers brought gold to the Family Islands after winning the basketball segment of the Bahamas Games.

The Navigators won against the Abaco Survivors in a crowd-pleasing thriller at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium on Saturday night. Also, in the marquee match of the day, the Adventurers narrowly edged out the New Providence Buccaneers in their quest to capture gold in the men’s division.

Adventurers vs

Buccaneers

In one of the competition’s most highly anticipated matchups, the Buccaneers went up against the Adventurers.

Both teams collected blowout wins and created their own highlight reels en route to their championship showdown in front of a full crowd on Saturday night.

Ultimately, the Adventurers walked away with bragging rights and gold after narrowly defeating the home team 72-71.

The game was evenly matched from the opening tip to the final buzzer, the lead changed 21 times and the biggest lead was six by the Adventurers.

French Nationale Masculine League 2 player Domnick Bridgewater led the Adventurers in points with 21 along with 5 boards, and 3 dimes and steals.

Professional basketball player Jaraun ‘Kino’ Burrows complemented the efforts of the younger Bridgewater with 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the win.

In the statistical categories, both teams were neck and neck on paper. The Adventurers had 11 second chance points meanwhile, the Buccaneers had 10.

Additionally, Eleuthera came away with 13 fastbreak points compared to the home team’s 10.

However, the slight difference maker was in the paint. The winning team amassed 40 points near the bucket on 54 per cent shooting but the Buccaneers had

BAHAMAS GAMES BASKETBALL TITLE GAMES WERE NAIL-BITERS

lead. However, the tides shifted in the fourth quarter when former Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player Waltiea Rolle fouled out.

Rolle was a difference maker in the paint - she got to work with 8 points, a team-high 19 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

Despite the Navigators climbing back into the game following Rolle’s timely exit, the Survivors remained within 3 points in the final 12 seconds of the game.

With the score favouring the Navigators 64-61 after the team’s Cedricka Sweeting-Badmus split the pair of go ahead free throws, the Survivors looked for a three to push for overtime.

Aisja Strachan dropped a big three on the fastbreak to tie the game following an assist from teammate Valerie Nesbitt.

The game seemed to be headed into an extra period of play but in a split second Strachan committed an intentional foul on Sweeting-Badmus giving the opposing team a one-point advantage after she iced the game by splitting the free throws.

The Navigators turned in a great performance with three players notching double doubles.

MVP honours went to Leasha Grant who dropped 19 points and 20 rebounds in the Bahamas Games win.

Grant said they had a great team with a mix of young girls and veterans and it was simply a good win for Exuma.

28 points on 36 per ent shooting. Despite the tough loss, the Buccaneers got good performances from Dylan Musgrove and Kemsey Sylvestre. Musgrove poured in a game-high 25 points along with 5 boards and 3 steals. Sylvestre turned in a 15 points and 13 rebounds double double.

Dexter Cambridge, head coach of the Adventurers, reflected on how it felt to get the win for Eleuthera.

“It feels great after competing in five Bahamas Games as a player, three bronze, a silver, and now I am going home with a gold. This one feels great,” Cambridge said.

He added that it was a tough game from start to finish and despite some challenges with the officiating, his guys fought hard and stuck with the game plan to come out victorious. With the Adventurers team consisting of a mix of veteran national players

and younger talent, Most Valuable Player (MVP) Burrows talked about the timely win.

“It was a tough game. We knew our hands were full, they are gonna be a problem for years to come but this was our time [and] we all decided to come home and represent Dexter ‘Smiley’ and the greats that came before us,” he said.

Navigators vs Survivors The women’s division battle between the Navigators and Survivors set the

tone for both gold medal matches to wrap up basketball for the Bahamas Games.

The Navigators snuck away with a jaw-dropping win against the Survivors 65-64, another one-point win differential in the finals.

In the first half of the game, both teams came out ready to win but Abaco won the first half 35-30.

The team got out to a 50-37 lead in the third quarter and wrapped up the period with an eight-point

Abaco’s Rolle talked about the gut-wrenching loss. “All around I think we played a pretty good game with good defence. The critical error at the end, we cannot blame her for that because she made the three to tie the game, mistakes happen, you just gotta keep going for the next games,” she said.

BRONZE

In the women’s division, Bucs defeated Adventurers 104-62. For the men, the Lucayans edged out the Survivors 94-91 for bronze.

WHITE SOX STOP BRAVES’ SERIES WIN STREAK AT 11

ATLANTA (AP) —

Dylan Cease won for the first time in nearly two months, Luis Robert Jr. had four hits that included a two-run homer and the Chicago White Sox beat Atlanta 8-1 yesterday to stop the Braves’ streak of 11 consecutive series wins.

Cease (4-3) had eight straight no-decisions since beating Cleveland on May 23, the most within a season in White Sox history. He allowed one run and three hits in five innings.

ROYALS 8, RAYS 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. homered and tripled with three RBIs, and Kansas City earned its second win in 10 games.

In a game that sped by in 1 hour, 54 minutes, Brady Singer (6-8) allowed four runs and seven hits in a season-high eight innings as Kansas City improved to 27-67, the second-worst record in the major leagues and ahead of only Oakland.

ORIOLES 5, MARLINS 4 BALTIMORE (AP) —

Kyle Bradish took a shutout into the eighth inning and Danny Coulombe retired Luis Arraez on a game-ending lineout with a runner on second as Baltimore held off Miami’s late rally.

The Orioles won their eighth straight game, but not before nearly blowing a 5-0 lead in the ninth. Arraez, flirting with .400 for much of the season, lined out to left field to end it. He went 0 for 5, dropping his batting average to .380.

RANGERS 6, GUARDIANS 5 ARLINGTON, Texas

(AP) — Josh Jung’s tworun single capped a four-run eighth inning as AL Westleading Texas rallied to complete a three-game series sweep.

All four runs in the inning came off Trevor Stephan (4-4), who walked Marcus Semien and Corey Seager with one out before giving up an RBI single to Nathaniel Lowe, an RBI double to Adolis Garcia and a single to Jung.

METS 2, DODGERS 1, 10 INNINGS NEW YORK (AP) —

After failing to get a bunt down, pinch-hitter Luis Guillorme doubled home the winning run in the 10th inning to give New York a victory over Los Angeles. Max Scherzer held the NL West leaders to one hit in seven shutout innings, and New York stopped the Dodgers’ six-game winning streak. Brandon Nimmo had an RBI groundout as the Mets snapped a fourgame skid with their first victory since the All-Star break.

BLUE JAYS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 5 TORONTO (AP)

— Danny Jansen hit a three-run double in the eighth inning to give Toronto what turned out to be an important cushion, and the Blue Jays beat Arizona for a three-game sweep. Kevin Kiermaier and Santiago Espinal each had two hits and an RBI

and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. broke a 2-all tie with a sacrifice fly in the fifth as Toronto picked up its sixth sweep of the season and won for the eighth time in nine games.

Jay Jackson (2-0) relieved Yusei Kikuchi with two outs in the fifth and retired all three batters he faced. Tim Mayza got one out, Trevor Richards worked the seventh and Yimi García pitched the eighth.

GIANTS 8, PIRATES 4, 10 INNINGS PITTSBURGH (AP)

— Michael Conforto and Patrick Bailey hit two-run doubles in a five-run 10th inning, and San Francisco beat Pittsburgh to finish a three-game sweep and extend their winning streak to five.

Pittsburgh tied the score 3-3 in the eighth when Andrew McCutchen

singled in his first game off the injured list and came home on Jared Triolo’s sacrifice fly.

PHILLIES 7, PADRES 6, 12 INNINGS PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— Kyle Schwarber hit his 25th home run and ended the game with a 12th-inning sacrifice fly, leading Philadelphia over San Diego.

With automatic runner Edmundo Sosa on second base starting the 12th, Johan Rojas sacrificed against side-arming lefthander Tim Hill (1-4) and Schwarber hit a 304-foot fly to Juan Soto in left. Sosa slid home easily ahead of Soto’s throw.

Jeff Hoffman (3-1) retired six straight batters.

ROCKIES 8, YANKEES 7 11 INNINGS DENVER (AP) — Nolan Jones led off the

11th inning with a tying, two-run homer off Nick Ramirez, Alan Trejo hit a game-ending drive off Ron Marinaccio and Colorado beat New York to take two of three.

Colorado, a National League-worst 36-58, overcame a 3-1 deficit when C.J. Cron hit an eighthinning grand slam off Clay Holmes, the first home run allowed by the right-hander this season.

RED SOX 11, CUBS 5 CHICAGO (AP) — Masataka Yoshida hit a grand slam and a two-run triple, powering Kutter Crawford and Boston to a blowout over Chicago.

Rafael Devers and pinchhitter Triston Casas also homered for the surging Red Sox, who have won seven of eight. Crawford allowed one hit in six shutout innings. Crawford (4-4) struck out nine and walked four.

TWINS 5, ATHLETICS 4 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)

— Alex Kirilloff homered in the fifth inning and hit a three-run double in the seventh, leading Minnesota to victory and a series sweep. Minnesota trailed most of the game and was down 3-2 entering the seventh following a shaky outing from starter Joe Ryan. Ryan had seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings but allowed five hits and three runs.

MARINERS 2, TIGERS 0 SEATTLE (AP) — Bryce Miller tossed five sharp innings in his return from

the injured list, Cal Raleigh hit his 12th home run and Seattle blanked Detroit to avoid a three-game sweep. Seattle got back to .500 with 70 games left in the regular season, but it was an overall disappointing weekend coming out of the All-Star break for the Mariners.

CARDINALS 8, NATIONALS 4

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jack Flaherty won a fourth straight start for the first time in two years, and St. Louis beat Washington to take two of three in the series.

Flaherty (7-5) allowed three runs, three hits and three walks in six innings with seven strikeouts. Chris Stratton pitched a perfect seventh and Kyle Leahy relieved after a 38-minute rain delay. Leahy got one out and JoJo Romero the final five.

BREWERS 4, REDS 3

CINCINNATI (AP)

— Milwaukee opened a two-game lead over Cincinnati in the NL Central, overcoming a two-run deficit to beat the Reds for the fifth time in a sixgame stretch, behind rookie Andruw Monasterio’s tiebreaking single in a two-run eighth inning.

With the Reds leading 3-2, Willy Adams walked against Lucas Sims (3-2) starting the eighth and took third on Jesse Winker’s single.

Owen Miller hit a sacrifice fly, All-Star closer Alexis Díaz relieved and Raimel Tapia flied out.

CHICAGO White Sox’s Luis Robert Jr (88) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves yesterday in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

THE ELEUTHERA Adventurers earned a one-point victory over the New Providence Buccaneers to become the men’s basketball division winners in the sixth Bahamas Games.

Photos: Tenajh Sweeting/Tribune Staff

THE EXUMA and Ragged Island Navigators won the women’s basketball division at the 6th Bahamas Games.

Lucayans, Adventurers bring home the gold

MEN’S MARATHON SLUGFEST HIGHLIGHTS BAHAMAS GAMES SOFTBALL TITLE GAMES

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE the ladies’ threehour affair for the 6th Bahamas Games softball gold medal was won by the grit and determination of a 13-year-old, the men’s marathon slugfest was secured on the strength and power of six home runs.

The Grand Bahama Lucayans, behind high school pitcher LeBrea Sands, nipped the New Providence Buccaneers 9-8 in a long-time rivalry to claim the ladies’ gold medal late Saturday night at the Bankers Softball Park.

But even after that long and drawn out contest was completed, the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex remained filled to capacity as the Eleuthera Adventurers pounded the Lucayans 21-15 in the final game of the men’s games that ended shortly before midnight.

Lucayans 21, Adventurers 15

With the closing ceremonies complete, Eleuthera added one final gold to their tally as they rode a pair of long balls out of the park from left fielder Terran Wood and one each from centrefielder Sheldon Neymour, designated hitter/ relief pitcher Norman Bastian, catcher Jeff Bethel and shortstop Gee Bethel.

Gee Bethel blasted a grand slam homer to start an avalanche in s nine-run sixth inning that was followed by a solo blast from Neymour. a two-run shot from Wood and another two-run dinger from Bastian to push Eleuthera’s lead to 20-7.

“Everyone was excited to just smash whoever was on the mound and did just that,” Gee Bethel said. “We were pretty confident coming into the tournament and we just did what we intended to do.”

But as officials had to call in the Royal Bahamas Defence and Police Forces to prevent the fans from rushing back on the field to celebrate, Grand Bahama made a dent in the lead, trimming it to 20-13 in the bottom of the frame.

“I can’t say anything but good things about my team. In the scale of things, we were not supposed to be here,” said Grand Bahama’s manager Brandon Jones. “We came down, got silver. We wanted gold, but we will take it.”

Sheldon Pinder, playing in his major national event, got the win. Although he struggled a bit and had to be relieved for an inning by Norman Bastian in the sixth, he said he was thrilled to be a gold medallist.

“I came a long way with plenty of sore muscles, but I was confident that my team was going to hit the ball,” Pinder said. “I tried my best to hold them down. I wasn’t ready to take a break. I missed a pitch and they got a home run. But it’s all good. I’ve never won anything like this, so I’m pretty happy.”

Quinton Cooper was tagged with the loss, despite getting some help in relief from Michael Sweeting and Darren Mortimer in the fifth and sixth respectively.

Lucayans 9, Buccaneers 8

Adonia Rolle, pinch running from lead off hitter, Jasmine Scavalla, scored the game’s winning run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh on a fielder’s choice to break an 8-8 tie and seal the gold for the Grand Bahama women.

Scavalla ended up going 1-for-2 with a run scored, Tamika Davis had three RBI and scored a run, Larikah Russell went 1-for-2 with a RBI and run scored and Kenya Forbes was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Skai Albury was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored and Ataya Fowler

was 1-for-3 with two runs scored for New Providence.

LaBrea Sands gave up four hits, struck out nine and walked eight for the win.

“I feel really good. I worked so hard just to get here to help Grand Bahama,” said Sands, who will be going into grade eight in high school in Florida.

“It was amazing. When we went down, I was losing my patience, but I just had to put it in God’s hands. We had a great team and great bats, so I just had to throw the ball. It’s just amazing to win it. I’m going to go to the movies to celebrate.”

Thela Johnson got the loss on five hits, six walks and six strikeouts, although Ramona Hanna came in to relieve her in the fifth. Johnson came back to pinch hit in the seventh and completed the game Grand Bahama, who opened with 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning, went up 8-3 in the bottom of the fifth, but New Providence came back with three in the sixth and two in the seventh to tie the score and take the game down to the wire.

“I want to thank Jehovah for allowing us to reach this far. Unfortunately we came out on the short end of the stick,” said Darren Stevens, who managed the New Providence women’s team.

“The girls fought right to the end, but we faced a young pitcher from Grand Bahama, who pitched well. We just came up on the short end of the stick. We had one or two opportunities where we ran ourselves out of scoring positions and it hurt us in the long run.”

Sheep Runners 17, Buccaneers 2

Dante Cartwright belted a grand slam home run and Jeiter Miller exploded for a pair of homers as Long Island routed the New Providence men to claim the bronze medal.

Cartwright, playing left field, had a perfect 4-for-4 day with five RBI and two runs scored, while Miller was 3-for-3 with five RBI and three runs scored. The duo took advantage of New Providence’s decision to walk catcher Garfield Bethel.

“I didn’t expect them to walk me as much as they did,” said Bethel, who played with some of the guys from New Providence. “I expected one or two times depending on the situation on the field. It was kind of disappointing from a hitter’s perspective.”

While they contained Bethel, the Buccaneers couldn’t slow down Miller, who had a solo homer in the fourth for a 3-2 lead for the Sheep Runners.

Cartwright then hit a grand slam and Keano Cartwright added a two-run homer in the seven-run fifth to push their lead to 10-2.

The Sheep Runners added seven more runs in the sixth, highlighted by Miller’s two-homers.

Thomas Davis got the win and Dion Wood suffered the loss.

Aaron Wood was 3-for-3 with a RBI and Stephen Russell was 1-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored to lead New Providence.

Austin Hanna was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Flamingos 11, Chickcharnies 2

Ruthann Simms went 1-for-2 with an RBI and scored a run and was joined by Alouionee Hall and Tyler Miller, who both went 1-for-2 with two runs scored to help MICAL secure the women’s bronze medal.

“MICAL feels good. Everybody counted us out, but we did it,” said Renee ‘Sunshine’ Davis, a member of the Games Secretariat, who managed the MICAL ladies’ softball team.

Brendia Ferguson was the winning pitcher on

a three-hitter with five strikeouts and Chailyn Thompson got tagged with the loss on four hits with five strikeouts as well.

Andros had to settle for fourth place.

Playoffs Friday Lucayans 11, Chickcharnies 8: Kenya Ferguson was a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored to pace Grand Bahama ladies to victory as they advanced to the gold medal game.

Morrell Wildgoose was the winning pitcher and Tishura Evans was tagged with the loss for Andros,

who dropped to the bronze medal game.

Adventurers 6, Sheep Runners 4: Shaquille Delancy was 1-for-1 with two RBI and a run scored and Terran Wood was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored as Eleuthera won their men’s game to earn their berth into the gold medal game.

Sheldon Pinder was the winning pitcher and Pedro Marcello got the loss for Long Island, who ended up in the bronze game..

Buccaneers 5, Sheep Runners 0: Apryl Davis

went 1-for-1 with two RBI and a run scored and Thela Johnson was 1-for-1 with a RBI and a run scored to lead New Providence ladies into the gold medal game.

Johnson helped her own cause for the win, while Brendia Ferguson was tagged with the loss for MICAL as they fell into the bronze medal game.

ELEUTHERA Adventurers men’s softball gold medallists of the 6th Bahamas Games.

MICAL women softball bronze medallists.

LONG Island men softball bronze medallists.

GRAND Bahama Lucayans women softball gold medallists.

GRAND Bahama Lucayans men softball silver medallists.

NEW Providence Buccaneers women softball silver medallists.