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‘I used to pray, Lord please guide and protect my baby...

Let him bury me, not me bury him.’

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net THE mother of four-yearold Kenton Seymour Jr, who was shot and killed on Tuesday, was inconsolable as she struggled to bear the loss of her only son.

A distraught Normareaka Smith, told The Tribune yesterday that her and the son’s father had intended to go on a family drive, but everything took an unforgettable turn when gunmen began to fire.

Ms Smith and other relatives were yesterday very

FOUR-yearold Kenton Seymour Jr, who died after being shot on Tuesday night.

emotional over Kenton’s death.

“When we hopped in the car, we said we would go for a little ride because we normally go for a ride, we get ice cream, anything the kids like.

Even if we have to go walk on SEE PAGES FOUR & FIVE

CAPSIZE CAPTAIN HAS SMUGGLING RECORD

FERNANDER PLEADS: HELP US ID VICTIMS

THE captain of the vessel that capsized on Sunday had been convicted abroad on several criminal offences related to human smuggling and drug trafficking.

Police Commissioner

POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander made a strong appeal yesterday for family members of deceased victims from Sunday’s boating tragedy to come forward to assist with

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

Clayton Fernander made the revelation yesterday, while telling the press that those responsible for the incident could be charged with several criminal offences ranging from homicide to maritime offences.

Police now have three Bahamian men in custody in connection with Sunday’s

boating tragedy that left 17 Haitians, including a young girl, dead.

Two of the men in custody were among the 25 people rescued following the accident.

One of them was the boat captain.

SEE PAGE THREE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

the identification process, saying they need not fear any arrest or deportation from the police.

“We have not identified any of the victims of the deceased persons as yet,” Mr Fernander said yesterday.

“We have in our possession only two identifications

that was found on persons of two of the individuals.

So, we are appealing especially to the Haitian community to please assist us in trying to identify any family members.”

Seventeen Haitians, including a young girl, were SEE PAGE THREE

NYGARD CLAIM ON ASSETS ‘HE DOESN’T OWN’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

ACCUSATIONS that Peter Nygard “fraudulently” sought to seize assets he does not own have been exposed by a legal claim against a Bahamian financial services provider involving a once-$40m yacht.

The fallen fashion mogul, who is next week due to stand trial in Canada on multiple sexual assault charges, is alleging IPG

PETER NYGARD Family Office and its president and chief executive, Andrew Law, created a trust structure used to

“wrongfully” remove him as the Mirage’s owner.

The rambling complaint, filed in Florida’s Broward County Circuit court on July 19, and which appears to have either been written

by Mr Nygard himself or at least dictated by him, provides no real evidence or cause of action to back-up his demand that the yacht be returned to his possession although it frequently employs lurid language.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

FRONT PORCH: GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER AND OTHER CRIMES?

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Thursday, July 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

‘LIL DUVAL HURT IN COLLISION COMEDIAN Roland Powel, also known as ’Lil Duval, was injured on Tuesday night when a car hit an ATV he was riding.

According to numerous reports following the incident the comedian had to be airlifted to New Providence to receive medical care for his injuries, which included a broken leg.

It is unclear which island he was visiting.

Yesterday, he tweeted: “I appreciate everybody checking up on me but if you call and I don’t pick up don’t take it the wrong way. I’m really f - - - up and can’t move because I’m in so much pain.” ’Lil Duval also posted a video to social media of

him being wheeled away on a gurney with the caption: “Somebody hit me in they car while I was on my 4 wheeler. Now my leg broke and I gotta get flown over to Nassau to have surgery.”

In response to the post, various celebrities sent well wishes, among them rapper TI who said:

“Maaaan I’m gon pray that you get well first.”

“Praying for you champ - get well immediately,” added actor and comedian Kevin Hart.

‘LIL DUVAL, right, on a gurney after being injured before being airlifted to New Providence, in a post from Instagram.

THOMPSON: WHAT HAPPENED TO VAT-FREE HOLIDAY PERIODS?

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net KWASI Thompson, MP for East Grand Bahama, has called on the Government to provide timelines for when it will announce dates for “critical” VATfree initiatives that would provide savings to Bahamians locally.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, he said the Davis administration has not provided several weeks of VAT-free shopping to Bahamians for Back to School or Hurricane Preparedness.

“The Opposition is concerned that the government has yet to announce the dates of the VAT Holidays for Back to School or for Supplies for Hurricane Preparedness,” Mr Thompson said.

The VAT Holidays, he said, were started by the previous FNM administration to provide for several weeks of VAT-free local shopping for specific goods.

The former Cabinet minister noted that since the initiatives were introduced by the Free National Movement Government, Bahamian taxpayers have had two VAT-Free Back to School initiatives and one VAT-Free Hurricane Supplies initiative.

“We remind the

government that these VAT-free holidays have generated millions of dollars in aggregate savings for thousands of Bahamian households since inception.

“We call on the government to provide the public immediately with the timelines for these critical initiatives, which are even more important now given the impact of recent significant price inflation,” said Mr Thompson.

Mr Thompson said that while ordinary Bahamians struggle due to inflation, the wealthy receive a tax break.

“We cannot imagine that the same government which has sought to sneak in a tax break for owners of milliondollar yachts has decided not to provide several weeks of VAT-free shopping for school uniforms, bags, shoes, and the full range of school supplies for Bahamian parents struggling under the weight of massive inflation,” he said.

“We cannot fathom that the same government, which reduced the VAT rate on high-end luxury homes over $2m, does not see fit to give a break to Bahamians preparing for a hurricane season that is already upon us.”

Mr Thompson demands that the government advises Bahamians when they can expect to see the VAT-free holidays.

FROM left Robert Deal, Alfred Sears, Mario Taverna, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Loretta Butler Turner, Brent Ferguson, and Cyprian Gibson, as Mr Davis collects his WEX award.

Photo: Austin Fernander

GLOBAL AWARD FOR PM

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis yesterday accepted the 2022 Water and Energy Exchange (WEX) global award in the category of innovation and financial partnership.

Mr Davis upon accepting the award said it was a “wonderful feeling” to receive it on behalf of the Water and Sewerage Corporation for the work it did in reducing the amount of non revenue water from 7m gallons in 2012 to 2m gallons now.

Mr Davis also said: “I had the good fortune to be the superintendent of the execution of this as the minister of works with responsibility for WSC and saw it through from its commencement.”

To win the WEX global award is a major accomplishment as it is a global conference for distributing awards to the best innovative technologies, programmes and projects in eight categories. Of the technologies, programmes

and projects nominated, the winners are selected by a jury panel of renowned water industry experts. For The Bahamas to win this award is an extraordinary accomplishment and a testament to the hard work and diligence it took to reform the WSC. “We are producing less water today than they need to because most of what has been produced before was going into the ground.

We are collecting more water today because more water is now being used and accounted for.

“That’s all because of the efforts of MIYA and their team of which we are grateful.”

For the second consecutive year, MIYA has been awarded a prize at the WEX Congress. The international event was held in Valencia, celebrating its 15th edition under the theme: “Unlocking the Power of the Smart Circular Economy”. It is the first significant project in the industry ́s history that was 100 percent output-based.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 28, 2022, PAGE 3

Capsize captain has smuggling record from page one

SURVIVORS cling on to the capsized boat after an incident that killed at least 17 people.

“We did a background check and he was charged for human smuggling in the US and was convicted and spent two years (there),” the police chief said during a press conference. “Also, he was convicted in Cuba and spent eight years for drug trafficking, so we are well on the way with this investigation.”

Police suspect the third Bahamian man - who was arrested hours after the tragedy - was the boat owner.

They said “large sums of cash” were found at his home while officers were conducting a search. A considerable amount of money was also found on the boat captain, police added.

“We have one who we suspect is the owner of the vessel and we have also identified the captain who is one of the individuals who was arrested on Sunday,” Commissioner Fernander said.

“We have also recovered large sums of money during the search of that individual who was arrested on Sunday morning. The owner of the vessel was arrested at his residence and during the search, we also recovered large sums of cash which we believe

were proceeds with respect to this matter.”

While he did not disclose the total amount recovered, the police chief said it was enough to buy a new car.

According to police, some 50 people were travelling on a 33ft twin engine vessel when it overturned in rough seas near Blackbeard’s Cay around 1am Sunday.

Officers suspect the boat was en route to Miami via Grand Bahama.

Several people are still believed to be missing as a result of the accident.

He added: “We are also communicating with our legal department who’s assisting with respect to charges. We are looking at homicides, manslaughter.

Once agreed, after pulling all of the facts and evidence together, about 17 counts (including) operating an unregulated vessel, operating a vessel without the prescribed number of life vests and operating as an unregistered captain, we are well on the way with this investigation and so hopefully between now and Friday, charges will be brought.”

He also noted officials are working closely with US counterparts to assist with their investigations.

On Monday, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe pledged to uncover

FERNANDER PLEADS: HELP US ID VICTIMS from page one

found dead on Sunday after their boat capsized near Blackbeard’s Cay. “We note that most of the victims were female who died and it is believed that based on our investigation, the cabin which was to the front of the boat, all of the females were crammed in that area and then when the vessel overturned, they were trapped in there so they couldn’t move and couldn’t get up so they perished and it’s so sad,” the commissioner said.

According to Mr Fernander, many of the survivors were staying in New Providence for some time,

while some had travelled from the Family Islands and others from Haiti.

“What I can say to you based on our investigation is that the majority of the victims, they were staying here in New Providence for a while and when I say a wild guess, I would say over a month,” he added.

“Some of them have been from various Family Islands and we have identified atleast three of them who came by plane from Haiti about two weeks ago.”

He also said police continue to seek those responsible for harbouring foreigners who enter the country illegally.

“We know that there have to be some safe houses,” he

said. “People who are harbouring them and have them secured until the timing is right for them to move out and the press conference on Sunday past, you would see the Defence Force in our marine, we will continue to work closely and it is happening right in out harbour so we have to step up our games in terms of not only stopping search on land, but you’re looking on sea.”

On Tuesday, Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell told reporters that only two Haitian survivors in custody had work permits to be in the country, which he said will likely be revoked.

He also revealed work permit holders along

ENOUGH SPACE IN MORGUE TO HANDLE DROWNING VICTIMS

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings@tribunemedia.net AUBYNETTE Rolle, managing director of the Public Hospitals Authority, said the Princess Margaret Hospital morgue is able to house the bodies of those who lost their lives in Sunday’s human smuggling incident.

Yesterday, Rolle told reporters that officials were able to process the bodies with the assistance of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, however, they are waiting on an update from RBPF. She said the bodies of those who lost their lives are now being stored securely.

“In most cases the morgue has a lot of bodies, but fortunately we had a reserve, what we call our external coolers that we were going to use for COVID, so they have been

placed in there securely. At this point we don’t have any issues with space at all,” she said.

Ms Rolle said officials do not anticipate any issues with the storage of the bodies as the coolers are able to hold a large number of deceased.

“The coolers that we’re using were completed empty and they could take a lot of deceased. So, we don’t anticipate any issues at this point,” she told reporters.

She appealed to those who suspect their loved ones were among the dead to contact the various agencies.

Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said investigators had collected only two forms of identification from the deceased.

Still, he appealed to anyone with information on the tragedy or who suspects

their loved one was among the dead to contact them.

Yesterday, Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe was asked for an update on the deceased.

He said: “The most that I have been briefed on is that there were travel documents found on two or three of the deceased and the efforts remain to seek identification of the others. It is felt that some may have been in our community for a while, but with the persons who may know them may be afraid to come forward to identify them because they might not have status.

“We’re concerned now with identifying these bodies for them to have a decent burial or disposal as the family wishes so feel free to come forward so that we can get this process of identification done as expeditiously as possible.”

with those in custody are expected to be repatriated once investigations are completed.

the full extent of operations behind the latest boating incident, noting the illegal activity could be a part of larger transnational organised crime.

“In my mind, something like that doesn’t just pop up and happen so we may be contending with international criminal organisations and – so

there will be investigations to discover how this operation is put together,” he told reporters.

“Is it localised? Does it involve persons in the US? Does it involve persons from Haiti? Is it a transnational gang? Our law enforcement officials will address that as expeditiously as they can.”

PAGE 4, Thursday, July 28, 2022

FERNANDER PLEDGES ‘AGGRESSIVE’ APPROACH IN TACKLING CRIME

LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander yesterday pledged to take an aggressive approach in the fight against crime, with specific focus on tackling gang violence.

During a press conference at the RBPF’s headquarters, the police chief warned officers “will take the fight to the criminals” to disrupt gang related activities and reduce violent crime.

Commissioner Fernander spoke after a 47-year-old man from Hospital Lane and four-year-old boy were fatally wounded in separate shooting incidents just hours apart on Tuesday.

The incidents were two of three shootings that occurred that day.

Police said the 47-yearold was walking in the area of South and West Streets after 5pm when two armed males exited their vehicles and fired shots in his direction. He was taken to hospital by private vehicle but later died of his injuries.

Several hours later, a boy was killed by a stray bullet while he was driving with his parents on West and Flemming Streets.

“Preliminary reports indicate that child with his parents in the West and Fleming Street area when they observed two males, both of whom were armed with handguns, firing shots at another male while running past their vehicle,” police reported.

“The child was subsequently shot and was taken to hospital where he

THE TRIBUNE succumbed to his injuries.”

Police said the intended target for the incident – a 27-year-old man who was “known” to them - is now in custody.

“We are following some significant leads and I’m not just saying that out of the cuff,” Commissioner Fernander said. “I have spoken with the investigators. We met a short time ago before coming over and I was briefed on the matter. We have an individual in custody who was being chased by the two young men and he’s assisting with respect to the investigations.

“Also, from CSI, we have officers who will be on the ground going door to door and we’re looking for footage and we have traced the area where the culprits came from and where they was chasing the individual.”

Meanwhile, in another matter, two men had to be taken to hospital after they shot each other during a heated argument in the Yellow Elder Gardens community. Both men are listed in critical condition.

Officers do not believe Tuesday’s shootings are connected.

“We now are looking at these matters as they continue to happen right within our communities. We have to take the fight to the criminals, and we will do just that to disrupt what is going on within our communities with respect to the gangs,” Commissioner Fernander added.

“We will take the fight to them. If we don’t, we will continue to move from one scene to the next and I believe it’s high time now

that we do just that to disrupt what’s going on. So, we are asking and appealing to members of the public to please assist your Royal Bahamas police force as we continue to make safer communities.”

Many of the murdered victims or intended targets continue to be men out on bail, the police chief stressed.

He also warned people with loved ones involved in criminal activities to keep their distance to avoid “becoming a target”.

“Their rival enemies continue to go at them once they are released on bail.

So, what we are doing on the police force is that we’re communicating directly with our legal department who represent the prosecution in terms of trying to keep these individuals behind bars so we will feed them the information so that they could present to court to assist in trying to keep them behind bars,” he said.

There has been a marked increase in homicides over the last several months.

In June, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe revealed there was an 18 percent overall rise in crime for the first five months in The Bahamas when compared to the same period last year.

To stem the rise of crime, Commissioner Fernander announced the establishment of a special anti-gang and firearms unit. He also promised to review gunrelated legislation to levy tougher penalties for people found with illegal weapons.

FRINGE GROUP CALLS FOR EXECUTIONS FRINGE activists Citizens For Justice Bahamas yesterday expressed outrage at the level of violence in the country and called for criminals to be “removed” through state executions where convictions are successful.

The day after a fouryear-old boy of West and Fleming Streets was killed by stray bullets and a man, 47, of Hospital Lane was riddled with bullets resulting in his death, the group strongly condemned

murders, insisting New Providence “had become like Ukraine”, likening it to a war zone.

In addition to these shootings, there was also a double shooting at Yellow Elder Gardens in which two men are said to be in critical condition in hospital.

Responding to the recent spate of violence, Citizens For Justice Bahamas said something must be done to reduce crime and reduce the violence. The organisation also put forward several recommendations to curb the crime situation.

“Four persons were shot yesterday, including a fouryear-old boy and a young man who have died,” the group said.

“Citizens For Justice Bahamas is outraged at the level of violence and is calling for an end to the bloodshed and carnage.

“New Providence has become like Ukraine, a war zone. Something must be done and a different plan of action must be taken quickly to reduce the violence and fight crime.

“We believe that the Royal Bahamas Police Force will rise to the occasion and expect Commissioner Clayton Fernander to win this battle with great policing strategies and the support of the public. The murder count for 2022 is on track to exceed last year’s count and the record high set a few years ago, if it continues at this pace.”

Among its recommendations were to enforce the law.

“Our laws on capital punishment are not being enforced.

Cold-blooded murderers are heartless and have no fear of God, man, police or any authority.

“They must be removed from society, the biblical way, through state killings for convicted murderers, nothing less. Our legislators must pass laws that that would ensure that persons convicted of murder, not be allowed to escape the death penalty by the Privy Council, as is the case now.

“We have created a lawless society that has evolved into a war zone. Because justice by the state is not carried out, vigilante justice has taken over our streets.

Revenge killings and gang wars are prevalent.

“We must take some drastic measures immediately, if we’re serious about resolving this issue rather than always attempting to be politically correct in the eyes of foreign agencies, human rights activists, the United Nations and the European Union. Capital punishment, which was established by the Most High God to deal with intentional murder, has

been discontinued in many jurisdictions.

“We must also legislate much harsher penalties for persons convicted of rape, sexual assault of minors and illegal firearm possession.”

In addition there must be more robust church outreach programmes, the organisation said.

“The church can do much more. Pastors and church (religious) people believe that prayer alone will change things. That’s a lie. Faith without works is dead. Churches must get out of the comfort of the four walls and go into the communities to minister to our youth with a strategy and anointing to win them over to Christ and change them from within.

“The Church can make a great impact in reducing crime and violence. Our problem is that too many Pastors and church leaders refuse to deal with social issues as Christ did during His earthly ministry. They rebel against the command to go into all the world and make disciples, hence, we now have a predominant society that does not know God or His word and they are lacking in godly values and morals.”

They also called for proper funding of social programmes and a workable National Development Plan.

Not only should these be focuses of the government, Citizens For Justice Bahamas said every effort must be made to empower Bahamians.

“Land is wealth. We call on the government to issue Crown grants of one acre of land with infrastructure to each Bahamian from the estimated 3.5 million acres of Crown land throughout the Bahamas. Land is wealth. When we empower the masses, poverty and crime will be greatly reduced. We ask that the land dispute on Carmichael Road be resolved without any violence or legal action against persons clearing down and claiming land.

Investigations reveal that the majority of the claimants have in fact made application and the process has not been dealt with in a timely manner. This is a great opportunity to begin the empowerment process rather than battling the people in need of help.

“We also call on the Bahamas government to take Bahamian investors seriously and level the playing field. Citizens must be given them the upper hand over foreign investors. Bahamian investors continue to get the red tape while officials roll out the red carpet for foreigners.

This oppressive mindset must shift.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 28, 2022, PAGE 5

‘I used to pray, Lord please guide and protect my baby’ from page one the edge of the beach or something, we do stuff like that because my baby (Kenton) likes to go,” she said of her son who she adoringly calls “Papi”.

She explained that Kenton was not the only child in the car and that he was sitting in her lap when the mayhem erupted. She had told him earlier to sit in the back seat with the other children, but Kenton insisted that he sit in his mother’s lap.

“It only took us one minute to go down there, when we drive down there by Fleming Street and West Street we heard three shots,” the mother said as she wept. “We didn’t know where the shots were coming from.

Next thing you know, a shot bust through the window; we duck down when we duck down, I got back up. When I looked my baby (Kenton) was still ducking, so I just thinking he ducking.”

Ms Smith said at first she did not know her child was shot, she thought he was still hiding down away from the shooting. It was not until she checked him that she realised he had been hit and was bleeding.

“He wasn’t talking, all I could do was scream,” Ms Smith cried out as

she recalled the events of Tuesday.

His killing was one of the two murders that took place that day.

According to police reports, the child was with his parents in the West Street and Fleming Street area when they observed two males, both of whom were armed with handguns, firing gunshots at another male while running past their vehicle.

The child was shot and was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The heartbroken mother explained she had a close bond with her son. She made an effort to spend quality time with him and to make sure he knew he was loved.

“I don’t party because I was scared for people to keep him, to avoid something like this from happening.

Not knowing that someone would come and shoot him right in my lap.”

She described him as a “very energetic little boy” who, similar to herself, enjoyed his own company.

He loved going out to places and having fun.

“If he doesn’t want go to the beach, he want go to the park, or IMAX. He just wanted to go someplace. Or even he if wanted to go for a ride, he say mummy let’s go for ice-cream.”

She recalled one of the

POLICE at the scene of the fatal shooting of Kenton Seymour Jr on Tuesday night. memories she shared with her son.

“Monday evening when I came from work, I took him on the beach. I didn’t even go home and change my clothes because he loves going places and he was like, mummy, I want to go on the beach.

“Before we walked in

the back of the house to go on the beach. He picked a bunch of flowers and he had put them in my cake bag.

He said mummy these flowers are for you. So, I said okay, then he was picking more, and I said baby that’s enough.

“He was just playing, and we had a little floaty. I was

going to record him, but I say man my phone too far, I don’t need to record him,” the mother sighed.

Kenton was a student at St Barnabas and was in K-3.

She explained the father of the late child had just gone to the school to pay for his school uniform.

Ms Smith cried: “I used

Photo: Austin Fernander to pray, Lord, so much going on in this country, I say Lord please guide and protect my baby. I said let him live to be old and successful. I said let him bury me and not me bury him.”

She is now heartbroken that the very thing she did not want to do has come to pass.

LEADERS SPEAK OUT AFTER KILLING OF FOUR-YEAR-OLD LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune staff reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE killing of Kenton Seymour Jr, the four-yearold boy who was hit by a stray bullet on Tuesday, evoked strong emotional reactions from leaders in the political arena as well as members of the public yesterday.

Kenton was in a car with his family in the West Street and Flemming Street area when armed men in pursuit of another man fired shots in their direction, ultimately hitting the child.

The young boy was taken to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis expressed sadness over the killing yesterday, saying his heart goes out to the family.

“The heinousness of the acts that’s been committed on our streets has to stop,” he said. “I intend to get a full briefing in short order on these matters and again, the police have been very much engaged on the weekends with the attempts of disrupting behaviours such as these.

“For the time being, my

heart cries out to the family.

I plead to our people. We are killing one another.

There’s no need for us to turn against one another.

Whatever the issues, we need to be able to work them out... We are doing our best to alleviate all the suffering and pain.

“There’s hope and there’s relief out there so let us be patient and let us deal with the issues that concern us the most. Call and speak to someone if there’s challenges and those who know something, say something so we could avoid what’s happening today.”

Among those expressing condolences yesterday were State Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle, Seabreeze MP Leslia Miller-Brice and Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard and others.

Many Bahamians also took to social media to express outrage over the senseless murder.

In a Facebook post, Mrs Miller-Brice strongly condemned the killing, saying too many young people have lost their lives senselessly due to gun violence.

“I am broken by this

news. We have been losing and continue to lose so many of our young people.

Last evening, a four-yearold child took their last breath and will never have a chance to live a full life. I am broken. We must continue to pray for God’s covering over our children.”

For her part, Mrs GloverRolle said she was confident that police will investigate the shooting incident thoroughly and bring justice for the family.

“I commit to doing all I can to effect change that will cause for a social and cultural shift in our behavior toward one another,” she added.

Mr Pintard said: “I extend my condolences and those of my wife Berlice to Kenton’s parents Norma Smith and Kenton Seymour Sr, who are seeking ways to cope with this tragedy, and pray that God will help each of you to heal and find peace during this extremely difficult period.”

FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands also weighed in on the murder yesterday, saying there needed to be a multi-faceted approach

to tackling crime in the country.

“The recent uptick this week reminds us that no one can be assured of safety from random gunfire,” he said. “We should all be outraged at the death of a

four-year-old child caught in the crossfire of warring gunmen.”

He also called on the Davis administration to do more to better protect Bahamians.

“Obviously, this Davis

led administration lacks the sense of urgency and ongoing focus that the present critical social decay demands. We remind the prime minister that his first responsibility is the safety and welfare of Bahamians.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, July 28, 2022

The Tribune Limited

THE TRIBUNE

PICTURE OF THE DAY

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

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A shocking murder - but what will be done?

THE murder of little Kenton Seymour, Jr, on Tuesday night has shocked The Bahamas.

Just four years old and sitting on the lap of his mother in the family’s car, when a wild shot from a gunman smashed through a window and struck Kenton. He was taken to hospital, but could not be saved.

Four years old.

This should not be happening. We know this should not be happening. And yet we have been here before.

In 2017, an eight-year-old boy, Eugene Woodside, was sitting at home doing his homework when a stray bullet ripped through the wall of his home and struck him, killing him.

That murder itself came just over a month after another eight-year-old boy was killed in his home in Bain and Grants Town. Children exactly where they should be, murdered even in the arms of their mothers.

So we express our horror. We feel grief. We hear the hurt in the words of Kenton’s mother as she talks of not having realised he had been hit and when she did “all I could do was scream”.

But we have been here before. We have grieved before. What will it take to stop us from being here again?

There is a war on our streets. Police have called it a gang war, a turf war.

But our children are the casualties. Not just Kenton, but those who have been injured or killed beforehand. And too many young people being caught up in the gang culture along the way.

It is often said that in the US, if nothing was done after the Sandy Hook mass shooting, in which 20 children between the ages of six and seven, plus six staff members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, then nothing was ever going to be done. Once it was accepted that change did not have to take place after the massacre of children, nothing was ever going to be worse than that, to cause a greater outcry. And true to form, very little changed, and such shootings have become normal.

As we reel in shock at the death of little Kenton, the question has to be asked what will we do to try to stop this from happening again. Not just for Kenton. Not just for Eugene Woodside.

But for all the children finding themselves living in a society where violence rules with impunity.

There is talk of police clampdowns, but we’re in the middle of one of those and Tuesday night saw four people shot, two of them dying. Whatever is being done, it’s not working right now.

Legislatively, there seems to be little appetite for the government to increase punishments.

And administratively, as Front Porch points out in today’s Tribune, lengthy delays in the court process mean that criminals have no fear of imminent

punishment. Pull the trigger and you may go to prison in five, six, seven years’ time. Maybe longer. Maybe never.

Where’s the fear of being held to account if the courts don’t have the resources to actually hold people to account?

The changes needed to fix this are not short-term. They are not cheap. They reach throughout every part of our society. So where are those solutions?

It is not enough to come out and say a few words of sorrow and then move on until this happens again.

It is not enough for our leaders to post to Facebook or Twitter and then not march into the House of Assembly and say things must change and they must change now, and here is our plan of what we will do to save our children.

We too grieve for Kenton, and send our condolences to his family. But we also call on our leaders and ask: What now?

Human smuggling Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander is quite right to call on the public as the force continues to investigate the deaths of at least 17 people in a capsized boat during a human smuggling operation – but it is likely to fall on deaf ears in many cases.

Calling on members of the Haitian community to come forward to identify family members poses one particular problem – only two of those rescued had work permits to be here, so how many relatives of those on board have permits to be here is a significant question.

If they come forward to help, but do not have documentation to show they are allowed to be here, will they too be loaded onto a plane and sent back to Haiti? For many, that is a risk they may not be willing to take.

If there’s no amnesty for anyone coming forward with information, people are not going to come forward, it’s as simple as that.

The force can work with intermediaries in the Haitian community to gather such information, but again success may be limited.

As for tracking the operation itself, there’s strong talk about working with international partners and so on, but we’ve been doing that already and still this tragedy occurred. What about a specific reward? A promise of witness protection or relocation? What about tougher penalties? There is talk of charges of manslaughter or murder – we’ll see if that holds true. And who are the people behind the scenes, the organised criminals behind such operations?

Catching foot soldiers won’t deal with the root of the problem.

But Commissioner Fernander has to try, he has to ask. We hope that more could be done to give people a chance to answer safely.

A GUEST dances in the Van Gogh Live 8K multimedia exhibition, featuring projections of paintings

by Dutch artist Vincent Willem van Gogh, at the exhibit’s opening for the media and guests in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday.

Photo: Bruna Prado/AP

Minimum sentencing for guns EDITOR, The Tribune.

JUST how many more predictable murders, more children killed by stray bullets and more headlines blazoned around the world about gun violence in this tourist-dependent country will it take before our leaders do the obvious thing and introduce mandatory minimum sentencing for gun possession?

It is beyond obvious that, left to themselves, our courts will continue to normalise handgun possession as they have done since Hubert Ingraham permitted them discretion in sentencing for the offence.

The measly then-minimum four-year sentence has since dwindled to a norm of around one year for people caught with the instruments of deadly violence that now pervade our streets.

In the UK or Cayman, even in mitigating circumstances, illegal gun possession will land you in prison for a decade or more. In Jamaica, a mandatory 15-year minimum sentence has just been

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net enacted. Our lawmakers have no excuse for permitting our courts to continue abetting gun-mayhem in an otherwise orderly society with their outrageously permissive sentencing.

The difficulties of addressing gang violence in The Bahamas mostly relate to weaknesses in the trial process - including the ability of criminal gangs to intimidate jurors and witnesses. For this reason, murder trials (which are also afflicted by case backlogs and obstructive defence counsel) result in too few convictions to meaningfully impact violent crime.

Gun possession, on the other hand, is generally tried by magistrate and involves witnesses only from the uniformed services, who are not vulnerable to intimidation.

This (and the straightforward nature of the offence) results in speedy trials and

almost universal conviction rates.

On the basis that the same people who kill people with guns also possess guns, the obvious route to countering this blight on our society is to imprison for lengthy periods those convicted of the latter offence. Yet over and over our courts fail us by permitting repeat offenders to escalate from gun possession to murder.

Additionally, the link between stiff sentencing and higher street prices for guns is well established from other jurisdictions. It does not take much thought to understand why.

It is refreshing to see that we now have a Commissioner of Police who is willing to state the obvious and call for stiffer penalties for gun possession in order to counter the outrageous levels of gun violence in our society.

The next step is for the political directorate.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, July 27, 2022.

Another innocent life stolen EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE ARE confronted with the worst form of such gun violence. An innocent child was robbed of his dreams and the nation is robbed of its future.

A four-year-old lost his life, senselessly. And if that doesn’t move us to action, I don’t know what can.

We have to be completely honest with ourselves. What is happening in our nation, especially our capital, is heinous. These senseless killings are taking over this nation.

The war against gun violence has increased. And evidently, it’s taking the lives of the innocent too.

But this war does not only involve members of

the police force, it involves the communities, it involves this entire nation. Until we, as citizens, do our part, we can expect more senseless killings to take place.

Are we tired yet? How many more children like this four-year-old do we want in the morgue and robbed of their future?

When will we as common citizens stand up against these ruthless thugs and take our communities back? Whether it’s family or friend, we need to take a stand and put an end to this barbaric gangsterism.

This is another wake up call. But the phone has been ringing far too long.

If this that has happened hasn’t really woken us up, I don’t know what will.

It’s heartbreaking to hear a mother scream for her child, especially when she’s left her child at home, gone to work to provide for her child; to later be called and told her child is dead. That’s unimaginable.

While I note that the police are doing their best with gun apprehension; guns still flow through this country without a problem.

We need to come up with an urban agenda to stop the flow of guns. Because we are in a state of emergency and all hands are needed on deck.

For this country, for the children, for Kenton; enough is enough.

DR MATHEO SMITH Nassau, July 27, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

MAN ADMITS INDECENT ASSAULT AT PI HOTEL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MALE AMERICAN tourist was remanded in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday for indecently assaulting a female tourist at a hotel bar at Paradise Island.

Stacy Johnson, 50, of Huntsville, Arkansas, faced Magistrate Shaka Serville on a charge of indecent assault.

At around 12.34am on July 26 at the bar area of the RIU Hotel at Paradise Island, Johnson is accused of approaching the 40-yearold female victim, also an American visitor, as she and her friend were recording a video.

The accused then came up behind her and grabbed the right side of her butt with the victim saying that Johnson’s hand went on to almost grope her vagina.

When confronted about this, the defendant told her a friend had bet him $100 to do it.

However, she could not find the so-called friend at the scene.

After the victim asked the front desk to call police, Johnson admitted to the offence after his arrest.

In court, Johnson pleaded guilty to the offence wearing the same red Arkansas shirt and grey shorts he had on at the time of his arrest.

Johnson said to the

magistrate that he had tried to apologise to the victim, but she would not accept his apology. He also told Magistrate Serville he and his family, including his fiancée, are supposed to return to Arkansas today.

While maintaining he was drinking at the time with a friend who bet him to assault the woman because he believed it would be funny, Johnson said he now realised the seriousness of what he had done. He said he did not intend to demean the defendant called his actions “not smart” and a stupid decision on his part.

Magistrate Serville told Johnson neither he nor the defendant could imagine a woman’s fear of experiencing this type of assault.

The magistrate suggested Johnson properly reflect on his actions. He also said he is carefully considering the defendant’s sentence, citing that the maximum custodial sentence for such a charge is three years.

Johnson was remanded back to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services where he will remain until his next court appearance today. It is at this time that he will have the opportunity to have friends or loved ones speak about his character.

The ruling in Johnson’s case was deferred to tomorrow.

MAN ACCUSED OF ATTACK ON FAMILY WITH CUTLASS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted $2,500 bail yesterday on charges of assaulting his wife and son with a cutlass.

Ricardo Smith Sr appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville on two counts of assault with a dangerous instrument and one count of simple assault.

On July 25 in New Providence, Smith is alleged to have assaulted his wife, Latoya Smith, and their 16-year-old son with a cutlass. Smith faced a further assault charge against his

wife on the same day.

Smith elected to continue this matter in Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

While Prosecutor Sergeant Deon Barr had no objections to bail, Magistrate Serville suggested the accused consider alternative living arrangements as his trial continues.

As such, Smith’s bail was set at $2,500 with one or two sureties. The accused was warned not to interfere with the witnesses as it would put his bail at risk.

Smith’s trial will begin on October 24.

MAN ‘STOLE CARE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE’

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was ordered to attend counselling yesterday after pleading guilty to stealing his uncle’s girlfriend’s car and phone.

Doran Johnson, 21, appeared before Senior Magistrate Carolyn VogtEvans on charges of stealing.

Johnson is accused of stealing Lareisha Edgecombe’s car and $100 Samsung cell phone.

The stolen items have since been returned.

Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge. In explaining his actions to the magistrate, the defendant said he was under the influence at the time claiming that was the reason for a misunderstanding between him and

his uncle.

Johnson said he believed his uncle had given him the car, leading him to take Ms Edgecombe’s car on a joyride.

After stating she did not believe the defendant’s story, Magistrate VogtEvans asked how long Johnson had been smoking to which he responded since he was 13. The court also noted that Johnson has no antecedents.

The magistrate placed Johnson on a conditional discharge where he is expected to attend counselling at CCAC. Should the defendant fail to meet these conditions, he would face a $100 fine or one month at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Johnson is expected to return to court for mention on November 7.

TWO ACCUSED OF ROBBERIES

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday on separate charges of attempted robbery and robbery by violence.

Gerald Forbes, 52, stood before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on a charge of attempted robbery.

On July 25 on Crab Apple Street, Forbes is alleged to have tried to rob Sherine Gibson of a 2011 Toyota Yaris. This vehicle valued at $25,995.00 is the property of Bahamas Power and Light.

In court, the defendant pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail at $7,000 with one or two sureties. Forbes is expected to sign in at East Street South Police

Station the last Sunday of every month. Forbes’ trial is set for October 13.

The other man, James Thompson, aka Reginald Thompson, 34, stood before Magistrate Shaka Serville on a charge of robbery by violence.

On July 25 at West Street, Thompson allegedly robbed Sonny Rolle of $40 cash by force. He was not required to enter a plea and was told his case would proceed by way of Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI).

Thompson was informed he had the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail, where his trial is to be held.

He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS). Thompson is expected to return to court on July 29.

Thursday, July 28, 2022, PAGE 7

Police alarm at crime against women in GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police Theophilus Cunningham said police are concerned about the level of crime toward women and vulnerable members of society in Grand Bahama.

During a press conference at Police Headquarters yesterday, he said that police visibility has increased on the island, and crime watch chat groups were created in response to the recent rape incidents in April and May. The top cop, however, insists that despite these recent matters, crime is at a manageable level on the island.

ACP Cunningham noted that the three most recent rape matters in the Caravel Beach area were cause for significant concern, as well as the unlawful sexual intercourse involving a nine-year-old.

He said the incidents have been brought to closure and two suspects were arrested and charged before the courts. They were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Corrections.

Asked about the delay in bringing these matters to the public’s attention, ACP Cunningham said: “We did it as soon as practicable, and we had a number of (officers) issue brochures in the immediate area where the matters would have occurred.

“We have officers deployed throughout GB, but particularly in the area of these occurrences. Urban Renewal officers and Community officers also went door-to-door sensitizing the public of crime prevention methods and tips,” he said.

Considering these incidents, ACP

ASSISTANT Commissioner Theophilus Cunningham.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn Cunningham shared some safety tips to prevent such incidents. He is advising residents, particularly women, to ensure that the exterior of their homes is well lit at night.

Before going to bed, he said, they should ensure that blinds and drapes are closed to prevent persons from seeing inside of their residence. It is safer for persons to walk or jog in a group and stay on well-lit paths, he said.

ACP Cunningham stressed that persons should be aware of their surroundings. “When walking alone, do not use headphones,” he warned.

Additionally, he said that a number of Crimewatch chat groups, managed by police officers, have been set up throughout Grand Bahama to reduce crime in various communities throughout the island.

“These groups assisted us drastically in the reduction of crime,” he said. “Concerned citizens have been very supportive in these groups and report suspicious activity and anyone committing a crime, and we attribute this to the reduction of crime and safer communities,” he said.

ACP Cunningham also gave an

update concerning ongoing criminal matters, including the whereabouts of the murder accused Kenrick Hanna, who was charged in the death of Monet Darville, a young mother who was brutally stabbed to death in 2019.

According to reports, police were called to an apartment at the King’s Bay Apartment Complex in South Bahamia, Grand Bahama, shortly after 9pm on September 24, 2019, where they found Monet Darville’s lifeless body with multiple stab wounds.

Police reported that officers also found Hanna at that apartment complex attempting to jump from the third-floor balcony. Hanna fell and sustained serious injuries. He was charged and granted bail.

When asked about an update on Hanna’s location, ACP Cunningham said: “He would have moved to the US. Investigation continues into that.”

He also said that police are also vigorously investigating the shooting death of Omar Penn, aka “Punch”, in February 2021. He was gunned down outside Island Luck on East Sunrise Highway.

“We have been following several leads for some time and the investigation is ongoing,” Mr Cunningham said.

On the human remains found in Chesapeake, the police official said the bones found in the sand that were deposited by truckers at a residence are believed to be those of remains from Hurricane Dorian.

“There are a number of persons who were not found and are still outstanding. We are waiting for DNA testing to be done,” Mr Cunningham said.

PAGE 8, Thursday, July 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

POLICE at the scene after a shooting in Fleming Street that led to the death of a child on Tuesday night.

“When the speed of repercussions drops, society loses a key deterrent against unlawful behavior.”

– Alec MacGillis

The end of lockdowns and the removal of curfews were always going to result in an increase in crime no matter which political party was in office. The severity of the surge in various crimes, including murder, appears to have caught the police and the current political directorate off guard and reeling.

A few weeks ago, Eyewitness News reported that the new Commissioner of Police, Clayton Fernander, explained that 55 percent of the then 75 murdered for the year were themselves suspects in murder cases out on bail. Fernander stated: “Our intelligence suggests that these individuals are being targeted by rival gangs.”

Residents of New Providence wake up to serial deadly headlines describing the most recent and gruesome killings. A child was killed in what appears to have been a crossfire shooting this past Tuesday.

THE multiyear COVID19 pandemic exacerbated a perennial criminal justice problem in The Bahamas and many other jurisdictions: the inability to prosecute criminals in a timely (swift), certain and fair manner, encapsulated in the coinage, Swift Justice, the concept of which has its origins in the thinking and research of the late American criminologist Mark Kleiman.

Writing this month in The Atlantic under the headline, “The Cause of the Crime Wave Is Hiding in Plain Sight”, Alec MacGillis, an investigative journalist for ProPublica notes: “Above all, experts say, the shutdowns undermined the promise that crimes would be promptly punished... The idea is that it’s the speed of repercussions, rather than their Armed robberies and car severity, that matters most. thefts are on the increase.

“By putting the justice The pre-pandemic fear of system on hold for so long, being the victim of a crime many jurisdictions weak- has increased. The sense ened that effect. In some of lawlessness has dramaticases, people were left to cally returned. seek street justice in the Before the pandemic, absence of institutional former Minister of National justice.”

Security Marvin Just as the ‘The Dames was pandemic has making some government of affected public headway in the day needs to reducing various education, government crimes, includdevise a more finances and ing murder. other areas comprehensive Still, there of social life response to remained signifiand public how it will cant challenges administration, in prosecutCOVID-19 has make a dent ing criminals made an already in the backlog in a timely clogged Baha- of cases. This manner, which mian criminal has dogged our justice system is not an easy system for decmuch worse, matter and ades and under severely test- will take time, both political ing an already parties. especially overburdened Yes, responses system. because of the to crime and MacGilcauses are backlog of cases its lis offers the multiple and explanation of made worse by at times comthe Alameda the pandemic.’ plex. But there County, Califorare often clear nia, District Attorney Nancy responses that have proven O’Malley that “the absence excessively difficult for or delay of consequences our overburdened, often for many offenders created terribly incompetent and the perception of a ‘lawless frustrating criminal justice society”. system, inclusive of the

LAWLESSNESS

police, the Office of the Attorney General and the courts.

One response would be, at long last, establishing the National Forensics Laboratory with the necessary technology and personnel. Such a lab could speed some trials and reduce the need to send certain tests and samples overseas, often delaying detection and prosecution. This is a relatively easy tool we can realise quickly.

Intelligence gathering, good policing, various crime-detection technologies, youth programmes and other measures are critical in preventing, disrupting and addressing the behaviour of gangs and criminals.

But when such individuals perceive, many times correctly, that their trials will not be heard in a timely manner and that they will be granted bail in due course, they scoff at the justice system, creating a wider ripple and sociological effect and mindset of lawlessness and contempt for authorities at all levels.

When a criminal’s experience in the criminal justice system is clogged, prone toward long delays, unresponsive and at times unfair, they deem such a system as ineffective and ridiculous.

TIMELINESS

We have lost much of the plot in our criminal justice system. Parents and teachers who deal with discipline can attest to Mark Kleiman’s claim: timeliness and certainty of punishment often tend to be more effective than severity.

Kleiman, who utilised insights from psychology, behavioral economics and organisational analysis, also appreciated the need for timely intervention through probationary, parole and other measures, including drug and alcohol treatment.

He once said in an interview with The New York Times: “When politicians say, ‘Let’s hire 5,000 more police!’ everybody cheers.

Say, ‘Let’s hire 5,000 probation officers and create cost-effective alternatives to prison!’ and everybody

Photo: Austin Fernander

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER AND OTHER CRIMES?

yawns.”

A friend recalls his recent experience with the courts on a civil matter, which began several years ago. To be fair, some of the delays were caused by one of the participants in the matter.

But the more recent delays of the past two years have mainly been because of the incompetence and the chaos in the court system. The fairly simple matter has been adjourned twice this year because of filing mix-ups and because the attorneys and the courts do not always have the same documents.

This is a typical story.

There are scores of others on the civil and criminal sides. The inability of the courts to proceed more efficiently helps to fuel the sense of lawlessness in the country.

Monday’s editorial in this journal captures the pervasive sense of lawlessness on New Providence: “Brazen is also a word that could be used to describe the killers

involved in the country’s latest murder yesterday.

“The victim had pulled up at a service station to get gas. As he waited, two gunmen got out of another vehicle, shot him and fled.

Once again, the victim was out on bail for a criminal offence.

“Opening fire in broad daylight, at a gas station, where a stray bullet hitting a pump could mean an even greater catastrophe. And the criminals got away.

“Again, there is no fear from the criminal element that they will be caught, no fear that they will face a trial and a court and a judge and a jury. Indeed, at the current rate of people being killed while out on bail, it seems far likelier to meet that fate than a judge’s gavel.”

HAVOC

Gang members and alleged offenders out on bail are wreaking havoc and putting others at grave risk.

The police can’t seem to stop them. And the courts cannot seem to try certain individuals in a “swift, certain and fair manner”. The state has lost a certain control on the streets and in the minds of many Bahamians.

The government of the day needs to devise a more comprehensive response to how it will make a dent in the backlog of cases. This is not an easy matter and will take time, especially because of the backlog of cases made worse by the pandemic.

Further, there are many offences which do not rise to the level of outright criminality but which, nevertheless, can lead to

disrespect for the law and for law enforcement in general.

Especially susceptible are young people who have not been properly socialised and who are more likely to develop contempt for law enforcement. The result is a greater likelihood of their descending into criminal behaviour.

Those responsible for law enforcement should pay more attention to matters like certain traffic offences and violations, unauthorised use of public property, unmuffled motorcycles, unauthorised advertising billboards, etcetera.

If there was more attention to these matters, perhaps some of our young people would be saved from graduating to full antisocial behaviour.

Returning home from overseas recently, a friend observed a mindset we all know well. He noted that he watched Bahamians where he was in Florida obeying certain basic laws as well as norms in shopping centres and other venues.

Yet, here at home many of these same individuals flagrantly ignore similar norms and rules because to do so is mostly consequence free, with certain laws and norms simply not enforced.

The slackness and lawlessness here at home are cut from a similar sociological cloth: toleration for and inability by ourselves and the state to address behaviours small, medium and large, which metastasize into a culture of criminality and contempt for law and order, requiring a range of therapeutics and at times radical measures.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 28, 2022, PAGE 9

Who’d have thought, Cheney’s daughter is our champion THE two friends were on a long walk by the riverbank. Both had just fought off what they thought were COVID-like symptoms: Sore throat, scratchy voice, occasional cough, a bit of sniffling and a general feeling of listlessness. No fever, though. Comparing notes on the day before, they confided to each other that they had been doing home self-tests for the past several days, and neither had tested positive even once.

“It was actually kind of disappointing,” Beth said to her pal Lauren as they began to loosen up and step into their early-morning pace. “I’ve been vaxxed and boosted, as I mentioned on the phone. I figured that I was feeling lousy because of COVID. Lots of my friends have experienced this, and it seems like as soon as they get their positive test, there’s an explanation for their sluggishness.

It’s understandable. Most of them say that as soon as there’s a reason, they stop worrying and begin feeling better. Isn’t that wild?’

Lauren stopped and stared at her friend. “Not at all! That’s basically what happened to me. That’s why I called you to see if you wanted to do this walk.”

They resumed their quickening pace.

“But I had another reason,” Lauren said.

“You’re going to think I’m crazy. But over this summer, something really bizarre and totally unexpected has happened to me.” She paused.

“Hey, don’t leave me hanging here,” Beth snapped. “What happened?

Have you fallen in love again?”

“Not a chance,” Lauren replied. “It’s much weirder than that.

“I find that I want to vote for Elizabeth Cheney.”

Casting a furtive look over at her accelerating friend, Lauren was now in a hurry to explain herself. “I’ve gotten completely hooked on these hearings on TV about the January 6 riots 18 months ago. I tuned into the first one just out of a kind of morbid curiosity, but the committee behaved so calmly, rationally and professionally that I couldn’t believe I was watching Congress.

“The chair, that black congressman from Mississippi, what’s his name?”

“Bennie Thompson.”

“Oh yeah. Well, he was calm and reasonable. Not an exciting speaker, but it looked like he had worked hard on his presentation.

Then, Liz Cheney started talking. She was just sensational. Very even delivery, not very emotional, but her words really packed a punch. She was presenting evidence, making sweeping statements that it sounded like she could support. I thought, wow, here is a woman who can hold her own on national TV, making a case much more persuasively than the two Trump impeachment trials ever did.

“That hearing was in the evening, and I missed a couple of my shows as I stuck with it for over three hours. I was mostly hooked already, but what clinched it for me after that hearing was the inept, limp, horrid response from these male politicians like Kevin McCarthy and his deputy, the guy from Louisiana who got shot at that baseball practice a couple of years ago.”

“Steve Scalise.”

“Yeah. Thanks. What a moron. He gets shot by a lunatic with a gun, is really luck to survive, and then doubles down on how antiAmerican gun control is. I wonder if he would respond any differently if it had been his wife or kid who got shot.

“Anyhow, I started getting interested in Liz Cheney in a way that I have never experienced with top Democratic women like Kamala Harris or Elizabeth Warren. She is just so, I don’t know, strong. Calm and unflappable. But she is also really clearly patriotic.

You can see in her face and hear in her voice that the events from that capitol riot that she just hates what happened, but that she recognizes that we’ve got to take the emotion and reflexive responses out of our political discussions and focus on the terrible things that occurred that day.

“And I agree with her that the perpetrators of that riot have to go to jail,” Lauren continued.

“I began TiVo-ing the hearings when they were on TV while I was at work.

And I was actually excited to watch them when I got home that night. That committee has really done a good job, and the technical back-up is really impressive. The whole experience is kind of like watching these movies like “All the President’s Men” about Watergate or “Spotlight” about the Catholic Church’s scandals in Massachusetts.

You know the outcome, but you’re drawn into the suspense of the moment, almost as if you didn’t know how things turned out.

“Am I crazy? Liz Cheney, our saviour? Daughter and political heir to her father, the one-time political prince of darkness?”

Beth didn’t reply for another hundred yards as the two moved away from the riverside and onto a tree-lined avenue, still maintaining a good steady pace. When she did speak, Beth surprised her friend.

“Actually, I don’t think you’re crazy at all. I can’t say that I’ve watched all the hearings like you have done, but it’s easy to relate to the indignation and outrage that Cheney is showing, and to share her belief that Trump and the other perpetrators should be punished.

Beth continued. “My feminist side says it’s way past time for a woman to be President. And look at what we have on our liberal side of the political divide. I’m not sure any of the Democratic women would do as good a job as Cheney has done on this committee. Check out her remarks in the paper this morning.”

Here are some of those remarks from Cheney: “Every American must consider this – can a President who is willing to make the choices Donald Trump made during the violence of January 6 ever be trusted with any position of authority in our great nation again?”

“I will do everything I can to ensure that the former President never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office. Ronald Reagan’s great ally, Margaret Thatcher, said this: ‘Let it never be said that the dedication of those who love freedom is less than the determination of those who would destroy it’.”

And summing up last Thursday’s prime-time committee session, Cheney said: “Let me assure every one of you this: our committee understands the gravity of this moment, the consequences for our nation.

We have much work yet to do, and will see you all in September.” That’s when the January 6 committee

VICE Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, listens as the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol holds a hearing.

Photo: J Scott Applewhite/AP

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper hearings will resume. ***

While the January 6 committee continues to blend elements of an American grand jury and a Commission of Inquiry in its relentless investigation of Trump’s role in the capitol riot, the visible divide between Trump and his former Vice President continues to widen.

As speculation increases about when – not if – Trump will announce his third run for the White House, Mike Pence is following a traditional path in endorsing and supporting GOP candidates across the US. Often, Pence’s preference does not match Trump’s in the endorsement game, and observers are keeping score.

Pence, careful never to overtly criticise Trump for seemingly putting his Vice President’s life at risk on January 6, nevertheless pushes their party to “move on” from Trump’s loss in 2020 to Joe Biden. Trump still publicly believes Pence failed to take steps available to him under the constitution to assure Trump could remain in office after that defeat.

Pence notched a big win in Georgia’s Republican primary in May. He backed incumbent Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over Trump-supported Big Lie election denier challengers, and Kemp (with nearly 75 percent of the

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vote) and Raffensperger both rolled to victory.

The next clear confrontation between Trump and Pence comes in Arizona on Tuesday. Kari Lake,

a long-time Phoenix television news reporter and anchor, faces establishment favorite Karrin Taylor Robson, who has the support of Pence and outgoing

Republican Gov Doug Ducey.

Lake has campaigned with Trump, who has praised her as “the only candidate who is strong enough to protect the people of Arizona.” Robson, a former member of the state’s Board of Regents, is trailing Lake by about five points in the latest polls.

Georgia and Arizona were two of Trump’s most shocking losses in 2020.

The Arizona contest will be closely watched all across the US next week.

PAGE 10, Thursday, July 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Independence awards held

MEMBERS of the police and defence force at yesterday’s ceremony.

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings@tribunemedia.net AS part of the country’s 49th independence celebrations, the National Independence Commission hosted an appreciation and awards ceremony yesterday.

Hundreds of Bahamians were honored for the extraordinary services rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These services include but were not limited to churches and religious leaders, grocery and food stores, law enforcement, social welfare, education, and healthcare workers.

National Security minister Wayne Munroe was amongst those who gave kind remarks to the honorees.

In his address, Mr Munroe was very appreciative of the services of the COVID-19 leaders and workers.

“History cannot gain sight of the heroism of the ordinary person who acted as they were directed and acted without concern for personal safety,” he said.

The member of parliament for Freetown also thanked the uniform branches that fall under his ministry, as he describes them as “heroes”.

“The comfort that it gave to drive past a road checkpoint and see the officers doing no more than they intend to- it may not of seem very hard in doing but it gave comfort,” he said in his speech.

Minister of Education

Photos: Moise Amisial

and Technical and Vocational Training Glenys Hanna Martin was the keynote speaker for this momentous occasion.

“Each of you here has helped or positively touched hundreds, if not thousands of our brothers and sisters in our most challenging hours. But you are here today because you have touched our nation, all of us collectively.

We are here today to celebrate and give thanks to you,” Mrs Hanna-Martin said.

The honorees and their service to the country and its citizens make her proud to be a Bahamian, she said.

Honorees were presented with special awards and certificates during the ceremony at Baha Mar.

MEMBERS of the immigration department and police force at yesterday’s ceremony.

BAAP INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS

FROM left, Joyce Quant, treasurer; Marianne Cadet, vice-president; and Susanna Rolle, president. Secretary is Edith Bodie (missing from photo).

THE Bahamas Asso- Adderley and Tiffany ciation of Administrative Grant were initiated and Professionals (BAAP) Hazel McKinney was reinrecently installed its officers stated into the association. for the year 2022-2023.

Mrs Rolle said: “If someOn Thursday last week, one is looking to improve at the Edmund Moxey and push the boundaries Sporting Complex, BAAP of innovation, then they installed Susanna Rolle as should join BAAP. We are president; Marianne Cadet an association that wants to as vice-president; Joyce continually improve, grow Quant as treasurer and and develop.”

Edith Bodie as secretary.

Meetings are held the Mrs Rolle’s theme for third Thursday of each the year is “Your Future Is month, except December.

Created By What You Do Presently meetings are held Today, Not Tomorrow”. via Zoom. For details, email New members Candia baap20153@gmail.com.

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Thursday, July 28, 2022, PAGE 11

Coalition calls for more effort to stop spills A COALITION of environmental groups while praising the fast response to the July 20 oil spill at Great Exuma, called for improved spill prevention and preparedness as well as increased transparency in matters of this kind.

In addition, the groups also want a full accounting of the steps taken to respond to the Exuma spill, including an analysis of quantity and type of the dispersants applied to the spill area.

The groups point out the fragile nature of coral and seagrass ecosystems and note how dispersants, if misused, may significantly increase the toxicity and long term impacts of spill events in environments like The Bahamas. The group referenced several studies showing the particular vulnerability of coral ecosystems.

“Initial estimates reported the spill to be approximately 35,000 gallons of diesel fuel that leaked during a fuel transfer from the tanker vessel MT Arabian, contracted by Bahamas-based Sun Oil, to a shoreside facility that generates electric power for the island. Reports indicate that the spill occurred during the overnight hours of 19-20 July, the long timeline indicating a potential

lack of awareness that the spill was occurring,” a press statement said yesterday.

“This was a significant, but preventable oil spill,” said Joseph Darville, Chairman of Save The Bays. “Better oil safety regulations are clearly needed to ensure this does not happen again. And if it does, that the flow of oil is promptly shut off.”

The groups acknowledge the government’s quick action, but note that the favourable conditions, in this case with oil contained close to shore, may not exist for the next spill.

“In this instance, the location of the spill, coupled with the decision to pull a floating boom across the mouth of the small bay, appears to have been helpful for maximum containment,” said Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, executive director of BREEF. “Unfortunately, the conditions of oil spills are unpredictable and response plans must account for that. It should also be assumed that in this case, some oil did escape, long term damage did occur, and that dispersants may have exacerbated this effect.”

The groups contend that estimates of recovered oil are highly optimistic. “Booming and skimming are not shown

to be anywhere near 100 percent effective, so let’s be clear, damage did occur,” said Chris Wilke, Global Advocacy Manager for Waterkeeper Alliance.

“We also know that once dispersants are used, booming and skimming become ineffective and evaporation largely ceases as the oil is now throughout the water.”

They also call for an overhaul of petroleum spill prevention and response policies to better prevent and respond to future spills.

Government officials on the scene that day expressed a “political will” to have the issue resolved within 24 hours.

“The groups assert that this is extremely unrealistic for a spill of this size. Dispersants have the effect of hiding oil from view, halting evaporation, and making the oil more available and harmful to organisms below the surface.

The groups cautioned the government and responders against the continued use of dispersants in situations like the Exuma spill.

In some situations, dispersants might be used to keep oil from reaching a sensitive shoreline, but in this case, with oil already contained and already impacting a shoreline, dispersants would likely damage the environment

rather than help it.

“This is a stark reminder that we need to do more with respect to petroleum policy,” said Rashema Ingraham of Waterkeepers Bahamas.

“Like with the Equinor Spill on Grand Bahama in 2019, we were not prepared with the best possible response,” she continued, in reference to the Bahamas National Trust report that concluded that improvements are needed with respect to petroleum policy to ensure that polluters pay all costs for cleanup and remediation.

The groups also contend that an initial assessment could be more robust and transparent.

The geographic extent of the spill should have been immediately identified through aerial flights, boat surveys, and beach surveys.

Photos indicate oil was escaping and we should not assume that even a small amount escaping the boomed area is of minimal consequence.

They support the ongoing investigation of the impacts following the oil recovery phase, with additional long-term monitoring of the habitat to determine the potential for lasting damage to the shoreline, water column, flora, and fauna. These impacts

should be mitigated and restoration work may be needed at the polluter’s expense.

The groups emphasize that this incident demonstrates that work must be done to improve response to oil spill incidents and to improve readiness. Key elements include contingency planning updates, pre-stationing of equipment, identifying trained response personnel who could be mobilised on short notice, government command of spill response, and transparent sharing of information to the public.

This incident shows potential shortcomings in safety procedures and equipment that could have prevented or lessened the severity of the spill, including earlier detection with proper crew attention. Some jurisdictions are now requiring pre-booming of vessels during fuel transfers to immediately contain any escaped oil before it impacts the shoreline.

The Bahamas may want to consider minimum standards for pre-booming and crew monitoring during large fuel transfer operations.

However, overall, the coalition applauds the Bahamian government and other agencies for their quick response.

RECOVERED BIDEN SAYS GET YOUR SHOTS TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR WASHINGTON Associated Press

PRESIDENT Joe Biden ended his COVID-19 isolation yesterday, telling Americans they can “live without fear” of the pandemic if they take advantage of booster shots and treatments, the protections he credited with his swift recovery.

“You don’t need to be president to get these tools to be used for your defense,” he said in the Rose Garden. “In fact, the same booster shots, the same at-home test, the same treatment that I got is available to you.”

The pandemic has killed more than a million people in the US and it continues to disrupt daily life more than two years after it

PRESIDENT Joe Biden yesterday. began. But Biden emphasised that people are far less likely to die from the disease despite a wave of new infections caused by a contagious variant known as BA.5, which is believed to have sickened the president as well.

“You can live without fear by doing what I did,”

he said. “Get boosted, get tested and get treatment.”

He talked more about treatment than prevention, a sign of how the pandemic and his approach has evolved.

“Grandparents are hugging their kids and grandkids again. Weddings, birthdays, celebrations are happening in person again,” Biden said.

“Let’s keep emerging from one of the darkest moments in our history.”

Biden drew a contrast to when President Donald Trump contracted COVID19 and was treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

“He was severely ill.

Thankfully, he recovered,” Biden said. “When I got COVID, I worked from upstairs in the White House.”

The difference, Biden said, is the availability of vaccines, treatments and home tests for catching infections early.

It was Biden’s first public appearance in person since he tested positive for COVID-19 on July 21. He walked out of the White House on Wednesday wearing his trademark

aviator glasses and a dark face mask, which his doctor said he’ll continue wearing when in proximity to others for five more days.

White House staff assembled in the Rose Garden applauded Biden, who thanked them for their support as he finished his remarks.

“God bless you all, and

now I get to go back to the Oval Office,” he said.

Biden tested negative for the virus on Tuesday night and yesterday morning, allowing him to end his isolation.

The variant that likely infected the president, BA.5, is an offshoot of the omicron strain that was first detected last year.

SPORTS PAGE 14

BASKETBALL ICON AND SON VISIT THE JEFF RODGERS CAMP

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE 34th Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp continued its tradition of showcasing local talent in the sport Bahamian basketball icon, former No.1 overall draft pick and two time NBA champion Mychal Thompson, alongside his eldest son, Mychel - a Bahamian national team standout, visited the camp yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

The elder Thompson spoke about the joys of seeing his son Klay celebrate his inspirational recovery from ACL and Achilles injuries over the course of the last two seasons, to win his fourth NBA Championship as a member of the Golden State Warriors.

Thompson celebrated with the Bahamian flag draped across his shoulders for the post game festivities and also prominently displayed the flag during the team’s float parade and trophy presentation.

“Man that was like the culmination of the celebration, the icing on the cake, to see him up there on the stage, number one, as a champion, and then to see him up there with the flag around his shoulders to represent the Bahamian half of his heritage and his family and to realise not only is he representing the United States and himself, but he’s also representing The Bahamas and that brought a lot of pride to see him up there,” Mychal said, “He’s so appreciative and thankful that he’s back on that stage, he just wanted to remind the Bahamian people and the basketball world where’s he’s from also.”

Mychal was recruited from the Bahamas to Miami Jackson High and eventually to the University of Minnesota. He was the top overall pick in the 1978 Draft by the Portland Trailblazers and enjoyed a 13 year NBA career highlighted by a pair of championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The entrance of the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium that leads to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium is named in his honour.

Always a strong presence in the Bahamas, the Thompson family are frequent participants in the annual Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp.

“To whom much is given, much is required,” the elder Thompson said, “If blessed with riches, health, or knowledge, you should be willing to pass it on.”

Mychel has been a member of the senior men’s national team since 2014.

He recently helped The Bahamas completed a sweep over the US Virgin Islands to finish as a top three team in their group and advance to the second round of the FIBA World Cup ‘23 Americas Qualifiers. Canada finished as the leader of the group at 6-0, The Dominican Republic was 4-2, The Bahamas was 2-4 and the USVI was eliminated at 0-6.

Thompson averaged 11.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game through the three SEE PAGE 15

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

Bastian and Higgs to fly flag for Bahamas

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BIRMINGHAM, England: When the Commonwealth Games gets underway today, swimmers Izaak Bastian and Lilly Higgs will be the joint flag bearers for the Bahamas during the march past of athletes.

Bahamas team general manager Rudolph Ferguson confirmed that the decision was made during the senior management meeting by the officials for Team Bahamas before they announced it to the swimmers.

The ceremony will witness the participation of 72 countries and will feature more than 5,000 athletes when it gets underway at the Alexander Stadium at 7pm, which is five hours ahead EST – or 2pm in the Bahamas.

Prince Charles will read The Queen’s message for the Commonwealth Games as he represents Queen Elizabeth in a prelude to 11 days of exciting competition in 25 different disciplines.

The Commonwealth Games, formerly changed in 1978 from the British Commonwealth Games, is the biggest sporting extravaganza outside of the Olympic Games.

Bastian and Higgs are here in Birmingham with

IZAAK Bastian and Lilly Higgs. the rest of the swim team that includes head coach Andy Loveitt out of Grand Bahama, and the team of Devante Carey, Lamar Taylor, Luke Kennedy Thompson, Katelyn Cabral, Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson and Rhanishka Gibbs.

Travano McPhee is the assistant coach. They are staying at the University

of Birmingham, one of the three designated games villages.

Also here in Birmingham, but staying at the Hilton Hotel at the NEC, are boxers Carl Hield and Rashield Williams, who will be coached by Vincent Strachan, the president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation.

Triathlete

Armando Moss and and his coach Cameron Roach are at the University of Warwick.

Ferguson said over the next few days they are expecting members of the other disciplines, including wrestling, consisting of Felix Neely and Abaco’s Lorin Sawyer, coached by Kenton Roker; wrestler Rashji Mackey and coach Clinton Burke and judokas Cynthia Rahming and Andrew Munnings, coached Willard McKenzie; Originally named to the track team are Devynne Charlton, Anthonique Strachan, Steven Gardiner, LaQuan Nairn, Jahmaal Wilson, Terrence Jones, Tynia Gaither, Ken Mullings, Shaun Miller, Kendrick Thompson and Charisma Taylor (women’s triple jump/100m hurdles).

Ferguson, a track and field coach with the Star Trackers Track Club, could not confirm exactly who would be coming in from track and field. But said some of those restrictions may hamper their efforts to have athletes replaced who can no longer come because of one reason or the other.

It will be a wait and see process with exactly who will be here to compete in track and field when the athletes start arriving on July 30. Nonetheless, Ferguson said they are anxious

to get the games started with swimming and triathlon on Friday.

“We have a very young team and, for a lot of them, this is their first time competing at the Commonwealth Games,” he said. “The expectations are extremely high, but we don’t want them to put any pressure on themselves.

“We want them to go out there and compete at their best and once they give us that, we can’t expect any more. We do expect to see a lot of PBs (personal best performances). Let’s get to the finals and anything could happen in the final.

So we’re very optimistic about this team. I think they all have a sense of pride representing the 242.

We will make them as comfortable as possible.”

The chef de mission for Team Bahamas is Roy Colebrooke, a vice president of the BOC. He will be assisted by Oria Wood, another vice president of the BOC. Rickey Davis heads the medical staff that include Patrice Roberts.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, along with BOC president Romell Knowles and Bahamas Aquatics president Algernon Cargill head the list of dignitaries here for the games, but are not directly involved with Team Bahamas.

Injured Strachan to miss start of Colts training camp

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AS THE Indianapolis Colts look to make major transitions on the offensive side of the ball, Mike Strachan is expected to miss the start of training camp as he continues to recover from an offseason procedure on his knee.

The injury meant the secondyear wide receiver was only a partial participant in the Colts’ spring schedule which included Mandatory Minicamp and several sessions of Offseason OTAs. No timetable has been set for his return.

The Colts placed Strachan on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard updated Strachan’s progress.

“Mike Strachan, he had a knee procedure before he left. He’s going to be a little bit of time, we think before the end of camp he’ll be back but we’ll see,” he said, “He’s still rehabbing and making progress.”

The Colts will look to acclimate Matt Ryan, the team’s new 15-year-veteran quarterback, to the fold, along with a relatively inexperienced group of wide receivers.

This offseason, Strachan was projected to have a unique opportunity to stand out among the group led by third-year standout Michael Pittman Jr. and fifth-year veteran Keke Coutee the only two with over 400 career receiving yards.

“With Matt Ryan and the new additions I feel like this team is on the road to greatness and we can get to a championship,” Strachan said of the addition of the former league MVP to the locker room.

“He’s someone we all look up to, it’s like having another coach.

MIKE Strachan of the Indianapolis Colts.

It’s crazy because he’s a great leader, he knows the game inside and out and he teaches us. He’s been a certified veteran for years in the NFL so he’s somebody that I listen to and look up to.”

Strachan’s standout performance last training camp led the seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, to a spot on the 53-man opening day roster.

Strachan totalled 10 receptions for 130 yards in three preseason games.

Overall, he had a Pro Football Focus grade of 73.0 this preseason; he was targeted 16 times, had six receiving first downs, no dropped passes, four contested catches, and was part of three

explosive pass plays. In his preseason debut, Strachan finished with three receptions for 57 yards in the Colts’ 21-18 win over the Carolina Panthers.

In his second appearance, Strachan finished with two catches for 12 yards in the Colts’ 12-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings and five receptions for 61 yards in the Colts’ 27-17 win over the Detroit Lions.

He began the year with appearances in the first two games of the regular season but played sparingly for the remainder of the campaign.

In week one, he finished with two catches for 26 yards in the Colts’ 28-16 loss to the Seattle

Seahawks. Strachan was on the field for 18 snaps and was targeted three times, a higher rate than any other receiver in the lineup.

Despite the challenges of a rookie campaign, he still considered it a season of milestones with the opportunity to represent the country.

“Just being in the locker room everyday with a bunch of different guys from different backgrounds, different salaries, look at a guy like Matt Ryan - $150 million that’s your friend now,” Strachan said, “So it’s things like that that motivates me, seeing those guys, looking up to them and being able to work with them is touching.”

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BASKETBALL ICON AND SON VISIT THE JEFF RODGERS CAMP FROM PAGE 14 qualifying windows.

A number of the instructors got their start in the camp as participants. But Camp Director Jeff Rodgers said they went on to develop their skills and they have returned to lend their expertise to the younger players who are following in their footsteps “The camp is really about teaching and confirming in our campers “life skills” such as discipline, respect, concern for one another and the environment, through the medium of basketball.

We want our campers to learn how to manage and navigate life apart from basketball,” he said, “We have been privileged to see over 10,000 boys and girls pass through our camp over these 34 years, and each year we anticipate having hundreds of young people with us who are supported by outstanding Bahamian coaches.”

SUÁREZ SIGNS WITH URUGUAYAN TEAM, RETURNING TO SOCCER ROOTS MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Luis Suárez on Wednesday confirmed that he has signed with Nacional in Montevideo, the club where Uruguay’s historic goal-scorer made his soccer debut 17 years ago.

A day after announcing that both sides had reached a pre-agreement, the 35-year-old striker posted a message on Twitter that the deal was now official. The sides didn’t disclose the financial details or the length of the contract.

Suárez changed his profile photo on social media to show him in the white, blue and red of Nacional, one of Uruguay’s most popular teams.

“I am proud to wear my shirt again at @ Nacional!” Suárez wrote. “Thank you all for the support! SEE YOU SOON.” Nacional also confirmed Suárez’s return to the club where he began his professional career in 2005.

“Happy to have you home!” the team said.

Thursday, July 28, 2022, PAGE 15

Fast Forward Athletics sees largest graduation class yet

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AFTER a successful 2022 season in which they saw six athletes make the Carifta team that finished second to Jamaica in Jamaica, Fast Forward Athletics Track Club’s head coach Everette Fraser said he’s pleased with the direction his club is headed in.

According to Fraser, this year they have seen the largest graduating class since its establishment in 2012 with 13 student-athletes transitioning to tertiary level education, both at the University of the Bahamas and a number of colleges and universities in the United States.

“We wish to congratulate our graduates and commemorate their accomplishments,” Fraser said. “We had some of them like Zachary Evans going to Purdue University; Paige Archer is going to Central Florida University and Javnya Walcourt to Texas Christian University.

“These are some big schools and some of them are going to some NAIA schools. We also have some athletes who didn’t do so well academically, but they did very well athletically and have an opportunity to go to junior college to further their education.”

Overall, Fraser said his club surpassed all of their expectations this year and it only bodes will for the future of Fast Track Athletics as he also congratulated his coaching staff, the parents, guardians and friends for their tremendous support during the season.

“We encourage you athletes as you all transition to college and pursue other aspirations,” Fraser said.

“It has been a most rewarding experience to watch you grow athletically and, in some instances, surpass goals and expectations.”

As they prepare to embark on their journey, Fraser said he anticipates that the athletes will continue to perform both academically and athletically in all of their endeavours.

“The programme that I put them through has set them up to achieve great things,” Fraser said. “We didn’t put the envelopes in high school, so they have a lot of room to achieve in college, so I expect some of these kids to put on our future World Championship and Olympic Games teams and hopefully become medalists as well.”

With their programme

being a bit depleted from the top tier performers, who are now moving onto the next phase of their athletic and academic careers, Fraser said they are looking forward to seeing a lot more of their younger athletes moving up to fill in the void left behind.

“We have a lot of young athletes ages nine and ten, who are striving to achieve the same thing as these older athletes,” Fraser said.

“At the end of the day, you want to be able to get an athletic scholarship and further your education.

“So once we started back up after the break for COVID-19, the kids were right back at it, putting in the work and now they are eager to go out there are perform. They are excited about wearing their school uniform (Queen’s College) and how they are being treated as athletes.

“This has and will continue to inspire our athletes to do very well. That is why we can feel proud of having the biggest graduating group ever going off to school. This is something that we know will continue to grow because the younger athletes are eager to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone on ahead of them.”

Among the list of graduates heading to college are the following: Javonya Valcout - Texas Christian University; Paige Archer - University of Central Florida; Zachary Evans - Purdue University; Kasha Neilly - Southern Illinois University; Kameron Smith

Contract Suárez became a free agent after his twoseason contract expired with Atletico Madrid in Spain and had been considering a variety of teams that he might join, drawing a surge of calls from Nacional fans urging him to come back to his first team.

He is the Uruguayan national team’s all-time leading scorer, with 68 goals in 132 games.

Among other teams he played for in Europe are Liverpool in England, Barcelona in Spain and Ajax in the Netherlands.

Nacional said on its website that negotiations with Suárez gained strength weeks ago, when the striker said he was surprised the club had not contacted him.

Uruguayan media reported that Suárez would arrive in Montevideo on Sunday afternoon and a caravan would take him from the airport to the club’s stadium, where his official presentation will take place.

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Freedom Farm Baseball League to take team to Florida tournament

FREEDOM Farm Baseball League will be taking an 8U AllStar Team to the Babe Ruth Cal Ripken Machine Pitch World Series July 29th – August 7th in Ocala, Florida.

Top teams throughout the USA that have qualified by winning their respective regional tournament will be there to participate.

Last year Freedom Farm competed in the tournament with a third place finish and is expecting an even better placement this year.

The majority of the players on the team would have represented Freedom Farm in the recent Andre Rodgers Baseball Championship where they went

undefeated in tournament play capturing the Gold Medal with an impressive record of scoring 75 runs and giving up only one run.

The team will be managed

by Coach C.J. McKenzie and assisted by Coaches Trevere Saunders, Dario Robinson, Timico Smith, Romel Sands,

and Garvin Newball. Players representing the team are Elisha Sands, Graycin Newball, Khairos Robinson, Javari Edgecombe, Christian King, Diego Hutchinson, Tyler Smith, Diondre Thompson, Andrew Seymour, Jarrod Clarke, TaKaryi Butler, Ayden Curry, and Davon Gibson.

PAGE 16, Thursday, July 28, 2022

CHARGERS SAFETY JAMES NOT PRACTICING DUE TO CONTRACT TALKS

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer COSTA MESA, Calif.

(AP) — Los Angeles Chargers fans hoping to see Derwin James practicing in his new No. 3 jersey will have to wait a little longer.

James spent most of Wednesday’s opening session of training camp on the sideline without a helmet. Coach Brandon Staley said James participated during the walkthrough portions as the team and James’ agent look to finalise a contract extension.

James — the 17th overall pick in the 2018 draft — is in the final season of his rookie deal.

“I think that there is full respect on both sides.

They know how much we love Derwin. Derwin knows how much we love him,” Staley said. “We’re just working through that process right now. We’re going to let it take shape, and when it does, he’ll be out there playing.

“He’s going to be working out, but he won’t be going full speed until that gets situated.”

James didn’t participate in full-speed drills during the offseason programme after having shoulder surgery once last season ended, but Staley said James is cleared to go once the contract issues are resolved.

James was an All-Pro selection as a rookie before being derailed the next two seasons because of injuries during training camp. A broken foot limited him to five games in 2019, and he suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2020.

Last season James bounced back and reclaimed his spot as one of the top safeties in the league. He was the eighth defensive player and first defensive back since 2000 to have more than 100 tackles (118) after being sidelined the previous year.

James also had two interceptions, a pair of sacks and three forced fumbles. He wore No. 33 his first four seasons before switching to No. 3, which he wore during high school and college.

Contract matters in the first week are nothing new for the Chargers and general manager Tom Telesco. Three years ago, running back Melvin Gordon did not report until five weeks into the regular season after they didn’t reach an extension.

In 2020, linebacker Joey Bosa became the highestpaid defensive player in the league at $135 million over five years after the two sides agreed on the day players reported.

James — the defensive signal caller in the huddle — will be counted on as the leader of a unit that made massive upgrades over the offseason. Los Angeles signed cornerback J.C. Jackson, defensive linemen Sebastian Jones-Day, Austin Johnson and Morgan Fox and edge rusher Kyle Van Noy along with trading for linebacker Khalil Mack.

The Chargers spent nearly $70 million in guaranteed salaries to improve a defense that was 23rd overall last season and near the bottom in key categories, including run defence, third down conversions and points allowed after halftime.

Mack, who has had contract situations over his nine seasons in the league, wasn’t too concerned over James not being on the field.

“Business has to come first in his situation. It is what it is. We’ve all been there,” he said.

• NOTES: LB Kenneth Murray is starting camp on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from ankle surgery he had in April. ... Undrafted rookie TE Stone Smartt was placed on the nonfootball injury list.

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Ravens begin camp hoping to rebound from injury-filled 2021

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Now in his 15th season as coach of the Baltimore Ravens, John Harbaugh understands the need to keep the message fresh.

“The principles are still the same, but we present them differently,” he said.

“The way you say it, the words you use, you try to apply it to the guys at hand and the situation we’re facing. ... We have a T-shirt.

I don’t know, I thought of it a couple weeks ago for whatever reason, and it’s our first T-shirt. It’s, ‘Come to work ready to go to work.’”

The Ravens held their first full-squad practice of training camp Wednesday, and they have extra reason to be motivated after only their second losing season of Harbaugh’s tenure. They overcame a slew of injuries for a while before dropping their final six games to finish 8-9.

“Shocking,” guard Kevin Zeitler said. “Being where we were after Week 11, Week 12? And just how it went, but also being in every single game no matter what happened. I mean, there’s a million things that happened. You can’t make an excuse. You can’t just expect things to change either, because everyone’s healthy. We’ve got to put the work in.”

Everyone isn’t healthy just yet. Running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards and cornerback Marcus Peters — all of whom missed last season because of knee injuries — are on the physically-unable-toperform list. So are tackle Ronnie Stanley, linebacker Tyus Bowser and safety Ar’Darius Washington.

Dobbins is itching to come back now.

“I told him again today,

BALTIMORE Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman takes part in drills at the NFL football team’s training camp in Owings Mills, Md., Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) ‘I know how you feel about that. You’ve told me,’” Harbaugh said. “But that’s up to the doctors and him.

They’ll work it out. As soon as he’s back out there, we’ll be coaching him real hard.

He’s doing an individual period with the trainers right now.”

The Ravens put guard Ben Cleveland on the non-football injury list Wednesday and signed receiver Bailey Gaither.

Star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is still without a contract beyond this season, was at practice. He missed the start of camp last

season because of a positive COVID-19 test.

That didn’t seem to be much of a setback when he played well at the beginning of the season, but Jackson also was hit by the injury bug when an ankle problem kept him out the final four games.

Jackson won’t have one of his top receiving targets from last year after the Ravens traded Marquise Brown during the offseason. Second-year receiver Rashod Bateman, a firstround draft pick in 2021, has a chance to play a bigger role. He also missed

Tua taking his shot, and the Dolphins hope to reap benefits

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A basketball court is among the recreational offerings that Miami Dolphins players have at their disposal at team headquarters. Shooting is all that is allowed, for fear that anything else would expose players to injury.

Word is, receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are among the best shooters on the roster.

“I don’t know,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. “They haven’t seen the quarterback shoot.”

Say this for Tagovailoa these days: Confidence is not a problem.

And that, the Miami Dolphins hope, is a very good sign heading into the training camp that began in earnest with the first on-field workout Wednesday. There’s no shortage of storylines — new coach Mike McDaniel’s first camp in Miami, a revamped offensive line, a slew of free-agent acquisitions led

by Hill coming to the Dolphins.

But, as always, the quarterback is the centre of attention, and Tagovailoa’s third year as a pro is certainly going to be accompanied by more expectation than he had in Years 1 and 2.

“It comes with the position,” Tagovailoa said. “Pressure is always there playing this position

and playing in the NFL. I think for any professional athlete, everyone can attest that it’s an added pressure. We put that pressure on ourselves to compete every day, to be the best, to do things the right way and to do things the right way consistently.”

There are expectations for the Dolphins, who made huge splashes in the offseason by landing — among others — Hill, offensive linemen Terron Armstead and Connor Williams, running backs Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert and Sony Michel, and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to be Tagovailoa’s backup.

McDaniel, a longtime assistant whose most recent job was offensive coordinator in San Francisco, takes over for Brian Flores, who was fired after three seasons and no playoff appearances. After the firing, Flores filed a lawsuit against Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, along with the Dolphins and the NFL, alleging racist and discriminatory hiring practices — along with a claim from Flores that Ross offered him $100,000 for each loss in the 2019 season, something the Dolphins have denied.

There’s no suggestion that tanking remains in the Dolphins’ vernacular.

Miami’s offseason spending screams that the Dolphins are

time at the beginning of last season because of groin problems, but he caught 46 passes in 12 games.

The Ravens didn’t make any major additions at receiver after the departures of Brown and Sammy Watkins.

“It shows that the coaches trust us, trust our abilities, trust our work, and they trust what we’ve done and what they’ve seen,” Bateman said.

“We definitely look forward to showcasing that.”

The Ravens’ first exhibition game is Aug. 11 against Tennessee.

Baltimore has won 20 consecutive preseason games, although keeping players healthy is obviously more important than that.

Harbaugh said he hasn’t completely determined his approach to this year’s preseason games yet.

“We’ll continue to consider what’s best for our team and what’s best for the regular season, and getting guys ready,” Harbaugh said.

“Got a number of guys that I’m thinking about not playing, that want to play. I can tell you that. We’ll see where we’re at when the time comes.”

MIAMI Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa takes part in drills at the NFL football team’s training camp, Wednesday, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) trying to win, win now and win big.

“There’s no such thing as just going through the motions,” McDaniel said.

“When we practice, we want to practice with an intent and a purpose and a speed and a veracity that separates ourselves from the rest of the league. That is hard to do. There’s a lot of people working.

There’s a lot of talent. We built a standard in OTAs. And my expectation in training camp is that this team, their standard is to practice hard.”

That’s a message that Tagovailoa understands.

Criticism of Tagovailoa’s first two years, and even this offseason, has not been hard to find. The Dolphins put up a short clip on their social media channels of Tagovailoa throwing a deep pass to Hill during a workout back in May — nobody was in pads and Tagovailoa was wearing a bucket hat instead of a helmet — and even that became the subject of great scorn because the ball was underthrown.

Tagovailoa, though, is beginning to fight back. He’s sounding more confident than he has at any point in his Miami career.

Hill has quickly championed his new quarterback’s talents, touting his accuracy at every opportunity.

And Tagovailoa’s message to critics is simple: everybody’s entitled to

an opinion, and their opinion just doesn’t matter to him.

“Tua is super hard on himself, which is a good thing, but anything in excess isn’t the best thing either,” McDaniel said of the lefthander who won a national title at Alabama before coming to the Dolphins. “He holds himself at a high standard, so I don’t want that to impede when things don’t go the way he wants. I don’t want that to impede the next play.”

There were some good things about the first camp practice, some bad things, and not much of it mattered. After a season marred in large part by the Dolphins’ not-exactly-a-secret interest in acquiring quarterback Deshaun Watson — Miami was 1-7 before the trade deadline, then won seven consecutive games after it passed — there’s no question that the quarterback job belongs to Tagovailoa.

It’s his team. There’s no need for him to prove it on the basketball court. The shots the Dolphins want to see him hit are the ones downfield on Sundays.

“Overall, it was a good first day of practice,” Tagovailoa said.

“Obviously, there’s things that we can work on. But it’s the best when you get to come back, you get to get back out on the field, throw to the guys, see coverage again, get back into the groove of things.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 28, 2022, PAGE 17

DODGERS STRIKE EARLY, AVOID SWEEP WITH 7-1 WIN OVER NATS

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Washington Nationals’ hopes of pulling off one of the most improbable series sweeps in recent baseball history pretty much evaporated in the first inning.

After a two-day stumble, the Dodgers are back on track — and they’re getting healthier, too.

Hanser Alberto had a two-run double during the Dodgers’ six-run first inning, and Los Angeles emphatically avoided an improbable sweep by the majors’ worst team with a 7-1 victory Wednesday.

Gavin Lux had three hits and drove in two runs, while Mookie Betts reached base four times for the NL-leading Dodgers. Los Angeles had won 19 of 21 before curiously losing twice this week to the struggling Nationals.

“The first two games didn’t go how we wanted, but to get it rolling early (today) gave us a lot of momentum,” Lux said.

Justin Turner had an RBI single in the first inning of his return from an abdominal injury, and Los Angeles got even better injury news from the mound. Andrew Heaney threw four innings of scoreless, one-hit ball in his return from a lengthy absence for the finale of the Dodgers’ 5-2 homestand after hosting the All-Star Game.

“Getting those guys back is certainly helpful,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Although Heaney’s control wasn’t sharp after he cooled off during his teammates’ huge first inning, both the left-hander and Roberts were encouraged.

Heaney had pitched just once since April 17 due to shoulder problems, but he has been outstanding when healthy in his first season with the Dodgers: He lowered his ERA to 0.47 with three walks and four strikeouts while on a strict pitch count.

“I’m a little annoyed with myself for having a few long innings,” Heaney said. “That puts a strain on the bullpen. ... I haven’t pitched more than two games in a row this year, so I want to get into that flow.”

The Dodgers chased Nats starter Patrick Corbin when their first 10 batters combined for seven hits — two by Betts — and a walk while making just two outs on 45 pitches.

Los Angeles scored all of its runs in the inning with two outs, and the rally continued when Victor Robles and Juan Soto allowed Lux’s fly ball to fall between them in right-centre for a double.

Corbin (4-14) had the shortest start of his 11-year major league career, failing to get out of the first inning for the first time in his 250 starts.

“After the 40th pitch, I was getting a little worried,” Nats manager Dave Martinez said. “I didn’t want him to get hurt. ... He’s throwing the ball well, but he’s just not finishing.”

Maikel Franco’s infield single leading off the third inning was the Nationals’ only hit until the seventh, when Luis García drove in their lone run with a ground-rule double.

Juan Soto went hitless amid another round of “Future Dodger!” chants in Chavez Ravine as Washington capped its six-game West Coast road trip by falling just short of its first four-game winning streak of the season.

“I’m proud of the team,” Martinez said.

“Today we fell behind early, but we had a good series.

“We’ll come back and continue to play good, hard baseball.”

One day after the second-place Padres made up a game in the NL West race for the first time since July 3, the Dodgers calmly pushed their lead right back to 11 1/2 games as they head out on an eightgame road trip.

Alex Vesia (3-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for LA.

GERMANY’S Alexandra Popp celebrates after scoring her side’s first goal during the Women Euro 2022 semi final soccer match between Germany and France at MK stadium in Milton Keynes, England, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Popp powers Germany past France, into Euro 2022 final MILTON KEYNES, England (AP) — Alexandra Popp scored twice to power Germany to a 2-1 win over France on Wednesday and into the final of the European Championship against England.

With the game level at 1-1 and both teams missing chances to score, Germany captain Popp leaped above the French defence in the 76th minute to send a bouncing header into the French goal.

Popp scored the opening goal for Germany in the 40th but the lead lasted less than five minutes before France equalised. Popp has scored in all five of Germany’s games so far — a new record — after missing the last two European Championships in 2013 and 2017 because of injuries.

Germany plays host nation England in Sunday’s final at Wembley Stadium.

Popp and England’s Beth Mead are the joint top scorers with six goals each.

“I can’t find any words.

We played a crazy game, we threw in everything we had,” Popp told German broadcaster ZDF. “We’re now in the final against

GERMANY’S GIULIA GWINN, left, duels for the ball with France’s Melvine Malard during the Women Euro 2022 semi final soccer match between Germany and France at MK stadium in Milton Keynes, England, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) England in front of 90,000 at Wembley. To be honest, there’s nothing better.”

A late surge wasn’t enough as France fell short of reaching what would have been a first major tournament final and has now lost in the semifinal

stage once in each of the World Cup, Olympics and European Championship.

Before the game, Germany’s players posed holding the No. 19 shirt of winger Klara Bühl, who had started all four previous games but missed the

semifinal following a positive test for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

In a video message, Bühl predicted her teammates would set off a “firework” without her.

Popp came closest to fireworks early on when

her free kick in the 22nd produced a diving save from goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

Popp extended her scoring streak when she burst past defender Ève Périsset and blasted Germany into the lead in the 40th minute with a powerful shot off Svenja Huth’s low cross.

Soon after, Germany conceded for the first time in the tournament in unfortunate style, Kadidiatou Diani hitting a shot which bounced off the post and then off goalkeeper Merle Frohms’ back and in.

It was recorded as an own goal for Frohms, who had no time to react to the bounce.

France was left ruing chances to take control of the game when Selma Bacha had a shot blocked by German defender Kathrin Hendrich, before captain Wendie Renard had a powerful header saved by Frohms soon after.

France’s key player at set pieces, Renard had another header in a dangerous position as her team chased a second equaliser late on, but it too was saved as Germany held on to win.

A’S, IRVIN BEAT ASTROS 4-2 FOR 1ST SERIES SWEEP OF SEASON

By JOE STIGLICH Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Cole Irvin allowed four hits over seven innings and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Wednesday for their first winning sweep in 32 series this season.

Oakland, an AL-worst 38-63, won three in a row from AL Westleading Houston (64-35) and has won six of its last eight against the Astros.

Houston was swept in a series for the first time since last Sept. 24-26, also at Oakland. Yordan Álvarez hit his 29th homer.

“Any time you can sweep a team at this level, it’s always a good thing,” Irvin said.

Stephen Vogt and Stephen Piscotty homered on back-to-back fastballs in the second from Cristian Javier (6-6). Tony Kemp had three hits, including an RBI double.

Javier allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. He is 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA in four starts since pitching seven hitless innings at Yankee Stadium on June 25 and allowing one hit over seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels six days later. His season ERA has risen from 2.57 to 3.26 during the fourgame span.

Irvin (6-7) struck out four and walked one, retiring 12 in a row.

He was 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA in five starts during July. While Irvin is 4-2 with a 1.73 ERA at home, he is 2-5 with a 4.79 ERA on the road.

“You just can’t say enough about the way he’s been pitching,” Vogt said. “He does such a good job keeping everybody off balance. He works quick, and hitters don’t like that.”

A.J. Puk pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save, finishing a five-hitter.

Jake Meyers cut Houston’s deficit with an RBI triple in the fifth, but Kemp doubled in a run in the

OAKLAND Athletics’ Elvis Andrus, left, celebrates with Skye Bolt after the Athletics defeated the Houston Astros in a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) bottom half. local community organisations at to serve as DH for the entire game Álvarez closed the Astros to 3-2 the game. Batting against Oak- Wednesday. … RHP Dany Jimewith his home run in the sixth. Skye land manager Mark Kotsay, the nez (strained right shoulder) is to Bolt greeted Phil Maton with an right-handed hitting Curry swung begin a rehab assignment Friday. …

RBI single in the seventh. through a few pitches but then 1B Seth Brown (paternity leave) is “You’ve got to be ready to play,” made regular contact, hitting sev- expected to rejoin the team Friday Astros third baseman Alex Breg- eral fly balls and grounders to left in Chicago against the White Sox. man said. “We didn’t play our best field.

His wife, Brittaney, gave birth to a baseball the last three days, but son on Tuesday. we’ll go home and look forward to • TRAINER’S ROOM • UP NEXT doing that tomorrow.”

Astros: RHP Lance McCullAstros: RHP José Urquidy ers Jr. (right flexor tendon strain) (9-4, 3.93 ERA) is to start Thurs• AT THE CAGE was scheduled to make his second day’s opener of a four-game series NBA Finals MVP Stephen rehab start Wednesday, pitching for against visiting Seattle, which goes Curry of Golden State took bat- Triple-A Sugar Land at Oklahoma with RHP Logan Gilbert (10-4, ting practice and threw ceremonial City.

2.77) first pitches with his wife, Ayesha.

Athletics: INF Jed Lowrie Athletics: RHP James KapriCurry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foun- (sprained left shoulder) played five elian (1-5, 4.74) starts Friday at the dation teamed with the A’s to innings at first base Tuesday for Tri- White Sox, who are slated to pitch host roughly 1,000 children from ple-A Las Vegas and was scheduled RHP Lance Lynn (1-3, 6.43).

PAGE 18, Thursday, July 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

BASEBALL

CASTILLO STAYS ON A ROLL, KS EIGHT AS REDS BEAT MARLINS 5-3

By JEFF WALLNER Associated Press CINCINNATI (AP) — Luis Castillo pitched seven effective innings in likely his final start with Cincinnati, leading the Reds to a 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.

Castillo is one of the top players on the market ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.

The Reds are last in the NL Central, and the talented righthander could help push a contender over the top.

Castillo (4-4) allowed three runs — including JJ Bleday’s first big league homer — and six hits. He also struck out eight and walked one in his first start since July 14.

He gave Cincinnati fans one last moment after Jesús Sánchez’s RBI double for Miami left runners on second and third with none out in the seventh.

Castillo responded with three straight strikeouts — all swinging. He walked off the mound to a standing ovation, took off his cap, and gestured to the crowd.

Nick Fortes also homered for Miami, which has dropped seven of 10. Braxton Garrett (2-4) struck out eight in five innings, but was charged with five runs and seven hits.

Cincinnati grabbed control with four runs in the first. Kyle Farmer hit a two-run double and scored on Donovan Solano’s double. Matt Reynolds tacked on an RBI single.

Fortes led off the third with his fourth homer, and Bleday opened the fourth with a drive to right in his fifth big league game.

The 29-year-old Castillo signed a one-year, $7.35 million contract in March, avoiding arbitration. He missed all of spring training due to a right shoulder strain and didn’t make his season debut until May 9.

But he is rolling now, improving to 2-0 with a 1.58 ERA in his last five starts.

After Castillo departed, Alexis Díaz got three outs before Hunter Strickland earned his sixth save.

• TRAINERS ROOM Reds: OF Albert Almora Jr. was sent to Triple-A Louisville for a rehab assignment.

He has been on the COVID-19-related injured list.

Marlins: SS Miguel Rojas felt something in his back during warmups and was held out of the lineup. ...

RHP Zach Pop left his outing on Monday with a blister on his throwing hand.

He is getting laser light treatment and plans to throw off the mound Thursday. ...

RHP Max Meyer had an MRI on Monday which is still being evaluated by doctors.

There was no update on the extent of his injury.

• UP NEXT Hard-throwing rookie Graham Ashcraft (4-2, 4.70 ERA) makes his 12th start for Cincinnati in the finale of the four-game series.

Ashcraft has 40 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings.

The Marlins have not announced their starter for Thursday.

INDIA’S captain Shikhar Dhawan, back right, celebrates with teammates as West Indies’ Jason Holder, right, takes off his gloves at the end of the third ODI cricket match at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Wednesday. India won by 119 runs. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

India beats West Indies by 119 runs in 3rd ODI, takes series 3-0 PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Shubman Gill was stranded on 98 not out by rain Wednesday as India beat the West Indies by 119 runs in the shortened third one-day international to sweep the three-match series.

Gill’s innings of 98 balls lifted India to 225-3 before its innings ended amid showers after 36 overs at the Queens Park Oval.

The West Indies was left to chase 257 in 35 overs at 7.3 runs per over under the Duckworth-Lewis system and fell well short, dismissed for 137 in the 26th over.

India already held a 2-0 lead in the series after winning the first match by three runs and the second by two wickets while the West Indies slumped Wednesday to its ninth-straight loss in one-day internationals.

India won the toss and batted, and its innings began in cloudy conditions but with the prospect of 50 overs per side. It reached 45-0 after the first 10-over powerplay, guided by openers Gill and Shikhar Dhawan.

Gill brought up his half century from 60 balls in the 22nd over when India was 112-0. The opening stand was broken

WEST Indies’ Brandon King hits a four during the third ODI cricket match against India.

(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) shortly afterwards at 113 strike in the latter part of first couple of matches. My when Dhawan was caught the innings which may have game plan in this match was

by West Indies captain cost him his maiden century to rotate a bit more and try Nicholas Pooran at mid- in ODIs. to spend a bit more time in wicket from the bowling of His 98 included seven the middle.”

Hayden Walsh. fours and two sixes.

The West Indies innings The rain began after the Dhawan made 58 from got off to a poor start 24th over when India was 74 balls and Shreyas Iyer when it lost Kyle Myers 115-1. It continued heavily gave impetus to the innings and Shamarh Brooks, both for more than two hours around the rain break with for ducks, to the bowling and when play resumed the 44 from 34 deliveries. of Mohammed Siraj in the match had been reduced to “I was expecting myself second over.

40 overs per side. to get a hundred,” Gill said Shai Hope held the top India blasted 110 runs in a television interview order together with 22 from 12 overs before the after the match. “But it was before being stumped from rain returned and ended the not in my control. the bowling of Yuzvendra innings after the 36th over.

“I was very disappointed Shahal, who finished with Gill selflessly yielded the with the way I got out in the 4-17.

The West Indies was given hope by the efforts of Brandon King and Pooran in the middle order. King made 42 from 37 balls and Pooran had taken 42 from 32 balls when he was out at a critical moment, caught at mid-on by Dhawan from the bowling of Prasidh Krishna in the 22nd over when the West Indies was 119-6.

He had just been joined by former captain Jason Holder in what might have been a pivotal partnership.

Soon afterward the required run rate ticked over 12 runs per over with only three wickets in hand.

The West Indies last hope faded when Walsh was out for 10 in the 26th over, leaving the West Indies 137-9 and still 120 runs behind.

“It was a tough one for us,” Pooran said. “We came out on other side of this series but I thought we could have won it. We thought we had it halfway today but with the DLS setting seven runs per over it was a challenge. Not getting a good start and not stringing partnerships led to the loss.”

The teams now meet in a five-match Twenty20 series with the last two matches to be played at Lauderhill in Florida.

BAIRSTOW STARS AGAIN, ENGLAND BEATS SOUTH AFRICA IN 1ST T20

BRISTOL, England (AP) — Jonny Bairstow kept up his strong all-format form this summer by smashing a 53-ball 90 in England’s 41-run win over South Africa on Wednesday in the first Twenty20 international of the three-match series.

Bairstow hit eight sixes and three fours to help guide England to 234-6 after being put in to bat at Bristol.

Moeen Ali weighed in by crashing 52 off 18 balls, including six sixes, an England record for the fastest 50 in a Twenty20 cricket international. Moeen reached his 50 in just 16 balls, beating teammate Liam Livingstone’s year-old record by a single delivery.

“It means a lot, there are guys in our changing room who score quickly and now I can brag about fastest 50 in T20 cricket for England,” Moeen said. “This was a nice-sized ground for someone like myself, who isn’t the most massive hitter of a ball.”

South Africa slumped to 7-2 after two overs and could only make 193-8 in response despite Tristan Stubbs’ 72 off 28 deliveries.

Bairstow was a standout for England in the test match format against New Zealand and India this summer. In his last five test innings, he hit 136, 162, 71 not out, 106 and 114 not out.

The Yorkshire batter had been an injury doubt for the T20 series opener after leaving Tuesday’s practice session at the Seat Unique Stadium with ice packs and strapping around his left knee.

South Africa seam bowler Lungi Ngidi took five for 39 and said his team always believed it had a chance after the 21-yearold Stubbs’ performance in his first international innings.

“We definitely thought we could chase it down. Anything was chase-able in the last five (overs) but we lost too many wickets,” Ngidi said. “We had full faith in Stubbs. He’s shown us what he is capable of in training. I’ve bowled to him myself and been on the receiving end of what we saw tonight.”

The second T20 is scheduled for Thursday and the third match is on Sunday.

ENGLAND’S batsman Jonny Bairstow plays a short ball during the T20 Cricket match between England and South Africa in Bristol, England, Wednesday. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 28, 2022, PAGE 19

NEW ZEALAND EASES TO 68-RUN WIN OVER SCOTLAND IN 1ST T20

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Finn Allen posted 101 and Ish Sodhi took four for 28 to fuel New Zealand’s 68-run victory over Scotland on Wednesday in the first Twenty20 international, played amid an unfolding racism scandal in Scottish cricket.

The Black Caps finished 225 for five from their 20 overs, with Martin Guptill posting 40 in an 85-run opening stand with Allen.

James Neesham hit 30.

Along with Sodhi’s four, Mitch Santner took two for 23 as New Zealand eased to victory. The tourists can clinch the two-match series on Friday.

Calum MacLeod top scored with 33 for the hosts, who batted through their allotment but could only manage 155 for eight.

George Munsey had 28 at the top of the innings, and Chris Greaves put up 31

but the home team was outclassed on a day where the racism scandal provided a troubling backdrop.

An independent review found the leadership of Scottish cricket to be institutionally racist. It was published Monday following a seven-month investigation sparked by allegations from Scotland’s all-time leading wicket-taker, Majid Haq, and his former teammate, Qasim Sheikh.