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$2m for man beaten and abused in Prison
Supreme Court awards record payout for man unlawfully detained
By RaSHaD ROlle Tribune News editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Supreme Court has awarded a record $2m in damages to Matthew Sewell, a Jamaican man who endured sexual assault and beatings while being unlawfully detained in prison and the detention centre for nearly a decade, experiences so damaging that he became schizophrenic and developed post-traumatic
stress disorder. Justice Ruth BoweDarville called the government’s behaviour toward him “reprehensible” and emphasised the need to send a serious message with her damages award. Mr Sewell was 18 when he was first detained. Overall, he was falsely imprisoned for nine years and nine months. In 2006, he was accused
‘Four-day workweek would not work in our economy’
By Keile CampBell Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC)
CEO Leo Rolle said the chamber does not believe moving to a four-day workweek system would work for the country’s “heavily service-based economy”.
His comment yesterday came after Labour Minister Pia Glover-Rolle said the government would review the idea after it was raised during a labour legislation reform symposium. “Physical presence does not always equate to productivity, so we’ll see where that discussion goes
Former PM Christie in hospital after suffering an ‘acute heart condition’
By Keile CampBell Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie reportedly suffered “an acute heart condition”
that prompted a “successful corrective procedure”, according to Latrae Rahming, communications director in the Office of the Prime Minister.
“He is now convalescing remarkably well,” Mr
Rahming said on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. “He is awake, alert, and in excellent spirits.”
He said Mr Christie’s doctors include cardiologist
Fnm seizes on govt’s ‘cash Flow crunch’
By Neil HaRTNell Tribune Business editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Opposition yesterday seized on remarks by the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) chairman as confirmation the Government is facing “a cash flow crunch” and “taxing the private sector into oblivion”. Dr Duane Sands, the Free National Movement’s (FNM) chairman, told Tribune Business that the message issued by his counterpart, Fred Mitchell, on Friday to supporters of the governing party both explained the Davis administration’s “aggressive behaviour” towards the private sector and affirmed the “poorly-kept secret”
shaunae Miller-Uibo walks down the track after failing to finish
Olympics, yesterday, in Saint-Denis, France, but
repechage. INSET: Steven Gardiner warmed
the event.
SPORTS
Emancipation Day events in Fox Hill
The Governor General, Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt and Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell brought remarks during Emancipation Day ceremonies in Fox Hill, on the Fox Hill Parade Grounds, yesterday where they held a church service and luncheon.
Photos: nikia Charlton
‘Four-day workweek would not work in our economy’
amongst the employers, the employee representatives, and the government agencies,” she said. “We’ll see what they present and we’re open to all legislation recommendations that were made this week.”
A push for shorter workweeks has accelerated, and some companies worldwide have successfully experimented with this.
Mr Rolle said a four-day workweek has been successfully “implemented in other jurisdictions” but introducing it in The Bahamas would adversely affect businesses if compensation is not adjusted.
“We welcome the prospect of guided research on the impact of the same within similar jurisdictions and agree with the minister that such a recommendation should be enshrined in the forthcoming white paper for further discussion and feasibility studies before the thought of implementation,” he said.
“Given the ongoing challenges of productivity both in the public and private sectors, we note that such a venture is not feasible for all industries and welcome the opportunity to work closely with the government and our members to
refine those industries and sectors which could implement the same, perhaps as a pilot in the first instance.”
He said decreasing the workweek hours could adversely impact struggling businesses, “especially with the subsequent increases to the cost of doing business in today’s economy.”
He added: “Should the government’s proposal be to lessen in-office work to four days rather than five, with a remote work option, we feel confident that the same can be implemented within the noted timeframe for select sectors and industries, as remote working policies are already in place at many organisations today.”
“We believe that there has to be a sliding scale introduction such that smaller service oriented businesses which usually cannot afford to have an employee out for an extra day beyond the allowable days off every week, would not experience an instant shock. Additionally, there must be stringent performance measurement tools to ensure adequate monitoring and reporting. We contend that the business community is not yet ready for such a shift at present as it would definitely increase the challenges discussed prior.” from page one
Former PM Christie in hospital after suffering an ‘acute heart condition’
Dr Bimal Francis, intensivist Dr Adrian Cargill, and cardiovascular surgeons Dr Duane Sands and Dr Conville S Brown.
Mr Christie was reportedly admitted to Doctors Hospital on Saturday.
Mr Rahming said he will remain hospitalised for several more days.
“In order to maximise his restful recovery, phone calls and visitation will be
restricted,” he said.
In a statement, Mr Christie’s family thanked the medical team at Doctors Hospital for their professionalism and care and expressed gratitude for their support and well wishes.
Prime Minister Philip Davis expressed “heartfelt thoughts and prayers” on behalf of himself and his wife, Ann Marie, to the former prime minister.
“We are encouraged by
his strength and wish him a swift and full recovery,” he said on X. “Our support and best wishes are with him and his family during this time”.
Mr Christie’s health situation comes two months after his longtime friend and former political rival, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, was admitted t the hospital and underwent a two-hour surgery to remove a blood clot.
Darville: Public health system short 450 nurses, govt recruiting more from ghana
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH and Wellness
Minister Dr Michael Darville said the public health system is short 450 nurses, including more than 170 speciality nurses.
He said the government would recruit nurses from Ghana again to address the problem.
Darville says ciatica surgery in us was the Prime m inister’s P ersonal choice
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
AFTER some criticised Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis for seeking medical treatment abroad, Health Minister Dr Michael Darville said traveling to the United States for sciatica treatment was his “personal choice”.
He noted the prime minister has a daughter who is a doctor and said the choice was a “family matter”.
“It doesn’t take away from the fact that the surgery could have been done in The Bahamas,” he added.
watching him very closely as he conducts his duties.”
He said postgraduate nurses are being trained to help fill gaps. The Davis administration has announced plans to build a new speciality hospital in the Perpall Tract area. Amid concerns about how the government would staff the facility, Dr Darville said yesterday: “Trust me when I tell you we have a strategic plan to ensure that we populate these tertiary healthcare facilities by way of locally trained healthcare professionals, health professionals that we bring into the country from abroad and health professionals who we are trying to get back, who from the diaspora who migrated abroad.”
Three went to Grand Bahama, nine were stationed at the Princess Margaret Hospital, and six were attached to the Department of Public Health.
In November, 18 nurses from Ghana began their employment here. They signed a renewable twoyear contract with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
t raffic fatality in eleuthera
Police last night reported a traffic fatality in Eleuthera.
The incident took place in the area of Gene’s Bay Road on Queen’s Highway. Police said an adult man died in the incident. No further information was available at the time of going to press.
“I don’t think it’s an issue. It’s a personal choice, and they made the choice. It was a good choice, and the surgery was successful.”
“He came back in the country with less pain, there’s a recovery period, and so we’re going to be
Mr Davis returned to The Bahamas on Wednesday after undergoing surgery abroad for compression of his sciatic nerve. The Cleveland Clinic says sciatica involves irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression that affects one or more nerves running down the lower back and into the legs. The condition is not considered serious, but severe cases require surgery.
Mr Davis had reportedly battled sciatica for a few months and suffered excruciating pain in one of his legs when he stood. Dr Darville said he will watch the prime minister as he recovers.
BAHAMAS Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) CEO Leo Rolle.
LABour Minister Pia Glover-Rolle
PriMe Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis returning to The Bahamas on Tuesday last week.
Relaunch event held for National Reparations Committee just days before Emancipation Day
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas National Reparations Committee officially relaunched on Friday, just days before Emancipation Day and a decade after it was first formed.
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Michael Darville said: “The government of The Bahamas stands shoulder to shoulder with this distinguished committee and CARICOM Reparations Commission as they continue to engage our former colonial state on the historic, moral, and legal case for reparations concerning crimes against humanity, stemming from genocide and slavery brought on by the transatlantic slave trade and yes we cannot forget climate justice.”
The issue of reparations for native genocide and chattel slavery was brought to the forefront at the 34th CARICOM heads of government held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2013.
At that meeting, member states agreed to establish national reparations committees and a regional CARICOM Reparations Commission.
In March 2014, the cabinet of The Bahamas established The Bahamas National Reparations Committee. Immigration Minister Alfred Sears and Philip Smith led the committee. Later, history professor Christopher Curry served as chair from 2017 to 2018.
The “Report on Reparations for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean” calculated that the United Kingdom
would likely owe £18.8tn for its slavery involvement in 14 countries.
Dr Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean, the committee’s current chair, referenced this report when discussing the sum owed in reparations; however, she explained that the reparations movement in the Caribbean is a developmental movement.
“So we have a ten-point plan in which reparations would help to assist in those areas of development, including things like public education, public health awareness, psychological rehabilitation,” she said. “All of the things that were underdeveloped and destroyed through colonialism and slavery.”
Asked about the likelihood of getting reparations, she replied: “You know my response to that is, especially in the emancipation weekend, is that could you imagine with an enslaved persons 200 years in the middle of slavery would have thought.”
“They could have never imagined having seen 100 years of slavery pass, and knowing or not knowing but hundreds of years of slavery to go there was no way for them to imagine freedom.”
“So while trillions of dollars may seem like an astronomical number, emancipation seemed like an astronomical event and yet we are here celebrating 190 years, and so we believe that reparations will come and it’s just a matter of time.”
While some argue Bahamians should not expect reparations, because the British gave aid in certain instances, Dr CampbellDean made it clear that
reparatory justice is not charity.
“Charity would be what you give after a natural disaster,” she said.
“We are appreciative of those charitable acts, but reparations is really about justice, and so it is the justice that is due for the crimes against the United Nations designated Crimes against Humanity of slavery and the genocide of the native peoples of this land.”
The chair said the reparations movement is growing by leaps and bounds. She listed a few
examples of reparations that have taken place through private entities.
Laura Trevelyan, a family member of an enslaver in Grenada, issued a formal apology and pledged £100,000. The Church of England apologised and aimed to raise £1 billion to address its historical links to the slave trade.
Dr Campbell-Dean and other committee members are preparing to participate in a regional diaspora conference in Brazil and the Pan-African Congress in Togo.
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday after admitting to having a loaded gun in his home on Lincoln Blvd last week.
Magistrate Lennox Coleby arraigned Wellington Wright Jr, aka “Wellington Sands”, 30, Renuso Knowles, 34, on possession of an unlicenced firearm and possession of ammunition.
Alongside David Bain Jr, 29, the pair faced additional charges of three counts of possession of ammunition.
Bain and Wright faced a charge of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. The defendants were reportedly found with a black and silver Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol and eight rounds of 9mm
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
SPENCER Charrington, the son of top Albany executive Peter Charrington, had his sexual assault charges dismissed on Friday.
Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley arraigned Mr Charrington on indecent assault stemming from an alleged incident at a Moulin Rouge New Year’s
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was granted bail on Friday after he was accused of breaking into a home in Pinewood Gardens and stealing a motorcycle earlier this year.
ammunition at their home on Lincoln Blvd on July 30.
Later that same day, they were allegedly found with an additional 9mm round and 21 .380 rounds of ammunition.
Finally, on July 31, Wright and Bain were allegedly found with a substantial quantity of marijuana.
While Wright was the sole defendant to plead guilty to the charges, the remaining defendants pleaded not guilty. Wright was sentenced to 48 months in prison for the gun charges and must pay a $600 fine for the drug charge or risk an additional six months in prison.
The remaining defendants were granted $7,500 bail each and are expected to return to court on October 16.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie served as the prosecutor.
Eve party at the resort.
Mr Charrington was accused of groping Philippe Gagnon’s spouse during a party at the resort around 1.30am on January 1, 2024. The complainant dropped the case, causing it to be withdrawn.
Mr Gagnon was previously accused of slapping Mr Charrington after the incident, but his causing harm charge was withdrawn in June.
After pleading not guilty to the charge, the defendant’s bail was set at $7,000 with one or two sureties.
Armbrister is scheduled to return to court for trial on October 17.
Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville arraigned Aramandize Armbrister, 18, on housebreaking, stealing and receiving. Armbrister allegedly broke into Troy Bethel’s residence between March 22 and 23 and stole his 2022 green and black Kawasaki Off-Road bike, which is valued at $4,500.
Committee chair, Dr. Niambi Hall Campbell Dean, speaks during a press conference to announce the relaunch of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee on Friday.
Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
PhiliP Smith, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Michael Darville and Committee chair Dr Niambi Hall Campbell Dean pose with other committee members during a press conference to announce the relaunch of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee on Friday.
$2m for man beaten and abused in prison
of raping a six-year-old girl and was detained at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services for two years before he was granted bail in 2008. Three years later, he was again charged with rape and remained in custody for over four years without trial.
In August 2013, he was granted bail, and the rape charges from 2006 and 2009 were dismissed.
Two months later, he was arrested in connection with a housebreaking incident. While on bail for that charge, he was taken back into custody as a murder suspect but was never charged.
After he denied the housebreaking allegations in 2014, a magistrate dismissed that case, but he was taken back to prison and was not discharged.
Justice Bowe-Darville struck out the government’s defence in 2020 because it “blatantly” failed to follow the court’s directions and did not comply with discovery requirements.
Mr Sewell’s evidence was unchallenged. He sought special damages, damages for false imprisonment, damages for assaults and batteries, aggravated damages, damages for breaches of his constitutional rights, exemplary and punitive damages, vindicatory damages, damages for malicious prosecution and general damages.
Mr Sewell gave a harrowing testimony in October
2020 about his tribulations.
He said he was beaten up, raped, had no water and peed openly in jugs.
He said he was placed in cells with people serving life sentences and he “had to stool in a bread bag”. Rats, centipedes and other rodents surrounded him at times.
“I was bitten by a rat; got scabies and I scratched so much it turned into a sore,” he said.
He said he got into a fight with a prisoner who tried to molest him, one of many instances of violence he experienced. He said prison officers beat him in his head. At other times, he was beaten by police and defence force officers.
Mr Sewell was 30 and living in Jamaica during his 2020 hearing.
A psychiatrist who assessed him said he showed signs of decompensation: the loss of functionality “as a result of strain or stress”. The doctor said with this, “the ability to do day-to-day tasks deteriorates, which can be the start of a vicious cycle because it increases stress and strain”.
“It was reported that he was at times incoherent and eating out of garbage bins,” Justice Bowe-Darville wrote in her judgement.
The psychiatrist testified that Mr Sewell’s mental state declined because of the repeated imprisonment he endured. He also noted that Mr Sewell had a nervous breakdown shortly after he was incarcerated in 2009 and did not receive
Two Bahamians participate as officials at Paris Olympics
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
MANCER Roberts Sr, the technical director at Bahamas Aquatics, was one of 26 officiators of the 2024 Paris Olympics swimming competition and the first Bahamian to perform that role at an Olympics.
Officiators are responsible for conducting the competition and applying all rules.
During the games, Mr Roberts was a turn judge, observing whether swimmers complied with the turn and finish rules for their strokes. He was also a stroke judge, observing whether swimmers followed the regulations relating to swimming style.
His most senior responsibility was supervising other officials on the turn side of
the pool during an event.
The 58-year-old has been officiating other swimming competitions for 15 years.
“I’ve officiated a competition at World Aquatics in places like Dubai, Doha, Qatar, in places all around the world but the selection of the Olympics is like once in a lifetime,” he told The Tribune on Sunday. Bahamas Aquatics nominated him as an official when the selection process started in 2023. He underwent additional training and was approved to participate.
He was also recommended for the Tokyo Olympics but was not selected after going through four phases of the selection process.
He does not know why he was not selected for the Tokyo Games but emphasised the tedious nature of
the process.
“The fact that I would have worked at a World Championships in Dubai and again in Doha, Qatar then puts me out there as being seen and having been at that level, so that’s probably one of the things that help in the process,” he said.
He officiated as the world’s best swimmers, including world record holders, pulled off amazing feats.
Katie Ledecky, widely seen as the greatest woman distance swimmer ever, was one such athlete.
“I was two lanes adjacent to the official that was in lane four,” he said, referring to her 800m freestyle victory. “It was fantastic. I would be in lane two when Leon Marchand swam his
world record.”
“It’s like being right in the centre of the action. Katie Ledecky turns so that she flips and hits the wall. Based on the power that she’s producing, the water splashes to my lane.”
Mr Roberts is also the deputy chairman of the Regional Swimming Technical Committee. He has a son who has represented The Bahamas in regional competitions.
Bahamas Aquatics President Algernon Cargill has also participated in the Olympic Games, presenting medals to the 4x200m Freestyle Male Relay winners.
“It’s a feeling I know. Not only is it historic, but it’s important for promoting swimming in The Bahamas,” he said.
immediate care. He was admitted to Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre four times.
The doctor, who said Mr Sewell had no history of mental illness and lived life normally before coming to The Bahamas, recommended that he be placed in a group home to receive proper care and supervision. He said it was unlikely that he would ever function independently in the community.
Justice Bowe-Darville said even compared to other infamous cases of inhumane treatment for those falsely detained, Mr Sewell’s treatment was the “absolute worst of the worst”.
“Moreover, the authorities have yet to apologise or to assist him in his plight,” she wrote.
Ultimately, she awarded him $173,970 for special damages, $594,666.66 for false imprisonment and assault and battery, $378,000 for future care, $144,881.72 for psychiatric and psychological purposes, $250,000 for malicious prosecution, $250,000 for exemplary
damages, $100,000 for aggravated damages and $120,000 for vindicatory and compensatory damages. She set the interest rate at 6.24 percent. Altogether, Mr Sewell was awarded $2,011,578.38. By comparison, Atain Takitota, a man who came to the country from Japan in 1992 and was detained in prison for eight years, was awarded more than $1m for his situation, the previous record for such cases.
Douglas Ngumi, a Kenyan man who was unlawfully detained at the detention centre for six and a half years, was awarded $750,950.
Joseph Amihere, a Ghanaian man who was falsely imprisoned for nearly seven years, was awarded $751,900.
Attorney General Ryan Pinder has suggested that the detention practices that led to such rulings have ended, and the Office of the Attorney General has instituted reforms to prevent them from happening. Fred Smith, QC, Martin Lundy and Raven Rolle represented Mr Sewell.
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
SEVERAL fishing infractions were reported in North Abaco less than 24 hours after the crawfish season opened, according to the Department of Marine Resources director, Gregory Bethel.
The crawfish season opened on August 1 and will end on March 31.
Mr Bethel said the Department of Marine Resources has beefed up patrols with help from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and the customs department.
He said his department has deployed marine patrol crafts to various islands and will use drones to survey underwater.
Mr Bethel did not give details about the infractions in North Abaco.
He encouraged the public to download the BAH WildTip app, which allows them to anonymously report nefarious activities or suspected violations of fisheries laws.
Paul Maillis, the National Fisheries Association (NFA) secretary, told Tribune Business last week he could not “recall the last time there was a huge Dominican vessel” poaching in Bahamian waters.
“The one thing we can count on is that lobster stocks are very healthy, and the work done to combat out-of-season poaching from the Dominican Republic, in particular, has been fantastic,” he said.
“I can’t recall the last time there was a blatant, huge poaching vessel sitting in Bahamian waters catching hundreds of thousands of pounds of Bahamian fisheries product.”
By KEILE CAMPBELL
Mancer roberts
algernon cargill
Matthew sewell
Pictured are Breezes staff with managing director Muna Issa and human resources manager Pamela Rahming. Also pictured is Breezes staff member Rhonda Nixon holding one of the many prizes given out at the event.
The Tribune Limited
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“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
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Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
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Dialogue key in potential labour changes
IT IS fair to say that a number of employers are wary of some of the announcements that have come from government recently.
First, there was the suggestion that the government was looking to increase the minimum wage again.
In January this year, the government increased the minimum wage from $210 to $260. There are noises from some union chiefs that they want to see that raised to $350.
The exact amount the government is looking at has not yet been revealed –nor the timeframe. Though the word was that it would be soon.
And now a suggestion has been floated that the government will review the idea of a four-day working week.
The idea has been tried out elsewhere. Belgium implemented a four-day working week in 2022. Workers are allowed to complete the hours that would make up a five-day week in four days if they choose.
The suggestion in general when such ideas have been put forward is that workers still get paid for five days of work, but increase their productivity to complete their work in fewer hours.
Other countries engaging in trials have included the Dominican Republic, so the idea has found its way to our region too.
For employers, they need to know that the work they need done gets done, of course.
Increased productivity – if it happens, not all workers are the same – sounds good, but that does not help in, say, a resort where the hotel needs
staff on duty to attend to guests. Or a restaurant that is balancing the rotas of its waiting staff and chefs. Or a supermarket that needs its checkout staff, its shelf stackers and so on throughout its opening hours.
How all of that is balanced in such an idea raises more than an eyebrow or two among employers.
One employer speaking to The Tribune certainly did not hold back and said it was “insane” and they felt they were being pushed into hiring 20 percent more staff to cover the extra day without an extra penny in income to pay for it.
As for the minimum wage increase, again, employers want to be sure that another rise, quickly on the heels of the first one, does not hurt the books so much that they have to make layoffs to balance up.
Employers are, of course, one half of the equation – and employees will be hopeful of an increase in the pay packet and perhaps more flexibility in working hours. But that may not suit all circumstances – and the key thing here is dialogue. Open discussion between the government and those affected is not something this administration has been terribly good at, but that would be crucial to making sure that all sides have their say – and that there are not unintended consequences such as an increase in unemployment.
Collectively, we want our businesses to thrive so that they can take on workers and grow. We must not stifle that growth – but the idea is out there, so let’s make sure all voices are heard on the matter.
Complaint over Cable outage
EDITOR, The Tribune
ON July 31, Cable Bahamas had a complete outage of all services for about 12 hours or so from early morning to evening for the Western District. I sincerely hope URCA is looking into this and is pushing them to give a full account to the public as to what transpired. Also, customers should be reimbursed for the gross inconvenience. I wish to advise URCA that if they are not on this matter to take this letter as a formal complaint against Cable Bahamas. Historically, I found URCA to be extremely disappointing. I have filed several complaints about various companies within
their scope and they don’t even acknowledge receipt of the complaints, let alone address the issue. Hopefully dear editor, this letter prompts them to do the wonderful thing we hope they would do, regulate.
ANNOYED BAHAMIAN Nassau, August 5, 2024.
EDITOR, The Tribune
THE eyes of The Bahamas are on the approaching United States Presidential election in November. The Democratic Party received a shot in the arm after it was announced by President Joe Biden that his vice president, Kamala Harris, has his endorsement as the Democratic Party presidential nominee. Harris has been endorsed by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. She has also been endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucas. In a recent appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago, former President Donald Trump questioned Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity. Harris had always identified herself as Indian. When she became senator from the state of California in 2017, it was announced that she was the first female Indian American Senator. In recent years, she started calling herself black in order to pander to the African American community to get votes. Apparently, the African American community is a much larger voting bloc than the Indian community. But she’s neither black or African American. Her mom, Dr Shyamala Gopalan is Indian. Her dad, Donald J Harris is Jamaican who is of Irish Hindu extraction. Indians do not identify themselves as black. They’re of Asian ethnicity. Jamaica is made up of diverse ethnicities. That’s why their motto is out of one many people. When Harris supporters mentioned her father’s Jamaican nationality, it was done to dupe African Americans into believing she is black like them. Yet Jamaica is not a race. It is a nation located in the Caribbean; and is comprised of many ethnicities. Her father’s Irish side of the family owned slaves, ironically. Monday is Emancipation Day. Harris’ family in Jamaica do not consider themselves to be black. Yes, Harris attended the historically Black school
University in Washington DC. The leftist media love to make mention of this in order to sell the false narrative of Harris’ African American racial identity. Truth is, Kamala Harris is a political opportunist and a chameleon. MSNBC, ABC, BBC and other leftist media outlets are fuming at Trump for answering a question at the NABJ Convention. Trump said nothing wrong. He was asked a question and he gave a forthright answer. The left made this election about racial identity and it has backfired spectacularly. Lost in all this chatter about Harris’ ethnicity is her administration’s disastrous performance over the past three and a half years. I saw an organic brand 32 ounce jar off mayonnaise for $8 the other day. That same item was just $2.99 three years ago. The middle-class and lower-income families are being systematically eviscerated by the rising cost of living. Medicine, food, gasoline and utility prices are skyrocketing, owing in large part to the liberal economic policies of President Joe Biden and his partner Kamala Harris. Another disturbing matter concerning Kamala Harris that was raised during the Democratic Primary in 2020 was her track record as District Attorney for San Francisco between 2004 and 2011. In a Democratic Primary debate with Joe Biden, Tulsi Gabbard and other Democratic lawmakers, Gabbard grilled Harris over her withholding crucial evidence that would’ve exonerated convicted inmates. She had even withheld evidence that would have freed a death row inmate, until a right thinking judge forced her prosecutors to forward the evidence. One case that stands out involves a former inmate named Jamal Truelove, who was framed by San Francisco prosecutors and police for murder
and convicted by Harris’ team of attorneys in 2010, despite the evidence of the key witness Priscilla Lualemaga being flimsy at best and contradictory. Lualemaga alleged that she witnessed Truelove shooting Seu Kuka on a sidewalk in San Francisco during one night in July 2007. After years of languishing in prison on a 50-year sentence, Truelove was freed in 2014 when the California Court of Appeal overturned his conviction. He would sue the city of San Francisco for $10m. In 2015 California awarded Truelove with $13m. In addition to her heavy- handed approach in enforcing the law, Harris’ truancy policy also harmed many within the African American community. Detractors have rightly observed that this policy was disproportionately applied to black families, particularly single mothers. Nothing in her tenures as San Francisco DA, California Attorney General and California senator suggests that she had a keen interest in assisting the African American community. That’s because Kamala Harris always identified herself as Indian. Now she wants to portray herself as African American - the very community her draconian policies have harmed - to gain votes from blacks. Even her recent rally in the state of Georgia with the rapper Megan Thee Stallion was a turn off to sensible African Americans. The performance by Megan Thee Stallion was embarrassing, degrading and vulgar. It was Harris’ attempts to pretend that she’s African American. But Kamala Harris was raised by her Indian mother in Canada before relocating to the United States. Hers is an Indian heritage and culture. It is important that African Americans and black Bahamians not be fooled by Harris’ antics. She would be a disaster for the United States, and by extension The Bahamas as well.
KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama August 5, 2024.
Howard
A womAn plays a violin for her financial support on a streetside in Paris, France.
Photo: Brent Stubbs/Tribune Sports Editor
Dawkins ready to make global impact as head of Pilot International
Nickola “Nicki”
Patrice Gomez-Dawkins has the kind of leadership ability and social responsibility that has created a global impact. She is the newly-inducted president of Pilot international, a community-based volunteer service organisation with over 5,400 Pilots and 5,700 anchors in nearly 300 clubs worldwide, including the United States, The Bahamas, Japan and South africa. Nicki will touch the lives of thousands of men and women throughout the world with her personal mantra: “all aboard! leaving No Pilot Behind”. Pilot international was founded just over a century ago on the principles of “friendship and service”. it’s a combination that Nicki has found to be the driving force behind its success. When people come together to help others, and they do it from a place of friendship, they build lifelong connections that will chart a course for success.
“The friendship while doing service” makes Pilot international so special, Nicki told me. “laughing together with friends while making a difference in so many lives. The feeling is fantastic!” on July 20, 2024, in Denver, colorado, Nicki was officially installed as president of Pilot international. as a member of the Pilot club of Nassau, Nicki’s peers nominated her to serve on Pilot international’s executive committee every year from treasurer to Pilot elect. She was nominated by several clubs in the Midwest District, Florida District, the Virginia District and North carolina initially. She served as director for two years, then a year as treasurer, vice president and President Elect. once she became president elect, she automatically moved to president, with robust support and a sure vote of confidence from her colleagues.
Nicki believes that the more she and her colleagues use friendship as the foundation of their community service, the more impact they will make in the communities they serve.
“Beth Burrows and i were invited to a meeting by our Sponsor, Rita Spriggs,” Nicki recalls of her beginnings with the Pilot club.
“We went to the meeting. after that, Rita Spriggs gave us some forms and told us we were joining. That’s how we got into Pilot!”
She has fond memories of her early days, attending an anchor Meeting at katrina cartwright’s home with senior Pilots like Betty Sweeting, Brenda ingraham and Vernita Thompson.
“i enjoyed just fellowshipping after the meeting with women the age of my parents and having so much fun,” she recalled.
“Pilot is special because of the feeling of giving back and the caring you get from your Pilot sisters and brothers who support from near and far - like Virginia Hall-campbell, loretta Pariss, Frances ledee, Marjorie Sue Munroe, Fredrica Mccartney, Beverly Nairn, Barbara Williams and Ethlyn Morely.” i have fond memories of Pilot international conventions, bonding with friends like Pilots ann Marie Davis, Deirda Sands, Beverly laRoda, Nadia Storr, asanath cartwright, Terez curry, Elaine clare, Jasmin Strachan and candise Gomez, among so many others.” in The Bahamas, Pilots have a three-part focus: brain awareness and protection; development of the youth; and care for the caregivers. BrainMinders is the signature project in The Bahamas. Pilots get together and visit schools throughout the country,
Face to Face
By FELICITY DARVILLE
helping students to think about the significance of their brains and how to protect it. During their presentation to students, Pilots use puppets to share a compelling story of brain health.
“We are the ‘Helmet People’, so we give away our signature helmets as well,” Nicki said. “We go to the seniors like retirement associations and play BRaiNo - which is like Bingo - but we use things to help them with their memory.”
Pilots in The Bahamas also sponsor anchor clubs in the High Schools and compass clubs in the Universities. Placing special focus on caregivers, Pilots give ‘Pick Me Ups’ to caregivers - either to someone taking care of a loved one, nurses in the cancer Ward, or Teachers in a school. at the Persis Rodgers Home for the aged, members host a special occasion where they provide meals for the seniors in the home, while providing care packages for the caregivers.
Nicki has been a Pilot in the Pilot club of Nassau for 22 years and has held the position of treasurer, club director, vice president, president elect, president and fundraising and pick me up coordinator. as governor, Nicki reinstated the official visits to the clubs in the district and as president, she revitalised the Pilot club of Nassau’s Pool Project, which would provide a pool for persons with disabilities.
With her new plan to leave no Pilot behind, Nicki intends to work with her executive team to increase membership, attracting younger members, and increasing the automation in Pilot international. a service-oriented person, Nicki is an active member of the community and her church, Holy cross anglican church. She has served as Usher Ministry president, secretary of the Vestry, people’s warden and is currently a member of the Parish Youth council, Usher Ministry and advisor to the junior ushers. She has served as a girl guide leader and East ii girl guide commissioner, posts that helped hone her ability to lead in areas of social advancement. Nicki’s commitment to passing the baton is evident. She has sponsored many people in the club, including Terah Sweeting; Dr Ellen Strachan-Moxey; Stephanie Ferguson (who was awarded the Pearl Sparks award this year in Denver colorado this year); Debbie Smith (who is the current president of the Pilot club of Nassau), all who have served as president of their local club. She has also sponsored candise Gomez, (who has served as fundraising coordinator); ilzhem aragundi (a native of Panama who resides in The Bahamas); Deborah Jackson (who served on the audit committee); christine James (who is currently on the audit committee. Her mentees include anthia and ashley Butler. Nicki follows in the footsteps of Deborah archer, who was the first Bahamian to serve as Pilot international president. Professionally, Nicki has served as a trustee in the Bahamas Telecommunications and Public officers Management Union and currently serves as assistant treasurer in the Bahamas communications
and Public officers Retirees association (BcPoRa).
The love and support from her family helped to set the stage for her new beginnings on a journey of global importance.
Nicki has one daughter, Dr Gabrielle Dawkins, and her co-Pilot is Dale Minnis, and together they’re praying for her strength as success as she crosses new frontiers.
Nicki is the third child of Patrick and Jeanie Gomez. Her siblings are craig Tony Gomez (candise) who spoke at her installation; High commissioner Paul andy Gomez, Bahamas High commissioner to the United kingdom; Nathalie Pache (Raffi); Michelle Gomez (cliff Moxey); and lisa Moncur (leroy).
Mrs ann Marie Davis, Spouse of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, also attended Nicki’s historic installation, which came alive when the Junkanoo Group colours brought a taste of Bahamian culture to the international affair. The popular band ambasah also performed, and attendees enjoyed the sounds of legendary DJ Gary “Super” Johnson.
an avid science student, Nicki holds an associate’s Degree from the college of The Bahamas in biology and chemistry, a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in computer science with a minor in accounting from Mankato State University in Minnesota and a Master’s Degree in business administration from the University of Miami. She is also a Fellow life Management institute (FlMi).
Nicki is president and cEo of her own iT and Project Management
Firm, iBiiS, ltd. This is a position she now holds after working at the Bahamas Telecommunication company
for 20 years, retiring as the vice president responsible for the iT Division. She also serves
as an iT consultant with Baker Tilly and manages clico (Bahamas) limited insurance company.
Nickola “Nicki” Gomez-Dawkins is the second Bahamian in history to become President of Pilot International.
aNN Marie Davis (left), Office of the Spouse, addresses Pilot International during the installation of its new President, Nickola “Nicki” Dawkins (right).
Nicki Dawkins and her Co-Pilot, Dale.
Nickola “Nicki” Dawkins at her installation as President, with Father Norman Lightbourne and Mrs Lightbourne in Denver, Colorado, USA. Nickola Dawkins with her daughter, Dr Gabrielle Dawkins.
New govt faces challenge to bring control to the chaos of immigration
As a patriot who is always looking to write positively in this column about my own country, it is saddening to watch the mayhem and chaos currently engulfing much of Britain. Violent clashes between the police and hordes of anti-immigration protesters and right-wing activists up and down the nation have created a situation described by one respected UK newspaper commentator as a shockwave of bewildered outrage reverberating across it. This has followed last week’s knife attack at a dance class in southport near Liverpool that resulted in the deaths of three little girls and left a host of other people injured.
The Peter Young column
All this is so serious –and the repercussions will be endless – that I want to cover it today, not least because many believe it is the inevitable result of the failure of the political class in Britain over a long period to address effectively the issue of immigration, both legal and illegal.
A view has quickly developed that the rioting is a manifestation of years of resentment by ordinary members of the public whose views, rights and needs have been ignored by countless politicians. As such, it is an inevitable consequence of the
The initial unrest was sparked by exchanges on social media, which turned out to be untrue, that the perpetrator of this atrocity was an asylum-seeker who had entered the UK illegally. In fact, a 17-year-old boy, who was born in Britain as the son of migrants from Rwanda, is in police custody and has now been charged. Nonetheless, these riots and massive disruption have included attacks on accommodation where asylum-seeking migrants are temporarily housed and have left numerous police officers and other people injured, cars set on fire and widespread damage to buildings. so far, there have been more than 150 arrests.
refusal or inability of successive governments to take meaningful action against, in particular, illegal immigration. Traditionally, on the political left there are suspicions about nationhood and a level of opposition to the idea of it. There is also an enthusiasm for immigration, not least because the received wisdom is that new arrivals will vote Labour. Notoriously, Tony Blair was believed to have opened the floodgates during the early part of his spell as prime minister and allowed too many people into the country despite it being already overcrowded. But, although securing the country’s borders was one of the reasons for Brexit, ironically it has been a Conservative government that has been remiss most recently in failing to control immigration. However, the last PM, Rishi sunak, made a considerable effort – including his ultimately unsuccessful Rwanda deal – to stop the boats of illegal migrants crossing the English Channel from France. Overall, the evidence shows that immigration is increasingly of major concern to British people across the board irrespective of political affiliation, and they believe it must be properly controlled. Put simply, the voice of the people has been ignored.
MeMbers of the public take part in a vigil to remember the victims of the stabbing attack last Monday in Southport, England, yesterday. Violence and unrest erupted in cities and towns across Britain, ostensibly in protest of last week’s
sadly, more and more local commentators are saying that British society is becoming increasingly fractured and even dangerous, with increased crime levels and violence. The facts are starkly and uncomfortably clear. According to the UK press, violence against women and young girls is now described officially as a national emergency with more than 3,000 incidents reported daily while knife crime is spiralling out of control, especially between machete-wielding groups. This is now being more and more linked to overcrowding and uncontrolled and unlimited immigration.
During 14 years in office, Conservative government ministers repeatedly pledged to reduce levels of legal migration to Britain but just the opposite has happened, so that in 2023 alone 1.2 million new arrivals settled there. Furthermore, immediately before the UK general election at the beginning of last month illegal migrants were crossing the English Channel at a rate of some 850 per day. Reportedly, one in six residents of the UK was born overseas and entire cities like London,
Birmingham and Leicester have non-white majorities.
The nation’s population is now some 67 million which is an increase of around 8 million since the turn of the century; and, reportedly, this has put its civic infrastructure under almost intolerable strain
Meanwhile, politicians constantly preach about diversity being an important element of British society. They continue to boast about the strength of local communities when the reality is that the experiment of multiculturalism under the Blair government of the late 1990s has not worked as intended. It may be something of a wild generalisation, but from what I have read, instead of adapting to British values and becoming assimilated, newcomers are now even encouraged to cling to the customs and practices of their countries of origin. There is insufficient space today to examine this troubling subject further. But what is surely important is the new Labour government’s likely immigration policy. It is still presumably ideologically wedded to free movement of people and the importance of
human rights. Moreover, there are rumours of a probable amnesty for some illegal immigrants. But, as noted earlier, immigration is an issue that appears to have straddled the political divide and is of major concern to a majority of the British public whatever their political persuasion. In the King’s speech, in which the government sets out its priorities and programme for the coming parliamentary session, new prime minister sir Keir starmer made clear that he would “seek to strengthen the border and make the streets safer”. A new Border security Command will be established, with enhanced counter terror powers “to tackle organised immigration crime”. But, already, critics are saying that Labour’s approach is too heavily focused on people smuggling networks rather than presenting a clear practical plan to stop the crossings by small boats. At a weekend press conference about the rioting, the PM was notably tough in condemning what he called “right-wing thuggery” and warning all concerned that the full force of the law would be brought down on the heads of those who continued to indulge in violence. But, to the outsider, what is surely needed is a stronger and more coherent stance on immigration as a whole – including an overhaul of the so-called “kid glove” treatment of illegal migrants after arriving in Britain. Right-wing extremists like the English Defence League have clearly been involved in the current mayhem and are exploiting the situation for their own purposes. But, in the view of many, the new government needs to address seriously what lies beneath the disturbances and violence.
Prisoner exchange a good deal for both sides
FAMOUs British spy novelist John le Carre used to describe vividly in his books the exchange of prisoners between East and West at the height of the Cold War that invariably took place at some bridge or other in some remote place at the crack of dawn in clandestine and low-key circumstances. In contrast, last week’s EastWest prisoner exchange involving 24 inmates freed from prisons in seven different countries attracted much publicity and was played out in front of the TV cameras. By all accounts, the deal was particularly complex because so many countries were involved.
It was said to be the largest such exchange since the Cold War, though there had been individual exchanges like the deportation of a Russian sleeper spy in a prisoner swap in 2010 and the one in 2022 involving imprisoned Us basketball star, Brittney Griner.
The latest deal involved eight Russian agents, four Americans, two people holding British citizenship, five Germans and five Russian anti-Putin political activists, and it was apparently at least two years in the making. This shows to the layman that, even though Us/Russian bilateral
relations are currently at an all-time low, back channels always remain open.
Reportedly, the ultimate success of the agreement was doubtful until relatively late in the negotiations, not least because the well-known Russian opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, whom the Russians had included in the exchange, died in a Russian jail in February this year. There was also reluctance in Germany to release the Kremlin’s convicted hitman, Vadim Krasikov, who killed a Chechen exile in Berlin five years ago. Furthermore, what will surely be interesting to most observers is the inclusion of Russian political dissidents imprisoned for long terms in Russian jails. Clearly, Putin wanted these out of the way, presumably on the grounds that there would be less negative publicity in Western countries about Russia’s political prisoners if they had already left the country. It is obviously satisfactory that Westerners imprisoned in Russia on false charges of espionage – like former Us marine, Paul Whelan, who had been visiting Moscow to attend a wedding, and
Wall street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich , both of whom were included in the exchange – have been freed.
However, there will also surely be renewed concern in the West that this sort of exchange may well encourage the Russians arbitrarily to arrest visitors in the future. They will then be held on trumped up charges leading to a show trial and sentenced to long periods of imprisonment in order to be used later as bargaining chips to get their own people back who have been working as spies in Western countries – or, as in this case, a convicted killer who, as a valued henchman, Putin clearly wanted in particular to be included in the deal. so, people ask who was the winner following this agreement. The answer probably is that both sides will claim it was good for them. The Kremlin has already publicly celebrated the return of its spies, agents and a convicted assassin, with Putin publicly welcoming them at Moscow airport. For his part, Biden has the chance to take the plaudits and add to his legacy as president –a legacy that many regard as mixed at best.
A true sporting son of Scotland
As a player and follower of tennis myself, what a particular pleasure it is to be able to salute today the scottish-born Andy Murray for his phenomenal achievements on the world’s courts during a long and hugely successful career as a tennis professional that has just come to an end. Knighted in 2017, sir Andy officially retired last week after competing in the Paris Olympics. He is quoted as saying that he was pleased to retire “on my own terms”.
The 37-year-old won three Grand slam titles, including Wimbledon twice as well as the Us Open, and a total of 46 ATP titles. He won the gold medals for men’s singles at the London Olympics in 2012 and also at Rio de Janeiro four years later. Murray was the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title since Fred Perry in 1936. In 2015, he made a notably strong contribution to Great Britain winning the Davis Cup, with
commentators at the time reporting that he shone from the start. At his peak in 2016, he was ranked as the number one player in the world. What a wonderful record in such a long and illustrious career. surely all sports lovers will wish him well and hope that this famous and articulate tennis champion will now be willing to continue to contribute in some way to the development of tennis both in Britain and at the wider world level.
stabbing. Photo: Darren staples/AP
It’s 1-2-3 for Samekia
SAMEKIA Saunders is a three-time graduate of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI).
She achieved a Certificate in Information Technology Entry Level in 2016, an Associate of Applied Science Degree in information technology management in 2021 and this year, she walked across the stage having attained another degree in electronics engineering installers and repairers. Clearly Samekia has confidence in the BTVI product.
What made the latter accomplishment extra special was the fact that not only was she on the President’s List and the Most Outstanding Student in her trade area, but she also received the 2024 Overall Most Outstanding Graduate for New Providence Award.
The young woman who works as a lab technician in the Electronics and Media Department does phone, laptop and small electronic
3,000 FED THANKS TO TIA, AGED 10
TIA ALBURY, a tenyear-old student from Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, has provided over 3,000 meals through her feeding programme.
Tia, who is also a dedicated gymnast, began her humanitarian efforts after noticing some of her classmates did not have lunch or snacks at school.
Realising some of her peers were facing food insecurity, Tia decided to take action and packed extra meals for them.
Three years later, Tia has provided thousands of meals for her classmates with the assistance of her mother and the wider community through fundraising initiates.
She received the humanitarian of the year award at school for her efforts and has partnered with food suppliers to expand her programme to the public school system.
The meals Tia provides for her classmates contain a variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure her classmates maintain a healthy diet.
She is looking forward to continuing her programme in hopes of “making the world a better place, one meal at a time”.
Individuals interested in contributing to Tia’s feeding programme for the new school year can contact her mother at tammyleighalbury@gmail.com.
The BTVI Story
repairs in her spare time. It was 2020 when Samekia landed the position with responsibility for the maintenance and inventory control of parts and equipment associated with the labs and classrooms. She also helps instructors with tutoring students on how to use the equipment.
“Tutoring electronics students who were falling behind in classes and gaining positive results piqued my interest. However, I came across a challenge that showed me I didn’t know as much as I thought. I wanted to know a bit of everything we teach in the programme so I could better assist,” said the young woman.
Samekia’s journey at BTVI unofficially began in 2009 during her high school days as a Technical Cadet student. Before classes began, she would walk the campus, peeping into labs and workshops, and envisioning herself there. That eventually became a reality.
“Each instructor I had was top notched, knowledgeable in their area and understanding...there were many days when I had to put my job duties first and missed out on some class time. I had to work extra hard and study to stay in the race, but I managed to make it work,” she stated.
From Technical Cadet
student, to student, to lab technician, Samekia expressed gratitude to be a part of the BTVI family.
“It’s not just a job, but a better sense of purpose. I found what I was looking for in a career...I am able to help even more students because I could relate to them, thus creating a better student-teacher relationship,” she stated.
“I got the best of both worlds, doing what I love everyday which is repairs, helping, instructing, administration and working diligently towards my goals. It’s a win-win situation all around,” said the future engineer.
• “The BTVI Story” is a monthly column which highlights the who, what and why of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), a tertiary institution that is ‘Charting the Course for Success’ for individuals in various trades. The column is produced by BTVI’s Office of Public Relations.
CAMP INCLUSION VISITS GB
FORTY Grand Bahama students attended Camp Inclusion, participating in a week-long programme aimed at raising awareness about people with disabilities. The Department of Social Services and Ministry for Grand Bahama partnered with Bahamas Coalition of Advocates of Disability Awareness and Services to bring Camp Inclusion to Grand Bahama.
During the week-long programme, the children took take part in a blindfold day, learned the basics of sign language from forming the alphabet to counting, learned what it feels like to live without the use of an arm or a leg, and how to use a wheelchair and crutches. The campers also visited the Obadiah H Wilchcombe Complex to learn about accessibility. Camp Inclusion was
initially launched in New Providence in 2022 with the goal of integrating children with disabilities and children without disabilities, teaching them about disability, advocacy, inclusion and fostering new friendships.
Kendrick Rolle, chairman and executive director of Bahamas Coalition of Advocates of Disability Awareness and Services, said some 20 youngsters from Grand Bahama participated in the camp back in 2022.
He noted one of the highlights is a sport called Beep Baseball which allows the kids to play blindfolded with the use of beeping balls and buzzing bases.
A Beep Ball Bonanza Family Day was held on Sunday, August 4, at Independence Park. All of the participants were presented with a certificate during a ceremony on Saturday.
INTERESTED IN AVIATION?
PREP the Next Step Mentorship Programme will be holding a presentation for youth interested in the aviation sector.
The event will be held on Saturday, August 10, from 2-4pm at St Matthew’s Anglican Church and is open to youth aged 11 to 18.
This is the second instalment of PREP’s summer presentation and guest speaker, Justin Johnson owner of Top Flight Learning Institute will provide information to students interested in pursuing a career in the aviation field.
The first presentation
introduced students to a career in healthcare with a presentation on nursing.
The PREP the Next Step Mentorship Programme was launched by St Matthew’s Anglican Church for youth in the church and the Free Town area.
The programme features lectures from diverse speakers, activities, group work, tutoring and job opportunities for participants.
Interested individuals are encouraged to reach out to St Matthew’s Anglican Church for further information on how to partner, contribute, sponsor, donate, teach or mentor.
SAMEKIA SAUNDERS
Bahamian becomes Pilot president
from page 16
As past Governor, Nickola reinstated the official visits to the clubs in the District and as President, she revitalised the Pilot Club of Nassau’s Pool Project which provided a pool for persons with disabilities. A major part of her goal in being a part of the executive committee is to help in increasing the membership, attracting younger members and increasing the automation in Pilot International.
Nickola remains steadfast and committed to seeing this goal realised during her tenure as president.
“I intend to accomplish my goals for the year and make a difference in Pilot. Two of the most important goals is growing the membership and re-establishing our relationship with St Jude’s Children’s Hospital,” she said.
‘I intend to accomplish my goals for the year and make a difference in Pilot’
“Pilot International members exist currently in four countries. This year, it is the intention to have Pilot expand into at least two additional countries.
As an international organisation, it will be a part of our strategic plan, to delineate the planned expansion of Pilot in at least two countries per year. The strategic plan will be updated at the start of the new Pilot year.”
• See also Face to Face on page 7 today.
MARINE FORECAST
Summer in full bloom
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net
IT was a mixture of laughter and soft girlvibes that filled the air as a diverse group of women gathered at a vibrant outdoor venue.
They were present for the “Hot Girl Summer Floral Workshop”, an innovative event created by local florist entrepreneur Candisha Rolle.
As attendees picked up their tools and colourful blooms, the excitement was palpable.
“The turn-out for the Hot Girl Summer Floral Workshop was great. We got the targeted amount of attendees we wanted to have. All the attendees enjoyed their experience, despite the rain that was a bit windy at times. They were eager to hear of the upcoming floral workshops as they were interested in attending. They received a few exclusive details regarding dates and themes that made them eager to attend the upcoming workshops,” Candisha told Tribune Woman.
The workshop, drew an impressive turnout as Candisha mentioned, showcasing not only the community’s support for local businesses but also the growing interest in creative and empowering activities for women.
Candisha’s vision for the workshop was clear: to add a tutorial part of floral design to her “Butterfly Treasures” brand of products and services.
“I wanted to give the
attendee a relaxed and fun environment to learn beginner level floral designs and eventually moving to more advance techniques. This year that dream came to reality,” she said.
“My aim was to have seasonal floral workshop events to help ladies have a space to be creative and have some fun at the same time. Our first workshop held was a Mothers Day Workshop which was styled as a Mommy and me setting.”
She said, the Hot Girl Summer workshop was focused on the ladies that love having fun out doors, and Sunday Brunching. The upcoming floral work shops going forward will be themed towards the festive holiday season starting in the fall.
For those attending a Butter fly Treasures Floral Work shop event, Candisha said they should leave knowing a few basic skills to utilise wanting to create arrange ments for their personal use or to start a business themselves.
“The attendee will learn techniques florist use to
create lasting arrangements and even a few tricks. These skills can be used for personal use or even to start a
floral business, if that is something the attendee desires. Not only does the attendee learn basic floral design skills, but they get to also take home their arrangement made, the tools used to make the arrangement and a small thank you gift for attending our floral workshop.”
While designing their floral arrangement, attendees also get to enjoy gourmet appetisers, wine and nonalcoholic beverages.
“Each workshop offered features different designs to show the different styles and techniques used to create floral arrangements. The attendee is also taught the different types of flowers and what their specific names are,” said Candisha.
At the Hot Girl Summer Floral Workshop, attendees learned how to make wine bottle arrangements with floral foam, which is also called Oasis. They were able to cut their own foam and were advised and guided on how to allow the foam to fill with water the proper way.
“Once this technique was taught, the floral arranging started. The instructor gave instructions on how to cut the flowers and place them in the floral foam to get a rounded shape floral arrangement, but attendees were given design freedom as to which color flowers they wanted to use and where they wanted to place their flowers,” said Candisha.
“This gave attendees the opportunity to express themselves freely through their arrangement. They were also taught the technique of using water tubes for shorter stemmed flowers
Bahamian becomes Pilot president
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer
jgibson@tribunemedia.net
BEFORE last month there had only ever been one Bahamian woman to hold the leadership title of Pilot Internationalan organisation that has existed in the world for 102 years. Now Bahamian Nickola Dawkins had etched her name on the history books becoming the second to do so. Nickola who has a heart for service and humanitarian assistance has ascended to the top office of the century old organisation.
Ms Dawkins has been a long-standing member of Pilot, having served for 22 years. She is currently
the president of Pilot International.
“I am all about service. I was approached by several to run for president, then approached again to run in the district and again I was approached to run for Pilot International. I guess people saw something in me that I did not see immediately. However, once I got onto the executive committee of Pilot, and starting working with different districts in Pilot, I then wanted to continue to work at that level, providing another kind of service providing a source of information and help to governors as they worked with their districts. For Nickola, the accomplishments hold great significance.
“I am the second Bahamian to hold this post and Pilot has been around for 102 years. The first Bahamian held this post in 2008 and so this is so important to finally have another Bahamian achieve this. The Bahamas is proud, my parents (Patrick and Jeanie Gomez), and the rest of family are proud and my daughter, Dr Gabrielle Dawkins is so proud. My co-pilot, Dale Minnis, is proud.”
Pilot International was chartered on October 18, 1921, in Macon, Georgia, US, by Elizabeth Leonard and forty local business women. The name “Pilot” was inspired by the mighty riverboat pilots of that day who represented leadership
and guidance. The goal of the organisation was to bring together women of different communities in friendship and in service.
Today, Nickola is tasked with leading the organisation and its members to expand its reach beyond the four countries it currently exists.
Nickola has previously held the positions of president elect, vice president, Treasurer and Director of Pilot International. In the Bahamas District, she was Governor and Governor Elect. In the Pilot Club of Nassau, she was President, President Elect, Vice President and Treasurer.
NICKOLA DAWKINS
SPORTS
TUESDAY, AUGUST
6, 2024
Miller-Uibo and Gardiner injured at Paris Olympics
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
PARIS, France — It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Both Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo went down with recurring injuries at the 2024 Olympic Games.
In the space of two days, Team Bahamas’ hopes were dashed as first, Gardiner didn’t make it to the starting line in his first round heats of the men’s 400 metres in the Stade de France on Sunday.
He was scheduled to compete in lane four in the fourth of six heats, but he didn’t make it. Then on
SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo prepares for her 400-metres heat at the Summer Olympics, August 5, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Monday, Miller-Uibo came out and competed in her first round of the women’s 400m. She did complete the first 200m, only to stop on the curve.
The 30-year-old walked the rest of the way as she was applauded by the crowd. But she was given a DNF (did not finish) behind her name on the scoreboard.
Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland was the heat
winner in 49.98 and Esther Elo Joseph of Nigeria was disqualified.
However, Miller-Uibo has one last chance to get back in the game if she chooses to run in the repechage, which features all of the competitors who didn’t automatically qualify for the semifinal. If she so chooses to do so, she will be entered into
Wanya McCoy advances to 200 semis
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
PARIS, France — After his disappointment in his Olympic Games debut in the men’s 100 metres, Wanya McCoy said he was eager to come back and turn things around in his specialty in the 200 metres. McCoy, 21, was eliminated along with Grand Bahamian Terrence Jones in the first round of the 100m. But he came back last night at the Stade de France and booked his ticket to the semifinals of the half-lap race. Running out of lane nine in the second of six heats, McCoy was able to secure a second-place finish in 20.35 seconds to automatically move on to the semis with heat winner Tarsis Gracious Orogot of Uganda in 20.32 and third place finisher Renan Correa of Brazil in 20.41. It wasn’t as successful for Ian Kerr, the other Bahamian competing in the event. He will have to come back today in a repechage to determine if he will also move on.
McCoy, on the other hand, was thrilled to get back on the track to make up for his 100m departure where he was 41st overall in 10.24, compared to Jones’ 10.31 for 49th place. “It didn’t go the way
KEN MULLINGS 13TH OVERALL IN DECATHLON
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
PARIS, France — As the first Bahamian to compete in the decathlon at the Olympic Games, Ken Mullings ended the two-day, 10-event competition with a Bahamian national recordbreaking performance.
Combining his first day total of 4,255 points on Friday to 3,958 points on Saturday for 8,226 points enabled him to surpass the record held by Kendrick Thompson with his previous best of 8,182 points.
Mullings, who ended up 13th overall out of a field of 20 competitors, said he was hoping to have a much higher position and point tally, but he will enjoy what he got.
“It feels pretty awesome doing it at the Olympics,” he said. “What’s bigger than the Olympics? So I’m really happy with my performance, even though I didn’t place as high as I wanted to, I was able to come back strong on the second day and make my country proud.”
Mullings said it was a mental challenge, but he
KEN Mullings competes in the decathlon javelin throw at the Summer Olympics Saturday in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/ Matthias Schrader)
13
Bahamas mixed 4 x 400m relay team thirteenth overall
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
PARIS, France — When it was all said and done, the Bahamas mixed 4 x 400 metre relay team of Wendell Miller, Javonya Valcourt, Alonzo Russell and Quincy Penn could do no better than eighth place.
Competing in the first of two heats of the event at the Stade de France, the quartet ran three minutes and 14.58 seconds as the United States of America took the top spot in a world record time of 3:07.41.
The next four finishers behind the USA all established national records as France got second in 3:10.00, Belgium third in 3:10.74 and Jamaica fourth in 3:11.06. Poland was fifth in a season’s best of 3:11.43.
It was a totally different team, except for Russell, who won the B final of the relay at the World Relays in May at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium to qualify for the Olympics.
Both Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who featured significantly on the team in Nassau, are here, but are focusing on their individual 400 metre races where they are both the defending Olympic champions.
The other member of the team Shania Adderley, from Grand Bahama, was embroiled with a dispute whether or not she or Lacarthea Cooper should compete here. While Adderley was in the relay pool, Cooper came here as an alternate.
With what was considered the best quartet to compete, the Bahamas ended up 13th overall out of a field of 16 countries.
But despite not qualifying for the final, each member of the quartet admitted that it was the best they could achieve on the day.
For starters, 21-year-old Miller, who has been training in Jamaica for the past
two years, said he tried his best.
“That was a difficult heat for us, but we did the best we could. We didn’t make it, but we have the World Championships next year and Olympics in 2028, so you will see more from The Bahamas.”
Valcourt, the women’s national 400 metre champion going into her junior year at the University of Tennessee, said it was all about getting international experience on the global stage.
“We didn’t get the results we wanted today, but I’m so proud of us. We went out there and did the best we could. Next year, I feel we will come back stronger.”
At 19 years old, Valcourt said she’s confident that the quarter-milers will come back stronger to put in a much better showing at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
In running the third leg, Russell said it wasn’t the best for the team.
“It was good to see the others stepping up now, so I feel going forward, we will be in pretty good shape.
“I’m happy everyone finished healthy.”
Russell, the veteran of the team at 32, said he’s looking forward to competing in the next relay event whenever the opportunity presents itself.
The 18-year-old Penn, who got the baton from Russell fighting with Kenya for the final two spots, said “I ran the best I could. That’s all I could do.”
Penn, a transfer from Alabama State University to the University of Florida, felt that the Bahamas had a good team, but she still felt they could have pushed a little harder to move up in position.
Obviously, it didn’t help that both Gardiner and Miller-Uibo were not available for relay duties in Paris. The question is, what will happen in Japan next year?
FROM PAGE 16
I planned with this being my first experience at the Olympics,” said McCoy, a member of the Florida Gators’ university team, about his 100m. “I have a lot to learn with the 100m, especially with my start, so next year (at the World Championships) I’m sure I will do a better job.”
As for his 200m, McCoy said he just wanted to advance and be able to run faster when the semis come around on Wednesday.
“I just want to get a good lane and hopefully set myself up to get a medal,” he predicted. “I have a lot more in the tank. This is my first 200m in two months, so it was good to get the rust off. I’m sure when the semifinals come, I will be good to go.” Kerr into repechage
In making his global debut, Kerr also drew lane nine in heat five where he finished fifth in 20.53 as he watched American Erriyon Knighton pull away for the win in 19.99.
“I just wanted to stay composed, stay relaxed and execute,” said Kerr about his race. “I didn’t execute it to the best of my ability.”
As one of the newcomers on the international scene for Team Bahamas, the 28-year-old Kerr said he knew it was just of time that his belief would enable him to prevail to be competing here.
“I believe that I deserve to be here, so it was just a matter of me focusing on myself and going out there and attacking the race.”
With two Bahamians entered in the 100m and now two in the 200m, Kerr said the Bahamas male sprint core is starting to retake shape and he’s just delighted to be a part of the transformation right now. Hopefully, he can take his confidence level to the semifinal with McCoy. He will have to no doubt run faster than his lifetime best of 20.33 in order to achieve his goal.
Miller-Uibo, Gardiner injured at Paris Olympics
lane two of the second of four heats today at 5:28 am. The first in each repechage and the next two fastest finishers will book their ticket to the semifinals.
Miller-Uibo, coming back from motherhood and a change in coaching all last year, ran a season’s best of 53.02 that she posted at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Association’s Nationals in June where she also didn’t complete the 200m because of the injury.
While there was no explanation for what happened to Miller-Uibo, Gardiner’s agent eventually provided an explanation as to what happened to the co-flag bearer for the games’ opening ceremonies last Friday.
Claude Bryan, the chief executive officer of “On Time Management,” confirmed that Gardiner had some issues around his left ankle and the tendon in that area. “He and his team had
worked around the clock the past two weeks trying to get him in a state of readiness for the title defence,”
Bryant said.
“We would be remiss to not thank his medical team, including Dr. Mueller and his staff, Dr Jennifer Davis who, despite the handicap of no accreditation, made tremendous personal sacrifice to the cause. His coaches led by Gary Evans exercised patience and prudence throughout.
“Last but unquestionably not least his primary sponsor Adidas who went above and beyond to try to get him on the track.”
Bryant said whilst greatly disappointed, Gardiner wishes the other 400m entrants the very best and asks his fans globally to continue to pray and support him.
The BOC, headed by president Romell Knowles, also chimed, noting that it was unfortunate what happened to Gardiner.
SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO, of The Bahamas, walks down the track after failing to finish her women’s 400-metres heat at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, August 5, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
“While I don’t have information on Stevie’s withdrawal, I know that Stevie loves his country and wanted nothing more than to represent his country,” Knowles said. “I can only imagine. Stevie and his camp must be devastated.
The turn of events was not what we hoped for or expected. I ask that we pray for Stevie’s recovery and mental being.”
And BAAA president Drumeco Archer, who is also in Paris, said at the time that they were
awaiting the official report from Gardiner’s camp.
“What happened to Stevie breaks all of our hearts,” he wrote.
“We await an official communication from his coaches, management and medical team.
“May God continue to bless him and Team Bahamas.”
Gardiner, who won the title in 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, appeared to be in fine shape coming into the games. There was no indication of any injuries or anything, although he didn’t speak to the media here.
Gardiner, who carried the flag with world indoor 60 metre hurdles record holder Devynne Charlton during the official opening ceremonies on Friday, and Miller-Uibo were the latest marquee athletes who won’t go onto compete in their much anticipated finals.
Jamaica’s two top stars here - Shelly-Ann FraserPryce pulled out of the semifinals of the 100m and Shericka Jackson didn’t show up for the heats of the women’s 200m to defend her title.
The jury is still out on what is going on here in Paris with the athletes.
TAYLOR ENDS UP 26TH OVERALL, RHANISHKA GIBBS 31ST
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
PARIS, France — A heat victory in a national record breaking performance from
seconds to finish 26th overall, while Gibbs swam 26.27 seconds for sixth
place in the seventh of 10 heats and 31st overall. Taylor was denied an opportunity to come back for a second swim, but he said he trained hard for his only race and his Olympic moment. “I felt very confident going into the event,” said Taylor, who turned in a personal best at the end of the race. “I just had to execute and I think I did pretty good.”
Having swum at the World Championships last year, Taylor admitted that it helped prepare him for the road that was ahead of him here in Paris.
“I was pretty much racing the same guys over and over again, so it wasn’t hard,” he said. “I was just trying to execute and not feel afraid to race.”
To his fans at home, Taylor expressed his delight in the support they provided for him. He noted that the support was something that he cherished.
The 18-year-old Gibbs, who fell shy of her personal best, admitted that for her first Olympic experience, she was thrilled just to make it to the Olympics.
“I’m going to keep training, just working hard
in practice and putting some things in place that I could have improved on in that race and just staying focused on my goal in 2028 (for the next Olympics in Los Angeles, California).”
Looking back at her performance, Gibbs noted that the first 25 metres of her race felt really good and the second 25m she started to falter.
“That’s something that comes with practice, something I’m going to continue to work on,” she insisted. “It will get better in time.” Now that she’s done, the Texas Christian University
sophomore said she will continue to soak in the atmosphere in the Games Village, being around so many high-class athletes.
To the other young swimmers at home in the Bahamas who were following her journey, she encouraged them to “keep pushing and try to be better than me.
“You guys encourage me to be a better swimmer and a better individual” and “I’m definitely looking forward to the next Olympics” in Los Angeles in 2028. The duo were coached by Travano McPhee, who
noted that he was proud to be a Bahamian watching the swimmers represent the country to the best of their abilities.
“To witness them both develop from a junior age to now advancing in their swim careers and to be able to represent the Bahamas at the highest competitive level of sports was a magnificent feeling.”
McPhee said he could envision seeing them, along with a few more Bahamian swimmers, competing in Los Angeles as swimming continues to rise on the global stage.
QUINCY Penn takes off on the final leg of the mixed 4x400 metre relay at the Paris OIympics.
WENDELL Miller passes the baton off to Javonya Valcourt.
Antoine Andrews secures his berth into semifinals of the 110m hurdles
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
PARIS, France — As one of the bright young stars to watch, Antoine Andrews secured his berth into the semifinals of the men’s 110m hurdles at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Andrews, making his debut at the four-yearly games, advanced out of Sunday’s heats with a second-place finish in the third of five heats at the Stade de France on day four of the track and field competition, in 13.43 seconds.
Zhuoyi Xu from China won the heat in 13.40.
But American Grant Holloway had the fastest qualifying time of 13.01 in winning the last of the five heats.
The 21-year-old sophomore at Texas Tech placed 14th overall going into Wednesday’s semis.
However, he told The Tribune that even if he doesn’t make the final on Thursday, he was just delighted to be able to compete at the highest level of
competition in the world. “I felt pretty good. This was my first ever Olympics, so to come here and to make it to the semifinals is a blessing,’’ said Andrews, who came into the games with a personal best of 13.34. Andrews, however, admitted that he felt the jitterbugs going through the warm up prior to the start of the race.
“I had to tell myself that I just have to go out there and do it,” he said. “Behind the blocks, I had to calm myself and tell myself ‘you gat this. You gat this.’”
With a few days in between the semis, Andrews said it’s back to the drawing board to try and correct what he didn’t do right to be ready to continue his start to the global competition.
“I’m just going to go back and look at the tape and see what I can fix,” he said. No doubt, it will enable him to clinch one of the eight spots for the final. If he doesn’t, he said he will still be content because he’s here competing in the Olympics.
CHARISMA
TAYLOR MISSES TRIPLE JUMP FINAL
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
PARIS, France — Charisma Taylor just wished her opening round jump would have held her.
She opened the women’s triple jump competition at the Stade de France on Saturday with the leading mark of 45-feet, 11 3/4-inches or 14.01 metres.
Taylor, in her historic debut as the first Bahamian female to compete in the triple jump, watched as she was dropped to ninth in Group B and 15th overall and missed the top 12 that advanced to Saturday’s final.
“It was a good experience. I was definitely disappointed that I didn’t make the final,” she said. “But I have the (100m) hurdles, so I just have to keep on going.” After taking the early lead, Taylor sizzled during the final two rounds with 45-10 1/2 (13.98m) and (13.71m)4411 3/4 that knocked her out of contention for one of the top 12 spots. The 12th and final qualifying spot went to Louis Guillaume of France with 46-1 1/4 (14.05), while the top qualifier was Leyanis Perez Henandez of Cuba with 48-2 (14.68).
Despite not advancing, Taylor said she was still thrilled to be here as the first Bahamian female to contest the triple jump, coming into the games with a lifetime best of 44-10 (14.88m) and a season’s best of 46-3 1/2 (14.11m).
She will add another historic feat to her résumé when she joins world indoor 60m record holder Devynne Charlton and NCAA Division II champion Denisha Cartwright in the women’s 100m hurdles.
was thinking about his wife and family and wanted to put out his best in each event to score as much as he could to score as many points as he could.
“It feels amazing competing with them. It shows that I have more in the tank and I can compete against the best in the world,” he said.
“Even though I didn’t score as much as I wanted on day one, I was still able to come back and move up in the end results, so I know there’s much more in me.”
On day one, Miullings was seventh overall in the 100m in 10.60 for 952 points, 12th in the long jump with 7.36m for 740 points, 17th in the shot put with a heave of 14.19m for 727 points, fifth in the high jump with 2.02m for 822 points and 19th in the 400m in a season’s best of 49.43 for 841 points.
Then on Saturday, he picked up 1,014 points for second in the 110m hurdles in 13.70, 11th in the discus with a personal best of 46.97 for 789 points, 10th in the pole vault with 4.80m for 849 points, a PB of 59.83m for third place in the javelin and 4:55.84 for 20th place in the gruelling 1,500m for 584 points.
“I was really happy with the 100m because that was the first event where we just shake off the nerves and then it sets me up for
the long jump where my speed carries me in the long jump,” he said. “The shot put was a let down for me. I had one of the furthest PBs and I threw away a lot of points, which really hurt me, as well as the high jump, just to jump 2.02m, that hurt me overall.”
But with a mission to accomplish, Mullings said he wasn’t going to let anything get him back. “I had a season’s best in the 400m and from the 400m up, everything else
just started to fall in terms of how practice was going. I got a season’s best in the 400, I did the second fastest time I ever ran in the hurdles, a big PB in the discus, an outdoor season’s best in the pole vault, a PB in the javelin and a season’s best in the 1,500m. I can’t ask for more than that.”
After spending the past six weeks training with local coaches Demaris Cash and Jason Edwards, who were both in Paris through the sponsorship of Powerade and Oak Tree Medical,
Mullings said he just had to keep it into his routine.
With the World Championships set for 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, Mullings said he is looking forward to an awesome off-season to “get my body right” before he takes that next step to be a contender for a medal.
Cash said Mullings is just coming into his own as a decathlete because he now believes that he has the ability to hang with the top guys in the world. “Day one is usually his strongest day, but based on his
adjustment, day two turned out to be his strongest,” Cash said. “So we have a balance for him and hopefully he can be a top top, top five and a medallist down the road.” Edwards said the performance was great. “The first day was rough and obviously he needed some personal assistance, but he came back on the second day and got the national record. we couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Although they were not able to secure their
The 24-year-old Taylor, a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, will be the first Bahamian as well to compete in two individual events, albeit on the field and the track collectively.
“I’m looking forward to coming back and competing in the hurdles,” said Taylor, who has a lifetime best time of 12.76 seconds.
“Hopefully I can make up for what I didn’t do in the triple jump in the hurdles. I think it’s also good that we have three competitors from The Bahamas competing in the event.”
Except for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia when Chandra Sturrup was fifth, Sevatheda Fynes sixth and Debbie FergusonMcKenzie seventh in the final of the women’s 100m, Charlton, Cartwright and Taylor are hoping to ink their names in the hurdles, if they all advance.
accreditations to work directly with Mullings here, Cash thanked Team Bahamas’ coaching staff for assisting them.
“At this high level, athletes need their personal coaches who work daily with them,” he said. “We don’t know where the breakdown went, but we want to thank all of the coaching staff on Team Bahamas for assisting.”
ANTOINE ANDREWS, third from left, at the start of the men’s 110m hurdles.
KEN MULLINGS, of The Bahamas, competes in the decathlon long jump at the Summer Olympics, August 2 in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
KEN MULLINGS, of The Bahamas, competes in the decathlon pole vault at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Team Bahamas shines in the Billie Jean King Cup opener
By TENAJH SWEETING
THE Bahamas’ 2024
Billie Jean King Cup quartet of veterans Sydney Clarke, Simone Pratt, Danielle Thompson and newcomer Tatyana Madu made their mark in the opening tie of the Americas Group III in Tacarigua, Trinidad & Tobago.
Competing out of Pool
A, The Bahamas squared off against Antigua and Barbuda yesterday and prevailed with a dominant 3-0 victory at the National Racquet Centre.
Team head coach Kim O’Kelley, who is also a former BJKC player, was impressed to see the ladies execute what they have practiced before the trip.
“I think each player did a fantastic job by putting everything into the match that we practiced. Even with them doing the hand signals in the doubles,” coach O’Kelley said.
University of Alabama at Birmingham graduate Clarke was up first in singles competition. She went head-to-head with Janae George-Alexander of Antigua and Barbuda.
The BJKC seasoned player knocked off GeorgeAlexander 6-0 in set one and had an identical result in set two.
It took her less than 50 minutes to give The Bahamas a 1-0 advantage in the tournament opener.
The reigning Giorgio Baldacci Open National champion was matched up against Sibley Charles in match two.
She outlasted her opponent 6-0 in the initial set. Charles managed to score one point in the following set but Pratt came away on top 6-1 in 44 minutes played. With a 2-0 lead on Antigua and Barbuda, it was up to Thompson and firsttimer Madu to bring it home for The Bahamas.
The veteran and newcomer duo paid dividends versus Jolie George-Alexander and Sydney Kentish. The Bahamian duo shut them down 6-2, 6-0 to emerge with a clean sweep on day one of competition.
Coach O’Kelley was not surprised to see Madu perform well in her BJKC debut.
“In the two days of practice that Tatyana has played with the team, she has learned so much, especially about doubles tactics like using hand signals and body positioning. She has grown to a higher level quickly,” she said.
Following the dominant opening day performance, The Bahamas has a 1-0
By TENAJH SWEETING
THE Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) Summer of Thunder basketball tournament matchups continued over the holiday weekend at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.
The Bahamas All-Stars were back in action on Saturday against the University of Texas El Paso Miners who defeated them 98-80.
Otis Frazier III and Devon Barnes combined for 39 points in the win for the Miners. Frazier scored a game-high 23 points, pulled in six rebounds and defensively picked up seven steals. He shot 11-for-19, good for 58 per cent from the field.
Barnes ended the game with 16 points and 2 assists.
He splashed 4-of-7 shots from long range and shot 67 per cent in the contest.
The Miners jumped out to
a narrow 12-7 advantage early on in the first quarter but the lead was short-lived as the Bahamas All-Stars eventually tied the score. With the home team ahead 22-19, Barnes connected on one of his four threes at the end of the first quarter to tie the game at 22 apiece going into the second period of play. The visiting team cracked open the second quarter with a 14-5 run to shift the score to 36-27 with less than five minutes to go. Matthew Saunders, who scored 13 points, broke the Bahamas All-Stars’ shooting slump with backto-back buckets to put the home team within 6 (38-32). Despite the dry spell on offence early on, the ball game was still neckand-neck at halftime. The Miners had a slim one-point advantage (40-39) ahead of the second half. The game remained close through three quarters until the Miners dug deep late in
the third to create a double digit deficit.
Frazier drained a threepointer with less than two minutes remaining to give the University of Texas El Paso a 69-57 advantage.
The lead grew to 71-57 as the Miners outscored their opponents 31-18 to close out the third period.
In the fourth quarter, the Bahamas All-Stars simply ran out of gas. The Miners went up by as much as 20, their largest lead of the game, to put away the home team once and for all.
The Bahamas All-Stars had four players hit double digits. Richard Lowe paced the team with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Corey Sands pitched in 20 points and 6 boards. Saunders and Bryan Rolle turned in 13 and 10 points respectively.
The tale of the game was turnovers and bench points. The Miners forced the Bahamas All-Stars to commit 28 turnovers which translated into 34 points.
win/loss record along with Jamaica in the Pool A Nations standings.
Antigua and Barbuda along with Trinidad & Tobago have a 0-1 record to start.
Next up will be the host nation today as pool play continues.
The head coach said the message to the ladies remains the same going into today’s match.
“It is the same message. We are playing ‘the ball’ and not the player or the country. The focus is on the 2.7 inch ball. Doing this helps to eliminate the nerves and the emotions of everything. This is what we will do with all of the matches,” she said.
The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association congratulated the team on their first win and wished them many more strong performances in their quest to advance to the next group.
The top two nations in Americas Group III will be promoted to Americas Group II. Competition wraps up on August 10.
WINNING FEAT: The Bahamas Billie Jean King Cup (BJKC) team of Sydney Clarke, Danielle Thompson, Simone Pratt and newcomer Tatyana Madu got a 3-0 victory in the opening match of the BJKC Americas Group III against Antigua and Barbuda.
THE UNIVERSITY of Texas El Paso Miners defeated Bahamas All-Stars 98-80 on Saturday.
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr