08212023 NEWS AND SPORT

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR RCI PI PROJECT

Environmental approval from regulators for planned beach resort

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

ROYAL Caribbean’s Bahamas chief has hailed as “a critical milestone” the environmental go-ahead for its Paradise Island beach club “that could benefit hundreds of businesses and tens of thousands of Bahamians”.

Philip Simon, the Royal

Beach Club’s president and general manager for the cruise line’s Bahamas operations, told Tribune Business there “has never been any confusion” as to how important approval of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and related issues were to the $100m project’s ability to move forward.

UB ST UDY FINDS 1-IN-4 WOMEN KNEW THEIR PARTNER CHEATED

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune NEws Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

AN academic survey found that one in four married Bahamian women knew their partner was adulterous.

The study by University of the Bahamas professors Dr Niambi Hall CampbellDean, William Fielding and

Virginia C Ballance also found that 13.8 per cent of married Bahamian women surveyed reported having sex against their will while 8.3 per cent said they were raped by their husbands. Additionally, 15.3 per cent of married women reported being physically harmed by their husbands,

PM DECLINES TO CONFIRM CA BINET RESHUFFLE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis declined to say if he will shuffle his Cabinet as the administration approaches the two-year mark.

Long-standing rumours of a shuffle became louder after Parliament was prorogued. In 2006, the only time in a Christie administration that Parliament was

SCHOOL ROOF FAILURE ERROR OF EMPLOYEE, DAV IS SAID

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave”

NO CONCERNS ADDRESSED AS BPL UNION DEADLINE ENDS

prorogued for non-election reasons, former Prime Minister Perry Christie shuffled his Cabinet.

“Cabinet is an institution that carries a collective responsibility,” Mr Davis told reporters yesterday.

“Where a person is in that Cabinet does not take away from that so that we have collective responsibility.

PM tours renovations of govt schools, says he is ‘pleased with the work’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis toured several government schools under renovation yesterday as the new school year nears.

A delegation of officials visited Government High, TA Thompson Junior High, Woodcock Primary and RM Bailey Senior High School.

After the tour, Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin expressed satisfaction with the progress of repair works.

“This is our third opportunity to effect repairs and you will see we’re not just changing a doorknob or fixing a light bulb, this is the redevelopment of our school plans,” she said.

“Our objective is to ensure that children and young people of this nation go into spaces of learning and that they are able to come of their own as young people.”

When The Tribune visited the sites yesterday, contractors were braving

the heat, tiling, painting walls, and installing roof ceilings, among other tasks.

Mrs Hanna Martin said officials expect all the major renovation works to be completed in time for the return of students.

Mr Davis said: “I share in the pleasure of the minister of what she’s seeing here today. I’m pleased with the work that’s being carried by the contractors that were chosen.”

“You can see that they are not only just doing a good job, but they’re going above the call of duty working.”

He said thanks to the ministry’s efforts, students will get the chance to learn in an environment “conducive for them to receive learning and an environment for teachers to impart learning.”

Mrs Hanna Martin also spoke about the government’s recruitment efforts, saying that about 40 teachers were recruited from Cuba, mostly to teach technical and vocational subjects and special education.

MAN CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL ENTRY AND INDECENT ASSAULT

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted

$3,500 bail after he was accused of illegally entering the home of an 11-year-old girl in Andros last week and groping her.

Magistrate Raquel

Whyms charged Ricardo Woodside, 53, with unlawful entry and indecent assault.

Woodside allegedly entered the girl’s home without permission and touched her inappropriately on August 16.

After pleading not guilty to the charges Woodside was informed that he is to sign in at the Nicholl’s

Town Police Station every Monday by 6pm as part of his bail.

The defendant’s trial will be transferred to North Andros on August 23.

A 17-year-old male was also charged with indecent assault before Magistrate Kara Turnquest Deveaux.

The juvenile defendant allegedly inappropriately touched an 8-year-old girl sometime between January 1 and August 13.

After denying these allegations in court in the presence of his guardian, the accused was denied bail and remanded to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys.

The accused will return to court for a report on November 11.

BODY OF A MAN BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION, INVESTIGATED

NEW Providence police are investigating after the body of a man was found burnt beyond recognition Friday morning.

Police said they received reports of a bush fire in the Baillou Hill and Tucker Road areas around 3.20am.

Officers attached to the fire department responded and extinguished the fire where a man’s burned body was found.

“Further checks of the surrounding area were conducted, where a T-shirt with suspected blood was found along with ammunition spent,” police said in a statement.

“Investigations continue in this matter.”

Anyone with information on this latest incident is asked to contact CID at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-(TIPS)-8477

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis along with Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin toured several government schools under renovation yesterday as the new school year nears.

Photos: Leandra Rolle

School roof failure error of employee, Davis said

from page one

insurance for the work.

His comment yesterday came after the Ministry of Works said an employee removed some of the bracing from the structure, making it unstable.

The ministry said the contractor took full responsibility for the collapse and agreed to reconstruct the roof at no cost to taxpayers.

Video of the collapsed

structure spread across social media, causing some to question the quality of construction work as the new school term nears.

The ministry’s statement on Friday included details it did not intend for public consumption. The government asked the press not to publish that information, which included an admission that the contractor did not have a contract, risk, or liability insurance.

Mr Davis said despite

the mishap, he is confident in the contractor, A&M Construction.

“He has done work for many years for the Ministry of Works and not just for our administration,” he said. “Just to dispel any sort of favouritism that this is some PLP who is incompetent.

Asked about the reported lack of contract or liability insurance, Mr Davis said: “He had a contract. The question is whether it’s a written contract or an oral

contract. He in fact, had a contract. It was to be reduced to writing and in fact, the insurance, I understand the contractor decided that he would self-insure until all of the dots and I’s were crossed, which is not unacceptable. “You could self-insure yourself. He takes the risk, which he has done. He said the trusses collapsed and I’ll make that good. That’s selfinsurance. That is acceptable too if the ministry deems it appropriate.”

However, former Works Minister Desmond Bannister said lacking a formal contract or risk insurance is highly irregular and contrary to proper protocol.

“The technical officers – the professionals – they would never release any work to be done without everything being in place,” he said yesterday. “So, this had to be a political decision, and the blame has to rest straight on the politicians who are involved.

“Let me tell you, the protocol from January, early January, the officers of the ministry start scoping works in schools, so they send out scopes of work. They prepare to work; they go to schools. They do their inspections. They make determinations that was as to what has to be done.”

“By the time summer comes around, all of the plans are in place, and they’re ready to go.”

PM DECLINES TO CONFIR M OR DENY IF THERE WILL BE C A BINET RESHUFFLE

from page one

“I call this my halfway point before we move into what I call election mode and we are thinking and we are talking together as ministers to determine how best each one of us may best better serve the new way forward.”

Attorney General Ryan

Pinder foreshadowed changes after Parliament was prorogued, saying Mr Davis would address the public.

Since then, Mr Davis has announced that Cynthia “Mother” Pratt would be the next governor general.

She will assume the post on September 1.

In 2018, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis reassigned four Cabinet portfolios just 14 months after being elected. He said at the time the decision did not show he lost faith in any minister but wanted to give them more exposure.

USCG HELP S RBDF SEA RCH FOR MISSING AIRCR A F T

SEARCH teams were yesterday looking for a possible downed aircraft with one person on board.

The US Coast Guard posted to social media that it was assisting the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in searching for a Cessna 402 that departed Fort Lauderdale International.

It was reportedly last seen 17 miles west of Eleuthera on Saturday.

No alert was posted by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and there was no response to queries at the time of going to press. The plane was last seen at co-ordinates 25 20.35N and 076 59.46W

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis declined to say if he will shuffle his Cabinet as the administration approaches the two-year mark.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis along with Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin toured several government schools under renovation yesterday including RM Baily High school where a roof collapsed two weeks ago.

Photos: Leandra Rolle

was lost.

UB study finds 1-in-4 women knew their partner cheated

compared with 10.9 per cent of unmarried women.

The report, which will be published in the International Journal of Bahamian Studies in November, said:

“While 46.7 per cent of married women definitely indicated that their husband was not having sex with another woman, as many as 53.3 per cent of husbands may have been committing adultery as some married women were ‘not sure.’ Almost one in four married women knew that their partner was adulterous.

“Of the single women, 5.4 per cent reported

having a relationship with a man whom they knew was married, and another 1.8 per cent were not sure. Researchers used an internet-based survey for their study, asking respondents about their marital status and certain behaviours of their husband/male partner.

UB students used their social media networks to contact potential respondents, leading to a snowball sample. Ultimately, the study included 1,728 respondents, 26.9 of whom were married. The rest were either single or engaged. The overall median age was 28.8 years. The modal educational level was some college/

technical vocational training, and the “modal length of time of participants’ being in this intimate relationship was between one and five years”.

Researchers acknowledged potential bias from using internet-based study but noted their findings mirror previous research on violence Bahamian women in relationships experience.

“Experience of physical harm was also linked with unwanted sex,” researchers said. “Being a victim of physical harm elevated the chance of the woman being subject to non-consensual sexual intercourse.”

“In the case of women who suffered non-consensual sex, they were more

LOCA L SOFTBA LL P L AYER BECOMES country’s 66th murder victim

likely to have also suffered physical harm from their husbands than wives who were not subject to nonconsensual sex.”

“Even when married women were not subjected to physical harm, they were 3.07 times more likely to have non-consensual sex than single women.”

“Overall, 38.2 per cent of 60 married women who had non-consensual sex indicated that they would leave the relationship if they could, compared to 11.5 per cent of 357 married women who had not experienced non-consensual sex.”

Researchers noted that women are more likely to admit to non-consensual sex rather than rape.

Women protest release of sex offender, call for laws to be revisited and changed

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

EDRON Knowles, a local softball player, became the country’s 66th murder victim of the year late on Saturday night, leaving behind two children.

Authorities said sometime around 8.30pm on Saturday, Knowles was parked outside his house on Anna’s Way when a man in a dark-coloured Japanese vehicle approached him. The man reportedly got out of his car and shot Knowles multiple times before returning to his

vehicle and fleeing north on Cowpen Road. Friends and relatives took to social media to express their condolences to the family of the CC Sweeting High School alumni. Knowles was also a member of the C&S Hitmen’s softball team.

KHANDI Gibson, an advocate for violence victims, and other women protested outside of the Bahamas Department of Corrections on Friday, as sex offender Sidney Cooper was set to be released a few hours later.

Mr Cooper’s criminal history dates back to 1998. Since 2000, he has faced 20 counts of sexual assault offences, usually indecent assault.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the 47-year-old man, posed a significant risk to the public’s safety, issuing an advisory of the man’s release.

Following this news, many expressed dissatisfaction, calling for the sexual offender to remain in police custody.

While protesting on Friday, Ms Gibson and other protestors held signs and chanted “No justice, no peace”.

“I personally feel that they need to revisit laws on the book as it relates to sexual offence, perpetrators, and paedophiles,” Ms Gibson, the founder and director of FOAM said.

“There should be a two to three strike programme after you commit the second or third crime against a child or female there should be a law where you spend the remainder of your life in prison.”

Ms Gibson said she was unable to sleep after learning the news of Mr Cooper’s release.

“What is be so sad is when these people go out there and damage our little darlings.

“When they damage them what do they expect?

What do they expect from a nation with broken kids?

“Hurting children, hurt children. Violated children, violate other children.

“So, my thing about this is we cannot just sit here idly and know for a fact a person who is not rehabilitated is going to be released back into our society.”

Patrice Hanna-Carey, of Hanna-Carey Cares Foundation, stood in solidarity with Ms Gibson on Friday. While opposing the release of Mr Cooper, she questioned how the government plans to handle the sexual offenders following his release.

She said: “Please stop the ricochet.

“Stop the way that things are being done.

“Stop the fact that it’s either them or us. Kill or be killed. We will not have it.”

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EDRON KNOWLES, a local softball player, became the country’s 66th murder victim.

A GROUP of women, including advocate for violence victims Khandi Gibson protested outside the Department of Correctional Services Friday against the release of a habitual sex offender.

No concerns addressed as BPL union deadline ends

HIGH VOLUME OF SUMMER TRAVELLERS COULD CAUSE DELAYS, WARNS NAD

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) are urging international travellers to arrive nearly four hours ahead of departure time due to heavy traffic anticipated at the terminal for the remainder of this month.

after some travellers expressed frustration to this newspaper and reported waiting for up to two hours to clear the immigration checkpoint.

NAD said it is encouraging travellers to arrive early, dress comfortably and be patient when flying from Nassau to the US.

BEWU president Kyle Wilson gave BPL 30 days to address their concerns related to hazardous pay, pension, and medical benefits, among other issues.

“The time for talk is over,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “I think after 30 days of agitation, asking, writing letters and of trying to meet and sitting down, not one item, not one thing has been resolved.”

He declined to say what the union would do.

“The union has a toolbox, but the ultimate tool is always removal of ourselves or removal of our labour for conditions we feel are not in our best interest,” he said.

“My thing is, we would never intentionally disrupt the energy supply and hurt the innocent Bahamian people just because there’s

issues between union and management.”

“I would still try to the last second because (Monday) being the last day, to have a resolution. Nobody wants to strike. We don’t want a sick out. We don’t want to disrupt the power. We just want our issues resolved because after striking and sicking out, I still have to go back to those conditions.”

He said BEWU members gave leaders “the green light to do whatever it takes” to resolve their grievances.

The union’s threat comes after joining the Bahamas Electrical Utility Managerial Union (BEUMU) in filing trade disputes alleging industrial agreement breaches and other violations by the state-owned utility.

BEWU alleged that BPL breached their industrial

agreement by contracting other staff to do the same jobs as unionised employees but with better benefits such as hazardous pay, insurance and 12-hour shifts.

The union is demanding the same benefits for its workers and better work conditions for workers.

Mr Wilson sent photos and videos sent to the press showing messy restrooms, missing ceiling tiles and rain leaking through a roof at a BPL station, highlighting undesirable work conditions.

“We’re dealing with humans, man,” he said. “We’re not animals, come on. Don’t treat us like that. I dare any of those executives to use the same restrooms, to use the same trailer as an office space for them.”

A BPL spokesman told Tribune Business last week

that the issues the union outlined are either in active discussion or being settled in courts.

Mr Wilson said they had been told to take their concerns to court during meetings with top BPL officials.

He said: “Is that how you deal with the workers? Is that you care about us, right? We’re sitting with you but you’re telling me during these meetings that the only way how I’m going to get resolution is if I take you to court.”

He added: “We don’t have the monies to fight the legal challenges even though we’re being wronged, and so to hear the company use the excuse that we have to take them to court to get what rightfully belongs to us as Bahamian workers, I’m saying where is the new day that was promised?”

Abaco local government calls new boat registration fees ‘outrageous’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Hope Town District Council’s chief said some Abaco boat owners have “boycotted” the increase in boat registration fees, which he called outrageous. Chief councillor Jeremy Sweeting said the increases would harm the island, which has many fishermen, tour guides, rental companies and others who would be affected.

“Prior to this increase,” he said in a press release, “an owner of a 20ft boat would pay an annual fee of $20 to have his boat registered. As a result of the new increase in fees, that same boat owner would

now pay $700 plus an additional $75 for an inspection. This increase from $20 to $775 is an increase of 3,775%!!!”

“Surely, this goes against the pledge made by Prime Minister Davis in his ‘wrap up’ remarks that concluded the budget debate where he stated there wouldn’t be any ‘major new taxes’.”

Mr Sweeting is the latest official to speak publicly about the increases, which took effect on July 1.

Last month, Paul Maillis, the National Fisheries Association’s secretary, told The Tribune that the body and wider fishing industry were greatly concerned.

Following the changes, first-time registrants of

vessels between 40 to 49 feet in length, and 50 to 59 feet, have seen fee increases from the previous $1,000 to $7,000 and $10,000, respectively.

A 200ft yacht has to pay $35,000 compared to the previous $4,000, an eightfold hike.

“As someone who comes from a family of commercial fishermen,” Mr Sweeting said, “I know first-hand the everyday expenses and financial risks that fishermen have to take to provide for their families. This outrageous and unconscionable fee increase is a crushing burden and an addition to their long list of overhead expenses.

“Imagine being an

Abaconian, owning a boat rental business with a fleet of ten boats. Apart from insurance, general maintenance, business licence fees, NIB, and other costs, this owner would now have to pay $7,750 in boat registration fees every year. What an unthinkable amount!”

Mr Sweeting said while some have paid the new fees, others are “boycotting” them.

“Bahamians deserve better,” he said. “Abaconians deserve better. To the government, please bring common sense and reason to the decision-making table when making decisions that will have a lasting and consequential impact on lives.”

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The Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), in a statement released Friday, warned that travellers could experience long wait times during the screening process because of the increased volume of summer passengers travelling through LPIA.

“The demand for travel this summer has far surpassed the demand of the past two years and passengers travelling to the United States in particular, are advised to be at the airport no less than 3.5 hours prior to their flight departure times during the next several days of August.”

Their statement came

They also offered these additional tips for travellers, saying: “Additionally, persons travelling with small children are encouraged to keep their strollers and other essential items nearby to ensure comfort while waiting.

“Passengers are encouraged to limit carry items to only those that are essential in order to increase their ease of processing through the airport.

“Travellers with physical disabilities should seek the wheelchair and other accessibility services provided by their airlines and those with hidden disabilities should ensure they can be identified as needing more time by collecting a lanyard from the LPIA’s sunflower programme.”

MAN HOSPITALISED AFTER BULLET GRAZES HIS HEAD, POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are investigating a shooting on Saturday that left a 37-year-old man in hospital.

Police reported that sometime around 2.40am, the victim, a resident of Minnie Street, was standing at the front of a bar in the area of Charles Vincent Street when a bullet grazed his head. that three people, an adult male and two male juveniles, were hospitalised on Saturday after being attacked and stabbed on Bahamas Games Boulevard.

Sometime around 11.55pm, the victims were attending an event when an argument broke out, resulting in them being attacked by a group of males. All three victims were taken to hospital. The first victim, a 16-year-old, was taken by ambulance after sustaining multiple stab wounds to his chest. The second victim, also 16, arrived in a private vehicle after receiving multiple stab wounds to his back, one of which punctured his lung. The third victim, 18, arrived by private car with a head injury caused by a blunt object. They are all currently listed in critical condition.

Death Notice For

Fredrick Johnson, 71

a resident of St. Thomas Road, Coral Lakes, Nassau, Bahamas, and formerly of Morant Bay, Acklins, died at his residence, on August 12th, 2023.

He is survived by his wife: Elder Miriam Loreen Johnson; children: Dr. Showalter Johnson, Dr. Sheniska Johnson and Minister Sherica Hamilton; 4 grandchildren; brothers: Clarence, Minister Clifford, Chef Edwin, Forrester and Wilfred Johnson Jr.; sisters: Pastor Daisymae McKenzie, Inez Johnson, Julia Colebrooke, Rosanna Moss and Margaret Pratt; nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Funeral arrangements are being fnalized and will be announced at a later date

from page one

NASSAU Airport Devlopment Company urges

ellers

arrive

much as four hours earlier as a high volume of traffic is expected.

AS a 30-day ultimatum from the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union to Bahamas Power and Light officials ends today, union president Kyle Wilson says none of their concerns were addressed.

The Tribune Limited

Lack of insurance revives BAMSI memories

THE admission that the contractor responsible when roof trusses at a school collapsed did not have a written contract or insurance is prompting a sense of déjà vu.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Works on Friday revealed that there was no contract, and no risk or liability insurance – information that apparently was not intended for public consumption, and which the government asked the press not to publish.

Quite why the public should not know such information is unclear.

Prime Minister Philip Davis meanwhile yesterday tried to explain the situation – though we’re not sure it’s any clearer for that.

He said that the contractor “had a contract”, before adding: “The question is whether it’s a written contract or an oral contract. He in fact had a contract.”

Mr Davis can certainly argue that, but it is not good practice. Now, what about insurance?

He said that “I understand the contractor decided that he would self-insure until all of the dots and I’s were crossed, which is not unacceptable”.

What does self-insure mean? Well, Mr Davis said: “You could self-insure yourself. He takes the risk, which he has done. He said the trusses has collapsed and I’ll make that good. That’s selfinsurance. That is acceptable too if the ministry deems it appropriate.”

That does not sound like insurance as much as promising to fix the problem after you have caused it. That might cover some minor incidents – but what if something even bigger had happened?

Well, it already has. Cast your minds back to January 15, 2015, when Mr Davis was Minister of Works and a blaze broke out at a dorm at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute in Andros.

The contractor in that incident did not have insurance – though it took some while for that fact to emerge, including

after Mr Davis had said there was a policy that had lapsed.

The contractor provided not a policy but a quotation for the policy.

That $2.6m structure literally went up in smoke – leaving the contractor fully liable. If he had paid an insurance premium, he would only have had to pay $23,746.65. In this new case, it was a roof that fell in and the contractor appears to have the wherewithal to remedy the situation. No one was harmed and it can be fixed. But while thankfully it was no worse, what if it had been, with no insurance in place?

What has been learned in terms of processes and procedure since that BAMSI incident to prevent a recurrence?

According to former Works Minister Desmond Bannister, lacking a formal contract or risk insurance is highly irregular and against protocol.

He said: “The technical officers –the professionals – they would never release any work to be done without everything in place. So, this had to be a political decision, and the blame has to rest straight on the politicians who are involved.”

This was not a surprise project. Work on schools is long planned out for the summer months. Everything that was needed should have been in place –or the contract should not have been awarded.

All of which prompts another question – how many other contracts are there that have been awarded without the proper documentation and insurance in place?

If another incident similar to the BAMSI fire were to occur – heaven forbid – would we be in the exact same situation?

And given how many contract awards from this government have yet to be published, how will we ever know?

This should be a cautionary tale for the government – to reduce the risk of a more substantial incident ahead.

Celebrating Perry Christie

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN THE vast tapestry of life, there are those figures who, with their vibrant threads, leave an indelible mark on the canvas of history. As we come together to celebrate the 80th birthday of our esteemed former Prime Minister, Perry Christie, we aren’t just commemorating the birth of a leader, but a legacy, a dance, and a narrative that has been deeply interwoven with the heart and soul of our nation.

To many, the name Perry Christie evokes an image of a distinguished leader, but to truly appreciate the depth of the man, one must journey back to the humble beginnings of a tenacious “Valley Boy”. This boy, who once felt the sting of expulsion from school, did not allow this chapter to define his story. Instead, he transformed each challenge into an opportunity, a step in a dance that only he could envision.

From his days as a determined athlete to the vibrant beat of Junkanoo, he lived every moment with passion, a rhythm that echoed the heartbeat of our people. This rhythm, in many ways, came to be embodied in the “Perry Shuffle”, not just a

dance, but a symbol of resilience, joy, and an undying spirit.

Having been fortunate enough to work alongside Mr Christie, I’ve been a witness to his remarkable journey. The corridors of power resonated with his laughter, the chambers echoed his wisdom, and every office wall bore witness to his favorite scriptures, reminding us that “as for man, his days are like grass.” But for Perry, this wasn’t a statement of life’s fleeting nature, but rather an invitation to make every moment count, to live each day as if it were a dance, a song, a story waiting to be told.

Mr Christie often invoked a profound African proverb: “Until the lion tells his story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” He lived this truth, not just in recounting his own journey, but in ensuring that the voices of the marginalised, the unheard, found resonance in the annals of our nation’s history. He showed us that every story, especially the one crafted against all odds, is worth telling.

From the courts of law to the halls of the senate, and then as the Prime Minister of our proud nation, Perry

IN a day of first joy, then sadness, Spain’s captain Olga Carmona scored the winning goal in the Women’s World Cup Final against England in Australia yesterday. In celebrating, she revealed a message on a T-shirt as a tribute to a friend whose mother had died. But after the victory, she also learned that her father, who had been fighting a long illness, had also died. He died on Friday.

led with an open heart. Sometimes, this immense heart led him down paths of personal detriment, but it’s this very heart that made him stand apart, that made him beloved.

Today, as we mark this significant milestone, we don’t just celebrate an individual but an inspiring journey of a boy from the valley who danced through adversities, sung through challenges, and crafted a legacy that will inspire generations. Here’s to the man whose life story reminds us all that no matter where we start, our dreams are valid, our dance is essential, and our stories, when told from the heart, have the power to change the world.

Happy 80th Birthday, Mr Perry Christie. May your dance continue to inspire, your story keep echoing through time, and your legacy be a beacon for all those searching for their rhythm in the vast tapestry of life.

With heartfelt admiration and profound respect.

LATRAE RAHMING Director of

EDITOR, The Tribune.

QUITE likely, someone is going to get mad about what I have to say here today. I wouldn’t be saying it if there wasn’t already a lot of madness all around us out there. So, the question might be ‘what am I hoping to achieve by writing this?’ Who knows? Maybe, not much. Nevertheless, by throwing this little, incy-wincy pebble of provocation, maybe it just might hit the right nerve. Instead of ignoring the plethora of madness enveloping us, perhaps a few more people will acknowledge it for what it is.

Recently, I saw a Letter to the Editor from Mrs Pam Burnside. It referred to this continuing debauchery in 2023 - 50 years after Bahamian Independence - whereby we must know better, yet refuse to do better. Madness in its classical form! Mrs Burnside commented on the largely ceremonial post of Governor General here in The Bahamas. Much like the extravagant decorations at Christmas time, there is a clear and mostly antithetical disconnect between reality and appearances.

Imagine continuing to poison the minds of our children (as well as childlike adults) with absurd notions, just because they were fed to us in the past. Just imagine Santa coming down the chimney at Government House, or even at your house. How could the madness of it all escape us in this day and age?

Before the chains were taken off our bodies and placed on our minds, we were befuddled with such crazy notions. In captivity, we had to fall for such madness, but now we can emancipate ourselves, or simply let the madness continue.

The wrongest thing one could ever do is know a lie

and think it true!

Be honest. Who out there (meaning any person capable of feeding themself) believes that the good King Charles III knows Mrs Cynthia Pratt? Who among us believes that he would be able to identify her among a group of Bahamian women? Who believes that she was actually selected and will be appointed by the King?

Flip the coin. Is the Member of Parliament for Cat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador - in the Office Of The Prime Minister - actually pulling the strings in this puppet show? Shall we consider that a centuriesold sleight of hand system is now guiding a sleight of minds? Madness by any other name might just keep the natives in a state of blissful ignorance/stupidity - ignorance being the state of not knowing better; stupidity being the state of knowing better, but doing it anyway.

What can I say! When we act like dummies, why not treat us like dummies!?

Turning the page from our refusing to let go of our colonial trappings, there is so much other madness to consider. From the trite and trivial to the downright preposterous, there’s enough to get our fill, and go back for seconds. No need for finger-pointing because the ping-ponging back and forth of the political blame game refuses to even pause.

Our current electrical problems seem to only increase with our bills, as no light is being shed on any imminent solutions.

Factor that in with talks of the redevelopment of Bay Street. What madness is it that could cause considerations of expanding

utilities - electrical and/ or communications - when maintaining the little we do have is blatantly unmanageable? Madness, I believe, comes in all sizes, shapes, and fashions. Go figure!

A recent online graphics showed the nations of the world and their standings with respect to crime statistics. Our little Bahamas was right up there in the rankings. Swimming so long in our sea of madness, is it possible that we are oblivious to all the madness surging all around us?

When you check out the news tomorrow, will you get mad at the latest selection of madness which the media covers? Still, all is not lost. If you open your eyes wide enough, look in the right direction, maybe, just maybe, you would see a glimmer of hope out there... somewhere.

Unless and until we acknowledge our real problems, as well as muster the will to confront and correct them, there is no way that all the madness around us will dissipate.

Who can deny that we are a nation in need of collective rehabilitation. It’s said that learning new habits is way easier than getting rid of old, bad habits. Perhaps, we can try both - like walking and chewing gum. It’s worth a try.

That’s some of what I had to say. You can get mad at me for saying it if you want to. Otherwise, you can get mad as hell at those causing the problems, or those who are supposed to be fixing the problems.

Get mad as hell if you want to. But, unless and until that madness of yours comes up with some meaningful remedies soon, we might all be mad as hell, on our way to hell.

Photo: Mark Baker/AP

Mitchell says he does not agree with The Bahamas becoming a ‘cashless society’

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs Min-

ister Fred Mitchell said Friday he does not agree with the country being a “cashless society.”

“I get floods of emails and voice notes every day about the banking sector that demand that we become a cashless society,” Mr Mitchell said in a voice note.

“This is done despite the Prime Minister and other ministers, including this one, who’ve said over again and made a claim we do not agree with a cashless society. Nor forcing people to use the Customs App, nor consigning our folk in the Family Islands to the Sand Dollar.”

A cashless society is one where physical money such as cash and coins are not accepted for financial transactions, but rather all transactions are digital.

Mr Mitchell said there is a “relentless march” by businesses to have a

cashless society.

“Everywhere you go, including governmentowned entities, there is this relentless march to a cashless society. Even though given the Central Bank Act it is almost certainly unlawful since Bahamian currency is supposed to be good for all lawful debts. The public is again entitled to ask the question if the tail is wagging the dog,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mitchell said there are other issues to address before considering whether the country should be a cashless society.

“Take the issue of the telephone and data services in the country they are manifestly unreliable. This in the same society that folks want us to go cashless. The folk in Mangrove Cay complained that their BTC service has been down for three weeks, complained to BTC, complained to URCA, the MP complained, nothing happened.”

RCI TO HOST WORKSHOP FOR INTERESTED VENDORS

ROYAL Caribbean International is to host a workshop on August 29 for prospective vendors, artisans, and suppliers for its proposed development on Paradise Island.

The two-hour morning event will be the first in a series as the resort seeks to open in late 2025.

“Although the opening of the Royal Beach Club is more than a year away and we are continuing with the ongoing review process as legislated, we are committed to opening a dialogue with individuals and businesses to develop an immersive Bahamian experience for our guests,” said Royal Beach Club president Philip Simon. “By going in early, it also gives us a chance to see if there are businesses that would be well-suited but may need time to scale up.”

This first workshop is geared toward food and beverage, retail and artisans and follow-up sessions will be dedicated to different categories.

“The Royal Beach Club

may be the largest single opportunity ever presented for Bahamians from every walk of life and every type of business, to play a role in and benefit from a major tourism experience,” said Mr Simon, who is also general manager of Royal Caribbean business in The Bahamas.

“We will need to fill everything from frontof-house services like food and beverage to the behind-the-scenes operations from trucking goods from a warehouse to a staging space, insurance, fire protection, security. We have to identify who ferries goods, as well as guests and staff, back and forth to the island which is only accessible by boat,” said Simon.

“There are probably hundreds of needs and services to be supplied that must be filled from providing fuel for the ferries to mass laundry services, including towels for up to 2,750 guests daily.”

For details and to register, visit RoyalBeachClubatParadiseIsland.com.

FOREIGN A FFAIR S M INI ST ER F RE D M I TCH E LL

ROYAL Caribbean International is to host a workshop on August 29 for prospective vendors, artisans, and suppliers for its proposed development on Paradise Island.

Indepedent, but entangled in protocols

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

THOUGH it may not attract the attention of the men’s version of the game, the Women’s World Cup has been held over the past few weeks – with Spain beating England in the final yesterday.

One sideshow from that final was an online debate about whether or not Prince William should have attended the final.

The Queen of Spain, Queen Letizia, was present at the final in a crowd of 75,784 in Australia, but Prince William was nowhere to be seen. His absence was all the more marked because he is the president of the English Football Association and while the online shouters and complainers ranted about why he should have been there, the absence might in part be down to the strange way in which protocol tangles things up, even here at home in The Bahamas. Sometimes especially so here.

The new King, Charles III, has yet to be invited to Australia for a visit – which has a knock-on effect in

protocol terms.

The suggestion is that the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who has said he is open to a visit by the King, actually prefers the idea of a republic, and is in no rush to invite the monarch.

The knock-on effect from that is that other members of the Royal Family cannot go on a state visit under protocol until the king has been first. It would, apparently, be inappropriate for them to do so as the king has to lead the way.

If that sounds like a nonsense way of doing things, well, note the words “state visit” in there. Prince William could still go as a representative of the FA, but it appears that while the royal could do that, he perhaps does not want to be seen to be overstepping his mark anyway. And so he sat, halfway around the world, while Spain performed in front of their Queen. He may well have wanted to be there, but the do’s and don’ts of protocol are not so easily navigated.

So how does this affect us? Well, we have our own little entanglement with

protocol in recent times.

“Mother” Pratt has been chosen to become the next governor general of our country, a post that is a legacy of our pre-independence times and a lingering attachment to that same monarchy.

All kinds of protocol surrounds that kind of announcement, too.

The departing governor general, Cornelius Smith, had to start off his tenure with a public apology for the premature announcement of his appointment when he broke the news to staff at a farewell lunch at the Passport Office in Grand Bahama.

At the time in 2019, he said: “I wish to assure the Bahamian people that this was a private discussion that was never intended to be made public.”

The public part of that came about when a video of his comments was made on a phone and shared on social media.

Then Opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis said he was “shocked out of my socks” to see the statement, adding: “This is a violation in my view of all protocols.

These announcements must come from the Queen and normally do not come until the Queen has agreed that the now governor general should demit office. This is another example of the loosening of standards under the FNM.”

For “Mother” Pratt’s announcement, it seems some were sailing close to the wind over those protocols, judging by The Tribune headline ahead of the announcement pronouncing that she was the favoured candidate to fill the role before Mr Smith’s departure was announced. But then among many I talk to it has been an open secret seemingly that Pratt was destined for the role –the only question was when the change would be made.

The nonsense of the protocol here too is that we go through a pantomime of Mr Davis recommending that Pratt should be appointed, with the King then carrying out the appointment.

We have an elected leader of the nation, but we still cannot appoint directly the occupant of the role of governor general, which while being a

largely ceremonial position, still is considered the highest office.

Why we allow ourselves to be tied up in all this red tape of procedure instead of cutting through it like a Gordian knot is beyond me. We live in legacies of years gone by that apply to centuries-old routines rather than the society of today.

And where we have changed things, we have replicated the routines of yesterday – such as with our own honours system, which runs in tandem with honours handed out by the monarch. They come complete with titles before the name so we have right honourable this and most honourable that and the rate some of these honours are being given out, sooner or later we’ll all have one.

Given how much time we have spent lauding our 50th anniversary of independence, it seems a bit surreal to now be turning to the inevitable pomp and ceremony that will go with the appointment of someone to a role that points a big arrow to our ongoing connection with those we say

we are independent from. You will note none of this is about Mother Pratt herself, this is about the procedure that surrounds the post.

And so it is only fair to say a note about the incoming governor general herself. I am sure she will be excellent in the role. She seems to be broadly loved – though I note an online Tribune poll only showed a slim margin of people in favour of her appointment. I hope that is dissatisfaction with the role rather than the person, as I suspect she is probably one of the best candidates to take up the post in our history.

A former Deputy Prime Minister, even acting Prime Minister, and with the common touch that makes her a shining light in her community – she is the perfect choice.

I wish her well – and my frustrations lie not with her, but with this hidebound system we live in, where we cater to the whims of a structure we chose to break away from, yet still remain attached. And yet we shall bow and curtsey, and remain entangled in rules.

Haiti: a peaceful multinational approach, not a warlike force

HAITI needs “to get its political and governance act together”. That is among the important messages that UN Secretary General, António Guterres, delivered to the UN Security Council in a letter on August 14, 2023.

Guterres’ letter was a response to the Security Council’s request for proposals to tackle the security and humanitarian crises in Haiti.

While the Secretary General repeats his call made to the Security Council in July 2023 “to authorise the immediate deployment of a robust international security force” to help Haiti’s police fight criminal gangs, the significance of this latest letter is the importance of settling the vexed issue of the country’s governance.

Guterres emphasized that “Without a meaningful reform of the political system, Haiti will continue to face these cycles of crises and instability emanating from weak political representation and disenfranchisement, a political climate, and fragile and politicized state institutions”.

Failed and corrupt governance has been at the root of Haiti’s poverty, economic backwardness, and inadequate physical and social infrastructure.

From these circumstances gangs were formed, first as tools of rival politicians and business oligarchs, and then as a force to take advantage of a situation of totally collapsed governance structures and systems.

Haiti has no legislature; its Court system is utterly dysfunctional; and many of Haiti’s political parties and civil society organizations have declared no confidence in the self-appointed government of Haiti which

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

has shown no inclination to establish a transitional government that genuinely shares power and represents a broad cross section of the society.

The situation in Haiti is dire, and the people of Haiti deserve to be liberated from the persistent deprivation and suffering that they are forced to endure. But the proposed “deployment of a specialized multinational force enabled by military assets, coordinated with the national police”, should be at the request of an agreed transitional government if it is to enjoy popular backing.

As the organization, Human Rights Watch, observed: “The Haitian government has failed to protect people from the violence of these criminal groups, many of which have alleged ties with senior political officials, economic actors, and police officers.

International security support may be required, but it will most likely only be effective with a new transitional government and as part of a multi-faceted response with strong human rights safeguards”.

Such a transitional government is necessary, bearing in mind that many Haitian organizations believe that any successful external force would end up, intentionally or otherwise, maintaining the present unelected government of Dr. Ariel Henry.

If success means getting rid of gangs by “active use of force in targeted police operations against heavily armed gangs”, as Secretary General Guterres described it, then what is really meant is war against the gangs that are now entrenched throughout Haiti.

Such a war would not result in casualties only among gang leaders and members. It would also include fatalities among communities, which are used as protective shields in any resistance to “active use of force”. The deaths of combatants from any multinational force could also be considerable.

The governments of the Bahamas and Jamaica have understandably offered to join an external force. Both countries face challenges from Haitians seeking refuge, leading to substantial expenditures on border protection, repatriation efforts, and containment. This direct impact underscores their vested interest in Haiti’s stabilization.

The governments of Canada and the United States, arguably having a similar vested interest, have yet to express intentions to contribute police or soldiers. Instead, they encourage countries in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean to do so, providing logistical support and finance for operations.

Apart from The Bahamas and Jamaica, no government has made a formal decision to commit troops.

Even Kenya is awaiting a study before declaring its position.

To some extent, reluctance stems from the fact that this would not be a “peace keeping force”, operating with a mandate from the UN Security Council. Instead, it would be force made up from willing countries, undertaking the “recapture of areas under gang control”.

Such a mission is easier said than done. The gangs were already well armed, violent and accustomed to confrontation and killing before the much-publicized discussions, concerning the deployment of a multinational force. Some of the gangs are linked to organized criminal enterprises and they would have been fortified with more powerful weaponry than they already possessed.

Guterres pointed out to the Security Council that the “gangs have become more structured, federated and autonomous [-] consolidating control over the population”. The gangs also have a vested interest in preserving themselves and the criminal activity from which they derive money and power; they will not

slink away with their tails between their legs. They will fight, viciously.

The argument has been advanced that, integral to stability in Haiti, are general elections at which voters will elect the president of the country and representatives to the legislature and municipalities.

The argument continues that to mount such elections requires Haiti to be secure. Therefore, getting rid of the gangs and establishing a functional police force are compulsory.

But even if a multinational force is constructed and it entered Haiti at the request of the unelected Prime Minister, Dr Ariel Henry, eliminating gangs after a bloody confrontation, the fundamental issue of Haiti’s governance would remain.

Elections, organised only by Dr Henry’s government, would not satisfy anyother than his own political party - that such elections would be organized, administered and conducted to produce free and fair results, particularly if they come after a period of violent conflict. The existing disaffection and hostility would explode into protests

and demonstrations.

Given all this, Haiti might now best be served by a multinational team of negotiators and facilitators made up of persons from countries with leverage and others that enjoy goodwill of Haitian players. Such a team could work with the various parties in Haiti to establish a transitional government that would have the authority to interface with, and make credible requests of, the international community, including for clearly defined police assistance.

The team might also begin to explore with the main gang leaders the terms of dismantling their organisations and laying down their weapons with the aim of preventing widespread violence and bloodshed.

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

RESIDENTS flee their homes to escape clashes between armed gangs in the Carrefour-Feuilles district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday.

Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP

The heroic effort to save Florida’s coral reef from extreme ocean heat as corals bleach across the Caribbean

ARMED with scrub brushes, young scuba divers took to the waters of Florida’s Alligator Reef in late July to try to help corals struggling to survive 2023’s extraordinary marine heat wave. They carefully scraped away harmful algae and predators impinging on staghorn fragments, under the supervision and training of interns from Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education, or I.CARE

Normally, I.CARE’s volunteer divers would be transplanting corals to waters off the Florida Keys this time of year, as part of a national effort to restore the Florida Reef. But this year, everything is going in reverse.

As water temperatures spiked in the Florida Keys, scientists from universities, coral reef restoration groups and government agencies launched a heroic effort to save the corals. Divers have been in the water every day, collecting thousands of corals from ocean nurseries along the Florida Keys reef tract and moving them to cooler water and into giant tanks on land.

Marine scientist Ken Nedimyer and his team at Reef Renewal USA moved an entire coral tree nursery from shallow waters off Tavernier to an area 60 feet deep and 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 Celsius) cooler. Even there, temperatures were running about 85 to 86F (30 C). Their efforts are part of an emergency response on a scale never before seen in Florida.

The Florida Reef – a

nearly 350-mile arc along the Florida Keys that is crucial to fish habitat, coastal storm protection and the local economy – began experiencing record-hot ocean temperatures in June 2023, weeks earlier than expected. The continuing heat has triggered widespread coral bleaching off Florida in particular, but also beyond. By mid-August, coral bleaching had been reported in The Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia, as well as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. This is particularly devastating because some of the healthiest remaining coral reefs are in the southern Caribbean. Scientists worry they may be seeing the sixth mass bleaching of Caribbean corals since 1995 and the third within the past 12 years, and the heat is likely to continue. While corals can recover from mass bleaching events, long periods of high

heat can leave them weak and vulnerable to disease that can ultimately kill them.

That’s what scientists and volunteers have been scrambling to avoid.

The heartbeat of the reef

The Florida Reef has struggled for years under the pressure of overfishing, disease, storms and global warming that have decimated its live corals.

A massive coral restoration effort – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Mission: Iconic Reef – has been underway since 2019 to restore the reef with transplanted corals, particularly those most resilient to the rising temperatures. But even the hardiest coral transplants are now at risk.

Reef-building corals are the foundation species of shallow tropical waters due to their unique symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae in their tissues.

During the day, these algae photosynthesize,

producing both food and oxygen for the coral animal. At night, coral polyps feed on plankton, providing nutrients for their algae. The result of this symbiotic relationship is the coral’s ability to build a calcium carbonate skeleton and reefs that support nearly 25% of all marine life.

Unfortunately, corals are very temperature sensitive, and the extreme ocean heat off South Florida, with some reef areas reaching temperatures in the 90s, has put them under extraordinary stress.

When corals get too hot, they expel their symbiotic algae. The corals appear white – bleached – because their carbonate skeleton shows through their clear tissue that lack any colorful algal cells.

Corals can recover new algal symbionts if water conditions return to normal within a few weeks. However, the increase in global temperatures due to the effects of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities is causing longer and more frequent periods of coral bleaching worldwide, leading to concerns for the future of coral reefs.

A MASH unit for corals

This year, the Florida Keys reached an alert level 2, indicating extreme risk of bleaching, about six weeks earlier than normal.

The early warnings and forecasts from NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch Network gave scientists time to begin preparing labs and equipment, track the locations and intensity of the growing marine heat

and, importantly, recruit volunteers.

At the Keys Marine Laboratory, scientists and trained volunteers have dropped off thousands of coral fragments collected from heat-threatened offshore nurseries. Director Cindy Lewis described the lab’s giant tanks as looking like “a MASH unit for corals”.

Volunteers there and at other labs across Florida will hand-feed the tiny creatures to keep them alive until the Florida waters cool again and they can be returned to the ocean and eventually transplanted onto the reef.

Protecting corals still in the ocean

I.CARE launched another type of emergency response.

I.CARE co-founder Kylie Smith, a coral reef ecologist and a former student of mine in marine sciences, discovered a few years ago that coral transplants with large amounts of fleshy algae around them were more likely to bleach during times of elevated temperature. Removing that algae may give corals a better chance of survival.

Smith’s group typically works with local dive operators to train recreational divers to assist in transplanting and maintaining coral fragments in an effort to restore the reefs of Islamorada. In summer 2023, I.CARE has been training volunteers, like the young divers from Diving with a Purpose, to remove algae and coral predators, such as coral-eating snails and fireworms, to help

boost the corals’ chances of survival.

Monitoring for corals at risk

To help spot corals in trouble, volunteer divers are also being trained as reef observers through Mote Marine Lab’s BleachWatch program.

Scuba divers have long been attracted to the reefs of the Florida Keys for their beauty and accessibility. The lab is training them to recognize bleached, diseased and dead corals of different species and then use an online portal to submit bleach reports across the entire Florida Reef.

The more eyes on the reef, the more accurate the maps showing the areas of greatest bleaching concern.

Rebuilding the reef

While the marine heat wave in the Keys will inevitably kill some corals, many more will survive.

Through careful analysis of the species, genotypes and reef locations experiencing bleaching, scientists and practitioners are learning valuable information as they work to protect and rebuild a more resilient coral reef for the future.

That is what gives hope to Smith, Lewis, Nedimyer and hundreds of others who believe this coral reef is worth saving. Volunteers are crucial to the effort, whether they’re helping with coral reef maintenance, reporting bleaching or raising the awareness of what is at stake if humanity fails to stop warming the planet.

A BLEACHED mound of coral at the Cheeca Rocks monitoring site in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary that had been previously tagged shows the coral skeleton.

To never walk alone

BRENDA slowly got out of bed. Her clothes were soaked in sweat; her legs shook uncontrollably. And with her lower back pulsating, like hammers beating on a goatskin drum, she stumbled to the kitchen to get the next glass of water so she could swallow the anti-inflammatory by her bedside. It would be the sixth attempt in less than 24 hours to reduce the inflammation that was now dominating her life. She’d been dealing with this condition on and off for years, but never like this. It felt as if a demon were trying to cut its way out of her back using a butter knife. The most debilitating time of day was now when she was trying to sleep. Lying awake in agony and counting seconds to the sun’s birth, gravity placed volcanic pressure on the palpable lesion near her lower back. No sleep position was bereft of pain. So, she continually but guardedly switched from one side to the next with no relief in sight, as she painfully wept in silence.

In her early 20s, my patient Brenda (an alias) developed a painful mass on the inside of her cheek after having her wisdom tooth removed. This tooth (the third molar at the back of her jaw) had become impacted over a period of time and was now infected. Her oral surgeon anesthetized the area and made a small incision into the gum.

Despite copiously deadening the region, it felt like the needle was piercing her jaw. The pain became so intense and violent that Brenda had to physically lock her hands onto the white dental chair to stop herself from screaming, jumping and fleeing the exam room. Fortunately, relief was immediate and other than some mild pressure experienced as the tooth was being extracted, she felt okay. Once finished, the incision site was coapted using dissolvable stitches and Brenda prayed, hopeful that the worst of her problems were behind her.

But, within a week of her procedure, a purulentfilled mass emerged near the extraction site. It doubled in size within 24 hours and tripled in less than one and a half days since she first noticed it. The pain was worse than before her wisdom tooth was removed. Brenda returned to her surgeon, afraid that she’d done something wrong to cause her current predicament. He reassured her that this was common and lanced the area with a surgical blade. The ball of purulence that had formed inside was drained then flushed with

water before packing the area. She was started on an antiseptic mouthwash and oral antibiotics but before it could fully heal, a new mass emerged.

Over the course of several months, Brenda saw four different doctors, each more disappointing than the last, until she was referred to a plastic surgeon. Under general anesthesia, he performed a surgical incision and drainage within an operating theatre at a public hospital. She recovered without incident and never had the mass in her cheek again. She and her husband paid for the procedure out-of-pocket but the expense was worth it to finally be pain free.

A decade later, however, after the birth of her daughter, Brenda noticed a similar mass underneath her right armpit. It looked similar to her previous abscess but this time, it was larger than the one in her mouth and even more painful. Without insurance, she couldn’t afford to return to the plastic surgeon so she went to a general physician who tried lancing the area and packing it but with little success. Brenda went to a more experienced general

By DR KENNETH D KEMP

practitioner after that but the results were the same. Refusing to wait months for any notable relief, she and her husband used the last of their savings to return to the plastic surgeon who’d helped her in the past.

Brenda felt relieved when the mass finally healed under his care but her relief was short-lived when within the year, a new mass emerged. This time, it was between her breast and then another below her left arm. With no expendable funds to have it treated privately each time, Brenda had them treated at a public clinic so routinely that the staff knew her by name. After having it lanced and packed, it would resolve quickly with a strong fiveday antibiotic regimen. But that antibiotic was expensive so she’d often opt to have a generic version prescribed instead. That antibiotic was unfortunately noticeably less effective and she’d have to be on it for over a month causing diarrhea and stomach aches.

As soon as the funds became available, Brenda made an appointment to see her plastic surgeon and for the first time she was given a diagnosis for her condition. She was suffering with Hidradentis suppurativa and it was likely stemming from a hormonal imbalance that she developed after giving birth. She was advised to discontinue taking birth control pills. She also had to stop shaving, wearing wired bras and using deodorant and she had to start taking a low dose of antibiotics periodically to prevent flare ups. He also discussed the benefits and risks associated with undergoing corrective surgery but he stressed that the procedure was inherently difficult and fraught with complications so Brenda and her husband opted against it.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic and painful skin condition that often occurs near the groin, armpits, breasts and buttocks in one out of 100 people, mostly women. The etiology is unknown but it has been linked to smoking, obesity and Crohn’s disease. Brenda had none of those risk factors and her health

in general was great with no past medical or surgical history, no history of allergies or alcohol consumption. The condition forms when hair follicles become blocked and it is not associated with poor hygiene. It is a lifelong and recurring medical condition for which there is no cure.

To better manage her symptoms, Brenda has used antiseptic soaps and various types of deodorants with varying levels of success and for the most part has learned to live with her condition. But then there are times, like recently when her flare-up was so crippling, she has been left begging for something to change.

In its most recent manifestation, where our story started, Brenda had an abscess form on her lower back near her tailbone and it eventually grew to the size of a golf ball. Barely able to walk without eliciting intense, paralyzing pain, Brenda struggled to sit, drive or lay down and was in constant pain. She endured the pain for one week and saved enough money to purchase the strong five-day antibiotic that usually helped. To her eternal dismay, it was out of stock across the island so she remained on the generic antibiotic until she began to vomit uncontrollably.

Afraid that the infection was spreading throughout her daughter’s body, Brenda’s mother took action. A strong believer in the healing power of bush medicine, she applied a special leaf heated over a flame with butter. By morning, the abscess had erupted and her pain began to dissipate solidifying an age-old certainty – no matter the age, life is infinitely better, even sometimes easier, when a loving parent is nearby to guide you.

When asked what her take home message for readers is, Brenda answered that despite her decades-long struggle with this painful and rare condition, she finds it hard to ask for help. By nature, she has a mother’s self-less spirit and loves helping others, but rarely accepts help for herself. Yet, she encourages others to seek

treatment early because she realizes that it yields better outcomes. Brenda also emphasised that on the days she struggled to lift her arms, her legs felt stronger. When she struggled to sit, her feet carried her forward and through it all, she’s never had to walk alone because God and her family, her church community and friends have always been at her side. For that she’s grateful and hopes others can find the strength to persevere whatever trials they’ve been tasked to endure.

There’s a line in the children’s classic ‘Adventures of Winnie the Pooh’ written by AA Milne where Pooh asked Piglet what day it was, only to be told that it was ‘today’. Pooh then responded in glee that today was ‘his favorite day’. Even as a child that exchange always resonated with me but I’ve only really begun to appreciate the value of embracing every day as an adult and more specifically as a physician.

Despite dealing with pain or painful conditions daily and integrating science and experience into every case, the reality is that we can never feel exactly what the patient feels. We’re on the outside looking in and at times it’s heart-wrenching. We will never know what someone is going through just by looking at them and many people like Brenda suffer in silence for longer than necessary. Those who make it through to the other side of their pain often have a community to help carry them when they can’t walk on their own any longer. May we all pray for others who may not be so lucky.

This is The KDK Report of Podiatry’, Dr Kenneth D Kemp is the founder and medical director of Bahamas Foot and Ankle located in Caves Village, Western New Providence. He served as the deputy chairman for the Health Council for five years and he currently sits on the board of directors for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation in his role as co-vice-chairman.

When she struggled to sit, her feet carried her forward and through it all, she’s never had to walk alone because God and her family, her church community and friends have always been at her side.

Jesus March continues in spite of bad weather

A MARCH titled the Jesus March took place on Saturday morning.

Despite rain, thunder and lightning, the event attracted a large gathering, organised by IOT (It’s Our Turn), a non-profit group created by young people.

Organisers thanked all those who took part or offered support, especially Churchboy Production Studio, DJ Godson, Carl Nottage and his sons,

Pastor Rex Major, and the pastoral car board of Grace Community Church.

In a post shared via social media, organisers said: “This is when we take back our nation to proclaim the name of Jesus in our land.

“We thank you! We love you! And most importantly, God was pleased to see His children worship Him! Not in sunlight, but through the rain.”

As thousands flee wildfires across British

Columbia, chiefs in one region report progress

VANCOUVER

Associated Press

AS TENS of thousands of people were under evacuation orders across British Columbia and firefighters battled raging wildfires throughout Canada on Sunday, fire chiefs in a region known as a summer destination for families said they’ve made some progress in the struggle.

There’s “finally a bit of a glimmer of hope,” West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Broland told a news conference of the progress being made in the Lake Okanagan region of southern British Columbia, an area of picturesque resort towns surrounded by mountains.

“The weather has allowed us to make progress,” he said, adding that crews were able to conduct more traditional firefighting techniques such as putting out hot spots.

If “conditions hold as they are,” he said, fire crews will start to see “real progress being made in a measurable way. And that finally is a bit of a glimmer of hope for us.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of fires continued to rage across British Columbia and 35,000 people were under evacuation orders Sunday.

“It is still very much dynamic,” said Jerrad Schroeder, a British Columbia Wildfire Service chief.

There’s still portions of this fire that we just have not prioritised.”

The provincial government has issued a state of emergency and urged people not to travel for non-essential reasons to the central interior and southeast portions of the province due to “significant” wildfire activity.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the approval of British Columbia’s request for federal assistance and said the government was deploying assets from the Canadian Armed Forces to assist in evacuations. “We’ll continue to be here with whatever support is needed,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Canada has seen a record number of wildfires this year that have caused choking smoke in parts of the US All told, there have been more than 5,700 fires, which have burned more than 137,000 square kilometres (53,000 square miles) from one end of Canada to the other, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. There are still more than 1,000 active fires in the country, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Inc.

Meanwhile, firefighters also worked Sunday to keep blazes at bay near the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, where forecasters warned that drier and windier weather was coming.

The break that firefighters defending Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories

capital, got from milder weather and a small amount of rain was expected to end, as temperatures were forecast to climb higher.

Officials had managed to keep the flames from advancing closer than 15 kilometres (nine miles) to Yellowknife, left virtually empty when nearly all of its 20,000 residents fled for safety.

That blaze is one of 237 wildfires burning in the Northwest Territories.

In a Facebook post, Yellowknife officials said they were working with 20 contractors and 75 volunteers to establish wildfire defence lines around the city, such as fire breaks, water sprinklers and cannons, and aircraft dropping fire retardant. A protective line of 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) has been established.

“We are not out of the woods yet as many factors can change the status of a fire quickly,” the post said.

Despite the advances made by firefighters in the Lake Okanagan region, which includes Kelowna, a city of 150,000 people about 90 miles (150 kilometres) north of the US border, fire chief Broland conceded that “some may be coming back to nothing” when evacuees are allowed to return.

Some of you have lost your homes. There’s no question about that,” he said. “There are lots of backyards where the fire has come right to your patio furniture. And it’s been stopped there because of

the work of the 500 people that are on the ground fighting. “

Among those who fled as flames threatened their homes was Todd Ramsay. He recalled sitting on his deck in Kelowna’s North Clifton area watching the fire rage on the other side of Lake Okanagan, about 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) away. He didn’t think it would be possible for the flames to jump the lake, but they did.

Sure enough, it started raining pine cones and tree bark,” he said. A fire quickly started behind his house and there were “huge plumes of smoke just carrying embers across the lake.”

Ramsay said he turned on a water sprinkler and he and his family packed up to flee Thursday night as trees were burning, wondering if they’d see their home again.

By Saturday, Ramsay, his wife, two children, two cats and a dog had driven to North Vancouver to stay with his sister.

Ramsay heard his house had not burned but didn’t

know for sure.

“There’s definitely some anxiety around it. Where we’re going to stay, what we’re going to do when we get back, if it’s not there,” he said. “I’m an artist. I have a lot of my paints there. The more important thing obviously is all of us are safe. But we’ve worked hard our whole lives to have this home.”

US, JAPAN AND AUS TRALIA PLAN JOINT NAVY DRILL S IN DISPU TED SOU TH CHINA SEA

MANILA Associated Press

THE United States, Japan and Australia are planning a joint navy drill in the South China Sea off the western Philippines this week to underscore their commitment to the rule of law in the region after a recent show of Chinese aggression in the disputed waters, Filipino security officials said Sunday.

On Aug. 5, Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons against Philippine vessels in the contested waterway where disputes have long been regarded as a potential flashpoint and have become a fault line in the rivalry between the US and China in the region.

The drill will include three aircraft and helicopter carriers sailing together in a show of force and undertaking joint drills. Their commanders are set to meet with Filipino counterparts in Manila after the offshore drills, two Philippine security officials told The Associated Press.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to publicly discuss details of the planned drills.

The US plans to deploy an aircraft carrier, the USS America, while Japan would send one of its biggest warships, the helicopter carrier JS Izumo. The Royal Australian Navy would send its HMAS Canberra, which also carries helicopters, one of the two officials said, adding that the joint drill was planned a few months ago.

The Philippines would not be part of this week’s drills due to military logistical limitations but is open to becoming a participant in the future, the official said.

The United States, Japan and Australia were among several countries that immediately expressed support for

the Philippines and concern over the Chinese action following the tense stand-off earlier this month.

Philippine officials said six Chinese coast guard ships and two militia vessels blocked two Philippine navy-chartered civilian boats taking supplies to the Philippine forces stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal. One supply boat was hit with a powerful water cannon by the Chinese coast guard while the other managed to deliver food, water, fuel and other supplies to the Filipino forces guarding the shoal, the Philippine military said.

The Chinese coast guard acknowledged its ships used water cannons against the Philippine vessels, which it said strayed without permission into the shoal, which Beijing calls Ren’ai Jiao.

“In order to avoid direct blocking and collisions when repeated warnings were ineffective, water cannons were used as a warning. The on-site operation was professional and restrained, which is beyond reproach,” the Chinese coast guard said. “China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty.”

The Philippine military said on Saturday that it would again attempt to deliver basic supplies to its forces in the Second Thomas Shoal, but didn’t provide further details.

The mission “to the shoal is a clear demonstration of our resolve to stand up against threats and coercion and our commitment in upholding the rule of law,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement.

Following the incident, Washington renewed a warning that it is obliged to defend its longtime treaty ally if Philippine public vessels and forces come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

THE MCDOUGALL Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, B.C., on Friday.

Photo: Darryl Dyck/AP

THE UNITED STATES, Japan and Australia are planning a joint navy drill in the South China Sea off the western Philippines this week to underscore their commitment to the rule of law in the region after a recent show of Chinese aggression in the disputed waters, Filipino security officials said yesterday.

Photo: Aaron Favila/AP

Jazz, Marlins snap Dodgers’ 11-game winning streak

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Jorge Soler hit two of the Marlins’ season-high five homers off Tony Gonsolin, and Miami snapped the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 11-game winning streak with an 11-3 victory Friday night.

Jake Burger hit a threerun homer and Jacob Stallings added a two-run shot while the Marlins scored six runs on three homers in the third.

Jazz Chisholm Jr’s threerun shot in the fourth finally chased Gonsolin (8-5), who gave up a career-worst 10 runs while getting only 10 outs.

“An 11-game winning streak can be broken any day,” Chisholm Jr said. “We had an 11-game winning streak, and it got broken. We just came in with the mentality we were going to bust their stuff.”

Mookie Betts set a franchise record with his 11th leadoff homer of the season for the NL Westleading Dodgers, who lost for only the second time in 17 games in August. Max Muncy and James Outman also homered in a two-team power surge that surprised Miami manager Skip Schumaker, a Southern California native who got to know the park even better while playing for the Dodgers in 2013.

“We were hitting the ball

hard, and they were hitting the ball hard,” Schumaker said. “Tonight from both sides, the ball was carrying. It was a different night (at Dodger Stadium).”

Los Angeles couldn’t overcome a calamitous start by its 2022 All-Star right-hander. Gonsolin tied Don Sutton’s 1973 record for homers allowed in a start during the Dodgers’ Los Angeles era.

Gonsolin had never given up more than two homers in a start, but he flopped when the Dodgers desperately needed him to eat innings in the first of three games between these clubs in just over 24 hours.

With Hurricane Hilary expected to reach Southern California in some form Sunday, MLB moved both weekend games to Saturday for a split doubleheader. Gonsolin’s struggles forced the Dodgers to get deep into their bullpen — even to infielder Miguel Rojas, who pitched a perfect ninth.

“I thought the ball was coming out pretty good today,” Gonsolin said. “I thought I threw some excellent pitches. Thought I executed some pitches that got hit really hard. Overall, just a tough day.”

After the game, Gonsolin finally acknowledged he has been pitching through some sort of elbow injury that might require him to take a break from the rotation.

Manager Dave Roberts has hinted for weeks about a problem for Gonsolin, who missed 40 games late last season with forearm tightness.

“I can’t explain it right now,” Gonsolin said.

“I don’t know what it is exactly, so I try not to.”

Sandy Alcántara (6-4) yielded three solo homers while pitching six innings of seven-hit ball for the Marlins, who opened a

six-game West Coast trip with their first five-homer game since 2012. “I got a surprise today from my offense,” Alcántara said.

“That was really good.” Soler drove Gonsolin’s second pitch of the night into the right field stands. He added a 441-foot shot leading off the third inning, giving him 32 homers in his most prolific power season since he hit 48 for Kansas City in 2019. Three batters

WEST HAM BEATS CHELSEA

3-1 IN PREMIER LEAGUE

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer

LONDON (AP) — James Ward-Prowse had two assists on his West Ham debut to help his new team beat Chelsea 3-1 in the Premier League yesterday despite playing with 10 men for 30 minutes, leaving Mauricio Pochettino still looking for a first win as Blues manager.

Ward-Prowse set up the first two West Ham goals to upstage Moises Caicedo, who gave away a clumsy penalty for the third goal in injury time after coming on as a second-half substitute for his first Chelsea appearance since his record-breaking $146 million move from Brighton.

later, Burger crushed a bad slider from Gonsolin for his 27th homer of the season and his second since joining Miami.

The Dodgers pulled Betts and Freddie Freeman from the game before the fifth inning, resting their top two hitters for the long Saturday ahead.

Joey Wendle got an RBI triple in the fifth when Chris Taylor badly misread his long drive to left.

MATCHDAY: ARSENAL VISITS PALACE, SEVILLA TRAVELS TO ALAVES, AC MILAN OPENS SEASON AT BOLOGNA

A LOOK at what’s happening in European soccer today:

ENGLAND

Arsenal heads to London rival Crystal Palace for a game between two teams looking for a second straight Premier League victory to start the season. Arsenal has to do without Jurrien Timber, who sustained a long-term knee injury in the season opener, while goalkeeper David Raya is expected to be on the bench after his move

from Brentford. Palace manager Roy Hodgson is pleased to still have Michael Olise in his squad after the winger turned down the chance to join Chelsea and signed a new four-year deal at Selhurst Park.

SPAIN

Sevilla looks to rebound from its loss to Manchester City in the UEFA Super Cup final when it visits Alaves in the Spanish league. Both Sevilla and Alaves opened with

defeats last weekend — Sevilla at home against Valencia and Alaves at Cadiz. Alaves, back in thae first division after a year in the second tier, is winless against Sevilla in its last nine league matches against the rival. Sevilla hasn’t won in its last five league games going back to last season, with two draws and three losses. Granada looks to bounce back from its opening loss at Atletico Madrid when it hosts Rayo Vallecano,

Johnson-Thompson holds on to gold in heptathlon

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

BUDAPEST, Hungary

(AP) — Never has finishing second felt so good to Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Or been so exhausting.

Starting the final event of the heptathlon, the 800 meters, with the slimmest of leads, and trying to hold off Anna Hall to complete a comeback from a ruptured Achilles three years ago, Johnson-Thompson never let the American get too far in front of her over the draining two-lap finale.

The British standout ran a personal-best time of 2 minutes, 5.63 seconds. She finished the race second, but because she kept the margin to only 1.54 seconds behind Hall, it was also good for a gold medal in the two-day endurance test.

She beat Hall by 20 points — 6,740-6,720 — the tightest margin in the event at world championships. “This has been one of the most grueling heptathlons I’ve ever done,” the 30-year-old Johnson-Thompson said. “I’ve won medals before but this means so much.”

That’s why she stayed down on the track a moment longer. Sure, to catch her breath. But to soak in the moment, too.

Because there have been plenty of low points over the last few seasons. Like after she ruptured her Achilles. Or at worlds last season, when “I was trying my best and not getting anywhere,” she explained.

“All I want is to toe the line for the 800 and have a shot,” Johnson-Thompson said.

“Just mathematically have a shot. And that’s what I had today.”

Going into the final event, Johnson-Thompson wouldn’t have minded a little bigger cushion. Her lead was just 43 points heading into an event where Hall excels.

“The last person you want to compete against in the 800 is Anna Hall,”

Johnson-Thompson said. “She will die trying, and I just had to develop that mentality as well.” Hall did what she intended to do — powering out to the lead and making her rival — the one she’s always looked up to — chase her. JohnsonThompson went into what she described as “robot mode” and stared at the back of Hall, who just couldn’t shake her. Hall tumbled to the track after finishing. Soon after, so did Johnson-Thompson.

“I went for it,” said Hall, the Colorado native who won bronze at worlds last summer in Oregon. “Very bittersweet. I really wanted gold and I just fought my heart out and it just wasn’t there this year for me. Kat was just better today and I got beat.”

As the 22-year-old Hall remained down on the track, Johnson-Thompson came over, bent down and whispered in her ear.

“She just told me, ‘You fought like hell these two days,’” Hall recounted. “And that she just respected how I handled the (event), knowing that I was a little bit banged up.”

Earlier this month, Hall slipped on the takeoff board while practicing the long jump. She hyperextended her knee. She wasn’t sure how well she could compete in Budapest.

Then, a vote of confidence just before the championships from world record holder Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

“She has been nothing but encouraging,” Hall said.

“I opened up to her a little bit about being banged-up going in. I know she competed and she won Olympic medals (with) injuries. She was like, ‘Just keep fighting and keep swinging and

which won at Almeria in the competition’s first game last weekend. Rayo is unbeaten in its last seven league matches against Granada.

ITALY

Several new players could make their AC Milan debut in the Rossoneri’s season opener at Bologna. Milan has been the busiest Serie A club in the offseason, bringing in six new players including United States standout Christian Pulisic. Milan won the

league in 2022 but finished fourth last season. Also, Claudio Ranieri is back in Serie A and his Cagliari side visits Torino in its first match back in the top flight.

The 71-year-old Ranieri, who is back at the club that effectively launched his managerial career more than 30 years earlier, achieved another seemingly improbable feat as he steered Cagliari to promotion via the playoffs last season.

Ward-Prowse, who joined from relegated Southampton this week, delivered a perfect corner that was headed in by Nayef Aguerd to give West Ham the lead in the seventh minute.

Carney Chukwuemeka equalized for Chelsea in the 28th and Enzo Fernandez — who cost Chelsea about $130 million last season — then missed a penalty for the Blues just before the halftime break.

West Ham retook the lead when Ward-Prowse played a ball over the top for Michail Antonio to run onto and the striker beat Robert Sanchez with a shot from the edge of the area in the 53rd.

Aguerd then earned a second booking for a badly mistimed challenge in the 67th, but Chelsea was unable to take advantage as its lack of attacking options again made itself evident.

Instead, Caicedo tripped Emerson in the area to give away a penalty that Lucas Paqueta calmly converted in the fifth minute of injury time.

Both teams had opened the season with draws last weekend, though Chelsea had looked impressive in a 1-1 stalemate against Liverpool at home.

never quit.’ That’s what I tried to do.”

Hall had the lead after four events. But JohnsonThompson took over after the long jump and gained ground after the javelin.

Going into the 800, Hall had fallen into third place, behind Anouk Vetter of the Netherlands, who finished with bronze.

Hall knew what she had to do — go for it.

Johnson-Thompson knew what she had to do — follow closely behind.

Maybe this was the motivation she was looking for: Just before the start of the race, she walked by flashing images of past heptathlon world champions.

One image in particular caught Johnson-Thompson’s attention — her own. She won in 2019.

“I saw the flicker in my eye,” Johnson-Thompson

said. “That just really calmed me. That was the calmest I’ve been the whole weekend.”

KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON, of Great Britain, reacts after winning the Heptathlon event from Anna Hall, of the US, who came second yesterday during the World Athletics Championships (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr, of The Bahamas, swings at a pitch during the fourth inning of the second baseball game of the team’s doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Saturday in Los Angeles.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

TEAM Spain celebrates after winning the Women’s World Cup soccer final against England at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, yesterday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

SPAIN EARNS ITS FIRST WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TITLE

FROM PAGE 16

England captain Millie Bright said. “I think in a couple of weeks and it settles, (we) will be really, really proud.” In an open game featuring multiple chances for both teams, Carmona’s left-foot strike in the 29th minute — finishing off a fast-breaking counterattack after England’s Lucy Bronze lost possession — remained the only goal.

Carmona also scored the game-winner in the 89th minute of Spain’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Sweden, becoming the first player since Carli Lloyd in 2015 to score in a World Cup semifinal and final.

Spain had a chance to double the lead in the 68th after a VAR review awarded a penalty for Keira Walsh’s handball, but Jenni Hermoso’s penalty attempt was saved by Mary Earps.

Spain’s victory comes despite a near-mutiny by players last year. Fifteen players said they were

stepping away from the national team for their mental health while also calling for a more professional environment.

Three of those players — Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey — reconciled with the federation and were at the World Cup.

The victory was also a bit of redemption for La Roja, which fell to England 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the European Championship last year. England went on to win the Euros on home soil.

“I think all of us, we felt that this team had something special,” Carmona said. “I believe that we’ve shown this on the field, we’ve shown this in the group stage, in the knockout stage. We’ve been fighting until the end. We never stopped.

“Last year was different, but football gives you second chances What better chance than in a World Cup final and to be able to call ourselves world champion.”

Spain grew over the course of the tournament. After a 4-0 loss to Japan in the group stage, Spain replaced Misa Rodriguez with Cata Coll in goal. La Roja rebounded quickly by trouncing Switzerland 5-1 to kick off the knockout round and built from there.

“When we found out that we had England in the final, we analyzed them and saw how they played,” Bonmati said. “We prepared it well, we came out confident of what we were doing, of our game, of our fight, of our dedication.”

England had momentum going into the tournament after winning the Euros, but three of the team’s best players, captain Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead, all had knee injuries that kept them off the World Cup squad.

Sarina Wiegman was the first coach to take her teams to back-to-back World Cup title matches. She led the Netherlands to the final in 2019, but fell 2-0 to the United States.

She’s now 0-2 in the championship match. One of England’s best chances was in the 16th when Lauren Hemp’s blast caromed off the crossbar. A minute later, Salma Paralluelo raced toward goal but couldn’t get a clean shot and Earps stopped Alba Redondo’s attempt in the scramble in front of the net.

England was coming off a 3-1 victory over host Australia in the semifinal. Lauren James, who was the team’s top scorer with three goals and three assists, was forced to sit out two matches after being suspended for stomping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie to open the knockout stage.

While James was available for the final, Wiegman started Ella Toone and used the Chelsea winger as a second-half substitute in a double change to spark the attack.

Spain coach Jorge Vilda started 19-year-old Paralluelo, who scored the breakthrough goal for

DJOKOVIC OUTLASTS ALCARAZ IN NEARLY 4 HOURS FOR TITLE

MASON, Ohio (AP) — Novak Djokovic outlasted Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling rematch of their Wimbledon final, winning 5-7 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) yesterday to take the Western & Southern Open.

In a match that lasted 3 hours, 49 minutes, the longest best-of-three sets final in ATP Tour history (since 1990), the No. 2-seeded Djokovic avenged his loss last month to the topranked Alcaraz and earned his 95th career title, passing Ivan Lendl for third among men in the professional era, dating to 1968.

In the women’s final, seventh-seeded Coco Gauff became the first teenager in more than 50 years to win

PARIS OLYMPICS: WATER QUALITY WORRIES FORCE CANCELLATION OF SWIMMING TEST EVENT

PARIS (AP) — Worries about water quality forced the cancelation of another Paris Olympics test event in the Seine River yesterday, as organisers called off a triathlon mixed relay.

While triathlon swimmers took to the Seine in competition on Thursday and Friday, water quality tests showed higher than authorised levels of bacteria ahead of a paratriathlon test event Saturday, so it was cancelled.

Spain against Sweden, and the game-winner in extra time over the Netherlands in the quarterfinal. Those efforts helped her win the young player of the tournament award. Earps won the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper and Bonmati won the Golden Ball for best player of World Cup.

Vilda had a challenge in working around two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who was still working her way back from a torn ACL last year. For the final, Putellas was on the bench at the start.

Putellas went into the game with 15 seconds left in regulation, but there were 13 minutes of stoppage time. After the match Putellas was in tears as her teammates danced in front of the flag-waving fans behind the team’s bench.

There were 75,784 fans at the final at Stadium Australia, including tennis great Billie Jean King, increasing the record attendance for the tournament to more than 1.975 million.

Further tests ahead of Sunday’s mixed relay remained inconsistent, according to a joint statement from organisers and local officials. “As a precautionary measure and to protect the health of the athletes, the decision has once again been taken to cancel all the swimming races scheduled for today,” it said. Authorities are investigating the reason for the problematic tests.

Rainfall in recent days may have been a factor. A previous test event had to be cancelled this month because heavy rain caused overflows of untreated waste into the Seine, leaving water quality below safety standards.

The cancellations this weekend pose a new challenge to the Paris Olympics organisers and the city’s ambitions to reopen the iconic river to public swimming after the Games.

Paris is spending massively on water-management projects that officials say will make pollution caused by storms less frequent by the time the Games begin on July 26, 2024. Olympics organisers remain determined to hold open-air swimming events along the picturesque river, viewing this month’s cancellations as a learning experience.

the Western & Southern Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Karolina Muchova.

Djokovic was playing his first tournament on U.S. soil in two years because of COVID-19 restrictions. He secured his third Cincinnati championship in six years on his fifth match point when Alcaraz went wide with a forehand return.

The 36-year-old Serbian fell on his back, arms and legs spread, before heading to the net to shake hands with his Spanish opponent. He then strutted around the court and ripped his shirt apart from the buttons on down.

“This was one of the exciting matches I’ve ever played in any tournament,”

the winner of a men’srecord 23 Grand Slam titles said during the post-match trophy presentation. “It felt like a Grand Slam.”

With temperatures hovering near 90 degrees, Djokovic survived the tournament’s longest men’s match since at least 1990 to become the oldest man to win the championship. Ken Rosewall was 35 when he won in 1970.

The rematch of Alcaraz’s five-set victory at Wimbledon broke the previous Cincinnati record of 2 hours, 49 minutes, set in 2010 as Roger Federer was beating Mardy Fish. It’s the longest three-set match on the men’s tour this season by three minutes. “I have

so much to say, but I’m not sure that I have the energy,” Djokovic said, cradling his trophy. He paused and looked at Alcaraz.

“You never give up, do you?” he said. “I love that about you. I hope we meet in New York. That would be fun – well, for the fans, not for me.”

The US Open begins August 28.

Alcaraz, the defending champion, is guaranteed to remain No. 1 heading into the tournament.

The tiebreakers were Alcaraz’s fourth and fifth in four matches during the week. He went three sets in every match, while Djokovic didn’t drop a set until yesterday.

COCO GAUFF, 19, EARNS CINCINNATI WOMEN’S TITLE

MASON, Ohio (AP) — Seventh-seeded Coco Gauff became the first teenager in more than 50 years to win the Western & Southern Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Karolina Muchova yesterday.

Gauff, the 2022 French Open runner-up, earned her first Masters 1000 title when Muchova sailed a forehand return wide on Gauff’s fourth match point.

The 19-year-old American tossed her racket in the air and jumped up and down in glee after surviving a 1-hour, 56-minute match played in temperatures approaching 90 degrees.

“This is unbelievable,” Gauff said during the postmatch trophy presentation. “I’m just happy to be here for this moment.

“I want to congratulate Karolina for an incredible

run in this tournament,” she added. “Hopefully, we’ll play more often, and on a bigger stage than this.”

Gauff was the tournament’s fourth teenage finalist and first since Vera Zvonareva in 2004. She is the first teenage champion since 17-year-old Linda Tuero in 1968.

Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and No. 2 Novak Djokovic played for the men’s title in a rematch of Alcaraz’s victory in the Wimbledon final.

After a spotty first set that featured a combined five service breaks, including Gauff’s double fault on one game point, Gauff gained command over her Czech Republic opponent with a break in the eighth game.

She fought off two break points in the fourth game

of the second set and took control with a break in the next game when Muchova sent a backhand wide.

While winning the next game, Gauff caught a break with a winner off the net that left her with her left palm on her racket and looking up at the sky as if she was praying in gratitude.

She missed on three match points in the eighth game before closing it out.

“When I woke up this morning, the first thing I said was ‘Ouch,’” the 26-year-old Muchova said. “I knew it was going to be a tough task to win, especially against someone like Coco.”

The French Open runner-up will celebrate her birthday today by moving to No. 10 on the WTA rankings.

COCO GAUFF, of the United States, fist pumps after winning a point to Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, during the women’s singles final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, yesterday in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)

NOVAK DJOKOVIC, of Serbia, rips his shirt as he celebrates after his win against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in the men’s singles final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Aaron Doster)

Bahamas earns a berth in 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ERIC Gordon came up big down the stretch as the Bahamas pulled off a hard fought 82-75 victory over Argentina to win the FIBA Americas Olympic PreQualifying Tournament title yesterday to earn their berth in the 2024 Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament next year.

Before a jammed pack Argentina crowd in the National Sports Arena on La Banda, Argentina, the Bahamas proved their 101-89 win over the world’s number fourth ranked Argentina in their Group A round robin play was no fluke as lightning struck for the second time.

After Sunday’s victory, the team was presented with their boarding pass after taking down Argentina as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg was on hand to join in the celebrations.

The team, coached by Chris DeMarco, an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association, produced its best showing ever in international basketball competition.

It came from arguably the best team assembled by the Bahamas Basketball Federation, team manager LJ Rose and assistant coaches Moses Johnson and Mikhail McLean as the Bahamas is now on the verge of having its first appearance in any team competition at the Olympics.

Bahamas 82, Argentina 75 Gordon, the latest addition to the collection of NBA players to participate on the team, provided the spark as he canned a game high 27 points, including three clutch three-pointers down the stretch, to go along with three rebounds and as many steals in the championship game on Sunday.

Travis Munnings, who plays professionally in Europe, took advantage of his starting role with 16 points and two assists, Indiana Pacers’ guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield, who got into foul trouble down the stretch, had 15 points with five rebounds, three assists and three steals and centre DeAndre Ayton, who will be suiting up with Gordon

TUA LEADS TD DRIVE IN PRESEASON DEBUT, DOLPHINS TOP TEXANS 28-3

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa was intercepted on his first play of the preseason Saturday for the Miami Dolphins against the Houston Texans. His second drive went much better.

Playing in his first game since sustaining a concussion on Christmas Day, Tagovailoa led a 14-play, 93-yard drive capped by a 2-yard scoring run by Raheem Mostert to give the Dolphins an early lead in a 28-3 win Saturday.

Tagovailoa sat down after that, ending his day 5 of 7 for 61 yards for the Dolphins (1-1).

with the Phoenix Suns this season, added 10 points and 21 rebounds.

Collegian Franco Miller Jr contributed nine points and two rebounds off the bench, while fellow Grand Bahamian Kentwan Smith, who also plays professionally in Europe, had five points.

After using a 5-0 lead to start the game, the Bahamas responded to even the score at 5-5. It stayed close until Argentina went on a mini run to pull away from a 12-12 tie for a 17-12 lead.

The Bahamas drew within two, 24-22, but Argentina stayed ahead 26-22 at the end of the quarter.

With 6:58 left in the second quarter, Travis Munnings canned his second consecutive threepointer that equalised the score at 30-30, forcing Argentina to call a timeout.

The Bahamas then went up 39-32 as both teams went into a scoring drought and although Argentina trimmed it down to a 39-39 tie with just over a minute left, and they ended the first half tied at 42.

The Bahamas saw some delight in the first two minutes of the third as they went up 47-44 on a lay-up from Munnings on a pass from Lourawls Nairn, who returned to his starting role after going down with an injury the night before.

But Argentina pulled away from a 51-49 lead with 6:28 left in the period and they went up by four, 60-56, at the end of the

third quarter. As they opened the fourth, Gordon hit a jumper for a 63-63 and Smith canned a threepointer for a 66-65 lead with 8:21 left. A minute later, Hield scored on a three-pointer for a 69-65 lead.

Argentina converted a pair of baskets to go up 72-69, but Ayton got an offensive rebound for a two-handed jam to equal the score at 71-71 with just over three minutes left in the game.

Gordon stopped a brief run by Argentina with a three-pointer for a 74-73 lead in the next one. With 1:31, Gordon popped another three-pointer as the Bahamas again went up 77-75 with 1:32 on the clock. And with 20.2 on the clock, Gordon crashed the final digger in the heart of Argentina with his third consecutive three-pointer

for an 80-75 advantage after he got a steal and Ayton got a key defensive rebound on two possessions by their opponents.

Bahamas 78, Uruguay 62

Buddy Hield led a balanced attack on both ends of the court to lead Team Bahamas into the championship game on Saturday night. In their semifinal match against Uruguay, Hield finished with 17 points, three steals and a pair of rebounds and assists, while Gordon had 13 points and two rebounds and assists and Miller Jr came off the bench and finished with 13 points as well. Ayton, in limited action, had nine points and nine rebounds and Juraun ‘Kino’ Burrows also came off the bench and contributed nine points with two rebounds and as many assists. Team Bahamas got a scare early in

the game when Nairn left with an injury. By then, the Bahamas managed to open a 15-5 lead that they extended to 23-14 at the end of the first break.

After building their lead in the second quarter, Garvin Clarke Jr canned a three-pointer with 4:56 on the clock for a 31-17 margin to force Uruguay to take a timeout.

The Bahamas pushed their lead to 43-23 at the half, thanks to a number of defensive stops and some miscues from the threepoint arc by Uruguay.

As coach DeMarco switched up the line-up, using more players off the bench, the Bahamas opened a 59-34 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Using a 1-2 punch from Burrows and Bridgewater, the Bahamas took a 68-42 lead, forcing Uruguay to call a time-out as Bridgewater hit an air ball on a three-point attempt.

Uruguay rallied to cut the deficit to 68-51 and on a timeout with a little over five minutes left, the Bahamas went back to Hield and Gordon to help control the tempo of the game.

With 3:06 on a foul on Miller Jr, tempers started to flare as the referees and players tried to calm the situation down. Both teams were assessed technical fouls.

When the dust was settled, the Bahamas kept its composure and held on for the win.

“It was just a bad play,” Tagovailoa said. “That’s really all it was, bad quarterback play there. That’s not how you want to start a drive anyway you look at it. Bad play, but I’m glad with the way we responded.”

Miami coach Mike McDaniel was glad Tagovailoa was able to knock some of the rust off before the season opener September 10 against the Chargers.

“That is exactly what preseason is for,” he said. “That is why you want someone to play. I’m glad he got it out of the way, but more importantly, the team didn’t blink.”

Tagovailoa said he wasn’t concerned about taking hits after having two concussions last season.

“It’s a physical sport. It’s tough,” he said. “I went out there and was expecting to get hit. I was expecting to go to the ground, all of that.”

Houston rookie C.J. Stroud was much sharper Saturday than he was in his NFL debut last week when he was picked off on his first possession and finished with 13 yards passing on two drives.

Playing the entire first half Saturday, the second overall pick was 7 of 12 for 60 yards and helped the Texans (1-1) to a field goal on his second drive.

“I feel like I took a step,” Stroud said. “Definitely got to clean up some things but I feel like overall I got in a good rhythm and I started playing football like I’m used to.”

US PULLS OFF BIG RALLY, TOPS GERMANY 99-91 IN FINAL WORLD CUP TUNEUP

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — USA Basketball dug deep to head to the World Cup with an unbeaten exhibition record.

Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, Austin Reaves and Tyrese Haliburton each added 16 off the bench and the US rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to beat Germany 99-91 last night in its final tuneup game before heading to the Philippines for the World Cup. An 18-0 run in the final minutes saved the Americans, who finished the exhibition season 5-0.

“What I like is that we know now they’ve got guts,” US coach Steve Kerr said. “But we can get a lot better because we have a higher ceiling than a lot of teams — because most of these teams have been together. (Germany) has been together. They’re really good. We feel like we’ve got more room for growth. And we’ve got to keep working and

getting better as we head to Manila.”

Edwards was brilliant, making 11 of 21 shots and going 8 of 8 from the line. The rest of the US starters scored a combined 25 points; Edwards had nine more than that by himself.

“That was the best game I’ve had in a minute,” Edwards said.

Added Kerr: “He’s unquestionably the guy. He knows it. Now the rest of the team knows it.”

Thing is, Edwards didn’t do it alone. The comeback really started late in the third, when Haliburton scored 11 points in less than 3 minutes to bring the US back from 16 down to within three and spark serious hope.

Germany didn’t go away.

Moritz Wagner’s 3-pointer with 6:58 left put Germany up 86-77. The Germans missed their next eight shots — and the Americans scored the game’s next 18 points, taking the lead back for good on Mikal Bridges’ 3-pointer with 2:15 left.

“It just comes down to buckling down and getting stops,” Haliburton said.

Franz Wagner scored 17 points for Germany, which got 16 points and 10 assists from Dennis Schroder, and 14 points from Moritz Wagner. It became the first team this summer to take more than a four-point lead on the US but couldn’t finish the win off.

The US team has been together for only 2 1/2 weeks yet has had very little trouble clicking to this point. The Americans opened the tuneup schedule with a 117-74 win in Las Vegas over Puerto Rico, then headed to Spain

for wins over Slovenia (92-62, though the Slovenians played without Luka Doncic) and Spain (98-88).

From Spain, they headed to Abu Dhabi to finish preparations, beating Greece 108-86 on Friday and then capping it all off by topping the Germans.

Next up: The stuff that matters — the World Cup, which will take place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. The US is the heavy betting favourite to win the tournament, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and

will face New Zealand, Greece and Jordan in group play that starts Saturday in Manila.

“I don’t think that we really ever feel like we’re out of a game,” Reaves said.

TIP-INS

Germany: With their World Cup opener on Friday, the Germans left quickly postgame to travel to Dubai and catch their flight to Japan. Daniel Theis and Andreas Obst each scored 12 for Germany, which outrebounded the Americans 46-35.

USA: Jaren Jackson Jr had six of the Americans’ 10 blocked shots. The US outscored Germany by 15 points in Reaves’ 18:30 of playing time. Haliburton needed only seven shots for his 16 points.

FIRST FIVE

The previous starters remained the starters for this one – Jalen Brunson, Bridges, Jackson Jr, Edwards and Brandon Ingram opened all five games this summer for the Americans.

EXHIBITION WRAPUP

A pair of previously unbeaten teams — France and Brazil — both lost exhibitions yesterday, the French were defeated by Australia, the Brazilians by Italy. And those results meant only three of the 32 World Cup-bound teams haven’t lost at least one tuneup game this summer.

The US finished 5-0, Italy improved to 6-0 with one game left Monday against New Zealand and Latvia topped Puerto Rico to move to 5-0 entering its last warmup against Lithuania on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Germany: Faces Japan in World Cup opener Friday at Okinawa, Japan.

US: Faces New Zealand in World Cup opener Saturday at Manila, Philippines.

ANTHONY EDWARDS SCORES 34 POINTS

UNITED States head coach Steve Kerr, fourth from left, speaks with assistant coach Erik Spoelstra, third from left, during an exhibition basketball game against Puerto Rico in Las Vegas.

(AP Photo/John Locher)

THE Bahamas men’s national basketball team pulled off a hard fought 82-75 win over Argentina last night to win the FIBA Americas Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament title, earning their berth in the 2024 Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament.

TEAM Bahamas celebrate their win over Argentina last night.

Photos: FIBA Americas

RYAN CROUSER RETAINS SHOT PUT TITLE AT WORLDS

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — OK, so, Ryan Crouser didn’t set a new world record.

This win felt even better than that. Just before the American shot-putter was scheduled to leave for the world athletics championships in Budapest, Crouser was diagnosed with two blood clots in his lower leg.

The doctors told him it was safe to fly and it was up to him and his family whether to compete.

He showed up and defended his world title Saturday night with a

championship-record throw of 23.51 metres (77 feet, 1 3/4 inches) using a new technique he invented that’s been dubbed the “Crouser Slide.”

Moments after his final attempt, Crouser dropped to his knees and lifted his arms in the air. Relief.

“After all that, it was the best performance of my life, given the health issues, the stress and all of it,” Crouser said.

“The last throw was testament to all the hard work and dedication over the last year. The last few days have been hard, so with all that has happened it was a phenomenal throw.”

In a post on social media a day before the start of worlds, Crouser discussed his ordeal and how a scan revealed the blood clots.

He wrote that everything went into emergency mode before the medical team “did everything to mitigate them.”

“Biggest questions being, ‘What’s the safest treatment?’” Crouser wrote.

“And, ‘Is WC even a possibility?’” Crouser set the standard with his first attempt of 22.63 (74-3).

No one could catch him as Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri took second and Crouser’s teammate and 2019 world

champion Joe Kovacs earned bronze. With the competition locked up, Crouser went for it on his final attempt.

The moment the ball left his hand, he knew he unleashed a good one.

The crowd did, too, roaring as it flew. It fell just short of world-record range.

He’s broken it twice over the past 26 months, with his mark standing at 23.56 (77-3 3/4).

“It wasn’t quite a world record but to me it was,” Crouser said.

To treat the blood clots, Crouser is taking medication. He said the issue he discussed with his doctor

was how to recognise the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism — just as a precaution.

“A little bit of difficulty breathing, elevated heart rate, tightness in the chest,” Crouser said.

“Those are all symptoms of a world championship as well.”

While Crouser was steady in the field, runners were tumbling on the track.

Dutch runner Sifan Hassan stumbled and fell in the home stretch of the 10,000 metres, spoiling her bid to win three medals like she did at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. “I am keeping my smile but it is really

Athletes to watch at world championships - Day Two

BUDAPEST, Hungary

(AP) — A look at how 10 top athletes are faring at track and field world championships after Day 2:

SHA’CARRI RICHARDSON

With her colourful hair, glitzy nails and, of course, fast times, Richardson stands out on the track. The 23-year-old from Dallas has the second-fastest 100-metre time in the world this season. Richardson will run the 100 and 200 at the worlds a year after missing the team. She won the 100 at the US Olympic trials two years ago, but had the title stripped after she tested positive for marijuana. The 100 will be a fast field that includes reigning champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and her Jamaican teammate, Shericka Jackson, who has the fastest time in the world this season.

RESULTS: Won 100metre preliminary heat yesterday with day’s best time of 10.92 seconds.

NEXT UP: 100-metre semifinals and finals Aug.

21; 200 metres, Aug. 23-25; 4x100 relay, Aug. 25-26.

MARILEIDY PAULINO

The 400 metres is wide open at the worlds with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone withdrawing from the event because of a minor knee issue. Paulino, who represents the Dominican Republic, has the secondfastest time this season behind McLaughlin-Levrone. Paulino finished runner-up to Shaunae Miller-Uibo at last year’s worlds. RESULTS: Won preliminary heat in 49.90.

NEXT UP: Semifinals Aug. 21 and finals Aug. 23, with 4x400 relay set for Aug. 27.

FAITH KIPYEGON

The 29-year-old Kenyan broke three different world records — mile, 1,500 and 5,000 — over a 50-day stretch this year.

Kipyegon will concentrate on the 1,500 and 5,000 at the worlds, a double she might repeat a year from now at the Paris Games.

RESULTS: Ran 4:02.62 in opening round of 1,500 on Saturday and 3:55.14 in

semifinals on Sunday. UP

NEXT: Final Aug. 22; 5,000 meters: Aug. 23, 26.

KATIE MOON

To think, the reigning world and Olympic champion pole vaulter was nearly a gymnast instead. Moon, who is from Ohio, has the top clearance in the world this season. Competing last season at the worlds as Katie Nageotte — she got married — she won on countback over U.S. teammate Sandi Morris.

COMPETES: Aug. 21, 23.

ANNA HALL

The fun-loving, candychomping American is knocking on the door of the 7,000-point plateau in the heptathlon — a mark only four women have achieved. Hall’s top score in the seven-event competition is 6,988 points, which she set in May. The world record is held by Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who accumulated 7,291 points in winning at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. RESULTS: Finished second, 20 points behind Katarina JohnsonThompson in the tightest

heptathlon in world-championship history.

NOAH LYLES

At last year’s world championships, Lyles broke the long-hallowed American 200-metre record of 19.32 seconds held since 1996 by Michael Johnson. Lyles has set 19.10 as a goal, which would shatter Usain Bolt’s mark of 19.19. RESULTS: Won 100 in 9.83 seconds.

UP NEXT: 200 metres, Aug. 23-25; 4x100 relay, Aug. 25-26.

PAWEL FAJDEK

The Polish hammer thrower tries for his sixth straight world title. If he wins it, he would match Sergey Bubka with the most world golds in an individual event. RESULTS: Finished fourth to snap streak of five straight wins at worlds.

MONDO DUPLANTIS

Since first breaking the world record three years ago, the Louisiana-born pole vaulter who competes for his mother’s native Sweden, has upped the mark by a centimetre five

more times. It now stands at 6.22 metres (20 feet, 4 3/4 inches). DATES: Aug. 23, 26.

FRED KERLEY

The American sprinter is the defending world champion at 100 metres. His best time this year is 9.88 seconds — pedestrian for this race — but Kerley is a favourite in an event where no one has cracked 9.8 this year. RESULTS: Finished third in 100-metre semifinals and did not advance to finals. UP NEXT: 4x100 relay, Aug. 25-26.

MUTAZ ESSA

BARSHIM

It might not ever get better for the high jumper nicknamed “The Falcon,” than when he won world gold in his home country of Qatar in 2019.

But Barshim has won gold in the last four major competitions, including the famous tie for first with Gianmarco Tamberi at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago. RESULTS: Cleared 2.28 metres in qualifying.

NEXT UP: Finals are Aug. 22.

hard,” Hassan said. “I am very disappointed.”

Hassan’s fall opened the door for Gudaf Tsegay to lead an Ethiopian sweep. Tsegay defeated Letesenbet Gidey by .98 seconds. Ejgayehu Taye finished third.

Another tumble came in the final race of the night, the 4x400 mixed relay.

Netherlands runner Femke Bol suffered a cramp and fell right before the finish line. Her baton bounced across the finish line as she hit the track.

Alexis Holmes went by for a win for the United States.

Halasz brings hammer bronze to hometown crowd

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — In Hungary, hammer thrower Bence Halasz will always be remembered for coming through when it counted the most.

Halasz, one of the country’s few medal hopefuls at the world championships being held in a sparkling new stadium in Budapest, took bronze on home turf Sunday with the prime minister watching on one of the country’s most important holidays.

“It’s a wonderful feeling,” Halasz said after his throw of 80.82 meters proved enough to secure third place. “The crowd gave me such strength that I really felt it was coming from beyond me, that it wasn’t even inside myself.”

The 26-year-old Halasz came into the worlds ranked fourth. His first throw was good for the lead through most of the hot, humid evening. Every time he stepped into the circle, chants of “Ria - Ria -Hungaria!” rained down. It’s a common chant during international sports events, one made even more meaningful on the anniversary of Hungary’s founding. Not until the fifth of six rounds did someone beat Halasz’s throw. Canadian Ethan Katzberg’s 81.25 meters set a national record and ultimately carried him through to the gold. Poland’s Olympic gold medalist, Wojciech Nowicki, finished second with a throw of 81.02.

But as far as the Hungarian fans in the 35,000-seat stadium were concerned, Halasz, now a three-time bronze medalist in the championships, was the day’s big winner. Stonyfaced after his first throw — his best of the season — he gave in to the excitement and ran to the stands for handshakes with his trainers.

Five-time world champion Paweł Fajdek, Nowicki’s Polish teammate, kept the competition tight in the final with a seasonbest throw of 80 meters flat. But three faults and two sub-78 meter throws kept him short of matching pole vaulter Sergey Bubka’s record of six individual world titles in the same discipline.

NOAH LYLES WINS WORLD TITLE IN 100 METRES

FROM PAGE 20

four years ago and gold at the world under-20 championships in 2016. He barely qualified for worlds in the shorter race after battling with COVID in the leadup to U.S. nationals last month. Behind the scenes, though, things have been changing. Lyles knew he needed more work on the first halves of his 200-meter races to get better at his signature event. That’s where the focus went. He said recently his coach, Lance Brauman, was getting excited about the progress

and Brauman “is a guy who does not get excited at all.”

“I listen to the athlete, and they tell me what they want to try to do,” Brauman said. “When I got him, everybody in the world told me he needs to be a 2(00)4(00) guy. But he wanted to be a 100-meter runner.”

That was Bolt’s story, too. And though there will never be another Bolt, Lyles isn’t afraid to dream big. He raised eyebrows with an Instagram post earlier this summer in which he declared he wanted to run 9.65 in the 100, a time only Bolt has bettered, and 19.10 in the 200, which would

shatter the Jamaican’s world record of 19.19. Lyles, whose biggest competition in the 200 is expected to come from 19-year-old Erryion Knighton, currently holds the American record at 19.31. Defending 100 champion Fred Kerley scoffed at the 9.65 goal, adding some spice to the pre-race news conference by saying if Lyles did that, he’d run faster. Lyles countered: “That’s what they all say ‘til they get beat.”

Lyles didn’t even get a chance to do the honor. Kerley got beat in the semifinal round and Lyles’ closest competition in the

final came from Letsile Tebogo, a 20-year-old from Botswana who became the first African to win a medal in 100 at worlds. He took silver in 9.873, .001 ahead of British national-record holder Zharnel Hughes.

“This is funny for the people, of course,” said the reigning Olympic champ, Marcell Jacobs of Italy, who also was targeted in the pre-race trash talk, and also found himself out before the final. “But you have to talk when the race is finished. When the (last) race is finished, not the first.”

In the 100, Lyles overcame a so-so start out of

Lane 6, and was running in about fourth place at the halfway mark. Everyone ahead of him was to his left, and he powered past them and through the line. His first embrace was with American teammate Christian Coleman, the 2019 champion who finished fifth. After Lyles saw his name listed first on the scoreboard, he looked into the camera on the track and yelled: “They said it couldn’t be done. They said I wasn’t the one. But thank God I am!”

The entire track world, outside of Kerley and a few others, might agree.

Some believe Lyles is the closest thing to pure star power this sport has seen since Bolt called it quits in 2017, back when the sprinter from Florida was just turning into a pro.

“I believe that track and field needs to market itself better,” Lyles said. “It’s easy to market me because I’m out there, I’m excitable, I’m happy, I get engaged with the crowd.”

Winning helps, too.

“I just believed when I got out there that I was the fastest guy,” Lyles said. “And I just kept believing that until I crossed the line.”

SHA’CARRI RICHARDSON, of United States, competes in a women’s 100-metres heat during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Steven Gardiner advances to 400 metre semis

where he holds the national record of 19.75, but he will not be contesting the event at the championships.

Russell eliminated

Following on the heels of Gardiner’s successful run, Russell raced against Van Niekerk in the second heat and the 31-year-old Grand Bahamian could only produce a time of 46.95 for sixth place.

That put Russell 41st place overall in a field of 44 competitors as he missed the opportunity to join Gardiner in the semis. Russell had both a lifetime and season’s best of 44.73 that he recorded on April 15 in Gainesville, Florida, but he was well off the mark in Budapest.

Miller-Uibo’s

motherly care

With her four-month old son Maicel Uibo Jr in the stands watching, new mother Miller-Uibo couldn’t survive the comeback as a wild card entry to defend her title in her 400m debut this year..

The 29-year-old MillerUibo ran a season’s best of 52.65 that was only good enough for seventh place in the third of the six heats of the women’s 400m yesterday to get into the semis as she’s done so many times in the past.

Miller-Uibo, who lowered her Bahamian national record to 48.36 in winning the Olympic title in 2019 in Tokyo, Japan, only competed in the heptathlon during the Bahamas National Championships in July in preparation for the championships.

The fastest qualifier in the heats was Marileidy Poulino of the Dominican Republic in 49.90.

Thomas missed the cut

Thomas, the 39-yearold Grand Bahamian high jump champion, continued to ride the wave in getting back to the form that made him the world champion in Osaka, Japan in 2007, but he still can’t find the winning formula.

GOODWILL SWIMMING

FROM PAGE 20

medals and one bronze.

In the 11-12 age group, she won the 50m breastroke finals with a time of 38.12. She clocked 1:27.27 in the 100m breaststroke finals.

Grace Farrington dipped under the meet record in the 100m backstroke finals. She came in with a time of 1:14.91. In the 200m freestyle finals, the 17-year old ended the swim in 2:20.52. Siann Isaacs earned four gold medals in the 100m freestyle finals, 100m backstroke finals and the 200m finals. The 12-year old also came away with a 100m butterfly final.

Kymani Cooper came away with a gold in the 8 and under 50m breaststroke finals with a time of 42.99. Cooper broke the previous meet record of 45.07.

Caleb Ferguson came away with new records and gold medals in the 15-17 100m and 50m freestyle finals.

RELAYS

Team Bahamas added more medals to their overall total in the relays. The

He finished in ninth place in Group A with a best of 7-feet, 4 1/2-inches or 2.25 metres that slipped him into a two-way tie for 16th place with Fernando Ferreira of Brazil in the two groups combined.

Three competitors - Ryoichi of Japan, American JuVaughn Harrison defending world and Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barshim - cleared the same height of 7-5 3/4 (2.28m) to top the chart going into Tuesday’s final.

Jones out-sprinted

Despite the ups and downs he endured this season in his collegiate season for Texas Tech, Terrence Jones had to overcome a psychological effect from a provisional suspension by the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations that could have kept him out of Budapest.

But the BAAA rescinded on its decision in the lead up to the championships, allowing the 20-year-old Grand Bahamian to take his rightful place on the starting line in the heats of the men’s 100m.

However, on Saturday as the World Championships got underway in Budapest, Jones didn’t look like the sprinter who won the NCAA indoor championship 60m title and finished the outdoor championships as a third place finisher.

Left in his blocks in lane seven in the sixth of seven heats, Jones didn’t have the turnover to reel in his rivals, ending up sixth in 10.32 for 42nd overall out of a field of 57 competitors. He failed to make it back for the century showdown in the semifinal and the final that took place on Sunday, but can relish in the season that saw him produce lifetime best times in both the 100 and 200 metres.

Coming off his NCAA indoor championship win in the 60m in 6.46 in Albuquerque, New Mexico on March 11, Jones clocked 9.91 to tie Derrick Atkins’

team of Clarke, Donaldson, Isaacs and Seymour clocked 5:11.87, shaving time off the previous meet record of 5:22.26 in the girls 11-12 400 metres medley relay.

The girls 15-17 400m medley relay team of Bianca Johnson, Adderley, Farrington and Lauren Bridgewater completed the race at 5:01.18. Team Bahamas broke the previous record of 5:02.12.

The team of Zion Gibson, Ayrton Moncur, Ferguson and Tristin Ferguson completed the boys 15-17 400m medley relay, breaking the previous meet record after stopping the clock at 4:13.40.

The girls eight and under 200m medley relay team featuring Caliyn Dean, Rinia Johnson, Kirsten Rolle and Samaiya Coleman also achieved a new record with their time of 2:52.12.

The Bahamas also came away with gold in the mixed eight and under 200m freestyle relay, girls and boys 9-10 400m medley, 13-14 girls 400m medley relay, boys 8 and under 200m medley relay, boys 11-12 400m freestyle relay, and girls 8 and under 200m freestyle relay.

Bahamian national record in the 100m on April 15 in Gainesville, Florida and he clocked 19.87 for third at the NCAA Outdoor Championship on June 9 in Austin, Texas.

Hall-Smith’s debut fell short In the last of the five heats of the men’s 400m hurdles, Hall-Smith’s time of 49.61 was seventh and one spot shy of advancing to the semis as he finished 29th overall.

Hall-Smith, 26, had a sensational season running both the 110 and 400m hurdles in Canada and the United States coming into the championships.

He posted a lifetime best of 49.25 on July 14 to solidify his berth in Budapest.

Next for Team Bahamas

As a result of their developments over the weekend, no Bahamian will be in action today. But Gardiner will headline the list of competitors when he contests the semis of the men’s 400 and national champion and record holder Devynne Charlton will also be in action in the preliminaries of the women’s 100m hurdles.

Wednesday will be a busy day with the qualifying rounds for NCAA champion Rhema Otabor in the qualifying round of the women’s javelin, Charisma Taylor in the women’s triple jump, Commonwealth Games champion LaQuan Nairn in the men’s long jump and veteran Anthonique Strachan in the women’s 200 metres.

DONALD Thomas reacts after an attempt in the Men’s high jump qualification yesterday. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

ALONZO Russell prepares to start a heat during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

SPORTS

MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2023

TEAM BAHAMAS WINS THE GOODWILL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas continues to prove their dominance in swimming after emerging victorious at the Goodwill Swimming Championships in Kingston, Jamaica.

Team Bahamas finished the Goodwill Games first overall with a combined score of 1,418.50. Jamaica, the host country, placed second with 1,143.50 and last year’s victor, Trinidad and Tobago, amassed 970.50.

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

t was smooth sailing for the return of quarter-miler Steven Gardiner, but past champions Shaunae MillerUibo and Donald Thomas along with Alonzo Russell and rookies Terrence Jones and Shakeem Hall-Smith all made an early exit at the World Championships.The five athletes were the first of the Bahamas’ 11-member team to compete during the first weekend of the championships at the National Athletic Centre in Budapest, Hungary.

Gardiner advances to 400 metre semifinals

Returning after missing last year’s championships in Eugene, Oregon, Gardiner sped to victory yesterday in the first of six heats in a time of 44.65 seconds to hold off Japan’s Kentaro Sato, who produced a national record of 44.77.

The 27-year-old Gardiner advanced to today’s semifinals with the third fastest time overall.

Havard Bentdal Ingvaldsen ran a national record of 44.39 for Norway to post the fastest qualifying time, followed by Republic of South Africa’s world record holder Wayde van Niekerk in 44.57.

Gardiner, the reigning Olympic champion, won the world title in 2019 in Doha, Qatar in a Bahamian national record of 43.48. He has also qualified to compete in the 200 metres

Over the course of three days, the 40-member team collected 55 gold medals, 45 silver medals and 29 bronze medals for a total of 129 overall to culminate the swimming experience.

Team Bahamas not only made waves but also broke records at the National Aquatic Centre in Jamaica.

Tiah Seymour turned in a strong showing at the championships, winning three silver medals and two bronze in individual competition. Seymour dipped under the meet record with a time of 1:05.99 in the 11-12 100m freestyle. She placed second in the 100m backstroke finals, touching the wall at 1:18.43.

Additionally, the swimmer earned bronze in the 50m breastroke finals and the 50m backstroke finals.

Tia Adderley earned two individual gold medals along with a silver medal. She got the gold in the girls 15-17 50m breaststroke finals, stopping the clock at 38.30 seconds. In the 100m breastroke finals, she notched 1:22.45 which was under the meet record of 1:28.37.

Alyssa-Christin Clarke left the Goodwill Swimming Championships with four individual gold medals. The swimmer emerged victorious in the 11-12 50m freestyle with a time of 29.53. She also earned first place finishes in the 50m butterfly finals, 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke finals. Samirah Donaldson wrapped up competition with two individual gold

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SPAIN EARNS ITS FIRST WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TITLE WITH 1-0 WIN OVER ENGLAND

BUDAPEST, Hungary

(AP) — Noah Lyles calls himself the “Told you’re not a 100 guy.” That didn’t stop him.

In fact, nobody could yesterday at the world championships in what has always been his second-best race. Now, he doesn’t see anyone slowing his path to becoming the world’s next great Olympic sprinter.

The 26-year-old American reeled in the field to win the 100-metre world title in 9.83 seconds — a victory that puts him in position to be the first man to complete the 100200 double since Usain Bolt made a habit of it at Olympics and world championships from 2008-16.

Witty, outspoken, unafraid to bet on himself,

Lyles might just be the guy to add some fire back to a sprint game where titles have been shuffled between men of few words and names from out of nowhere since Bolt left six years ago.

The Paris Olympics are less than 12 months away.

“I’ve known for a long time that I’ve got so much more to give to this event, but I’ve just been giving a lot to the 200,” said Lyles, who is favoured to defend his title in that event on Friday.

“And as people look back at this year, they’re gonna be, like, ‘This is the year that Noah won the 200, the 100 and the fourby-one (relay).’ And then they’ll be like, ‘That is the start of a dynasty.’”

NOAH LYLES, of the United States, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men’s 100-metre final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

If there were doubters, though, they had the right. Though not a complete newcomer to the 100, Lyles has a thin résumé at that distance. His most notable finishes: a win in a Diamond League meet

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SYDNEY (AP) — Spain

was celebrating its first Women’s World Cup trophy yesterday after an impressive display proved too much for England in a 1-0 victory for La Roja.

Olga Carmona scored in the first half of the final and Spain held on to cap the month-long tournament.

Overcoming the turmoil that had surrounded the team, the victory made Spain the first team to hold the under-17, under-20 and senior world titles at the same time.

Spain is the fifth winner in nine editions of the Women’s World Cup and joined Germany as the only two nations to win both the men’s and women’s titles.

At the final whistle the Spanish players piled on

each other in front of their goal.

They were still dancing on the field until the trophy presentations, where they kissed the trophy and raised their arms triumphantly as golden glitter fell from above.

“We’ve suffered a lot throughout the past 12 months but I think everything has a reason to be. This has made us a stronger team,” Carmona said.

“And it’s really incredible. I don’t know just why Spain is the world champions, but I think that we deserved it.”

The Lionesses were trying to bring a World Cup back to England for the first time since the men won it in 1966. The wait will go on.

“At first you feel like you failed with not winning,”

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