Report suggests raise to cover cost of public services
OR
VICTIM WAS NOT
PM: WE
By KHRISNA RUSSELL and LETRE SWEETING
‘PROTECT OUR NURSES
BAHAMAS Nurses Union President Amancha Williams said she hopes people in Family Island communities would refrain from threatening the lives of nurses, because it restricts needed healthcare. She spoke after a nurse’s home in Andros was reportedly damaged by fire on Friday following alleged death threats. Police are investigating.Yesterday, Ms Williams said an incident like this could leave Family Island communities with gaps in health care. “If the com munity do not want this to happen, the nurses leav ing out of the island, which will cause the community to be at high risk for notFACE
POOR HEALTHCARE’
By NEIL HARTNELL
By LETRE SWEETING
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net GOVT’S PLAN FOR $90M EXTRA FEES FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
SENIOR citizens and disabled people waited in long lines for five hours yesterday outside the De partment of Social Services in Freeport to receive food coupons in humid and rainy conditions. Although five days are set aside for the distribution of food coupons to senior citizens and the disa bled, many turned out on the first and second day of distribution. the full story.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper ALICIA WALLACE: TIPS FOR GOING BACK TO SCHOOL - SEE PAGE EIGHT
FOR NEW MINIMUM WAGE
SEE PAGE THREE PRIME
NEW Providence police are investigating a shooting that left a 42-year-old man of Red Land Acres dead and a second man with inju ries to the leg. Initial reports indicate the deceased was not the intended target. Police said the incident occurred shortly before 9pm on Monday on Shah’s Drive off Summer Street. According to initial reports from police, the deceased was outside a residence on Shah’s Drive when he was shot multiple times by a gunman, who was in pursuit of the second male that was shot.
Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net $260 A WEEK PREDICTION
See PAGE TWO for
Austin
By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net
Photo: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff Minister Philip “Brave” Davis Photo:yesterday. Fernander
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says it is important that The Baha mas help find a solution to the issues in Haiti that influ ence a continued exodus of its citizens to this country. Mr Davis told report ers that The Bahamas is one of the lead heads of a CARICOM committee that has been given the respon sibility of ensuring that a solution is found. “But the solution has to be a Haitian solution,” Mr Davis said yesterday on the sidelines of a symposium at the SuperClubs Breezes Resort on West Bay Street. “There was a meeting held on Saturday past in Trinidad. I was unable to attend because of the other pressing matters we are dealing with here and the deputy has attended in my stead,” he continued. “I have been briefed and the next step is for me to determine when I will host MUST HELP HAITI FIND SOLUTION
FIVE HOURS OF COUPONSFORWAITINGFOOD SEE PAGE FIVE SEE PAGE FOUR Police are investigating the matter. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS WEDNESDAY HIGH 91ºF LOW 80ºF i’m lovin’ it! Volume: 119 No.188, August 24, 2022 THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1 Established 1903The Tribune CARS! CARS! CLASSIFIEDS TRADERPUZZLER The Tribune Monday, February 8, To Advertise Call 601-0007 or 502-2351 Starting $33.60 Biggest And Best! LATEST NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM FishFiletGoldenof
THE Opposition yes terday urged the Davis administration to “come clean” over plans to raise an extra $90m from increas ing user fees paid by the Bahamian people to access multiple public services. Kwasi Thompson, the FNM finance spokesman, accused the government of trying to “sneak” the increase past taxpayers by “burying it” at the back of a report released on Monday, which disclosed “sorely inad equate” user fees could yield “potentially $90m in the coming year” if increased to cover the cost of services. Among the most com monly used services that could be hit are those pro vided by the Road Traffic Department, such as driver and vehicle licensing, plus inspection and registration fees. Besides passports, birth, marriage and death certificates from the Reg istrar General could also be increased, along with company registration and incorporation fees plus cer tificates of good standing. Police character cer tificates, and Immigration processing and application fees, plus those associated with the permits issued by that department, could also come under the microscope.
MURDERERTARGETINTENDEDOF
A TRADE union leader last night forecast the gov ernment will likely approve a 24 percent hike in the pri vate sector minimum wage to $260 per week after a presentation was made to Cabinet yesterday. Obie Ferguson, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, said such an increase - $50 per week or roughly $200 per month - was something the organ ised labour movement can live with given the econo my’s continuing struggles to fully recover from COVID19 even though it falls short of their $300 target.
By DENISE MAYCOCK
“It is based on how many persons come, but with weather like this fluctuat ing and there are seniors and disabled persons, and the humidity as I said when I came out here. So, I don’t want them to feel like they have to be here today because it is Tuesday.
Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net SENIORS and disabled people waiting in Grand Bahama yesterday.Photos: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff CARMETA Rolle speaking to The Tribune yesterday.
SENIOR citizens and disabled persons in Grand Bahama lined up outside the Department of Social Services on Tuesday for several hours waiting to collect their monthly food coupons.People were sitting on chairs, on the pavement, and some were standing along the building in very humid conditions from 9am to 1pm when it started to rain.A concerned person contacted The Tribune expressing concern about the situation at Social Services.When we arrived at the office on Settler’s Way around 1pm, we learned that persons had arrived as early as 7am for the regis tration process at 8am. As the weather started to deteriorate, a social worker, escorted by two Defence Force Officers, emerged to inform those still waiting on the outside that there were no more coupons and that they should return later in the week to collect their coupon.Butafter waiting five hours, many persons, some with crutches and walk ing sticks, refused to leave, and remained seated in the chairs set up under the eaves from the hot sun and rain.The social worker said: “Now that everyone is here on this one day, we now need to ask you to under stand that we are out of coupons because all of you came on this particular date. Please come back on Thursday you will not have to sit and wait, and you can go and collect your coupons and just walk right in.”
PAGE 2, Wednesday, August 24, 2022 THE TRIBUNE
However, some persons said they could not return on Thursday due to trans portationCarmetaissue.Rolle, an elderly disabled woman, said she needed her coupon today. “I come here, and you don’t think they should write that coupon and give it to me as a senior citizen. I am a sick lady.”Rose Bastian stressed that something must be done to improve the situa tion for senior citizens. “I was here from nine this morning and it’s now 1pm, and I am still here. And now to hear we have to come back on Thursday because they don’t have no more checks, that is bad,” she“Thesaid. government needs to do something about it. I don’t think it is fair for us to sit here all day and then return on Thursday because they don’t have no more cheques. They need to do something,” Ms Bastian said.When asked whether they had run out of coupons, a social worker who identi fied herself as Ms Brice explained that five days are allotted for distribution of food coupons to senior citi zens and disabled persons. She noted that many of them came on Tuesday – the second day of distribution. Ms Brice also indicated that weather conditions were a concern as well.
“We are here until Friday and even if (they) miss it this week for seniors and disabled, (they) can still come the following week for food “Unfortunately,coupons. we have this (situation). We did it yesterday (Monday) and we had a fair amount, but again everybody came today,” Ms Brice further stressed: “We want them to know that they have five days (set aside) specifically only for seniors and the disabled, so they can come at their lei sure. And if they don’t make the first five days then they come following week when distributions are made to younger persons and we will give seniors preference.”
“We are here observing COVID restrictions and so those who have cars, I guess we will ask them to sit in their cars if they want to stay. We won’t turn them away, but we don’t want them to get wet,” she said. When asked if there is a set limit of coupons that are distributed daily at Social Services, the social worker said that there is no set number of coupons.
“We are mindful of our humanitarian service to our customers, and we want to make them as comfortable as possible even with the restrictions we are faced with the pandemic,” she explained.Somepeople felt the situation is unaccepta ble and called for better organisation of the coupon distribution by the department.“Icame here yester day, but the social worker informed me that the infor mation was not here. Ms Jones, who came on behalf her elderly mother, was upset. She said the situation is “poor and unac ceptable” treatment of seniors and the disabled. “These are senior citi zens and some of them are disabled, some of them struggled to get here. You are supposed to be prepared.“Someof these people are here every month, and you coming out here and saying ‘you don’t have enough coupons.‘ Some of these people been here from 8am and 9am. This is now 1pm, and you are coming to tell people that you don’t have enough coupons, which is a waste of “Sometime.of them can’t come back here on Thurs day. It is a disgrace,” she said. “They are supposed to be organized. It is not acceptable, and this is poor treatment.”MsJones said the depart ment needs to plan on how senior citizens are served. “We were out in the sun all day for five hours for $86. It could be organised better. I don’t mind being here 20 minutes or even an hour, but five Anotherhours.”woman agreed that better organisation is needed. “They are sup posed to have more workers to assist the people. It is after 1pm and I have not been served yet. It is too long,” she said.
Five hours of waiting for food coupons
THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 24, 2022, PAGE 3 my fellow leaders here in The Bahamas along with the Haitian prime minis ter to find the pathway to peace and prosperity.
PM: We must help Haiti find solution
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has told Official Opposition leader Michael Pintard “to do his homework” before raising questions about the makeup of the country’s national debt.Last week, Mr Davis spoke of the country’s $12.131bn national debt at the opening Plenary Session of the Caribbean Regional Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in preparation for the COP27. He said that 50 percent or more of the sum was connected directly to conse quences of natural disasters. The disasters, Mr Davis said at the time, occurred between 2015 and 2019, requiring government to borrow money for recovery. In response, Mr Pintard called on the government to clarify the statement or sub stantiate the claim. Yesterday, Mr Davis said people with questions need only look at recent hurri canes along with the loss and damage associated with those“Whatevents. clarification (does) one need?” Mr Davis asked on the sidelines of an event at SuperClubs Breezes.“Let’s start with what is our national debt and let’s start with just Dorian and the loss and damage occa sioned by Dorian. It was about“Think$3.4bn. about our national debt and see what percentage that is and then just don’t think about Dorian. Let’s go back to Matthew. Let’s go back to Joaquin. Let’s go back to Irma and look at the loss and“Hedamage.needs to do his homework before he asks me questions. If he don’t believe it, check it out him self. At the end of the day, it is all there to see,” Mr DavisThoughsaid. Mr Pintard agreed that The Baha mas and other small island developing states bear the brunt of pollution from more developed nations, he on Monday called on the government to indicate the source of its calcula tion that 50 percent of the outstanding debt profile of $12.1 billion was caused by climate events between 2015 and 2019. “At the beginning of fiscal year 2015/16 the public sector debt stood at approximately $5.4 bil lion. To conclude that 50 percent of our current out standing debt came from climate events would mean that almost all the growth in the debt in that time would be attributable to climate change events that hap pened between 2015 and 2019,” said Mr Pintard. “It clearly leaves out the fiscal effects of the pandemic and the unprec edented steps that the then government had to take in order to support tens of thousands of displaced persons, while doing as much as possible to keep the economy afloat. The initiatives were supported unanimously by the then PLP in opposition and con tributed substantially to the increase in the debt pro file,” he said. Mr Pintard added that it is important that the gov ernment “maintains its credibility” when giving public statements and moves past “bemoaning” situations to actually gov erning and dealing with them.“We accept that climate change events over the years have caused restora tion efforts and revenue losses that have caused the country billions of dollars in necessary borrowing. But we believe it is impor tant that the government maintains its credibility in its public statements. It is thus important that the gov ernment substantiates its claims on the fiscal impact of the climate events or clarifies its statements.”
“There were several of them who we would need as witnesses. Those persons were kept. They remain in detention. The others were repatriated,” Mr Bell said. Last month Mr Davis said despite the world sug gesting that The Bahamas “should absorb all of those who leave Haiti”, the gov ernment will not open the country’s borders to irregu lar migration. He said this is because we do not have the resources to do so. According to the Associ ated Press, there is a “surge in Haitians fleeing their country” due to “rising violence, kidnappings and increasing economic crisis.”
The former prime min ister gave his post 2021 election view as a guest on Guardian Talk Radio’s “Z Live: Off the Record”, with host Zhivargo Laing. “First of all, I don’t know what decisions he thinks we have to make or what deci sions that we ought to have made,” Mr Davis said in response to a question from this newspaper.
DAVIS: WE’LL MAKE THE NECESSARY DECISIONS
PINTARD TOLD TO ‘DO HIS HOMEWORK’ ON NATIONAL DEBT
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
When The Tribune pointed to a view that his administration had not made a decision on the con troversial issue of marital rape or efforts to save the National Insurance Board fund since months ago being told in an actuarial review that it was in a dan gerous position, Mr Davis said: “I respond to that by saying that the decisions will be made in the time that we have. “My priority has been from I got elected to sta bilise our economy and our fiscal affairs, which has been in shambles. That is necessary.“Mysecond priority as well is to ensure I relieve the suffering upon the Bahamian people that was brought on by the aftermath of Dorian and wreaked by the handling of the virus and pandemic. I think we are heading in the right direction in respect to those“Otherresponses.issues will come. You talk about marital rape if you look in my Blue print for Change it’s not addressed at all. We are following our Blueprint for Change.“Iam not ashamed of what we have done and we have made the right decisions in the interest of the Bahamian people,” Mr Davis further said of the work of the govern ment nearly one year after being elected to office. Last Friday, Mr Ingra ham said the only major decision made by the Davis administration has been the reduction of value added tax to ten percent from 12 percent.“They have, since they’ve been in office, put on a first class show of public relations. I envy them. I could never have produced such a show when I was in office,” Mr Ingraham said at the time. “The public is very happy that the FNM govern ment is gone because they really wanted the FNM out and the public is willing to excuse many things that the present government is doing because they’re just happy to say ‘Well, at least they ain’t here now.’ “But as time goes on, they will be judged by the public as we all have been up to “They’venow. not done any thing major since they came in, except they reduced VAT from 12 to 10 percent and put it on breadbasket items and they were able to get away with that and the public accepted that 10 percent is better than 12 even though it’s costing lots of money for lots of people who can’t afford it. “But generally speak ing, they’re getting a good review by the population so far, but that’s on the surface. I expect that not long from now they will be held accountable for their actions or inaction just like everybody else.
“What I do know is they have been very reluctant to make decisions about anything that’s possibly controversial. As you know they can only push that back so far,” the former prime minister said.
He said more impor tant than that, the government needed to move past bemoaning the situation and get on with the job of governance.
“We call on the govern ment to lay out its detailed plan to improve the fiscal and economic situation and put the country on a solid foundation for sustained and inclusive economic growth. We also expect to see the plan to address the effects of climate change to ensure more robust and resilient infrastructure and greener means for generat ing power,” Mr Pintard said Monday.
“It is a concern and you have seen the despera tion of Haitian people in an attempt to escape the challenges that they are experiencing in Haiti,” Mr Davis said when asked if the issue could affect immi gration in The Bahamas. “And we have to be con cerned just for humanity. From a humanitarian point of view, you have to be concerned of the plight of our fellow human beings in Haiti and for The Bahamas. “It is a security issue as well because when they are coming to The Bahamas we have to look after them. We don’t know all of the issues that surround those persons who come and it is concern ing and we all ought to be concerned about it.” In a separate interview yesterday, Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell said he expects the number of migrants seeking refuge in The Bahamas to increase before the end of theThisyear.comes one month after a human smuggling tragedy on July 24, which resulted in the deaths of 17 Haitian migrants, after a boat carrying some 50 migrants overturned in rough seas near Blackbeard’s Cay. And on Monday, 111 irregular migrants were apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force near Guinchos Cay, as they were on the way to the capital. Mr Bell said the migrants, consisting of 92 men, 14 women and five children, would arrive in the capital within a day or two. “This goes in waves, every four or five years, you have a significant increase in the number of irregu lar migrants and as you all would appreciate what is going on in the south of the countries in the Caribbean, particularly in Haiti where there is political unrest and economic“Certainlyinstability.Cubahas been impacted by the Ukrain ian war, in terms of them being able to access goods and so therefore we have seen a significant increase in irregular migrants from Cuba and from Haiti,” Mr BellWhensaid.asked yesterday if he expects the number of migrants seeking refuge in The Bahamas to increase as the year continues, Mr Bell said, “Well from all indica tions the answer is yes.” He said that law enforce ment agencies and the United States Coast Guard are sufficiently dealing with the recent irregular migrant incidents.“Thegood thing is our law enforcement agencies along with our US Coast Guard, they’re doing a marvellous job in terms of intercepting them and ensuring that we detain them and, of course, then we repatriate them as quickly as we can,” Mr Bell said.In reference to those apprehended from the smuggling tragedy, Mr Bell said 15 of the surviv ing migrants along with 130 other Haitian migrants were sent back to their home countries last week. “They were repatriated along with a total of 130 irregular migrants from Haiti who were repatriated in one shot, “ Mr Bell said. He said those survivors sent back excluded those migrants needed as wit nesses for the case against those responsible for the smuggling operation.
Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net from page one
Davis yesterday.Photo:
“This is my administration, and we are making decisions in accord ance with the plan that we have set out. “It’s all contained in our blueprint for change and if you look at that those are the things we’re following. “What decisions he’s thinking about that we ought to make, well he had his opportunity when he was there. This is now the Davis administration and we’ll be making decisions as we deem necessary.”
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Austin Fernaner
THE Davis administration will make the decisions it con siders necessary, this nation’s leader insisted yesterday, as he dismissed former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s assertions about how the government has conducted business since taking office last“Thisyear. is my administra tion, and we are making decisions in accordance with the plan that we have set out,” Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday.Hewas asked by The Tribune to respond to Mr Ingraham’s view that the Davis administration had been reluctant to make deci sions on controversial issues. Mr Ingraham also con tended last Friday that the Progressive Liberal Party had put on a first class show of public relations and that while they appeared to be getting good reviews now, Bahamians would judge them on their actions or perceived inaction.
AT
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis speaking at a cyber security symposium yesterday.
The National CIRT establishment project started in March 2021. Many activities have been organised during the past year to assess the nation’s cybersecurity posture and enhance cyber resilience.
COVID CHANGES
DAVIS SPEAKS CYBER SECURITY SYMPOSIUM
‘PROTECT OUR NURSES - OR FACE POOR HEALTHCARE’ from page one
Photo: Austin Fernander
THE first national com puter incident response team stakeholder sympo sium was held yesterday at the SuperClubs Breezes resort.Inremarks to symposium participants, Prime Minis ter Philip “Brave” Davis said the development of the cyber security posture in the country underpinned the objectives for digital transformation, and estab lishment of the computer incident response team (CIRT) is a critical resource.
TOURISM, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper revealed COVID-19 protocols for cruise line visitors have been gazetted and are already in effect, bring ing them on board with guidelines in place for air travellers.Hesaid cruise lines are now required to put these guidelines in place and have the procedures validated and approved by the Minis try of ThisHealth.news comes after relaxations of COVID protocols for travellers entering the country. In June, Health and Well ness Minister Dr Michael Darville announced the government would remove its COVID-19 testing requirement for vaccinated people entering The Baha mas that month. “The protocols for cruise lines, harmonising them with air arrivals came into effect I believe yesterday,” Mr Cooper told reporters before the weekly Cabinet meeting.“Thishas been gazetted. I can provide a copy of this but in effect what happens now is that if you are vacci nated, you require no test to enter the country. If you’re unvaccinated, you require a PCR or a rapid antigen test. This has now been harmo nised for cruise arrivals as well as air arrivals. “Cruise lines (are) now required to put in place and have the procedures validated and approved by the Ministry of Health. We want to ensure that there’s proper monitoring and surveillance of passen gers onboard and we want to ensure that they have appropriate protocols and facilities onboard to handle positive COVID cases. So because of the prolonged stay of passengers onboard we considered some addi tional requirements for cruise lines but suffice to say for entry we’ve harmo nised the requirements.” Mr Cooper had also pre viously announced that the travel health visa will no longer be needed. How ever, unvaccinated people will still be required to pro duce a negative COVID-19 test before arrival in the country.Yesterday, he said the cruise business is important to the “Thecountry.Bahamas is a leader in the cruise business. We have been at the forefront of developing regulations for cruising during the pan demic – we’ve led the way. We work hand-in-hand with the cruise lines. We con sidered them our partners. We will continue this stride forward.“We’re blessed with proximity to the US. We’re attracting some five million cruise port passengers to our shores. We anticipate that this number is going to match five million closely this year and probably exceed it next year.” FOR CRUISES IN EFFECT
“These activities, which many of you have already been a part of, include the CIRT readiness assess ment and incident response training, cybersecurity capability maturity model assessment, developed by the Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre at the Uni versity of Oxford, and most importantly, the National Cybersecurity Strategy,” he said.“The National Cyber security Strategy (NCS), which outlines the coun try’s cybersecurity strategic principles, guidelines, and objectives, is in its final draft and is being prepared for Cabinet’s approval.”
The strategic assess ment, Mr Davis said, was conducted with the engage ment of cross functional stakeholders across the public and private sections. He said the government expected that the imple mentation of the national cybersecurity strategy will improve the security of our digital infrastructure and ultimately contribute to its broader socio-economic growth.
“I am delighted we see you all here today to engage in discussions with our cyberse curity experts and learn from their experience in building national cyber resilience.”
PAGE 4, Wednesday, August 24, 2022 THE TRIBUNE
critical initiatives for acceler ating the country’s economic growth and development. We also recognise that cybersecurity and cyber resilience are essential to developing a digital society and secure and protect every citizen of The Bahamas. “Ladies and gentlemen, cybersecurity is a journey, one that we cannot take alone. Cyber security is a whole community effort. Government, industry and individual citizens, we all have a part to play.
Mr Davis said: “The National CIRT will serve as a focal point for coordinat ing cybersecurity incident response to cyber-attacks— providing cybersecurity support services to govern ment, private organisations, and Bahamian citizens — particularly those in critical infrastructure and essential services - in order to defend against malicious cyber activities.“Inour Blueprint for Change, we identified cybersecurity as one of the
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net being taken care of in case of their emergencies and they don’t want their island to be without a nurse, the community will not agree to something like that, at least I would hope not because it stops health care services.
“And you know we are limited already with the shortage of nurses in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. So, we don’t know what is the reasoning. They are investigating what took place and we will wait to see what took place.” Ms Williams added, “We don’t want anybody to be at that type of risk. These nurses are making the sac rifice to go to these islands and their families are here. But they’re making the sacrifice and leaving eve rything to come and to do the service and ensure that the community stays healthy.”Afterthe destruction and loss of a nurse’s home and belongings due to the fire in Fresh Creek, Andros, on Friday, Ms Williams expressed concern for the community’s residents. She said the home where the nurse was staying was a rental from a close friend and the fire has caused undue loss and expense for multiple people. “The home belongs to the resident of Andros, but at the end of the day, it still is not a good feeling when someone comes in and burns down all of your property. So here again this puts your own commu nity at a loss, because that was your home girl from Andros. That’s her place you burned it down. You leave her with an expense. And it traumatises the com munity that someone would do something like that. It was also really traumatising for the nurses. It could’ve been resolved if there was anMsissue.”Williams said in the future, she hopes people with issues or problems with health care services go to the nursing office to make a report, before resorting to violence. “We always tell the community, write so that persons that are in charge will look at it and HR will see what the com plaint is and deal with the complaints of what is hap pening, because we have policies and rules and regulations that we must follow,” she said. “We can’t control the behaviour of an individual, but if there is a concern about something that you dislike, write (a) report to the nursing office on the island. So that if you are displeased with some of the services or have a problem — this may not even have been something for them to deal with, it may have been on a per sonal level. So we don’t know how to judge this event, unless the investi gation takes place and we leave it to the police offic ers to do their jobs,” Ms Williams said. Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Dar ville told The Tribune yesterday that the nurse affected is in the capital and his ministry is obligated to make certain there are no gaps in nursing on the Family“ThatIslands.issue is under investigation by the police. My ministry’s obligation is to fill the nursing gap. The nurse that was affected is presently in the capital,” Dr Darville said. He added that before the end of the year, the govern ment plans to ensure safety at Family Island clinics through the employment of over 120 trained security guards.“The cabinet of The Bahamas has approved the employment of over 120 trained security officers at clinics across the Family Islands. Training will be completed before the end of the year,” Dr Darville said.On Friday, August 12, an Andros nurse con tacted officers, after a fire broke out at her home, said police.Ateam of police officers from Nassau were expected to travel to Fresh Creek to investigate alleged death threats against the nurse and suspected arson of her home on the island, a local media outlet reported last week.
JITNEY drivers said they are still awaiting the details of the relief packages prom ised by the government. The Bahamas Uni fied Bus Drivers Union (BUBDU) has been vocal in its position for gov ernment to approve a passenger fare increase in recent months due to high gasoline costs. In July, numerous jitney drivers protested at RM Bailey Park for the govern ment to increase the fares. Drivers are proposing an increase in adult fares from $1.25 to $2, seniors from 75 cents to $1, junior and senior students from $1 to 1.25 and primary school stu dents to remain at 50 cents.
ColebyDavis had said earlier that “the first package is a temporary relief package that we’re working on and we’re hoping that one is sorted this week, which is what Minister Halkitis has promised me. That one I think would be assistance through vouchers for gas.”
When The Tribune con tacted Mrs Coleby-Davis yesterday she said: “There is no update. Awaiting an update from (Ministry of) Finance.”Theunion
JITNEY DRIVERS STILL WAITING GOVT RELIEF PACKAGES
page one
president also expressed concern for drivers frequently getting tickets for bus stop infrac tions on East Street and East Hill Street. Mr Taylor told The Trib une that this has been an ongoing matter from the previous administration and prevents bus drivers from providing services effectively.“Weare having an issue once again with officers giving tickets on top of the hill of East Street, which once was an official bus stop for the drivers,” he said. “Now it’s a storage hub and a parking lot for the American Embassy. We are to the point now where we can’t let passengers off at that point.” He added that passen gers have to disembark at the end of the road due to the fence covering the sidewalk.“Now we are at the point where persons have to disembark at the end of the road, not on the sidewalk because the fence has now covered the sidewalk as well. So, we are having members of the Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union having complaints and being approached by police officers and in some instances receiving tick ets,” he told The Tribune He urged police officers to use their discretion in the matter and remains hopeful the government can assist the union in resolving the dilemma.
PEDESTRIAN KILLED IN COLLISION
Rudolph Taylor, presi dent of BUBDU, told The Tribune jitney drivers are still “looking forward” to an update from the gov ernment about the relief package.“Onething we are look ing at is in reference to the assistance which was promised to the bus drivers, which was the end of last month, and we’re still look ing forward to it. Almost the end of this month and we haven’t heard anything back as yet, in reference to it,” he said. He said he made several attempts to contact Trans port Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis, but was unsuccessful.MrTaylor expressed the urgency of the matter as the drivers would like an update.Earlier this month, Mrs Coleby-Davis met with the drivers and had hoped to have the matter resolved the same week, how ever, there seems to be no resolution.Inaddition to meeting with drivers, the minister was said to meet with Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis and Minister of Eco nomic Affairs Michael Halkitis in regard to the reliefMrspackages.
FOR
When contacted for comment, activist Khandi Gibson, of Families of All Murder Victims, said that a lot of lives are being lost because killers are willing to get their “intended target” by any means necessary. She explained as crimi nals try to reach their pursued target, they are leaving a trail of “body bags” and “toe tags” of innocent people, but unfor tunately they do not care. Ms Gibson stressed that she has been saying repeat edly that anyone can be at the “wrong place at the wrong time” in the midst of the rising crime happening daily.She continued that police can reach out to those people whose lives are in danger and propose to move them to a safe place, in order to prevent others from pursuing to harm them or hurting those around“Rightthem.now, we need the full cooperation of mem bers of the public because the public’s ears are open, they hear what’s going on,” Ms Gibson added. She said the public is scared to confide in the police when incidents occur. “They’re scared that if they open their mouth the perpetrator is going to know it’s them, then come back and hurt them. So, we have to find a way where persons can feel safe in giving out information to members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, in the prevention of young women and men’s lives.” Yesterday, a neighbour of the deceased told The Tribune that the victim was of Haitian descent. He had reportedly just come from Haiti two months ago on a work permit. The neighbour described him as someone who was not troublesome or a bother to others. The victim was taken to hospital by a private vehi cle, where he died of his injuries.Thiscomes after 22-yearold Jorodly Avril was shot dead at a baby shower on Sunday. Four others — two juveniles ages 15 and 16-years-old and two adult men - were also injured. Loved ones think Avril was at the wrong place at the wrong time when he wasPoliceshot. are aggressively investigating Monday’s incident and appealing to members of the public who may have information that might assist them to contact 911/919, the Criminal Inves tigation Department at 502-9991/2, or Crime Stop pers at 328-TIPS.
Victim was not intended target of murderer from
THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 24, 2022, PAGE 5
POLICE press liason Chief Superintendant Chrislyn Skippings at the scene of last night’s traffic fatality. Photo: Austin Fernander A PEDESTRIAN was struck and killed on Independence Highway last night, policePresssaid.liaison officer Chrislyn Skippings said the victim was a 52-year-old man, believed to be a resident of Yellow Elder Gardens.Hewas reportedly on the highway around 8pm when he was hit by a woman driving a white SUV. The driver stayed on scene and is assisting police, CSP Skippings said.
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings @ tribunemedia.net
Some of the thinking about fees is interesting – such as the fee to expedite passport renewal in a single day. Some would say that’s a fee that is an extra for those who can afford it so it’s not an increased burden for those who can wait – but then again there’s the question of whether it’s fair to have a two-tier system. If the job can be done in a day, why have people been left to wait for weeks and months previously? As for overall taxation, the stated goal of increasing the Treasury’s income to the equivalent of 25 percent of gross domestic product within four years is a sure sign of increased costs ahead. It would be interesting indeed to know where such rises are planned – they cer tainly weren’t in the party’s manifesto at election time. As to that $90m tag on the expected income, to reach that sum must mean that the government has priced out areas in which it would raise funds from increased fees – but the infor mation about where exactly is being played close to the administration’s chest.The thing is, after seeing the impact to our economy of first Hurricane Dorian and then the pandemic, most people would recognise that our country isn’t in the greatest financial shape. If we need more money in the public purse after, for example, all the costs associated with feeding people during the pan demic who were left without jobs, that’s understandable.Sojustplayit straight, tell us what the government needs, and tell us how it’s going to get it. Instead, we face an uncertain list of possible extra fees – at the same time as the government is adding an extra 200 jobs in the tax department anyway. It might make people wonder how far that extra $90m will go. We have argued often in this column about the need for transparency – but it’s not just a need, it’s also a benefit. But once parties start on a path of not quite explaining the whole picture, it does make people wonder what else isn’t being told. So be clear with everyone – the mon ey’s going to be coming out of their pockets.
Firearms possession
EDITOR, The Tribune. JAMILLA Kennyatta Thomas, 33, inadvertently carried a live round of ammunition into the Baha mas. She was arrested at Lynden Pindling Inter national Airport on May 29th as she prepared to board a return flight to the US-Glendale, California. The bullet was a single 9mm round. Jamilla was pregnant, incurred travel delay and sustained mental distress over this event. She had to plead guilty to criminal possession of ammunition before a mag istrate and pay a serious fine to avoid prison. Similar heartbreak ing stories in the Cayman Islands and other Car ibbean destinations are common. They typically involve American tourists who hold firearm licences in the United States and who have used a piece of lug gage for travel that was also used in the past to contain firearms and/or ammuni tion. Unfortunately, firearm licenses in the United States are not recognised in the Bahamas or in Caribbean islands. These tourists have no intent whatsoever to transport ammunition into or out of their vacation des tinations. Many have stated that they checked their bags carefully before leaving to make sure there was no gun or ammunition inside. However, well inten tioned pre-travel inspections, and even inspections by TSA and other international secu rity services, fail to uncover small pieces of ammunition and pass security inspec tions as the offending item is caught in folds, tears or compartments of travel bags.There is a need for a model law to address situ ations like Jamilla’s and to decriminalise such con duct when the individual acted unintentionally. Such a law would look like this: Careless Possession of Ammunition: (1) Any person entering the ____ Islands or its surround ing waters in possession of 20 or fewer live rounds of ammunition because of carelessness, inattentive ness, or inadvertentance, will be considered to be in careless possession of ammunition. (2) Any person who violates this section shall be subject only to a civil cost of up to $500. (3) The ammuni tion shall be confiscated and not returned to the individual. (4) This sec tion applies to: a. Persons entitled to possess the ammunition in their state, province and/or country of origin. b. Shotgun ammu nition .10 gauge or smaller, pistol ammunition .45 caliber or smaller and/or rifle ammunition smaller than .50 caliber. (5) This section shall not apply to any subsequent careless possession of ammunition occurring after the first infraction.Amodel law as pro posed would decriminalise inadvertent, unintentional conduct and grant the offending tourist one noncriminal error. And, the traveller would have due warning to refrain from using luggage previ ously containing a gun or ammunition without the emotional distress of being accused of criminal con duct and its consequences, potential prison time.
Ingraham’s continued distractions LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Get ready to pay extra in fees
ON THE 30th anniver sary of the Free National Movement’s 1992 election victory, Hubert Ingraham took the opportunity to double down on some of the organisation’s founda tional and self-justifying myths. Having spent years close enough to the bosom of Mr Ingraham’s party, I have heard all of these nar ratives repeatedly. They do not withstand serious scrutiny.Those who fund the Free National Movement would like us to believe that the big distinction between the parties is essentially managerial, rather than ideological and that “good” government is defined by the personal judgment or ethical probity of particular politicians.Thisis a convenient distraction from issues like the structure of the economy, the distribution of wealth and the burden of taxation, all of which were and remain the pri mary concern of those funders, yet place them distinctly at odds with the mass of the population. Hence the need for distraction.Thedistraction reached its nauseating zenith when, having seized power and begun to dismantle NHI, raise taxes on the poor and remove Bahamianisa tion protections (via the Commercial Enterprises Act), former Prime Minis ter Hubert Minnis alleged that the biggest issue facing Bahamians was corruption.Minnismade this asser tion of a country that consistently ranks among the least corrupt in the hemisphere, but also hap pens to feature one of the most structurally regressive tax systems in the world, which he and his colleagues were about to make more so.Though Minnis and his colleagues went on to spoil the distraction by exposing the hollowness and hypoc risy of the FNM’s claims of being less corrupt than its rival, Mr Ingraham’s hint that his heir is more like the PLP than like him demonstrates that there is still life in the grand game of distraction and personalisation.Butalookat the facts discloses little material dis tinction. With Ingraham, as with Minnis, the big deci sions always ultimately reflected the interests of those who fund the Free National Movement. And the big decisions of the Ingraham government, whose effects will last and impact us the most, are not the licensing of pri vate radio stations or the decision not to appoint Members of Parliament to utilityTheyboards.arethe giveaway of BTC, the gifting of New Providence’s monopolized port to a group of tradi tionally dominant families and the removal of protec tions over Bahamian land, marginalising the aver age Bahamian from land ownership with no com pensational boost to the treasury or to spending on Bahamians.
ANDREW ALLEN AugustNassau. 23,2022
EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE devil’s in the detail, so they say. When the PLP was on the campaign trail, a reduction in VAT rates was very much on the party’s hymn sheet. The removal of breadbasket items from VAT exemption once they got into power? That didn’t get mentioned so much, but that’s what we got. Back when the Budget was being touted, questions were raised about how the PLP administration would find where the income would be coming from, Minister for Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis was very firm in saying there would be no new taxes as it would be “counterproductive” to economic recovery.InMay, he said: “We think that we can get a substantial amount of funds by improving our collection.” He added: “We’re still in recovery mode from COVID and so our view is it’s better to keep the taxes as they are, improve the administration and focus on growing the economy.” Which brings us to today’s Tribune, in which we report that the government intends to raise an extra $90m from increasing user fees paid by Bahamians for a variety of public services. Of course, that raises the question of when is a tax really a tax? A tax is a compulsory payment by a taxpayer, while fees tend to be voluntary – but how voluntary will some of these fees trulyForbe?that, we have to wait to see where the charges rise. We don’t know yet where such fee changes may come – but it could be in areas such as the Road Traffic Department for driver and vehicle licensing, inspection and registration fees, or perhaps over at the Registrar General where birth, mar riage and death certificate fees might come under the microscope, as well as perhaps company registration fees and incorporation fees. Police character cer tificates and immigration processing fees might also be included. Call it a fee if you like, but the hole in your wallet will be the same size as if you call it a tax. And we suspect Mr Halkitis will find that extra costs from fees are just as counterproductive as extra costs from taxes.
A HORSE from the Garrison Savannah Racetrack rolls on the beach off the Caribbean Sea during its daily swim and bath near Bridgetown, Barbados, on Monday. Photo: Ramon Espinosa/AP
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master” LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt . Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991 EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972Published daily Monday to Friday Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES News & General Information (242) 322-1986 Advertising Manager (242) 502-2394 Circulation Department (242) 502-2386 Nassau fax (242) 328-2398 Freeport, Grand Bahama (242)-352-6608 Freeport fax (242) 352-9348 WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com @tribune242 tribune news network PAGE 6, Wednesday, August 24, 2022 THE TRIBUNE
BRIAN B BOLTON, Esq, BCS Lake Mary, Florida August 2022.
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Vital also faced charges of fraud by false pretences and attempted fraud by false pretences. Mean while both men faced a shared charge of abetment to commit fraud by false pretences.OnMarch 1, Vital is said to have fraudulently obtained a residence spouse permit from the Bahamas Department of Immigration with the aid and abetment of both male accused. Then on August 16, Vital tried to use this same permit to obtain an NIB smart card knowing it was not genuine. In court, all three defend ants pleaded not guilty to all the respective charges against them. Both men were granted bail at $6,000 with one or two sureties each, but with no sign in conditions imposed. However, Vital was denied bail at this time because she has no status in theHercountry.bail hearing was deferred until August 24 while the court awaits an update from the Bahamas Department of Immigra tion in relation to her case. All three defendants are to return to court for men tion on October 19.
THREE ACCUSED OVER FIREARMS
THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 24, 2022, PAGE 7
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THREE Freeport men accused of importing fire arms into the Bahamas were charged in a Free port Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.Tristan Dorsette, 31, of Nansen Avenue; Alex Neely, 22, of Grenfell Avenue; and Ian Walker, 30, of Man-o-War Circle, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson in Court One. The men were charged with possession of an unli censed firearm, possession of ammunition, and the importing of firearms into the Bahamas. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.Dorsette was granted $9,000 bail with three sure tors, along with $1,000 cash. Neely was granted $8,000 bail with three sure tors, along with $1,000 cash. However, Walker was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Corrections.
$500 BAIL FOR SUSPECT ACCUSED OF CAUSING HARM
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was put on six months probation after admitting to owning drugs for which his girlfriend had been arrested when police found the contraband in theirD’metrihome.Cleare, 33, and Victoria Newbold, 33, both of Roberta Drive, Ridge land Park, faced Magistrate Shaka Serville on a charge of possession of dangerous drugs.On August 22, the two were arrested by authori ties after a search of their residence under a warrant uncovered 2oz of Indian hemp.Victoria Newbold pleaded not guilty to the offence; her boyfriend Cleare pleaded guilty to the charge and took full responsibility.Clearetold the court that he was at work when his girlfriend — the mother of his child — was arrested. When he found out that Newbold was being detained, he immediately admitted to the police that he was the sole owner of theItdrugs.wasfor these reasons that Cleare begged the court to spare his girlfriend in the matter. In view of his request and with the assent of prosecutor Sergeant Deon Barr, Magistrate Seville acquitted Newbold for the offence and offi cially discharged her. When asked by the magistrate if he had any previous matters before the court, Cleare admitted to a previous drug convic tion from 2008 to 2009. For this offence the accused is said to have attended counselling.Cleare attributed his relapse into drug use as a coping mechanism from grief over the death of his mother.After taking into con sideration that Cleare is the father of two young children, for whom he pro vides as a tiler and painter, the magistrate refrained from convicting him. Instead Magistrate Ser ville imposed a conditional discharge, placing him on probation. During this time Cleare is expected to attend counselling.Shouldhe default on these conditions he would face a $500 fine or one month in prison. Cleare is expected to return to court for a report on his counsel ling on February 10, 2023.
A HAITIAN woman was arraigned yesterday accused of using a fraudu lent spousal permit to try to obtain an NIB smart card.Jasmide Vital, 42, was one of three people charged in Magistrate’s Court yesterday with fraud offences.Bahamians Lynden Ferguson, 51, and Peter Ferguson,65, also appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville on charges for this fraudulent scheme. Vital and Lynden Fergu son initially faced charges of entering into a fraudu lent marriage and all three accused faced a conspiracy to commit marriage fraud charge; however these charges were dropped. After consultation between the prosecution, the magistrate and the defendants’ lawyers, the court moved to have the three defendants acquitted and discharged on those respective counts.
A MAN, charged with attacking his girlfriend, was granted $500 bail in Magis trate’s Court yesterday. Saddam Rolle, 32, stood before Magistrate Shaka Serville charged with caus ingHeharm.isaccused of harming the woman during an argu ment on August 15. In court, Rolle pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Woman accused of using fraudulent spousal permit
MAN ADMITS OWNING DRUGS AFTER HIS GIRLFRIEND ARRESTED
With no objections to bail from Prosecutor Sergeant Deon Barr, the accused was granted $500 bail with one or two Rolle’ssureties.trialwill begin on September 29. In a separate case, another man was ordered to pay $3,000 bail after alleg edly attacking another man and stealing $700 worth of hisWesleyproperty.Victor, 47, repre sented by attorney Akire Nicolls, faced Magistrate Kendra Kelly on charges of causing harm and stealing. He is accused of com mitting the offence against Averie Anderson on August 12 on Gladstone Road. On the same day the accused is also said to have stolen Anderson’s $300 radiator fan, $200 radiator and $200 condenser fan. In court, the accused pleaded not guilty to both charges. Magistrate Kelly then granted Victor $3,000 bail with one or two sureties. Victor’s trial is set for August 29.
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
By WallaceAlicia
Tips for going back to school
2. Encourage hydration. It is hot. We know it. Many schools do not have air condi tioning, and we all experience the electricity out ages that make it difficult to func tion. Encourage your children to drink water. Yes, juice is great at lunch time, but drinking water throughout the day is necessary for good health. Ensure that your children take a bottle of water to school every day, and try to pack it so that it stays at the temperature they like so they are more likely to drink it. If one bottle is not enough, pack more or encourage them to refill at school. Just as important as encouraging them to drink water is ensuring that administration and teachers understand that children need to drink water, and that means they will need to go to the restroom. They should not be prevented from using the restroom as needed, and parents need to push schools to move away from denying restroom use as a lazy form of discipline or classroom management.
5. Adjust responsibili ties. During the summer months, many parents and guardians try to create structure for their children, and this often includes responsibilities. Children may have additional house hold chores, help with younger children, get small jobs (including with family members and friends of the family), and enroll in other activities. Some of these things may not be realistic during the school year. It may be necessary to cut back on werewhentheyenergydrenistakesItpassivelearningRememberchores.thatisnotaactivity.iswork,anditenergy,soitnormalforchiltohavelessforthingsusedtodotheirdaysmostlyfree.
8. Ask for help. Needing help is not a character flaw. There are organisations, groups, and individuals will ing to help prepare children for school, from purchas ing uniforms and snacks to paying for hair braiding for the first day. If you are not comfortable reaching out to family members or friends, look for posts on social media, particularly in Baha mian Facebook groups and on the pages of non-govern mental organisations to see what is being offered. It is okay to ask for help, and it is okay to accept it too.
Photo: Austin Fernander
THE DIGGISS Foundation offering items in a back to school giveaway at the Albury Sayle Primary School at the weekend.
Lunch can be tricky, but be open to hearing from your child, particularly about whether they would like to have packed lunch or purchase a hot lunch at school if you are able to be flexible. Some children would rather buy lunch with their friends, some like to bring leftovers from dinner, and some like to trade items from their lunch bags. If they find it embar rassing to have a packed lunch, they may toss it in the trash, then find it dif ficult to focus in the last hour of the school day. There can also be issues with the lunches avail able at school, from lack of attention to allergies and dietary restrictions to lines that are too long for every one to be served in enough time to eat and enjoy. Pay attention, ask questions, and make changes where possible.
6. Show genuine interest. Children are asked, over and over again, the same empty question. “How was school?” It is simi lar to “How are you?” as it prompts the automatic response of “fine” from most people. It feels like a question that is asked as a matter of routine rather than true interest. Ask more open questions. Did anything interesting happen today? What did you do at lunch time? Do you have any projects coming up soon? Ask them how they feel about specific classes, and note that this is a differ ent question from how they are doing in the class. Have real conversations abut their day, what they found challenging, what was enjoyable, and how they are working to meet expec tations. Make an effort to focus on more than their academic performance.
4. Provide necessary sup plies. It is already a bit late to start buying supplies, but many are waiting for the VAT-free days as they continue to save. Buying textbooks is always a chal lenge as the prices are high and the supply always seems to be below the demand. Whether you have to wait for a new shipment, find a used book, or just keep searching local book stores and online stores, it may be a few weeks before your children have every thing they need. Remember that it can be anxiety-induc ing for children to go to school knowing they do not have everything they need. Although they may not tell you, they may be worrying about homework assign ments they would struggle to complete without the book, or being penalised for not bringing the book to class. Get ahead of these issues by giving your chil dren letters for the teachers to explain the missing items. If you can, send emails as well, but the hardcopies will be helpful for your children in case teachers claim they never received your emails.
theyeverythingdoknowinggochildreninducingbethat‘Rememberitcananxiety-fortotoschooltheynothaveneed.’
3. Get comfortable attire. Most schools require stu dents to wear uniforms, but it should not be taken for granted that this is simple and comfortable. Pay atten tion to fit and comfort, and recognise that they are not the same thing. An arti cle of clothing may fit and still be uncomfortable. An article of clothing can also present challenges to chil dren who struggle with motor skills. Ties can be uncomfortable and diffi cult to put on. Are there alternatives? How can this be made easier? The same goes for shoes. Fit is just one element, and there is more to consider, including durability and comfort.
PAGE 8, Wednesday, August 24, 2022 THE TRIBUNE
7. Help others out. As simple as the previous six suggestions may seem, they are challenging for people with low incomes, very little time to spend at home, no car, and parenting alone. Children benefit from com munity and understanding that they are a part of it and have important roles to play. If one of their friends never has lunch, consider sending an extra sandwich. If another child has no way to get home from volley ball practice and your child is going, offer that ride. Encourage your children to help others, whether it is working through a diffi cult math word problem or tying their tie after physi cal education. Model good citizenship and community living by demonstrating and practising care for others.
THE school year is about to begin, and parents and guardians are trying to get ready. There are still uniforms to buy, books to source, rides to arrange, and schedules to set, re-work, and set again. As happy as adults are about school reo pening, it is challenging to shift from summer break to all-day school, five days per week. The to-do list may seem short, but requires quite an investment of time and energy, along with the will to brave the heat and traffic if you are in New Providence. Before the school-is-reopening hustle and bustle turns into the rush to get everyone to school and work on time, it can be helpful to make a plan that would make the transition easier and set children up for a good year. For every family, and even for every child, that are systems and practices that can be put in place to help them to succeed. Chil dren need to be equipped to enter and participate in the learning environment. Simply dropping them into a classroom does not work for most children. Here are eight ways to prepare for a good school year and support children from Sep tember to June. 1. Provide nutritious meals. We all know this is one of the most important factors in all of our lives. Not only does food give us physical energy, but it helps our brains to function. During the summer months, we have seen how much children can eat, how their activities affect their appe tites, and how meals can help them to understand the structure of the day. Break fast is one of the best parts of the beginning of the day. As the first meal, it sets the tone. Give children some thing nutritious that they enjoy. Just as all adults do not like breakfast food, all children do not like break fast food. For those who do not like eggs and bacon and may not enjoy pancakes or french toast, consider other options. Cereals, yogurt, fruit, granola, sandwiches, or even smoothies may be preferred. For some, it could be fun to make smoothie bowls. Decide on a delicious base, and allow children to choose from an assortment of toppings. It’s quick, it gives them some autonomy, and ensures they get a few food groups in before they even leave the house.
“The gate people were coming from was at the end. They only just changed the gate entrance yesterday (Saturday) in the front of where the vendors’ booth was positioned, and that was better and you were able to make a couple of dollars. But we paid $400 for the booth and still it was not profitable and that’s not including our inventory we had to purchase. “I still have inventory in my fridge because the business was just not there,” Ms Smith said. She hopes that things are different the next time an event is held at the complex.TheNACAC Champion ships were held in Freeport for the first time on August 19–21. Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg and Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey hailed the event as a success and said the economic benefit was wide spread on the island.
“So that nonsense what was put out there that they got up and left when Wednesday they were in the place where they were staying from day one.” Bowleg said false report ing to generate headlines is mischievous.“Itisjust again wicked for lack of a better word when media houses will go out there put things out there that they know is not factual.“Itis not about who has the best story or lead story because sometimes you want to get the lead story and then you destroy your country by putting the lead story that is very false.”
MINISTER DISAPPOINTED AT FALSE REPORT ABOUT ATHLETES BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
PAGE 10, Wednesday, August 24, 2022 THE TRIBUNE
ONE of the vendors at the event in Grand Bahama. Photos: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff
THE NACAC Champi onships brought excitement and economic boost for Grand Bahama, however many of the small vendors at the event left “disap pointed” over poor sales and placement of the booths.“This was an epic failure for many of us,” said one vendor of the three-day event.The vendors believe that placement of the booths in the parking lot outside the stadium away from spec tators was one of three reasons for the lack of foot traffic and Mayloisesales.Ramsey, and her sister, were among dozens of vendors who paid $400 for a booth at the Grand Bahama sports com plex. The sisters, as well as other vendors, said they did not make enough sales to even cover the cost of the booth, much less the cost for“Weinventory.paid $400 for the booths out here. This was really an epic failure for many of us,” she said in a recent interview. In addition to the poor booth placement, the ven dors outside were not allowed to sell sodas and water at the event. “The stipulation was that you could not sell sodas and water because they were selling it on the inside for $2. And so, when people were coming outside for it, we could not sell it,” Ms Ramsey said. She noted that the spectator entrances were positioned way off to the far side of the parking lot some distance away from where the booths were set up in the centre. “Many people did not know we were here until about 7pm on Friday even ing when they did finally announce it,” recalled Ms Ramsey. “So, this was an epic failure, especially for the vendors who paid so much money. We did not even make our $400 back to be honest and I am highly disappointed.”MsRamsey felt that the booths should have been set up somewhere inside the complex rather than outside in the parking lot.
SEVEN people, including five Americans, were injured when a flatbed truck collided with another vehicle in Exuma on Monday night, police said. The accident took place after 8pm in the area of Flamingo Bay when a white Jeep Wrangler with five Americans and a flatbed truck occupied by two Bahami ans collided while travelling in opposite directions on Queen’s Highway, police said in a crime report.Following the collision, Exuma police arrived on the scene. The Bahamian male driver of the flatbed truck with his female pas senger, who both received serious injuries, were removed from the vehicle and taken to the Exuma health care facility. The five Americans, who were also taken to the clinic, were listed in serious condition as well, saidYesterday,police. Deputy Prime Min ister Chester Cooper sent his sympathies to the families of the seven people. He said they were airlifted to New Providence to receive care. The Tourism, Aviation and Investments Minister, who also represents Exuma, said: “I have the preliminary information from the police reports. Appar ently there were five tourists and two locals injured. They were transported by air ambu lance last night at about 11.30 pm and they are receiving care. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them and their families as more information becomes available.”Thismost recent car accident in Exuma was the second car accident this month, following the tragic death of 30-year-old Shaquille Williams in New Provi dence ten days ago.
SEVEN PEOPLE INJURED IN EXUMA ROAD COLLISION By LETRE SWEETING
“We should have been on the inside because once people are inside you don’t want to move or come back outside, and it was really hot and the spectators want to be able to catch all the races. So had they set up the vendors on the inside it would have been more successful. But it was a failure.”Another frustrated vendor who did not wish to be named said it was a big loss for her and she would not want to do it again. The woman was also upset that they were pro hibited from selling soft drinks and water in the parking lot to people. “In reality, it has been disappointing, especially being one of the first ven dors to make payment for the booth,” said the woman. “There are some people making money, but for the most part not many. The location is also poor because people are on the inside sit ting down and they are not going to come outside to purchase something to eat.” The elderly woman said although she was first to pay for a booth, she was given one in the back line. “So that makes it hurtful, it is just not right. I would not come back again,” she complained.TriskySmith was also unhappy about not being able to sell soda and water. Conditions were hot and it was felt that one entity should not be able to solely capitalise from selling soft drinks and water.
On Thursday, Minis ter for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey reported that a transformer blew and created challenges that resulted in some athletes being moved to another property.
MINISTER of Sports Mario Bowleg expressed strong disappointment over “false” reports by a media house that athletes left the island because of accommo dation issues at the Grand Lucayan Resort. He branded the report as “nonsense” and was concerned that it could potentially destroy what the government is doing to bring major events back to GrandBowlegBahama.stated that none of the athletes left the island at any time because of accommodation issues at the resort in Lucaya. “The Jamaican team never left, and I am very disappointed in that media house who put that out there as if they picked and left yesterday,” the minister said.In fact, the minister said those athletes had never even checked in there. “Jamaica never spent one night in that hotel. They came there and I met them and the US (team) there (at Our Lucaya) and we told them they were not staying there.”“Imade the decision personally, and I told Min ister for Grand Bahama we will not allow them to stay in there based on what we were experiencing. When they got there both (teams) asked why can’t they stay in the village as they expected. So, we had them tour the village and after they toured it, they agreed to go exactly where we wanted them to go.”
“I feel it is not practi cal because we could not sell things like the drinks, and they had people on the inside catering while we were on the outside not making money,” she said. She also mentioned that the placement of the entrance gate was an issue for them as well.
Vendors unhappy over placement of booths
MORE
THAN 100 CLASSIFIED TRUMP DOCUMENTS RECOVERED IN JANUARY
A JURY yesterday convicted two men of con spiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whit mer in 2020, delivering swift verdicts in a plot that was broken up by the FBI and described as a rallying cry for a US civil war by antigovernment extremists. The result was a big vic tory for the US Justice Department. A different jury just four months ago couldn’t reach unanimous decisions on Adam Fox or Barry Croft Jr but acquitted two other men, a stunning conclusion that led to a secondTheirtrial.arrests nearly two years ago came at an extremely tense time: the volatile homestretch of the election between Joe Biden and then-President Donald Trump playing out against a backdrop of armed pro tests over COVID-19 restrictions, especially in Michigan.Juryselection in the retrial of Fox and Croft coincidentally occurred a day after FBI agents searched Trump’s Mar-aLago estate for documents, putting the agency in head lines at the same time that the judge was trying to detect any biases about law enforcement in the jury pool.Fox and Croft were con victed of two counts of conspiracy related to the kidnapping scheme and attempts to use a weapon of mass destruction. Pros ecutors said they wanted to blow up a bridge to dis rupt police if the abduction could be pulled off at Whit mer’s vacation home. Croft, 46, a trucker from Bear, Delaware, was also convicted of another explosives charge. The jury deliberated for roughly eight hours over two days.
US to send $3 billion in aid to Ukraine as war hits six months
PRESIDENT Joe Biden is set to announce his long-delayed move to forgive up to $10,000 in federal student loans for many Americans and extend a pause on payments to January.Biden has faced pressure from liberals to provide broader relief to hard-hit borrowers, and from mod erates and Republicans questioning the fairness of any widespread for giveness. The delay in Biden’s decision has only heightened the anticipation for what his own aides acknowledge represents a political no-win situation. The precise details of Biden’s plan, which will include an income cap limiting the forgiveness to only those earning less than $125,000 a year, were being kept to an unusually small circle within the Biden admin istration and were still not finalised on the eve of the announcement.
TWO CONVICTED OF PLOTTING TO KIDNAP MICHIGAN GOV WHITMER
The plan would likely eliminate student debt entirely for millions of Americans and wipe away at least half for millions more. The nation’s federal student debt now tops $1.6 trillion after balloon ing for years. More than 43 million Americans have federal student debt, with almost a third owing less than $10,000 and more than half owing less than $20,000, according to the latest federal data. The continuation of the pan demic-era payment freeze comes just days before millions of Ameri cans were set to find out when their next student loan bills will be due. This is the closest the administra tion has come to hitting the end of the payment freeze extension, with the current pause set to end Aug. 31.Today’s announcement was set for the White House after Biden returns from vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The administra tion had briefly considered higher education schools in the president’s home state for a larger reveal, but scaled back their plans. Biden was initially skeptical of student loan debt cancellation as he faced off against more pro gressive Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, who had proposed cancel lations of $50,000 or more, during the 2020 primaries. As he tried to shore up support among younger voters and prepare for a general election battle against then-President Donald Trump, Biden unveiled his initial proposal for debt cancellation of $10,000 per borrower, with no mention of an incomeBidencap.narrowed his campaign promise in recent months by embracing the income limit as soar ing inflation took a political toll and as he aimed to head off political attacks that the cancellation would benefit those with higher take-home pay. But Democrats, from members of congressional leadership to those facing tough re-election bids this November, have pushed the admin istration to go as broad as possible on debt relief, seeing it in part as a galvanizing issue, particularly for Black and young voters this fall. The frenzied last-minute lob bying continued Tuesday even as Biden remained on his summer vacation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, one of the loudest advocates in recent years for canceling student loan debt, spoke privately on the phone with Biden, imploring the president to forgive as much debt as the administration can, according to a Democrat with knowledge of the call.
circulatingomicronwerecineyoungsterstodummyamongwerethree-dosePfizer’sbetweenlysedCOVID-19.nesstranslatedliminaryButvirus-fightingproducedingbasedandcineauthorisedPediatrics.themid-August,agottenthroughyoungstersOnlyJuneerstoddlersVaccinationsyesterday.forbabies,andpreschoolopenedintheUSinaftermonthsofdelay.aboutsixpercentofagessixmonthsfouryearshadatleastonedoseofCOVID-19vaccinebyaccordingtoAmericanAcademyofHealthauthoritiestot-sizedvacdosesmadebyPfizeritspartnerBioNTechonastudyshowtheyweresafeandhighlevelsofantibodies.therewasonlypredataonhowthatintoeffectiveagainstsymptomaticThenewupdateanaCOVID-19diagnosesMarchandJuneinongoingstudyofthevaccine.There21COVID-19casesthe351totswhogotshots--comparedjust13amongthe794giventhreevacdoses.ThechildcasesprimarilycausedbytheBA.2versionthatwasatthetime. PFIZER SHOTS 73% EFFECTIVE IN UNDER-FIVES AssociatedWASHINGTONPress
The National Archives had asked the Justice Department to investigate after saying that it had located classified mate rial among the 15 boxes of records it retrieved from Mar-a-Lago that it said should have been turned over by Trump at the end of his White House tenure. In the letter, archi vist Wall writes that in those boxes, the National Archives had identified items marked as classified at the top secret level as well as information about special access programs. It says the records included over 100 docu ments with classified markings, “comprising more than 700 pages” and cites an excerpt from sepa rate correspondence from the Justice Department’s National Security Division saying that “access to the materials is not only nec essary for purposes of our ongoing criminal inves tigation” but also for an “assessment of the potential damage” resulting from the manner in which the docu ments were transported and stored.
PFIZER’S COVID19 vaccine was 73 percent effective in protect ing children younger than five as omicron spread in the spring, the company announced
THE National Archives and Records Administra tion recovered more than 100 documents bearing classified markings, totaling more than 700 pages, from an initial batch of 15 boxes retrieved from Mar-a-Lago earlier this year, according to newly public DonaldagomentssecretclearTrumpcorrespondencegovernmentwiththelegalteam.ThenumbersmakethelargevolumeofgovernmentdocurecoveredmonthsfromformerPresidentTrump’sFlorida
“Given Russia’s track record in Ukraine, we are concerned about the continued threat that Russian strikes pose to civilians and civilian infrastructure,” it said. Other NATO allies are also marking the independence day with new aid Germanannouncements.ChancellorOlaf Scholz said his country is providing more than 500 million euros (nearly $500m) in aid, including power ful anti-aircraft systems. The aid will also include rocket launchers, ammunition, anti-drone equipment, a dozen armored recovery vehicles and and three additional IRIS-T long-range air defense systems, the German news agency dpa reported. The funding must still be approved by parliament, and some of it won’t be delivered until next year.And Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $3.85m for two Ukraine projects through the Peace and Stabilisation Opera tions Programme. It includes about $2.9m in funding for ongoing development of Ukraine’s national police force and other emergency services, and about $950,000 to help advise Ukraine’s defence ministry.Todate, the US has provided about $10.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including 19 packages of weapons taken directly from Defence Department stocks since August 2021. US defence leaders are also eyeing plans that will expand train ing for Ukrainian troops outside their country, and for militaries on Europe’s eastern and southern flanks that feel most threatened by Russia’s aggression.
Corcoran had weeks ear lier requested additional time to review the materi als in the boxes before the National Archives pro duced them to the FBI so that he could deter mine whether any specific document was subject to executive privilege and therefore exempt from dis closure, according to the letter.The letter was made public yesterday on the website of the National Archives. It was released on Monday night on a website launched by John Solo mon, who was appointed by Trump in June to be one of his designated repre sentatives to the National Archives and who is a Trump ally and conserva tiveThejournalist.archivist’s letter says the Justice Department had found “no precedent for an assertion of execu tive privilege by a former President against an incum bent President to prevent the latter” from obtaining from the National Archives presidential records that belong to the federal gov ernment and that are needed for current govern ment business. As a result, the letter said, claims of executive privilege would not be hon ored and the FBI would be given access to the docu ments in a matter of days.
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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted the more extended focus yesterday as he reaffirmed the alliance’s support for the conflict-torn country. “Winter is coming, and it will be hard, and what we see now is a grinding war of attrition. This is a battle of wills, and a battle of logis tics. Therefore we must sustain our support for Ukraine for the long term, so that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation,” Stoltenberg said, speaking at a virtual conference about Crimea, organised by Ukraine. Six months after Russia invaded, the war has slowed to a grind, as both sides trade combat strikes and small advances in the east and south. Both sides have seen thou sands of troops killed and injured, as Russia’s bombardment of cities has killed countless innocent civilians.There are fears that Russia will intensify attacks on civilian infrastructure and government facilities in Ukraine in the coming days because of the independence holiday and the six-month anniver sary of the invasion. Late Monday, the US Embassy in Ukraine and the State Depart ment issued a new security alert for Ukraine that repeated a call for Americans in the country to leave due to the danger.
Down-to-the-wire decisionmaking has been a hallmark of the Biden White House, but the particular delay on student loans reflects the vexing challenge con fronting him in fulfilling a key campaign promise.
estate, well before FBI offi cials returned there with a search warrant on August 8 and removed an additional 11 sets of classified records. The warrant reveals an FBI investigation into the potential unlawful posses sion of the records as well as obstruction of justice. The figures on documents were included in a May 10 letter in which acting archi vist Debra Steidel Wall told a lawyer for Trump, Evan Corcoran, that the Biden administration would not be honoring the former president’s protective claims of executive privi lege over the documents.
BIDEN READIES STUDENT LOAN HELP AND PAYMENT PAUSE
AS RUSSIA’S war on Ukraine drags on, US security assistance is shifting to a longer-term campaign that will likely keep more Ameri can military troops in Europe into the future, including imminent plans to announce an additional roughly $3bn in aid to train and equip Ukrainian forces to fight for years to come, US officials said. US officials told The Associated Press that the package is expected to be announced today, the day the war hits the six-month mark and Ukraine celebrates its independ ence day. The money will fund contracts for as many as three types of drones, and other weapons, ammunition and equipment that may not see the battlefront for a year or two, they said. The total of the aid pack age — which is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and is the largest to date— could change a bit overnight, but not likely by much. Officials said that it will include money for the small, hand-launched Puma drones, the longer-endurance Scan Eagle surveillance drones, which are launched by catapult, and, for the first time, the British Vampire drone system, which can be launched off ships. Unlike most previous packages, the new funding is largely aimed at helping Ukraine secure its mediumto long-term defence posture, according to the officials familiar with the matter. Earlier shipments, most of them done under Presi dential Drawdown Authority, have focused on Ukraine’s more immediate needs for weapons and ammunition and involved materiel that the Pentagon already has in stock that can be shipped in short order.Inaddition to providing longerterm assistance that Ukraine can use for potential future defense needs, the new package is intended to reassure Ukrainian officials that the United States intends to keep up its support, regardless of the day-to-day back and forth of the conflict, the officials said.
THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 24, 2022, PAGE 11
US Air Force Staff Sgt Cody Brown, right, with the 436th Aerial Port Squadron, checks pallets of 155mm shells ultimately bound for Ukraine in April, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP
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The tennis great and Meghan, who are friends, spoke at length on Tues day’s episode about the challenges of balancing high
TONIGHTTHEWINGSSUNJONESJONQUELANDTOFACEONROAD
TEAM SPIRIT: Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield, of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, speaks yesterday during a press conference ahead of Team Bahamas’ game against Venezuela in the 2023 FIBA Americas Cup Qualifier on Thursday night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Also pictured are Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg and Jurelle Nairn-Mullings, BBF secretary.
— Serena Williams and Meghan recount chal lenges they’ve experienced as working mothers on the Duchess of Sussex’s first podcast, including stories of having to work soon after scary incidents involving theirWilliams,children. a 23-time Grand Slam champion who said recently “the count down has begun” to her retirement, recounted on Meghan’s “Archetypes” Spotify podcast Tuesday that she played a match at the 2018 French Open after a nearly sleepless night after her daughter, Olym pia, broke her wrist. “I somehow managed to win, but I was so emotion ally spent and just like so emotionally drained that it was, it was crazy. And, you know, and then like every night after that, I just was with her the whole time and was like you’re going to be with me,” said Williams, who has indicated that her final tournament will be the U.S. Open, which starts in New York next week.
Photo: Moise Amisial/Tribune Staff
TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Tom Brady returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, ending what has been described as an 11-day, prearranged break from training camp for personal reasons.Theseven-time Super Bowl champion didn’t address the media after practicing. Teammates and coach Todd Bowles said the 45-year-old quarterback was sharp throwing the ball and essentially took up where he left off when he left the team on August 11. “If anybody can get away with the 11-day break during train ing camp, it’s Tom,” tight end Cameron Brate said. “He came back, kind of firing on all cylinders again. We’re all excited he’s back and ready to move on.” While he was away, Brady missed two preseason games that Bowles said the quarterback would not have played in even if he were with the team. The coach said the break had been planned since well before the start of training camp last month.
Tom Brady ends 11day break, Buccaneersrejoinsforpractice
Although they have yet to “finalise” the team, head coach Chris DeMarco said the Bahamas coaching staff will select a “solid” 12-man roster coming out of this week’s training camp to play against Venezuela at the Kendal Isaacs Gymna sium on Thursday night. The Bahamas Basketball Federation held a press conference yesterday in the foyer of the Thomas A Robinson National Sta dium for the first game of the fourth window of the FIBA Americas Cup Qualifier.DeMarco, an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, along with Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield of the Indiana Pacers and Mychel Thompson Jr, par ticipated in the meeting that included Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, Bahamas Olympic Committee presi dent Rommel Knowles and Kenny Mackey, the chief marketing manager of the I-Cares Foundation, the gold sponsors for the team. Bowleg, the immediate past president of the fed eration and former men’s national team coach, said they had anticipated Dean dre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns joining Hield and Kai Jones of the Charlotte Hornets on this team. But Bowleg noted that while he is aware that Ayton is in town, he hasn’t spoken to him, and he couldn’t give any reason as to why he chose not to play for the Havingteam.started coaching the team in 2019, DeMarco said he’s been pleased with the process they are making. And now with Hield and Jones joining the team, he said they are taking the next step to get ting to the next level on the global stage. “It’s going to be very difficult,” said DeMarco of the Bahamas’ journey through a six-game series that includes Venezuela (August 25 and February 23), Argentina (August 29), Panama (November 10 and February 27). DeMarco, however, said all of the players are making the sacrifice to prepare themselves to represent the country and he was proud of the efforts of Hield, Jones, Mychel Thompson Jr, Jaraun ‘Keno’ Burrows and Rashad Mackey, just to name a few. He noted that they have assembled a training camp in which there are over 20 players vying for the final 12 spots on the team. He noted that the team will be selected in short order and then announced to the public.Bowleg, congratulating the team on their success so far, said if they can qual ify for the World Cup in 2023, it would go well with the country’s celebrations of its 50th anniversary of Independence.“Ithinkthis is timely that we have our top play ers here in Buddy and Kai playing with us,” he said. “So, we’re asking all Baha mians to come out and cheer this team on.” He assured the public that the airconditioning is working very well and he’s looking forward to them enjoying the ameni ties that will be offered in the stadium, thanks to the generosity of their corpo rate sponsors, including the I-CaresHield,Foundation.whoplayed in the last window when the Bahamas beat the Virgin Islands 97-80 to advance out of the third window, only to lose 88-80 to the Dominican Republic at the Baha Mar resort, said they are looking for the Bahamian public support again in this last window of games to qualify for the World Cup. “We didn’t get the win in the last game we played here, but we still got to advance, so we’re looking forward to that same type of support for this game,” Hield said. “It means a lot to the players.”Hieldalso expressed his thanks to all of the players who made the commitment to come home from their various professional leagues around the world to be a part of the team. He also said when the team is finally selected, it will be a “solid” one representing theForcountry.Thompson Jr, he was just delighted to carry on the legacy of his father, Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, the first Baha mian to play in the NBA and who was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers as the first foreign-born player to be drafted no.1 in 1978 before he went on to win back-to-back titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987 and 1988. “Every time I put on this jersey, it means a lot because my father never got to play, so I’m very proud to be able to play,” he“I’msaid.just excited for this game on Mackey,Thursday.”presenting a cheque of $15,000 for their sponsorship of the game, said it is an honour to be a part of a major event and to help the country’s bas ketball team. “In a desire to win, there should be no fear of losing,” Mackey said. “When I look around the room, I don’t see no fear.” Mackey said when they got the call from Bowleg, they jumped at the opportunity to assist the federation.Hesaid they are hoping that their assistance will go a long way in helping to put on a world-class event on Thursday night. And Knowles, who sur prised the federation in announcing that they will double their financial com mitment, said this is a step in the right direction to the Bahamas qualifying its first team sport at the Olympic Games.“Far too often, our team sports are placed in the zone in the Americas, which often times includes the United States, Canada and Mexico,” he said, all of whom have far greater population and resources than the KnowlesBahamas.saidthose coun tries also have the luxury of recruiting athletes, who offer them citizenship to compete, whether or not they have lineage to those countries.“Sports is big business and everyone expects the Bahamas to win,” he stated. “The pressure of team sport is phenomenal. and Bahamas ready to face Venezuela
By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer
“His presence is different, just the leader he is, the type of guy he is,” line backer Lavonte David said. “It’s great to have a guy like that back. He came back ready to take off where he left off.”
LAST 10 GAMES: Wings: 7-3, averaging 84.8 points, 32.7 rebounds, 20.0 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 83.1 points per game.Sun: 7-3, averaging 88.7 points, 38.9 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 8.1 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.9 points.
SEE PAGE 14
SPORTS PAGE 12 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022
Serena Williams tells Meghan of baby’s injury before match
‘Buddy’
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net SEE PAGE 15 JONQUEL JONES (AP)
LOS ANGELES (AP)
PageDurant,15
SEE PAGE 14
Natisha Hiedeman aver ages 1.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Sun, scor ing 9.1 points while shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc. Jonquel Jones is aver aging 15 points and eight rebounds over the past 10 games for Connecticut.
TAMPA Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady throw during an NFL football training camp practice Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Tampa, Fla.(AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
SERENA Williams appears at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Bev erly Hills, California, on March 27, left, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, appears at a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in London on June 3. (AP Photo)
Connecticut Sun (25-11, 11-7 Eastern Conference) at Dallas Wings (18-18, 8-10 WesternArlington,Conference) Texas; Wednesday, 9pm EDT BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Wings square off against the Connecticut Sun.The Wings have gone 8-10 in home games. Dallas is 1-2 in games decided by less than 4 points. The Sun have gone 12-6 away from home. Con necticut is the leader in the Eastern Conference scoring 12.6 fast break points per game.TOP PERFORMERS: Marina Mabrey is aver aging 13.6 points and 3.7 assists for the Wings. Teaira McCowan is averaging 16.0 points over the last 10 games for Dallas.
NEW YORK (AP) — Candace Parker had 14 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Chicago Sky over the New York Liberty 90-72 last night in the deciding Game 3 to advance to the semifi nals of the WNBA playoffs. The defending champion Sky await the winner of the Connecticut-Dallas series that will have its deciding Game 3 today. Allie Quigley and Kahl eah Copper each added 15 points while Courtney Van dersloot had 14 points and 10 assists for the secondseeded Sky. Chicago has now won four consecutive elimination games dating to back-to-back single-elimi nation games last year en route to the franchise’s first WNBA championship. The seventh-seed Liberty shocked the Sky by taking Game 1. Chicago routed New York by a WNBA playoffs record 38 points in the second game, racing out to a 31-10 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looking back. This one was a lot more competitive. Chicago led 25-20 after one and extended the advantage to 54-42 at the half as Parker had seven points, six assists and seven rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. New York scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, including a fivepoint possession by Sabrina Ionescu to get within 68-65 that brought the sold out lower bowl of Barclays Center to its feet. This was New York’s first home playoff game since 2017 when the Liberty lost in the second round to Washington. New York hadn’t made the semifinals since 2015. That euphoria didn’t last long though as Chi cago scored the next 16 points, including consecu tive 3-pointers by Quigley to end the run and put the game away with just over 4 minutesBetnijahleft. Laney scored 15 points and Ionescu and Natasha Howard each had 14 for the Liberty.
THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 24, 2022, PAGE 13 To Publish your Financials and Legal Notices Call: 502-2394 Parker, Chicago advance to WNBA semi-finals, beat New York 90-72
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit a 453foot drive halfway up the bleachers for his 48th home run and added an RBI single during a seventhinning rally, boosting the Yankees past the Mets for a two-game Subway Series sweep last night. Rookie Clarke Schmidt (5-2) worked three innings of scoreless relief, departing in the ninth after loading the bases with two outs. Wandy Peralta relieved and retired Francisco Lindor on a flyout for his secondAndrewsave.Benintendi had his third straight big day at the plate, singling in the goahead run for a 3-2 lead in the seventh against Joely Rodríguez (0-3). The Yankees have won three straight for only the second time since the AllStar break.
Ryne Stanek relieved to begin the seventh and Correa led off with Minne sota’s first hit.
RAYS ANGELS11, 1 ST PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) — Christian Bethancourt had two runscoring hits in a six-run seventh inning and later moved from behind the plate to pitch a scoreless ninth as Tampa Bay beat LosTheAngeles.Raysown the top AL wild-card spot. They have won four straight and 10 of 12. Bethancourt homered and hit a two-run single. On the mound, his fastball topped out at 95 mph as he allowed two hits and struck out Luis Rengifo. Corey Kluber (8-7) gave up one run on five hits in six innings.Manuel Margot and Harold Ramirez had runscoring singles in the third off José Suarez (4-6).
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer
ASTROS 4, TWINS 2 HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander was pulled after pitching six no-hit innings in his major leagueleading 16th win and the Astros beat the Minne sota Twins 4-2 last night in Carlos Correa’s return to Houston.Verlander (16-3) allowed just one runner to reach base — Nick Gordon struck out in the second inning on a wild pitch to get aboard. The Astros ace fanned 10 and lowered his MLB-best ERA to 1.87 in his spec tacular return after missing almost two seasons after Tommy John surgery.
CARDINALS 13, CUBS CARDINALSCUBSGAME3,22, 0, GAME 1 CHICAGO (AP) — Nolan Arenado and Tyler O’Neill homered in a fiverun fourth inning, Corey Dickerson had four hits and St. Louis split a double header with Chicago. The Cubs blanked the Cardinals 2-0 in the opener, ending St. Louis’ seasonbest eight-game winning streak. The NL Central-leading Cardinals got back on track in the nightcap with 16 hits. Tommy Edman had a solo homer, a double and three RBIs.Jake Woodford (3-0) allowed one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings in his first start this season. Hitless in the opener, Arenado went 3-for-4 in the nightcap, taking Adrian Sampson (1-4) deep in the fourth.Inthe opener, Javier Assad pitched four score less innings in his major league debut. Relievers Michael Rucker (3-1), Sean Newcomb, Erich Uelmen and Brandon Hughes allowed one hit over the final five innings. Hughes picked up his third save. Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki drove in runs off St. Louis starter Adam Wain wright (9-9) in the third. Rookie Christopher Morel had two hits for the Cubs.
ORIOLES 5, WHITE SOX 3 BALTIMORE (AP) — Ryan Mountcastle hit a three-run homer off Dylan Cease in the first inning and Baltimore held off Chicago. Cease (12-6) allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings, his second straight start allow ing at least three earned runs after he went 14 in a row yielding no more than one.Austin Voth (4-1) allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Félix Bautista pitched out of an eighth-inning jam and got five outs for his ninth save. Eloy Jiménez hit a tworun homer in the first inning for Chicago and left the game after being hit by 102 mph fastball from Bautista.
GIANTS 3, TIGERS 1 DETROIT (AP) — Carlos Rodón worked seven strong innings and San Francisco beat Detroit. Evan Longoria homered for the RodónGiants.allowed one run on five hits and struck out 10 without walking a batter. San Francisco closer Camilo Doval loaded the bases with one out in the ninth but struck out Miguel Cabrera and got Harold Castro to ground out for his 18th save.
NEW York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, centre, celebrates with teammates after a game against the New York Mets yesterday in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
(AP
TWINSBEATASTROSINNINGS,NO-HITAFTERPULLEDVERLANDER6
PHILLIES 7, REDS 6 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Maton’s pinch-hit single with one out in the bottom of the ninth gave Philadelphia the win over Cincinnati.MattVierling homered and J.T. Realmuto had a two-run triple for the wild card-contending Phillies. Maton lined a 2-2 pitch from Alexis Diaz (4-2) to right field to score Bryson Stott.Brad Hand (3-1) got the victory despite surrender ing two unearned runs in the ninth, giving Cincinnati a 6-5 lead.
BLUE JAYS 9, RED SOX 2 BOSTON (AP) — Jackie Bradley Jr. doubled and scored to key an eight-run third inning as Toronto rolled past his former team. Ross Stripling (6-3) yielded one run off six hits and struck out six over six innings.Boston’s Josh Winck owski (5-7) lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs, six hits and walking two. George Springer had two hits and drove in three runs in his return to the Toronto lineup at designated hitter. The Blue Jays have won five of six and kept pace with Tampa Bay in the AL wild-card race.
BRAVES PIRATES6,1 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Max Fried allowed three hits in eight innings as Atlanta beat Pittsburgh. Fried (12-4) struck out seven and walked one, retir ing 20 of the final 23 batters he faced, and allowed one run.The Braves have won 13 of 15, while the Pirates have dropped 10 of 12. Travis d’Arnaud homered off JT Brubaker (3-11) for the first of five Atlanta runs in the fifth.
ROCKIES RANGERS7,6 DENVER (AP) — C.J. Cron hit a go-ahead threerun homer in the seventh inning and Elias Díaz also had a three-run homer as Colorado overcame two three-run deficits to beat Texas.Cron’s two-out homer came after a fielding error by shortstop Corey Seager. Charlie Blackmon beat out an infield single with two outs before Cron hit his 24th homer of the season off Brock Burke (6-3). Marcus Semien and Nathaniel Lowe homered and drove in two runs apiece and Adolis García extended his hitting streak to 20 games for the Rangers.Justin Lawrence (2-1) struck out the side in the seventh and Daniel Bard pitched around a one-out double by Jonah Heim in the ninth for his 26th save in 29 chances.
DIAMONDBACKS 7, ROYALS 3 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Christian Walker had three hits, including a run-scoring double, and Arizona beat Kansas City. Walker’s two-out double highlighted a three-run eighth against Josh Stau mont (3-3) to extend the Diamondbacks’ lead to 5-1. Arizona starter Zach Davies didn’t allow a base runner until Bobby Witt Jr. hammered his 17th homer to left field with one out in theRelieverfourth. Joe Mantiply (2-4) got four outs to earn the win.
Judge homers again, Yankees beat Mets 4-2 for Subway sweep
CHICAGO Sky forward Candace Parker (3) drives to the basket against New York Liberty forward Natasha Howard (6) during the first half of a WNBA basketball playoff game Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, in New York. Photo/Noah K Murray)
NEW York Yankees’ Aaron Judge hits a home run in the third inning against the New York Mets on Monday night in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
STAT STUFFERS Parker fell just short of the fourth triple-double in WNBA playoff history. She was looking to join teammate Courtney Van dersloot, Lisa Leslie and Margo Dydek. RECOGNISEDBEING Chicago Sky coach and general manager James Wade was chosen as the WNBA Executive of the Year on Monday. The voting panel is made up of one basketball execu tive from each WNBA team, with each representa tive submitting top three choices. Wade won by being named on the most ballots (11).
McLean received his bachelor’s degree in health promotions in three years from the University of Houston in 2013. He followed that with his master’s degree in health education from UH in 2015. As part of the Houston basketball staff, McLean played a key role in the pro gram’s resurgence. The Cougars won 20+ games in four consecutive seasons and captured backto-back American Athletic Conference championships for only the second time in school history. The Cougars also enjoyed NCAA Tourna ment appearances in 2018 and 2019, including a Sweet 16 berth in 2019, and were poised for a third straight NCAA appearance in 2020 before the COVID-19 pan demic cut the season short. The programme has also reached national promi nence by being ranked in the Top 25 in the Asso ciated Press and Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll for three consecutive years. Three starters and seven lettermen return from the Cougars’ 2021-22 team, which posted a 32-6 over all record, advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, swept the American Athletic Conference regu lar-season and tournament titles and finished among the nation’s Top 10 for the second straight season. “We had a tough year last year in our rebuilding stage. “This year, we’re really excited about what to expect from this team,” he said.In the meantime, McLean said he’s still keep ing his eyes open for the next Bahamian talent to join him and suit up to play for the Cougars men’s bas ketball team in the very near future.
PAGE 14, Wednesday, August 24, 2022 THE TRIBUNE
“So, it’s been a great experience being out here learning from Buddy and Chris DeMarco and some of the players. It’s been a rewarding experience for me so far. I’m really enjoy ingMcLeanit.” has also enjoyed a great deal of success as a player turned coach at the University of Houston. He competed for the Cougars men’s basketball team in 101 games during his collegiate career with 34 starts. He scored a careerhigh 14 points against crosstown-rival Rice as a senior and grabbed 10 rebounds at TCU in 2012 before being sidelined with a foot injury. In the classroom, he was a four-time member of the conference Commissioner’s Honour Roll/All-Academic Team during his career and received the Conference USA Winter Spirit of Ser vice Award in 2013.
‘IT WITHSTARTSME’
SCHEDULE Even with a talented roster, it will be difficult to unseat the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East, but the Dol phins are primed to have a better record than a year ago and end their playoff drought.Theyopen the season on Sept. 11 at home against the Patriots, and then go to Baltimore to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in Week 2. They’ll have four more home games before their bye week in Week 11, including facing the Steelers and their former head coach, Flores, who is a defensive coach on Mike Tomlin’sMiami’sstaff.road games in the second part of the season include trips to face San Francisco, the Chargers and the Bills. The Dolphins close the season at New England and then against the Jets at home in their regular-sea son finale.
SERENA FROM PAGE 12 BRADY FROM PAGE 12
ASSISTANT coaches Mikhail McLean and Yolett McPhee-McCuin chatting on the bench.
McLean: ‘The expectations are high because we have better players coming out’
FORMER Bahamian basketball player Mikhail McLean is happy to take a break from his duties as an assistant director of player development at the Uni versity of Houston to serve as an assistant coach on the men’s national basketball team.McLean is in town for his third appearance on the coaching staff, this time as the Bahamas prepares to face Venezuela 8pm Thursday at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium in the first game of the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifier before they head off on Monday to face Argentina in their second game.“The expectations are high because we have better players coming out,” said McLean, who will assist Golden State War riors’ assistant coach Chris DeMarco, who will serve as the head coach for Team Bahamas.“We’ve been having a training camp and not just showing up to play, so the expectations is high to win forAlthoughsure.” the team has not been formally named, McLean said they have some talented players to carry the team in this round, including the return of Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield from the Indiana Pacers and Kai Jones from the Charlotte Hornets.“It’sa different learning opportunity coaching the pros. Scouting and coaching against pros is a completely different ball game, but it helps to sharpen my game so when I get back to col lege, I can use some of the tip bits from that to my advantage.
RESURGENCERUSHING McDaniel had been cred ited with constructing San Francisco’s creative run ning game, which at times featured receiver Deebo Samuel as a rusher. The Dolphins run game has struggled in recent seasons. They haven’t had a 1,000yard rusher since 2016 (Jay Ajayi, 1,272) but in the offseason, they brought in Chase Edmonds, who had 592 rushing yards last season, Raheem Mostert, and Sony Michel in hopes of bolstering their rushing attack.
MIAMI Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team’s practice facility in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photos/Lynne Sladky)
The Dolphins returned most of their starters from a year ago, including vet eran cornerback Xavien Howard, whom they signed to a five-year extension with nearly $51 million in new money. They brought in linebacker Melvin Ingram, resigned defen sive end Emmanuel Ogbah and exercised the fifth-year option on defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. “I feel like it starts with me,” said Howard, who has the most interceptions (27) in the NFL since 2016. “I feel like I have to set the tone for the guys. The guys are getting better — I feel like everybody is getting better each week.”
In Brady’s absence, backup Blaine Gabbert and third-stringer Kyle Trask shared most of the snaps in practice and during pre season losses to the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts.
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
Bowles said it has not been determined if — or how much — Brady might play in Saturday night’s preseason finale at Indianapolis.Thequarterback’s return comes as the Bucs continue to deal with injuries to an offensive line facing the prospect of entering the Sept. 11 season opener with at least two new starters. Center Ryan Jensen was lost to a knee injury on the second day of camp and left guard Aaron Stinnie suf fered a season-ending knee injury against the Titans last weekend.Bowles said the biggest thing Brady missed during his time away was some conditioning.“He’svery familiar with the offense. So him coming back in, and us getting back to work, is kind of normal,” the coach said. “Any time you have all your guys back, you feel good,” Bowles added.“Especially after the injury bug we’ve had lately, we’re glad to have him back.”Stinnie, who was compet ing for the opening on the offensive line created by the surprise retirement of Ali Marpet, and linebacker Cam Gill (foot) were placed on injured reserve Monday. Second-year pro Robert Hainsey is the leading option to open the season at centre. With Stinnie out, rookie Luke Goedeke and second-year pro Nick Lev erett will compete for the left guard job, although there’s still a possibility the team could try to find outside help. “We like our in-home options, but there has got to be a player avail able for us to like to add a player,” Bowles said. “We’re not just going to sign one to sign one.”
MIAMI Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, left, talks with quar terback Tua Tagovailoa (1) at the team’s practice facility.
DOLPHINS NEW ADDITIONS WILL HELP END PLAYOFF DROUGHT
To help ensure Tago vailoa’s success, the Dolphins brought in a plethora of playmakers on offense, including the threetime All-Pro Tyreek Hill, who was one of the league’s elite deep threats with the Kansas City Chiefs. Miami signed Hill to a $120 million, four-year extension that makes him one of the highest-paid receivers in NFL history. In six NFL seasons, Hill has 479 catches for 6,630 yards and 56 scores. Hill and second-year receiver Jaylen Waddle will make up one of the fastest receiving duos in the NFL. And they know it. “‘J. Dub’ (Waddle), like he’s faster than I thought,” Hill said. “Like when I first got here, I was like, OK he’s a 4.3 because typically when you see 4.3 guys, they don’t run as fast on a football field, but ‘J. Dub’ — like he actually runs a 4.3 on the footballMiamifield.”hired Mike McDaniel, the former 49ers offensive coordinator, to replace Brian Flores, who was fired despite posting winning records in two of his three seasons in Miami. Afterward, Flores sued the Dolphins, the NFL and two other teams, alleg ing racist hiring practices for coaches and general managers. He also accused Ross of incentivizing him to lose games during his first season with the team to help Miami get the top draftThepick.NFL said Flores’ claims were “without merit,” and the same inves tigation that found the team guilty of tampering found that the Dolphins did not intentionally lose games during the 2019 season.
profile careers in the public eye and mother hood. “So when you went and played that match the next morning, no one knew what your night had been like the night before. They forgot that human piece of it,” Meghan said about Williams’ French Open experience.Meghan recounted an incident during a tour of South Africa with her hus band, Prince Harry, and their son, Archie, in which a fire broke out in her son’s room and the pair had to leave their baby to con tinue their official duties. Archie was supposed to be napping in the room at the time, but his nanny had taken him out to get a bite to eat. The incident left everyone shaken, Meghan said.She said she wanted to spend time with her son, but she and Harry had to go and do another official engagement.“Thefocus ends up being on how it looks instead of how it feels,” Meghan said. “And part of the human ising and the breaking through of these labels and these archetypes and these boxes that we’re put into is having some understand ing on the human moments behind the scenes that people might not have any awareness of and to give each other a break. “Because we did — we had to leave our baby,” she said.Williams, who turns 41 next month, and Meghan spoke about the tennis star’s recent announcement about stepping away from tennis.Williams said she dis cussed it with Prince Harry before revealing her deci sion“Obviouslypublicly. I’m retiring professionally, but it’s also an evolution. I’m doing more business things. And I really want to expand my family. “And, you know, I’ve been putting it off for so long. And as a woman, there’s only so, so long you can put that off,” Williams said.Harry and Meghan have a multi-year deal to produce and host pod casts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio. Meghan has said the “Archetypes” podcast will focus on harmful labels and stereotypes applied to women.TheSpotify deal is one of several high-profile deals the couple have struck, including one with Netflix.Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties in March 2020 over what they described as intrusions and racist atti tudes of the British media toward the duchess. They have since relocated to California, where they are raising their children, Archie and Lili.
By ALANIS THAMES AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — When Tua Tagovailoa has been asked about the Dolphins’ com mitment to him as their franchise quarterback, his answers have followed a similar theme: He feels that the team is all-in on him in 2022.Tagovailoa, entering his third year in the NFL, will begin a pivotal season after injuries and tumult within the team hampered his first two seasons. Miami ranked 22nd in scoring offense last year as its offense strug gled throughout the season. Despite that, the Dolphins finished 9-8 in a roller coaster season that had the team lose seven straight games then win eight of the finalNow,nine. Tagovailoa has a new coach, speedy receiving options and an all-around talented team to help him take the next step in proving his ability to be the Dolphins’ quarterback of the Lastfuture.season, the Dolphins were reportedly interested in trading for Deshaun Watson, now the Browns’ quarterback, and the team was recently disciplined by the NFL for having “imper missible communication” with Tom Brady in 2019. The league suspended Miami’s owner Stephen Ross through Oct. 17, and the Dolphins were forced to forfeit a first-round selec tion in the 2023 draft and a third-round selection in 2024.Still, Tagovailoa said he feels the team’s confidence in him remains high. “I came in 2020 so what ever happened in 2019, I can’t even speak on that,” Tagovailoa said of the team’s reported interest in Brady.“Iwas here in 2020 and I’m still here and I’m blessed to be here. If it has to do with support from the team, I think the team is all-in with me and all of the guys that we have now.”
HOPING
By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer
THE NCAA women’s basketball title game will be broadcast this season on ABC for the first time. The championship game, which usually airs in prime time, will be played at 3pm Eastern on April 2. The women’s Final Four is in Dallas this “Schedulingyear. the Divi sion I Women’s Basketball Championship on ABC has been a goal for quite some time in our ongo ing efforts to maximise the exposure of women’s sports in collaboration with the NCAA,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN’S president for programming and origi nal“Women’scontent.
“It’s something I always wanted to do, even though I’ve been doing it for eight years now,” said Thompson Jr about competing for the Bahamas on the national team.“It’s always great to come home and play in the Bahamas. I love playing in front of the home crowd and with my team-mates. It means the world to me and I’m hoping that I can continue to help take this programme to the next level.”Meanwhile, his father had a flourishing career that started at the Miami Jackson Senior High School Generals, coached by Jake ThompsonCaldwell.teamed up with three other Bahami ans - Cecil Rose, Osbourne ‘Goose’ Lockhart and Charles ‘Cowheeler’ Thompson - and Cuban refugee Julio Gonzalez during their senior year in 1974 to form what was called the “Jackson 5” as they went to a perfect 33–0 record and winning the Class 4A state champion ship over Winter Park High School.Thompson went on to play for the University of Minnesota Gophers where he excelled to the point that he was the number one draft by Portland in the NBA, playing for eight years before he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 1987, the same year that he was then shipped to Los Angeles where he earned his two NBA titles. During his era, Thomp son Jr said his father didn’t get to play on a national team for the Bahamas, so the 34-year-old, 6-foot, 6-inch swingman is glad to live that experience for his 67-year-old father, who was a 6-10“I’mcentre.gladto be able to put the Thompson name on a Bahamian jersey,” said Thompson Jr, who played collegiately for Pepperdine from 2007-2011. “It means the world to my dad. My brother, Klay Thompson (of Golden State) didn’t get to do it because he played for the United States. “When he sees me doing it, it means a lot to him as well because he never got to play for the Bahamas. So, I’m happy to represent the Thompson family on the national team.”
While he longs for the day that Klay Thomp son could get his release from USA Basketball and they could combine their skills on Team Bahamas, Thompson Jr said he’s delighted to be on the same court with Hield, another sharpshooter in the NBA.
NEW YORK (AP) — Alexander Zverev, the 2020 US Open run ner-up, will miss the tournament this year while recovering from surgery on his right ankle.Zverev tore ligaments in the ankle during his semifinal match against Rafael Nadal at the French Open in June, and the No. 2-ranked player withdrew from the US Open on Monday.The 25-year-old German was on the verge of his first Grand Slam title two years ago in Flushing Meadows before Dominic Thiem rallied to beat him in a fifth-set tiebreaker. It was the first time a man overcame a 2-0 deficit in the final of the event since Pancho Gon zalez did it against Ted Schroeder in 1949. Zverev won the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo last year and then returned to the US Open semifinals, losing to Novak Djokovic in fiveAmericansets. Stefan Kozlov moved into the main draw for the tournament.Maindraw play begins nextReillyMonday.Opelka, who won two titles earlier this year, also withdrew Monday because of injury.Hereached the fourth round of the US Open lastFellowyear. American Jack Sock took his place in the main draw.
NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets plan to stay together after all, even after the All-Star forward asked to be traded earlier this summer.The Nets said yes terday that the team’s leadership met a day earlier with Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles and “agreed to move forward with our partnership,” general man ager Sean Marks said in a statement.“Weare focusing on bas ketball, with one collective goal in mind: build a lasting franchise to bring a champi onship to Brooklyn,” Marks added.That is certainly more likely by keeping Durant, who remains one of the best scorers in the NBA. He is set to begin a fouryear extension he signed last summer, and the pos sibility of him being traded had been the biggest story in the NBA this summer. It’s unknown exactly why he sought a trade. And it came at the end of a turbu lent year in Brooklyn. A championship favour ite before last season began, the Nets barely made the playoffs and then were bounced by Boston in four games in the first round. The Nets then refused to give a contract extension to Kyrie Irving, Durant’s close friend, forcing him to pick up his option for next season, the final year of his deal.The uncertainty around Durant’s future in Brook lyn likely contributed to the Nets being left off the fivegame Christmas lineup and being scheduled to appear only eight times on ABC and ESPN But with Durant, the Nets can still be one of the best teams in the East ernHeConference.averageda franchiserecord 29.9 points last season, and the Nets were bidding for the top spot in the East before he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for 21 games.
NCAA Championships continue to generate strong audi ences across the ABC/ ESPN networks and this move represents yet another unique oppor tunity to showcase this marquee event and the student-athletes who are competing for a national championship.”ESPNsaidthat it would look at moving the game back to prime time in the future but currently has commitments to entertainment shows the night of the game. Last season’s champion ship game, in which South Carolina beat UConn, was the most viewed women’s title game in nearly two decades, drawing 4.85 mil lionTheviewers.national semifinals averaged 2.7 million view ers, up 21 percent year over year, and was the most viewed semifinals in a decade.The full tournament averaged 634,000 viewers, up 16% from the previous year’sESPNcoverage.hasaired NCAA women’s tournament games on ABC for the past two seasons but not the title“It’sgame. a benchmark announcement for wom en’s basketball in being able to showcase the national championship game in Dallas for an expanded audience on ABC for the first time in 2023,” said Beth Goetz, chair of the NCAA Divi sion I Women’s Basketball Committee and athletic director at Ball State. “We are grateful to ABC/ESPN for the part nership in the continued growth of the game and championship.”
TO TRIBUNETODAYADVERTISEINTHECALL@502-2394 BAHAMAS FROM PAGE 12
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer
INJURYEVENTTORUNNER-UP,US2020ZVEREV,OPENMISSWITH
BROOKLYN Nets’ Kevin Durant dunks the ball during the second half of the opening basketball game of the NBA play-in tournament against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 12 in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
“He really loves this country and the things he does for this country is just remarkable. He’s a great guy and a great player. I’m just so happy that he’s decided to come home and play for the team while I am playing on it.” He encouraged the Bahamian public to come out and cheer on Team Bahamas on Thursday night.The team then heads off to face Argentina in their second game of the window on Monday night.
Mychel Thompson Jr excited to be playing for his country
ABC to air NCAA women’s basketball title game for 1st time
MYCHEL THOMPSON JR, in action above for Team Bahamas and speaking at yesterday’s press conference (top). Thompson Jr is expected to be one of the 12 players to suit up for Team Baha mas when they take on Venezuela 8pm Thursday at Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Photo top: Moise Amisial/Tribune Staff
Jurelle Nairn-Mullings, the secretary of the fed eration, expressed their gratitude on behalf of President Eugene Horton to their many sponsors, including The Oak Tree Medical, I-Cares Founda tion, Bahamas Olympic Committee, the National Sports Authority, Breezes Resorts, Baha Mar, Cable Bahamas, Aqua Pure, Thompson Trading, Sun Oil Limited and the Bamboo Shack. The federation pre sented a cheque of $2,000 to Steven Dean, the direc tor of the Urban Renewal Band, for their assistance for the game on Thursday night.Tickets are still available at BBFbasketball.com and on site on game day on Thursday.Thetickets are priced at $40 for general admission, $80 for VIP and courtside for $150.
“Not only must we com pete with countries with a million times our size, but we must also compete against athletes who have dualWithcitizenship.”themounting chal lenges that exist in team sports, Knowles said he’s appreciative of players like Hield who have answered the call to represent the country.And Minister Bowleg commended the federa tion for the strides they are making to qualify for the World Cup.
“Buddy has a lot of pride. Seeing how much he cares means a lot to me,” said Thompson Jr, who watched as Hield worked with the junior players in a camp and a touring team he takes to the USA to compete.
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
The NCAA Tournament expanded to 68 games last season and this season will have its regionals in two sites, with eight teams play ing in Greenville, South Carolina, and the other eight in Seattle. The tournament will follow this format through 2027.The Division II and Division III champion ship games also will take place in Dallas on the same weekend as the Division I Final Four. It’s the first time that the three championships have been played in the same city since 2016.
WHILE his father, Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, paved the way as the first Bahamian to play in the National Bas ketball Association and the first foreign-born to be drafted number one, Mychel Thompson Jr said he’s excited to be able to continue to make his contribution as the first member of his family to play for Team Bahamas. Thompson Jr, a former player in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2011-2012, is expected to be one of the 12 players to suit up for Team Bahamas when they take on Vene zuela 8pm Thursday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium in the first game of the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifier.
THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 24, 2022, PAGE 15
togetherforwardtoNetsDurant,planmove
PROBLEMSMARTINO’S Mexico coach Gerardo Martino was heavily criticized for his team´s attacking struggles in the last matches in World Cup qualification. Now, he’ll have to figure out how to improve the offense with out one of his top players. Sevilla forward Jesus “Tecatito” Corona broke his left fibula and ruptured ankle ligaments this week and will be out for four to five months, the Span ish club said. That is likely to rule him out of the World Cup, though Jaime Ordiales, the head of Mex ico’s national teams, said Corona will be given until the last minute to have him on board for Qatar. “It´s a serious injury,” Ordiales said, “but we have seen some impres sive recoveries in the past, so we’re going to wait and hope for the best.” Mexico, which finished second in the CONCACAF qualifiers behind Canada, scored just four goals in its last five qualifying matches. That was with Corona play ing alongside Raul Jimenez and Hirving Lozano in Martino´s 4-3-3 formation. Now Martino, who guided Paraguay to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2010, will have to try to awaken his offense without Corona and with Jimenez battling to rediscover his best form after fracturing his skull in 2020. Jimenez came on as a substitute in Wolverhamp ton’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday, having missed the start of the season with a knee injury. IÑAKI WILLIAMS GETS HIS CHANCE WITH GHANA
Joining Strachan as Members-at-Large are Jehue Gordon from Trini dad & Tobago, Ayanna Morgan from Barbados, William Leer from the United States of America and Kurt Felix of Grenada. “I’m excited for it,” said Strachan, who also serves as the athletes’ repre sentative for the Bahamas Association of Athletic
WIJNALDUM INJURY Dropped by the Neth erlands because of his lack of game time at Paris Saint-Germain last season, Georginio Wijnal dum moved to Roma on loan partly in an attempt to revive his international career ahead of the World Cup.Ithasn’t gone to plan. Wijnaldum broke the tibia in his right leg during practice on Sunday and might not be fit in time for the World Cup. He will undergo more tests this week.
WHILE she celebrated her 29th birthday on Monday in transit from the Bahamas to Europe, sprinter Anthonique Strachan added another feather to her cap when she was elected as a Member-at-Large for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletes’ Commission.
By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer
PRIMOZ ROGLIC TAKES THE LEAD AS VUELTA RETURNS TO SPAIN
The elections took place on Sunday during the NACAC Open Cham pionships held in Grand Bahama at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex over the O’Dayneweekend.Richards of Jamaica was elected to serve as the chairperson.
VALENCIA’S MOUCTAR DIAKHABY, left, vies for the ball with Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams during a Spanish Copa del Rey semifinal second leg soccer match between Valencia and Athletic Bilbao at Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, on March 2. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
LAGUARDIA, Spain (AP) — The Spanish Vuelta was back in Spain. And defending champion Primoz Roglic was back in theRogliclead. showed he is in great form and in position to retain his Vuelta title with a dominant win in the fourth stage on Tuesday as the Grand Tour race returned to Spanish ter ritory after three opening stages in the Netherlands. Trying to win an unprec edented fourth straight Vuelta title, Roglic took the leader’s red jersey after launching his attack in the final meters of the uphill climb into Laguardia in the Basque Country. The Jumbo-Visma rider opened a 13-second gap in the general classification to American teammate Sepp Kuss. Roglic was 26 seconds in front of Ethan Hayter of Ineos“It’sGrenadiers.reallyjustthe begin ning of La Vuelta but it’s always better to be 10 sec onds ahead rather than behind,” Roglic said. “It was already a hard pace the whole day, with a super fast and hard stage. The finale was an opportunity to fight for the stage win. I had the legs so I gave it a go.”
MADRID (AP) — Iñaki Williams is enjoying yet another season as a starter for Athletic Bilbao. The only debate about his role in Basque Country is whether he should play more up front as a true striker or out on the wing. Williams’ spot with Spain’s national team was never assured, though, so when the call to play for Ghana came, his decision wasn’t that hard to make. Ahead of the World Cup, Ghana aggressively recruited players from abroad with connections to the African nation, and Williams fitted the bill. The 28-year-old Williams was born in Spain to par ents who are from Ghana. They moved to Spain several decades ago and, to be able to stay there, were advised by a charity worker to say they had fled a civil war in Now,Liberia.with slim hopes of being called up again by Spain — he made one appearance in a friendly in 2016 — Williams became one of five players to accept a recent invitation to join Ghana’s national team and play at the World Cup. “Even though I was born in Spain, my roots and my blood are African and Ghanese. This is the correct decision,” Williams said. “With my age, at my peak as an athlete, it is the right time to do this. The train will only come by once and I have to take it.” His first appearance for Ghana could come in a friendly match against Brazil on Sept. 23, one of two World Cup warmup matches for the national team that Williamsmonth.saidthe support he received from his family and others in a recent trip back home helped him make the decision to switch to WilliamsGhana. is one of the few Black players to ever play for Athletic, the traditional Spanish club that has an internal code to only sign local-born players or those who have come through the soccer academies of teams in the Basque region. Williams was a member of Spain’s youth squads and played in a friendly against Bosnia in 2016. He had not been called up recently by Luis Enrique and did not appear to be in the coach’s plan for the World Cup. FIFA eligibility rules allow countries to recruit players from their global diaspora if the players meet the conditions related to their nationalities. Players are allowed to switch alle giance to a new national team if they never played a competitive game for the first country they were eligi ble to Ghanarepresent.qualified for its fourth World Cup, and first since 2014, by eliminating Nigeria in a two-leg playoff in March. It is in Group H along with Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
SLOVENIAN rider Primoz Roglic of Jumbo Visma team, celebrates after crossing the finish line of the 4th stage of the Vuelta cycling race yesterday.(APPhoto/Miguel Oses)
In the 2020-21 season, Wijnaldum was a star of the Liverpool team and captained the Dutch in the absence of the injured Virgil van However,Dijk.after being continually overlooked in his only season at PSG, Wijnaldum was dropped by Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal for his team’s four matches in June. He has made 86 international appearances, scoring 26 goals.
“My word is my bond, especially to myself. And no, I can’t say what that promise, or goal is. It’s per sonal. But I just want to get back or as close to where I was before the injury and to finish the season strong.” Before the injury, Stra chan had become the seventh Bahamian to eclipse the 11-second bar rier in the 100m. She ran 10.98 on July 17 at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon to match the life time best of Shaunae Miller-Uibo on July 20, 2020, at the National Train ing Centre in Clermont, Florida.Chandra Sturrup still holds the national record at 10.84, which she estab lished on July 5, 2005, in Lausanne, Switzer land. She is followed by Savatheda Fynes with 10.91 on July 2, 1999, in Lausanne as well. Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie is third with 10.91 from July 27, 2002, in Manchester, Eng land with Eldece Clarke fourth with 10.96 from April 29, 2000, in Fort-deFrance, France and Pauline Davis is sitting in fifth with 10.97 done here in Nassau on July 21, 2000. Strachan has posted a personal best of 22.32 on June 22, 2013, in Nassau in the 200m and in the 400m, she ran 52.42 on June 11, 2016, in Montverde, Flor ida. While she has yet to win a global medal as an elite athlete after earn ing the double gold in the 100m and 200m at the World Junior Champion ships in Barcelona, Spain, the former World Athletics’ Rising Star is still working on getting back to her peak form.She is a training part ner of Shericka Jackson in Jamaica. Jackson is listed as the second fast est woman in the world in the 200m at 21.45, trailing only American Florence Griffith-Joyner, the world record holder at 21.34. Jackson won the 100m at the NACAC Champion ships over the weekend.
The Slovenian crossed the line in front of Mads Pedersen of Trek-Sega fredo and Movistar’s Enric Mas. It was the thirdstraight second-place finish for Pedersen, who was beaten by Sam Bennett in the second and third stages. Roglic enjoyed his 10th stage win overall at the Vuelta. His preparations for this edition were not ideal — because of inju ries sustained in a fall at the Tour de France — and his participation confirmed only a few days before the raceIneosstarted.rider Richard Car apaz was 33 seconds off the lead, and Simon Yates of Bikeexchange-Jayco fell 51 seconds back overall. The first three stages had taken place in the Nether lands for the first time after plans to start there in 2020 were hindered by the coro navirusRiderspandemic.willface five mountain passes in Wednesday’s fifth stage fin ishing in Bilbao.
Anthonique Strachan takes on new role
Associations. “I like to be in the know for sports and more specifically track and field since it’s my main source of livelihood. I also enjoy helping and standing up for my fellow athletes.”
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
SPRINTER Anthonique Strachan has been elected as a Memberat-Large for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletes Commission.
PAGE 16, Wednesday, August 24, 2022 THE TRIBUNE WORLD CUP WATCH:
As she now joggles her time between the BAAA and NACAC, Strachan said she wants to learn as much as she can, although she admits that it will be a chal lenge still competing as a full-time athlete. “It’s already a lot and I don’t know how hard or time consuming this new position is as yet,” she said. “I have so many recom mendations, but I would like to learn and become diverse in other problems in the“So,sport.Iwould like to edu cate myself on everything in the NACAC region so I can bring it back to help better local sports at home while helping in any small way in the athletes’ commission in NACAC.”Coming off a quad injury she sustained in the heats of the 200m at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July, Strachan just missed out of a chance to advance to the final of the women’s 100 metres after she placed fourth in her heat in 11.48 seconds at the NACAC Championships.Butshedid come back and run the second leg on the Bahamas women’s 4 x 100m relay team of Printassia Johnson, Devy nne Charlton and Tynia Gaither, which claimed the silver medal in 43.34 behind the American’s gold rush in 42.35 and just ahead of Jamaica, who got the bronze in 43.39. As the night concluded, Strachan spent Sunday with some of her friends and team-mates in a prebirthday celebration. She left Grand Bahama on her birthday on Monday for Europe for further rehab and possibly a chance to compete again before the season winds down. “I am attempting to get back in form to where I was pre-injury,” she said. “I had a plan and made myself a promise so I’m trying and fighting teeth and nails to keep it.
