08292023 NEWS AND SPORT

‘TERRIBLE PRECEDENT’ FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Ferreira questions AG’s refusal to disclose fine for Exuma oil spill

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Environment

Minister Romauld Ferreira and environmentalist Joe Darville said Attorney General Ryan Pinder’s refusal to say how much Sun Oil was fined for an oil spill in Exuma last year sets a “terrible precedent” for environmental justice in the country.

Mr Pinder told reporters

last week that he doesn’t “disclose confidential settlements at the Office of the Attorney General”. His comment came after 35,000 gallons of diesel was spilt into waters off the coast of Great Exuma when a vessel Sun Oil contracted was delivering fuel in July 2022. A breach in the hose from the supply ship was reportedly responsible for the leak, which has since

ENVIRONMENTALIST SAYS RCI ADDRESSED MANY CONCERNS

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

ERIC Carey, once one of the most vocal critics of Royal Caribbean International’s proposed Royal Beach Club, said the project will not be an environmental threat if it replicates the wastewater system RCI uses on Coco Cay.

“I think they have the ability to meet their needs,

to manage their impact, to manage the waste that they’re going to generate,” Mr Carey told reporters yesterday after RCI’s Chief Product and Innovation Officer Jay Schneider led the press, environmentalists, and Water and Sewerage officials on a tour of the $20m wastewater treatment plant at Coco Cay, a private

UB’s delinquent financials audit to be completed by year’s end

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE University of the Bahamas raised $9m from private donations over the past three years and is nearly up to date with audited financial statements. UB told The Tribune it

had completed outstanding unaudited financial statements from 2012 and is on course to finalise the 2022 audited financial statements this year.

The institution’s failure to audit financial statements has hindered its fundraising capacities. In 2015, The Tribune revealed that poor, out-of-date audit practices

at the college prevented the institution from accessing funds from a $16.1 Caribbean Development Bank loan designed to upgrade the institution. The loan was eventually abandoned. At the time, the college was at least four years behind in audits, and it had been

M AN ACCUSED OF MURDERING JE AN RONY CHARGED

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 53-year-old man was charged yesterday with murdering Jean Rony JeanCharles, the Bahamas-born man of Haitian descent who famously sought constitutional relief after being detained and deported to Haiti in 2017.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain charged Tyrone Strachan,

Bahamas’ Fiscal WATCHDOGS IN l imBo - ‘clarity’ NEEDED FROM PM

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas’ main fiscal watchdog is in limbo until its members obtain “clarity” from the Prime Minister on whether their appointments remain valid and how they are to “function” under the new legislative regime.

Jr, with murder.

Strachan was allegedly involved in a verbal argument with Jean-Charles in the Royal Palm Street area around 8.18pm on August 23. The accused allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the 41-year-old victim multiple times about his body. Jean-Charles

Gowon Bowe, the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) representative on the Fiscal Responsibility Council (FRC), last night told Tribune Business that himself and his four colleagues all want confirmation that they will be “acting within the authority designated to us” if they continue in their present posts.

Photo: Moise Amisial

Students turned away at Uriah McPhee Primary School due to teachers dispute with MOE official

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

URIAH McPhee Primary School did not return to classrooms yesterday because of a dispute between teachers and a senior education official.

The Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, nonetheless, said more than 150 public schools opened yesterday.

Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president Belinda Wilson accused acting Deputy Director of Education Janice Moss of bullying teachers at Uriah McPhee and interfering with their school reopening plans.

“This morning, the administration and teachers, along with the union representatives, were working out how best to have the children in school and to begin teaching based on the school not being ready and fully prepared,” Mrs Wilson told The Tribune

“However, the acting deputy director, Janice Moss, she came with her

own ideas and advice that was unsolicited by us, and it caused the teachers to close down and they did not take the advice that she gave. We do not welcome any advice from her, and hence, the children were sent home and the teachers did not teach.”

Mrs Wilson said the official recommended staggered learning, a type of learning where students come in batches.

“She needs to know her place and stop interfering with what it is the administration and teachers had planned to do,” Mrs Wilson said.

Ms Moss declined to comment when The Tribune contacted her.

“We were disappointed and humbly apologise to parents, students and teachers that due to a number of issues, all solvable, we were unable to accommodate students at Uriah McPhee Primary School today,” the ministry said in a statement.

“We expect that all issues at that school will be resolved and classes will resume (Tuesday)

as directed by the school on a staggered basis for orientation.”

Mrs Wilson said the union would give contractors seven days to complete school repairs. She cited issues with the air conditioning unit on the second floor of Uriah McPhee, saying the unit is not working.

“We visited Woodcock Primary School. They’re unable to use the sixth grade block but the contractor, I was in contact with him, they will do their work in the evenings,” she said. “I haven’t been able to get a timeline from them as to when that work will be completed.

“There are several departments that are impacted at Government High, so that’s guidance, the new special unit, cosmetology, physical education but teachers were able to go into their homerooms today.

“We have Rock Sound Primary, Wemyss Bight Primary in Eleuthera where some work is being done there.”

BUT president Belinda Wilson said the union would give contractors seven days to complete school repairs at Uriah McPhee. She also noted issues at Woodcock Primary School, Government High School, as well as Rock Sound Primary and Wemyss Bight Primary where work is still being completed as students are expected to return to school.

Photos: Moise Amisial

some schools, for many the it was a normal year start for students.

‘TERRIBLE PRECEDENT’ FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

from

page

been remediated.

On Sunday, Sun Oil Chairman Sir Franklyn Wilson told The Tribune that, to his knowledge, the company was fined, but he could not recall how much.

Asked if he believes the attorney general should reveal the fine amount, he said the country faces more pressing issues.

In April, Mr Pinder said the fine would be the first the government has collected in an environmental matter since the passage of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act in 2019.

The ability of the law to facilitate fines for environmental pollution was emphasised during the debate on the legislation, but Mr Ferreira, who helped guide the bill through Cabinet and Parliament, said keeping fines secret nearly defeats the purpose of imposing them.

“Why would you,” he said yesterday, “want to hide the first environmental matter from public scrutiny? What is it you’ve settled for that cannot withstand scrutiny? I have a problem with it.”

Since the Progressive Liberal Party came to office, the Office of the Attorney General has settled a number of highprofile lawsuits brought under the Minnis administration. Officials have

not revealed the settlement awards, claiming doing so could prejudice ongoing negotiations and proceedings.

Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander, Deputy Commissioner Leamond Deleveaux, former Minister of Labour Shane Gibson, Financial Secretary Simon Wilson and former Bahamas Power & Light Chairwoman Darnell Osborne are a few highprofile officials awarded confidential settlements in the last two years.

In May, prominent attorney Romona Farquharson Seymour said the administration’s rationale for not disclosing awards is unjustified because lawyers privately share information among themselves.

Mr Ferreira said it is common for countries to disclose environmental fines, not least because it sends a message to people and companies about how serious they are about protecting the environment.

“Secret legal settlements are kind of detrimental to the principles of justice and fairness,” he said. “How do we know if justice was truly served in this case? We know that there is a nexus of relationships. We know that because we know who the players are, but we cannot determine whether powerful interests were favoured behind closed doors, and that’s a tragedy.

know the compensation,”

Mr Darville said yesterday, adding he found the attorney general’s response “extremely troubling”.

“We should know, it

“We have the right to

should remain public with no equivocation ever.

THE SCENE in Exuma in the immediate aftermath of 36,000 gallons of diesel spilling after a “breach in the hose” from a supply ship. is, trust me, I have your best interest at heart. This is a complete lack of accountability, and it undermines public trust.”

“Disclosure would impact the importance of being strategically responsible at every step of the

Environmentalist says RCI addressed many concerns

could collaborate.

“What he is really saying island destination.

“If they replicate that here at the Paradise Island Beach Club, then they should be able to handle most of the concerns that we had about potential impact.”

RCI recently secured the environmental goahead for its $100m project.

Mr Carey, the former Bahamas National Trust director and a current Atlantis environmental consultant, said RCI addressed many of his concerns.

“They appear to be building the capacity needed to handle all of the waste,” he said. “We saw in operation their liquid waste facility. We discussed with them plans for the handling of the solid waste, including biodigesters and incinerators.

“Now we need to see the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and also need to see how their impact is going to be offset.”

Mr Carey said if RCI’s EMP is approved, he hopes Atlantis and RCI

“I’m not going to be able to offer them an honest opinion that gives them a smoking gun that basically trashes the EIA or trashes the public consultation process,” he said. “I won’t be able to do that. Now it’s left for the client to work out with RCI if they get their full approval, how do they perhaps find ways to collaborate?”

Mr Schnider said RCI is reviewing its EMP.

“Once it’s done, we’ll post it online,” he said.

“We’ll send out a notice about it, and that’s a 14 business days cycle for people to provide commentary.”

The wastewater treatment plant at Coco Cay can hold up to 300,000 gallons of waste per day.

Officials said 100 per cent of the treated wastewater is used for landscape irrigation without relying on an injection well.

RCI’s solid waste facility on Coco Cay is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Coco Cay can accommodate up to 11,000 guests.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

Investigation nearly complete into police accused of beating students in Bimini UB’s delinqUent financials aUdit to Be completed By year’s

from page one

seven years since an audit for the institution had been last tabled in the House of Assembly.

“Our Board of Trustees has kept a stringent focus on the university’s fiduciary responsibilities,” UB said in a statement.

“Moving forward, the university will be completing its audits within the normal framework for reporting, which is three to six months after the end of each fiscal year. As we build a strong institution that plays a pivotal role in national development, we continue to benefit from the profound trust and support of our donors.

“Through their philanthropy, the work we do is transformative in the lives

end

of our students and critical to our success in helping to build a strong future for our citizens.”

UB said donors have supported research, scholarships, crucial student needs beyond tuition, study abroad opportunities, and other areas.

The university said its unaudited financial records show that in the last three fiscal years, private giving to the university has totalled about $9 million in cash from all sources, including in-kind donations.

UB will identify areas where donors can further support its growth.

“We are committed to upholding the trust and confidence that both our public and private donors have placed in the university,” the statement said.

man accUsed of shooting his 62-year-old girlfriend

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Police Commissioner Leamond Deleveaux said an investigation into the alleged beating of several Bimini Primary School students earlier this year is almost complete.

“That matter is before the Complaints and Corruption Branch and you should be hearing from us very shortly,” he told reporters on

Friday. In March, an officer reportedly beat several students on their bottom and legs, leaving them with black and blue marks. Some students’ parents sent photos of the bruises to The Tribune.

Davaria Sherman, the mother of an 11-year-old boy who was allegedly beaten, said yesterday that police had still not contacted her with an update on the investigation.

“I honestly feel like they’re trying to sweep it under the rug, but I can’t say for sure,” she said in May. She said she had warned school administrators not to beat her son on his hip because he has Pelvic Kidney, a condition that affects the position of his kidney.

In May, another parent, Tanishka Sands, said she reached out to officials for an update on the investigation but got nowhere.

“I haven’t heard anything from the police, social services, nor education,” she said at the time. “I reached out to education about a week ago, and nothing. They didn’t say anything, and nobody contacted me.”

The school’s principal was reassigned after the incident. Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said the alleged beating was inconsistent with the ministry’s policies.

AN elderly man was granted bail after he was accused of shooting his 62-year-old girlfriend with a shotgun at her home last week.

Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged Jeffrey Sherman, 66, with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of attempted murder.

Bjorn Ferguson represented the accused.

Sherman reportedly argued with Bridgette Ingraham at her residence on Sapodilla Blvd around 10.30pm on August 24. As

the argument escalated, he allegedly pulled out a dark grey shotgun and shot Ms Ingraham in both arms. During this incident, he allegedly tried to kill Stantina Pugh. Ms Ingraham was successfully treated in hospital for her injuries. Sherman’s case will be transferred to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment to be served on October 31.

Justice Cheryl Grant Thompson granted him $20k bail yesterday. He is required to sign in at a police station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He will be electronically monitored. His curfew will be from 6pm to 6am.

Man accused of murdering Jean Rony Jean-Charles charged

from page one

died of his injuries at the hospital.

Jean-Charles was deported to Haiti in 2017 for failing to produce documents to confirm his identity. After a judge ordered his return at authorities’ expense, JeanCharles +-returned in 2018.

Former Attorney General Carl Bethel said at the time that Jean-Charles’ case placed the government in a position uncovered by law or the constitution and exposed a significant and far-reaching legal challenge over the verification of birth certificates.

The Court of Appeal later overturned the Supreme Court’s ruling.

However, the Privy Council ruled in JeanCharles’ favour last December. The appellate court remitted the matter to the Supreme Court to reconsider the application for constitutional relief. The case was still pending when Jean-Charles was killed.

Strachan was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He was told his case would be transferred to a higher court for trial through a voluntary bill of indictment set for service on November 30.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ELIKSON PAYOUTE of Grant Town, Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 29th day of August, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

DAVARIA SHERMAN, mother of the 11-year-old who was among the children allegedly beaten by an officer at school in Bimini said she warned school administrators not to beat him on his hip because his “kidney is in his pelvis”. Pictured here is the bruise he got from the beating.

A 53-year-old man was charged yesterday with murdering Jean Rony Jean-Charles, the Bahamas-born man of Haitian descent who famously sought constitutional relief after being detained and deported to Haiti in 2017.

Aviation unions sign three year $1.8m industrial agreement which will benefit 117 members

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority and the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union signed a $1.8m three-year industrial agreement yesterday.

However, extensive details about the agreement are unclear because it was not released to the press.

The new agreement benefits 117 union members and replaces the five-year agreement that has been in place since June 2017.

The agreement addresses salaries and benefits.

Tourism, Aviation and Investment Minister Chester Cooper said the agreement would also update management job titles to reflect the new organisational structure

of the department; align job titles to reflect new job responsibilities; improve training allowances to “encourage an increase in the number of certified employees who can participate in on-the-job training of their colleagues;” and “create a more efficient procedure that enables the prompt payment of the company’s obligations relating to retirement from the

organisation”.

Mr Cooper said yesterday that effective June 1, 2022, salary increases of three increments would be added to base salaries. Effective June 1, 2023, a salary increase of one increment would be added to the base salary. Effective June 1, 2024, a salary increase of two increments would be added to the base salary.

Hinsey McKenzie,

president of The Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union, expressed gratitude for the completion of the agreement, but criticised the length of negotiations.

“Hopefully, going forward, we will have a better relationship in trying to resolve all issues with this industrial agreement because I don’t think the industrial agreement should take that long because we

were willing to have this signed months ago,” he said.

“So, we went way right back to the same spot we started. So, I think next time let’s both cooperate and try to bring this to a quick speedy solution so we can then proceed with better service for the airline. That’s what we’re all about.”

DEPP ARE RE VIE WING BPL DOCUMENT REGARDING DIESEL SPILL IN A NDROS L AST Y E AR

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

DEPARTMENT of Environmental Planning and Protection officials are reviewing Bahamas Power & Light’s documents concerning a diesel spill at its north Andros power station last year.

DEPP Director Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy said the assessment should be finished by the end of the week. She could not say whether the leak has contaminated the water table in Nicholls Town and poses a threat to human health.

BPL did not report the leak to the public, and officials would not discuss the status of remediation efforts when contacted earlier this month, citing ongoing litigation.

Dr Neely-Murphy said this is not DEPP’s first

assessment of the situation, though she could not recall the first visit.

“The department visited the site,” she said. “BPL started with its initial remediation activities, but we have now received the comprehensive report, and so we’ll be moving on to the next step now.”

Randy Butler, the president and a director of Daran Corporation Holdings, a company suing BPL over the leak, expressed outrage at how long it took officials to address the issue.

Mr Butler said the media’s coverage of the leak pushed officials to address the problem, calling this “sad” and “very bad optics”.

In an affidavit he filed in June, he alleged that he spoke to top DEPP officials about the matter last year, but got no response.

He said the oil spilled in January 2022.

LOCA L FUEL PRICES NE ARING $6 PER GA LLON AS CRUDE OIL COSTS INCRE ASE

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Petroleum Retailers Association VicePresident Vasco Bastian said an increase in crude oil prices explains why gas prices are nearing $6.

Last September, gas prices fell under $6 for the first time since March and remained consistently under that price. However, as of yesterday, Shell and Esso were $5.98 per gallon, with Rubis at $5.94 per gallon.

“Once you see the price of crude oil start to level up, then that has a direct affect on gas at the pump,” said Mr Bastian.

“So that price increase as a result of the movement in crude oil probably over the last six to eight weeks.

“Remember now, we continue to have challenges with logistics globally.”

Last year, a gallon of gas rose to almost $7, with prices in the Family Islands surpassing that amount.

Mr Bastian is confident that prices will remain consistent and not surpass

the $7 mark.

“It’s still $1.50 less than it was last year,” he said.

“Remember last year, August this time, gas was $7.39. Go back and do your research. Gas was

$7.39 a year ago.

“I always remember that because that’s the highest it was. So, we’re still good ways off from that, and hopefully, we will never see that price again.”

BPRA VICE PRESIDENT VASCO BASTIAN

A HOLE dug on private property near a BPL facility in North Andros shows what appears to be fuel or oil in the water. Residents of the area are concerned after a pipeline leak that the water table may be contaminated.

THE Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority and the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union signed a $1.8m three-year industrial agreement yesterday.

Photo: Lynaire Munnings

The Tribune Limited

Making history and aesthetics part of the national vision

THIS week, The Tribune is inviting a series of guest editorial writers to answer a single question - “What is one thing you would change?”

Today’s contributor is Amanda Coulson, executive director of the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (2011-2021); and founding director of TERN Gallery. Readers are invited to send their own suggestions to letters@ tribunemedia.net.

Living in The Bahamas, a young country with still much growing to undergo, many of us citizens have a long list of things we would change, covering a broad range of topics. I was invited to share my thoughts based on my expertise, however, which is in the arts, and while I also have a very long list on this topic—from a network of museums for music history, food history, Junkanoo, applied and fine arts, to better educational access and equipment from K1-12 to the abolition of import duty on both art supplies and artworks— I will wrap my general comments under this campaign: “Making history and aesthetics part of the national vision.”

Let me be clear: this isn’t merely about beauty, it encompasses national pride, health, wellness, and security. There are ample global studies that show —through data and statistics — that well-maintained, beautiful areas and the inclusion of arts into school curricula, work life, even prisons, leads to better health, both physical and mental, less crime, less recidivism, less depression, more business opportunities, increased economic possibilities and increased spending.

People work better when they are surrounded by beauty, there is less corruption, petty theft and more pride, care, and productivity. That is, healthier societies in every way.

I would advocate for the following, starting with Downtown Nassau — our capital city — and the island of New Providence, but certainly fanning out to all Family Islands and settlements:

A thoughtful and comprehensive plan for wayfinding around our islands and cities that is both helpful and beautiful; not the usual plethora of badly-designed signs, installed on a whim, but a national scheme that helps citizens and visitors.

An intentional system for signage on Bay Street, Rawson Square and the historic Over-the-Hill community that combines design and history (if Marina Village and the Cruise Port can do it, why can’t we?)

Ban on foreign imports in our straw market (this may appear off-topic, but our native straw is simply the most beautiful!).

The rebirth of our botanical gardens with more information on native flora and fauna.

Well-maintained public systems, such as functioning, clean and unbroken sidewalks, lined with shrubs and trees for shade and beauty, benches and gathering areas.

An attractive and timely bus service to connect these areas and reduce congestion and traffic (cutting down on emissions, which has health benefits).

More creative public monuments: not generic shells and birds or busts to score political points, but monuments that would galvanise the public around a national vision and that uplift and enhance the communities. (Why not use the empty Columbus plinth for a rotating art project, illustrating

important historical events and groups — the Taino, Pompey’s rebellion, the throwing of the mace — which could then be moved to the botanical gardens?)

Extensive public murals that brand different places, historic areas and islands, creating sites of interest and edification, teaching our history for both the general populace and any visitors.

A rigorous and intentional public ad campaign that uplifts our successful arts and culture professionals, as we do our politicians and athletes.

Excellent maintenance for historic buildings with a system — akin to the Blue Plaques on historic homes in the UK — that explain their significance and history. Controlled and organised advertising signage that is planned and considered, not a hodge-podge of homemade signs elbowing each other for attention. One thinks of illuminated bus stop ads in other cities that also create safe spaces and coverage from heat/rain.

The same attention and care as paid to the hotels in the landscaping and garbage collection in every community and neighbourhood across the archipelago, with parks and benches, regularly monitored and maintained recreational areas and garbage collection.

Garbage cans — beautiful, aesthetic and frequently emptied — garbage cans.

Fines and penalties for incorrect disposal of garbage dumping.

Did I mention garbage cans/ collection?

This may seem “surface” oriented. People will ask: “Why beauty, history or culture before ‘Insert Your Burning Issue Here’?” but I strongly believe that if we care about art and our history, if we beautify our surroundings, and we learn to take care for and pay attention to them, this translates into a society which is kind and caring, healthy, and fruitful.

And isn’t that The Bahamas we all want to live in?

who has worked for three decades as a scholar, critic, curator and cultural producer on both sides of the Atlantic, having collaborated with artists and institutions, private and corporate colleagues, in the US, Europe, and various sites in the Caribbean. In 2005, she co-founded the VOLTA art fairs, which takes place annually in New York and Basel. In 2011, she returned to her home in The Bahamas to take up the position of Executive Director at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB), where her focus was on increasing international awareness of the contemporary Caribbean art scene and on expanding the capacity and reach of the NAGB through a rigorous combination of capital works, collaborative projects and the building of strong inter-island and international networks. She served on the Davidoff Art Initiative (now the Caribbean Art Initiative) Board from 2012-2018, and served on the Board of the Museums Association of the Caribbean (MAC) until she stepped down from the NAGB, after a decade at the helm. She is the founding partner at TERN, a new Nassau-based gallery operated by three Caribbean women whose aim is to support Bahamian and Caribbean artists in telling their own stories on the global stage.

Government aiding in excessive alcohol consumption among Bahamian alcoholics

EDITOR, The Tribune.

RECENTLY I was informed by a businessman that one of his employees died unexpectedly. Even without the benefit of an autopsy, the grieving businessman is convinced that his employee’s excessive drinking played a significant part in his demise. About three years ago an individual I personally knew drowned due to his inebriation. He was also a chronic alcoholic. I know of another young Bahamian, about 41-years-old, who is always either drunk or sobering up.

Bahamian stakeholders seem to be either oblivious or nonchalant about the ongoing destruction of so many lives due to the high amount of alcohol consumption in this country, made possible by the plethora of liquor stores and taverns. It would appear that the government has made it extremely easy for aspiring businessmen to attain a liquor licence. It would be interesting to know if the Ministry of Health has conducted a study on the level of chronic alcoholism among Bahamians. Based on the crowded taverns on Thursday and Friday evenings, it would appear that we have a massive problem on our hands that is being conveniently

EDITOR,

ignored.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States claimed that in 2010 alone the economic costs of alcoholic consumption was estimated at $249 billion. Between 2015-2019, one in five deaths in the United States was caused by excessive drinking of individuals between the ages of 20 and 49. Some of the short term health risks of binge drinking are injuries sustained from car accidents, falls, drownings and burns. Other risks includes violence such as homicide, suicide, sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Inebriated individuals lack coherence and sound judgment.

Alcoholic poisoning, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and risky sexual behaviours are other short term health risks, according to the CDC.

Long term health risks includes high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease and digestive problems. Alcoholics are also at risk of contracting cancer in the mouth, breasts, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon and rectum.

Additionally, excessive drinking can weaken

one’s immune system; cause dementia and social problems in the home and on the job. I knew a woman who was verbally and physically abused by her husband who was a chronic alcoholic. His death, I believe, was related to his binge drinking. His son inherited his violent behaviour, as he was also physically abusive towards his wife. This is one of the catastrophic results of the liquor industry in this country. Inebriated men are also known to sexually abuse their underage dependents. Many Bahamian winebibbers want to stop but are now struggling with alcohol use disorder.

We are in a crisis made possible by the unwitting assistance of the government of the Bahamas in allowing so many liquor stores to open.

The government has recently talked about introducing a sin tax on greasy foods in order to reduce the high rate of noncommunicable diseases among obese Bahamians.

Yet it is sitting idly by while the liquor industry is reeking havoc in the lives of thousands of Bahamians.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama, August 28, 2023.

bank?) Great, so I thought. Found out my card expires end of this month August. So stop off to the bank … of course wait and wait. Courteous clerk nice smile. My old card you could arrange a different level to the standard $2,000 withdrawal in 24-hours ho-ho-ho this chip card spanking high tech guess what - it can’t! Two steps forward four back!

SUSANNE HUTCHINSON Nassau, August 28, 2023.

A SPECTACULAR lightning strike seen from the Ocean Club on Paradise Island. Photo: BACSWN

$200m Carnival Cruise Lines development in

Grand Bahama to be named Celebration Key.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune S taff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

CELEBRATION Key is the name for the $200 million project Carnival is developing in Grand Bahama.

The port, which is expected to open in the summer of 2025, is estimated to bring some two million passengers in the first year to the island.

Grand Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey is excited about the new name.

“I love the name, and I think we can tie it into

the marketing campaign for Grand Bahama Island when we think of events and entertainment,” she said on Monday.

Minister Moxey reported that Carnival has completed the dredging for the port and will soon commence development on the landslide.

The cruise line has acquired 329 acres at Sharp Rock in East Grand Bahama. The cruise port will be able to accommodate two of Carnival’s largest ships, the Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, which each carry up to

6,000 guests.

She believes the name Celebration Key evokes the feeling of a grand celebration.

“I got the call before the announcement was made on the new name, and it ties in perfectly for the direction that we want to see Grand Bahama headed in,” she said.

“This new port is going to bring two million passengers every year, and in the first year to Grand Bahama, that is going to spill over into all segments of the community,” she added.

“It is going to benefit our

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune S taff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sent to prison yesterday accused of sexually assaulting a woman after a night out drinking in July.

Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans charged

Jerreth Ford, 42, with rape.

Leevon Johnson represented the accused.

Ford allegedly raped a 40-year-old woman at her residence on Golden Isles Road at around 3am on July 29. Police reports indicate that the alleged victim knew the

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune S taff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN 18-year-old youth was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to having a loaded rifle in his home.

He claimed he found the gun in a park.

Kervanno Brown, Lavardo Butler, 38, and Phillipa Sturrup, 44, were charged before Magistrate Lennox Coleby with possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition and possession of ammunition with intent to supply.

The courtroom was packed with relatives of the defendants.

Alphonso Lewis, Keevon Maynard and Ian

Cargill represented those accused. Police executed a search warrant on the defendant’s residence on St Lucia Crescent on August 26. Officers allegedly found a black rifle, 16 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 43 rounds of CBC 20mm ammunition in a Pampers box. In a subsequent police interview, Brown admitted to the offence and told officers he found the weapon and ammunition in Pond Park weeks earlier.

He alone pleaded guilty to the charges. His two co-accused pleaded not guilty. The charges against the two were subsequently withdrawn. During mitigation,

defendant and that they had been out drinking at a bar the night before.

Ford was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. His case will be moved to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment set for service on December 4.

straw vendors, taxi drivers, and other facilities outside the cruise port; we don’t want those just in the cruise port walls to benefit.”

She encouraged Bahamians to create business ideas to provide new authentic Bahamian guest experiences.

Carnival officials met recently with retailers and will soon have meetings with food and beverage operators interested in providing services at the new port.

Minister Moxey said that prospective vendors can contact Carnival directly.

“You go to Carnival’s website, and there are requests for proposals on the site. They are having one-on-one meetings with potential vendors and also in partnership with the Ministry for Grand Bahama in our Collab Unit.

“We want to ensure Bahamians have every opportunity to be part of this new development for GB,” she said.

“I feel that now is the time that Grand Bahama is going to take off, and the Carnival cruise port is just one of those (developments),” she said.

Memorial Service for PHILIP RAYMOND DEAN, 64

Of #85 Yellow Elder will be held at The Rock of ages Funeral Chapel, The Jasper Suite, Wulff Road and Pinedale on Wednesday, August 30th, 2023 at 12:00 noon

Officiating Apostle Ed Watson. Cremation was held

He is predeceased by his Parents: Samuel and Jannette Dean; Brothers: Samuel Jr., Lothian, Edrick and Arnold Dean.

He is survived by his, Sister and Brother: Donnalee Dean-Sears and Leslie Dean; Cousins: Apostle Ed Watson, Ralph Watson and Winifred Watson-Roberts, Audrey Rolle, Michael Cartwright and family, Emma Hanna, Doreen, Ivy, Gloria Adderley and family, Rosebud, Bridgette, Craig Mortimer and family; Friends: Goldie, Berkley Anderson and family, Carolyn, Inez and Mike and the Yellow Elder Community; and numerous Nieces and Nephews and a host of other relatives and friends

Mr Lewis said Brown, his client, was gainfully employed and is an usher at his church. The attorney also stated that his young client was remorseful and is an expectant father.

After claiming Brown had a clean record and admitted to the offence from the onset, Mr Lewis asked the court to be merciful in its sentencing.

While Magistrate Coleby credited Brown for his early plea, he sentenced him to 24 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Before being taken into remand, Brown was allowed a moment with his relatives, some of whom became emotional after his sentencing.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune S taff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Police are investigating an armed robbery involving a local businessman who was robbed of his truck and cash last Friday.

According to reports, the incident occurred around 5.30pm when the victim arrived at his residence on

Glover Lane. Two men, one armed with a firearm and baseball bat, approached the businessman and robbed him of Gold Dodge Dakota Truck and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspects fled the area in the stolen vehicle, which was later recovered.

Police are appealing to the public for assistance

locating the two male suspects believed to be responsible.

They are also appealing to members of the public, especially business owners, always to be aware of their surroundings, avoid travelling with large sums of cash, and seek the assistance of armoured truck services or make regular deposits to the local bank.

GB POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR TWO MEN FOR ARMED ROBBERY OF A BUSINESSMAN

M AN ADMITS TO P OSSESSION OF A LOADED RIFLE IN HIS HOME, GETS TWO YEARS JAIL

M AN ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A WOMAN AFTER A NIGHT OF DRINKING

CARNIVAL Cruise Lines has acquired 329 acres at Sharp Rock in East Grand Bahama for a $200m project. The cruise port will be able to accommodate two of Carnival’s largest ships, the Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, which each carry up to 6,000 guests. They expect to bring 2 million passengers to Grand Bahama in the first year.

Bahamasair reaching new heights for its golden jubilee

WHEN the architects of an independent Bahamas foresaw the success of this country driven by a people united in service, they made the decision that a national airline would be essential. It would serve as an initial introduction to the Bahamas, welcoming the world to our shores, even before the passengers arrive on Bahamian soil. It would also bridge Nassau, the capital, to the Family Islands, connecting this archipelagic nation in a vital way.

Bahamasair would assume the role of the premier airline, fostering an aviation sector managed by Bahamians for Bahamians. Half a century later, Bahamasair commemorates its golden jubilee congruently with the nation - marking 50 years of both sovereignty and aviation distinction.

There is much to celebrate! The upward trajectory of Bahamasair since it took off in 1973 continues to climb. The airline is set to achieve its highest revenue growth in the coming year. Managing Director Tracy Cooper expressed optimism in the airline’s growth as the country’s tourism product has increased, on average, 30 percent year over year.

The establishment of Bahamasair on June 18, 1973 indicates the significant role that Bahamasair was intended to play in establishing an airline that would “be a part of the development of the country”, Mr Cooper said. It also was to protect the international interest of the country and travelers in the event that foreign carriers were not readily available.

Bahamasair would turn out to be an indelible part of the fabric of the country, providing affordable air transportation. Over the years, the airline has

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

provided a cost stabilization for travel to the Bahamas. For other Caribbean countries that do not have a national airline like Bahamasair, Mr Cooper pointed out that one would generally see a higher pricing on tickets to those destinations. Bahamasair’s management believes that the airline should not be a burden to the government. In its present growth projection, it shows that the airline will achieve financial independence in the coming years. As the airline continues to grow, Bahamasair’s passenger count also continues to increase with over 950,000 passengers carried on an estimated 8,500 flights during the past year.

To meet this expected demand and growth, Bahamasair will be adding another B737-700 to its fleet in third quarter of 2023. The airline also expects to add an additional ATR 70 seat aircraft in the second quarter 2024. This will increase the fleet size and seating capacity by 29%.

Presently, the airline is relying on modern technology to remain strategic and efficient in its operation. The airplanes utilize GPS for navigation, IPADs for flight documentation, mobile apps and kiosks for faster processing of passengers, and updated softwares for global communications. The airline is also exploring the ability to have ticket kiosk dispensers

throughout Nassau and the Family of Islands allowing for a more seamless and convenient self-ticketing experience.

Bahamasair’s growth is now extending to interlining efforts that will allow it to affiliate with other airlines to provide even more airlift for its passengers and extend its route network beyond its regularly scheduled service.

Mr. Cooper shared: “Interlining allows other airlines that do not offer direct service to the Bahamas, the opportunity to sell flights to the Bahamas by Bahamasair. For example, Bahamasair is presently interlining with Delta Airlines, United Airline, British Airways and Copa Airline, and most recently added Alaska Airlines. We are reaching the world without having to go to the world - meeting at a point. Bahamasair is paying a lot of attention to key airlines under its belt with interline agreements.”

Potential Caribbean partnerships are also being explored for 2023. This year of Bahamasair’s golden jubilee has given the country much reason for celebration. Bahamasair is the recipient of the World Travel Awards Caribbean Airline of the Year for the third consecutive year. It also prides itself on having won several international awards.

A new service has been launched for Bahamasair, flying from New Providence

and Freeport into RaleighDurham, North Carolina. Additionally, passengers in Exuma can now enjoy a Bahamasair flight between Georgetown and Fort Lauderdale.

Bahamasair is expanding its international cargo services, which will allow for items to be received and sent between New Providence and routes like Cuba, Haiti, and South Florida.

“Apart from just the travel aspect of the airline, we also assist the government in repatriation exercises,” Mr Cooper added.

“We assist during hurricane season; we are instrumental in moving people out of harm’s way and out of areas that have been devastated. It is a national element that assists in time of need. We have been doing that and will continue to do so.”

Bahamasair was incorporated under the name Bahamasair Holdings, Ltd in 1973. It resulted from the amalgamation of two privately owned carriers - Out Island Airways and Flamingo Airways. The airline remains wholly owned by The Bahamas Government.

“What a better time to have this in sight than during the golden jubilee,” Mr Cooper said.

“This path to success is truly a team effort.”

The importance of Bahamasair staff in its success is also being celebrated. A series of jubilee events are happening, all including

staff participation and recognition. At the beginning of the year, 50th Anniversary Commemorative Calendar was launched, honouring long serving employees. There was a Family Sports Fun Day which was held at the Blue Hills Sporting Complex, and there is an upcoming Family Beach Picnic and a Staff Recognition Day.

There was a service of thanksgiving in June at St Agnes Anglican Church, as well as the 50th Anniversary Gala Ball at Baha Mar. In July, staff members enjoyed the 50th Anniversary Boat Cruise.

Other events to help create a deeper bond for Bahamasair employees included a blood drive and health check day in partnership with Doctor’s Hospital, a Sip n’ Paint night, Karaoke Night, the Biggest Loser Employee Fitness Competition, and more. Every Friday in the month of June, Bahamasair employees mark the 50th with a T-Shirt Day.

Charitable donations were made to four charities:

REACH Bahamas; Singing Bishop Food Drive; Sister Sister Cancer Support Group; and the Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home.

Bahamasair also welcomed a Students Careers Day.

“We have talented people - from those flying the planes, to those attending to passengers, customer service, management, maintenance, our commercial team, sales and marketing

- we have a phenomenal team causing the renaissance of Bahamasair now and going into the future.”

Mr Cooper is enjoying success at the helm as Bahamasair’s steady growth is indeed a sign of good leadership. He stands on broad and accomplished shoulders. Former managing director Henry Woods, now deceased, was a well loved and respected leader, who is likely the longest serving head in the history of Bahamasair. He mentored Mr Cooper, who has a 38-yearlong career at Bahamasair, and who served for many of those years as director of maintenance. Mr Woods groomed many others who are in leadership in other aspects of the airline - but he handpicked Mr Cooper to take the drivers seat and steadily pilot Bahamasair to its continued success.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper recently highlighted the expansion of the country’s tourism product. This bodes well for Bahamasair as it continues to meet the needs of local and international passengers.

It works in tandem with the government’s commitment to increase facilities and amenities on the Family Islands and boost economic growth to the islands.

“As The Bahamas grows, Bahamasair should be growing right along with it.”

“Bahamasair will continue to play that pivotal role to better the country and itself,” said Mr Cooper.

A SPECIAL moment: Bahamasair Managing Director Tracy Cooper presents a painting of former Managing Director Henry Woods (deceased) to his wife and daughter, Teddie and Phylicia Woods during Bahamasair’s 50th Anniversary Gala Ball at Baha Mar.

CHURCH Service - Bahamasair staff gather for the 50th anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St. Agnes Anglican Church, hosted by Father Keith Cartwright (photo by Lionel J. Smith)

BAHAMASAIR holds a 50th Anniversary Blood Drive in partnership with Doctor’s Hospital.

Blue Hill Sporting Complex.

BAHAMASAIR employees enjoy fun and camaraderie at a 50th anniversary Sip N’ Paint Event. (photo by Lionel J Smith)

Can BRICS create a new world order?

ARELATIVELY new international grouping has taken centre stage this past week. It is called BRICS. The world is bombarded by endless acronyms by which bodies and organizations are universally known, but it is probably a safe bet that BRICS will not yet be widely familiar even though its significance seems to be growing.

This is a grouping of the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It is estimated that these five could collectively dominate global growth by about the year 2050. It is an ambitious team or club that is still at an early stage of development. Reportedly, it is motivated by a compulsion to challenge and limit Western dominance in the world; with China, of course, at the forefront of targeting what it calls US hegemony. The BRICS view appears to be that new global leadership is needed in a world fractured by geopolitical tensions, inequality and insecurity.

BRICS is in the news now because it has just held a summit meeting, hosted by South Africa in Johannesburg, that has attracted considerable publicity, not least perhaps because President Xi Jinping and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi were in attendance and the meeting was addressed by President Putin by video link. However, the mainstream US media seems to have paid relatively little attention

to it. The summit was preceded by a preparatory meeting of foreign ministers three months ago. This was also held in South Africa which, as I mentioned in an earlier column, aspires to be a crusading champion of a new alternative nonaligned multi-polar world. The five nations of BRICS have a combined population of more than 3.2 billion or 40 per cent of the world’s roughly eight billion people, and they are seen by some as potentially an alternative to the G7 group of developed countries. It is said they believe that the influence and control exercised by the US and its Western allies should be reduced in a rapidly changing world. Their foreign ministers are reported to have sent out a strong message that the world is multi-polar and that it should be re-balanced. In the words of India’s foreign minister “we face an economic concentration that leaves too many nations at the mercy of too few”, while China’s minister of foreign affairs suggested the group could be expanded to provide assistance to developing countries and Brazil’s minister described

BRICS as an indispensable mechanism for building a multi-polar world that reflects the needs of developing countries. For those interested in how all this has come about, the acronym BRIC (South Africa was added later)

“Last week’s historic three-day summit was doubtless carefully monitored by the US and other Western countries. It produced agreement that six new countries will join next year – Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.”

was first coined in 2001 by the then chief economist at Goldman Sachs in recognition of the economic potential of Brazil, Russia, India and China, which, he suggested, would become the dominant suppliers of

manufactured goods and services -- as well as, partly, raw materials -- leading up to the year 2050.

These countries then ran with the idea of a grouping as an informal club or platform to challenge the dominance of the US and its Western allies and soon invited South Africa to join. BRICS is not a formal multilateral body.

It is in its infancy but is said to be generating interest and excitement. Reportedly, it is already recognized as one of the leading global voices for greater representation of developing countries in world affairs, and it operates by consensus. It is claiming a geopolitical role though its focus is on economic cooperation, new trading systems and development. Last week’s historic three-day summit was doubtless carefully monitored by the US and other Western countries. It produced agreement that six new countries will join next year – Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This will more than double the size of the group and increase

Lies and more damned lies

So extensive has the media coverage been of the presumed death in a plane crash in Russia last week of the mercenary Wagner Group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, that it is surely superfluous to add comment today. Nonetheless, doubts had remained about whether he was actually a passenger on the private plane that went down with no survivors. So, the latest official statement confirming that he was among the ten people who perished is significant because this incident could have major implications for Putin’s future and thus might affect the war in Ukraine. It might also be interesting to look briefly at the terrible reputation Russian authorities have for telling lies in order to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.

Despite the Kremlin’s denial of any involvement in Prigozhin’s death, according to the reports I have read many Russians do not believe this. So, while they were shocked by the incident, they were probably surprised it had not happened sooner than two months after the Wagner leader had launched his brief mutiny in Russia. In late June, his mercenaries had seized a major Russian city and even marched on Moscow. He had also criticized Russia’s military leadership.

Such a mutiny was a massive humiliation for the Kremlin and Putin condemned the action as “treachery” and “a stab in the back” – and he promised that the perpetrators would be punished. But, apparently, any charges were dropped in some sort of plea bargain whereby Prigozhin would end the mutiny in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Nonetheless, during the last two months he had been described as a ‘dead man walking’ because it is said that Putin does not forgive and forget traitors and those who challenge him; and there was endless public speculation about what might happen. Commentators say that, rather than discovering the cause of the crash, what matters now is to show it was an act of deliberate, cold-blooded retaliation, revenge and retribution. Thus, it has also sent a significant message to other potential mutineers not to cross their leader.

Some observers now believe that Putin has become more ruthless as he realizes the scale of his folly in

invading Ukraine – not least because of flawed planning and intelligence, lack of training and poor logistics -and how vulnerable his own position now is in the face of internal Russian dissent. His original assumption of a quick victory through overwhelming military superiority had been proven fundamentally wrong.

With his deliberate and brutal targeting of civilians and structures like schools, hospitals, apartment buildings, power plants and bridges -- as well as committing acts of torture -Ukrainians had become unified in their hatred of him and of Russia more widely and in their resolve to defend Ukrainian territory to the end. Against this background of pure evil, it is revealing to learn afresh of the extent to which the Russian leadership tells lies insistently and incessantly so that nothing that is said can be trusted.

This is, of course, nothing new, but a blatant disregard for the truth has become the norm. Officials often resort to transparent lies and do not care when they are caught out. They always seek to deflect blame for outrages after Russia’s role has been exposed. Examples include the

shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines flight over Ukraine in 2014, the poisoning of a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury in 2018, and the attempted assassination of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2020. Russian officials also lie to deflect blame from their allies; for example, calling the Syrian president’s use of chemical weapons on his own people ‘utter nonsense’. The list of instances of such lying is endless, including the latest absurdity of Russia blaming Ukraine for massacring its own people. These officials like to confuse, distort and obfuscate while indulging in double speak as spelt out in George Orwell’s novel ‘1984.’ Expert Russia-watchers suggest that Prigozhin’s colleagues and associates will now be sought out and eliminated. Putin will need to reassert his authority and show that people who go after him will do so at their peril. The general view seems to be that the more Ukraine succeeds in its current muchhyped counter offensive -- while also attempting generally to create greater strife and internal struggle in Russia itself -- the more the Russian leader’s power will be put at risk.

its clout in terms of population and economic strength. Some 40 other countries have expressed interest in becoming members.

Expansion of the group could have specific political implications insofar as it might bring, for example, greater scrutiny of China’s influence in the Persian Gulf and, probably, there will be renewed questions about the degree of influence being brought to bear on BRICS’s anti-Western stance by China and Russia, arising from China’s deteriorating relations with the US and Russia’s stand-off with the West over the war in Ukraine.

It is claimed that many other countries are attracted to the new BRICS model of trade since it could unlock new sources of investment and help their development. This includes BRICS’s support of “dedollarization” and usage of local currencies among its members for cross-border transactions, thus ending reliance on the US dollar’s global reserve status.

South Africa was reportedly delighted to have hosted the Johannesburg summit. But, as someone who has had a diplomatic

posting there and studied the country, I wonder how wise it is for the nation to allow itself to be led away from its existing important trade partners and sources of investment in the US, UK and EU. That might be undesirable given the country’s failing economy as it grapples with an energy crisis, problems of unemployment, failing infrastructure and a weak currency. Given the serious local economic uncertainty, people question whether South Africa really wants to jeopardize its relations with the West?

That said, it is clear that the ruling African National Congress still wants, in particular, to recognize Russia’s help during the anti-apartheid years.

As for the future, most observers consider that at this early stage there are too many imponderables to try to judge how BRICS will work and how effective it will be.

The group sees itself as a counterweight to the West -- and its existing membership already gives it considerable strength that could make it a formidable rival to the G7 democratic powers.

A sad day for America

Whatever view one may take of the personal and professional life of the 45th president of the United States – and he provokes strong opinions for and against him – what is happening to him now as a former president facing four separate indictments is seen by many as a wretched and humiliating time for America’s democracy.

Having spent a year at a boarding school in New England on an exchange scholarship and been exposed to so many of the good things offered by America, including being able to travel far and wide, I am inevitably an admirer; not least because of the lasting personal relationships I was fortunate enough to have developed. But it has always seemed to me that there is a yawning gulf between what can loosely be described as the excellence of ‘private America’ and its public face as a nation that now seems to be so terribly divided politically and in so many other different ways.

Those who cannot stand Donald Trump believe that his behaviour while in office from 2017 until 2021 was in various ways deplorable and has demeaned the office of the presidency. But

the extent of the continuing support he enjoys as the Republican front-runner for the 2024 election -- after winning some 74 million votes in the national popular ballot in 2000 -- seems sometimes to be underestimated and perhaps too easily discounted.

Be that as it may, many consider it an embarrassment for the world’s leading democracy -- even putting it on a par with ‘a banana republic’ -- when a former president’s home is raided by the FBI and he has to face four separate indictments on different issues.

From reports I have seen, people wonder whether all this is really justified and whether the whole process might be flawed. Was it his own fault and does he really deserve to be pilloried in the manner he has been? Or has there been political interference, as some allege, so that the Justice Department has been ‘weaponized’ against him? These seem to be the questions bothering more and more people.

So, doubts remain about all this and there are surely no ready answers. Today is not the time or place to try to examine the issue in any depth. But, for observers, admirers and lovers of the ‘great U S of A’, this is, indeed, a sad day for America.

PRESIDENT of China Xi Jinping, centre right, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, centre, pose for a picture at the China-Africa Leaders’ Roundtable Dialogue on the last day of the BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, last Thursday. (Alet Pretorius/Pool Photo via AP)

IN this image from video provided by Prigozhin Press Service, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostovon-Don, Russia, in June. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP, File)

FORMER President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

MINISTRY UNVEILS ROAD IMPROVEMENT EQUIPMENT

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting @ tribunemedia.net

MINISTRY of Works

officials showcased road improvement and flood mitigation equipment worth more than $1m yesterday.

Machinery and Energy (M&E) Limited presented officials with a 426 Backhoe, Skid-Steer Loader and a Sullair 375 Air Compressor with a Jackhammer. Works and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears said this was the first acquisition of substantial quality road improvement equipment in over 20 years. He said the government spent some $400,000 to acquire the machines.

“Some of these tools, which are vital for road redevelopment, as well as road paving, as well as some of the flood mitigation materials that we will see shortly, are necessary for ensuring that there is no ponding of water on our roads and in the communities of the country,” he said.

“These are vital tools.

Currently, the ministry relies on a number of contractors. But there needs to be the capacity within the ministry itself so that it can be more nimble; it can respond to emergency needs much more quickly and efficiently, as well as utilising the road contractors.

“Immediately after the press conference, the equipment will be deployed in the field, because we have teams in various communities within New Providence ongoing work, and we will be deployed almost immediately.”

Henry Moxey, the chief drainage engineer, said the ministry also acquired seven pumps for the flood mitigation programme to address flooding concerns in New Providence.

“What I must note is this is the first, in a very long time, that we have actually made such an acquisition,” he said.

“We’re hopeful that with this acquisition, and with the use of them here on New Providence, that this

similar process would be actually replicated on the Family Islands.”

Mr Moxey said the pumps can move 1,000 to 1,500 gallons per minute.

“If we were to put them in an area whereby we’re trying to do water, say, for example, a tank, this pump would probably collapse the tank because it’s pumping faster than probably that tank can actually support that pressure going into it,” he said.

He said immediate targets for the pumps are The Grove, Pinewood Gardens, South Beach, and other low-lying areas.

Mr Moxey also said the government had purchased Whopper Valves to stop water from coming through drainage infrastructures.

He said these valves have been installed in the Gleniston Gardens, Pinewood Gardens, West Grove and Over-The-Hill Grove areas.

“One of these is about $3,200,” he said. “We’ve actually made an investment of assets procured to date of over $700,000.”

HAITI POLICE PROBE KILLINGS OF PARISHIONERS WHO WERE LED BY PASTOR INTO GANG TERRITORY

By EVENS SANON Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti

(AP) — The director of Haiti’s National Police vowed Monday to hold accountable those who encouraged hundreds of parishioners to take up machetes and sticks over the weekend to try and rid a community of gang members, only to be fatally shot by them.

Police Chief Frantz Elbé said the group’s religious leader, identified as Marcorel Zidor, participated in the protest Saturday and was accompanied by unidentified people clad in olive green carrying assault rifles as they and the parishioners marched toward the community of Canaan.

Elbé said the group drew gunfire from gang members, and that “multiple” people were killed and several kidnapped, though he did not provide numbers.

He said police were trying to recover the bodies of those killed in Canaan, a community established north of the capital by survivors of the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake. The community is controlled by a powerful gang whose leader goes only by “Jeff,” and who is an ally

of another gang known as “Five Seconds.”

Police said in a statement that they had tried to convince the religious group to stop their plan “to avoid a carnage by criminals who have an arsenal of war.” Elbé noted that the group had not notified police about the protest as required, and that officers were unable to halt the crowd partly because it had split up into two groups.

“Police did everything to stop them,” he said at a news conference, calling the event a “tragedy.”

Zidor, the pastor, could not be immediately reached for comment. An Associated Press team visited the church on Monday, but its big metal gates were closed, and no one responded to requests for entry.

Tranquil Florant, a 32-yearold homeopathic doctor who is a member of the church, told the AP that the pastor announced plans for the weekend march on Thursday during an all-night prayer. “This was really a crazy idea,”

Florant said, adding that he didn’t participate. “People have to make good judgements.”

He arrived Monday at the church after hearing that families of victims were going to gather there, but he found no such gatherings. Shooting broke out shortly afterward, scattering people in the area.

Elbé stressed that police are trying to “neutralise” gangs, which are estimated to control up to 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

“These gangs are burning people’s houses … and creating panic. But we are fighting night and day to stop them and push them back,” he said.

From Jan. 1 until Aug. 15, more than 2,400 people in Haiti were reported killed, more than 950 kidnapped and another 902 injured, according to the United Nations.

In addition, more than 300 people have been killed by a violent civilian movement known as “bwa kale” that began in April and targets suspected gang members.

LOCALS stand around after people were killed during a religious march against a criminal gang in Canaan at Tabare, in the district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday. The powerful gang opened fire on the large group of parishioners as they marched through the community led by a pastor and armed with machetes in an attempt to rid the area of its presence. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

Florida governor declares widespread state of emergency ahead of Idalia’s expected landfall

MEMBERS of the Tampa, Florida, Parks and Recreation Deptartment, help residents with sandbags yesterday. Residents along Florida’s gulf coast are making preparations for the effects of Tropical Storm Idalia.

TAMPA

Associated Press

FLORIDA residents loaded up on sandbags and evacuated from homes in low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Idalia intensified Monday and forecasters predicted it would hit in days as a major hurricane with potentially life-threatening storm surges.

As the state prepared, Idalia thrashed Cuba with heavy rain, especially in the westernmost part of the island, where the tobaccoproducing province of Pinar del Rio is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ian almost a year ago.

Authorities in the province issued a state of alert, and residents were evacuated to friends’ and relatives’ homes as authorities monitored the Cuyaguateje river for possible flooding. As much as 10 centimetres (4 inches) of rain fell in Cuba on Sunday, meteorological stations reported.

Idalia is expected to start affecting Florida with hurricane-force winds as soon as late Tuesday and arrive on the coast by Wednesday. It is the first storm to hit Florida this hurricane season and a potentially big blow to the state, which is also dealing with lingering damage from Ian.

“Just got to prepare for these things, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst and, you know, hunker down, as they say,” said Derek Hughes as he waited to load up his car with sandbags at a city park in Tampa. “Worst case is flooding right now. Hopefully not too much wind damage.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 46 counties, a broad swath that stretches across the northern half of the state from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast. The state has mobilized 1,100 National Guard members, who have 2,400 high-water vehicles and 12 aircraft at their disposal for rescue and recovery efforts.

Tampa International Airport and St.Pete-Clearwater International Airport said they would close on Tuesday. DeSantis warned of a “major impact” to the state, noting that what was originally forecast to be nothing stronger than a tropical storm was now predicted to become a Category 3 hurricane.

“The property — we can rebuild someone’s home,” DeSantis said during a news conference Monday. “You can’t unring the bell, though, if somebody stays in harm’s way and does battle with Mother Nature. This is not something that you want to do battle with.”

Large parts of the western coast of Florida are at risk of storm surges and floods anytime a storm of this magnitude approaches. Pasco and Levy counties, located north of Tampa, both ordered mandatory evacuations for some residents deemed to be at risk. In Levy County, officials said residents of Cedar Key must be off the island by Tuesday evening because storm surges would make bridges impassable.

“Once the storm surge comes in, help may not be available to reach you,” the county said in a public advisory.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a hurricane warning Monday from Longboat Key in the Sarasota area to the Holocene River, up past Tampa Bay.

Many school districts along the Gulf Coast said they would be closed Tuesday and

Wednesday. Eckerd College in St. Petersburg told students they needed to leave campus by Monday night.

“They told us that our dorm building, especially, is prone to flooding,” said student Erin Amiss.

Tampa resident Grace Cruz, who has lived in the state for more than 40 years, put away patio furniture, filled her car up with gas and loaded up on sandbags. She worried about the tens of thousands of new residents to Florida who had never before experienced a hurricane, and she had some advice for them.

If you’re planning to get away, you start ahead of time because of the traffic,” Cruz said. “No kidding. It’s horrible.”

As Gulf Coast residents packed up their cars or hauled out generators in case of power outages, state officials warned about potential fuel contamination at dozens of gas stations. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said gasoline purchased Saturday at some Citgo-supplied stations had a strong likelihood of being contaminated with diesel fuel.

President Joe Biden spoke to DeSantis on Monday morning, telling the Florida governor that he had approved an emergency declaration for the state, the White House said in a news release. The declaration frees up federal funds to help with cleanup and repairs. DeSantis is running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

At 2 pm EDT Monday, the storm was about 50 miles (80 kilometres) off the western tip of Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), the hurricane centre said. Idalia was moving north at 8 mph (13 kph). On Tuesday, it was expected to turn northeast at a faster pace, reaching Florida’s western coast as a dangerous major hurricane on Wednesday.

After moving across Florida, the forecast had Idalia blowing through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday ordered emergency managers to activate state operations centres.

So far this year, the US East Coast has been spared from cyclones. But in the West, Tropical Storm Hilary caused widespread flooding, mudslides and road closures earlier this month in Mexico, California, Nevada and points to the north.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently said the 2023 hurricane season would be far busier than initially forecast, partly because of extremely warm ocean temperatures.

The season runs through Nov. 30, with August and September typically the peak.

Mexico’s National Meteorological Service on Sunday warned of intense to torrential rains showering the Yucatán Peninsula, with winds up to 55 mph (89 kph).

It said the storm could cause powerful waves and flooding in southern Mexico, mainly around coastal cities in the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, where the resort city of Cancún is located. Local governments were preparing shelters.

Meanwhile, Franklin became the first major hurricane of the season, strengthening into a Category 4 storm on Monday as it charged through open waters off the US East Coast.

A tropical storm watch was issued for Bermuda.

Photo: Chris O’Meara/AP

Luka Doncic stars for Slovenia vs Georgia

SPAIN AND UNITED STATES REACH SECOND ROUND AT THE BASKETBALL WORLD CUP

IT was the Luka Doncic show again at the World Cup.

After scoring 37 points in Slovenia’s opening-game victory against Venezuela, he came through with 34 yesterday in an 88-67 win over Georgia. He also had 10 rebounds and six assists for Slovenia, which is on the cusp of making the second round.

Defending champion Spain and the United States each advanced to the second round with victories. Spain defeated Brazil 96-78, and the Americans beat Greece 109-81. The US finished a lowly seventh at this tournament in China four years ago.

South Sudan’s 16-year-old Khaman Maluach scored one point and played 16 minutes in his team’s 89-69 victory over China to become one of the youngest to ever play in the Basketball World Cup. The 7-foot-1 Maluach, who is widely considered a 2025 NBA draft prospect, turns 17 next month. The only players younger than Maluach in World Cup history are Ivory Coast’s Georges Lath (16 years, 3 months in 1986) and China’s Gao Ailun (16 years, 9 months in 2010).

Underdogs South Sudan and Cape Verde picked up wins Monday to stay in contention for the second round. New Zealand and Ivory Coast also stayed alive. Five teams already had advanced to the second round: Latvia, Canada, Germany, Montenegro and Lithuania. They are now joined by Spain and the US in the round of 16. Tokyo Olympic silver medallist France was knocked out on Sunday.

GROUP B

— SOUTH SUDAN 89, CHINA 69

At Manila, Philippines, Chicago Bulls guard Carlik Jones scored 21 points as South Sudan beat China to record its first World Cup victory ever. Kuany Kuany added 16 points for South Sudan (1-1), which had the edge throughout and shot 15 of 30 from 3-point range.

After a scoreless debut in the first game, Minnesota Timberwolves sixth man Kyle Anderson had 22 points for China (0-2), which lost its opener to Serbia 105-63. South Sudan plays Serbia on Wednesday in its final group game and China faces Puerto Rico.

GROUP F — CAPE VERDE 81, VENEZUELA 75

At Okinawa, Japan, Betinho Gomes scored 22 and Will

WORLD CUP

FROM PAGE 16

teams still standing when the second round starts Friday. “I’m just blessed and honoured to be a part of this,” South Sudan’s Nuni Omot said. “This journey so far, it’s just been an emotional and amazing feeling for me. And I know everyone else on the team feels the same way as well.”

South Sudan’s basketball programme was essentially started a few years ago by former NBA player Luol Deng, who was born in the country and raised in London after his father — a former Sudanese government official and former political prisoner — was granted asylum by Britain. Deng learned to play basketball in London, a scout noticed him when he was about 14 and his life forever changed.

When Deng’s playing days were over, he became president of South Sudan’s fledgling basketball federation. If there is an indoor court anywhere in that country, Deng doesn’t know where it is. He believes the country doesn’t have a single regulation-sized floor.

Yet here its players are, undaunted by doubt, unfazed by massive challenges.

“Luol Deng is the heart and soul of all of this,” said South Sudan coach Royal Ivey, an assistant with the NBA’s Houston Rockets.

“He’s the president. Without Luol I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. He had a great vision. I entrusted in his vision and it all came together. I’m in awe that I’m sitting here at the World Cup. I’m forever indebted to Luol for giving me an opportunity to coach this team.”

Tavares added 20 to lead Cape Verde (1-1) over Venezuela (0-2). Ivan Almeida tacked on 18.

Cape Verde is the lowest ranked team in the tournament according to FIBA rankings, but it doesn’t look like it.

Venezuela led at the half, 46-33, but was held to only 29 points in the last two quarters. David Cubillan led Venezuela with 15 points and Jhornan Zamora added 14.

Cape Verde faces Slovenia on Wednesday and Georgia plays Venezuela.

GROUP C — NEW ZEALAND 95, JORDAN 87 (Overtime) At Manila, Izayah Le’afa scored 23 points and Shea Ili added 15 as New Zealand (1-1) kept alive its hopes of reaching the second round. Jordan (0-2) faces a game Wednesday against the United States.

Rondae Hollis Jefferson hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to go and then made his free throw after being fouled to send the game into overtime at 85-85. Jordan was outscored 10-2 in OT.

Former NBA player Hollis Jefferson led Jordan with 39 points and had nine rebounds. Freddy Ibrahim added 22.

New Zealand plays Greece on Wednesday for a place in the final 16.

GROUP G — IVORY COAST 71, IRAN 69

In Jakarta, Indonesia, Solo Diabate made three late free throws as Ivory Coast edged Iran. With Iran leading 69-68, Diabate drove to the lane and drew a foul with six seconds left. He had an additional free throw after Iran coach Hakan Demir received a technical foul.

Nisre Zouzoua scored 17 points for Ivory Coast (1-1), who lost playmaker Bazoumana Kone to an ankle injury early in the third quarter.

Behnam Yakhchali led Iran (0-2) with 19 points but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Former NBA centre Hamed Haddadi had nine points and eight rebounds before fouling out late.

Ivory Coast plays Brazil on Wednesday in its final group game and Iran meets Spain.

GROUP C — UNITED STATES 109, GREECE 81

At Manila, Austin Reaves scored 15 points with five rebounds and six assists, and Jalen Brunson and Anthony

BASKETBALL WORLD CUP 2023: HOW TO WATCH, WHO’S PLAYING, WHO’S FAVOURED AND MORE

SLOVENIA’s Luka Doncic is on what would be an historic scoring pace at the Basketball World Cup.

The Dallas Mavericks star is averaging a tournament-best 35.5 points per game so far in this event. It’s only two games, but that does put him just ahead of Brazilian great Oscar Schmidt’s record average of 34.6 at the world championship in 1990.

And he’s doing all that in just over 31 minutes per game, leading Slovenia to a 2-0 start.

SCHEDULE

There are eight more games today, and then opening-round group play ends Wednesday with eight more games.

Among them: The United States group-stage finale against Jordan.

Today’s slate:

Group A (at Manila): Angola (1-1) vs. Dominican Republic (2-0), Philippines (0-2) vs. Italy (1-1)

Group D (at Manila): Egypt (0-2) vs. Mexico (0-2), Montenegro (2-0) vs. Lithuania (2-0)

Group E (at Okinawa): Germany (2-0) vs. Finland (0-2), Australia (1-1) vs. Japan (1-1)

Group H (at Jakarta): Lebanon (0-2) vs. France (0-2), Canada (2-0) vs. Latvia (2-0)

The Wednesday slate:

Group B (at Manila): South Sudan (1-1) vs. Serbia (2-0), China (0-2) vs. Puerto Rico (1-1)

Edwards each scored 13 as the Americans (2-0) reached the second round. The Americans advanced courtesy of their win coupled with New Zealand’s victory over Jordan. Georgios Papagiannis had 17 points for the Greece (1-1).

GROUP F — SLOVENIA 88, GEORGIA 67

At Okinawa, it was the Luka Doncic show again. He scored 34 points and added 10 rebounds and six assists for Slovenia (2-0). In the opening win two day ago against Venezuela, the Dallas Mavericks star poured in 37 points. Klemen Prepelic added 15 for the winners, who are on the cusp of making the second round. Alexander Mamukelashvili led Georgia (1-1) with 21 points. Kakhaber Jintcharadze added 12. Slovenia faces Cape Verde on Wednesday and Georgia plays Venezuela.

GROUP B — SERBIA 94, PUERTO RICO 77

At Manila, Atlanta Hawks player Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 17 points as Serbia, which led by 30 at the half, did enough

to beat Puerto Rico. Nikola Jovic of the Miami Heat scored 11 of his 17 points in the first quarter to ignite Serbia (2-0).

Puerto Rico (1-1) reduced the margin to 10 points in the fourth quarter before Serbia steadied itself.

Isaiah Pineiro scored 14 points for Puerto Rico, which shot 15 of 38 from 3-point range but just 27 of 74 overall.

Serbia faces South Sudan on Wednesday and Puerto Rico goes against China.

GROUP G —

SPAIN 96, BRAZIL 78

At Jakarta, former NBA player Willy Hernangómez scored 14 points and Juan Nunez and Santi Aldama of the Memphis Grizzlies each had 13 as Spain (2-0) — the defending champion — advanced to the second round. The 19-yearold Nunez had seven rebounds and five assists.

Spain moved through with the win coupled with Ivory Coast’s victory over Iran.

Former NBA player Bruno Caboclo had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Brazil (1-1).

Spain was 10 of 24 from 3-point range, and Brazil hit only 9 of 33.

Group C (at Manila): U.S. (2-0) vs. Jordan (0-2), Greece (1-1) vs. New Zealand (1-1) Group F (at Okinawa): Georgia (1-1) vs. Venezuela (0-2), Slovenia (2-0) vs. Cape Verde (1-1)

Group G (at Jakarta): Ivory Coast (1-1) vs. Brazil (1-1), Iran (0-2) vs. Spain (2-0)

HOW TO WATCH THE BASKETBALL WORLD CUP

— In the US: The next US game (Wednesday) will be on ESPN2. It begins at 4:40am EDT. No television plan for US games after Wednesday has been announced.

— There are streaming options for other games.

BETTING GUIDE

The US is the overwhelming favourite to win the World Cup, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the Americans’ odds listed at minus-110 (meaning a $110 wager on the Americans would return $210, if they won). Canada remains a very strong second choice in the betting at plus-310, followed by Spain (plus-1,000), Slovenia (plus1,400), Australia and Serbia (both plus-1,500), and Germany (plus-1,700).

Every other team still in the running for medals entered today with odds of 65-1 or greater.

France had the fifth-best odds in recent days; the Olympic silver medallist was eliminated from contention on Sunday.

WHAT TO KNOW

What you need to know about the Basketball World Cup, and the US road to getting here:

— US beats Greece in Game

2, 109-81

— Monday was an historic day for African basketball

— US tops New Zealand in opening game, 99-72

— The World Cup attendance record fell on Day 1 in Manila

— For Erik Spoelstra, this trip to Manila is very much like a homecoming

Africa has long been considered the sleeping giant in global basketball, and big strides have been made in recent years through investment — such as academies that the NBA has built there to identify and develop promising young players, the NBA-backed Basketball Africa League and the Giants of Africa initiative led by Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri, a native of Nigeria. That group, among other things, is building courts and hosting clinics for boys and girls around the continent.

“Today is a unique and marvelous moment for our people,” Cape Verde coach Emanuel Trovoada said.

Both South Sudan and Cape Verde have one game left in group-stage play — South Sudan plays Serbia on Wednesday, while Cape Verde will take on Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic and Slovenia. The top-ranked African team at this World Cup will automatically qualify for the Paris

Olympics; so far, South Sudan, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast and Angola all have 1-1 records in the race for that berth. “This is a dream come true,” Omot said. “People don’t

understand where we were just two years ago. To be able to do this in front of our fans, people watching back at home, it’s been a very emotional day for everyone getting our first World Cup win.”

— The basketball-crazed Philippines is about to have a shining moment

— As World Cup nears, US team says it’ll embrace any doubters

— US finishes exhibition season 5-0 after rallying to beat Germany

WHAT’S NEXT Group play ends Wednesday.

On Thursday and Saturday, the 16 teams that didn’t qualify for the second round will play “classification” games to determine 17th through 32nd place in the tournament. Second round play starts Friday.

STAT OF THE DAY

Through two games, no US player is averaging more than 22 minutes per game. That means, on average, even the starters are spending about half the time on the bench.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“My opinion is they’re going to go all the way.” — Greece coach Dimitrios Itoudis on the US chances in this World Cup.

SLOVENIA guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots against Slovenia in the second half of the Basketball World Cup group F match in Okinawa, southern Japan, yesterday. (AP Photo/ Hiro Komae)

SOUTH Sudan players celebrate after beating China in their Basketball World Cup group B match at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Philippines, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

CAPE Verde team members celebrate after defeating Venezuela in their Basketball World Cup group F match in Okinawa, southern Japan, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.

(AP Photo/ Hiro Komae)

Launch party for Jazz Chisholm Foundation

MATCHDAY: GALATASARAY FAVOURED FOR RETURN TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

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

CHAMPIONS

LEAGUE

Three places in the Champions League group stage will be decided when the qualifying playoff round resumes with second-leggames. Once a Champions League regular, Galatasaray is favoured to return for the first time since 2019. The Turkish champion leaned on talismanic forward Mauro Icardi in taking a 3-2 lead against Molde from the first leg in Norway last Wednesday.

Panathinaikos, a European Cup finalist in 1971, hosts Braga after improving its chances with a stoppagetime goal in a 2-1 loss in Portugal. Young Boys of Switzerland hosts Maccabi Haifa after a 0-0 draw in Israel. Three more playoffs are decided Wednesday and the groups are drawn Thursday in Monaco.

ENGLAND

There are 19 matches in the second round of the English League Cup, the stage of the competition where Premier League teams with no European involvement enter. The standout match is an all-Premier League contest between London rivals Fulham and Tottenham. Wolverhampton and Luton play at home against lower-league opponents in Blackpool and Gillingham, respectively, while Bournemouth heads to Swansea and Crystal Palace visits Plymouth. Wrexham, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, plays at home against Bradford. The rest of the second-round games are played on Wednesday.

No. 4 seed Rune biggest upset victim so far on first day of the US Open

NEW YORK (AP) — The opening day of the US Open claimed its biggest upset victim so far in No. 4 seed Holger Rune.

Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena, ranked 63rd, downed Rune 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, yesterday for his first-ever victory over a top-10 player.

Rune, a 20-year-old Dane who cracked the top 5 after reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open and Wimbledon, had complained before the match about being assigned to one of the outer courts, sarcastically tweeting a map of Flushing Meadows to help his fans find it.

“I just didn’t expect to play on that court,” Rune said afterward. “That’s obviously disappointing but not going to blame the court on the loss.”

On the women’s side, No. 1-ranked defending champion Iga Swiatek needed just 58 minutes to beat Swede Rebecca Peterson 6-0, 6-1, 19th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia took out 2017 champion Sloane Stephens 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, and fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina, last year’s Wimbledon champion, defeated Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-2, 6-1.

Spaniard Rebeka Masarova upset eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-4, with the Greek complaining afterward she was bothered by the smell of marijuana.

“The smell, oh my gosh,” Sakkari said to the chair umpire in the first set.

“It was weed.”

Tenth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe, a 25-year-old from Maryland who reached the semifinal at last year’s US Open, had little trouble in a 6-2, 7-5, 6-1, victory over wild-card countryman Learner Tien.

Dominic Thiem, the 2020 champion who is unseeded this year, downed 25th-seeded

Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Thiem, an Austrian who had lost his previous seven Grand Slam matches, next faces American Ben Shelton, who defeated Argentine Pedro Cachin in four sets.

The longest match so far, four hours and 29 minutes, went to Zhizhen Zhang of China, who outlasted American J.J. Wolf 7-5, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3. Still to come were matches with Coco Gauff on the women’s

side, and Novak Djokovic on the men’s. Gauff, a 19-year-old from Florida, faced Laura Siegemund of Germany, who won the women’s doubles title in New York three years ago. Gauff was the runner-up at the French Open in singles — losing to Swiatek — and doubles in 2022.

Wrapping things up in the main stadium was 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic against Alexandre Muller of France,

who is making his US Open debut. It marks a return to the event for Djokovic, who missed it last year because he couldn’t travel to the United States as a foreigner who is not vaccinated against COVID-19. That rule has been dropped.

The first round was played over Monday and ends today.

The tournament lasts two weeks and wraps up with the women’s singles final on September 9, and the men’s singles final on September 10.

US OPEN FROM PAGE 16

this month after being sidelined because of a fracture in her right knee and torn tissue in her left foot.

“Because of where I left off — semifinals of a Grand Slam; final of a Grand Slam — there’s expectations and goals,” she said. “But I don’t want to really put pressure on myself to get back there right away.”

Tomljanovic moved on by eliminating Panna Udvardy 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 and now gets a tougher test in the second round: 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Today will welcome others who were absent for a while, including Barbora Strycova (retirement) and three-time major semifinalist Elina Svitolina (pregnancy).

“It’s very alluring and attractive to think, ‘What would it be like to play again?’” said two-time Slam runner-up Kevin Anderson, a 37-year-old from South Africa who recently ended his retirement after nearly 1 1/2 years away but did not make it out of qualifying in New York. “Some people find real meaning in something they’re passionate about soon after they leave tennis. I haven’t found that yet.”

Much as the circumstances that prompt some folks to stop and those that lead some to resume can vary, so, too, can the on-court results in Part Two of a career.

The 2014 runner-up at Flushing Meadows, Kei Nishikori had hip surgery in January 2022, then returned to the ATP Tour this July, but has been out all of August with a knee injury and withdrew from the US Open on Sunday.

Wozniacki quit in 2020 to start a family with her husband, former NBA player David Lee. Now 33, with two young children, Wozniacki jumped into competition this month.

Svitolina, 28, was gone for about a year while she and her husband, tennis player Gael Monfils, had their first child; just three months after returning, she reached Wimbledon’s semifinals.

Strycova, 37, retired in 2021, had a baby, got back on tour this April and won the women’s doubles trophy at Wimbledon. Not everyone’s open to the idea of bidding adieu and then saying, “I’m back!”

John Isner, a 38-year-old who will retire after the US Open, was asked whether there’s any chance he might follow this comeback trend. “I’m done,” Isner replied. “It won’t happen with me.”

HOLGER RUNE, of Denmark, signs autographs for fans before the start of the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, yesterday in New York.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr, centre, poses for photos with teammates Josh Bell, left, and Jake Burger at the launch party for the Jazz Chisholm Foundation, yesterday in Miami. The foundation will support the development of The Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League in New Providence, Bahamas, as well as community goodwill programmes in Miami.

(AP Photos/ Wilfredo Lee)

JAZZ CHISHOLM JR, centre, chats with Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng, right, and Marlins president of business operations Caroline O’Connor, left, as they pose for photos at the launch party for the Jazz Chisholm Foundation.

JAZZ CHISHOLM JR, centre, shares a laugh as he poses for photos with teammate Jonathan Davis, left, and Marlins manager Skip Schumaker at the launch party.

One year before Paralympics, Paris trying to make city more accessible to those with disabilities

By YOUCEF BOUNAB Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — With one year to go before Paris hosts the Paralympic Games for the first time, the French capital is faced with a significant challenge: The accessibility of its public transit.

With only one subway line totally accessible out of 16, the city is under pressure to find solutions before the Paralympics start on August 28, 2024.

And both the Games’ organisers and wheelchair users such as tennis gold medallist Michael Jeremiasz see the Paris Paralympics as an opportunity to bring about durable change. “We will remember the opening ceremonies that will be extraordinary and hopefully all the medals of our French Olympic and Paralympic athletes,” Jérémiasz, who won gold in the 2008

OLYMPICS

FROM PAGE 16

Some of the NBA’s best players scoffed. If Lyles can push track back to the popularity it enjoyed in the 1980s, or even during Usain Bolt’s reign from 2008-17, he might resonate the way an NBA star does. The real push, however, doesn’t come at worlds, it comes at the Olympics.

SHA’CARRI Richardson proclaimed “I’m not back, I’m better,” and she backed it up by winning the 100 in her first major championship.

She beat two of Jamaica’s best sprinters in five-time champion ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson, who is also threatening the world record in the 200.

Missing from that field was Thompson-Herah, the two-time defending Olympic champion in the 100 and 200. Thompson-Herah will be 32 next year, but she saves her best for the biggest stage. Richardson will be 24.

Beijing Paralympics, said yesterday at a news conference marking the one-year countdown to the 2024 Paralympics. “We will remember a big celebration. In my opinion, that’s not enough. ... It’s great but it doesn’t last. Afterwards, life and the constraints of daily life take over.”

Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, said in an interview with The Associated Press that “we don’t do anything in the city thinking only about the Games operations, but also about how the city will look like in the future.”

In April, President Emmanuel Macron announced 1.5 billion euros in funding to make public spaces across France more accessible. The announcement came days after the Council of Europe, the continent’s leading human rights body,

HURDLE HYPE

McLaughlin-Levrone will be at the Olympics, though it’s still anybody’s guess as to which event she’ll run.

Will she try to defend her title in the 400-metre hurdles, where she holds the world record? Or will she go for the 400 flat, which she had been running through 2023 before a minor knee injury took her off the track.

Curious about all this is Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who put on quite a show in Budapest in McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence.

MORE HURDLES

The women’s 100 hurdles might just be the most unpredictable event in track.

Take Danielle Williams, for instance. The Jamaican hurdler won the event as a heavy underdog to add this gold to her one from 2015.

“You could pick like four or five” people who can win any race, Williams said. At the Olympics, it’s even more difficult to predict. Remember Lolo Jones?

found France in violation of a European treaty on social and economic rights, stating failures toward people with disabilities.

Since Paris was awarded hosting rights for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, the city has committed 125 million euros to make itself more accessible. But for people with disabilities, Paris still has a long way to go.

Frustratingly for some, most of the accessibility efforts in Paris will not target the metro system, the city’s most frequented public transport.

“It’s a legislation issue as well — that you have to make the whole line accessible — and this is not possible due to the cost,’’ Parsons said. ‘’But the solution is to invest on the buses and the taxis and on the onthe-ground system.”

Organisers and authorities pledged that up to 200

shuttle buses will be accessible to people who use wheelchairs, in addition to up to 1,000 accessible taxis by the time the games start.

APF France Handicap, an association advocating for disabled rights, said in a statement yesterday that public transit remains problematic as the city is expected to receive 350,000 visitors with disabilities during the 2024 Games.

“Whether during reception at the airport, connections between airports or with city centres, the management of wheelchairs or any other mobility aids, serious malfunctions have been observed,” the association said in the statement.

The Paris Paralympics begin 17 days after the Olympics’ closing ceremony. The Paralympics bring together 4,400 athletes from 180 countries in 549 events and 22 sports.

Many sports will take place in venues near iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Versailles and the Grand Palais.

For the first time, the Paralympics’ opening ceremony will also be held outside of a sports venue, on the Champs-Elysées avenue and Place de la Concorde.

But for many, the legacy of the Games is what’s most relevant, and that’s greater accessibility. The city aims to sell 2.8 million tickets

to break London’s 2012 Paralympics’ record of 2.7 million tickets. Parsons said half of the tickets will cost 25 euros or less, with the hopes of drawing families and people in groups.

“The more we bring families with their kids, the more the change in perception affects not only the parent but also the kid,’’ Parsons said.

Tony Estanguet, the Paris Games organising committee president, told the AP: “We need to reduce discrimination. We need to find solutions to improve transport, to improve accommodation, to improve access to employment, to improve the daily lives of people with disabilities.”

Budapest, she tackled those same three events again, winning bronze in the 1,500 and silver in the 5,000 but falling at the end of the 10,000. She also won the London Marathon this year.

“These championships have taught me a lot,” Hassan said. “It has given me more confidence.”

THE SURE THINGS

There has never been a repeat champion in the event, which doesn’t bode well for Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the runner-up in Budapest.

What’s more, only Sally Pearson has followed a win at worlds with an Olympic title. “I like being on the outside, all eyes being on

everyone else, and just me being able to do my thing,” Williams said.

RUNNING AND RUNNING

It would be no surprise to see Dutch distance runner Sifan Hassan run in three events in Paris. But which three? Hassan has teased the possibility of

running the 5,000, 10,000 and the marathon, the way Czechoslovakia’s Emil Zátopek did in 1952 (He won all three).

Hassan is always looking for new challenges. At the Tokyo Games, she took home two Olympic gold medals (5,000, 10,000) and a bronze (1,500). In

Ryan Crouser (shot put), Yulimar Rojas (triple jump), Mondo Duplantis (pole vault) and Katie Moon (a shared gold in pole vault) and Karsten Warholm (400 hurdles) all won gold medals and, if they stay healthy, will be favoured to do it again in Paris. But being favoured doesn’t always result in a victory. For the second straight year, Jakob Ingebrigtsen was a heavy favourite to win the 1,500 and for the second straight year, he finished second. Both times, he rebounded to win the 5,000, where he was also expected to win.

“It is a bit bittersweet this week overall,” Ingebrigtsen said.

MAN CITY AND 10-MAN LIVERPOOL LEAVE IT LATE TO SECURE VICTORIES IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

ERLING Haaland

missed a penalty. Virgil van Dijk was shown a straight red card. Trent AlexanderArnold and Kyle Walker made sloppy defensive errors leading to goals.

Manchester City and Liverpool delivered performances rife with errors from their star names in the Premier League on Sunday.

Late winners ensured they didn’t prove costly.

City is the only team to win its opening three matches after beating Sheffield United 2-1, but only because of an 88th-minute goal from Rodri that spared the blushes of Haaland and Walker.

Haaland struck a firsthalf penalty against the post and squandered a slew of other chances in an

unusually profligate display from the leading scorer in the league last season.

He finally found the net — doesn’t he always? — in the 63rd to put City ahead but then it was Walker’s time to mess up, when he attempted a backheel in his own area and gave up possession from which Sheffield United equalised.

Rodri, the scorer of City’s winner in the Champions League final in June, came up with another timely goal to continue the champions’ 100% start to their title defence.

Liverpool left it even later, with substitute Darwin Nunez scoring the second of his goals in the third minute of stoppage time to earn a 2-1 win at Newcastle that came in spite of a woeful defensive display by the Reds in the first half at St James’ Park.

After getting booked in the sixth minute and then escaping a sendingoff for a cynical foul soon after, Alexander-Arnold completed a hat trick of mistakes by letting Mohamed Salah’s backward pass slip under his boot. That set free Anthony Gordon unchallenged and he slotted a finish between Alisson Becker’s legs in the

25th. Then, three minutes later, the usually unflappable Van Dijk made a rash tackle — as the last man — on Alexander Isak that earned him a straight red card, seemingly ending any realistic hopes of Liverpool avoiding defeat.

However, Nunez took advantage of more uncertain defending, this time from Sven Botman as he failed to deal with a

through-ball, to equalise in the 81st.

The Uruguay striker then ran onto a pass from Salah to convert an almostreplica finish and secure an unlikely triumph.

Newcastle, which will play in the Champions League this season, has only won one of its first three games, though the Saudi-controlled northeast team has had a tough start

against Aston Villa, Man City and Liverpool.

Villa was thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle in the opening round but has bounced back with two wins, the latest coming at Burnley 3-1 on Sunday.

Matty Cash, a right back, scored Villa’s first two goals and Moussa Diaby added the third.

FOR THE AGES

Alexander-Arnold called it “something for the ages.” He was talking about Liverpool’s comeback at one of the toughest grounds for visiting teams but he could easily have been referencing the display of his goalkeeper.

Alisson made seven saves against Newcastle and none was better than the one where the Brazilian dived to his left and showed amazing reflexes to turn a fierce strike from Miguel Almiron onto the underside of the crossbar.

Liverpool has finished its last two games with 10 men — Alexis Mac Allister was red-carded in the 3-1 win against Bournemouth last weekend, only for it to get rescinded — but taken three points both times. Van Dijk’s sending-off for fouling Isak as the last man is unlikely to be overturned.

“We showed how good we can be with 10 men,” Alisson said. “We have to take that now forward and do it with 11 players, keep that high level, focus and really believe we can do something this season.”

ABSENT

GUARDIOLA

City manager Pep Guardiola missed the win at Sheffield United while he recovers in Barcelona after a back operation.

The end of the game would have made uncomfortable viewing for Guardiola, especially Walker’s choice to backheel the ball into play instead of making a simple clearance.

Guardiola’s assistant, Juanma Lillo, filled in as caretaker manager at Bramall Lane and said he didn’t enjoy the experience.

“Not at all. I much prefer being with Pep,” Lillo said. “Especially when it’s a question of health, I don’t enjoy this at all. We miss his presence now more than ever.

“I haven’t spoken to him after the match. During the match, I spoke to him at some moments but generally he was speaking to the other members of the technical staff. But he’s been totally present today.”

LIVERPOOL’s Darwin Nunez celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the English Premier League soccer match against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on Sunday. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

THE MASCOTS of the Paris 2024 Olympic, left, and Paralympic Games pose next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, yesterday. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

NOAH LYLES, of the United States, celebrates anchoring his team to gold in the men’s 4x100metres relay final during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

SPOTLIGHT ‘NEW WAVE’ OF TALENT AS ASPIRING METEOROLOGISTS GRADUATE

By FAY SIMMONS jsimmons@tribunmedia.net

ASPIRING meteorologists graduated from the Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme last week.

SIA WRIGHT (above) graduated from Akhepran International Academy with honours.

She will be entering The University of The Bahamas to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Small Island Studies, with a concentration in Marine Science this fall.

She graduated at the age of 15 as Head Girl, Valedictorian and received numerous awards and honours including Mathematics, English, Biology, Art & Craft, Combined Science, Culinary, History, Religion, Physical Education, Physics and Spanish. She received six BGCSE’s in the eleventh grade.

Royce Huyler Jr (below) graduated from New Providence Classical School and will be entering St Francis Xavier University to pursue a degree in Law this fall.

Royce graduated from high school as Valedictorian. He received the Top SAT Award in his graduating class.

The nine participants were the first group to take part in the new initiative, which Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said was an “extraordinary success”. He added that the participants represented a “new wave” of talent.

“This inaugural group, which includes young people between the ages of 14 to 25, represents a new wave of Bahamian talent,” Mr Davis said. “They truly embody the core values of the programme – demonstrating curiosity, passion, and dedication.

“I salute you all. I can’t tell you how proud I was to learn that, by all accounts, you excelled!”

He explained that the programme is opening opportunities for young Bahamians in the field of meteorology which is becoming more important as the county deals with the effects of climate change.

“These persons are being trained in the rudiments and fundamentals of meteorology, which deals with the atmosphere, the weather, and of course, and we need more scientists to be able to predict forecasts and to assess what needs to be done in respect to the changing frequent weather patterns,” he said.

“And so, I think this initiative started by us so that we can help train scientists –we’re wetting their appetite to see that there’s an opportunity here for Bahamians to be somebody in this field.”

The top three cadets were awarded with the Kenneth Lightbourne Award, Donna Duncombe Award and the Director’s Award.

Jeffrey Simmons, Acting Director, Department of

Meteorology, noted that the work at the department was “pioneered” by Niccolo Small, the first Bahamian director of the department, Mr Kenneth Lightbourne, and Donna Duncombe.

The top cadet, Kendal Isaacs, received the Spirit of Donna Duncombe Award.

Mr Simmons explained that Ms Duncombe was the first female meteorologist in the Bahamas and inspired a generation of female meteorologists that are currently employed with the department.

He said: “Donna Duncombe was the first female meteorologist in the Department of Meteorology. The department was 100% male until she came in and changed the status quo. She was like a little sister, but she didn’t need her big brothers to protect her, she held her

She inspired many Bahamian women to follow in her footsteps and today we have seven chief meteorologists in the department and four of them are female.

“All of these ladies when they first came in the department were trained by Donna Duncombe. She was a trailblazing legend and a status quo breaker. We now have 50 per cent or more of women in the Department of Meteorology.”

The second-place cadet, Donnell Saunders, received the Kenenth Lightbourne award. Mr Simmons explained that Mr Lightbourne was the director that navigated the country

through Hurricane Andrew and implemented automatic weather stations throughout our islands.

“He led the department during the period when Hurricane Andrew made landfall here in the Bahamas,” he said, “and under Mr Lightbourne’s leadership, we began to proliferate our islands with automatic weather stations, something that we are now seeing a lot of today. ”

The third performing cadet, Barrington Hawkins received, the Jeffrey Simmons Award.

Kendal Isaacs said that his time in the cadets opened

Janaees hosts Back to School Block Party

JANAEES Uniform Center held a Back to School Block Party to show appreciation to patrons and to give students a fun day before they go back to school.

The block party featured a bouncing castle, hamburgers and hotdogs, popcorn, snow cones, and giveaways from Janaees and its block party partner, BTC. DJ Godson played up-tempo Gospel music while kids and parents enjoyed the festivities.

Martha Wallace, Managing Director at Janaees, said the company wanted to do something special for its customers for back to school and that the block party is an annual occurrence that has become one of the highlights of the company.

She noted that the company had over 20 students working for the summer and they were awarded free uniforms and back to school supplies by Janaees to show their appreciation for the hard work they put in.

The students had the opportunity to learn new skills as well as open a savings account to give them a good start for the future during the summer internship.

Patrons who visited the store during the block party received a 20 per cent discount on their purchases.

Many also received gifts including gym bags, stainless steel durable lunch tins, books, pens and pencils.

his mind to meteorology. He said: “It was a lot of fun and really opened my mind to meteorology and I grasped it well. Going forward I’m definitely going to capitalise on this opportunity and get in the meteorology field and see what it has to offer me.”

Donnell Saunders said that she would like to transition from teaching to meteorology. She noted how weather affects our lives daily and we should be more cognizant to the factors that affect it, such as climate change, and work together to improve the future.

“It was a great experience,” she said. “I learned so much and I hope to employ everything that I learned into my future career path.

“Currently, I am a teacher and I hope to eventually move into the met office.

I am fascinated by the atmosphere and this is something that we experience every day. You need to know what is out there and how it currently affects us, how it affected us in the past and what we can do to make things better going forward.”

Barrington Hawkins said that he enjoyed every minute in the cadet programme and shared that he has been interested in meteorology since he was in the sixth grade.

He said: “It was a wondrous experience for me I loved every moment of it and just the whole environment of the cadet programme. They taught us numerous aspects of weather, the fundamentals of and how it applies in our life.

“It was a remarkable experience to always remember and my future plan is to work at the Department of Meteorology to start my career. My dream since I was a young boy was to become a meteorologist and I want to fulfill that dream.”

WATERKEEPERS Bahamas (WKB) held a summer essay competition recently, in honour of the country’s golden jubilee.

Contestants were instructed to focus on analysing the strides made in environmental protection and sustainable practices and question the feasibility of country reaching its goal of 30 percent renewable energy targets by 2030.

Amelia Francis, of St Francis and Joseph Primary School, took home top prize in the primary division.

Iyah Eden Rolle, of Lyford Cay International School, was victorious in the junior division and Aalysha Rolle, of St Annes School, won the senior division.

All three winners received cash and gift cards.

THREE cadets received top honours, with Barrington Hawkins (left) receiving the Jeffrey Simmons Award, Donnell Saunders (centre) receiving the Kenneth Lightbourn Award, and Kendal Isaacs (right) receiving the Spirit of Donna Duncombe Award.

AALYSHA Rolle IYAH Eden Rolle ESSAY COMPETITION WINNERS

Jones and Liberty beat Aces 94-85

New York tightens up race for top seed in the WNBA playoffs

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) —

Sabrina Ionescu scored 25 points and Breanna Stewart added 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to help the New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces 94-85 last night in the final regular-season meeting between the teams.

Grand Bahamian Jonquel Jones contributed four points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes on the floor.

The Liberty cut the Aces’ lead in the race for the top overall seed in the playoffs to 1 1/2 games, with only a handful left to play.

The teams potentially wouldn’t meet again until the WNBA Finals. They split their four regular-season games.

New York (28-7) has won four straight since losing in Las Vegas on August 17.

Las Vegas (30-6) got off to a hot start and led 16-7 with 4 minutes left in the first quarter before New York took over behind Ionescu.

The Liberty outscored the Aces 31-10 over the next 11 minutes to go up 38-26 with 3:10 left in the half.

New York led 47-35 at the half as Ionescu had 17 points, much to the delight of the sellout crowd of 11,615 that showed up for the rare Monday night game.

A’ja Wilson scored 15 of her 23 points in the first half for Las Vegas. Jackie Young had 24 to lead the Aces.

The Aces never really threatened in the second

US OPEN: PLAYERS MAKING WINNING COMEBACKS FROM INJURY

By HOWARD FENDRICH and BRIAN MAHONEY AP Sports Writers

NEW YORK (AP)

— Comebacks are nothing new in tennis. There’s quite a history of that sort of thing, including by stars such as Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe, Martina Hingis, Bjorn Borg, Kim Clijsters and Andy Murray.

Perhaps that’s why so many fans of Serena Williams hold out hope she’ll return after playing her last match a year ago at the US Open.

Williams recently gave birth to her second child, so she will not be at Flushing Meadows, but this year’s tournament features several players who left the tour for a significant amount of time and now are back.

Day 1 included victories by Ajla Tomljanovic — who beat Williams in the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s farewell contest last September but has been sidelined by injury since November — and 2021 Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady (injury) in the afternoon.

Then 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic (injured) and 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki (retirement) were scheduled to appear at Louis Armstrong Stadium last night.

“I feel like people just don’t know what to do with their lives,” 2020 US Open semifinalist Brady said with a hearty laugh during an interview with The Associated Press.

“Maybe they see prize money going up and think they can get back to where they were.”

half as the lead didn’t dip to single digits until Young hit a 3-pointer with 1:23 left that made it 90-82. The game did have a few chippy moments in the second half, with words being exchanged between a few players after a hard foul.

Jonquel Jones also got charged with a flagrant one foul after a review for getting entangled with Cayla George.

Stewart and Wilson are two of the favourites to win the league’s MVP award, along with Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas.

New York had a custom pizza truck at the arena hyping up Stewart’s MVP credentials, as well as a few other award candidates.

The Aces were finishing off a tiring road trip that saw them play four games in seven days. That also included a stop at

Lyles, Richardson and lots of unknowns as track gets ready for Paris Olympics

By EDDIE PELLS and PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writers

BUDAPEST, Hungary

(AP) — In some ways, track and field served up a tantalising preview of what’s to come next year at the Paris Olympics.

In others, the sport left the nine-day world championships with as many questions as answers.

For every Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, athletes who won championships and declared themselves the sprinters to beat, there was a Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone or Elaine Thompson-Herah, defending Olympic champions who either didn’t show up or barely showed up at all.

There were a handful of champion track and field athletes who were not heard from, or were far

from the top of their form, in Budapest but should be competing for title, starting in 340 days when the Olympic track meet starts in the Stade de France.

some takeaways from Hungary and things to watch in next year in France:

NOAH LYLES

One of Lyles’ takes in the euphoria of his win in the 200 metres — part of his 3-for-3 performance in the sprints — was how track is one of those true international sports, while the NBA, for instance, is not.

“I watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head.

World champion of what?

The United States?” Lyles said. “Don’t get me wrong.

I love the US — at times — but that ain’t the world.”

the White House to celebrate their 2022 WNBA championship.

Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said before the game that she considered resting her starters either against Washington or against New York, but the players vetoed the idea.

The 28-year-old from Pennsylvania flung her racket aside and raised her arms at the conclusion of her 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory over Kimberly Birrell at Court 5 yesterday.

Brady played her first WTA tour match since 2021

SEE PAGE 13

AN HISTORIC DAY FOR AFRICAN BASKETBALL, WITH SOUTH SUDAN, CAPE VERDE GETTING WORLD CUP WINS

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

MANILA, Philippines

(AP) — South Sudan is the world’s youngest nation, gaining its independence only 12 years ago. Cape Verde is one of the world’s least-populated nations, with fewer residents than any country that qualified for the Basketball World Cup.

They stood tall yesterday at the World Cup — both nations winning games at FIBA’s biggest tournament for the first time.

It was a double-dose of history for African basketball: South Sudan beat China 89-69 at Manila and Cape Verde beat Venezuela 81-75 at Okinawa, Japan.

The wins kept both teams in contention for berths in the second round of the World Cup, and they remain very much in the

race to become Africa’s automatic qualifier for next summer’s Paris Olympics.

“I’m still speechless,” said Cape Verde’s Will Tavares, a Rhode Islandborn forward who scored 20 points in yesterday’s win.

“I feel like I’m in a dream right now, but the win was so big for us and our country and our families. We made a statement. Even though we’re the smallest country, we have so much heart.”

They were the two lowest-ranked nations in the 32-team field to begin the tournament, both countries getting to the World Cup for the first time.

South Sudan is ranked 62nd worldwide by FIBA, the sport’s global governing body; Cape Verde is ranked 64th. And they both have a chance to be among the 16

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2023

SHA’CARRI RICHARDSON, of the United States, celebrates after she crosses the finish line to anchor her team to gold in the women’s 4x100-metres relay final during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

12

NEW York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones, left, of The Bahamas, guards Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on August 15 in Las Vegas. ( Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)