08312022 NEWS AND SPORT

By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net

POLICE released a wanted poster yesterday for former contractor’s registrar Omar Archer, who they want to speak with about an inves tigation regarding an assault at a Free National Move ment meeting last week. According to the flyer, his last known address was Lewis Street, Nassau Village. POLICE WANT TO QUIZ OMAR

WHILE ruling that a husband was cruel for forc ing his wife to have sex against her will on numer ous occasions, a Supreme Court justice has found that “there is no rape in mar riage” under Bahamian law. Justice J Denise LewisJohnson’s ruling was handed down on August 29 and involves a divorce case in which a woman claimed her husband would force intercourse and made her feel like a “rape victim” throughout their marriage. The ruling will no doubt add more fuel to public dis course on the controversial issue.The case centres around a woman’s divorce petition in which she sought to end her marriage on the grounds of cruel treatment. The couple was married for more than 15 years and have one child. According to Justice Lewis-Johnson’s ruling, the woman claimed her husband subjected her to emotional and mental abuse throughout the marriage.

THE anniversary of Hur ricane Dorian has stirred mixed emotions for many, especially some survivors who still deal with the mental trauma caused by the catastrophic storm. The Tribune yesterday contacted some of the sur vivors as to how they are copingAmandapost-Dorian.Sawyer, a resi dent of Treasure Cay, Abaco, said for months she experienced post traumatic stress disorder due to her frightening experience of Hurricane Dorian.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

Judge makes ruling as woman says husband forced her to have sex

DORIANTELLSURVIVORSOF TRAUMA

‘NO LAW TO SAVE WIFE FROM RAPE’ ALICIA WALLACE: SYSTEMS DON’T MEET OUR NEEDS - SEE PAGE EIGHT DR DUANE SANDS SEE PAGE TWO SEE PAGE FIVE OMAR ARCHER SEE PAGE THREE SEE PAGE FOUR FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS A FREE haircut during an event for

ARCHER

the Englerston

See PAGE TWO for more. Photo:

‘IF INFLATION IS SO BAD, STOP SPENDING MONEY’

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net children in community on Sunday to mark the start of the school year. Moise Amisial

FREE National Move ment chairman Dr Duane Sands said yesterday that it is difficult to take the prime minister seriously on infla tion warnings when his administration is spending so much money. Dr Sands’ comments came after Prime Minis ter Phillip “Brave” Davis recently urged Bahami ans to be frugal with their spending habits due to the rising inflation and cost of living in the country. Earlier this month, John Rolle, the Central Bank’s governor, warned locals to brace for higher infla tion rates, saying the cost of living crisis facing many Bahamian families has yet “toInpeak.”an interview with The Tribune, Dr Sands said the Davis administra tion has not been “frugal” in its spending and has abused the tax dollars of Bahamians.“Thegovernment of The Bahamas has been extracting tax dollars, every dollar they could get out of the pockets of struggling

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

COURT DEAL FOR ISLAND TO LET OWNER BUY INSURANCE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

WANTED:

HAIRCUT AT THE THROUGHRIDEWEDNESDAY HIGH 89ºF LOW 79ºF i’m lovin’ it! Volume: 119 No.193, August 31, 2022 THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1 Established 1903The Tribune CARS! CARS! CLASSIFIEDS TRADERPUZZLER The Tribune Monday, February 8, To Advertise Call 601-0007 or 502-2351 Starting $33.60 Biggest And Best! LATEST NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM 6pcMcDoubleMcChicken$5EverydayMeals:Nuggets

A BAHAMIAN pri vate island, which is among the most valuable assets owned by an accused $40m securities fraudster, was yesterday rescued from becoming “destroyed and a complete loss” via a US court-approved deal. Judge Chad Kennedy, sitting in the eastern Penn sylvania district court, oversaw an agreement between Joseph Cam marata and the Securities & Exchange Commission that will allow the former to unfreeze $38,000 in a lastditch bid to insure Sandy Cay just days before the Atlantic hurricane season hits its traditional peak. Mr Cammarata is facing charges that he stole monies intended to compensate victims of earlier securities frauds.

PAGE 2, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 THE TRIBUNE

SCHOOLREADYGETTINGFOR

‘IF INFLATION

SO

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“If the government has no discipline with spending, the government is giving out $2m and $3 m to their favourite individuals, right? They got to get it from somewhere so they’re going into your pocket to take it. They are hiring who they want to hire, not because of need, but because of patronage. They’ve brought back, I believe, 14 retired senior civil servants or per manent secretaries, retired. And now you can say, you should be frugal. Well, show me the frugality of the government.”DrSands questioned when the government would make the necessary changes to cut down on its ownHespending.said:“When are you going to say that there is a government policy that says for cabinet ministers or senior executives, every body will travel economy? When are you going to insist that we are going to limit the size of delega tions that are travelling? When are you going to say that we are not going to spend all of this money on consultancies? If you looked at the statement by the minister of education, she said on her feet in the House of Assembly, that school repairs would (cost) $15 million. Now the min ister of works comes back and said it was $30 million, but it’s not just repairs as capital works. But when you go into the budget, you don’t see it ain’t there.” Dr Sands also questioned whether Mr Davis was clear on the Central Bank’s com ments on inflation. “I’m not sure the prime minister knows what the central banks of the world are saying because are they thinking that they’re going to increase interest rates or decrease interest rates, because in that statement, he said they were going to do both. So, let’s, let’s make a determination of what exactly Bahamians are being asked to do,” he said. Dr Sands said if the government wants Baha mians to be frugal, then the administration’s actions should match their words. He stressed: “It’s very difficult to take the prime minister seriously when his government is spending more money than any other government in the history of The Bahamas.” IS BAD, SPENDINGSTOPMONEY’ from one

CHILDREN in the Englerston community were treated to free haircuts, hair braiding as well as food and drink ahead of the start of the new school year. Citizens Wilmin Noel and Junia Rodgers hosted the event at Englerston Park on Sunday to give back to the Photos:community. Moise Amisial

Bahamians. Because they have an insatiable appetite to travel, to live high on the hog, to give consultan cies up to $60m, and to hire in every single government agency and ministry. To give jobs to all of the connected at the same time, they have made a decision that they don’t have the ability to reduce VAT on bread basket items, on medica tion, on insurance, or on the cost of fuel. Why? because they need that money and they need it bad,” Dr Sands said.He continued: “So when you now have the prime minister saying, you know, ‘be frugal,’ be frugal with what, you want me to not pay my rent and pay my light bill? You want me to buy gas, but don’t buy food, what you want me to be frugal on? Because you didn’t leave me with nothing.”Thechairman noted that the government has the choice to reprioritise its spending habits to aid in the financial struggles of Baha mians, however, they chose notDrto.Sands explained that the Davis administration is setting a different standard when it comes to frugality because the administration is not showing the same dis cipline in its leadership.

“For six months, I experienced PTSD (post traumatic stress disor der). I was unable to sleep. My daughter and I would get up with nightmares. I became OCD (obsessive compulsive) with fans that were moving too fast, winds that were blowing too loud, or anything that reminded me of the storm had me very paranoid. So, for a while for six months I had a very hard time sleeping,” Ms Sawyer said. Despite the trauma she went through, Ms Sawyer leans on her spirituality and the love of her family to help her Anothercope.Dorian survi vor Drexal “Jackie” Bootle of Abaco said Hurricane Dorian had a psychological affect on him and his wife for some time. He said as water began to flood into his home and the roof blew off, he thought to himself that his “hour had come”.MrBootle said the expe rience was “terrifying” for him and his wife because they watched their home being broken down piece by piece while shielding for theirTheylife.eventually sought shelter in a nearby car until they were rescued by other residents.When asked about the psychological impact of the storm, Mr Bootle explained that it took some time to get back to normal, but he has made progress to calm down his nerves. He said: “At the begin ning it was nerve-wracking every time you heard wind and rain against the windows.”MrBootle added that the anxiety he felt was also shared by his wife who became frightened when she would see rain or anything resembling their experience during the hurricane.Hesaid time helps in the healing process as he and his wife continue to rebuild their life for the better. He said the storm helped him become more “appreci ative” of life and cherishing the ones around him.

Mr Davis was the first recipient of a newly built home by Rotary. He said that he is very happy and grateful for the new house, which was built on columns several feet off the ground. He returned to Sweet ing’s Cay last November after living in Freeport with his sister and daughter for two years following the storm.The island lost all of its mangroves along the shore, Mr Davis said. But he said the island’s vegetation has come“Afterback. the hurricane it was like a graveyard, everything was dead. You could not see a green tree nowhere, but everything is coming back to life now,” heThesaid. elderly resident is optimistic. He believes that the island is getting back to normal. “Every one is coming back home to rebuild their homes and build the place back up again - ain’t no place like home.”Hisdaughter has built a cottage for rental purposes just across the street. Resident Leonard Feaster, 60, agrees that the island needs more assistance.“Thereare lots of things that need to be done to get the island back up and functioning. We need help, but nobody is stepping in to really give us this help,” he said.Mr Feaster, who owns a restaurant and bar, said the establishment is in need of repairs.Hesaid that if it wasn’t for Rotary he would not be in a new home. Some residents did not want to speak and were afraid of any backlash.

THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 31, 2022, PAGE 3

Rebuilding in Sweeting’s Cay

“That was a serious nightmare. You can still see the watermark here up to my roof and it was ocean in the front of here,” he said, pointing from his front porch.“When I looked out there it was ocean. I could not stand in the road.” Mr Russell is very grate ful to Rotary and other NGOs who assisted them with repairs and rebuilding homes on the cay. “I just want to know in terms of the recovery from DRA (Disaster Recon struction Authority) and the Small Homes Repair, what they are going to assist the community with or how they are going to go about doing“Theit?only homes you see up are the ones that Rotary built and repaired some. And some people had couple dollars to rebuild their homes and got help from the foreign NGOs. “A lot of people want to come back, but they don’t have the funds to start.” Mr Russell said he received some assistance from DRA. “That run out long time and I need plenty assistance. I did the work myself,” he said. Hulan Davis, 72, was also grateful to Rotary for build ing him a new home when his house was destroyed in theHestorm.said all that was left of his house was the foundation.“Iain’t even find the roof the only thing left was the toilet bowl on top of the foundation,” he recalled. Mr Davis said what he experienced during Dorian is something he hopes to never see again. “I would not want to see that again no more. I was in the water for three days straight,” he said. He was at his cousin’s house a few feet away when the walls started shifting. “The blocks were moving, and I was praying to God for them to don’t fall because if it fall, we gone. There were four of us there. The water was over the building. I don’t know how we (survived) only through God’s mercy. I don’t want to see it no more in life. “We had 30 odd people here and seven children and not a soul missing and gone, and this was land that was completely (underwater).”

With the storm’s anni versary approaching, Mr Russell and many of the residents have not got over the traumatic experience when the cay took a direct hit.He described the events of that day as a “serious nightmare”.“Dorianwas a bad, bad experience for me,” he said. “I hate to talk about it. Dorian was a huge, serious monster.“Ithink everybody that lives on the cay now is almost ready if something comes again; we would not stay on the cay. Everybody would leave,” he said. Some 30 adults and seven children that remained on the cay managed to survive the terrible two-day ordeal.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net Ms Sawyer and her family held each other closely in a circle as they huddled for safety in their laundry room, watching as parts of their home were swept away by the storm. She said in that moment all her family could do was pray for protection and safety. When asked if she has endured any trauma from the storm, Ms Sawyer shared her personal struggles.

“You can’t get nothing from DRA, I don’t know what is going on. I apply for more aid,” said one resi dent who did not want to be named.The resident said that to still see buildings on the island with no roofs is depressing and is a reminder of the storm.

SURVIVORS TELL

from page one

Crystal Williams was in Florida during the hurri cane while she tried to get in contact with her children, mother, and other relatives who were in Abaco. She was determined to get back to Abaco so she could check to see if her family was safe. She said she was the first person to land on the island after the hurricane as other victims were desperately trying to evacuate.MsWilliams was even tually able to gather her family, but sadly lost her entire home and some apartments she owned. The mother of two said her children struggled with trauma after the storm to the point that she had to seek professional help for them.Ms Williams highlighted the importance of the gov ernment providing mental health support for persons still reeling from the trauma of SheDorian.said: “It takes per sons being able to talk about their experiences, and the way forward and feel ing as if they’re a part of something. Instead of every year it’s a slap in the face, but everybody wants to cel ebrate our pain when they don’t understand the pain itself. I’m still going through a process of having to remind myself that I don’t have certain things. Like yeah, I used to have that, but we lost that in Dorian. “So I just want people to be more sensitive. Because we didn’t just lose homes, lives, and businesses, but we lost our pride and our dignity.” OF DORIAN TRAUMA

Verizon Media Group JOB DIGITALVACANCYREPORTER About the job- A digital reporter should be a skilled writer and journalist who can craft content that provide value and drive engagement on our online platforms. Responsibilities • Collect, verify and analyze thoroughly newsworthy information • Assemble findings into a balanced story • Write and deliver news stories with the reader’s perspective in mind • Report news quickly and accurately • Understand types of stories that drive traffic on website • Work with management to deliver a content mix that reflects needs of our audience • Identify story trends • Edit/produce short video content • Utilize social media for reporting and story promotion Requirements and skills • Proven working experience as a Reporter • Ability to gather, write and edit news • Computer proficiency (MS Office, digital editing, web search, databases) • Excellent communication, lobbying and active listening skills • Integrity and morality • BS degree in Journalism or mass communication Interested individuals should email resumes to hr@ilstudios.comonorbeforeSeptember2,2022.

HULAN DAVIS, a recipient of the first Rotary house built on Sweeting’s Cay recalls the trauma of Hurricane Dorian. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

“Before Dorian we had a lot of visitors coming here,” the resident said. “I feel fearful. They say something is developing out there, I pray it does not come this way. We can’t take no more.”

SWEETING’S Cay has come a long way in three years since Hur ricane Dorian, but more remains to be done before the community and peo ple’s livelihood are fully restored.Theschool and the com munity clinic are still not open. Repairs to the public dock are still not finished and some homes and busi nesses need Septemberrepairs.1will mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Dorian. And Sweeting’s Cay residents are hoping and praying that another storm does not come their way. During a visit to the cay this week, we saw some signs of progress. The veg etation has grown back, and even some mangroves are starting to regenerate on theMoreshoreline.residents have also returned to rebuild the island and resume their lives.Still, life on Sweeting’s Cay has not fully returned to its pre-Dorian days. Res idents there are calling for help from the government with“Liferestoration.inSweeting’s Cay is not the way it normally used to be, and people are trying to get (their lives) back together and do the best they can,” said Glad stone Russell, former chief councillor on Sweeting’s Cay.According to Mr Russell, about 65 to 70 residents are now back on the cay. “But that number is not con stant,” he said. Mr Russell said the school and clinic have been repaired, but the school is still not officially open. There are less than ten children living on the island who are ferried daily to mainland Grand Bahama and bused about 40 miles into Freeport to attend public school. “We don’t have a nurse or doctor here,” he said, “but a doctor comes over twice a month either on Tuesdays orMrWednesdays.“Russellalso said more money is needed to complete repairs to the public dock. He expressed concerns about the dredging of the channel and possible danger to boaters at night. “I am really concerned about it because it could be a hazard to the boaters at night. The sand on the western side as you come in and you go out, there is no marker on that to identify that there is a heap of sand there. If you run into that you know what is going to happen.”

CRYSTAL WILLIAMS, left, and Drexal Bootle with his wife.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 THE TRIBUNE

By LEANDRA ROLLE

The judge noted the woman claimed she “has felt like a rape victim during the ordeal of sexual intercourse with the respondent”.Thewoman said after the last time they had sex on a day in 2021, she suffered a meltdown at work the next day.The woman said the events of that day in ques tion “felt like an out of body experience” adding that sex with her husband had become a “chore” and “lacked intimacy”. She also alleged that during the marriage, her husband would come home, “lubricate himself, take his pleasure and leave.”

The ruling continued: “The petitioner alleged that it was standard for the respondent to come home, ask for sex and if she refused, (forcefully pene trate her) have sex with her and when he was satisfied, roll over, watch television, use his computer or go to sleep.”The woman claimed her husband “did not care” if she consented or said no. She added his behaviour damaged her physical, emo tional and mental health. The woman also said after an argument a few weeks after she had an operation, her husband fol lowed her to the bathroom. When she closed the bath room door, the respondent “pushed” it forcefully and damaged the knob, leaving her afraid of what he might do, she said. In his response, the respondent claimed he was the one treated cruelly by hisHewife.said he waited until marriage to have sex out of respect for his wife, but during the union his sexual needs “were not being met” due to his wife’s job obli gations. He said it is his belief that a “wife’s obliga tion is to have sex with her husband”.Hesaid after his wife stopped all sexual obligations in 2021, he remained faithful. He said his wife never told him she felt like a rape victim, adding this contributed to him feeling mentally abused.Healso said his wife refused to attend counsel ling sessions with him and a priest.Inhis defence, he said he does not drink, smoke or use drugs and paid the household bills. He said he nursed his wife back to health after two major surgeries, but faulted her for not keep ing the home clean as he would “often return home to a dirty house”. He also said she portrayed herself as a religious woman before marriage, but did not attend church regularly while he is active in his rapewhilenegativelymentalallegesaent’sastorecounttheofthatcourseondencemarriageincourtwordintercoursenon-consensualissueevidence,acceptedthecriticalalwaysandmid-2021,thehisherwhileful”heingwhichRegardingchurch.theargumentledtohiswifeseekretreatinthebathroom,saiditwas“disrespectforhertowalkawayhewastalkingandslammingthedoorinfacemadehimupset.Hesaidwhenhiswifeleftmatrimonialhomeinhewas“ill,aloneconfused”ashehadbeenthereforherinsituations.Whileshegrantedcouple’sdivorceandthepetitioner’sthejudgesaidtheraisedbythepartiesofandforcedalongwiththe“rape”requiredthetoconsiderthetermcontextofBahamianlaws.“Thepetitioner’seviwasheavilyweightedactsofsexualinterbetweenthepartiesshedescribedasactsrapebytherespondent,”judgewrote.“Iwillnotherevidencesavesaythatshestatesthataresultoftherespondbehaviour,shefeltlikerapevictim.Shefurtherthatherphysicalandhealthhavebeenaffected.”Thejudgewrotethatthecourtacceptsthatisa“mostheinousact of cruelty”, there is “no rape in marriage” under a strict reading of Bahamian law.“Pursuant to Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act, the law does not allow for one spouse to rape the other,” she noted. “In this place we interpret existing laws and apply them, we cannot and must not suc cumb to the temptation to reformHowever,laws.”the judge also found that the petitioner met the threshold for prov ing she suffered cruelty in the marriage and thus satisfied the grounds for a divorce under Section 16(1) of the Matrimonial Causes Act.The judge also said: “The respondent is correct that Bahamian law provides for sex in marriage between the parties as a right; there must be consummation. I am however of the view that it ought not to be taken by force and is pain ful to one party. It was clear from his evidence that he lacked concern and did not appreciate how his actions impacted the petitioner.” In her ruling granting the divorce, the judge noted that while she accepted the husband’s evidence that he met the financial needs of the family and was loyal and committed to his wife, given the evidence it was clear he was “cruel” to his spouse.“Notwithstanding the respondent’s belief that his actions were his right in marriage, I find the manner in which he carried out that right — forcing himself on his wife, his ignoring her feeling of not being a willing participant in inter course resulting in mental harm to the petitioner and a feeling of being violated — meets the standard of cruelty under Section 16(1) of the Matrimonial Causes Act,” the judge ruled. Marital rape is cur rently not a crime in The Bahamas, however there have been renewed calls for the Davis administra tion to address this gap in legislation.

“I just made a call and left a message the other day for him and I’m like where’s the bill that you said is going to be tabled. It’s now going into almost two months or a month and half after the debate and we have not heard anything.

The Davis administra tion has already said it is working on proposed legislation that addresses gender-based matters, with drafts to Parliament said to beMsforthcoming.Moore said after being involved in numerous consultations over the pro posed legislation, she is now ready for officials to move on to the next step. For her part, Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson, founder of the Bahamas Crisis Centre, said she hoped the “worry ing” data would serve as a wakeup call for Bahamians and push “us to do what we need to do in terms of addressing accountability of perpetrators”.

A LOCAL women’s rights activist is calling on government to place more attention on dealing with gender-based issues, a day after police officials revealed statistics showing a rise in reported rapes. On Monday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dellareece Ferguson, who is also head of the RBPF’s Domestic Violence Unit, released the data on the nation’s sex crimes during a consultation meeting on the draft CARICOM Regional Gender Equality Strategy (CRGES) at Superclubs Breezes.Between January 1 and August 23, there were 51 reported rape incidents, up three from the 48 incidents that were recorded for the entire year of 2021. Police said they have also recorded 69 cases of inde cent assault, ten reported incidents of incest and more than 60 cases of unlawful sexual intercourse so far for theSpeakingyear. to The Tribune yesterday, Prodesta Moore, president and founder of Women United, called the sex crime statistics alarm ing, but not surprising. She also highlighted the need for more data con cerning the demographic of victims.“Itis alarming, and it is no surprise either which is why we continue to agi tate for safer communities and putting provisions in place and stiffer penalties which is one of the things that we are continuing to advocate for,” she told this newspaper.“Mybiggest concern was not having the data segre gated in terms of how many are females, males, from the disabled community and so forth. If we could’ve had that information, it would’ve been more help ful to us so we can really see if the amount of increase is females just to have more concrete data for us to utilise.”Still, the local advocate said the data is proof that The Bahamas needs to give more attention to address ing gender inequality issues. She also made a charge for women in politics to agi tate for the social ill to be addressed through legisla tive“It’smeans.not a priority,” she continued, “and we’re hoping that, because I was even promised with the gender-based violence bill by one of the ministers that after the budget debate, that they were going to table the gender-based violence bill and we have yet to table it.

“I don’t know whether they are going to wait for another statistic to hear that another woman has been murdered to actually take this seriously again, but it needs to be placed as a priority, especially to those female ministers.” Domestic abuse has been a serious problem over the years, prompting numerous calls for more to be done to protect victims.

‘NO LAW TO SAVE FROMWIFERAPE’ from page one

Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

Call for govt to do more on gender-related issues

PRODESTA MOORE, president of Women United.

in the wake of last month’s boating tragedy that left 17 Haitian migrants dead, including a pregnant woman.Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell believes the remarks were “irre sponsible” and “callous” and also called the claim “unfounded”.Meanwhile, Mr Georges’ critique came after an article in a local daily describing the struggle one of the victim’s relatives, who lives aboard, was facing travelling to identify and claim the body. Mr Georges told this newspaper yesterday: “Maybe they themselves don’t understand these things the processes. Maybe they lack the will to go out there and do every thing within their power I don’t know if it is resources to ensure and like you just said to mitigate should families reach out. You know, for example, if they saw the news stories, if the families reached out to them.“I would think that it would be best to say, you know what, we will take your contacts or we’ll be in contact with us for the next few days. Let us see how best we can make con tact with the coroners and to facilitate the process on your“Butbehalf.what I’ve found is that when I contacted the chargé for this particular family that is quoted in the article, he simply sent over the (numbers) for coroners and said that they can make contact themselves.” Mr Georges noted some of the relatives of the migrant victims are not resi dents of The Bahamas.

By EARYEL BOWLEG Staff

The state minister also revealed that negotiations are ongoing between quasigovernment agencies and theirSheunions.added: “Before our first anniversary, we hope that we can sign at least four more and I think that it’s looking good.” In the past month, the Davis administration has signed new labour contracts with about five different unions, including the Baha mas Nurses Union, the Public Managers Union, the Bahamas Educators, Counsellors and Allied Workers Union and others. Yesterday, Mrs GloverRolle said the recent signings demonstrate the government’s commitment to fulfill its promises to workers.“Onthe campaign trail, we spoke to the commit ment, the PLP has always been committed to labour and we spoke to that commitment through a memorandum of under standing. And on day one, we opened the door of communication with trade unions,” she added. “My first week in office, I had meetings with all of the trade union lead ers to not only cement our party’s commitment to working with them, but also to expedite the signing of the industrial agreements, getting them back to the table and that’s what we did.“I’m happy to say that we have just concluded nego tiations with the customs and immigration union and that document is now being cleaned up in preparation forShesigning.”also spoke of her ministry’s efforts to regu larise civil servants, saying the process was going “extremely well.” She said: “When you put a focused approach on any project, normally you get the results that we’re getting - which is movement, which is files being expedited, which is thousands of persons receiving confirma tions, reclassifications, and, of course, promotions that have been in the pipeline for a very long time. “There are 21,686 public servants and, of course, that’s growing but we ensure that we’re looking at this from a perspective of not only a focused approach, but ministry by ministry so persons that may have fallen through the cracks, the proverbial cracks over the years, hopefully, that we will be able to engage all of their files and be able to rectify any matters that are long outstanding for them. “That process, in our esti mation, is going extremely well.”

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

Govt aiming to sign four new industrial agreements

STATE Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle said yesterday that govern ment is aiming to sign at least four new industrial agreements with several unions before the anniver sary of its first year in office. The unions include the Bahamas Union of Teach ers, Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union and the Bahamas Public Service Union.They have been agitat ing for new labour contracts over the last several years, with some resorting to industrial action to bring attention to the issue.

Giving an update on ongoing negotiations yes terday, Mrs Glover-Rolle was optimistic that four more industrial agree ments with the unions could be completed and signed before the end of next month.“Iknow that we are cur rently in negotiations with BPSU, the Customs, Immi gration and Allied Workers Union. Those are basically coming to an end,” she said before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.“BUT is completed,” she added. “We are very close to signing and the document is now with the financial secretary. We are just clearing up a few finan cial articles and I would anticipate that we should hear back from him today. “So, in short order, we should be able to sign and bring that industrial agree ment to conclusion.”

Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net from page one

HAITI EMBASSY ‘DID NOT DO ENOUGH’ AFTER MIGRANT BOAT TRAGEDY

THE Rotary Club of Grand Bahama launched ‘The Blue Shoe Project’ on Friday with a presentation of brand new school shoes to the Grand Bahama Chil dren’sPresidentHome.Donovan Bowe said the project is a major initiative to provide new and gently used footwear to children and students with special needs, as well as needy“Wepeople.arepleased to pre sent the residents of the GB Children’s Home with brand new school shoes, just in time for the opening of the academic year,” Mr Bowe said last week. “This donation represents one of the commitments of our installation event held on July 2 and is also a part of the Blue Shoe Project.”

MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama presented shoes to the Grand Bahama Children’s Home on Friday, kicking off the first phase of The Blue Shoe Project, an initiative to provide new and gently used shoes to children and students with special needs on Grand Bahama. Seen center is President Donovan Bowe, along with June Hutcheson (fifth from the left), executive director of the Grand Bahama Children’s Home.

Mr Bowe said the dona tion on Friday represents phase one of that project, which is to donate new and gently used shoes to deserving youth in Grand Bahama.Hesaid the project is a shoe programme for chil dren and students with special needs as well as poverty-stricken youth, providing them with new and gently worn footwear. Mr Bowe, who is a resident of East Grand Bahama, lost his home and all of his possessions, in addition to several family members in 2019 during Hurricane Dorian. He was left with one pair of sandals — the ones he left from home wearing the day of the storm. His expe rience inspired the project. Mr Bowe stressed that footwear is a crucial basic need.“With so much devastation on the island, there was literally nowhere to source a pair of shoes,” he said. “Rotar ian Titi Moss sourced me a pair of shoes from those that were donated, along with other supplies, from Rotarians of the 6990 Dis trict. It was a sleek pair of royal blue-coloured Nike tennis shoes in size 13. I wore them almost every day as I worked with other Rotarians and community leaders trying to return the community and island to some semblance of nor malcy. The colour royal blue matched everything at that time, having gone from pairs of shoes in every colour to one single pair of tennis shoes. Thus, the genesis of The Blue Shoe Project, Soles for Souls,” he said. June Hutcheson, exec utive director of GB Children’s Home, was very grateful for the donation of shoes.“On behalf of the board, I would like to extend thanks to the Rotary Club of GB which has always been so kind and gener ous to us,” she said. “With these shoes, the children will go to school in fine form and we wish them a good year in this new campaign.”MrBowe thanked those who supported the event, including Jon Wes Shoe Store for offering them a generous discount. LAUNCHED IN GB

“These are persons that maybe at one point did live here, but then moved on to the States or probably never lived here in The Bahamas and so because they’re not in the jurisdiction, they need that assistance,” he explained.Heroughly estimated around six or seven of the victims have already been buried so far. When contacted yes terday, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell could not confirm if Mr Brutus has been recalled, saying no formal communi cation has been sent to his ministry.

TO QUIZ OMAR ARCHER

‘BLUE SHOE PROJECT’ IS

A COMMUNITY activ ist has criticised Haitian Embassy officials for not doing enough to help rela tives of victims of a migrant boating tragedy collect theirLoubyremains.Georges told The Tribune the administration at the embassy is a “bit lax”. He also claimed that Chargé d’Affaires for the Haitian Embassy, Anthony Brutusm, has been recalled following criticisms of his performance in office. Mr Georges posted the news on Facebook yester day adding that Mr Brutus is now the “former” Chargé d’Affaires.“Youwould note that he was the one who recently misspoke at a recent press conference when he said that there are 150,000 Hai tians in The Bahamas. His tenure was one of, if not the worst, for Haitians seeking services and documents at the Embassy,” he wrote. The news comes after Mr Brutus received back lash for comments he made about the number of Hai tians living in The Bahamas

WANTED: POLICE WANT

Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

This comes after an FNM Meritorious Coun cil Member was allegedly assaulted last week by another party member, said to be a supporter of former FNM leader and former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.The incident was said to have taken place at the FNM’s Golden Isles Constituency Association meeting at Gerald Cash Pri mary School last Tuesday. FNM officials later said the man who was assaulted required medical attention due to “significant” injuries that included a fractured jaw. FNM leader Michael Pintard has since con demned the attack. Police press liaison officer, Chief Superinten dent Chrislyn Skippings confirmed the case was filed by the alleged victim. The Tribune understands that the altercation, includ ing potential disciplinary action for the member, was discussed at the FNM’s executive committee and the central council’s end of month meeting last week.

THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 31, 2022, PAGE 5

Inflation is coming

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net - will we face it?

Of course, Bahamians will already know this. You will have seen the prices rising at the store. You will have seen the surge and now, thankfully, ebb of fuelInprices.today’s Tribune, FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands doesn’t dispute that a rise in inflation is coming, showing a rare unanimity on both political sides. Although he does take the time to criti cise the government for advising people to be frugal while being anything but when it comes to spending on travel and other uses of tax dollars. He also pointed to the cost of school repairs somehow doubling from $15m to an estimated $30m. In other words, if we have to save a dollar here and a dollar there, the gov ernment could do with doing the same – in case those dollars are needed to help put food into people’s mouths down the line. Mr Davis has not committed to spe cific actions yet to tackle inflation – he said “they’re talking about lowering the interest rate again or increasing the interest rates”, which does not sound like there’s a coherent plan in place. He added: “We just have to continue to watch and try to do the things that we could do. A lot of it is beyond our con trol and all we can do is just work with what we can control and that’s some of the things that we’ve been doing.” If that doesn’t sound terribly clear to you, you’re not alone. What is helpful is that there is a clear recommendation that we are likely to get caught up in inflation as a global issue.What would be more helpful still is spelling out what our likely responses would be. As it is, we’re waiting for the impact but not knowing if there will be a life belt.But make no mistake, readers, if you are able to plan for months of higher expenses, now’s the time to do it.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

FED UP WITH BPSU AugustNassau, 30, 2022.

AFTER Prime Minis ter Philip “Brave” Davis warned of a “rough ride” in the months ahead due to rising inflation, read ers of www.tribune242. com had their say on the issue.Birdiestrachan said: “This is a world wide situ ation all will have to do their best to overcome this goes for me also eat a little less drive less harden up become tough we will come out better and stronger at the end of it all.”Sickened added: “Abso lutely. We will all feel the struggle of this global eco nomic change. There’s very little a single PM or even country can KapunkieUpdo.”said: “This might be the first fully honest thing he said since being elected.” But Joeblow responded: “... but despite that, he will probably be on a plane next week with an entourage going to another unnec essary meeting on the taxpayer dime!”

Ondrap4 said: “He is trying to fix clint watson throwing the merchants under the bus. “But he is also saying, don’t come to me to reduce customs duty. “Now that salmon and asparagus is duty free, have at Flyingfishit.” said of the problem: “I mean its simple unless this country becomes energy secure via hybrid means (renewables+Gas) and food secure(as much as possible) we will continue to rack up the bill. “Or we could imple ment a corporate tax(for the richest companies), an environmental tax(for the cruise ships mainly and anyone destroying our country) and use this money do actually build good public services.” Join in the conversation at www.tribune242.com.

EDITOR, The Tribune. What’s going on in BPSU with claim cheques? I am writing to publicly express my displeasure in the BPSU union and expose the kind of empa thy the leadership has its members.Aclaim was submitted on behalf of my mother in February 2022. To date, the only response that is received is Not Yet! It has been five full months - not counting the weeks in Feb ruary. We were told 8-10 weeks. I was subsequently told they are still working on last year. Where are the monies going? My mother will be 91 years in a few months (if life lasts); she has health issues now and needs the funds desperately. It is disheartening to know, if need be, we would have to come up with funds to pay again and wait for a year to be reimbursed. My mom has faithfully paid her union dues and medical premium for years ($182.50) from her pension. 10% less since VAT was lowered. I am now paying to assist her because she can’t afford to let the insurance lapse at this time. I have written to the Office of the BPSU –attention Mr Kimsley Ferguson (President) – I received No Response. I have sent the same letter to Mr Ferguson’s What sApp number (which he read) – No Response. I followed up with a copy of my original Letter To The Editor (which he has read) – Again No Response. Where is his heart?Ihope my letter to you is published to bring a spot light on this matter.

needsBPSU to do better

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master” LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt . Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991 EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972Published daily Monday to Friday Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES News & General Information (242) 322-1986 Advertising Manager (242) 502-2394 Circulation Department (242) 502-2386 Nassau fax (242) 328-2398 Freeport, Grand Bahama (242)-352-6608 Freeport fax (242) 352-9348 WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com @tribune242 tribune news network PAGE 6, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 THE TRIBUNE

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Readers have say on inflation warning

WHEN Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis warned that the country was in for “a rough ride for another few months”, it was confirmation that infla tion is expected to rise, and that’s bad news for Bahamian pockets. Already people have been feeling the pinch. Mr Davis urged people to be frugal, but at the crisis end there’s no room for being any more frugal than people already are. We’re not talking about delaying non-essential purchases for many, we’re talking about the price of food on the table. Let us be clear, however. This is not a problem that ends at the Bahamian border. Inflation is an issue that coun tries around the world are grappling with. Over in the UK, there was a warn ing yesterday from Goldman Sachs that inflation there could top 22 percent – and energy prices could surge from an average of $2,300 a year to $4,141 a year.How our own inflation surge will manifest we shall see, but given our dependence on imported food and prod ucts, you can be sure we’ll be paying more at the store. Indeed, that was the warning from SuperValue’s Rupert Roberts, only for the Prime Minister’s press secretary, Clint Watson, to get into an absurd row blaming supermarkets for not pass ing on government relief. Mr Davis has essentially brushed aside his own press secretary’s warning by levelling with the nation that trouble is indeed on the horizon.Some appropriate steps are already being taken – Minister of Social Security Obie Wilchcombe has already said offi cials are bracing for more requests for help.And if the tidal wave of price rises is coming, the first waves are already here. The Tribune has already reported that annual inflation for the year to June has increased almost five-fold compared to the previous 12 months.

A YOUNGSTER in Englerston getting a back to school haircut at an event on Sunday. See PAGE TWO for more. Photo: Moise Amisial

how

THREE Andros men were yesterday charged with armed robbery. Ashton Mott, 21, and Shelton Kemp, 19, both represented by Wendawn Miller-Frazer, and Lyndano Whyms, 20, stood before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans.Thethree men from Staniard Creek, Andros, faced two counts of armed robbery.OnJuly 31 in New Providence, the accused reportedly robbed Ayeola Culmer of $100 cash while armed with a handgun.Thenon August 24 in Andros, the trio are said to have robbed De’Angelo Rolle at gunpoint of $1,341 cash. The men are also accused of stealing $3,077 worth of property from Mr Rolle at the same time, including Dell laptops, a white iPhone 12 mini, a grey tablet, blue ZTE cell phone, a blue Samsung cell phone and a grey Samsung cellphone.

AMID complaints from some residents in western New Providence this week about recent continued power outages, Shevonn Cambridge, Bahamas Power and Light chief executive officer said power cuts were not intentional or caused by BPL. “We weren’t really aware of any major outage in Westridge,” Mr Cambridge said. “I know we’re not perfect, but we’re not as bad as people make us out to be. We try to make the customer experience as pleasant as possible.” This weekend residents in the areas of Sandyport, Westridge and West Bay Street reportedly started experiencing intermit tent power outages that have lasted several days. Mr Cambridge said that Bahamas Power and Light is often trying to correct problems that have or may occur but almost never are the cause of the outages themselves.“Sooftentimes when people feel, ‘oh the power going off, the power going off’, it’s us reconfiguring the system to mitigate against having a bunch of cus tomers off. We would do switching to try and mini mise the amount of people who are affected by the outage or the area that we need to isolate to do the repair,” he said. Mr Cambridge said that in one particular area, BPL tried to mitigate the effect on a large number of cus tomers by switching the load around, he said. “We had one area, a particular condominium complex had a transformer issue. And in the trou bleshooting of that there would have been one or two outages, first in the ini tial troubleshooting as well as they then would isolate the area. In order to isolate that area to do the work we tried to backfeed as many customers as possible. So, that oftentimes requires switching the load around on the system,” he said. Mr Cambridge added: “It’s not a continuing to happen thing, but as the incidents occur, we do what we have to to try and minimise the amount of customers impacted by any issues on the system.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

By LETRE SWEETING

INAGUA PAIR ON DRUGS CHARGES

“In some instances we don’t have the isolation points to narrow it down to a small area so you may find a large amount of cus tomers will be off until such a time as we were able to correct the problem. But it’s not everything that’s wrong. Some of it is just general routine operational stuff, which may require you being disrupted a little more than you’re used to. But it’s all done with the intent of minimising the impact on customers.”

A MAN was sentenced to eight months in the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services yesterday for habitu ally violating his Supreme Court bail for murder and armed robbery charges. Kendrick “Papa” Lundy, 28, stood before Magistrate Kendra Kelly for sentenc ing after pleading guilty to violating conditions of bail. This $30,000 Supreme Court bail was granted to him by Justice ArcherMinns for his charge in connection with the fatal shooting of Angelo Light bourne on June 3, 2020. Rolle has been out on bail since July 21, 2021. According to evidence presented by prosecutor Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom, Lundy was found in breach of his 9pm to 6am daily curfew at his resi dence five times between August 5–28. Tracking details from his electronic monitoring device found that he had left his house multiple times beyond the court mandated hours. In view of this, Magistrate Kelly convicted Lundy for the offence and sentenced him to eight months at BDCS.The accused has seven days to appeal sentencing.

EIGHT MONTHS IN JAIL FOR BAIL BREACHES

BPL ‘not aware’ of major outage

THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 31, 2022, PAGE 7

“There’s nothing planned for that area that I know of, but what you will find is densely populated or congested areas are more prone to having issues just mainly, because there are are individual supplies con nected in those areas there are more transformers and switched in those areas and there’s more traffic travers ing those areas. And even to a certain extent, a lot more construction activity, other things or third party activities may impact our system and what’s going on in those areas,” Mr Cam bridge said.

TWO Inagua men were charged in the Magistrate’s Court on separate drug charges after being found with $10,000 and $5,000 worth of Indian hemp respectively.RianMcQueen, 39, of Matthew Town, Inagua, faced Magistrate Samuel McKinney on a charge of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. On August 5 in Matthew Town, McQueen was found with 10lbs of Indian hemp. The confiscated drugs have an estimated street value of $10,000.In court, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was granted $6,500 bail with one surety. McQueen’s trial is sched uled for October 17. Victino Knowles, 41, also faced Magistrate McKinney on a charge of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to Onsupply.August 7 in Mat thew Town, Knowles was arrested after he was found with five lbs of Indian hemp worth an estimated $5,000. He pleaded guilty to the charge.The magistrate ordered Knowles to pay a $3,000 fine or risk nine months in prison.

They were not required to enter a plea in court due to the nature of the offence. Magistrate Vogt-Evans told the men that she lacked the jurisdiction to grant them bail and that they could only apply to the Supreme Court for it, where their matter will ulti mately be heard. They were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in theTheyinterim.are expected to be served voluntary bills of indictment on November 1. TRIO CHARGED WITH ARMED ROBBERY

ANDROS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

MAN ACCUSED OF $100K THEFT FROM STORE

He said that contin ued power outages in the affected areas are not expected.

A MAN was granted $20,000 bail yesterday after being accused of stealing $100,000 worth of inven tory while employed at 700 Wines and Spirits in Inagua. Kennard Rolle, 28, of Inagua, was represented by attorney Rodreka Stra chan as he faced Magistrate Kendra Kelly on charges of falsification of accounts and stealing by reason of employment.BetweenJanuary 7, 2021 and February 17, 2022, Rolle is accused of falsifying the accounts of the company. He was the store’s manager at the time. He is accused of entering a false amount of core inventory in the com pany’s counterpoint system. During that timeframe, Rolle, being concerned with others, is said to have stolen $99,839.60 worth of core inventory.Incourt he pleaded not guilty.Asthere was no objection from prosecutor Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom, the accused was granted $20,000 bail with two sureties. Under his bail, Rolle is expected to sign in at Matthew Town Police Station every Friday byRolle’s6pm. trial will begin on October 28.

Recommendations

RISE IN SEXUAL OFFENCES STARTLING?

• Schedules and notifies board members of upcoming meetings;

• Assures that an agenda has been prepared by the Board, President and/or CEO and that the agenda is distributed in advance of the meeting;

ON MONDAY, at the consultation on the CARI COM Regional Gender Equality Strategy (CRGES) Assistant Commissioner of Police and head of the RBPF Domestic Violence Unit Dellareece Fergu son reported a “startling” numbers of sexual violence reports. In 2021, there were 48 reported rapes, and with more than one-quarter of the year left to go, there have been 51 reported rapes thus far in 2022. There have been 69 cases of indecent assault and ten reports of incest. There have been 76 reports of “unlawful sexual inter course” — a ridiculous term for the rape of a child — with people under the age of It16.is absurd that the police would call this “startling.” How is it startling when people are quick to call girls “fast” and “bad” when they are reported missing, know ing nothing about them and reserving judgment of the “grown men” they gener ally believe the underage girls are with and unable to give consent. How is it star tling when The Bahamas has consistently been recog nised in the region and all over the world as a country with one of the highest rates of rape per capita? How is it startling when successive governments have allowed the issue of marital rape to be debated, as if mar ried people do not have the right to give or withhold consent?Over and over again, prime ministers tell us that they are more concerned about the economy than the people in it. The cur rent Prime Minister said: “My priority has been, from I got elected, to stabilise our economy and our fiscal affairs, which has been in shambles. That is neces sary.” Who is the economy being stabilised for? Who is and will be well enough to participate in it when vio lence proliferates? He said, “Other issues will come. You talk about marital rape; if you look in my Blueprint for Change, it’s not addressed at all. We are following our Blueprint forWell,Change.”great point. Why is it not in the Blueprint for Change? We have been talking about it for years, especially since the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women delivered her report following her visit to The Bahamas in 2017. We know that the Sexual Offences Act needs to be amended. Is he saying that his administration will only act on what is included in “his” Blueprint for Change, to the exclusion of everything else?

PAGE 8, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 THE TRIBUNE

Qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in law, accounting, management, communications, or any other relevant field; and relevant practical/ professional experience of no less than five (5) years. Certification as a Board Secretary is preferred. The comprehensive position announcement is available via: https://www.ub.edu.bs/about-us/career-opportunities/.

• The University Secretary shall be responsible for the custody of the University Seal and for its proper use.

•

•

Why do our systems fail to live up to the needs of the people?

By WallaceAlicia

Board Administration

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The Secretary shall ensure that all documentation provided to members of the Board is concise and its content is accurate and appropriate.

The University Secretary is required to consult with the President/ Chief Executive Officer and keep him fully informed on any matter relating to the business of the Board of Trustees (other than in relation to the Board’s consideration of the President/Chief Executive Officer’s emoluments).

•

The University Secretary will be required to form effective working relationships with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board and the President/Chief Executive Officer of the University.

The deadline for applications

• Completes any other duties as may be assigned by the Board Chair.

1. Race 101 at 6pm. The Bahamas National Repa rations Committee, the Bahamian Expert Member of the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent Gaynel Curry, and Equality Bahamas are host ing a panel discussion on racial justice at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas today, International Day for People of African Descent. Moderated by adjust lec turer on political science Keisha Ellis, the panel features brilliant Baha mians who are creatives, researchers, and academics. This is a great opportunity to talk about race in The Bahamas, the challenges we have in discussing racism, the ways people participate in anti-Blackness, and the Caribbean movement for reparations. 2. The Morning Show. This television show zooms in on the people who run a network with particular focus on those working on the early morning show. It gives glimpses of their personal lives, but really showcases workplace drama. There are conflicts between anchors, behaviors driven by ambition, unsub stantiated rumors, sexual harassment accusation, lies and deceit, people get ting canceled, and learning about and adjustments to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hard to know who to like or what to expect from this bunch.

SENIORS and disabled people queuing in Freeport for five hours for assistancein Grand Bahama last week. Photo: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff www.ub.edu.bs

• Prepares the official minutes of the meeting and records motions, discussions, votes and decisions;

The Minister of National Security said, about marital rape: “It impacts the insti tution of marriage, which is one of our social pillars. So we have to be circum spect and exact, we need to define what it is we want to criminalise.” This was after he said we should call mari tal rape something other thanTheserape.are the people in Parliament. These are the people in Cabinet. The police are “startled”? That is more startling than any thing. Perhaps they need to start paying closer atten tion to what is happening in this country — in cabinet, in parliament, in the media, in school, and in homes. These issues, these events, these challenges are connected. What I found most star tling about the report is that there was mention of “unnatural male sexual intercourse”. I question what is meant by this. If this refers to sex between men, this is an inappropri ate term. If this a reference to consenting adults having sex, regardless of their gender, it is sex. In addi tion, it is not a criminal offense, so why are there reports and why are these numbers being included and shared in this way? The LGBTQI+ community does not need to be stigmatised. It is not illegal to have sex with someone of the same sex or gender. The Baha mas decriminalise same-sex sexual activity in the early 1990s and a number of Caribbean countries have followed. The Royal Baha mas Police Force needs to explain this part of the report and, with it, an apology to the LGBTQI+ community.

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THE third anniver sary of Hurricane Dorian is quickly approaching. Much has been said about the current administra tion‘s plans which do not come close to centering the people directly affected by the category five hurri cane and their needs. The emphasis was placed on a concert which, for obvious reasons, comes across as a celebration rather than an opportunity for reflection. For many of us, what the government announced was ill-conceived and, worse, an insult to the people who are still trying to recover. There are several ways that we can acknowledge the anniversary, honour ing the lives of those who died and supporting the survivors. It must, how ever, start with the affected people. It is not for the government to decide what would make good head lines, distract people from their realities, or make the organisers feel good about themselves. People need assistance, from repairing and rebuilding to mental health services. The Prime Minister is obviously intent on posi tioning himself as a voice, on behalf of The Baha mas, on climate change. This is not particularly surprising. The Bahamas is especially vulnerable to climate change and, as demonstrated by Hurricane Dorian, has specific vulner abilities to climate events and struggles to recover from them. Some, like the Press Secretary, would have us believe that the Prime Minister is further along in that process than is demonstrable at this time. A number of prime minis ters in the Caribbean have been talking about climate change at the regional and international levels for years, and have done their homework, crunch ing the numbers, reading the research, and learning about the opportunities for building resilience. We have to understand that resilience is not a quality to look for in indi viduals, but to build into systems. It is not up to people to bounce back from disaster. We, of course, do what we can to survive. We cobble together what ever limited resources we have to get by, whether that means starting over entirely or “making do” with the tatters left behind. Largely, we depend on each other to survive the aftermath, from the point of rescue from immediate danger and temporary rehousing to realisation, that it be that what we thought was a tem porary situation will remain or that the promises we get are fulfilled. We depend on each other for tempo rary housing, for donated clothing, for discounts on purchases, for childcare and eldercare, for assistance completing forms, picking up supplies, and finding accurate information, and for raising hell until the right people notice that we have been left behind. This is interdependence. It is living in Resiliencecommunity.istalked about as though it is a personal ity trait. People who have it are strong and smart. They are survivors. Often, they have financial resources that go a long way in bounc ing back. Sometimes, they are not only survivors of the most recent disaster, but of years of abuse, and they have learned to keep getting back up and to be applauded for it by people who may or may not know the full story. We need resilient sys tems. Home insurance should meet our needs. Life insurance should meet our needs. We should not have to wait years for payouts. There should be digital options to apply for and receive assistance. These options should be acces sible to all, and this means there are captions, text-tospeech and speech-to-text functions, and centres in every constituency with devices and internet service for those who do not have their own. Processes should be designed by people who understand our particular circumstance. That means there are chairs for the elderly and people with dis abilities, protection from the elements, number sys tems to keep track of the order and number of people waiting and the available resources. There should be a plan for every island, in the event of a hurricane or other climate event, that the people understand and in which they can easily participate.Theseseem obvious, don’t they? They seem easy enough to design and put in place, right? Somehow, we do not even have this kind of function and flow when we are not in the immediate aftermath of disaster. Yesterday, it was reported that the Minis ter of Social Services and Urban Development said that, due to inflation, it is expected that more people will need assistance. He said adjustments have been made, through partner ships with other entities, to prevent people from stand ing in long lines outside. The RISE programme, he said, will return, and the Ministry is now being attentive to people on the Family Islands whose needs were not being met through the social assis tance programme. This is goodUnfortunately,news. it was also reported that people were in line — outside, in the heat — for five hours for cou pons, many of whom were turned away when staff said they ran out of coupons. This is an example of a ter rible, if not non-existent, system. There should, at the very least, be a number ing system that would allow them to indicate to people that they are at their limit. It is also ridiculous that they ran out of coupons on the second day of a fiveday exercise and told the people to return. Why are coupons being rationed to the staff who are to distrib ute them? Are they being printed elsewhere and delivered on a daily basis? What would cause such a mess? The people who waited for five hours were incredibly inconvenienced, and we do not know that they can get transportation to return, and go through all of it again. Here, they are required to be resil ient. What if resilience was built into systems instead of demanded of people?

• A cover letter of interest highlighting work experience and accomplishments relevant to the position; Current Curriculum Vitae or Resume; Copies of Qualifications and Certificates; At least three (3) written, professional references. is Friday 2nd September 2022.

University Secretary appointed by the Board of Trustees in accordance with Statute V of the University of The Bahamas Act, 2016. Required duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

The University Secretary has sole responsibility for advising the Board on all matters of Board procedure.

Board Secretary

Interested applicants should submit the following electronically to the attention of the Chairman, Human Resources Committee via boardsecretaryapply@ub.edu.bs (noting the position in the subject field of the email):

•

• Oversees the distribution of the background information for agenda to be discussed;

Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply for the position of:

ELON MUSK’S SpaceX and T-Mobile are teaming up in an attempt to connect mobile devices through a network of satellites, pro viding coverage to even the most isolated places. Under the plan, T-Mobile’s wireless net work would be routed through SpaceX Starlink satellites that are in low EarthT-Mobileorbit. said that the vast majority of smart phones already on its network will be compatible with the new service using the device’s existing radio. The companies are looking to provide text coverage, including SMS, MMS and participating messaging apps, nearly everywhere in the conti nental U.S., Hawaii, parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico and territorial waters starting with a beta in select areas by the end of next year. They want to add voice and data coverage at a later time.T-Mobile and SpaceX say they are ready to part ner with other carriers to help expand the service worldwide.“Theimportant thing about this is that it means there’s no dead zones any where in the world for your cellphone,” Elon Musk said during a live event at a SpaceX facility in Texas lastTheweek.billionaire and Tesla CEO who is engaged in a legal battle with Twit ter, emphasised that one of the key benefits of the service will be that it can help people who are in life threatening situations in remote areas, potentially saving lives.

DRONE TECHNOLOGYDETECTIONTESTED AT LOS

THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 31, 2022, PAGE 9 TECHTALK

TAKE 2: NASA AIMS FOR SATURDAY

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California set itself on a path last week to end the era of gas-powered cars, with air regulators adopting the world’s most stringent rules for transitioning to zero-emission vehicles.Themove by the California Air Resources Board to have all new cars, pickup trucks and SUVs be electric or hydrogen by 2035 is likely to reshape the U.S. auto market, which gets 10% of its sales from the nation’s most populous state. But such a radical transfor mation in what people drive will also require at least 15 times more vehicle charg ers statewide, a more robust energy grid and vehicles that people of all income levels can afford.“It’s going to be very hard getting to 100%,” said Daniel Sperling, a board member and founding director of the Insti tute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis. “You can’t just wave your wand, you can’t just adopt a regulation — people actu ally have to buy them and use them.”Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom told state regula tors two years ago to adopt a ban on gas-powered cars by 2035, one piece of California’s aggressive suite of policies designed to reduce pollution and fight climate change. If the policy works as designed, California would cut emissions from vehicles in half by 2040. ANGELES AIRPORT

By APCHAPMANMICHELLEBusinessWriter

LAUNCH OF NEW MOON ROCKET

via AP)

SPACEX, T-MOBILE TRY TO CONNECT REMOTE AREAS WITH SATELLITES

“Based on what I’ve heard from the technical team today, what we need to do is continue to pore over the data and polish up our plan on putting the flight rationale together,” he said.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Drone detection technology is now being tested at Los Angeles International Air port, federal and local officials said last week. The technology detects, tracks and identifies drones entering restricted airspace around LAX, which is the second U.S. airport to test the system, said Keith Jeffries, the Transportation Security Administration security direc tor at the airport. Miami International Air port was selected in 2021 as the first test site. U.S. Rep. Lucille RoybalAllard, D-California, said that according to the Department of Homeland Security there have been 2,000 drone sight ings near airports since 2021. “The most obvious risks to our airports and the trave ling public is the difficulty pilots have seen and avoiding drones while flying,” RoybalAllard said. “The mere sight of a drone at an airport can cause significant disruption.”

“The important thing about this is that it means there’s no dead zones anywhere in the world for your cellphone.” Elon Musk

During Monday’s launch attempt, readings showed that one of the four main engines in the rocket’s core stage could not be chilled suffi ciently prior to the planned ignition at liftoff. It appeared to be as much as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) warmer than the desired minus-420 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-250 degrees Celsius), the temperature of the hydrogen fuel, according to Honeycutt. The three other engines came up just a little short.All of the engines appear to be fine, according to Honeycutt. The chilling operation will be conducted a half-hour earlier for Saturday afternoon’s launch attempt, once fueling begins that morning. Honeycutt said the timing of this engine chilldown was earlier during successful testing last year, and so performing it sooner may do theHoneycutttrick. also questioned the integrity of one engine sensor, saying it might have provided inac curate data Monday. To change that sensor, he noted, would mean hauling the rocket back into the hangar, resulting in weeks of delay. Already years behind schedule, the $4.1 billion test flight is the opening shot in NASA’s Artemis moon-exploration programme, named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology. Astro nauts could strap in as soon as 2024 for a lap around the moon and actually attempt a lunar landing in 2025.

Last year there were 50 reports of drone sightings and so far this year there have been 38 sightings within a 10-mile radius of LAX, said Justin Erbacci, chief executive officer of Los Angeles World Airports, the city’s airports department.Dronespose a clear and present danger to airport security, Erbacci said.

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA will try again Sat urday to launch its new moon rocket on a test flight, after engine trouble halted the first countdown thisManagersweek. said Tuesday they are changing fueling procedures to deal with the issue. A bad sensor also could be to blame for Monday’s scrapped launch, they noted. The 322-foot (98-metre) rocket — the most powerful ever built by NASA — remains on its pad at Kennedy Space Center with an empty crew capsule on top. The Space Launch System rocket will attempt to send the capsule around the moon and back. No one will be aboard, just three test dummies. If successful, it will be the first capsule to fly to the moon since NASA’s Apollo programme 50 years Proceedingago. toward a Saturday launch will provide additional insight, even if the problem reap pears and the countdown is halted again, said NASA’s rocket pro gramme manager, John Honeycutt. That’s better “than us sitting around scratching our heads, was it good enough or not.”

NASA’S Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B, Tuesday, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA’s Artemis I flight test is the first integrated test of the agency’s deep space exploration systems.(JoelKowsky/NASA

CALIFORNIA PHASING OUT GAS VEHICLES IN CLIMATE CHANGE FIGHT

Russian Defence Minis try spokesman Lt Gen Igor Konashenkov maintained that its forces stood up well and that Ukraine lost hun dreds of troops, tanks and other armored vehicles in Monday’s action. His claim could not be independently verified.Ukrainian independ ent military analyst Oleh Zhdanov told The Associ ated Press that “it will be possible to talk about the effectiveness of Ukrain ian actions only after large cities are retaken.”

BIDEN DEFENDS FBI AND PROMOTES BAN ON ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS

KYIV, AssociatedUkrainePress

an intelligence report that several Ukrainian brigades had stepped up their artil lery fire in front-line sectors across southern Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities kept the world guessing about their intentions, side stepping talk of a major counteroffensive over the past couple of days.

AssociatedMOSCOW Press MIKHAIL Gorbachev, who as the last leader of the Soviet Union waged a losing battle to salvage a crumbling empire but produced extraordinary reforms that led to the end of the Cold War, died Tues day. He was 91. The Central Clinical Hos pital said in a statement that Gorbachev died after a long illness. No other details were given. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a statement carried by Rus sian news agencies that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered deep condo lences over Gorbachev’s death and would send an official telegram to Gor bachev’s family in the morning.Though in power less than seven years, Gorbachev unleashed a breathtaking series of changes. But they quickly overtook him and resulted in the collapse of the authoritarian Soviet state, the freeing of Eastern European nations from Russian domination and the end of decades of EastWest nuclear confrontation. His decline was humiliat ing. His power hopelessly sapped by an attempted coup against him in August 1991, he spent his last months in office watch ing republic after republic declare independence until he resigned on December 25, 1991. The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a dayAlater.quarter-century after the collapse, Gorbachev told The Associated Press that he had not consid ered using widespread force to try to keep the USSR together because he feared chaos in the nuclear country.“Thecountry was loaded to the brim with weapons. And it would have imme diately pushed the country into a civil war,” he said. Many of the changes, including the Soviet breakup, bore no resemblance to the trans formation that Gorbachev had envisioned when he became Soviet leader in March 1985. By the end of his rule he was powerless to halt the whirlwind he had sown. Yet Gorbachev may have had a greater impact on the second half of the 20th cen tury than any other political figure.“Isee myself as a man who started the reforms that were necessary for the country and for Europe and the world,” Gorbachev told The AP in a 1992 interview shortly after he left office.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 THE TRIBUNE

He added that Ukrainian forces had breached the first and the second lines of defense in the Kherson region several times in the past, “but it didn’t bring about results”.

“The most important thing is Ukrainian artillery’s work on the bridges, which the Russian military can no longer use,” Zhdanov said. The war has turned into a stalemate over the past months, with casualties and destruction mounting and the population bearing the brunt of the suffering during relentless shelling in the east and south. In other battlefield reports, at least nine civil ians were killed in more Russian shelling, Ukrainian officials said, from the Black Sea port of Mykolaiv to the northeastern industrial hub of Kharkiv, where five were killed in the city centre.

AssociatedPennsylvaniaWILKES-BARRE,Press

The fighting complicates what could be a treacherous trip from Kyiv to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, by an inspec tion team from the UN’s atomic energy agency. The experts may have to pass through areas of active fighting, with no publicly announced cease-fire, to reach the Russian-occupied plant, where shelling has driven fears of a catastrophe. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shell ing the area over and over. Nikopol, a city just across the Dnieper from the plant, again came under a bar rage of heavy shelling, authorities said, with a bus station, stores and a chil dren’s library damaged. And a Russian missile strike targeted the city of Zapor izhzhia, about 30 miles from the plant, Ukraine said.

PRESIDENT Joe Biden yesterday forcefully defended the FBI as the agency and its employees have come under wither ing criticism and threats of violence since executing a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence earlier this“It’smonth.sickening to see the new attacks on the FBI, threatening the life of law enforcement and their families, for simply carrying out the law and doing their job,” Biden said before a crowd of more than 500 at Wilkes University. “I’m opposed to defunding the police; I’m also opposed to defunding the FBI.” Biden also used his remarks yesterday to pro mote his torepeatedlydecades,CongressrestrictionstheUvalde,inthissafetyacansDemocratsonlong-expiredsureandcrime-preventionadministration’seffortstocontinuetopresCongresstoreviveafederalbanassault-styleweapons.andRepubliworkedtogetherinrareefforttopassgunlegislationearlieryearaftermassacresBuffalo,NewYork,andTexas.TheywerefirstsignificantfirearmapprovedbyinnearlythreebutBidenhassaidmoreneedsbedone.

“We beat the NRA. We took them on and beat the NRA straight up. You have no idea how intimidating they are to elected offi cials,” an animated Biden said. “We’re not stopping here. I’m determined to ban assault weapons in this country! Determined. I did it once before. And I’ll do it again.”Asa US senator, Biden played a leading role in temporarily banning assault-style weapons, including firearms simi lar to the AR-15 that have exploded in popularity in recent years, and he wants to put the law back into place. Biden argued that there was no rationale for such weapons “outside of a war zone” and noted that parents of the young vic tims at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde had to supply DNA because the weapon used in the mas sacre rendered the bodies unidentifiable.“DNA,tosay that’s my baby!” Biden said. “What the hell is the matter with us?”Tuesday’s speech marked Biden’s first of three trips to Pennsylvania in the coming week, underscoring the state’s role as a key politi cal battleground. Trump is hosting his own rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Democrats are trying to blunt Republican efforts to use concern about crime to their advantage in the midterms. It’s a particularly fraught issue in Pennsylva nia, a key swing state where a US Senate seat and the governor’s office are up for grabs.The Republican candi date for governor, Doug Mastriano, accuses Demo crat Josh Shapiro of being soft on crime as the state’s twice-elected attorney gen eral, saying at one recent event that crime has gone up on his opponent’s watch and that Shapiro “stands aside” as homicides rise across Pennsylvania.

HEAVY FIGHTING RAGES IN RUSSIAN-OCCUPIED UKRAINE

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Homicides have been increasing in Pennsylvania, but overall crime seems to have fallen over the last year, according to state statistics.Asattorney general since 2017, Shapiro has toured the state discussing the need to crack down on gun trafficking and ghost guns, and to recruit more police officers. Last December, he said that state agents and Philadelphia police officers working together had reduced the number of shootings in areas that were confronting gun violence related to drug trafficking.“Thereal heroes here are the people who put on the uniform every single day,” said Shapiro, who spoke shortly before Biden’s remarks at Wilkes University. “We know that policing is a noble profes sion, and we know that we need to stand with law enforcement.”IntheUS Senate race, heart surgeon turned televi sion celebrity Dr Mehmet Oz, the Republican nomi nee, has tried to portray the Democratic candidate, Lt Gov John Fetterman, as extreme and reckless on crimeFettermanpolicy. has endorsed recommendations that more geriatric and reha bilitated prisoners can be released from state prisons without harming public safety. Oz and Republicans have distorted that into the claim that Fetterman wants to release “dangerous crim inals” from prisons or that he’s in favor of “emptying prisons”.Fetterman was not in Wilkes-Barre with Biden yesterday, but he’s expected to march in Pittsburgh’s Labor Day parade when the president visits on Sep tember 5. Biden also will be in Pennsylvania on Thurs day for a prime-time speech that the White House said will address “the contin ued battle for the soul of the nation” and defending democracy.It’sunclear whether crime will end up as a piv otal issue in November. Only 11% of US adults named crime or vio lence as one of the top five issues they consider most important for the government to work on in the next year, accord ing to an AP-NORC poll conducted in June. That’s unchanged since Decem ber, and it’s well below the percentage naming many of the other top issues for Americans. Biden has tried to balance his approach to crime by acknowledging voters’ fears and praising law enforce ment, but also urging more accountability for offic ers. The White House has also repeatedly promoted the additional funding for local police that was tucked into its sweeping corona virus relief package in the early months of Biden’s presidency.He’srejected the activist slogan “defund the police”, which Republicans have used as a cudgel against Democrats in general, by calling for more money for cops.Biden’s trip to WilkesBarre was originally scheduled for July 21 but was cancelled when the president contracted COVID-19 and went into isolation while he was contagious.

UKRAINE claimed to have destroyed bridges and ammunition depots and pounded command posts in a surge of fighting in the Russian-occupied south, fueling speculation yester day that its DefencehasficationinrolledwhereUkraine’sreturn.inflictedunderway.tocounteroffensivelong-awaitedtotryturnthetideofwarisRussiasaiditheavycasualtiesinTheclashestookplaceinKhersonregion,Moscow’sforcesupmajorgainsearlythewar.Whileindependentveriofbattlefieldactionbeendifficult,Britain’sMinistrysaidin

SOVIET President Mikhail Gorbachev in San Francisco in 1990. Photo: David Longstreath/AP PRESIDENT Joe Biden speaks on the campus of Wilkes Univer sity in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, yesterdayPhoto: Matt Slocum/AP

Last leader of

The port city of Kherson, with a prewar population of about 300,000, is an impor tant economic hub close to the Black Sea and the first major city to fall to the Rus sians in the war that began six months Occupationago.forces have spoken of plans to hold a referendum on making the Kherson region a part of Russia and have pressured residents to take Russian citizenship and stop using Ukraine’s reorganisation.undergoingwhileuponmannedKhersonofresortinginmorethesaidplyingDnieperallammunitionUkrainianticallybattles”tialUkraine’scurrency.presidenofficereported“toughgoingonacrosspracalloftheareaandsaidforcesdestroyeddepotsandlargebridgesacrosstheRivervitaltosupRussiantroops.TheUkrainianmilitaryTuesdayeveningthatRussianswereshellingthan15settlementstheKhersonareaandtoairstrikes.TheBritishsaidthatmostRussia’sunitsaround“arelikelyunder-andarereliantfragilesupplylines”itsforcesthereareasignificant

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net 14

assistsin15-3.erntheParkerBonner,1568-63Sun1-0playoffsChicagoConnecticutBOTTOM8pmChicago;Conference)Wednesday,EDTLINE:TheSunvisittheSkyintheWNBAsemifinalswithaleadintheseries.ThewonthelastmeetingonAugust29ledbypointsfromDeWannawhileCandacescored19pointsforSky.TheSky’srecordinEastConferencegamesisChicagoranksthirdtheWNBAwith24.3pergameledby AGAINSTINTO1-0SUNJONESJONQUELANDTAKELEADGAMESKY

In the continuation of what has been an eventful year, sprinter Anthonique Stra chan sped to victory in the women’s 200 metres at the 2022 Spitzen Leichtathletik in Lucerne, Switzerland, yesterday.Competing against a competitive field at the event running out of lane eight, Strachan powered back on the home stretch to take the tape in 22.68 seconds as she edged out Nigeria’s Aminatou Seyni out of lane three, who did 22.12 for Americansecond.Jenna Pran dini was third in 22.82 with hometown favourite Mujinga Kambundji fourth in 22.89. Egypt’s Bassant Hemida rounded out the top five in 23.05. It was Strachan’s first test at the 200m since she pulled up with an injury at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July. “I’m very content with the performance because it was my first 200m since the Worlds,” said Strachan, who celebrated her 29th birthday on August 22, the same day she left the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships where she was voted in as a Memberat-Large for the Athletics Commission.Astherace got under way, Strachan came off the curve in the middle of the pack. But as she ascended down the home stretch, she was able to accelerate to surge ahead of the field to secure the win. “I tried to come off the curve first, but I didn’t exe cute that well,” Strachan said. “But once I came off the curve, I picked up more speed and I was able to hold onto whatever momentum I had.” With no expectations for the race, Strachan said it was just a good test to see where she’s at, coming off the injury at Worlds that prevented her from competing at the Com monwealth Games in Birmingham before she participated in the 100m and on the Bahamas wom en’s silver medal 4 x 100m relay team at the NACAC Championships in Grand Bahama two weeks ago. “Technically, I didn’t compete in a 200m since the trials (Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Nationals) before I didn’t finish the 200m at Worlds,” Strachan reflected.“SoI just wanted to finish the race. I did that, so I’m content with that.”

GOOD EFFORT: Bahamas men’s national basketball team at FIBA Americas 2023 World Cup Qualifying match in Argentina.

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AFTER getting stopped in his only match at the Cadets World Junior Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bahamian judoka Xavion Johnson said he’s even more com mitted to making it on the international level. Johnson, 16, travelled to the championship with Cynthia Rahming, the top Bahamian judoka, as his coach. He fought Arslan Mulalic of Bosnia, but got stopped in less than two minutes in the first round because of penalties in the under-60 kilogram class. “I was disappointed because I felt I could have performed much better than I did,” said Johnson on his return home. “But I am even more deter mined because of the loss

— The Raiders hired Josh McDaniels as coach to replace interim Rich Bisaccia, who helped lead them to the playoffs for just the second time in 19 years. They also acquired star DE Chandler Jones and traded for star WR Davante Adams, who left Aaron Rodgers to reignite his college con nection with Derek Carr, his teammate at Fresno State.— The Broncos changed head coaches, starting quarterbacks and even owners. Rob Walton paid a global sports record $4.65 billion for the franchise and secondyear GM George Paton replaced Vic Fangio with rookie head coach

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net

By

DEMARCO PLEASED WITH TEAM BAHAMAS’ EFFORT

BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net SEE PAGE 15

BELGIUM rider Remco Evenepoel of the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team celebrates at the podium after the individual time-trial stage of La Vuelta cycling race between Elche and Alicante, eastern Spain, yesterday. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

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JUNIORSWORLDATJOHNSONJUDOKACADETS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net

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WINNING WAYS: Anthonique Strachan celebrates yesterday after winning the 200 metres at the 2022 Spitzen Leichtathletik in Lucerne, Switzerland.

AFC West: tough division with talented group of quarterbacks

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Still not at 100 percent fully recuperated, Strachan said it was good to know that the process is working and not to rush into it and reaggravate it. “The competition was rather stiff. I didn’t expect this to be the way it was,” she said. “I honestly thought my team would have put me in a lighter 200m, knowing that I was scared to run the 200m. I thought they would have eased me in there, but it was like they tossed me into“Butit. in any event, they had the better vision and so I can’t complain about it. They know best.” Strachan, one of two Bahamians competing in the meet, is expected to participate in another event next week in Europe, but the national double sprint runner-up is uncer tain yet whether or not it will be in the 100m or the 200m.Commonwealth Games champion LaQuan Nairn, who missed out on get ting on the podium with a fourth-place finish at NACAC, produced a sev enth place finish in the men’s long jump with a

Evenepoel increases

— The AFC West no longer looks like such a cake walk for the Kansas City Chiefs now that Tyreek Hill is dashing past defenders in Miami. Not only did the Chiefs shockingly send Patrick Mahomes’ top receiver to the Dolphins for a fistful of draft picks, but their rivals all made major moves in hopes of ending Kansas City’s divisional dominance.—The Chargers invested more than $70 million on defensive free agents as they sur round QB Justin Herbert with a better roster. They acquired LB Khalil Mack and ex-Patriots CB J.C. Jackson, who had an NFL-high 25 inter ceptions over the past four seasons. They also made Derwin James the league’s highest-paid safety with a four-year, $76.5 million deal.

Anthonique victorious

THEPLAYERDEFENSIVEISWILSONWNBAOFYEAR

DENVER (AP)

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Vuelta lead with time-trial victory

CHIEFS QB Patrick Ma homes warms up before a preseason game against the Commanders on Saturday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

DESPITE losing by 18 points to Argentina, head coach Chris DeMarco said he was still pleased with how the Bahamas national basketball team per formed during their FIBA Americas 2023 World Cup Qualifying match on Monday night. The Bahamas actually held a slim 44-43 margin at the half, but behind the home crowd in the Polodeportivo Isles Malvi nas arena in Mar del Plata, Argentina rebounded with a 25-15 spurt in the third and 27-18 in the fourth for a 95-77 win. It was the second con secutive loss in five days in the FIBA Americas 2023 World Cup Qualifier. The Bahamas dropped an 86-81 decision to Venezuela on Thursday night at the jam-packed Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. “It’s incred ible. Everyone should be proud back home in the Bahamas. We just played against the seventh best team in the world. We obviously had a halftime lead, but we struggled in the third quarter,” said DeMarco, who was assisted by Mikhail McLean. “We have these short training camps and a lot of our guys haven’t come up playing together. What we’re facing in these World Cup Quali fiers are teams that have been together for a long time. What that means is that we have to a better job with longer training camps to build chemistry.” The chemistry, however, didn’t come together as anticipated and it showed in the final results. “We have to really learn to know each other so that we know how to play. But we also have a smaller window for mistakes,” DeMarco said. “We can’t turn the ball over as much, we can’t commit stupid fouls, we have to execute, which is a part of the process.”Oneof those young play ers was Garvin Clarke Jr. As the youngest member of the team, Clarke stepped it up coming off the bench and in 25 minutes and 51 seconds, exploded for 12 points with four steals.

SPORTS PAGE 11 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2022

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer Connecticut Sun (25-11, 11-7 Eastern Conference) at Chicago Sky (26-10, 15-3 Eastern

WITH the season-ending awards shared out, Baha mian Jonquel Jones fell short of winning her first Defensive Player of the Year Award in the Wom en’s National Basketball Association.TheWNBA released the 2022 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and the award went to Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson. This is the first WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for Wilson, who becomes the first player in Aces franchise his tory to earn the honour. No player from the Connecti cut Sun has ever won the award since its inception in 1997. Jones, a centre/for ward for the Sun, finished with just two votes from a

“Playing around profes sionals, learning the game everyday, playing against one of the best profession als in the league has helped me a lot,” Clarke said. “I learn about what I need to

ALICANTE, Spain (AP) — Remco Evenepoel came into the Spanish Vuelta with the goal of winning a stage.He accomplished that in style yesterday and now also sees himself in position to take the general classifi cation title as well. The Belgian rider from team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl pulled off an impres sive time-trial victory in the 10th stage in Alicante, increasing his overall lead. “It’s super nice to win this time trial in the red jersey,” the 22-year-old Evenepoel said. “It’s an amazing feel ing. I think I achieved my dream.”Evenepoel was 48 seconds faster than secondplace Primoz Roglic, taking his general classification lead over the three-time defending champion to 2 minutes, 41 seconds with 11 stages“That’sleft. a big surprise,” Evenepoel said when told of his gap to his rival from team Jumbo-Visma. “Now we’re going to fight and we’re going to try to win this Vuelta. The pressure is off. I won a stage. Now the whole team is super confident. Everybody is

TEAM

By ANGELA CHARLTON

Milan shares one of soccer’s iconic venues, San Siro, with rival Inter Milan. With a capacity of about 80,000, the stadium opened in 1926, was exten sively renovated ahead of the 1990 World Cup and is scheduled to host the open ing ceremony of the 2026 WinterThereOlympics.arefew luxury suites and fan amenities in the venue, formally known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, and both Milan and Inter have discussed building a new stadium adjacent to the current arena.“As we help the City Football Group here in New York,” Levine said, “in commercial ways and trying to get through a sta dium and a whole bunch of other things, we think in our brand there could be synergies between us and Milan that will raise the value of Milan significantly.”Formerlongtime team captain Paolo Maldini will stay on as Milan’s technical area director despite the ownership change, a person involved in the nego tiations said, adding that Stefano Pioli is safe in his job as Milan’s coach. That person also spoke the AP on condition of anonymity because the final deal has not been announced yet. The only Italians invest ing in the deal are media rights executive Riccardo Silva and his brother, Save rio Silva, the person said. Riccardo Silva owns the Miami soccer club, which plays in the second-tier USL Championship. He founded the Miami team together with Maldini, who withdrew his ownership stake in Miami when he took on his current role at Milan.The deal could involve players from Milan’s youth academy spending time at Miami. IN MILAN SOCCER

AC Milan’s Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring his side’s sec ond goal during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

PARIS (AP) — Was that reallyYouNeymar?hadto blink and look again but, yes, it was him, sprinting down the left touchline deep into stoppage time desper ately trying to keep the ball in play last weekend during the 1-1 home draw with Monaco at Parc des Princes.Neymar, the self-indul gent prince of PSG for so many years, was working as hard as anyone on the field. Yes, you read that last part correctly. In what is great news for Brazil ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, a slim, ath letic Neymar looks fitter and sharper than he has for several years after being dogged by fitness worries, questions over his lifestyle choices, and dragged down by persistent foot injuries. Since joining PSG for a world record 222 mil lion euros (then $263 million) in 2017, Neymar has appeared in only 92 league games from a pos sible 190 — a remarkably lowThen48%.there was his atti tude, his irritating attempts at humiliating opponents or berating teammates for not giving him the ball — only to fall short when PSG really needed him deep in the Champions League. That seems to have changed, too. There have been no his trionics, no rolling around on the ground like at the 2018 World Cup and every season since with PSG, except for this one. Neymar’s attitude has changed to the extent that he even acted as a peace maker late on against Monaco when several players were involved in a flare up. Oh, and not to mention his hatful of goals. Neymar’s penalty against Monaco took him to eight goals in five games, includ ing the preseason French Champions Trophy. He’s added six assists for good measure, meaning he’s been involved in nearly three goals per game. Little wonder, then, that sports daily L’Equipe has him top of the charts with an average score of 8/10 in the weekly player ratings — one point more than record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi. “He’s the one who brings the balance up front,” PSG coach Christophe Galtier said of Neymar. With Galtier jolting PSG’s players out of their comfort zone, and Neymar at 30, he seems close to his best. That bodes well for Brazil at the World Cup, which he will enter as one of the most scrutinized players. In Qatar, Neymar could even break Pele’s national record of 77 goals — he has 74 for Brazil. Neymar is linking up with Messi like they did during their heyday at Bar celona, where they formed one of the best strike part nerships in recent history known as the MSN — with Luis Suarez the other star. Now it’s the MNM — Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe — causing French defenses nightmares. In four league games, PSG has netted 18 goals, with Messi and Mbappe sharing seven between them. It helps that Galtier is playing Neymar higher up the pitch, in a zone of 30-40 meters. This means Neymar is dropping back far less to get the ball and launch attacks on his own, which was not working in recent seasons as injuries and lack of fitness worked against him. It also meant he was fresh enough to chase that lost ball late on Sunday.

Charles De Ketelaere might be just what Bel gium needs to transform from top-ranked contender to champion at the World Cup.The 21-year-old play maker has made quite an impact in only three matches with Italian cham pion AC Milan, already drawing comparisons to former Rossoneri standout Kaká.The baby-faced, blondhaired De Ketelaere — or “CDK” as he’s being referred to — lit up the San Siro with his crosses and an assist for Milan’s first goal in a 2-0 win over Bologna on Saturday in his first start since joining from Club Brugge in a 32 million euro ($32.5 million) transfer.

PSG’s Neymar controls the ball with his chest during the French League One soccer match be tween Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco on Sunday. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) his best ahead of World Cup

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PAGE 12, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 THE TRIBUNE FRENCH SOCCER STAR POGBA PAID EXTORTIONISTSEUROS100,000TO

Brazil star Neymar looks back to

Milan is coming off its first Italian title in 11 years. Main Street Advisors, the fund supported by James, also counts the rapper Drake among its partners, as well as English Premier League club Liv erpool and the Boston Red Sox.James and Drake will be passive investors in Milan through the fund and have not taken direct stakes, according to The Financial Times, which first reported theRedBirdinvestments.alsohas a stake in Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Liv erpool and the Red Sox. Champions League rules prohibit two clubs in the competition from being under the same ownership to protect the integrity of games on the field. UEFA likely will have to make a judgment on the extent of RedBird’s influence on decision-making at Liverpool.RedBird is set to become Milan’s fourth owner in five years.Milan was owned by Silvio Berlusconi from 1986 until 2017. Italy’s prime minister from 200106 and 2008-11, Berlusconi sold control to a company controlled by Sino-Europe Sports Investment Man agement Changxing Co.

The American hedge fund

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball’s elite are get ting involved with one of Europe’s most celebrated soccer clubs. The New York Yankees are becoming a minority investor in Italian cham pion AC Milan, the second soccer team the baseball power will partially own after MLS’s New York City. A Los Angeles-based fund that includes LeBron James also is becoming a minority investor in the seven-time European champion under Red Bird Capital Partners, The Financial Times reported yesterday. RedBird is nearing a deal to purchase a controlling interest in Milan for 1.2 billion euros ($1.2Gerrybillion).Cardinale, who founded RedBird in 2014 and is a managing partner, announced a pre liminary agreement in June to buy Milan from fellow American firm Elliott Management. The closing is to take place by the end of YankeesSeptember.Global Enter prises, the baseball team’s parent company led by the Steinbrenner family, will take a stake of about 10% in Milan, a person familiar with the negotia tions told The Associated Press, speaking on condi tion of anonymity because the final deal has not been announced.“We’revery confident that the Yankee brand is the most famous sports brand in the world, and we think we can help boost the revenue of AC Milan by being associated with it,” Yankees president Randy Levine said Tuesday. Milan declined to comment.TheYankees agreed in 2013 to purchase a 20% stake in the New York City Major League Soccer team that launched in 2015. City Football Group, Manches ter City’s parent company, is the controlling owner. Yankees Global Enter prises also owns stakes in the YES Network and Leg ends Hospitality, formed in 2008 with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.“Itcame about based on our relationship with Gerry and RedBird that goes back over 25 years,” Levine said. “The Stein brenners were one of the original investors in Red Bird when Gerry started it. We worked very closely with Gerry when he was at Goldman Sachs in building the YES Network and Leg ends Hospitality. He was involved with Goldman’s work on the new Yankee Stadium when RedBird was formed and YES was purchased back from Disney, RedBird became a partner with us and YES.” The Yankees, 27-time World Series champions, are signing a separate marketing agreement with Milan, a 19-time Italian champion, that will include broadcasting replays of games on the YES Net work, as Manchester City does. There also will be stadiumsearchLevineatmostballenoughitthegetCity,investment.said.Footballrelationshiplearnedaritythebetweencross-merchandisingthepinstripesandRossoneri.“Wehavealittlefamiliwithsoccer—we’vealittlesinceourwithCityGroup,”Levine“Wethinkit’sagoodLikewithManwedonotintendtoinvolvedinrunningsoccerside.Weleavetotheexperts.We’vegottodoonthebaseside.”NewYorkCityplaysofitshomegamesYankeeStadium,andishelpingleadtheforasiteforasoccerfortheMLSteam.

AC

Sports Writers

By RONALD BLUM and ANDREW DAMPF AP

While De Ketelaere has scored only once in eight appearances for Belgium, he joins an offensive team that already features one of the world’s top midfield ers in Kevin De Bruyne and expert finisher Romelu Lukaku.No.2 to Brazil, Belgium has been at or near the top of the FIFA rankings for years but its best recent result was third place at the 2018 World Cup.

PARIS (AP) — World Cup winner Paul Pogba paid 100,000 euros ($100,000) to an organised group including his brother that was trying to extort him for millions, French officials said yesterday. French prosecutors are investigating allega tions that Pogba was the target of extortion by his brother Mathias Pogba and childhood friends. They demanded 13 million euros from the France midfielder, and repeatedly intimidated him, claiming he didn’t sup port them after he became an international soccer star. An official close to the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press yesterday that Pogba told investigators he had already paid 100,000 euros. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with official practice during an ongoing investigation.involvingnotcorruptionisorganisedthisopenedofficegangattemptstoer’slawyeraareportsamongTurin.JuventusdemandsnationalwhileParismasked,aftermadeTuesdaycasterexplosive,”“greatlishintovideos,andagentabout“explosive”weekendpostedafterontionthisadded:bywhoRegardingMonteinatWorldfourtwotheNoelFrenchfamilythatcommentedrespondedknown!”known,good,amnothingunderstandMbappe:atheSundaydeniedKylianonwitchhimtioniststoldmediaAccordinginvestigation.toFrenchreports,PaulPogbainvestigatorstheextorwantedtodiscreditbyclaimingheaskedadoctortocastaspellanotherFrenchstar,Mbappe.PaulPogbatheallegation.MathiasPogbaonappearedtoaddresswitchdoctorclaiminTwitterpost,directedat“Kylian,doyounow?Ihaveagainstyou,whatIsayingisforyourowneverythingistrueandthewitchdoctorisMbappehasnotandhasnotonthescandalappearstostemfromafeud.ThepresidentoftheFootballFederation,LeGraet,downplayedscandalthatincludesofFrance’sstarsjustmonthsbeforetheCup.“Thesearejustrumoursthispoint,”LeGraetsaidaninterviewwithRadioCarloonMonday.PaulPogba,iscurrentlysidelinedakneeinjury,LeGraet“IlovePaul.Ihopedoesnotcallintoqueshis(WorldCup)spottheFrenchside.”ThecasebecamepublicMathiasPogbaonsocialmedialastthreatstosharerevelationshisbrother,Paul’sRafaelaPimenta,Mbappe.InInstagramMathiasseemedbereadingastatementItalian,Spanish,EngandFrenchpromisingrevelations.”“AllthisislikelytobeMathiasadded.France’spublicbroadBFMreportedonthatPaulPogbathepaymentinAprilhewasthreatenedbyarmedmeninaapartmentinMarchhewasinFranceforteammatches.ThegroupalsomadeofPaulatthetrainingcentreinHesaidMathiaswasthem,accordingtobyFrance-Info,alsopublicbroadcaster.Inresponse,Paulissuedstatementthroughhisthatsaidhisbrothclaimswere“inadditionthreatsandextortionbyanorganisedagainstPaulPogba.”TheParisprosecutor’ssaidonMondayitaninvestigationmonthintoattemptedextortion,whichbeinghandledbyanti-police.Itwouldprovidefurtherdetailsanongoing

MESSAGESAINT-MAXIMIN’S Given France’s envi able attacking options, Newcastle forward Allan Saint-Maximin knows he will have to do something incredible to earn a first call-up to his national team for the World Cup. He is giving it a good go, though.Aweek ago, SaintMaximin dismantled the best defense in the Eng lish Premier League with a man-of-the-match display against Manchester City in a 3-3 draw, and followed it with a cheeky tweet to France coach Didier Deschamps.“Ihope Didier Des champs had his Canal+ codes,” Saint-Maximin wrote, referring to the French TV channel that broadcasts EPL games. On Sunday, Saint-Max imin — one of English soccer’s most entertaining players — starred again by guiding home a brilliant volley from the edge of the area to salvage Newcastle a 1-1 draw at Wolverhamp ton. He doesn’t need Twitter to send a message to Deschamps. His per formances on the field are doing that.The 25-year-old Saint Maximin has played in France’s youth teams, from the under-16s to the under 21s, but never the senior team.

Paolo Maldini, the great Milan captain and now sporting director, was focused on De Ketelaere from the start of the trans fer“Charleswindow. has a lot of talent,” Milan coach Ste fano Pioli said. “He’s already shown some great things, he’s intelligent and will definitely improve.”

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer

NEWBELGIUM’SSTAR

Elliott provided financing and took control of the team in 2018 when loan payments were not made. Inter Milan, Roma, Fiorentina and Bologna are among other foreignowned teams in Serie A. “Italian soccer is still experiencing financial contraction,” Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta said of the Milan transaction. “We’ve gone from a period of patronage by the Mor attis and the Berlusconis who brought (trophies) to Milan and Inter to a situ ation in which both clubs have foreign ownership. And thank goodness they came. “Most of the for eign owners are American and they’ve brought in a new business model, and a different mentality in which economic and finan cial sustainability is very important.”Havingpreviously failed to qualify for Europe’s elite competition for seven con secutive years, including a one-year UEFA ban for breaking financial monitor ing rules, Milan is playing in the Champions League for a second consecutive season. That competition can increase revenue by about 100 million euros ($100 million) in UEFA prize money and help restore the club’s global brand.

national panel of 56 sportswriters and broad casters. However, her Connecticut forward teammate Alyssa Thomas was second with 14 vote behind Wilson, who received 20. Seattle Storm forward Bre anna Stewart was third with 13Wilson,votes. the 2020 Kia WNBA MVP, finished with the most fan votes for the 2022 AT&T WNBA AllStar Game and guided Team Wilson to a 134-112 win at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena on July 10. In honour of being named the 2022 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, Wilson will receive $5,150 and a spe cially designed trophy from Tiffany & Co. While they lost out to Wilson, Jones and Thomas were both named to the WNBA Defensive Second Team. It’s the third honour for Jones, who earned her spot on the First Team twice in 2019 and 2021. Thomas got a First Team honour in 2020 and a pair of Second Team appearances in 2017 and 2019. The 6-foot, 6-inch Jones, a 28-year-old native of Grand Bahama, is con sidered one of the most prolific post players in the WNBA and has developed a consistent presence in the paint for the Sun, who are aiming to win their first title in their 20th year of existence.Inanother productive year, Jones has climbed on top of Connecticut’s list of career blockers with a 270. She finished the regular season with an average of 1.2 per game for seventh place in the individual standings. Jones, now in her 5th year in the WNBA, was also fourth in the league in rebounds per game with an average of 8.5. Those stats enabled her to complete the year at number 12 in the league in defensive rating at 91.6.Thomas, a defensive minded player, is a two-time WNBA Eastern Confer ence Player of the Month in May and June, 2022. She finished fifth in the league in rebounding with 8.2 average and second in the league in steals with 1.7.

‘A SUCCESS’GREAT

WILSON FROM PAGE 11

best leap of 25-feet or 7.62 metres on his sixth and final attempt. The top three spots went to Simon Eham mer of Switzerland with 26-3 (8.00m), Tajay Gayle of Jamaica with 26-2 ¼ (7.98m) and Miltiadis Ten toglou of Greece with 26-0 ¾ All(7.94m).three performances came on their final attempts in a classic showdown at the end of the competition.

THE Abaco Tennis Association (ATA) has fulfilled its motto of “Preparing Our Youths for Suc cess through Tennis” by hosting its first Back To School Jubilee. The two-day event, held in Dundas Town and Forrest Heights, Abaco was a great success.Onday one the Abaco Tennis Association hosted a tennis clinic for juniors with guest coach Sidney Pratt from Freeport. Kids from Abaco and Grand Bahama came together in the clinic, an excellent cross-island training opportunity. On day two, the juniors partici pated in singles competition while the adults participated in singles and doubles competitions. The kids were able to put some of the things they learned on day one into practice right away. The adults also had a great time as theyJuniorcompeted.winners were as follows: A Category: Winner- Latahj Orlando. Runner-Up - Aiden Ritchie.BCategory: Winner - Oneal Hanna. Runner Up - Lloyshard Russell.CCategory: Winner - Mira cle Poitier. Runner Up - William ThompsonAdultWinnersMenSingles: Winner - Perry Newton. Runner Up- Clanardo CJ Davis.Women Singles: Winner - Cameel McDonald. Runner UpEsther Newton. Men Doubles: Winners - Cla nardo CJ Davis/Abishai Adderley. Runner Up - Macquel McDonald/ RandyCameelDavis.McDonald, the presi dent of ATA, welcomed BLTA president Perry Newton to the Tennis Jubilee and thanked him for his McDonaldpresence.was thankful for the use of the Forest Heights and Dundas Town courts. She expressed her appreciation to guest coach Pratt and his trav elling team which represented in goodShenumbers.extended thanks to Ms Lightbourne and the team from the Red Cross and to the sponsor, Triple B, for their support of the event.“As the sun sets on a beautiful tennis event we know that this will be the first of many Back To School Jamborees in Abaco,” said a press release.

JONQUEL FROM PAGE 11

STRACHAN FROM PAGE 11

Courtney Vandersloot averaging 6.5. The Sun have gone 11-7 against Eastern Conference opponents. Connecticut is the top team in the Eastern Con ference shooting 35.4% fromNiadeep.Clouden leads the Sun shooting 41.4% from 3-point range.

THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 31, 2022, PAGE 13

JAMBOREEBACK2SCHOOLABACOINAUGURALTENNIS

TOP PERFORMERS: Allie Quigley averages 1.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Sky, scoring 11.4 points while shoot ing 35.5% from beyond the arc. Kahleah Copper is shooting 51.2% and averaging 17.4 points over the past 10 games for Chi cago. Jonquel Jones is averaging 15 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Sun. Bonner is averaging 12.8 points over the last 10 games for Connecticut.

THE Bahamas Football Asso ciation’s under-17 boys kicked off their 2022 CONCACAF U17 Qualifiers with a big 2-1 victory over Dutch territory Saint Martin. After Saint Martin took the initial lead in the first half, the Bahamas’ Reuben Edgecombe clawed the squad back into the match with a 25-yard rocket which caught the keeper off his line. Kai Perez got the game winner off a rebound from a long free kick by captain William Gardiner to go up 2-1. The defence continued to frustrate the Saint Martin squad as they could not break the Bahamas team down. A timely save by Bahamian goal keeper Ahmaad Smith allowed the Bahamas to walk off with the vic tory in the rainy conditions. Kai Perez was named the Man of the Match.

US TONIGHTTOMEDVEDEVSERENA,LOOKAHEAD:OPENPLAY

OUTVENUSOF US OPEN IN 1ST ROUND By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

The squad was led by head coach Nesly Jean and coaches Kevin Davies and Avery Kemp along side technical director Bruce Swan. The team now begins prepara tions for their next match at 11am Thursday against powerhouse Guyana.

NEW YORK (AP) — The welcome and sup port for Venus Williams in Arthur Ashe Stadium yes terday afternoon were not the same as they were for her sister, Serena, a night earlier. Nor was the result. Venus, who turned 42 in June, has not made any pronouncements about her future in tennis, unlike her younger sibling, and while she has been success ful and influential, too — a seven-time Grand Slam champion; a Black woman in a predominantly white sport — the fanfare and attention are not the same. Playing in front of thou sands of empty blue seats in an arena quite silent at the start, Venus bowed out in the first round of the U.S. Open for the second con secutive appearance, losing 6-1, 7-6 (5) to Alison Van Uytvanck.“Shemeans so much to female tennis. Tennis, in general,” Van Uytvanck said. “She’s a legend.” This was the 23rd trip to Flushing Meadows for Venus, who made it to the final in 1997 as a teen then won the trophy in 2000 and 2001, and her record 91st time participating in a majorVenustournament.hadnever lost in the opening round at the U.S. Open until 2020, then was absent last year. She was off the tour in singles entirely from August 2021 until less than a month ago and is now 0-4 since her return. Her rank ing — which 20 years ago was No. 1 — is 1,504th this week.

BOYS KICK OFF CONCACAF U-17 QUALIFIERS WITH 2-1 VICTORY OVER SAINT MARTIN

JUDO FROM PAGE 11 To Publish your Financials and Legal Notices Call: 502-2394

FIBA FROM PAGE 11 to continue to compete in the sport. This loss has inspired me to want to go out there and continue to work vatedinthewithcomingthedohetheablefeltcorner,willwellthatBahamas.IsonrepresentedaboutcompetitorsfromveryaccordingTheharder.”championships,toJohnson,wascompetitive.ItranAugust24-26.“Therewasover500there.Justeverycountrywasthere,”Johnsaid.“IwasgladthatwasabletorepresenttheI’mdisappointedIdidn’tperformasasIexpected,butIbeback.”WithRahminginhisJohnsonsaidheateasebecauseshewastoguidehimalongwayandensuredthatdidwhatheneededtotobecompetitiveinmatch.RahmingwasoffherappearanceAndrewMunningsatCommonwealthGamesBirmingham,England.“Shehasreallymotime,”Johnsonsaid.

PAGE 14, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 THE TRIBUNE

NEW YORK (AP) — LOOKAHEAD TO WEDNESDAYSERENAWilliams will lead off the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium again, this time against the No. 2-ranked player in women’s tennis. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion faces second-seeded Anett Kon taveit of Estonia, trying to prolong what could be the last tournament of her career. Williams started it Monday by beating Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3 for her record 107th singles vic tory in Flushing Meadows. Her match will be followed by No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, who continues his US Open title defence against Arthur Rinderknech of France. Andy Murray and Coco Gauff are in afternoon action along with Nick Kyr gios and Ons Jabeur, the runners-up at Wimbledon. First-round doubles play is also scheduled.

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Highflying Afghanistan rattled Bangladesh through its spinners to notch a convinc ing seven-wicket victory and a berth in the Super 4 of the Asia Cup yesterday. Off-break bowler Mujeeb Ur Rahman and leg-spinner Rashid Khan restricted Bangladesh to 127-7 by snaring six wickets between them after captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss in his 100th Twenty20 interna tional and opted to bat. Najibullah Zadran made a blistering unbeaten 43 off 17 balls as he smashed five of his six sixes against Bang ladesh fast bowlers in the death overs and Afghani stan cruised to 131-3 with nine balls to spare. Ibrahim Zadran made a sedate unbeaten 42 off 41 balls but Najibullah took charge against fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman (0-30) and Mohammad Saifud din (1-27) as Afghanistan topped Group B with its second straight win. “Everyone knows Rashid and Mujeeb are worldclass spinners, that’s why we were in the game in the first 10 overs,” Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi said.“Everyone knows we have power hitters in the death and that’s why we made sure not to lose early wickets, so that our power hitters could finish the game.”Earlier, off-spinner Mujeeb mopped the top three batters, including the key wicket of Shakib, inside the batting powerplay to finish with 3-18 before Rashid (3-22) rushed through the middle-order with his sharp googlies. Mosaddek Hossain stood out with 48 not out off 31 balls which featured the only lucky six of the innings. Azmatullah Omarzai caught Mosaddek well but touched the boundary cush ion with his boot before relaying the ball into the hands of Rashid. “It was always tough when you lose four wickets in the first 7-8 overs,” Shakib said. “I thought the bowl ers bowled exceptionally well to get us back into the game, (but) we know that Najibullah is a dangerous player.“On a wicket like this we thought we had the game, but credit to how they batted.”Bangladesh pinned down Afghanistan’s top order through its experienced left-arm spinner Shakib and MahediRahmanullahHasan. Gurbaz (11) tried to break the shackles in the power play, only to get stumped off Shakib in the fifth over while Hazratullah Zazai’s (23) struggled to score freely on a slow surface before off-spinner Hasan had him stumped midway through the innings. Fast bowler Saifuddin had Bangladesh on top when he trapped Nabi lbw in the 13th over, but Najibullah’s power-hitting against the fast bowlers wiped out Bangladesh hopes in the death overs. Afghanistan made an imperious start to the Asia Cup when it routed fivetime champion Sri Lanka in its opening game and is the first team to reach the Super 4 round. India, which defeated Pakistan on Sunday, is the favourite to top Group A as it takes on qualifier Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Prior to going to the Cadets World Junior Championships, Johnson competed in two tourna ments in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in July. He earned a silver and bronze medal in one and got seventh in the“Inother.that tournament, I competed in seven events,” Johnson said. “I think this is my best year ever. It was good to get in those matches because it really helped to prepare me for the competition at the Cadets World Junior Championships.”InApril,Johnson also competed in the Pan american – Oceania Junior Championships where he lost to American Christo pher Velazco and at the Panamerican – Oceania Cadets Championships where he was defeated by Australia’s Jules Aiberti. He also participated in the Nick Goodly Cup, USJF and USJA Nation als, the US Open and the ATIA Nationals. In total, he did about 35 matches and posted 27 victories. His proud mother, Ordain Moss, said although it appears that her son had an active year, she noted that he’s still fighting con siderably less than other world fighters, but he is certainly holding his own. “I am quite pleased with where I am right now,” said Johnson, a member of the Eastwood Judo Club and an 11th grader at Capstone Academy. “I have some big plans ahead of me and I am looking forward to accom plishing those feats.”

This was Johnson’s first appearance at the champi onships and his second LJF competition, which goes towards his ranking. “Xavion is a promising athlete that has the drive and skills to reach his achievable goals within the sport,” Rahming said. “He competed against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the host country and gave a strong match.“He was ultimately penalised on tactical errors, but was definitely stronger and more technical than his opponent, which means he was just out-experienced.”

The disparity in the char ity shots came as a result of the Bahamas committing 23 personal fouls compared to just 13 by Argentina. While Hield fouled out, Thompson Jr ended up with four and both Jones and Davis picked up three apiece.Argentina had one player eliminated as well, but they didn’t have any others in foul trouble. Even though it wasn’t the outcome he anticipated, DeMarco said he was still pleased with the team’s effort.“We battled. Again, Argentina is a fantastic team,” DeMarco said. “You need great guards to win in FIBA and that is what they have. “Again, I can’t be hap pier with the way our guys competed. “I feel really bad for them, the way the free throws went for them. I wished we could have just gone out there and played basketball, but what are you going to do? What are you going to do?”

Asia Cup: Afghanistan notches big win against Bangladesh do going back into college.”KaiJones, who plays for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association, had an explo sive night as he powered down at least four slam dunks in leading the Baha mas’ offensive attack with 16 points and six rebounds and two Mychelassists. Thompson had 11 points and seven rebounds, Grand Baha mian Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield of the Indiana Pacers, fouled out late in the fourth quarter after he ended up contributing 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks. The Bahamas also got nine points from new comer Bradley Nairn Jr, eight points and four rebounds from Kentwan Smith and six points and five rebounds from Franco MillerDeMarco,Jr. however, said with such a young team, mixed with a few veterans, they will only get better. He noted that the loss was a tough pill to swallow, considering the way things turned out at the end. “I’m really proud of the Bahamas national team. We’re here to stay right now,” he stated. “But it’s absolutely ridiculous that it was 30-9 in free throws. It’s just at some point, people will have to come in, but 30-9 in free throws can’t do it. I’m really disappointed in those numbers.”

XAVION Johnson and coach Cynthia Rahming at the Cadets World Junior Championships.

Based on his perfor mance, the 6-foot Johnson said he plans to move up to the 66kg class where he feels he can be more effective. “Next year, I’m planning to move up in weight class because I know I can be bigger and stronger and perform much better,” Johnson said. “I’m looking forward to it because I know I have the potential to go very far in this Havingsport.”got involved in the sport because he likes seeing how competitive the judokas are, Johnson said his goal is to become the first Bahamian to win both the Pan American and Olympic Games gold medal.“Iknow coach Cynthia Rahming is aiming for the same thing and she is doing very well in the sport, but if she doesn’t do it, I am aiming to do it,” John son said. “I feel I have the potential to be a champion at that level.”

The Bahamas is hoping to become one of the seven teams to qualify for the 2023 World Cup through the six windows over a 15-month period in a home-and-away series from November 2021 to February 2023. The Bahamas Basket ball Federation, headed by president Eugene Horton, will have to get right back at it, preparing the next team to compete against Panama on Thursday, November 10. But it’s uncertain who will be available to play as the NBA and the Euro pean League will both be in high gear.

AVOID COLLAPSETHE

The Chiefs can’t replace Hill’s explosive speed, but they did provide Mahomes with plenty of new play makers to complement TE Travis Kelce. They signed JuJu Smith-Schuster away from Pittsburgh and Mar quez Valdes-Scantling away from Green Bay and used a second-round pick on Skyy Moore of Western Michigan.“We’re going to be dif ferent,” Mahomes said, “but I think we’ll still be able to go out there and have a ton of success.” Maybe, but it’s not going to be easy for the Chiefs to host a fifth consecutive AFC championship game. Aside from playing in the toughest division in foot ball, where all four teams have legitimate playoff aspirations, the Chiefs also face the AFC South and NFC West along with the Bills, Buccaneers and Bengals.

RAIDERS REDUX McDaniels gets his second chance as a head coach in the same division where he flamed out in less than two seasons with the Broncos more than a decade ago. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot,” said McDaniels. “I feel like it’s slowed down for me for sure.”

The Niners have almost all the pieces in place with Williams, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle leading the offense and Nick Bosa and Fred Warner anchor ing one of the league’s top defenses.Thatshould make life easier on Lance, who has started only three games in college and the pros the past two seasons.

49ers lead the way in NFC West

performing so well. Now we just have to fight to keep this jersey and take it home.”Evenepoel is the first rider to beat Roglic in an individual time trial in the Vuelta. He is also the first Belgian to win an individ ual time trial in the Vuelta since Fons De Wolf in Val ladolid in 1979. Enric Mas, the Span iard from team Movistar, dropped from second to third in the general classi fication, sitting more than three minutes off the lead. Fellow Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez was nearly four minutes behind Evenepoel in fourth place. Riders will face a flat 11th stage that will favour the sprinters today. Nearly two dozen riders had to withdraw from the race because of positive coronavirus tests, including Sam Bennett, a two-time stage winner this year. Monday’s rest day came in handy for Astana rider Alexey Lutsenko, who took advantage of the time off to be with his wife for the birth of his son.

BRONCOSBUCKING

AFC FROM PAGE 11

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The margin between the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and rival San Fran cisco 49ers couldn’t have been much smaller last season.Adropped intercep tion, a failed short-yardage attempt and a well-exe cuted game-winning drive was the difference in send ing the Rams to the title game and the Niners home to wallow all offseason at their missed opportunity. The 49ers are seeking to reverse that result this season, starting with beat ing the Rams out in the NFCTheWest.division that has pro vided the NFC champion in three of the past four seasons figures to have a couple of more contend ers in 2022 with the Rams hungry for a repeat and the Niners hoping the switch at quarterback from Jimmy Garoppolo to Trey Lance can get one of the league’s strongest rosters over the top.“When you come that close to actually being in the big dance, it’s hard to taper down your expec tations for the next year, especially when you think the team is just as good, if not better,” All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams said. The Rams feel as if they are in good shape as well, even if they have stressed that last year’s success will have no bearing on this year’s results. But with coach Sean McVay back with an exten sion and a roster with stars such as Matthew Staf ford and Cooper Kupp on offense, and Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey on defense, Los Angeles figures to have as good a chance as anyone in the NFC.“Just because we did something last year doesn’t mean anything’s going to happen this year,” Stafford said.“We’ve got to go out there and earn it. Those opportunities that we got to play in those games last year were earned. You ask yourself, what kind of opportunities are you will ing to earn? It comes with sacrifice and hard work and being a great teammate.”

Kyler Murray got his big contract extension in Arizona, but now it’s up to him and the Cardinals to avoid a pattern of secondhalf of season collapses. The Cardinals started the season 7-0 in 2021, but wilted down the stretch and lost a chance to win the division with a home defeat to Seattle in the finale. That was followed by a lopsided loss in the wild-card round to the ThatRams.comes a year after Arizona started 6-3 only to finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs.TheCardinals will play the first six games this season without suspended star receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

NBAUNVACCINATEDplayersand team personnel must submit to weekly COVID-19 test ing this season, the league told its clubs in a memo yesterday.There will be certain exceptions to that man date, the league said, such as when the unvaccinated person is considered to have been “recently recov ered” from COVID-19. But for all others, testing will not be required except when “directed by their team physician or a league physician or government authority,” the league said. Facemasks also will not be required, though they will be recommended for use indoors in markets where coronavirus levels are classified by government officials as high. The policy for the coming season — agreed to by the National Basketball Play ers Association — has been developed over the last several weeks and is consistent with what Com missioner Adam Silver said last month he would expect. “It looks like we’ll be on our normal track in terms of when the season starts, in terms of our pro tocols around the game, particularly around the health and safety of our players,” Silver said at the league’s Board of Gover nors meeting in mid-July. “I have learned over the last 2 1/2 years not to make any predictions when it comes to COVID, but only to say we’ll be prepared for anything that comes our way.”The overwhelming majority of NBA players and team personnel were vaccinated last season, and the league said it is strongly recommending that those people remain up-to-date with their vaccination status. That means not only having received all doses in the initial series of vaccina tions but also all boosters that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All players and team personnel will be required to get tested when exhibiting any symptoms, plus they will be required to report those symptoms, as well as any positive or inconclusive results of tests not admin istered by the team or the league.Players and personnel will also have to report when someone in their household tests positive for COVID-19.

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH Rams, 49ers, Cardinals, Seahawks.

OVER HILL?

And one who’s been through what Wilson is about to experience.

RAMSREPLACEMENT

A notoriously creative play-caller, McDaniels gets to direct an offense that features an established QB and one of the game’s best pass-catching trios. Adams has averaged 108 catches since 2018, TE Darren Waller is one of the best at his position and slot WR Hunter Renfrow had 103 receptions for 1,038 yards lastPredictedseason.

LOS Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) prepares to throw during a joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals at the team’s NFL football training facility on August 24. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

SIGNS lead to an NBA COVID-19 testing site inside ther NBA bubble in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in this July 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

“We realize that now we’re the ones with the tar gets on our back,” center Brian Allen said. “We’re not chasing the Tampa Bays, the teams that won the year before. We know we’re going to have a tough schedule this year, and we’re going to get every one’s best shot. Bring it on.”

While the biggest stars returned to the Rams, the roster did take a few key hits this offseason with star pass rusher Von Miller leaving for Buffalo in free agency, receiver Odell Beckham Jr. remaining unsigned as he rehabili tates a knee injury from the Super Bowl and the retire ment of left tackle Andrew Whitworth.Cornerback Darious Williams and right guard Austin Corbett also left in free agency, but the Rams did make a couple of key additions with the sign ing of linebacker Bobby Wagner and receiver Allen Robinson.Theyalso realize they have to deal with the burden of being defending champions as they seek to become the first team since New England in 2004 to repeat. The 17 consecutive seasons without a repeat champion are more than double the second-longest stretch without a back-toback Super Bowl winner.

GOLFBACKEDJOINPLAYERSAMONGNIEMANNSMITH,TOSAUDI-LIV THE TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 31, 2022, PAGE 15

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“There’s a lot to love there in that division,” vet eran sportscaster Joe Buck said. “It’s easily the best division with easily the best quarterback play.” It should be more com petitive in 2022, too, as the Chargers, Broncos and Raiders try to snap Kansas City’s six-year reign atop theThedivision.Broncos haven’t won the West since 2015. The previous time the Chargers won it was in 2009, and the Raiders’ most recent crown came way back in 2002.

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

QB QUANDRY Ever since Wilson won the starting QB job as a rookie in Seattle in 2012, the Seahawks have been the division’s most stable franchise led by Wilson and coach Pete Carroll. That started to change this offseason when Seattle sent Wilson to Denver and began a rebuild process that also included the release of six-time All-Pro linebacker Wagner.Geno Smith won a camp competition with Drew Lock to begin the season as starter. He has a talented receiving duo of DK Met calf and Tyler Lockett and will try at least to make Seattle“Geno,competitive.heknows our stuff and he does really well and he understands it and he commands everything that we’re doing,” Carroll said.“He’ll give us the best chance to play great foot ball right off the bat.”

FULLY CHARGED Nobody has had more passing yards, completions and TD throws in his first two years in the NFL than Herbert, and he could take a big leap in production this season now that he’s grown more comfortable in the Chargers offense. “He’s just a lot looser than usual. He’s just a lot more comfortable. When you come in year one, kind of shy, don’t want to talk a lot,” wide receiver Mike Williams said. “But now, he’s taken control and been himself.”TheChargers’ significant defensive upgrades can only help Herbert’s bur geoning confidence. “I’m really excited for this team. I think we are miles ahead of where we were at this point last year,” said Herbert, who threw for a franchiserecord 5,014 yards and had nine 300-yard passing games last season.

The Niners are counting on Lance’s running abil ity and big arm to open up aspects of the offense that were missing the past few seasons under Garoppolo, but the main thing is he doesn’t try to do too much. “I think he’s in the best position he could be in as a first-year quarterback with a defense like us, a good O-line and a bunch of weapons,” Bosa said. “I think if he doesn’t make big mistakes, we’re going to be in good shape.” If Lance falters, the Niners brought back Garoppolo as a fallback option.

BRITISH Open cham pion Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann are among six players to leave the PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV Golf, which returns this week for a fourth tournament, this time outside of Boston.Thesigning of Smith, who had been deflect ing questions about his imminent departure since the day he won the claret jug, gives Greg Norman his first player from the top 10 in the world.Smith, a 29-year-old from Australia, rose to No. 2 in the world rank ing after winning at St. Andrews. He could have reached No. 1 with a vic tory at the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Now, that opportunity is gone. LIV Golf does not get ranking points, though it filed an appli cation last month. The PGA Tour is sus pending members as soon as they put a ball in play at LIV Golf events. Others to sign are Marc Leishman, a sixtime PGA Tour winner from Australia who at age 38 has dropped out of the top 50 in the world, and three others who leave without ever having won on the PGA Tour — Americans Harold Varner III and Cameron Tringale and Anirban Lahiri of India. Smith and Niemann, who is from Chile, were among the eight qualifiers for the Inter national team at the Presidents Cup, which will be played in a month at Quail Hollow. Leishman and Lahiri previously have played in the Becausematches.the PGA Tour exclusively oper ates the Presidents Cup — unlike the Ryder Cup, which Europe operates on home soil — players who join LIV Golf are notNiemann,eligible. 23, consid ered joining the rival league in February until Phil Mickelson’s dispar aging comments about the Saudis and the PGA Tour stalled the launch of LIV Golf. Niemann then won the Genesis Invitational at Riviera and cited the compe tition and history as reasons he wanted to stay on the PGA Tour.

VUELTA FROM PAGE 11 Nathaniel Hackett before trading five picks and three players to Seat tle for Russell Wilson, their sixth opening day starter in sixWithyears.the Broncos finally solving their quagmire at quarterback, the AFC West now has perhaps the best group of QBs of any division in the league.

The prospects for the other two teams in the division aren’t as bright. Arizona spent much of last season in the NFC West lead before a late-season collapse followed by a play off meltdown against the Rams that leave lingering questions heading into this season.Seattle appears to be in rebuild mode after a decade run with the top record in the conference, having traded away star quarter back Russell Wilson.

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

Wilson is the Broncos’ 11th starting quarterback since Peyton Manning retired, and the new trans plant has huddled aplenty with the Hall of Famer who still lives in Denver and was a frequent visitor at training“We’vecamp.been talking a lot,” Wilson said. “Since I’ve gotten here, he’s kind of taken me under his wing in a beautiful way. (Peyton’s wife) Ashley (Manning) has taken ‘Ci’ (Ciara) under her wing in help ing with thoughts, schools, this, that and where to eat. “The thing that Peyton and I both love is football. We can spend all day watching football together,” Wilson added. “It’s fun to be able to be around arguably the world’s greatest who has ever played the game at that position.”

order of finish: Chargers, Chiefs, Broncos, Raiders.

QB CHANGE

Super Bowl champion Rams,

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer