08312023 NEWS AND SPORT

Exams: Drop in students receiving A to C grades

Minister says BGCSE

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter Lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE number of students who achieved A, B and C grades in BGCSE exams this year dropped compared to 2022, with more students receiving D, E, F an G grades.

Although significantly more students sat the exam as the country moves further from the pandemic, the percentage of grades

awarded C or higher this year was lower than in the previous two years, according to statistics the Ministry of Education released yesterday at a press conference.

Overall, 16,326 students took national exams this year. Five thousand three hundred ninety-three candidates took the BGCSE exams

PISTOL FOUND NEAR DEANGELO EVANS’ BODY ‘NOT POLICE-ISSUED’

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE officer testified yesterday that a .40 Springfield pistol allegedly recovered near Deangelo Evans’ body was not a police-issued weapon.

As the Coroner’s Court inquest into Evans’ policeinvolved killing on May 27, 2018 continued, the officers

said Evans was not registered to have a weapon.

Superintendent Dexter Hanna said he had trained the two officers involved in the Sandy Lane shooting of Evans.

He told jurors officers are trained to protect themselves and the public if they view a suspect as a threat.

He said police training also requires an officer to

HOURS after Abaco firefighters claimed police threatened to “book them” if they failed to get a commercial driver’s licence, the Ministry of Transport said fees for that licence are waived for emergency first responders.

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

Danny Sawyer, the fire chief for Central Abaco, claimed police told firefighters they could not drive or operate a truck without the licence, leaving residents to conclude firefighters would not respond to an emergency.

“They recommended that we go to Road Traffic,” Mr Sawyer told The Tribune yesterday. “I didn’t

STATE Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said she considers abortion murder.

“My only personal view is that I know that birth starts at conception,” she said, the first woman in the Davis administration to give her view. “And once an egg is conceived, whether it’s in any female and it’s aborted, I consider it to be

go to Road Traffic, but my assistant chief went to Road Traffic and spoke with them, and we were told the same information.”

However, Chief Superintendent David Lockhart of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Traffic Division denied that police grounded Abaco firetrucks, saying firefighters “voluntarily did

murder. That’s my view.”

The views politicians have on abortion have been highlighted after a mother, who allegedly gave her 11-year-old daughter abortion pills after the girl was allegedly impregnated by her stepfather, was charged with a crime.

Ms Rahming declined to comment on that case.

“I would say that notwithstanding our laws,” she said, “every person has their own personal view of how they view it. But I am

THE record heat this summer is causing widespread coral bleaching, “killing off entire reef systems,” according to the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS).

“Over the past several weeks following sharp spikes in ocean temperature, large-scale bleaching events have

results show ‘much work to do at all levels of the system’

MINISTRY of Education officials at yesterday’s press conference about the BGCSE exam results.

(Photo: Moise Amisial)

COURTESY CALLS ON GOVERNOR GENERAL

DR. GILLIAN CURRY-WILLIAMS and ladies from Remilda Rose Designs called upon Governor General Sir Cornellius Smith at the Office of the Governor General on Tuesday.

Pictured from left: Marissa Maycock, Deborah Nesbitt, Ruth-Ann Minus-Rolle, Willistene Curtis, Dr. Gillian CurryWilliams, Sir Cornelius Smith, Dr. JoAnn Callender, Dale Ferguson-Joseph, Sharnette Thompson-Mckinney, Sonovia Butler and Yvette Charlton. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)

TIM HARTLEY, British High Commissioner, left, also paid a Farewell Courtesy Call on Governor General Sir Cornelius Smith at the Office of the Governor General on Tuesday. (BIS Photos/Letisha Henderson)

Exams: Drop in students receiving A to C grades

FROM PAGE ONE

this year, representing 100 government, private and independent centres – an increase of 9.93 per cent compared to last year.

Five hundred forty-four candidates received a grade of C or higher in five or more subjects — 10.09 per cent of all who sat the exam. This represents a 14.06 per cent decrease compared to last year when 633 candidates achieved that goal. Five hundred and fifty candidates did so in 2021.

The number of students who received a minimum grade of D in at least five subjects declined by 5.36 per cent.

The number of students who received at least a C or better in mathematics, language arts and science fell by 2.37 per cent.

Three hundred and three students received at least a C in mathematics, 5.62 per cent of all candidates. In 2022, 392 candidates received the same, 7.99 per cent of all candidates.

The drop in A to C grades and increase in D to G grades is concerning and calls for improvements at all levels of the education system, Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said.

“The examination results show, as they have revealed in successive years, that we still have much work to do at all levels of the system,” she said.

“The concerns demonstrated in these results are the product of the results over the years and are the result of long-standing

DIRECTOR of Education Dominique Russell noted that more than 80 per cent of the grades awarded continue to range from A-E, with fewer U grades.

deficiencies in our educational system, which are now compounded by the impact of learning loss on students in The Bahamas and all over the world as a result of the prolonged shutdowns in the height of COVID 19 pandemic.

“We have therefore determined that the foundational work is a priority throughout the educational

system and must be reinforced at every level of the school experience. We do not wish to be caught in the trap of social promotion. To advance this agenda, it is necessary that all hands are on deck as we move forward in this school year.” Ministry of Education officials said that of the 27 BGCSE

subjects tested, there were improved performances in eight:

Art and Design C, Auto Mechanics, Biology, Bookkeeping and Accounts, Combined Science, Electrical Installation, Food and Nutrition, and French.

Director of Education

Dominique Russell noted that more than 80 per cent of the

grades awarded continue to range from A-E, with fewer U grades.

Girls continued to outperform boys in the national exams, “receiving higher percentages of A to C and lower percentages at D to U,” according to Mrs Russell.

“Most notable, their performance at A increased significantly and dropped at U significantly,” she said. “The increases, decreases and no changes in performances for both males and females are the exact replica of BJC. This pattern may have significant implications about the continued effects of the COVID 19 pandemic.”

Meanwhile, performances on the Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) tests improved this year, with more grades at D and above.

Mrs Russell noted that grades in seven of the 13 subjects this year improved: English Language, Religious Studies, Literature, General Science, Art, Craft Study and French.

The number of BJC students receiving a grade of C or higher in five or more subjects increased by 4.11 per cent compared to last year. The number of BJC students achieving a minimum grade of D in at least five subjects increased by 5.19 per cent.

Overall, 10,933 people sat the BJC exam, a 14.23 per cent increase from 2022. The total number of BJC grades awarded this year increased by 12.85 per cent.

URIAH MCPHEE PRIMARY SCHOOL EXPECTED TO OPEN TODAY WITH STAGGERED LEARNING

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

DOMINIQUE McCart-

ney-Russell, acting director of Education, said the Uriah McPhee Primary School is expected to open today with staggered learning that will see some students return today and others next week.

Mrs McCartney-Russell told reporters that contractors identified issues that prevented the school from opening before today.

“They discovered some other things, right, and so that meant they had to do some work in the pre-school area, but they also discovered that one of the AC units was not working,” she said, adding that the school is hot without a working AC.

THE scene at Uriah McPhee Primary School earlier this week.

RICK FOX SIGNS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DIRIYAH COMPANY

“The AC unit was actually on order, one of the contractors said, but while the structural contractor was working, whatever he did, there was a lot of dust. It created some issues in terms of the cleanliness of the environment.”

She said officials hired a

company to clean the heavy dust from the school.

“I haven’t gotten an update yet, but it’s expected that school would open for Uriah (today), staggered, of course, because we want to orient the children and particularly the newer ones into the environment,” she said.

“So hopefully by tomorrow we will have those issues addressed.”

Uriah McPhee Primary School has a student population of approximately 600 students.

Mrs McCartney-Russell also said officials are trying to open the Holmes Rock Junior High School in Grand Bahama in January. The school was expected to open this semester.

“We were advised that by October November it would be completed and so we will use December, which is really only one week for students, we will use that week to prepare but they have already started preparing to be quite honest so we’re thinking to open that in January,” she said.

BAHAMIAN PARTNERS WITH SAUDIA ARABIA: Three-time NBA Champion Mr Rick Fox has signed a carbon-negative building materials partnership with the Diriyah Company — wherein the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia, as opposed to Commonweath of The Bahamas — will be able to avail itself of the world’s first carbon-negative concrete throughout its $63.2 billion Diriyah project. Founded by award-winning architect Sam Marshal and former Los Angeles Laker Rick Fox, Partanna’s proprietary concrete formula captures carbon dioxide and permanently mineralises it within the material. Commenting on the agreement, Mr Jerry Inzerillo, former Sr VP of Atlantis Bahamas and now Group CEO of Diriyah Company, stated: “We are delighted to sign this agreement with Partanna. This partnership signifies a milestone for sustainable development and demonstrates Diriyah’s commitment to best practices at all levels. Most importantly, partnering with Partanna will support Diriyah’s vision of The City of Earth as a world-leading example of sustainability.”

Photo: Moise Amisial

PHOTO: Moise Amisial

FROM PAGE ONE

what they did after they heard the announcement”.

Under the Road Traffic Act, a commercial driver’s license is required to operate heavy-duty vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, heavy equipment and placarded hazardous.

“The process is that you have to attend an in-class training for four hours and then a practical training for two hours, and if you succeed, you’re given a certificate,” CSP Lockhart said. “Once you’re given the certificate, then you have to go to Road Traffic and apply for your commercial license, which you could get for one year or, I think three years.”

Failure to get a license could result in a $250 fine for first-time offenders. Re-offenders could be fined $500 or face six months in prison.

Mr Sawyer said there are about ten fire trucks in Abaco and nearly 70 volunteer firefighters.

He claimed authorities told firefighters last year not to seek the licence because they were first responders.

“We can’t keep going back and forth like this,” he said. “We need something from government stating, you know, we’re going to sit the exam or they’re going to waive us.”

Roscoe Thompson, head of the Marsh Harbour/Spring City Township, said he spoke to Central and South Abaco MP John Pinder, who assured him that the rules “did not include the volunteer firefighters”.

He also called the fees an added burden on struggling Bahamians.

“They said no more new taxes, but now they’re gonna force Bahamians to now have to go and get a CDL license for driving a trailer with a boat on it,” he said. “That’s gonna really affect a lot of people through the archipelago of The Bahamas.”

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Transport pledged to hold public engagement exercises with the Royal Bahamas Police Force to help people understand the requirements.

LISA RAHMING: I CONSIDER ABORTION TO BE MURDER

FROM PAGE ONE

more Bible-based, faith-based. And so, I would do what Jesus would do. Would that be His advice?

That’s how I live my life.”

Currently, abortion is illegal in The Bahamas, except as part of good-faith medical treatments.

Social Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe told The Tribune last week that although abortion has not been a part of public discourse recently, he believed the door has now opened for discussion.

“Any legislation that is anticipated to be passed should always be deliberated within the country and so what he said was correct,” Ms Rahming said. “There should be a national discussion like any other thing.”

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

LISA RAHMING, Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development, said it is “startling” that 164 abuse cases were reported through the national hotline this year.

“I do believe in this country we have an unprecedented amount of women who are suffering abuse, women and children, and it’s not

reported,” she said. “So, when you hear a number of that, think of those that are not reported. Your heart, my heart is filled.”

Ms Rahming spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Capacity Building Workshop.

On Wednesday, The Tribune reported that 164 abuse cases were reported through the social service’s national hotline from January to July 2023. People called the national hotline to report 27

cases of neglect, 11 cases of physical abuse, 11 cases of sexual abuse, four cases of educational neglect, six cases of domestic violence, and 12 cases of suicidal ideation.

“We know that the unreported ones are mainly because the women depend on the men that they live with for financing and survival,” Ms Rahming said.

“And as a government, we will continue to put forward initiatives to kind of empower women and to give them an economic

stance in this country to have a sense of belonging and a sense of independence.”

Yesterday’s capacity-building workshop is being held under the European United Nations-funded Spotlight Programme.

Akilah Dorris, the planning and coordination specialist with UN women’s multi-country Office for the Caribbean, said officials had invited representatives from 30 civil society organisations to participate in the workshop.

HUMAN RIGHTS BAHAMAS ADDRESSES ‘DEEPLY DISTRESSING CASE’

HUMAN Rights Bahamas said asking an 11-year-old child to carry her rapist’s child “is an unimaginable burden that no one should bear”.

The organisation’s statement came after a woman allegedly gave abortion pills to her 11-year-old child who her father allegedly impregnated.

The mother has since been charged with several crimes, including aggravated causing harm for the purpose of an abortion and performing an illegal abortion.

The case has since highlighted the country’s strict abortion laws. The

procedure is illegal except when the mother’s life is at risk.

“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that Human Rights Bahamas addresses the recent deeply distressing case involving the victimisation of an 11-year-old child who was allegedly subjected to molestation and impregnation by her mother’s boyfriend,” HRC said yesterday. “This horrifying incident has brought to light the urgent need for society to stand together against such inhumanity and to prioritise the wellbeing, autonomy, and rights of women and children.

“The alleged incident is not only abhorrent but also deeply detrimental to the physical and mental health of the young survivor. Asking an 11-year-old child to carry the child of her rapist is an unimaginable burden that no one should bear, especially one so young and vulnerable. It is our collective responsibility to provide care, compassion, and support to survivors of such heinous acts, rather than subjecting them to further trauma.

“We express our profound disappointment at the comments made by certain government officials and church leaders who have chosen to cast judgment upon the mother’s actions in this heartbreaking situation. As a society, we must remember the value of respect for individual choices and recognise that it is not our place to judge those who have already endured

unimaginable pain. The path of empathy and understanding is the only one that leads to healing and justice.

“The alleged incident serves as a stark reminder that violence against women and children continues to plague our nation. The media is flooded with distressing stories of rape, molestation, and even murder, all committed in the name of love. It is high time that leaders in our community unite to put an end to the mistreatment and disrespect suffered by the women in our society. We cannot turn a blind eye to the daily violations experienced by women, young girls, and even children.

“Human Rights Bahamas calls upon the government to take decisive action to uphold the rights and dignity of all citizens. We urge the immediate enactment of a marital rape law to ensure that no person is subjected to such violation

within the sanctity of marriage. Additionally, we implore the government to grant women in our country the equal right to pass on citizenship to their children, thereby rectifying an inequality that has persisted for far too long. Most importantly, we advocate for women’s right to choose by providing them access to safe and legal abortions. These steps are essential to breaking free from outdated norms and achieving alignment with international standards set by the United Nations for the protection of women and children.

“We reiterate the fundamental principle that human rights are synonymous with women’s rights and vice versa. We stand united in the pursuit of justice, compassion, and equality, and we call upon all members of society to join us in creating a safer, more just future for all.”

‘STARTLING’ THAT 164 ABUSE CASES WERE REPORTED THROUGH NATIONAL HOTLINE

LISA RAHMING, Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development, (front, centre) with attendees at the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Capacity Building Workshop yesterday.

Photo: Moise Amisial

THE MELIÀ hotel in Cable Beach, a building around 45-years-old, is currently undergoing demolition. Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vicepresident of government and external affairs, recently told The Tribune that they hope to have the demolition complete before the 2023 winter tourism season starts. The seven-acre, 694-room property was shuttered more than two years ago in early 2021.

HUMANE SOCIETY ‘RECEIVES 10 TO 15 DAILY COMPLAINTS’ ABOUT ANIMAL CRUELTY

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Humane Society reportedly receives between 10 to 15 complaints daily about animal cruelty.

The organisation’s head says animal cruelty is out of control.

BHS President Kim Aranha said she was distressed over a social media video of a woman beating a kitten with a belt as people laughed in the background.

“There is no empathy and compassion for each other and God’s creatures,” she told The Tribune. “I am very sad for The Bahamas right

now because I think it is a very dark period, and I don’t understand why people are so devoid of compassion and empathy. I think it is a national epidemic.”

Mrs Aranha said animal protection laws are not being adequately enforced.

“The kindness of animals does not seem to have a priority on anyone’s plate in The Bahamas, and I find it distressing,” she said.

She said the Department of Agriculture appears overwhelmed with animal issues.

She believes there should be separate sectors for dogs, cats, surrey horses, and pigs.

Mrs Aranha’s comments came after a viral TikTok video claimed pigs at Celebrity Eco Adventures, an excursion business in Grand Bahama, were being mistreated.

The Ministry of Tourism said it is investigating the matter.

“I see this as a perfect example of how people are thumbing their noses at the laws of the land because they know they won’t get punished,” Mrs Aranha said.

“Whoever these people are, whether they are connected is absolutely irrelevant.

“There is a way you treat animals and a way you don’t.”

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS WARNED ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

DOWNTOWN business owners have been warned that failing to clean their premises could result in a fine or imprisonment.

Senator Randy Rolle, head of the Demolition Task Force for Downtown Nassau, is concerned that some businesses are not complying with proper waste management practices.

In a letter he sent to downtown business owners on Tuesday, he said their lack of compliance “raises alarming apprehensions with regards to environmental conservation and public health standards” and poses a potential safety hazard.

“It is imperative to acknowledge that irresponsible waste disposal practices can precipitate the proliferation and habitation of rodents, insect pests, and other vermin,” he wrote. “Beyond the evident environmental degradation, this poses a direct threat to the health and safety of the public. In light of this pressing concern, we would like to draw your attention to the Environmental Health Service Act, Chapter 232, which delineates essential regulations to ensure a clean and healthy environment.

“The Environmental Health Service Act, particularly Parts III and V, underscores

the prohibition of unsanitary conditions, nuisances, and the fostering of vermin on premises. Specifically, Section 9 mandates that individuals refrain from allowing or creating conditions conducive to the breeding or harbouring of rodents, insect pests, termites, or other vermin.”

Senator Rolle also referred to the Department of Environmental Health Act, Chapter 232, Part 6, which addresses penalties for breaking the law.

“Section 20.1 outlines penalties for contravening the act, encompassing fines and potential imprisonment for non-compliance,” he noted. “These punitive measures will be enforced.”

He recommended that they utilise proper garbage storage and ensure regular garbage pickup.

“In the event that you require guidance or clarification on appropriate waste management protocols or local regulations, we encourage you to liaise with the Department of Environmental Health,” he said.

“This department holds responsibility for the inspection process and has the authority to grant or deny final approval for business licenses issued by the Inland Revenue. Your attention to this matter is not only appreciated but essential in fostering a cleaner and healthier environment for the entire community.”

communities,” PIMS said in a statement. “Bleaching is not just a cosmetic issue but a lethal and irreversible one.”

The bleaching from heat comes as the reefs suffer from the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD).

“These twin deadly threats are transforming extraordinary underwater landscapes into desolate wastelands,” PIMS said. “The urgency to protect and restore coral reefs has never been greater.

“Historically, experts projected that by 2050, most coral reefs could be wiped out due to global warming. Dr Craig Dahlgren, PIMS Executive Director, said: ‘The rapid unfolding of what we once believed was decades away is now happening before our eyes. Coral reefs in The Bahamas face the risk of not surviving to 2050 unless decisive action is taken –– ranging from research and ‘gene banking’ to scaled-up coral restoration to swiftly moving forward on innovation in coral genetics to support and amplify the success of heat-resistant species.”

PIMS Senior Researcher Dr Valeria Pizarro said: “It is very, very scary out there. In shallow reefs less than 25 feet deep, coral bleaching began around three weeks ago, and the result is that 80-100% of these corals are now fully dead. While bleached corals can recover under suitable conditions, it’s unlikely this year due to extreme temperatures. We’ve also noticed that warm water is now reaching depths beyond 60 feet, which could harm corals even deeper down’.”

Senior Marine Scientist of PIMS Dr Krista Sherman said: “In the face of this crisis, we cannot underestimate the situation’s urgency. The future of our coral reefs hangs in the balance. We are closely monitoring the situation, and our findings will be reported to the public, shedding light on the dire situation in our wild ocean’.”

According to PIMS, coral reefs in the US generate $3.4 billion annually.

“Globally, that number has been estimated at $2.7 trillion,” the institute said, adding: “With up to $135 million per square kilometre at stake in The Bahamas, local reefs hold significant ecological, economic and touristic value.

“Coral reefs serve as natural barriers against storms, sustain fisheries and tourism, and nurture marine life, impacting countless communities’ jobs, food security, and coastal protection. A quarter or more of the world’s marine life relies on reefs, and over half of the world’s population relies on seafood as their primary source of protein.”

Dr Dahlgren said: “We must shift our focus from a perceived threat to understanding its current and universal impact. This collective challenge necessitates concerted efforts in restoring resilient reefs.”

In The Bahamas, PIMS has identified some coral species that are resistant to temperature stress, which can be used to help restore damaged reefs. But, the challenge is that identifying these resilient corals requires genetic testing not available in The Bahamas.

“Observing the recent decrease in water temperatures in Florida is an encouraging sign that may give corals there a much-needed reprieve, and hopefully, we will see this in The Bahamas too, but there has already been significant damage done to Bahamian corals this summer and events like this are likely to become more common in the years ahead.”

Photos: Moise Amisial

The Tribune Limited

Mentality of our people in need of a course correction

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

Today’s contributor is the Torchbearers Youth Association. Readers are invited to send their own suggestions to letters@tribunemedia.net.

We believe the Commonwealth of

The Bahamas is in need of a cultural shift. We do not refer to Junkanoo, rake and scrape, regattas, or any colourful ways Bahamians express our heritage. However, we do suggest that the mentality of our people is in need of a course correction.

Our long-standing spirit of community is unfortunately disappearing; instead of thinking about what is best for all of us, too many prefer to “watch the road” and stay in our own lanes, and place emotional and humanitarian blinders on those in need.

The growth of social media has highlighted the separation we feel from each other as human beings. Our social ills are displayed daily as the latest viral video, this morning’s headline and tomorrow’s office gossip.

Violence against women/girls and between young men is steadily on the

rise, which is particularly troubling for our organisation.

Though we did not live through “the good old days”, we are repeatedly told this is not how things always were in The Bahamas. If we can change our culture, perhaps we will see these things change as well.

We need strong Bahamians, persons of strong character who can uphold moral principles, act ethically, and display honesty, and compassion in all endeavours.

A people of strong character are disciplined, hard-working, charitable, and the envy of the world. By cultivating individual character, we benefit ourselves and contribute to a society that stands on a foundation of trust and respect.

In our pursuit of a cultural transformation, we must recognise that change takes time. We must each do our part. We envision a future where our nation’s people are highly regarded for their best qualities and not an avid display of shortcomings.

It’s not about erasing our past or discarding our identity; it’s about evolving our mindset to fulfill the true spirit of our national anthem.

“See how the world marks the manner of your bearing!”

READERS’ COMMENTS ON THIS WEEK’S NEWS

READERS have been posting their reactions to the stories making the news on tribun242.com.

After a licensee argued that the Government “cannot compare” to the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s record in maintaining Freeport because much of the infrastructure it is responsible for on the island is in “disrepair”, The_Oracle said: “The Port Authority is not responsible for the Government’s terrible track record, but the Government is at least half responsible for Freeport’s diminishing track record. Lest we not forget, while the courts said the Port was in charge of foreign

investment and licensing, the government still inserts itself in the approval process, which is where it all gets hung up and tied up in graft/payoff/and political benefit.”

Bobsyeruncle posted this: “And let’s not forget, Grand Bahama is more than just Freeport. Port Authority does not control, or govern, the whole island.”

Socrates had this to say: “Only a lunatic would seriously suggest government control is preferable to the Port. if you want to know what it would look like, take a Sunday drive to Eight Mile rock or high rock.”

This week, Ministry of Works officials showcased

A plea for understanding and change

EDITOR, The Tribune.

This is a plea for understanding and change. It addresses the concerns raised by Grace Community Church’s senior pastor:

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

That prompted this reaction from BONEFISH: “Sometimes I is just shake my head at some of the things in this country. There are very few competent managers in certain government agencies. The Ministry of Works being a major one. You mean to tell me after so many years, you finally brought new road improvement equipment? What were the previous directors of works and senior managers thinking?

“I know of senior managers in the real world. They have to both produce a yearly expenditure budget, as well as a capital development budget. They also have to produce five and ten year capital budgets. You mean to tell me for 20 years, you do not purchase equipment or attempt to hire competent staff? Something is seriously wrong in this country.”

And ThisIsOurs said: “Three vehicles for 14 major islands? This the plan? Okay, some points for effort, but give us some useful information, clearly this equipment will replace the work of one, maybe two contractors, it could only be in one place at a time, and the ministry has all the information of work that had to be done for the last 10 years. Tell us what you’ll save in time, cost and quality. Since it isn’t in the report, and this was a biiiggg deal to them, since the minister showed up for the photo . . . they haven’t thought about it. This was a PR ‘look we doing something’ election purchase.”

Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

LETTERS

letters@tribunemedia.net

Dear Pastor Lyall Bethel, We hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. We understand that your perspective on the proposed amendments to the Sexual Offences Act is rooted in your beliefs and values, and we respect your right to hold them. However, we believe it is important to engage in a thoughtful dialogue about the concerns raised by the women of our community who are advocating for this law.

The stance you and some of your fellow church pastors have taken to reject the law has left many saddened, particularly those women who have been passionately advocating for its implementation. It is vital to recognize that this law is not about weaponizing sex in marriage or undermining the sanctity of marriage. Instead, it is about safeguarding the fundamental human rights of individuals within a marriage and promoting a culture of respect, love, and equality.

Our community has been grappling with the distressing reality of sexual assaults, including rapes and child molestation. These deeply disturbing incidents underscore the urgent need for legal measures that protect vulnerable individuals within their own homes.

It is within families and communities that the moral fabric of our society is woven, and we must ensure that our sons and daughters are brought up to understand the importance of consent, respect, and empathy.

You aptly mention the beauty of the teachings within the Bible, which encourage us to respect and honour one another. These teachings should never be distorted to justify heinous acts of abuse, whether they occur between spouses or anyone else. Instead, they

should serve as a moral compass guiding us towards compassion, understanding, and kindness.

You have expressed a concern that enacting the proposed bill will result in fewer marriages. We draw to your attention to the recent UB study “In The Bahamas She Must Give It Up”, which publicly revealed that married women are more likely than single women to have experienced non-consensual intercourse; and, where this occurs those women are more likely to have suffered physical harm at the hands of their partners. This study, and its publication makes it patently clear to all women that in the current state of affairs we are safer if we do not wed. After all, to restate your question, who wants to get married when it is so dicey and dangerous as your husband can force himself upon you without your consent? It is, therefore, clear that the failure to amend the law, and not its amendment, will result in fewer marriages with the resulting societal impact that you fear.

The incidence of adultery is already a plague upon this nation and we welcome the church consistently dealing with the matter and not just as a tool in this discussion.

It also ought to be accepted that with respect to all laws on the books there is the potential for misuse of the law. The truth is that if a wife wishes to make false allegations against her husband she can do so now.

So, while there may be concerns about potential misuse of the law, it is crucial to remember that reporting instances of rape or abuse is not an easy task for victims nor is it one which the authorities would just issue charges on. Before there can be “wrongful convictions” there must first be a charge; and, just as there may be “wrongful convictions” there may also be just ones.

The legal process exists to carefully evaluate and determine the truth, and it is our responsibility to ensure that victims are heard and supported throughout this process.

By acknowledging the hardships they face and offering our empathy, we can help pave the way for change that is both just and compassionate.

The cry of “rape within a marriage” is not just a signal that the marriage is in trouble and is headed to the divorce court. It is a signal of the commission of a crime against her person. We note that you have indicated that the marriage contract is for “consent to cohabitate”. Sexual intercourse without consent is not cohabitation. It is rape.

As leaders, it is our duty to put ourselves in the shoes of those who are suffering and marginalized. We must reflect on the impact our decisions have on our daughters, sisters, and mothers.

God’s protection is meant to shield us from harm, not to enable the abuse of our fellow human beings.

We commend all women who have spoken out and championed this cause, and we implore other women to join their ranks and ours. The call for equality and justice is a call that resonates with many women, and it is only by standing together that we can create lasting change.

Let us remember that progress often requires difficult conversations and introspection, but it is through these efforts that we can build a stronger, more compassionate society for all.

In closing, we want to express our gratitude to those leaders who have shown support for these necessary changes.

Let us move forward together, guided by a shared commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of every individual in our beloved archipelago.

Sincerely,

A TOOTHBRUSH is used to clean algae off a post-hatchling loggerhead sea turtle named “Idalia” Wednesday, at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida. The turtle was rescued in a Florida Keys marina and was likely washed in from the Gulf Stream when fringes of Hurricane Idalia brushed by the Keys as a tropical storm Tuesday. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP)

PISTOL FOUND NEAR DEANGELO EVANS’ BODY ‘NOT POLICE-ISSUED’

FROM PAGE ONE

engage a threat until it is stopped and to stop shooting if it is neutralised.

When K Melvern Munroe, the lawyer for the two officers, asked if police issue .40 Springfield pistols like the one allegedly recovered from the scene, SPT Hanna said no.

He expressed certainty that the gun was not part of the police armoury.

In response to a question from Ryzard Humes, a lawyer for the deceased’s estate, SPT Hanna agreed that if a gun was not brought to the police registry, it could not have been registered.

He said guns seized from people commonly enter police rotation, but the armoury is selective about who gets those weapons.

He said there are records of guns taken off the streets.

Woman charged with attempted murder

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN is behind bars accused of stabbing her boyfriend in the neck during a fight last weekend.

Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Shamir Dorsett, 34, with

DEANGELO EVANS

Under questioning from Romona Farquharson-Seymour, who also represents the deceased’s estate, SPT Hanna admitted that he did not anticipate giving testimony yesterday and said he had insufficient time to write a report on his findings. However, he disagreed that his investigation was rushed.

Sergeant Patrice Rolle of the Firearm Registry Office said she checked registration records on Monday and found Evans was never registered to own a firearm.

THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS COUNCIL UNVEILS NEW APP

THE Health Professions Council has unveiled an innovative APP to enhance patient care and safety while streamlining the professional registration and accreditation processes.

The new app will allow licensees to track the registration and renewal application process, facilitate online payments and provide the public with the latest gazette of accredited professionals.

“Our goal is to position The Bahamas at the forefront of health profession advancements,” said HPC Chairperson Dr Richard Knowles.

“This is a significant step towards a more connected and effective healthcare system, and we look forward to seeing the positive impacts it will have on patient care and safety,” he said.

As the regulator for 11 distinctive health professions, from Acupuncture Therapy to Radiography, the HPC is an esteemed statutory body committed to regulating and advancing health professions throughout The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Building on this expertise, the council has developed an app that is expected to bring unprecedented ease and transparency to professionals regulated by the HPC.

“The app streamlines registration, renewal, and even online payment processes,” explained the project manager.

“This means that professionals can now access their registration status, lodge new applications, renew licenses, and make payments more efficiently, all while receiving real-time notifications at each stage.”

This revolutionary step aligns with the council’s vision of being a more structured and robust regulator, promoting both accountability and efficiency. By digitising traditionally paper-based processes, the HPC says it is laying the foundation for enhanced observability, accessibility,

and reliability of crucial professional data.

“I’m really excited about the potential of this new app to simplify things for our registrants,” said Bernadette Ellis, Registrar of the Health Professions Council.

“Our goal is to expedite document uploads and reviews, ensuring a more seamless experience for professionals seeking registration. Additionally, the app will empower council members to efficiently review applications, making our committee processes more accessible and responsive to the needs of our diverse professionals.”

Mrs Ellis added: “With technology being so important now, this app will help them send in their applications and documents much easier. It means they won’t have to send in lots of papers at first, and we can get back to them faster with any updates.”

One of the app’s unique aspects is its provision for public access to essential registration data. While maintaining privacy, the app allows the general public to verify the registration status of healthcare practitioners, instilling confidence in their adherence to the council’s guidelines.

“Our primary target is to enhance the experience for registered healthcare professionals,” the project manager continued.

“However, we recognise that this innovation has broader benefits, creating a ripple effect that benefits consumers and the overall healthcare landscape.”

With this app, the HPC says it is setting a new standard for the integration of technology and healthcare regulation, ushering in a future of enhanced communication, accountability, and patient-centric care.

–“Our goal is to empower professionals with a tool that not only simplifies their journey through the regulatory process but also ensures compliance with the highest standards,” the project manager added.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS JUDGE IN HAITI INTERVIEWS COLOMBIAN SUSPECTS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PRESIDENT WAS ASSASSINATED

By EVENS SANON Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A judge in Haiti is for the first time interrogating some of the 18 Colombian suspects arrested more than two years ago and accused of being part of a mercenary squad that assassinated President Jovenel Moïse, a judicial official said Wednesday.

The former Colombian soldiers earlier had refused to talk when questioned by a judge who previously had been assigned to the case, magistrate Bernard Saint-Vil, who appoints judges in the case, told The Associated Press.

The first two suspects were transported on Monday and Tuesday from Haiti’s main penitentiary in downtown Port-auPrince to a government office in nearby Petion-Ville where they were undergoing interrogations by Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire, the magistrate said.

The 18 Colombians are among more than 40 suspects including elite Haitian police officers who were arrested in Haiti after Moïse was fatally shot in July 2021 in his private residence. The investigation in Haiti has moved very slowly, in part due to a high turnover of judges overseeing the case and because gang violence has disrupted court proceedings in the capital and beyond.

On Wednesday, the U.S. embassy in Haiti urged all U.S. citizens to leave the Caribbean country as soon as possible, “given the current security situation and infrastructure challenges.”

Voltaire is the fifth judge to oversee the investigation, with previous judges stepping down for various reasons. One judge said his family pressured him not to take the case because they feared he would be killed.

attempted murder.

Ms Dorsett reportedly fought Barry Clarke at his residence on Key West Street around 9pm on August 25.

When the altercation became physical, the defendant allegedly pulled out a silver coloured knife and stabbed Mr Clarke in his neck.

The accused was told

the matter would be transferred to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). She will be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until the higher court grants her bail. Dorsett’s VBI is set for service on November 23.

Four months for drug possession

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to four months in prison after admitting to having over $1,500 worth of drugs in his home earlier this week.

Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged Damien Bullard, 45, with two counts of possession

of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

Police acting on a search warrant entered Bullard’s residence on St Bart’s Road around 12.40pm on August 28. Authorities found a black Solomon’s bag containing 53 baggies of marijuana and a quantity of cocaine.

The marijuana weighed 1.5lbs and had an estimated

street value of $1,500. The coke seized weighed 19 grams and was valued at $190. Officers confiscated $102 in cash suspected of being the proceeds of crime. After pleading guilty to the charge, the defendant was sentenced to four months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

LYALL BETHELL, the senior pastor of Grace Community Church.

The history of abortion issue in the US

THERE has been reporting and commentary in The Tribune in recent days about some issues that are important to a lot of women here and in the United States. (And to a lot of men, too).

Plaudits are due to several government leaders for their measured response, but at the same time, the unexpected emergence of these issues has to be creating some anxiety in government and party ranks.

The issues are marital rape and abortion. As the Tribune editorialized, “where marital rape went from not being on the government’s agenda to becoming legislation that – supposedly – was to be put forward, is the issue of abortion set to follow?”

Abortion is illegal in The Bahamas in all cases except to save the mother’s life.

Millions of Americans, passionately engaged on both sides of this almost uniquely polarizing issue of abortion, can only offer sympathy and the hope that The Bahamas can somehow navigate this extraordinarily set of issues with less rancor and divisiveness than has resulted in the United States.

Here in Nassau, The Tribune reported that the prime minister has offered some public comment on abortion, which has come to the fore in connection with an ongoing dialogue on the highly contentious issue of marital rape.

“Mr. Davis was asked about (abortion), to which he responded that ‘abortion is a personal choice.’”

The Tribune commented that “abortion is not legal in The Bahamas – so if it is a personal choice, it is one that faces legal consequences.”

“Mr. Davis also said that changing the law so that rape victims can get an abortion is a ‘medical matter’ that he ‘would have to consider.’”

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly Obie Wilchcombe said that although abortion has not dominated public discourse in recent years, he believes the door has now opened for discussion.

“We’ll have to talk to the Bahamian people again about it and see exactly where we ought to go,” he said. “But let’s appreciate that for years, these subjects have been off for discussion. They’ve not been on the landscape for dialogue. It’s been almost taboo in some circumstances to have the dialogue. But now it’s opened, and now we want to take a look at it again.”

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said “the issue of abortion, I think, needs to come back to the forefront. Personally, I do support the fact that we need now to bring it to the forefront and discuss it in the open as it relates to what may be happening in

the country and what the law says.”

The Tribune concluded that “if the issue of marital rape has proven to be too controversial to bring the legislation to the House as yet, then the issue of abortion is even more so.”

The history of the issue of abortion in the U.S. is a long, emotionally incendiary one, and may offer some instructive insights for Bahamian leaders and readers.

From the time of the American Revolution in the late 18th Century right up to the middle of the 19th century, abortion was legal in every state up until the point when movement of the fetus in its mother’s womb was detectable.

Abortion was not then an issue of significant controversy, and most Americans followed the traditional belief that human life began when the infant acquired a soul and thus humanity – roughly when that movement inside the womb was detected -- rather than at conception. The state of Connecticut was the first state to regulate abortion, in 1821. It outlawed abortion after movement in the womb (then called ‘quickening’) and did not allow for the use of any substances to induce an abortion after quickening.

Many states also subsequently passed various laws on abortion. Time passed. America fought many wars,

including its awful Civil War and two World Wars. The nation was preoccupied with westward expansion and a rush to the centre of the world stage.

But then came the landmark 1973 U.S. supreme court decision of Roe v. Wade, which essentially decriminalized abortion nationwide. The Roe v. Wade decision imposed a federally mandated uniform framework for state legislation on the subject. It also established a minimal period during which abortion would be legal, with some restrictions throughout the pregnancy.

Ironically, evangelical Christians were reportedly overwhelmingly either supportive of or indifferent to the Roe v. Wade decision when it was first handed down 50 years ago. According to several accounts, they saw nothing in the Bible that explicitly condemned abortion.

Indeed, they celebrated the decision’s apparent reaffirmation of religious freedom and restriction on government interference in people’s individual lives. But within the next 15 years, anti-abortion Catholics had begun to assert their leadership in a focused effort to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Beginning with Ronald Reagan’s presidency and carrying onward, abortion became a rallying cry issue for conservatives in politics and religion. The issue has largely been appropriated by the Republican Party since that time.

All of this culminated in the installation of three anti-abortion justices on the Supreme Court under Donald Trump, and not long thereafter, Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.

And as Trump forecast, the Republican Party has paid last year and will continue to pay a huge price, especially among women who regard abortion as a private, personal decision. The GOP stands to lose many votes at the ballot box for years to come as a result.

The well-regarded Pew Research Centre has done regular polling on abortion in the U.S. for many years.

Much of their data also comes from American government figures, largely collated by the Centres for Disease Control. Here are some facts and figures:

In a Pew survey conducted after the Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision to end the constitutional right to abortion, 62% of U.S. adults said the practice should be legal in all or most cases, while 36% said it should be illegal in all or most cases. This tracks roughly with similar data over many years.

The last year for which the American Centres for Disease Control reported a yearly national total for abortions is 2020. There were 620,327 abortions nationally in 2020, a 1.5% decrease from 629,898 in 2019.

These figures include only legal induced abortions conducted by clinics, hospitals or physicians’ offices, or those that make use of abortion pills dispensed from certified facilities such as clinics or physicians’ offices.

According to other polling, in 2020 there were 14.4 abortions in the U.S. per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. But overall, polling data shows that the rate of abortions among women has generally been declining in the U.S. since 1981, when it was reported there were over twice as many abortions per 1,000 women in that age range.

We can certainly expect those abortion totals to drop significantly for 2022

“Beginning with Ronald Reagan’s presidency and carrying onward, abortion became a rallying cry issue for conservatives in politics and religion. The issue has largely been appropriated by the Republican Party since that time.”

and beyond, as many conservative states have speedily enacted highly restrictive limits on abortions and penalties for doctors performing them.

What are the demographics of women who had abortions in 2020?

In the 46 states that reported data to the CDC in 2020, the majority of women who had abortions (57%) were in their 20s, while about three-in-ten (31%) were in their 30s.

Teens ages 13 to 19 accounted for 8% of those who had abortions.

The vast majority of women who had abortions in 2020 were unmarried (86%), while married women accounted for 14%, according to the CDC.

And the great majority of abortions occur during the first trimester of a pregnancy.

In 2020, 93% of abortions occurred during the first trimester – that is, at or before 13 weeks of gestation.

This data is also from the CDC.

In a look back and perhaps forward in view of the Supreme Court’s ruling last year, there were 35 deaths from illegal abortions in 1972, the last full year before Roe v. Wade. Since 1990, the annual number of deaths nationwide among women due to induced abortion has ranged from two to 12, according to the CDC.

Everyone reading this will have their own view on this controversial subject. If we are to have a national discussion on abortion, let’s try to avoid the American experience.

Similar division and discord cannot be helpful to anyone here.

AN AMERICAN flag waves in front of the Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

HURRICANE IDALIA UNLEASHES

FURY ON FLORIDA AND GEORGIA

By TERRY SPENCER Associated

Press

PERRY, Fla. (AP) — Hur-

ricane Idalia made landfall Wednesday in Florida as a Category 3 storm and unleashed devastation along a wide stretch of the Gulf Coast, submerging homes and vehicles, turning streets into rivers, unmooring small boats and downing power lines before sweeping into Georgia.

Almost 438,000 customers in Florida and Georgia lost power while rushing water covered streets near the coast. As the eye moved inland, high winds shredded signs, sent sheet metal flying and snapped tall trees.

Idalia came ashore in the lightly populated Big Bend region, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula. It made landfall near Keaton Beach at 7:45 a.m. as a high-end Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph (205 kph).

As of midday Wednesday, there were no confirmed storm deaths in Florida, although fatal traffic accidents in two counties may end up being storm-related, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference.

A 59-year-old man driving a pickup truck in heavy rain veered off the road outside Gainesville. In Dade City, north of Tampa, a 40-year-old man lost control of his pickup and crashed into a tree, authorities said.

State officials, 5,500 National Guardsman and rescue crews were in search-and-recovery mode, inspecting bridges, clearing toppled trees and looking for anyone in distress in one of Florida’s most rural regions.

Because of the remoteness, search teams may need more time to complete their work compared with past hurricanes in more urban areas, said Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Department of Emergency Management.

“You may have two houses on a 5-mile (8-kilometre) road so it’s going to take some time,” Guthries said.

On the island of Cedar Key, downed trees and debris blocked roads, and propane tanks exploded.

RJ Wright stayed behind on Cedar Key so he could check on elderly neighbours. He hunkered down with friends in a motel and when it was safe, walked outside into chest-high water. It could have been a lot worse for the island, which juts into the Gulf, since it didn’t take a direct hit, he said.

“It got pretty gnarly for a while, but it was nothing compared to some of the other storms,” Wright said.

The system remained a hurricane as it crossed into Georgia with top winds of 90 mph (150 mph), after drenching Florida mostly to the east of Tallahassee. Forecasters

said it would punish the Carolinas overnight as a tropical storm.

Some models had predicted that Idalia could circle southward toward land again after that, but the National Hurricane Center predicted it would move deeper into the Atlantic this weekend.

In the town of Perry, the wind blew out store windows, tore siding off buildings and overturned a gas station canopy. Interstate 275 in Tampa was partially flooded, and toppled power lines closed northbound Interstate 75 just south of Valdosta, Georgia.

About 200 miles to the south of where Idalia made landfall, the roads around the chic shops and restaurants of St. Armands Circle in the Sarasota area were underwater. Astounded by the flooding that turned Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard into a river, Bill Hall watched a paddleboarder ride along the major thoroughfare.

“This is actually unbelievable,” Hall said. “I haven’t seen anything like this in years.”

then weakened slightly. More than 30,000 utility workers in Florida were gathering to make repairs as quickly as possible in the hurricane’s wake. Airports in the region, including Tampa International Airport, planned to restart commercial operations either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.

RESCUE workers with Tidewater Disaster Response wade through a tidal surge on SW 358 Highway while looking for people in need of help after the Steinhatchee River flooded on Wednesday, in Steinhatchee, Florida. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

In Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, the power went out well before the centre of the storm arrived, but the city avoided a direct hit. A giant oak tree next to the governor’s mansion split in half, covering the yard with debris.

“If they do cut down the whole tree, that is more room for my kids to hit baseballs,” DeSantis said.

Storm surge could rise as high as 16 feet (4.9 metres) in some places. Some counties implemented curfews to keep residents off roads.

Diane Flowers was sound asleep at 1 a.m. Wednesday in her Wakulla County, Florida, home, but her husband was up watching the weather on TV when he got a text from their son after the storm was upgraded to a Category 4. He’s a firefighter/EMT in Franklin County, which is also along the Gulf Coast.

“He said, ‘You guys need to leave,’” Flowers said. “And he’s not one for overreacting, so when he told us to leave, we just packed our stuff, got in our car and got going.”

They quickly packed a few clothes, medicine, food for their two border collies, a computer, important documents and a bag of Cheetos. Motels were packed all the way into Alabama, where they ended up finding a room in Dothan.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia “an unprecedented event” since no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend. The state, still dealing with lingering damage from last year’s Hurricane Ian, feared disastrous results.

Idalia grew into a Category 2 system on Tuesday and then a Category 3 storm on Wednesday before peaking as a Category 4 hurricane. It

ZEKE Pierce rides his paddle board down the middle of a flooded Bayshore Blvd in downtown in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

SPORTS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023

MARLINS’ CHISHOLM JR LAUNCHES FOUNDATION TO HELP YOUTH

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN Major League Baseball (MLB) star Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr officially launched his foundation earlier this month and had its launch event, a charity fashion show, this past Monday.

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

ollowing their respective stints in the finals of the sprints and hurdles at the 19th World Athletics Championships, Bahamians Anthonique Strachan and Devynne Charlton are expected to compete at the Zurich Diamond League meet in Switzerland today.After wrapping up their Budapest, Hungary, experience with fourth (Charlton) and sixth-place finishes, both ladies will look to earn a spot in the Diamond League Final scheduled for September 16-17.

Charlton, who was one position shy of a podium spot at the World Championships, will step on the track against familiar competitors today in the women’s 100-metres (m) hurdles.

Her competitors will include the newly-crowned world champion Danielle Williams, second place finisher at the World Championships Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, former world record holder Kendra Harrison, the United States of America’s (USA) Nia Ali, Alaysha Johnson and Tia Jones.

Additionally, the event will include Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji and Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska.

At the culmination of last week’s World Championships, Charlton got off to a strong start in the hurdles finals but stopped the clock at 12.52 seconds for fourth position.

TOP Bahamian athletes Anthonique Strachan, right, and Devynne Charlton are expected to be in action today in their respective events at the Zurich Diamond League meet in Switzerland. (AP Photos)

She was one of two members from Team Bahamas to actually advance and compete in the finals at the World Championships. After notching a new national record with the time of 12.44 seconds and coming in one position behind of a medal at the previous track meet, the 27-year-old will mean business in her quest to advance to the Diamond League Final.

Strachan, who is having one of her best track seasons to date, will also be in action at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland, for the women’s 200m sprint event today.

The sprinter ended her World Championships experience with a sixth place finish in her first global final.

The 30-year-old will return to the track to run against two-time world

champion Shericka Jackson, Great Britain’s Daryll Neita and the USA’s Gabby Thomas, Twanisha Terry, Brittany Brown, Tamara Clark and Kayla White.

Strachan is slated to compete today at 4:04pm. Meanwhile, Charlton will be on the track at 4:33pm in Switzerland. The event will be streamed on the Peacock and NBC Network.

The 2023 Zurich Diamond League in

Slovenia, Puerto Rico and Greece complete field for 2nd round at basketball

SLOVENIA, Puerto

Rico and Greece picked up victories yesterday at the basketball World Cup to complete the field of 16 teams for the second round.

Slovenia defeated Cape Verde 92-77, led by 19 points from NBA star Luka Doncic.

Puerto Rico routed winless China 107-89 behind 22 points from former NBA player Tremont Waters.

Greece defeated New Zealand 83-74 with 27 points from Ioannis Papapetrou.

Earlier in the day, Serbia, Georgia and Brazil also reached the second round. Serbia defeated South Sudan 115-83 with 25 points from 20-year-old Nikola Jovic.

Georgia topped Venezuela 70-59 behind 25 points from Tornike

World Cup

Shengelia. Brazil beat Ivory Coast 89-77 with Yago Santos scoring 24 points and adding 12 assists.

Ten teams had already advanced: the Dominican Republic, Australia, Italy, Spain, the United States, Canada, Germany, Lativa, Lithuania and Montenegro.

GROUP F -SLOVENIA 92, CAPE VERDE 77

At Okinawa, Doncic led Slovenia (3-0), as he has throughout the tournament, with 19 points, seven rebounds and nine assists to guide the team into the second round.

Right behind was teammate Klemen Prepelic with 18 points, four rebounds and seven assists.

Cape Verde (1-2), which has played far better than

The Jazz Chisholm Foundation was finally announced after two years of planning and aims to help the youth - in need - from The Bahamas and Florida.

The foundation will also coincide with the launch of the Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League in New Providence, Bahamas on September 23.

The Little League in Chisholm Jr’s hometown will be recruiting 150 boys and girls from both baseball and softball to be a part of the inaugural team.

The team members will also be afforded the opportunity to not only adopt the fundamentals of both sports, but also participate in games around the island.

The Miami Marlins’ centre fielder will provide participants with uniforms, backpacks and equipment at no cost in efforts to help the youth of the future.

Chisholm Jr shared the mission of his foundation in an Instagram post on the launch day of his newest philanthropic project.

Switzerland will be followed by the Diamond League Xiamen in China on September 2.

The next Diamond League Meet will continue in Brussels, Belgium, on September 8. And the Diamond League Final will be the last stop in Eugene, Oregon (USA) September 16-17. The Diamond League meets began in May this year.

“The mission of the Jazz Chisholm Foundation is to provide meaningful opportunities and foster the well-being of young athletes and their families from high need communities in Florida and The Bahamas,” he wrote.

With the newest foundation directed not only towards baseball initiatives but also the community, Chisholm Jr is hoping to bring joy to the youth while alleviating their hardships.

“Our focus [is] providing equipment and resources to

SEE PAGE 18

US OPEN: COCO PICKS UP HER 13TH WIN IN 14 MATCHES, STAYS ON COURSE TO MEET

IGA

NEW YORK (AP) —

Coco Gauff used the phrase “when I was younger” after her second-round victory at the US Open yesterday while discussing the perspective she’s gained at the ripe old age of 19.

“I used to think,” she explained, “every match was life or death.”

And now? Well, the American said after beating 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva of Russia 6-2, 6-3 in Arthur Ashe Stadium that losses are OK “as long as you learn from them.”

Gauff is not getting much opportunity for that sort of learning lately — she’s won 13 of her past 14 contests, including claiming the two biggest titles of her still-nascent career — and yet her game has been showing a lot of growth lately. “Obviously maturity plays a part

into it. The more matches you have, the more experience you have,” said Gauff, who is seeded sixth at Flushing Meadows and on course for a potential quarterfinal showdown against defending champion Iga Swiatek, also into the third round after winning in straight sets yesterday.

“Mirra, she’s going to be a great player,” continued Gauff, whose breakthrough came at age 15 when she qualified at Wimbledon and got to the fourth round. “With the more matches she has, the more experience she has.”

And then Gauff closed with quite a compliment: “I really see myself in her.”

The two teenagers faced each other about three months ago at the French Open in what was a much tighter affair, going three sets before Gauff — the

PAGE

F

SEE

SEE PAGE 18

Top athletes set to compete today in Zurich, Switzerland

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

CHELSEA and Everton survived major scares against fourth-tier opponents to advance to the third round of the English League Cup yesterday.

Ultimately, it was another Premier League team, Sheffield United, that was on the end of an unlikely upset, losing a penalty shootout to third-tier Lincoln for the biggest shock of the second round.

Chelsea fielded a heavily rotated started lineup, which was missing the likes of Raheem Sterling and Enzo Fernandez, against Blackpool and fell behind to a 19th-minute penalty at Stamford Bridge.

Noni Madueke equalised with a penalty of his own in first-half stoppage time and Fernandez, on as a 65thminute substitute, grabbed the winner seven minutes later after a defensive mix-up to seal a 2-1 victory.

Everton left it much later for its 2-1 win at Doncaster, with Beto — a Portuguese striker who only joined the club from Udinese on Wednesday — and Arnaut Danjuma scoring in the 73rd and 88th minutes, respectively, to complete a nervy comeback.

Team Bahamas named for Concacaf Nations League

THE Bahamas Football Association has announced a 23-player roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League match against Puerto Rico.

The game is scheduled to be held at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on September 9. Head coach Nesly Jean has called up a blend of youth and experience to begin the Nations League campaign.

The squad features longtime national team players along with talented young stars looking to make their mark on the international stage. “I’m excited about the balance of this roster,” said Jean. “Our veterans provide the leadership we need, while our emerging talents bring energy and fearlessness.”

Goalkeeper Antonio Beckford, defenders

Updated 23-Player Roster

William Gardiner and Miguel Thompson, and striker Lesly St Fleur are among the key veterans carrying over from Bahamas’ qualifying run. They are joined by young standouts like midfielder

Wood Julmis and forward Rashaan Bain who are expected to play increased roles. After facing Puerto Rico at home, The Bahamas will travel to Guyana on September 12 followed by a home game against

Antigua & Barbuda on October 14. The Nations League provides important competition as the team aims to climb the FIFA rankings and compete for a place in the Gold cup competition.

“The talent is there, and the team is driven to succeed,” Jean added.

“We are eager to represent The Bahamas and continue our progress through the Nations League.”

Everton has started the Premier League with three straight losses, without scoring a goal, and the pressure would have piled on manager Sean Dyche if his team had been eliminated by an opponent sitting in last place in the fourth tier.

Like Everton, Sheffield United has no points from three games in the league but won’t have League Cup games for respite in the coming weeks. After a 0-0 draw at home to Lincoln, Sheffield United lost the shootout 3-2.

Burnley scored in the 90th through substitute Zeki Amdouni, a recently signed Switzerland international, to win 1-0 at Nottingham Forest in an all-Premier League matchup and second-tier Blackburn crushed fourthtier Harrogate 8-0. That was Blackburn’s biggest away win in its 148year history.

THIRD-ROUND

DRAW

The third round sees the teams involved in European competition this season enter the League Cup.

The draw was made after yesterday’s games and there were five all-Premier League matchups picked out, with the standout being Newcastle hosting Manchester City.

Manchester United begins its title defence at home to Crystal Palace.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW TO INCLUDE FOURTEEN FORMER WINNERS AS PSV EINDHOVEN BEATS RANGERS IN PLAYOFFS

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer

MONACO (AP) —

There will be 14 winners of the Champions League, or the old European Cup, in the 32-team group stage draw today after PSV Eindhoven advanced in the qualifying playoffs.

PSV, the European champion in 1988, beat Rangers 5-1 in their playoff second leg yesterday to complete a 7-3 aggregate score.

Royal Antwerp had not played in the competition since 1957 yet also sealed its place in the draw by winning 2-1 at AEK Athens. The champion of Belgium advanced 3-1 on aggregate.

Copenhagen completed the lineup with a 1-1 draw at home to competition debutant Raków Czestochowa having already won 1-0 in Poland.

PSV’s single European title means winners of 48 of the 68 editions of Europe’s most prized club title will enter the draw. It includes record 14-time champion

Real Madrid and defending champion Manchester City, which won its first title in June.

FINAL FORMAT

This Champions League is the 20th and last in the familiar format of eight round robin groups of four teams each, sending the top two into a 16-team knockout bracket. Next year the Champions League expands to 36 teams, playing eight games instead of six, ranked in a single standings. The top eight will advance direct to the round of 16. Teams ranked No. 9 through 24 go into a knockout playoffs round to decide the other eight places in the last-16. The final edition in the established format starts September 19 and group-stage games finish December 13.

The knockout stage starts in February and reaches the final at Wembley Stadium in London on June 1.

PRIZE MONEY

UEFA has 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) prize money

for the rest of the competition. Each of the 32 gets a basic 15.64 million ($17.1 million) plus shares of a 600 million euros ($656 million) fund distributed according to clubs’ historic record in UEFA competitions.

Top-ranked Real Madrid’s share will be about 36.4 million euros ($40 million) and about 1.14 million euros ($1.25 million) to the lowest-ranked team, Lens, which has not played in European soccer for 16 years.

UEFA also will pay teams 2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) per win and 930,000 euros ($1 million) per draw in the group stage, escalating payments for advancing through each knockout round, plus a share of the TV money paid by rights holders in their home country.

Real Madrid was the highest earner with 133 million euros ($145 million) from UEFA when it won the 2022 title — the last figures published by UEFA. Moldovan champion

Sheriff’s 23.7 million euros ($26 million) was the lowest UEFA payout that season.

NOMADIC SHAKHTAR

Shakhtar Donetsk has had several adopted home cities in Ukraine and abroad since losing access to its stadium in 2014 because of Russian-backed conflict and then war in the Donbas region.

Last season Shakhtar used Legia Warsaw’s stadium in Poland for its three “home” games in the group stage.

Shakhtar will now play in Hamburg at the Volksparkstadion that is one of Germany’s host venues for the 2024 European Championship. The club said last week it already sold 30,000 ticket packages.

Russian clubs, including champion Zenit St Petersburg, are banned for the second straight season.

MULTI-CLUB OWNERSHIP UEFA has had rules for more than 20 years limiting

owners from having decisive influence over two or more clubs which can meet in the same European competition. They were designed to protect the integrity of games on the field.

Still, the trend toward multi-club ownership projects has intensified since a UEFA ruling in 2017 let Leipzig and Salzburg both enter the Champions League despite sharing deep ties to the Red Bull brand.

The two clubs are in separate draw pots today and can meet in the group stage. Paris Saint-Germain can be drawn in the same group as Braga despite taking a 22 per cent ownership stake in the Portuguese club last year.

CLUB WORLD CUP

The 32 teams also are playing for entry to — and more prize money from – the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup in June 2025 hosted by the United States.

Europe will send 12 teams to that 32-team lineup including the past three Champions League title holders — Man City, Real Madrid and Chelsea — plus the winner of this edition.

Other places should go to teams with the best overall record in the four Champions League seasons from 2020-24.

That’s good for consistent performers Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica. Not so much for clubs which missed qualification in at least one recent season, like Manchester United, Arsenal and now Juventus.

Rolle: UB Athletics looking forward to ‘productive’ year

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes have welcomed 25 freshmen student athletes to join the respective sporting teams. The Mingoes have fielded competitive women and men’s teams in basketball, soccer, track and field, golf, volleyball, softball and cross country over the years. With fresh faces now joining the fold, the UB Athletics Department is ready for the new sporting year.

Kimberley Rolle, director of the UB Athletics department, talked about the overall goal of the sporting teams this year.

“UB Athletics is looking forward to a very productive athletic year. As always we expect to compete at a high level in all our sports, making the playoffs is always the goal because we believe once you make the playoffs anything can happen,” Rolle said. She added that although the newest additions to the various teams makes them younger, they also believe that some of the freshmen will be impactful first-year players.

With the Mingoes women’s volleyball team returning home following competition at the Florida National University, Rolle is looking forward to future international competitions.

She said that she believes the Mingoes will have solid performances in international competition but they are expecting to be competitive in all of the games whether local or international. “Our men’s soccer team has a strong freshman class that will complement some of our top talent from last year and although very young we [also] expect

strong performances from our track and field team,” she said.

The Mingoes’ athletic director was particularly excited about all of the teams this year but is definitely interested in seeing how this year’s soccer team performs, which she believes is one of the more talented teams they have had on paper in years.

The university hosted open tryouts from August 21-26 across various sporting disciplines which yielded some young talent that are immediately expected to impact the rosters and force competition for starting roles on the various teams. For Rolle, the ultimate goal of the department

US OPEN

FROM PAGE 14

remains unchanged going into this sporting year.

“UB Athletics continues to push toward our ultimate goal of international intercollegiate affiliation. This is a university effort and we are moving in a deliberate and positive direction toward international accreditation.

“As we move in this direction, we continue to engage in the best practices, recruit and retain, and enhance our processes and protocols to improve our overall effectiveness and efficiencies,” she said.

The UB Mingoes are scheduled to be in action at the Thomas A Robinson national stadium for the Cross Country Invitational on September 30.

DJOKOVIC AND SWIATEK ROLL, TSITSIPAS FALLS IN HOT, STICKY US OPEN SECOND ROUND

By JAMES MARTINEZ Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) —

Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek rolled to straightset victories to move into the third round at the US Open yesterday, fighting not only their opponents but sticky, 85-degree Fahrenheit (29-degree Celsius) weather on the hottest day at the tournament so far.

“That’s why we train several hours a day in humid, hot conditions so we can be ready for whatever awaits you on court,” the second-seeded Djokovic said after a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium over 76th-ranked Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain.

“I still have the hunger,” said the 36-year-old from Serbia who owns 23 Grand Slam titles.

“I still got it.”

Swiatek, the top-seeded defending champion from Poland, had only slightly more trouble in her 6-3, 6-4 victory over 322nd-ranked

Australian Daria Saville in Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Swiatek has never lost in a major to a player outside the top 100.

In the biggest upset of the day, seventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas fell in the second round to 128thranked Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (5) 7-6 (6), 6-3.

Ending the four-hour match with a forehand winner that just caught the baseline, Stricker raised his hands and flopped on his back to celebrate his firstever victory over a top-10 player in only his third Grand Slam appearance.

“I’m just super happy right now,” Stricker told the Grandstand crowd. “I came out and felt good from the first set on. ... I just kept playing high-level tennis.”

Tsitsipas, a Grand Slam finalist at the Australian Open and French Open, has still never advanced beyond the third round at Flushing Meadows.

The Greek is the secondhighest seed to go down on the men’s side after No. 4 Holger Rune of Denmark lost to 63rd-ranked Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena. Aslan Karatsev of Russia went on to beat

Dolphins have roster built for contention in 2023 - They just need to stay healthy

MIAMI

DOLPHINS (9-8)

EXPECTATIONS: The Dolphins have a roster built for contention, and they’re targeting a deep postseason run after losing to Buffalo in last season’s wild-card round. They just need to stay healthy. Miami brought back essentially every key contributor from last year’s offence, which finished sixth in total offence and second in yards per play.

Now, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and explosive receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have one year in Mike McDaniel’s system under their belts.

The Dolphins showed their confidence in Tagovailoa by picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, and he has been training in the martial art jiu jitsu to better protect himself on the field after being diagnosed with two concussions last year.

The Dolphins are also transitioning to a new defence under Vic Fangio. They traded for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but an injury during training camp will sideline him through the start of the regular season. Miami has

plenty of talent on that side, which features veteran cornerback Xavien Howard, safety Jevon Holland and linebacker Jaelan Phillips. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins has not participated in team drills during training camp as he seeks a new contract.

NEW FACES: Defensive

Coordinator Vic Fangio, CB Jalen Ramsey, LB

David Long Jr., WR Robbie

Chosen, WR Braxton Berrios, S DeShon Elliott, QB

Mike White, TE Eric Saubert, CB Cam Smith, RB De’Von Achane, LB Malik

Reed, P Jake Bailey.

KEY LOSSES: TE

Mike Gesicki, QB Teddy Bridgewater, P Thomas

Morstead, WR Trent Sher-

field, LB Elandon Roberts, S Eric Rowe, Edge Melvin Ingram, OT Greg Little.

STRENGTHS: Wide receiver and defence. The passing attack should be poised for another dominant season, and Hill said he’s eyeing a 2,000yard campaign after finishing 2022 with 1,710 yards receiving. Fangio is one of the best defensive minds in football and will revamp a talented unit that struggled in 2022.

Miami will swap out the aggressive, blitz-heavy approach it employed in recent years for one that creates turnovers through different types of disguises.

WEAKNESESS: Offensive line. There’s an unresolved battle at left guard. Liam Eichenberg, who started there last season, has been limited with an undisclosed injury, and Robert Jones, who is also vying for that spot, has an MCL sprain. Right tackle Austin Jackson has a lot to prove after battling an ankle injury last year. Veteran left tackle Terron Armstead is one of the most valuable players on the Dolphins roster, but he battled various injuries in 2022 and is not 100% after suffering a lower-body injury in practice.

CAMP DEVELOP-

MENT: The backup QB competition between Mike White and Skylar Thompson has been the most significant one of camp, and it hasn’t been solidified. Both White and Thompson struggled in the preseason opener against Atlanta, but Thompson bounced back to throw three TDs against Houston the next week.

Baena yesterday in four sets. Elsewhere, Dominic Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion, consulted medics and retired soon after dropping a first-set tiebreaker to American Ben Shelton, and French wild card Benjamin Bonzi

defeated 28th-seeded Christopher Eubanks 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7).

The loss ended the hopes of an American who made a surprising run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina advanced to the third round after Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia withdrew.

Tomljanovic was sidelined nearly all this season by a knee injury after beating Serena Williams last year in the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion’s final match.

Lin Zhu of China defeated 18th-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-3; American Taylor Townsend beat 19thseeded Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia 7-6 (1), 7-5; 10th-seeded Karolina

Muchova beat Magdalena

Frech of Poland 6-3, 6-3; and 15th-seeded Belinda

Bencic of Switzerland downed British qualifier Yuriko Lily Miyazaki 6-3, 6-3.

runner-up to Swiatek at Roland Garros in 2022 — pulled out the win. At the outset yesterday, it appeared they might be headed for another competitive outing, by the looks of the opening game: Andreeva broke right away, smacking a huge backhand down the line to draw a Gauff forehand into the net on a 19-stroke exchange, then getting a 120 mph serve in play, leading to a netted backhand.

“I didn’t feel like she changed” since they last met, Andreeva would say afterward.

Oh, but Gauff has. She is willing to be more aggressive early in points — and went to the net 18 times, taking 15 of those points. She has better footwork on her forehand and is not afraid to go for that shot.

Those are two improvements that have come since a first-round loss at Wimbledon in July, tweaks that arrived while working with new coaches Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert, who could be heard urging Gauff to make things more physical from his front-row seat in a player guest box.

The surface switched, too — from the slower clay of Paris to the swifter hard courts of Flushing Meadows — and Andreeva figured that had more to do with the rather different result this time.

She also lamented: “This match I did more mistakes than I usually do. ... I could have played better.”

After that one poor game to begin things, Gauff quickly snapped to it, looking far more formidable than she did during a difficult three-setter against Laura Siegemund that lasted 2 hours, 51 minutes in the first round Monday night. This one lasted less than half as long, time-wise. Gauff’s serve was clicking; she never got broken again. Her forehand was up to the task, even as Andreeva repeatedly went after that side, something Gauff has referred to as the old “playbook” against her. On lengthy groundstroke back-and-forths, mostly from the baseline, Gauff was superior.

She won 14 of 20 points that lasted nine strokes or longer, up to as many as 30 shots. Overall, Gauff compiled a 24-7 edge in winners.

“Playing a younger person just reminded me how far I have come,” said Gauff, who plays No. 32 Elise Mertens next, “and I should be proud of myself.”

White entered the NFL’s concussion protocol during that game, adding another dilemma to the battle. There is no timeline yet for White’s return.

FANSTASY PLAYER TO WATCH: Speedy rookie RB De’Von Achane figures to be a perfect fit for McDaniel’s offence and will likely immediately see a role as a receiver out of the backfield. He will be third on the depth chart behind Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, but Achane has had a solid camp and preseason. He’s nursing a shoulder injury after a defensive lineman fell on him against Houston, but McDaniel said he is week to week and avoided anything severe.

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK SAYS: Win Super Bowl: 21-1. Over/under wins: 9 1/2.

MIAMI Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks at the scoreboard during a NFL football game at EverBank Stadium on Saturday.

(AP Photo/ Alex Menendez)

KIMBERLEY ROLLE

IGA SWIATEK, of Poland, returns a shot to Daria Saville, of Australia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Jasrado ‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr launches foundation to help youth in need

FROM PAGE 14

youth baseball and softball leagues, incorporating financial literacy education into various programming activities, [and] supporting mission-aligned non-profit organisations,” the MLB star wrote.

Although baseball and softball are the main focuses with the foundation in its beginning phase, Chisholm plans to partner with National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Football League (NFL) players to make it a collaborative effort.

Chisholm’s little league registration is now available to youth between ages 5-14. Registration is free and the deadline to apply is Friday, September 8.

The little league coaches are Richard Bain, Javardo Bain, Stephen Beneby, Javier Bowe, Mandell Curry, Stephen Curtis, Pedro Dean, Etienne Farquharson, Lionel Ferguson, Dave Forbes, Dvaughn Knowles, Jervis Miller, Lincoln Rolle, Castino Sands, Frantz Watkins, and D’Vaughn Wong.

Meanwhile, the girls’ softball coaches are Shane

Albury, Beneby and Dachye Stubbs. For individuals interested in being a part of the inaugural team, the registration link can be found at www. jazzchisholmfoundation.org

The 25-year-old is no stranger to charitable efforts as he is often involved in hosting baseball clinics or assisting with International Elite Sports Academy. Additionally, Chisholm was involved in the relief efforts after Hurricane Dorian in 2019. The Bahamian MLB star is committed to giving back to the youth of the future.

JAZZ CHISHOLM JR, centre, chats with Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng, right, and Marlins president of business operations Caroline O’Connor, left, as they pose for photos at the launch party for the Jazz Chisholm Foundation earlier this week. The foundation will support the development of The Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League in New Providence, Bahamas, as well as community goodwill programmes in Miami.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

HARPER’S 300TH HOMER NOT ENOUGH AS ANGELS RALLY TO BEAT PHILLIES 10-8

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— Bryce Harper put the Philadelphia Phillies ahead in the eighth inning with his 300th home run, but Brandon Drury capped a three-run ninth with a tiebreaking, two-run homer than lifted the Los Angeles Angels to a 10-8 victory yesterday that prevented a three-game sweep.

In a game with four lead changes, Los Angeles led 7-6 before Harper’s tworun homer in the eighth off Matt Moore (4-1). Harper and Moore were 1-2 among Baseball America’s top prospects in 2012.

Harper’s homer, his 15th this season and 10th in August, came in the 30-year-old’s 1,481st game. He homered in three straight games for the second time this month and has 10 homers in August. Moore was the 224th pitcher he went deep against.

Pinch-hitter Mike Moustakas struck out leading off the ninth but reached on a wild pitch by Craig Kimbrel (7-5). Nolan Schanuel’s single put runners at the corners, giving him a teamrecord 10-game hitting streak at the start of his big league career.

CUBS 3, BREWERS 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger drove in the tiebreaking run with a ricochet infield single in the eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs beat Milwaukee to pull within three games of the first-place Brewers in the NL Central.

Bellinger’s sharply hit ball up the middle glanced off the right ankle or foot of reliever Joel Payamps and to third baseman Andruw Monasterio. Bellinger beat out Monasterio’s throw, allowing Mike Tauchman to score from third.

After dropping the first game of the series Monday, the Cubs came back to take the next two with solid pitching and defense. At 71-62, Chicago is a seasonhigh nine games above .500.

Adbert Alzolay (2-4) got the final four outs in this one for the win, despite hitting Mark Canha with bases loaded in the eighth to force in the tying run. Payamps (4-4) took the loss.

WHITE SOX 10, ORIOLES 5

BALTIMORE (AP) —

The White Sox hit three home runs off 13-game winner Kyle Gibson to

WORLD CUP

FROM PAGE 14

most expected, was led by Betinho Gomes with 17 points and Kenneti Mendes with 10.

GROUP B --

PUERTO RICO 107, CHINA 89

At Manila, Waters had 22 points and six assists as Puerto Rico advanced. Puerto Rico had six players in double digits.

Ismael Romero scored 18 points and added 10 rebounds for Puerto Rico (2-1). Puerto Rico joined Serbia as the teams to progress from Group B. Zhao Rui scored 16 points for winless China (0-3). Minnesota

rally from an early four-run deficit and beat the Orioles, avoiding a three-game sweep.

Anthony Santander homered for the AL Eastleading Orioles, who led 4-0 in the first inning before fading to their third loss in 12 games.

Luis Robert Jr. hit his 35th home run in the third inning to put Chicago ahead for good. Andrew Vaughn and Óscar Colás also went deep for the White Sox, who were outscored 18-3 in the first two games of the series.

Gibson (13-8) allowed seven runs and nine hits over 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander gave up only 16 home runs in his first 27 starts, but in this one he allowed three homers to the first 11 batters he faced.

YANKEES 6, TIGERS 2

DETROIT (AP) — The Yankees ended a 10-series winless streak as Gleyber Torres homered for the third straight game in a victory over the Tigers.

DJ LaMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton also homered for the Yankees, who have won the first three games of the four-game set. They hadn’t won a series since sweeping three games from Kansas City from July 21-23 and hadn’t taken a road series since winning two of three at Oakland from June 27-29.

Stanton reached 20 homers for the 12th time in 14 seasons, the most times at 20 in the major leagues since 2010. He has 398 homers in his big league career.

Gerrit Cole (12-4) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings, winning back-to-back starts for the first time since May 28 and June 3. His 2.95 ERA dropped into second in the AL behind Minnesota’s Sonny Gray at 2.92. Ian Hamilton finished a four-hitter for his second save. Brendan White (2-3) took the loss.

GUARDIANS 5, TWINS 2 (10 innings)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

— Kole Calhoun hit a threerun home run in the 10th inning to cap Cleveland’s late comeback against the Minnesota bullpen, and the Guardians beat the Twins to trim their deficit in the AL Central to five games.

Five relievers had a hand in squandering another

Timberwolves sixth-man Kyle Anderson, who picked up Chinese citizenship days before the tournament opened, scored nine points in 31 minutes.

GROUP C -GREECE 83, NEW ZEALAND 74

At Manila, Papapetrou scored 27 points and teammate Giannoulis Larentzakis hit 20 as Greece (2-1) advanced. The United States won the group and also qualified.

Greece broke the game open in the final quarter, outscoring New Zealand 33-20 with Papapetrou and Larentzakis consistently scoring key baskets late. Shea Ili led New Zealand (1-2) with 27 points and Reuben Te Rangi scored 19.

stellar start by Sonny Gray, who gave the Twins seven scoreless innings. Emilio Pagán (5-2) took the loss despite pitching the best of the bunch. He got the first two outs in the 10th and intentionally walked José Ramírez before yielding to rookie Kody Funderburk, who made his major league debut Monday with two perfect innings against the Guardians.

Trevor Stephan (6-4) struck out the side in the ninth for the win. Emmanuel Clase pitched a perfect 10th for his 36th save in 45 chances. The Twins didn’t have a hit after the fifth inning.

REDS 4,

GIANTS 1

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)

— Christian EncarnacionStrand homered and drove in three runs in his first fourhit game in the majors, and the Reds beat the Giants to avoid a three-game sweep.

Encarnacion-Strand,

a Bay Area native who played at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, finished a triple shy of the cycle.

Elly De La Cruz and Luke Maile each had two hits, and Hunter Greene outdueled Logan Webb (9-11) in his first career start against San Francisco. Greene (3-6) struck out six in 5 1/3 innings in his first win since June 17. The right-hander, who missed much of this season with a right hip injury, allowed an unearned run and three hits.

CARDINALS 5, PADRES 4 (11 innings)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tommy Edman hit a two-run homer off Josh Hader in the 11th for his second walk-off hit in two days off the All-Star closer, and the Cardinals beat San

GROUP G -SPAIN 85, IRAN 65

At Jakarta, Juancho Hernandezgomez had 21 points and his brother Willy scored 16 to lead defending champion Spain (3-0), which had already advanced to the second round. Santiago Aldama added 11.

Brazil is the other qualifier from the group. Iran (0-3) was led by Mohammad Amini with 19 points.

GROUP B —

SERBIA 115, SOUTH SUDAN 83

At Manila, Jovic shot 9 of 9 from the floor as Serbia (3-0) beat South Sudan (1-2) to reach the round of 16. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 23 points and nine assists.

Diego to drop the Padres to 0-12 in extra innings this season.

San Diego wasted a 3-0 lead and matched the expansion 1969 Montreal Expos, who had the most losses by a team that finished the season winless in extra-inning games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

St. Louis trailed 4-3 before Masyn Winn doubled off Hader (0-3) with two outs in the ninth and Edman sliced a sinker to the opposite field and into the Cardinals bullpen behind the right-field wall. Edman’s 10th-inning single on Tuesday night gave St. Louis a 6-5 win.

Andre Pallante (4-1) pitched a one-hit 10th.

BLUE JAYS 7, NATIONALS 0

TORONTO (AP) —

Alejandro Kirk had three hits and three RBIs, Chris Bassitt and Jay Jackson combined on a five-hitter

on a high note. Seattle went 21-6 in the month, bettering the previous franchise record of 20 victories in a month.

The Mariners have won 13 of their last 15 games and will head into September in the middle of an AL West title race with Houston and Texas.

Justin Topa (4-4) got the victory despite giving up the lead in the seventh.

Kirby Snead (1-2) took the loss.

ASTROS 7, RED SOX 4

BOSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez, who pitched seven no-hit innings in his previous start, retired the first 10 Boston batters on Wednesday and took a shutout into the sixth inning to help the Astros complete their first sweep at Fenway Park.

Houston, which played in the NL for 50 years before switching in 2012, has won five straight as it fights for a third consecutive AL West title. The Astros entered the day essentially tied with — .001 behind — the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners; all three teams remain in contention for the AL wild-card spots if they falter.

The Red Sox lost for the fifth time in six games and are fifth in the race for the three AL wild-card berths, four games behind Toronto and seven back from the AL West pack heading into Wednesday night’s game.

Randy Arozarena added a two-run single as the Rays won for the eighth time in nine games overall.

Shawn Armstrong (1-0) threw 1 2/3 hitless innings for the win, and Pete Fairbanks closed with a perfect 10th for his 18th save.

METS 6, RANGERS 5 (10 innings)

NEW YORK (AP) — DJ Stewart homered twice, then forced in the winning run when he was hit by an Aroldis Chapman pitch with the bases loaded in the 10th inning as the Mets beat Texas 6-5 and dropped the Rangers into third place in the tight AL West. Stewart also made a running backhand catch while crashing into the fence in the ninth inning, robbing Marcus Semien of an extrabase hit.

Texas (75-58) lost for the 10th time in 13 games and fell from a first-place tie with Seattle (76-57), also dropping behind Houston (77-58). The Rangers finished 3-6 trip and is 10-17 on the road since July 1.

The Rangers loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th against Jeff Brigham (1-2) before Heim lined out and Travis Jankowski grounded to Pete Alonso, who started a 3-2-4 double play that ended with second baseman Jeff McNeil covering first.

PIRATES 4, ROYALS 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

and the Blue Jays beat the Nationals.

Santiago Espinal had two hits and two RBIs and Ernie Clement had two hits and drove in a run as the Blue Jays took two of three from the Nationals, denying Washington a sixth straight series victory. Kirk hit a two-run double in the first inning, doubled and scored in the fourth, singled and scored in the sixth and hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

MARINERS 5,

ATHLETICS 4

SEATTLE (AP) — J.P. Crawford dropped a tworun single into left field in the seventh inning to give Seattle the lead, and the Mariners closed out the winningest month in franchise history by beating the Athletics.

Seattle rallied from a pair of deficits to finish August

Jovic and Bogdanovic combined for 18 points in the first quarter as Serbia led 30-20 and steadily built its lead.

Peter Jok scored 21 points for South Sudan but Chicago Bulls guard Carlik Jones had just three points in 22 minutes.

GROUP C —

UNITED STATES 110, JORDAN 62

At Manila, Anthony Edwards scored 22 points and Bobby Portis Jr. chipped in 13 for the United States (3-0) to wrap up the group stage with an easy victory over Jordan (0-3).

Josh Hart led the Americans with 12 rebounds.

Former NBA player Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led Jordan with 20 points and seven rebounds.

Valdez (10-9) no-hit the Guardians on Aug. 1 and left Friday’s start against Detroit with a no-hitter intact before the bullpen took the loss.

RAYS 3, MARLINS 0

MIAMI (AP) — Josh Lowe hit a tiebreaking single during Tampa Bay’s three-run 10th inning, and the Rays beat the Marlins for their fourth straight victory.

Four Tampa Bay pitchers combined on a four-hitter. After going 8-17 in July, the Rays closed out a 17-8 August and pulled within 1½ games of AL East-leading Baltimore.

Jonathan Aranda opened the 10th with an infield single for the Rays’ third hit of the game, moving automatic runner Jose Siri to third.

Lowe, hitting for Vidal Brujan, then singled back up the middle against David Robertson (4-6).

The United States faces Montenegro on Friday in the second round.

The U.S. improved to 8-0 overall this summer, counting five exhibitions played on the way to Manila.

They’re one of three teams that won all three group games by at least 20 points.

They joined Group H winner Canada and Group D winner Lithuania.

GROUP F —

GEORGIA 70, VENEZUELA 59

At Okinawa, Shengelia scored 25 points and Goga Bitadze had 11 points and 11 rebounds as Georgia advanced.

Georgia, which is playing for the first time in the World Cup, led 42-23 at the half as Venezuela (0-3)

(AP) — Andre Jackson pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning in his first major league win, and the Pirates beat the Royals for a three-game sweep. Jackson (1-1) struck out a career-high seven and walked two in 5 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old righthander, who made his big league debut in 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowed one run in his 20th major league appearance.

Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski homered for the Pirates (61-73), and Vinny Capra hit an RBI double.

It was the first sweep for Pittsburgh since June 27-29 versus San Diego. The Pirates limited the Royals to four runs and 12 hits in the series.

Kansas City was swept for the 12th time this year.

The Royals (41-94) have dropped six in a row and are on pace for 113 losses, breaking the club record of 106.

scored only four points in the second quarter. Nestor Colmenares had 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead Venezuela. Jose Materan added 12. Both teams struggled from 3-point range. Georgia was 5 of 23 and Venezuela was 6 of 25.

GROUP G — BRAZIL 89, IVORY COAST 77

At Jakarta, Yago Santos scored 24 points and added 12 assists and Brazil (2-1) advanced into the second round, a bounce back after not qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.

Tim Soares added 15 points for the winners. Brazil went 14 of 31 from 3-point range. Cedric Bah led Ivory Coast (1-2) with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

MARLINS centre fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr catches a ball hit by Tampa Bay Rays’ Brandon Lowe during the first inning Tuesday in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)