09042024 NEWS AND SPORT

The Tribune PUZZLER

VALLEY BOYS SEED MONEY IS DELAYED

Bowleg: Funds will be provided pending conflict resolution

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff

Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH, Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg said seed funding for the Valley Boys has been delayed pending a Sunday meeting to resolve a conflict that has embroiled the group.

Officials announced yesterday that seed funding has been distributed to other Junkanoo groups for the upcoming Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades. A-Division Junkanoo groups received $30,000, while B-Division Junkanoo groups received $15,000. Twenty-four D-Division groups got an

Mother of Murder victiM’s kids: We all cry every day

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

LOVED ones have identified Monday night’s murder victim as 34-yearold Valentino Bowe. He was fatally shot when two gunmen opened fire on him and two other men who were drinking in the yard of a bar in Windsor Place. The other victims, believed to be in their early 30s and 40s, suffered gunshot wounds, with one hit in the upper arm and the other in the leg. The mother of Mr Bowe’s two children shared her grief in a Facebook post, saying their children are “shattered”.

Darville: Govt looking to recruit 80 nurses from African countries

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH and Wellness

Minister Dr Michael Darville said the government is looking to recruit 80 nurses

from African countries. During a town hall meeting in Cat Island, he said 40 nurses will fill gaps in the Family Islands, while the other 40 will work in critical care departments at hospitals.

Dr Darville previously said there is a shortage of 450 nurses. In November, 18 nurses from Ghana began working here under a renewable

Mills suing govt for violating his rights

SOCIAL Media personality Cay Mills has sued government officials for allegedly violating his constitutional rights. He was charged with criminal libel last year after publishing a video about Farron Newbold Sr, the chief councillor in Abaco, on WhatsApp on August 3 to cause shame. In a statement of claim he filed with the Supreme Court last month, he

recounted what happened when he was arrested in December for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. He said an officer, Kristan Bowles, arrested him in the Magistrate Court’s office in Abaco when he went to check on his trial date. He said the officer ordered him to strip naked

CAY MILLS

VALLEY Boys participating in the New Year’s Eve Junkanoo Parade this year.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Marcella and Jasper

THE TRIBUNE called on readers to join in our campaign to Love Ya Dog - and Marcella Dean answered the call. Marcella emailed a picture of herself with her pet Jasper. The pet schnauzer is three years old. The Love Ya Dog campaign encourages dog owners to take care of their pets - and we are calling on readers to join in. We want to encourage those who do treat their pets well to show them off - and by doing so letting others see a better way to treat their pets. CARE TIP: When you take your dog to the beach, remember to bring water for him too, not just yourself, and a bowl for him to drink out of, keep the water cool like yours. Remember the sand gets very hot and he has no protection.

Send us a picture of you with your dogs to loveyadog@tribunemedia.net to join the campaign and show that you Love Ya Dog.

BACSWN Spreading its Wings in the US andCentral America

“We were well received by Copa Airlines on our recent visit to their headquarters in Panama. Their team was eager to hear about the aviation products BACSWN is developing and the possibility of implementing them into the cockpits of their Boeing fleet”

Mr. Adam Darville, VP Infrastrucure

Representatives from Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network Ltd (BACSWN) and US National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) recently visited the headquarters of SouthWest Airlines and COPA Airlines to present the unparalleled benefits of its “First-of-its-kind” Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network to the decision makers at both entities.

“Both airlines showed a great interest and indicated they would like pursue a relationship with repsect to the licensing of some of the state of the art aviation weather products and services that BACSWN, in combination with its partners, have developed for use in The Bahamas and region’s first NEXTGen Meteorological Watch Office” stated Professor Bruinjes, a renown aviation scientist at NCAR who provides the FAA with their weather.

“In our discussions with COPA Airlines,” added Professor Roelof, “the vice-president of operations emphasized the pressing need for the weather products that BACSWN is developing -- especially as it pertains to convective weather that can greatly impact the operations of airlines both on the ground and in the air.” Copa Airlines, is the flag carrier of Panama. Established in 1947 by a group of Panamanian investors and Pan American World Airways as a solely domestic carrier, its all Boeing 737 fleet of 101 aircraft now flies to 88 destinations in 33 countries; including The Bahamas and Caribbean.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Mills

govt for violating his rights

and told him “that if he did not strip naked, he (Bowles) would personally take off all of Mr Mills’ clothes”.

Mr Mills said he was concerned that people passing the corridor to enter the country would see him naked, but he complied with the order because two other officers were there with guns.

“At no time did the claimant receive natural justice or the protection of the law as stipulated in

Article 20 of the constitution,” his statement of claim read. “At no time was Mr Cay Mills questioned or shown any evidence before the said purported arrest and detention.”

He said he was placed in a jail cell in the Magistrate Court’s office on December 14, 2023, and was not allowed to use the bathroom and was not given water or food.

He said his constitutional rights –– protection from inhuman treatment, arbitrary arrest or detention, provisions to secure

protection of law, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association and freedom of movement –– were violated.

Mr Mills said he was remanded to prison on December 15 and remained there until January 8, 2024. He said his human rights were violated in prison, adding that he was awakened in the early hours of the morning numerous times and had to strip naked amongst other inmates.

He is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages.

‘No bids received’ for building painting

work,

testifies WSC employee

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A SENIOR Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) employee involved in auditing vendors under the Minnis administration revealed yesterday that she did not receive any bids for painting works on the corporation’s buildings during her investigation.

Dian Saunders-Adderley’s comments came as she continued her testimony on the initial findings from the audit, which covered vendors the corporation engaged from 2017 to 2021.

The witness had previously testified about her findings regarding the WSC tank painting project.

Yesterday, her testimony focused on her investigation into painting projects for WSC buildings on University Drive, the E. George Moss Building, and Somerset House.

The assistant general manager confirmed receiving a secretary’s certificate dated June 2020 from the board of directors’ then-secretary.

She read the certificate’s contents in court yesterday, which revealed that the board had resolved to award the contract to Baha Maintenance and Restoration.

The project’s total cost was $251,686.00, she

testified.

The witness also read the WSC’s board meeting minutes into evidence, which noted that the board had reviewed four bids.

However, she claimed that she never received them.

According to the board’s minutes, the corporation’s then-general manager had informed the board of the bids received and their costs.

“He compared the costs of advance by the bidders to the costs of scope that was proposed by the quantity of surveyors,” Mrs SaundersAdderley told the court.

When asked if an assessment was conducted regarding the project’s scope of work, she said no in-house assessment was done but noted that a quantity surveyor’s report was attached to the payments for the project.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier asked if she could reveal the date of the quantity surveyor’s construction cost estimate.

The witness responded that the report was dated July 2020.

Asked about the project’s job jacket, Mrs SaundersAdderley said it was dated December 2020.

The acting DPP then questioned how the quantity surveyor’s report, “which according to the

board minutes is the basis of the scope of work”, could be completed after the contract was awarded.

“The board meeting, according to the records, was June 14th, where the contract is to be awarded based on the document and the amount proposed in July, so on the 14th of June, someone knew in the future that the quantity surveyor would provide the document in July,” Mrs Saunders-Adderley replied.

When asked if it is usual for a contract to be awarded before the work is scoped and priced, the witness said it “is illogical to have a price without knowing what you want to do.” Mr Gibson, the Long Island MP, is on trial alongside Elwood Donaldson Jr, the former WSC general manager, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson, and Jerome Missick. He faces charges related to his tenure as WSC executive chairman involving his alleged failure to declare his interest in contracts awarded by the WSC.

The defence team includes Mr Damian Gomez KC, Mr Murrio Ducille KC, Ian Cargill, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, and Raphael Moxey.

Meanwhile, the Crown’s legal team comprises Ms Frazier, Karine MacVean and others.

CAY MILLS

ADRIAN GIBSON

Valley Boys seed money is delayed

undisclosed amount.

Mr Bowleg said after seeking advice from Attorney General Ryan Pinder, he arranged a meeting with the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP), the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC), and several key stakeholders, including two representatives from each faction of the Valley Boys.

“We hope for a peaceful resolution and that the groups will eventually come together,” he said. “The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the government, the NJC, and the JCNP are not obligated to make decisions on behalf of anyone else.”

Mr Bowleg said one faction of the Valley Boys will receive funding after Sunday’s meetings. Although JCNP chairman Dion Miller previously said the faction led by Brian Adderley would get the money, Mr Bowleg said the JCNP has decided to stay out of the fight and see if the two factions would unite.

The faction led by Trevor

Davis released a statement on social media expressing confidence that it will participate in the parades, saying: “We are in good standing because the laws of The Bahamas are on our side, so let’s remain steadfast in our preparations for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day!”

Mr Davis registered his group as a non-profit organisation before Mr Adderley did the same for his faction. The Office of the Registrar General reportedly sent Mr Adderley’s group a letter demanding it drop the Valley Boys name from its title.

“I can’t be concerned with critics,” Mr Bowleg said yesterday. “A decision has to be made. A decision will be made, and whatever decision is made might not be favoured by some people. You can’t spend life trying to please everybody. But I tell you, as the minister, I am going to make a decision. At the end of the day, I will try to bring the individuals together to iron out the differences and see if we can come together. Life is about

coming together as one, being united — that’s what life is all about.”

Straw Business Persons Society says Tourism is yet to hold promised meeting

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TWO months after committing to meet straw vendors to help boost their business, the Ministry of Tourism has yet to hold the promised meeting, according to Straw Business Persons Society president Rebecca Small.

Ms Small told The Tribune yesterday that she doubts that the Ministry of Tourism has a genuine commitment to promoting the Straw Market downtown. She believes promotion is crucial for boosting sales from the millions of cruise passengers arriving in New Providence. She said many

tourists are unaware of the Straw Market’s existence due to inadequate marketing by officials. In July, Tourism Director General Latia Duncombe highlighted efforts to encourage cruise passengers to spend money at local downtown spots, not just the Nassau Cruise Port (NCP). Several straw vendors had complained about a long fence extending from one of the port’s entries opposite the Straw Market, which they say hinders guests’ access to the market and encourages them to stay within the cruise port.

Ms Duncombe countered that many tourists venture downtown, and she promised to meet with members

of the Tourism Development Corporation and Ms Small to discuss the vendors’ concerns.

Ms Small said that although a meeting was scheduled for July, it was postponed and has not been rescheduled. She has not heard from tourism officials regarding a new meeting date, and she believes the announcement to meet with straw vendors was merely a “PR position” by the Ministry of Tourism.

“I’m not upset, but I’m disappointed,” she said. “It seems like that’s the game people in certain places are playing. I think straw vendors have contributed so much to our economy.”

Yesterday, Ms Duncombe

reiterated her commitment to engaging with the Straw Market Association.

“While the meeting with Ms Rebecca Smalls, initially scheduled for mid-July, was indeed postponed due to an unexpected and pressing matter, it is still a priority,” she said. “We fully intend to reschedule and move forward with the discussion. Supporting our local businesses, especially our straw vendors, is critical to ensuring that the benefits of increased tourism reach all sectors.”

Sales have been poor for many straw vendors despite the country’s recordbreaking cruise passenger arrivals. In July, Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper said the Tourism Development Corporation works with vendors to ensure they offer services and products that appeal to guests.

He said he was confident officials will continue funding them to modernise their payment options. He believed there would be fewer complaints about vendors not feeling the effect of cruise passengers over time.

Mother of Murder victiM’s kids: We all cry every day

“I don’t know what to say to my kids except mommy loves you both and mommy is here. While I hold them, I cry with them, and I cry for them,” she wrote. She added that the previous day was supposed to be her daughter’s first day of school.

“She was so eager and happy to go back to school, but instead today marks the beginning of a fatherless life with a broken heart and a void no one but God can fill. Valley, your baby girl is hurting behind that smile, and Tino — oh God, Tino.”

“Tino cried his heart out for you last night. All he wanted was his daddy, and now he won’t get that chance. You’ll hurt my kids. You’ll break them.”

from page one

VALENTINO BOWE

YOUTH, Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg said seed funding for the Valley Boys has been delayed pending a Sunday meeting to resolve a conflict that has embroiled the group.

Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

Mr Adderley declined to comment on the matter yesterday.

ONE of many Straw Market Stalls in the Downtown Straw Market.

Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.

Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207

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Haiti fights new corruption cases against high-ranking officials who enjoy impunity

I N VE S T IGATOR S with Haiti’s anti-corruption agency donned caps and face masks on Tuesday as they stood behind boxes of evidence that accuse high-ranking government officials of crimes ranging from illicit enrichment to abuse of office. It’s the latest crackdown on widespread corruption in the impoverished Caribbean country long known for its impunity. T he newest cases involve food meant for public school students being diverted for other purposes to government fuel being used for personal benefit.

T hese personalities have betrayed the country,” said Hans Joseph, general director of the Anti-Corruption Unit, who has been relentless in his pursuit of illegalities despite little to no repercussions for those accused.

He said the corruption cases unveiled Tuesday have cost the Haitian government $4.7 million, “an amount that paradoxically exceeds twice the budget allocated to the (agency) to fight corruption.”

One case involves the general director and other officials at Haiti’s National Solid Waste Management Service. The report states that while the agency disbursed $1.7 million to buy fuel from December 2021 to April 2024, only 45% of the fuel bought was used for the agency’s daily operations. The rest was used by the agency’s general director and others, the report alleged.

“As a general director, I find it normal to use the institution’s cash register to support myself,” Germain Paulémon, told investigators, according to the report.

He could not be immediately reached for comment.

Another case found that officials with Haiti’s National School Food Program bought $2.9 million worth of food from October 2016 to February 2021, but that out of a sample of

11 schools across Haiti, the majority

“barely received anything,” the report found.

Officials said the food was diverted for other purposes but did not detail them. They noted that 90% of the providers listed by the program “did not physically exist,” and that some were run by the program’s own employees.

Haiti has long struggled with malnutrition, many of them public school students, and currently more than 1 million people are on the brink of starvation.

O fficials also opened a case against the former minister of planification and external cooperation, Aviol Fleurant, after more than 4,900 people signed a petition demanding he be investigated. Authorities accused him of illegal enrichment, saying he could not explain the origin of more than $570,000 in his bank accounts.

Fleurant, who is an attorney, did not respond to a message requesting comment.

O ther cases include the alleged embezzlement of more than $170,000 at Haiti’s power company after someone filed a complaint against senior board executives.

T he work that we do and that we intend to execute against all odds is that…of cleaning up the public administration,” Joseph said.

All those cited in the report following years-long investigations were referred to the public prosecutor’s office. However, Haiti rarely prosecutes government officials.

Joseph said that his office also has demanded declarations of assets from 14 diplomats, ambassadors, consuls and consul generals who have yet to submit any information, and, as a result, were referred to authorities.

By DÁNICA COTO Associated Press

Shipyard not as good as we’re

EDITOR, The Tribune.

P O LI T ICAL propaganda when it is not “totally accurate” is what?

Why do we describe every thought or concept as World and Internationally famous before the concept even wriggles?

Grand Bahama Shipyard… the concept of this had and has considerable merit... Believe late E dward St George had his hand then the German Shipyard and someone convinced Carnival and R CL. With a guarantee of flow of cruise ships had to be good? Skilled labour?

GB does not have the skilled labour so you rely on transitional migrant labour brought in as required for job committed. T he chances ever of having a 30 percent Bahamian labour force is a political dream... could happen but very much doubt it. Now the $3-400 maybe $500m investment...correction $300 plus million will be spent purchasing the two dry docks from a China source... so forget implying that was $5-600m investment in Grand Bahama... total rubbish.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Let’s get back to the soil, now!

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE quickest way to rejuvenate our troubled people and return to a more peaceful, serene and productive nation is to get back to the soil.

Recent hurricanes practically demolished tourism on my island, Grand Bahama. Global economic meltdowns and pandemics resulted in even greater hardship throughout the Commonwealth.

Despite these signals from the universe to awaken to a more sustainable and self-driven economy based upon our abundant natural resources, we stand idly by, awaiting some miracle to happen.

Tourism cannot and will not save us in a future based on the vicissitudes of global climate change. Therefore, we must focus on our God-given gifts and enable our people to once again cherish this country’s natural abundance. Otherwise, another (and it will come) global pandemic will see our people perish for lack of wisdom.

told

T he Davis government made an enormous mistake allowing Carnival Port to be a destination port… to assist GB it should be a ‘hub-port’ cruises starting - finishing in GB Solves the passenger count/$’s for the Airport…6000 a week through that would bring in good Passenger Service Charges...boost food suppliers and local producers of beverages etc...taxistours-hotels everyone.

K PHILLIPS Nassau, August 30, 2024.

For years I have advocated to successive governments that unless we afford our people, and especially our young, some ownership in our natural heritage, they will never come to appreciate and accept their responsibility for building this nation. There is much less tendency to destroy what you own than that in which you have no vested interest.

Particularly on Grand Bahama, and specifically Freeport, many Bahamians tend to feel, and are often made to feel, like foreigners in their own land. This disenfranchisement must be obliterated if we are to become passionate stewards of our heritage.

Former Minister of Agriculture Larry Cartwright once told me the farming project presently in progress in Andros could not be replicated on Grand Bahama’s vast available acreage because of the frequency of hurricanes and the associated risk to crops. This argument really does not hold water since the island can go – and many times has gone – 25 years or more without any major storms.

crops,

including limes, papayas, avocados, bananas, and more, have been grown for many, many years here without a problem. Although sometimes hit by hurricanes, Grand Bahama can grow enough coconuts to supply our nation and others with all the coconut water that could be desired. Coconut trees tolerate storms well and can survive even in brackish water, unlike other crops. Just behold all the wasteland on Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian. What a missed opportunity!

Young Bahamians could be empowered by providing each with a parcel of land to cultivate under a group of experienced farming mentors. There is sufficient acreage in the country to accommodate every high school graduate. This alone would give them a sense of belonging, pride and ownership.

Much youth violence today results from the absence of closeness to Mother Earth and the gentle power of her creative force. How can anyone become violent who knows the patient and joyous expectation, from the planting of a seed to the harvesting of the fruit?

Hidden crops of marijuana, with their damaging effects on our youth, thrive annually in the pine barrens of Grand Bahama.

Can you imagine, therefore, what can be produced by our young people from an organised, part private, part government funded project? The results could save the hundreds of millions of dollars a year on imports, as we savor the fruits of our own hands.

Having been driven from the land has created an aversion in our people, especially the young. Consequently, many view occupations based on the land as menial. This is indeed a tragedy, for such a mentality rejects the very physical essence of our existence as human beings. However just as a mindset can be systematically ingrained into a people, it can similarly be

decoded.

The political directorate of our small country has long lost sight of the unlimited treasure of our only ‘solid’ heritage. The proverbial goose laying the golden eggs may not be dead, but she is in an advanced state of geriatric disintegration. It grieves me to hear so often from so many aspiring farmers how difficult it is, or pretty much impossible, for them to secure the necessary assistance and/or land from government to produce food from our land. It is reprehensible, criminal and inexcusable that every June, we send graduates forth by the thousands without a clue as to what they are to do –leading towards dangerous paths and very uncertain futures. We literally set them up for a life of failure, for we neglect to give them the tools with which to survive.

They are left to be dragged into the abyss of crime, violence and societal destruction, which they truly believe are the only avenues available. What demons, then, do we face in the future if we do not prep our land to become the creative cradle for our thousands of emerging citizens?

Our youth are ready with minimum guidance. Look how so many of them now are rushing naturally into environmental work and preservation. They glow now with awesome inspiration even digging their hands into the mud of Mother Earth to help restore her beauty. Give them the means to place a meaningful eye on their own future on this planet, and watch their eyes glow with wonder!

I again appeal to our government, and with all my might, to bring an enlightened and dynamic approach to the abundant utilisation of our natural resources of land and sea, fresh water and perfect climate. In the dignity and honor befitting Mother Earth, she will lavishly bestow her gifts upon us.

JOSEPH DARVILLE

Freeport

July 30, 2024

(Previous version

Have a cool, fun, interesting, amazing photo? Have it featured here in The Tribune’s picture of the day! Email your high quality image to pictureoftheday@tribunemedia.net

A RESIDENT uses a laundry tub to protect him from rain as he wades along a flooded street caused by Tropical Storm Yagi, locally called Enteng, on Monday, in Cainta, Rizal province, Philippines.

Photo: Aaron Favila/AP

Bringing the taste of ‘Down Home’ to Canada with a Bahamian food store

By LYNAIRE MUNN I NGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

CINDY Patrice DaxonKnowles, social media

figure, and her husband

Ross Knowles have brought a long-held dream to life with the opening of “Down Home Food Store” in Ontario, Canada.

The store, which opened on August 28, purports to be the first Bahamian grocery store in Canada, offering a taste of home to those living abroad.

Mrs Daxon-Knowles, motivated by her own difficulties finding Bahamian ingredients in Canada, envisioned a store where fellow Bahamians could access familiar foods and seasonings.

“I used to search for food with my types of seasonings and ingredients but couldn’t find anything. I would go to African, Indian, and Middle Eastern stores looking for something close to what I needed but never found it. I would always have to ask someone coming over to bring me supplies,” she told The Tribune on Friday.

The store, which offers Bahamian sodas, seasonings, food items, and seafood, has quickly become a beacon of hope and connection for the Bahamian community in Canada.

“It makes me a very

opportunity to get the ingredients they need and feel at home in a foreign country.”

Initially starting as a mobile operation for roughly three years before transitioning to a storefront, the business has drawn customers who drive over an hour to support it. “It’s easier for them to take a two-hour drive than to go on the plane and come back,”

Mrs Daxon-Knowles said.

She expressed gratitude to her husband for motivating her to take the leap of faith, while also reflecting on their journey.

“Everything fell into place. It was like the door actually opened for us; everything just fell into place, but I know it could only have been the grace of God because everything fell into place before I could even see it.”

The couple plan to open two additional locations by the end of the year, one in Toronto, Canada, and the other in Niagara, Canada.

Mrs Daxon-Knowles said the store’s location on a street named after her late grandmother, Susan Darling, who raised her, has made the milestone even more special. She said the store is not just a business venture but a heartfelt tribute to family and heritage, adding she

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded in custody yesterday after being accused of nearly fatally stabbing his brother at a residence in Joan’s Heights last week.

Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley arraigned Alexio Charlow, 37, on charges of attempted murder.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

FOUR men were granted bail yesterday after they were allegedly found with a loaded gun in New Providence last weekend.

Charlow allegedly stabbed his brother, Alex Charlow, multiple times in the upper body with a sharp object following an argument at a home on Forge Avenue around 11pm on August 28.

The 24-year-old victim was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle and was last listed in stable condition. The defendant was

informed that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on February 6, 2025.

Devard Francis represented the accused, and Inspector Deon Barr served as the prosecutor.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A JAMAICAN man was jailed yesterday after allegedly stabbing another detainee at the Carmichael Road Detention Center on Sunday.

Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr arraigned Daniel Grant, 27, on charges of causing harm. Grant allegedly stabbed and injured Evens Mombaint, a Haitian national, during a physical altercation at the detention centre on September 1. Although Grant initially pleaded guilty, Magistrate Allen entered a not-guilty plea after Grant claimed he acted in self-defence. Grant said Mr Mombaint attacked him first with a weapon before he turned it against his alleged assailant.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

Grant will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his next court appearance on September 18.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie raised no objections to bail.

The defendants’ bail was set at $7,500 each, with one or two sureties. They must sign in at their local police station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday by 6pm. Additionally, they must adhere to a curfew from

Magistrate Lennox Coleby arraigned Diego Cartwright, 20, Quintino Saunders, 21, Joshua Lewis, 21, and Deniro Bowe, 22, on charges of possession of an unlicenced firearm and possession of ammunition. The quartet were allegedly found with a black Springfield 9mm pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition on September 1.

7pm to 7am and will be fitted with a monitoring device.

Magistrate Coleby warned them not to associate with anyone on bail or wearing a monitoring device. He emphasized that any breach of these conditions would risk revoking their bail.

They were informed of their right to appeal the court’s bail decision.

The trial begins on November 13.

Ian Cargill, K Melvin Munroe, Devard Francis, and Moses Bain represented the accused.

FOUR men were granted bail yesterday after being accused of stripping a car of $1,700 worth of parts on Baillou Hill Road last weekend.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville arraigned Christopher Poitier, 18, Shaquel Kemp, 30, Garcia Nottage, 38, and Richard Brown, 30, on charges of stealing. Poitier faced an additional charge of receiving.

The defendants allegedly stripped and stole parts valued at $1,700 from a 2014 Honda Fit belonging to

Taneil Strachan on August 31. Later that day, Poitier was reportedly found with some of the stolen car parts.

All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Lewis objected to bail for Kemp and Nottage, citing their pending charges. He also noted that Nottage had a 2015 armed robbery conviction, and Kemp had a prior conviction for stealing.

Mark Penn, representing the accused, argued that Kemp and Nottage would appear for trial and noted that they were already

wearing monitoring devices. He suggested that the court could impose conditions to ensure their return.

Kemp’s and Nottage’s bail was set at $2,500 each, with one or two sureties, while the remaining two defendants were granted bail at $1,500 each.

All four defendants must sign in twice weekly at their respective police stations by 7pm. They will also be fitted with monitoring devices. Magistrate Serville advised the defendants to avoid close association with others already on bail or wearing monitoring devices.

The trial in this matter begins on October 9.

CINDY Patrice Daxon-Knowles and her husband Ross Knowles opened Down Home Food Store in Canada, bringing the flavours and ingredients of Bahamian foods to the community, at the end of August this year.

Making Nassau a more liveable place

The best cities in the world, however, are designed for the residents to enjoy with the visitor experience being secondary. We, too, have to start with ourselves — our own visions and desires for where we live and how we would like to enjoy it.

DURING the summer, many Bahamians take vacation and, when affordable, travel for shopping, entertainment, reunions, graduations, and food. We all notice the stark difference between Nassau, in particular, as a destination and cities in the US.

Upon return from vacation, it is hard to ignore the fact that it is much more challenging to live in, navigate, and enjoy Nassau. Even as residents, we dread the day-to-day unavoidable experiences like inordinate amount of time spent in traffic at least twice per day. The limited options for spending a lunch break outside of the office without go to a sit-down restaurant, for example, is frustrating.

The cost of living, dearth of accessible public spaces, and lack of free events and activities make a small place feel even smaller. Even when we talk about making Nassau a beautiful city, it is with tourists in mind. The best cities in the world, however, are designed for the residents to enjoy with the visitor experience being secondary. We, too, have to start with ourselves — our own visions and desires for where we live and how we would like to enjoy it. Here are nine elements of liveable, enjoyable cities that can exist in Nassau, if only we make the investment:

PUBLIC TRANS P ORTATION

People need a way to

By Alicia Wallace

get around the city. Private transportation is not sufficient. Not only are there people who cannot afford to buy, insure, licence, and maintain cars, but everyone owning and car and using them for every trip is detrimental to the environment. It also, as we have seen in New Providence, leads to traffic issues that are difficult to manage on a small land mass with less than standard roads. For people to give us their cars or, at the very least, choose to drive them less, public transportation needs to be easy to use. Reliability, safety, and efficiency are among the top expectations that people have for public transportation. Passengers need to know the routes for the lines, where there are stops, what it costs to get to various destinations, payment methods that are accepted, and peak times. People who have other options will only use public transportation when they are relatively certain that it is safe and their arrival times are predictable.

LIVELY ENERGY

A big part of the appeal

of cities is the movement of people through them. When people are out and about, using public space, cities become more attractive. A city is alive when people are walking around, playing games, having picnics, exercising, having group meetups, and enjoying life outdoors. People will only be visible in a city when they can go to great spaces and events, and when they can be outside without being hassled by police or accused of “loitering”.

Parks and green spaces. Cities need spaces that are specifically designed for people to enjoy. There are large, shady trees to sit under and catch up with friends. There are playgrounds for children to enjoy while their parents watch from benches. There are fruit-bearing trees where people gather, meet their neighbors, and talk about the changing seasons. People can bring packed lunches to parks, spread blankets, and enjoy the fresh air. Buskers put on shows, catching the attention of passersby who slow down to enjoy them. A limited number of vendors may have licenses to sell ice cream, natural juices, and delicacies made with native produce.

CLEAN AND SANITARY

Public spaces are clean. There are large garbage bins that people are encouraged to use. They are emptied regularly and the surrounding areas are kept clean. The sidewalks and streets are regularly washed, so the scent of spoiled food and human waste, if they ever rise, do not last long. The grass is cut, the flower gardens are properly maintained, and benches are cleaned daily. Structures do not go without use because of

animal droppings or spills that are not cleaned. There are public restrooms, and they are stocked with toilet paper, hand soap, paper towel, and menstrual hygiene products. They have baby changing tables. They are staffed all day, so the facilities are always ready for use.

PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY

Not only are cars not necessary, but even when people use public transportation to get to a part of the city, they can move about as pedestrians with ease. People of all ages and (dis)abilities can enjoy the city. Elderly people can walk around freely, knowing that they can find a place to sit when needed. Parents can take their children and be confident that there are enough activities and equipment to engage them. People with mobility devices can navigate sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, parks, beaches, and squares. The street lights work, the corners are clear of bushes, and drainage systems are clear and working. Even on a rainy day, people can walk around the city and not be ankle-deep in water.

ART

There are galleries with knowledgeable staff, reasonable hours to accommodate working people, and programming for the entire family and people venturing out alone. There are ways for people with low incomes to access galleries. People have opportunities to engage with artists and learn more about their work. Beyond galleries, there is public art for people to explore on their own.

CULTURE

The best cities have diversity working in their favour. There are people from all over the world, a variety of languages are spoken, music is uplifting, and the food and drinks bring flavour combinations that would not happen without immigration. Everyone is not the same, and

this celebrated, becoming a part of what makes the city fun and appealing to residents and visitors alike.

FOOD AND DRINKS

The culinary scene is for everyone to enjoy. From $3 street food to fine dining experiences, people are impressed by the menus, services, and memories they make from the time they order to the time they leave. There are restaurants at varied price points, cafes to grab a quick coffee, linger with a cup of tea, or meet up with friends to enjoy pastries, and fast food that is local, inexpensive,

and on all of the must-try lists in guides to the city.

MARKETS

Vendors are all friendly and ready to make a sell, and offering differentiated products. They are selling homemade treats, handmade crafts, and upcycled products with local flair. Their stalls are attractive, signage is clear, and staff are pleasant without being pushy. It is a great environment for people interested in learning about the city and the lives of the people in it, and it is easy to make purchases by cash, card, or transfer.

1. I Guess It Was My Destiny to Live So Long: Exploring the Work of June Jordan. This session at Socialism 2024 was livestreamed to YouTube and the recording is available on the Haymarket Books channel. In this session, Hanif Abdurraqib explores radical poems and love poems by June Jordan, and the way that the two radical political and love intersect. The session starts at 3:40.

2. Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman. Known by most of their audience for Call Your Girlfriend, “the podcast for long distances besties everywhere,” Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman are best friends who have been deeply committed to each other for years. They have shared their friendship on their podcast where they used to catch up on personal and pop culture news, letting listeners eavesdrop on their friendship. In this book, they share the story of how they met, the ways they support each other, the popularisation of “shine theory”, the difficult time in their friendship and their attempt to repair it, and how they plan to stay close. Rebecca Traitor said, “Here, friendship gets the emotional and intellectual respect it deserves; and like any truly great love story, Ann’s and Amina’s is a page turner. I love this book.” Bustle called the authors “the patron saints of friendship.” It is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audio book.

3. Women’s Wednesdays: Prioritising Rest Women’s Wednesdays, the monthly event series by Equality Bahamas, is back, and it is opening with a discussion on rest. In the midst of long to-do lists, responsibilities, pending messages, and time lost in traffic, rest can seem elusive. Even the way we talk about rest suggests that it is less than a necessity, or that it is only needed to enable us to keep working. In this session, Equality Bahamas is facilitating a discussion on the the importance of rest as a practice and an imperative. Margot Bethel, mindfulness meditation practitioner and student in a teachers’ training program, will offer guided meditation following the discussion on Wednesday, September 4, at 6pm. Register to join: tiny.cc/wwrest.

VISITORS considering a purchase from a vendor at the Nassau Cruise Port.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

What does robot waiter mean for human labour?

NAIROBI,

Kenya

Associated Press

CHILDREN giggle as young people flash their smartphones to film robots carrying plates of freshly prepared meals on their inbuilt trays to deliver to diners in a busy eatery in Kenya’s capital.

Nairobi has a vibrant tech industry with various startups and innovations in operation and has positioned itself as a tech hub in the East African region bearing the nickname The Silicone Savanna.

This is the Robot Cafe, believed to be the first of its kind in Nairobi and East Africa, where three robots glide among human waiters serving food to mesmerised customers.

These preprogrammed robots were acquired for entertainment. Cafe owner Mohammed Abbas says he experienced robot service in Asian and European countries and decided to invest in them.

“It was very expensive to import the robots,” he says, but adds that the

investment has borne fruit, because the restaurant is “often busy with curious customers” who come to experience robot service.

One customer, Packson Chege, picks up a plate of fries from the robot tray as his friend films the experience across the table.

“I can say it is something unique because here in our country Kenya, I have never seen a restaurant like this one so I think for me, it is a good idea from the owner of this restaurant,” he said.

The three robots, which are named Claire, R24 and Nadia, aren’t programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say “Your order is ready, welcome” and then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray.

They are commanded by waiters through an application on an iPad.

Human waiters are still important in the operations of the cafe, because they take orders from customers who don’t use the online ordering option. The waiters then place the food on the robot tray when it’s ready and deliver drinks in person.

says the robots aren’t a replacement for human waiters as they can’t offer all services.

The technology is predicted to disrupt the future workforce globally, and especially in Africa, where there is a youthful population with a median age of 19 years. But the cafe’s manager

$33.7M FINE OVER ILLEGAL DATABASE OF FACES FOR

THE HAGUE, Netherlands

Associated Press

THE DUTCH data protection watchdog yesterday issued facial recognition startup Clearview AI with a fine of 30.5 million euros ($33.7m) over its creation of what the agency called an “illegal database” of billion of photos of faces.

The Netherlands’ Data Protection Agency, or DPA, also warned Dutch companies that using Clearview’s services is also banned.

The data agency said that New York-based Clearview “has not objected to this decision and is therefore unable to appeal against the fine”.

amounted to serious breaches of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR.

“Facial recognition is a highly intrusive technology, that you cannot simply unleash on anyone in the world,” DPA chairman Aleid Wolfsen said in a statement.

‘If there is a photo of you on the Internet — and doesn’t that apply to all of us? — then you can end up in the database of Clearview and be tracked.’

But in a statement emailed to The Associated Press, Clearview’s chief legal officer, Jack Mulcaire, said that the decision is “unlawful, devoid of due process and is unenforceable”.

The Dutch agency said that building the database and insufficiently informing people whose images appear in the database

“If there is a photo of you on the Internet — and doesn’t that apply to all of us? — then you can end up in the database of Clearview and be tracked. This is not a doom scenario from a scary film. Nor is it something that could only be done in China,” he said.

DPA said that if Clearview doesn’t halt the breaches of the regulation, it faces noncompliance penalties of up to 5.1 million euros ($5.6m) on top of the fine.

Mulcaire said in his statement that Clearview doesn’t fall under EU data protection regulations.

“Clearview AI does not have a place of business in the Netherlands or the EU, it does not have any customers in the Netherlands or the EU, and does not undertake any activities that would otherwise mean it is subject to the GDPR,” he said.

A hospitality industry expert, Edith Ojwang, said that there’s room for robotic and human service to coexist in the industry.

“The hospitality industry is very diverse. We have

“At no point are the robots able to fully function in all the services that are supposed to be ongoing in the restaurant without the human touch,” John Kariuki said. “The robots are actually way too expensive for us to acquire, so if you are trying to save money, it is not going to work if you choose to go the robotic way.”

In June, Clearview reached a settlement in an Illinois lawsuit alleging its massive photographic collection of faces violated the subjects’ privacy rights, a deal that attorneys estimate could be worth more than $50m. Clearview didn’t admit any liability as part of the

settlement agreement.

The case in Illinois consolidated lawsuits from around the US filed against Clearview, which pulled photos from social media and elsewhere on the internet to create a database that it sold to businesses, individuals and government entities.

BRAZIL COURT BACKS RULING BLOCKING X

A BRAZILIAN Supreme Court panel on Monday unanimously upheld the decision of one of its justices to block billionaire Elon Musk’s social media platform X nationwide, according to the court’s website. The broader support among justices undermines the effort by Musk and his supporters to cast Justice Alexandre de Moraes as an authoritarian renegade who is intent on censoring political speech in Brazil.

The panel that voted in a virtual session was comprised of five of the full bench’s 11 justices, including de Moraes, who last Friday ordered the platform blocked for refusing to name a local legal representative, as required by law. It will stay suspended until it complies with his orders and pays outstanding fines that as of last week exceeded $3m, according to his decision.

The platform has clashed with de Moraes over its reluctance to block users, and has alleged that de Moraes wants an in-country legal representative so that Brazilian authorities can exert leverage over the company by having someone to arrest.

De Moraes also set a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900) for people or companies using virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access X. Some legal experts questioned the grounds for that decision and how it would be enforced, including Brazil’s bar association, which said it would request the Supreme Court review that provision. But the majority of the panel upheld the VPN fine — with one justice opposing.

ROBOTIC waiter Claire, delivers an order to customers at the Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say “Your order is ready, welcome” then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray.

Photo: Brian Inganga/AP

HOAN TON-THAT, CEO of Clearview AI, demonstrates the company’s facial recognition software using a photo of himself in New York in 2022.

Photo: Seth Wenig/AP

Darville: Govt looking to recruit 80 nurses from African countries

from page one

two-year contract with his ministry.

“Our recruitment exercise is progressing,” he said in Cat Island. “We have already brought in some nurses a few months ago, and they are doing exceptionally well in the Family Islands. We are now back in Africa recruiting and looking to bring in 80 additional nurses.”

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis encouraged Cat Island residents to inspire young people to consider careers in healthcare services.

“It doesn’t have to be as a nurse or a doctor,” he said.

“There are many other roles in healthcare services that we need. Worldwide, there’s a shortage of healthcare providers because the pandemic severely impacted many countries.”

The meeting also focused on plans for the Stevenson

Clinic on the island.

Dr Darville said the government believes the clinic will meet the needs of Cat Island’s growing population and support direct foreign investment projects on the island. He said the facility will function as an urgent care centre. The minister noted that emergency medical transportation will be available on the ground to connect with airlift for emergency cases.

“You won’t be hospitalised in less than ideal conditions,” he said. “Instead, you will receive better care, and if the urgent care facility cannot handle an emergency, the on-ground emergency transport will connect you with air transport out of the country.”

The minister also announced that lab and diagnostic services will soon be introduced on the island and that 12 new ambulances from Spain are scheduled to arrive on Friday.

MET DIRECTOR WARNS AGAINST COM PLACENCY OVER UNUSUALLY CAL M HURRICANE SEASON

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

SAHARAN dust has contributed to an unexpectedly calm hurricane season –– though Director of Meteorology Jeffrey Simmons warned against complacency in hurricane preparedness. At the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, officials said there was a 60 percent chance of an “above-normal” season, with forecasts of up to 21 named storms, 11 potential hurricanes, and as many as five major hurricanes at Category 3 or higher. So far, there have been five storms, including three hurricanes. The season ends on November 30.

Research meteorologist Ryan Maue, a former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist with a significant Twitter following,

described the Atlantic as “broken” this season due to the lack of hurricane activity, citing cooler ocean temperatures in typical storm formation areas and dry air from Saharan dust clouds as significant barriers to hurricane development. He said these patterns haven’t been seen in 50 years.

Mr Simmons agreed with Mr Maue’s assessment, explaining that a large amount of Saharan dust has absorbed much of the atmospheric moisture, leading to fewer storms despite high ocean temperatures this season.

Mr Maue speculated that the unusual weather patterns might be linked to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption, which released significant material into the atmosphere and potentially altered weather patterns.

Mr Simmons acknowledged the impact of volcanic ash and dust on weather, saying: “Volcanoes send ash thousands of feet into the air, and while the heavier material settles quickly, smaller dust particles linger in the upper atmosphere, affecting weather patterns. This volume of dust hanging in the atmosphere can draw out moisture, inhibiting rainfall. So, volcanic eruptions definitely have an impact.

“There is a connection between Sahara dust and volcanic eruptions, both of which dry out the air by absorbing moisture. Even with ocean temperatures above normal, a dry atmosphere can prevent storm development. This is an interesting theory Mr Maue has put forward, and I believe it holds some credibility.”

HEALTH AND WELLNESS MINISTER DR MICHAEL DARVILLE

DIRECTOR OF THE BAHAMAS DEP ARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY JEFFREY SIMMONS

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

‘Junkanoo Boyz’ ready for battle

By TENAJH SWEETING

Sports Reporter

The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) has released the 20-man roster scheduled to represent the country in Group A of League C for the first window of the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League matchups.

The “Junkanoo Boyz” will begin the September window of the group stage today at 6pm (EST) against the US Virgin Islands in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex.

The team will play their “home” game against Barbados at the same venue on Saturday at 3pm due to ongoing renovations at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Named to the team roster are Michael Butler, Vance Wheaton, Alexiou Cartwright, Junior Kelly, Johnathan Miller, William Bayles, Michael Massey, Quinton Carey, Christopher Rahming, Wood Julmis, Lesly St Fleur, Brandon Adderley, Walter Sawyer, Nahum Johnson, Kai Perez, Rashaan Bain, Deron Ferguson, Jordan Cheetham, Nathan Wells and Luca Chiacchiari.

In the CONCACAF Nations League

The team’s coaching staff includes head coach Nesly Jean and assistant coach Kevin Davies. Other supporting members are team manager Larry Minus, head of delegation Frederick Lunn and medic Daniel Miller. Assistant coach Davies expressed that there were some setbacks in

terms of getting the group together for training, but he is expecting the team to perform well during this window. “I am pretty confident that we can do well. Now that we are here, the guys have become more focused. There is a lot of good camaraderie. We expect them to step up and perform at a high level. We are gonna train today to see how we want to start and go through some tactical stuff we want to do to get prepared for tomorrow,” he said. The 20-member group features a wide array of veteran performers and young players looking to make their mark during the group stage.

THE New Providence Public Primary Schools

Sports Association is gearing up for another exciting season, according to president Latoya Bain.

Bain noted that although they won’t begin competition until October, the physical education teachers will spend the next month preparing their teams for the competition.

“We plan to have an outstanding school year again this year,” Bain said. “We have a few new coaches coming in from the University of the Bahamas at Albury Sayles and Columbus Primary. “They didn’t

have coaches or physical education teachers there last year, but they do now. So we are looking at increasing the teams participating in our events, which should increase the level of competition.”

Charlene Symonette will be coaching at Thelma Gibson, Roealind Benjamin will be at Columbus Primary and Delihia Strap at Albury Sayles. Shaquille Williams will be going to Andros.

“We are excited about the new additions to the system,” Bain said. “We feel with them added to those already in the

system, we will have an exciting and competitive season.”

The season is due to start from October 7-11 at the Roscoe Davies Developmental Center where the Bahamas Football Association will host the Dawn Knowles Soccer Tournament.

The tournament is being held in honour of Knowles, a long-time former director of sports for the primary schools in the Ministry of Education.

In preparation for the tournament, the physical education teachers participated in their annual

September

TRACK RED-LINE CROSS COUNTRY

IN preparation for the off-season training, the Red-Line Athletics Track Club is scheduled to hold its inaugural Cross Country & Fitness Run on Saturday, September 14, at the St Augustine’s College Campus. The categories for the male and female runners are under-9, under11, under-13, under-15, under-17, under-20, under-30, under-40, under50 and over-50. The male and female walkers will compete in the under20, under-30, under-40, under-50 and over-50 categories.

The course length will be one-mile over two hills, a staircase, road and grass surfaces that will feel like two miles. Trophies will be distributed to the first three all age groups and divisions for both the walkers and the

runners. The registration fee is $20 per athlete and interested persons can register online at redlineathletics242@gmail.com UB CROSS COUNTRY THE University of the Bahamas will hold its annual Cross Country 2K24 Invitational on Saturday, September 28, starting at 7 am at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium. Interested persons can contact coach Ednal Rolle at 424-6469 or ednql.roolle@ub.edu.bs for more details. SOFTBALL EXUMA HOMECOMING THE Williams Town Exuma Homecoming Association is scheduled to hold a softball game and road race over the weekend of October

SEE PAGE 13

coaches’ clinic last month that was organised by the BFA.

Following softball, the association will host its second cross country championships, but the date and venue has not yet been finalised, followed by softball for girls and baseball for boys joint tournament from November 25-29 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

After taking a break for Christmas, basketball will kick off the new year in 2025 from January 27-31 in the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, followed by volleyball, also at the

According to coach Davies, the coaching staff is anticipating the seasoned and younger players to step into their roles and put on a good showing. “There is a mix of veteran and younger players. We expect the veterans to lead like veterans and we

By TENAJH SWEETING

THE opening round of the Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association (BGDBA) playoffs got underway on Monday night at the DW Davis Gymnasium and teams have already taken charge in their respective best-of-three series.

The Real Deal Rangers dished out a 28-point (92-64) drubbing against the Nassau Flight Services Ballers on Monday night to take an early 1-0 series lead. The Bamboo Shack Patrollers defeated the Bahamas Department of Corrections (BDOCs) Challengers 80-71 to take control 1-0 in the matchup. Rangers vs Ballers

While the Nassau Flight Services Ballers struggled with dismal shooting numbers, the Rangers showed why they were the real deal on the offensive end with four players hitting double digits.

Craig Smith Jr got the job done on offence and defence. He stuffed the stat sheet with a game-high 28 points, 12 rebounds and three steals.

His teammates Mark Hanna and Michael Turnquest also finished the contest with double-doubles.

Hanna scored 14 points, grabbed a team-high 14 boards and dished out five assists in the win. Turnquest pitched in 15 points, 13 rebounds and three assists on the night and Roscoe Dean mailed in 17 points.

Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium from March 17-21.

Golf will also be staged at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range and Nine-Hole Golf Course at the Billou Hills Sports Complex before the year is concluded with the track and field competition at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium from April 23-25.

Bain said they have also been invited to join the newly formed Bahamas Handbook Association headed by president Wellington Miller but they too have not set any dates for any competition as yet.

The Rangers earned a 24-19 lead after the first quarter of play to keep the game within reach for the Ballers. However, the team

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas Mingoes men’s soccer players Nathan Wells and Junior Kelly were named to the senior men’s national soccer team for the first window of the 2024-2025 CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League group stage matches. This is not the first rodeo for either player on the national team with Wells, who plays midfield, even contributing a goal for his country in last year’s edition.

“I’m always honoured to represent the country,” Wells said. “I’m grateful that I was chosen once again. I’m looking forward to playing on the international stage. To play against and alongside great players.”

The matches are slated for Wednesday, September 4 and Saturday, September 7 at

the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Kelly, who plays left back, said he is looking to be more involved on the team’s offence.

The 19-year-old is coming off a knee injury but played strong in the Mingoes matches in South Florida last month.

“My mindset heading back in is to keep a good record,” he said. “Last time I played I didn’t cause any major defensive breakdowns

but I also wasn’t a big part of the offence. I just felt like another player on the field but this time around I hope to use my time more efficiently and be more effective going forward.”

The team plays USVI today then plays Barbados on Saturday.

Kelly is looking to see them leaving the Virgin Islands with two wins.

“The Bahamas beat USVI many years ago and I hope we can keep it the same way seeing that we are ranked higher than them.

“I’ve never seen Barbados play but the senior players don’t seem too worried about the competition so I shouldn’t be neither,” Kelly said.

Wells, 23, said that it is good to have a familiar face in Kelly on the team again. “It’s a great sight to see SEE PAGE 14

EMMA NAVARRO AND TAYLOR FRITZ EACH REACH

THEIR FIRST MAJOR SEMIFINALS AT THE US OPEN

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Emma Navarro rode a stunning turnaround right into her first Grand Slam semifinal, beating Paula Badosa 6-2, 7-5 at the U.S. Open yesterday to follow up her upset of defending champion Coco Gauff.

Taylor Fritz then earned his first berth in the final four of a major, beating 2020 U.S. Open runner-up Alexander Zverev 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Fritz had been 0-4 in Grand Slam quarterfinals but finally broke through against Zverev, the No. 4 seed he also defeated in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

“I’ve had a lot of looks at quarterfinals over the last couple of years and today just felt different,” Fritz said.

“I really felt like it was my time to take it a step further.”

Fritz controlled the action behind his strong serving, winning 20 of 21 points on his first serve in the fourth set and 81% in the match.

Zverev said Fritz played a good match, but he was frustrated by his own play that he said was terrible.

“I mean, at some point I didn’t know what to do anymore. At some point I just had so many questions in my mind,” Zverev said.

“I had absolutely no idea whether I should go for it, whether I should put the ball on the court.

“Then I tried to put the ball on the court, it would go bottom of the net. A

few shots I went for it, they flew ... I was missing by, like, 6 feet, regular baseline shots.”

On the women’s side, Navarro was trailing 5-1 in the second set and was three points from having to go to a deciding third she she won the next four points to stay alive, starting a stretch in which she captured 24 of the final 28 points of the match.

“I think things weren’t looking great there in the second set, but just tried to be really tough, stick in there, make her hit one more ball,” Navarro said.

“I felt like if I could scrap out a few longer points, maybe put some pressure on her, I felt like I could come back and maybe close it out in two sets.

“Happy with how I was able to do that.”

Navarro, the No. 13-seeded American who had never even won a match in the main draw of her home major before this year, advanced to face No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka or seventh-seeded Zheng Qinwen in Thursday’s semis.

The 23-year-old Navarro, who ousted the No. 3-seeded Gauff on Sunday in the fourth round, ran through the first set in 29 minutes before the No. 26-seeded Badosa opened a 5-1 lead in the second.

But when Navarro broke the Spaniard in the next game, the player who leads the WTA Tour with 18 wins in three sets had a feeling she might not need to play a third. “I felt like, even though she was up 5-1, 5-2 after that game, I felt like

she wasn’t totally confident in her ability to close out that set,” Navarro said.

“So I felt like if I could push back a little bit and make her think a little bit on her service game, maybe I could sneak my way back in there.”

She did, taking six straight games with some help from Badosa, who said she was a “disaster” while

dealing with the pressure of trying to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal.

“I never had the momentum in this match. I played four or five games OK. It was 5-1, but I never felt myself on the court,” Badosa said.

“I lost, I don’t know, 20 points almost in a row. It’s very weird for me because I’m quite a consistent player, so I wasn’t expecting that either.” Navarro also beat Gauff in the fourth round at Wimbledon before losing to eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the next round, a 6-2, 6-1 rout in less than an hour. But the 2021 NCAA singles champion at Virginia was ready for this matchup between New York natives, jumping on Badosa to win the first three games, then seizing the opening Badosa gave her late. Navarro became the sixth player in the last 40 years to reach the U.S. Open semis without a previous main-draw victory in the tournament, a list that includes recent champions Bianca Andreescu in 2019 and Emma Raducanu in 2021.

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — Maria Sharapova, a fivetime Grand Slam singles champion, and the doubles team of brothers Mike and Bob Bryan are on the ballot for International Tennis Hall of Fame’s class of 2025. Daniel Nestor, a 12-time major doubles champion from Canada, also returns to the ballot that was announced yesterday.

Sharapova is one of 10 women to complete the career Grand Slam, winning her first major at Wimbledon in 2004 at 17.

The Russian twice won the French Open, captured titles at the U.S. Open in 2006 and Australian Open in 2008, reached No. 1 in the WTA rankings and spent 408 weeks in the top 5. The Bryans teamed for 16 major titles, the 2012 Olympic gold medal and a record 438 weeks atop the doubles rankings. Mike Bryan is the career leader with 18 Grand Slam doubles titles, winning a pair

with Jack Sock while his twin brother was injured in 2018. Nestor won eight doubles and four mixed doubles major titles, along with the Olympic gold medal in 2000. The class will be announced in October

ARYNA SABALENKA, of Belarus, does a split after a return against Zheng Qinwen, of China, during the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships yesterday in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

TAYLOR FRITZ, of the United States, reacts in the fourth set against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the quarterfinals. (AP Photos/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

MARIA Sharapova of Russia (AP)

EMMA NAVARRO, of the United States, reacts after defeating Paula Badosa, of Spain, during the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships yesterday in New York.

Pro Picks: Eagles will beat Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, preventing a 3-peat

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer

THE Chiefs are going for a three-peat. Aaron Rodgers is trying to propel the Jets to prominence. The Ravens have unfinished business.

That’s just three of the contending teams in a stacked AFC.

The Bills, Bengals, Texans and Dolphins each have a legitimate chance to go deep in the postseason.

The Jaguars could make a run and the Steelers are always competitive.

Then there’s the NFC where fewer teams have a shot at the Super Bowl. The 49ers are favourites to win the conference, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

But it’s been a rough training camp in San Francisco because of contract disputes.

The Eagles loaded up after a late-season collapse prevented them from going back to the Super Bowl. The Lions almost got there last season and will be in the mix again.

The Packers could take another step after Jordan Love led them to the division round. The Cowboys lost talent but still have Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons.

Pro Picks predictions per division:

NFC East

No team has repeated in this division since the Eagles won four titles in a row from 2001-04. The Cowboys took advantage of Philadelphia’s freefall from a 10-1 start so it’s the Eagles’ turn again. Jalen Hurts has something to prove after a disappointing season following a breakout year. Saquon Barkley joins him, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in a loaded offence. They’ve got two new and proven coordinators — Kellen Moore on offense and Vic Fangio on defence. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy somehow survived another playoff failure but Jerry Jones has to be running out of patience after three straight 12-win seasons ended too soon. QB Dak Prescott was a distant runner-up to Lamar Jackson for NFL MVP last season and still hasn’t received a contract extension. Dallas lost three starters on the offensive line and didn’t do much in free agency. The Washington Commanders have a new coach in Dan Quinn and may have found their franchise QB in Jayden Daniels. They’ll be improved. The Giants fell apart last season and

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11-14. The softball game will be played on October 11-12 between the Corner Boyz from the New Providence Oldtimers Softball Association and the local All-Star team from Exuma. Then on October 12, a five-mile road race will be staged, starting at 7am from the Culture Centre in Forbes Hill to the Public School in Williams Town.

Competitors in the under-9, under-11 and under-13 divisions will compete in a 2 1/2 mile run, while those in the under-15, under-17, under20 and open divisions will compete in a five-mile run.

TRACK FUN RUN/WALK RACE THE Roots Junkanoo

Group is scheduled to hold its Fun Run/Walk Race under the theme “Let’s Do This Together,” on Saturday, October 12. The event will start promptly at 6:30am at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium and will be sponsored by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the National Sports Authority. The registration fee is $25 per athlete.

Categories include under male and female Under-15, Under-20, 21-30,

Daniel Jones has to show he was worth the $160 million deal he got after leading New York to a playoff win in 2022.

1. Eagles 2. Cowboys

3. Commanders

4. Giants

NFC North Detroit lived up to its preseason hype last season and would’ve reached its first Super Bowl if coach Dan Campbell didn’t stick to his aggressive approach on fourth downs in the NFC title game in San Francisco. Jared Goff has fulfilled his potential with the Lions and he has plenty of talent surrounding him, starting with All-Pro wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Packers didn’t lose a step in their first season without Aaron Rodgers. Jordan Love led them to a playoff rout over Dallas and became a $55 million a year QB. If the defence improves, Green Bay could challenge the Lions. There’s a ton of excitement in Chicago with No. 1 pick Caleb Williams taking over and plenty of talented players joining the Bears. They could make a playoff push. The Vikings suffered a major blow when rookie QB J.J. McCarthy was lost for the season. Sam Darnold has some talented players around him, but it’ll be difficult to stay competitive in a tough division without a star under center.

1. Lions 2. Packers 3. Bears

4. Vikings

NFC South No Tom Brady was no problem for the Buccaneers. Baker led Tampa Bay to its third straight division title and a playoff rout over Philly. The Bucs re-signed several key players and remain the team to beat in a division that has improved. Kirk Cousins’ arrival in Atlanta along with new coach Raheem Morris has the Falcons in position to end a playoff drought. They’re favourites to win the division, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Cousins has playmakers and the defence got a big boost with the recent additions of Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons. Derek Carr had a so-so first season in New Orleans and there’s no reason to think it’ll get better unless the Saints’ defence carries the team. Bryce Young’s rookie year was a disaster in Carolina and the Panthers turned to head coach Dave Canales to help develop their franchise QB. Canales is the right man for the job

31-40, 41-50, 51-60 and 61-and-over.

BODYBUILDING NOVICE SHOW THE Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation will hold its 2024 Novice and National Bodybuilding Competition on Saturday, September 7 at the University of the Bahamas. Competition will be held for men and women in fitness, classic, physique, figure, bikini, wellness and bodybuilding. Tickets are priced at $30 for general admission and $40 for VIP and can be purchased from any of the bodybuilding gymnasiums. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $35 general admission and $45 for VIP.

BASKETBALL/ CYCLING/TRACK

BBSF MEETING

THE Bahamas

Baptist Sports Federation is scheduled to hold a joint meeting at 5pm on Saturday at the Baptist College, Jean Street for all churches interested in participating in the upcoming basketball, cycling and track and field events. The basketball tournament is scheduled for Friday-Saturday, September 26-27 at the CI Gibson Gymnasium; the cycling event will be held on Saturday, October 6 and the

KANSAS City Chiefs running back Keaontay Ingram (30) runs during a pre-season football game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday, August 22, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

and the team will be better, though it may not reflect in the standings.

1. Buccaneers 2. Falcons 3. Saints 4. Panthers

NFC West The 49ers have dominated the division and nearly won the Super Bowl last season when Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey finished in the top four for NFL MVP. They’re talented enough to avoid a Super Bowl hangover but need Trent Williams to settle his contract dispute to get back to the big game. Sean McVay’s best coaching season turned the Rams into a playoff team when most thought they were rebuilding. Matthew Stafford has talent around him. Replacing Aaron Donald will be difficult for Los Angeles. Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Cardinals will be a sneaky team in the division with a shot to surprise folks. New coach Mike Macdonald should help the Seahawks get tougher on defence but Geno Smith has to play more like he did in his breakout 2022 season for Seattle to have any shot at winning the division.

1. 49ers

2. Rams

3. Cardinals 4. Seahawks

AFC East

Aaron Rodgers returns from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his first season with the Jets after just four plays. He has playmakers around him and an improved offensive

track meet, being held in memory of the late Renee “Sunshine” Curry-Davis, will take place in November at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

During the meeting on Saturday, representatives from the churches will be provided with the full details of all three of the events being planned by the federation as they conclude their initial season since changing the name from the Baptist Sports Council.

ALL CARIBBEAN WRESTLING

FIGHT FOR PARADISE

THE All Caribbean Wrestling (ACW) will hold its Fight for Paradise Show on Saturday, October 19 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Doors open at 1pm. Wrestlers from throughout the Caribbean and the United States of America will be participating. For ticket information, persons can contact FightForParadise.eventbrite.com

line. All-Pros Quincy Williams and Sauce Gardner lead a stingy defence that would get a major boost if edge rusher Haason Reddick resolves his contract dispute. If the 40-year-old Rodgers stays healthy, the Jets should end the NFL’s longest active playoff drought.

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills’ four-year streak of winning the division is in peril. Top receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are gone, among a lot of roster turnover. There’s pressure on Allen to get Buffalo past the divisional round but he may not have enough pieces to help him. The Dolphins paid Tua Tagovailoa to deliver a playoff win and he’s got Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and a dynamic run game.

Miami needs its defence to step up to have success in January. The days of New England’s dynasty are long past. Jerod Mayo begins a new era for the Patriots, who may have their franchise QB in Drake Maye.

1. Jets

2. Bills

3. Dolphins

4. Patriots

AFC North

The Bengals will go as far as Joe Burrow’s health allows. He has the playmakers to help him. The defence got a boost with the addition of defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins and rookie Kris Jenkins plus safety Geno Stone came over from Baltimore. Lamar Jackson won his second MVP award and led the Ravens to eight wins by

14 points or more over winning teams. Yet Baltimore lost at home to the Chiefs in the AFC title game. The Ravens added Derrick Henry to strengthen one of the league’s top rushing offences and help offset working behind a rebuilt offensive line. The defence lost coordinator Mike Macdonald, linebacker Patrick Queen and Stone. Russell Wilson gets another chance to be successful in Pittsburgh where Mike Tomlin always find a way to have a winning record. Justin Fields is waiting if Wilson slips up. A defence led by T.J. Watt is the main reason the Steelers will push for a playoff spot. Joe Flacco isn’t around to take Cleveland where Deshaun Watson hasn’t. The Browns reached the playoffs without Watson, Nick Chubb and several key players. They’ll need AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and a top-ranked defence to get them back there again.

1. Bengals 2. Ravens 3. Steelers 4. Browns AFC South The Jaguars were 8-3 and heading toward their second straight division title under Doug Pederson before losing five of six to miss the playoffs. They gave Trevor Lawrence $275 million to deliver a championship and added players to improve the offence line and strengthen a deep D-line. Rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. should make an immediate impact. The

worst-to-first Texans led by coach DeMeco Ryans, QB C.J. Stroud and edge Will Anderson Jr. are positioned to repeat in a division that’s become more competitive. Anthony Richardson is healthy and ready to prove he was worthy of being the No. 4 pick by the Colts last season. The O-line has to keep him healthy to give Indianapolis a chance to compete. The Titans fired Mike Vrabel after a losing season and brought in Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to help Will Levis develop. Tennessee also spent money to surround Levis with more talent, signing wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd and running back Tony Pollard. If Levis proves he can be the franchise QB going forward this will be a successful season.

1. Jaguars 2. Texans 3. Colts 4. Titans

AFC West Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have owned the division since 2016 and there’s no reason to think they’re slowing down. They’re trying to become the first team to three-peat in the Super Bowl era and have the talent to do it.

The Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh, putting a proven winner in charge. He’s got Justin Herbert but may need time to get Los Angeles to the postseason. Journeyman Gardner Minshew has Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker and Brock Bowers around him in Las Vegas. Christian Wilkins teams up with Maxx Crosby on a ferocious D-line. But the Raiders will struggle to reach nine wins. Broncos coach Sean Payton jettisoned Russell Wilson and handed the starting job to rookie Bo Nix. Denver lost key players because of salary cap issues thanks to Wilson’s dead cap hit. Payton will make sure the team improves but there’s a long way to go.

1. Chiefs

2. Chargers 3. Raiders 4. Broncos NFC division winners: Eagles, Lions, Buccaneers, 49ers

NFC wild-card teams: Cowboys, Packers, Falcons NFC championship: Eagles over 49ers AFC division winners: Jets, Bengals, Jaguars, Chiefs AFC wild-card teams: Bills, Ravens, Texans AFC championship: Chiefs over Bengals Super Bowl: Eagles over Chiefs

Rangers beat ‘Jazz’ and Yankees 7-4

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Baseball Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas

(AP) — Wyatt Langford hit a game-ending grand slam off All-Star closer Clay Holmes to give the Texas Rangers a 7-4 win over the Yankees last night and drop New York out of the AL East lead.

Langford hit the first walk-off slam by a Rangers rookie, sending Holmes (2-5) to his major leaguehigh 11th blown save in 40 chances.

Texas overcame a 4-1, eighth-inning deficit.

Carson Kelly had a oneout single in the ninth, and Josh Smith and Marcus Semien followed with walks as Holmes threw just 12 of 25 pitches for strikes. Langford then pulled a full-count slider 407 feet to left for his 10th homer this season.

New York (80-59) fell a half-game behind Baltimore (81-59) for the division lead and the best record in the American League. It was the third straight win at home for the Rangers in walk-off fashion. They won in their final at-bats Saturday and Sunday against

Oakland before losing the series opener against New York.

Rookie lefty Walter Pennington (1-0), the sixth Texas pitcher, got one out for his first big league victory.

Carlos Rodón had a season-high 11 strikeouts while pitching one-hit ball over six innings. The only hit the New York left-hander allowed was Josh Jung’s homer leading off the fourth.

New York went ahead after Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr and Anthony Volpe opened the seventh

with consecutive singles. José Leclerc (5-5) balked to push them both up a base, then Jose Trevino had an RBI groundout and Alex Verdugo lined a single over the drawn-in infield for a 2-1 lead.

Volpe added a two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth, and the speedy Chisholm Jr likely would have also scored from first had he not stopped despite being waved around by third base coach Luis Rojas.

Chisholm Jr, who had his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, seemed to

acknowledge that he didn’t pick up the sign when he pointed to his eyes.

The Rangers scored twice in the eighth, when Jung had an RBI single and Nathaniel Lowe a sacrifice fly. Texas starter Andrew Heaney struck out eight

BGDBA: RANGERS, PATROLLERS TAKE 1-0 LEAD IN SERIES

turned up the intensity in the second quarter to build a double-digit deficit before halftime.

The Rangers went on a quick 11-4 scoring run which Smith Jr kept rolling with a three-pointer at the 7:45 mark of the contest.

His jumper from long range gave the Rangers a 33-23 lead which eventually turned into a 51-34 advantage with less than a minute to go in the second period.

The Rangers were flying high and went into the locker rooms with an 18-point (52-34) cushion.

Play resumed in the third quarter and the Real Deal Rangers picked up right where they left off. The

TWO UB MINGOES PLAYERS SELECTED FOR THE NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM

FROM PAGE 11

players I’ve played alongside with at UB also accompany me on the national team.

“I think it speaks to the great coaching at UB and the talent we have,” Wells said.

victors put together a quick unanswered 7-0 run just before the midway mark of the third period and blew the game wide open with a 64-41 advantage.

The Ballers were unable to recover after this sequence, leading to an 0-1 hole in their series.

The Rangers shot 40 per cent from the field and kept the ball moving for 22 assists.

Meanwhile, the Ballers shot 28 per cent in the game and picked up 13 assists. Lamont McPhee was the Ballers’ leading scorer with 17 points and two assists.

Abel Joseph dropped 12 points and 11 rebounds but shot 19 per cent on field goals and 16.7 per cent from deep.

Patrollers vs Challengers

Lerecus Armbrister had the hot hand for the Bamboo Shack Patrollers and it was enough to put them over the hump in a narrow nine-point victory against the Challengers. Armbrister scored a game-high 19 points and pulled in five rebounds. He was efficient with his production, making 7-of-13 field goals which included three makes from deep.

Dericko Burrows notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in 15 minutes of action.

His teammate Kareem Lightbourne Jr scored 18 points and went 4-of-8 from behind the arc. The Patrollers were certainly not challenged by

the BDOCs Challengers following the opening tip.

The Patrollers ran out to an early 15-6 lead to dictate the game from the start.

The team then closed out the first period up 22-15 after a made layup by Cyril Davis.

While the Challengers were trying to get back into the game, Lightbourne continued to let it rain from long range.

He canned a three pointer with 7:24 on the clock in the second quarter to keep his team in charge 30-20.

The Patrollers pushed the lead to as much as 17 in this quarter but the Challengers applied some pressure and shaved the margin down to eight (4436) at the halftime mark.

The Challengers had their chances down the stretch but were unable to capitalise in crunch time.

The team had two players stuff the stat sheet with double-doubles.

Ra’Sean Minns ended the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Rashad Woodside had 15 points, 13 rebounds and five dimes.

The BGDBA playoffs continue tonight at 7:30pm. The Bain and Grants Town Cybots, the defending champions, take on the Airport Authority Avengers in the first of two games. The second game will be The Police Crimestoppers versus the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC) Panthers.

with

The

‘JUNKANOO BOYZ’ READY FOR BATTLE IN CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE

FROM PAGE 11

expect some of the younger players to step up. This isn’t their first time even though they are younger players so our expectation is that they will step up, step into their roles and have a good showing,” he said. The Bahamas fell into League C along with the US Virgin Islands and Barbados after being relegated in 2023. The “Junkanoo Boyz” finished fourth in Group D of League B with a 0-1-4 (win/draw/loss record) last year. In the home-and-away series, The Bahamas suffered tough losses against Puerto Rico, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda. The visiting team will now look to finish in the top two spots of Group A, League C for an opportunity to be promoted back to League B.

The senior men’s national soccer team is currently ranked no. 203 on the FIFA men’s world rankings. The US Virgin Islands sit five spots behind at no. 208 and Barbados is ranked the highest of the three teams in Group A at no. 177.

This is the first of three windows to be played for The Bahamas.

The September window will be played from the 2nd to 10th. The October window will follow from the 7th to 15th and the final window of the series in November 11-15.

The CONCACAF Nations League matchups serve as a qualifier for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup event scheduled for March 23 next year.

A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIG GAMES AND RULES CHANGES AS NFL SEASON BEGINS

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer

THE NFL season begins on Thursday night when the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens. Here are a couple of big storylines as the games that count in the standings rapidly approach: When does the NFL season start?

The Chiefs-Ravens game kicks the season off on a Thursday night and then the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers meet in Sao Paulo on Friday night for the first regular season game played in Brazil. It’s the first time since 1970 that

the NFL has had a Friday night game as part of its opening week schedule. Most of the Week 1 games will be on Sunday, September 8, followed by the season’s first Monday night matchup between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. Important early games on the schedule Sept. 8, Rams at Lions: The game features the quarterback matchup of Jared Goff vs. Matthew Stafford. Stafford was the longtime QB for the Lions before getting traded to the Rams for Goff and then leading L.A. to a Super Bowl title in 2022. Goff led the Lions past the Rams in the

playoffs last season. Both QBs performed well in last year’s playoff matchup and more fireworks are expected in Week 1.

Sept. 9, Jets at 49ers: This should mark the return of New York quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who lasted just three official snaps last year before an Achilles injury cut his 2023 season short. The four-time MVP will face a tough test against a 49ers defense that’s been among the league’s best for the past few seasons.

Sept. 15, Bears at Texans: If all goes well, this should be the second NFL game for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who was taken by the Bears with the

No. 1-overall pick out of USC. Williams gets a Week 2 matchup against Texans QB C.J. Stroud, who was the AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023.

Nov. 25, Ravens at Chargers: This one is later in the schedule, but features a coaching matchup between brothers John and Jim Harbaugh. Jim was hired by the Chargers in the offseason after leading Michigan to a national championship. The action on the field should be good as well — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and L.A.’s Justin Herbert are two of the league’s top quarterbacks.

New kickoff rules - The NFL has overhauled its

kickoffs, with the new format using elements of rules from the XFL and tweaking them for use in the NFL beginning this fall. The rules will be in play for one season on a trial basis and then be subject to renewal in 2025. So far, the changes appear to have had their desired effect. The league was pleased with a return rate of 70.5% in the preseason, up significantly from last season’s 54.8% in exhibition games. There were also more big returns and better average starting field position, which could increase scoring after a drop last season to the lowest level since 2017. It’s fair to wonder how much strategy teams are withholding for the regular season. There could be some fireworks in Week 1.

The rookie quarterbacks Williams is commanding a big chunk of the attention since he was the No.

1-overall pick, but multiple teams could be going with a rookie quarterback this season. The Washington Commanders have already named No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels the starter following his Heisman-winning season at LSU.

The No. 12 overall pick — Bo Nix — has already earned the starting nod for the Denver Broncos. Nix, who started an NCAA QB-record 61 times at Oregon and Auburn, has led the Broncos to scores on six of the seven drives he’s directed in the preseason and has been statistically one of the league’s best passers this month.

The New England Patriots are one team that decided to go with a veteran under centre in Week 1 instead of a highly touted rookie.

The franchise announced that Jacoby Brissett will begin the season as the starting quarterback instead of No. 3 pick Drake Maye.

one walk and didn’t allow a run while pitching into the sixth inning.

left-hander with 13 losses has given up only one run over 15 innings (0.60 ERA) his last three starts without a decision in any of them.

THE UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas Mingoes defender Junior Kelly was selected to the Bahamas senior national men’s soccer team.

THE UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas Mingoes midfielder Nathan Wells was selected to the Bahamas senior national men’s soccer team.

YANKEES’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, is congratulated by DJ LeMahieu, after scoring on a groundout by Jose Trevino during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Rangers last night. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)