09052024 NEWS AND SPORT by tribune242

CHRISTIE: I CALLED FOR VALLEY BOYS ELECTION

Ex-PM advocated for group to resolve rift, says he was snubbed

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie, a founding member of the Valley Boys, said he advocated for the group to resolve its internal rift by having an election, but his efforts were rebuffed. His comments yesterday came after the government announced on Tuesday that

seed funding for the Valley Boys would be withheld until a meeting on Sunday aimed at resolving the ongoing conﬂict.

Mr Christie expressed relief at the government’s intervention, especially after his recommendations to the management committee, led by Brian Adderley, the leader of the original group, went

TRIAL FOR PRINCIPAL ACCUSED OF ASSAULT ING T EACHER S TAR T S

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE lawyer for a principal accused of slamming a door on a teacher at Thelma Gibson Primary School in 2022 made a no-case submission yesterday.

Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr presided over the continued assault trial of

Olivia Daxon, 52. The courtroom was ﬁlled with supporters of both the defendant and the complainant.

Ms Daxon allegedly assaulted her subordinate, Sheniqua Sweeting, by slamming a door on her at the school on 12 September 2022.

Artists union raises concerns

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE United Artists Bahamas Union (UABU) is raising alarms over the unchecked inﬂux of foreign

entertainers in the country and accusing the Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union (BMEU) of failing to monitor these acts.

UABU ofﬁcials claimed yesterday that the BMEU prioritises collecting levies

over ensuring proper checks on foreign artists, DJs, and their personnel who are entering The Bahamas for employment.

“All they want is levies,

C ALL FOR PUBLIC TO BUILD VIOLENCE SHELT

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

KHANDI Gibson wants the public to join her in building a shelter for domestic violence victims, saying the government has had long enough to fulﬁl its promise to do so. Ms Gibson, the president of Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM), said she had not received any update from the Minister of Social Services, Myles Laroda, regarding the shelter’s construction.

The shelter, intended for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, has faced several delays despite the Davis administration allocating $500,000 for it.

KHANDI GIBSON, director of FOAM.

Tourism launches two projects to revitalise and enhance Bay Street

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation has launched two major projects to revitalise downtown Nassau and enhance the tourism experience across the Bahamas.

The Downtown Mural Project, announced in March 2024, is designed to transform urban spaces while preserving Bahamian heritage. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper highlighted the project’s signiﬁcance yesterday, saying: “This project stands as a testament to the commitment of this administration to preserving the rich heritage of the Bahamas, enhancing our overall tourism product as a destination, and stimulating the local orange economy through the transformation of urban spaces.” Bahamian artists were

invited to submit mural proposals with themes such as “Old Nassau” and “Bahamian Futurism”.

A selection committee, including executives from the Ministry of Tourism and representatives from the University of the Bahamas, chose Rasheed Demeritte, Randia Coakley, Angelika Wallace-Whitﬁeld, Jarreth Albury, and Durelle Williams as the project’s artists.

The Family Island Icon Project aims to create “Instagram-able” signs highlighting various Bahamian islands’ unique identities.

The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Bahamas ambassador for cultural affairs and artist Jamal Rolle, will develop visually striking signs showcasing the distinct characteristics of these islands.

The initial phase will include New Providence,

Grand Bahama, Exuma, and Cat Island, with plans to expand to more islands in the future.

Mr Cooper noted the potential impact of these signs, saying: “These artistic signs will pay homage to the unique identity of their respective islands. They will provide visitors and locals with memorable, photoworthy experiences that will allow for greater promotion of our destination across social media.”

He acknowledged the need for infrastructure improvements, including ﬂood management, and stressed that these efforts are part of a long-term strategy.

“We have done periodic work in terms of clearing drains, managing drains, and we are thankful to the Ministry of Works for their contribution and their leadership in this regard,” he said.

Kng Meal Deal

THE Tribune

DPM Chester Cooper speaking at a press conference as Ministry of Tourism launches two projects to enhance and revitalise Downtown Nassau.

Photo: Nikia Charlton

Christie: I called for Valley Boys election

from page one

unheeded.

He said his suggestions included holding an election and “having a meeting of minds”.

“I tried my very level best to impress upon them the importance of meetings and discussing with the other side and even to the point where I told them the meetings were arranged to take place at Breezes just for their participation, but regrettably, they elected not to meet,” he said.

Mr Christie said there were a lot of “hard feelings” expressed, calling the result regrettable and a “tragedy”.

“I was hoping against hope for many, many reasons based on the fact I was one of those persons who supported Gus Cooper when he started the group that we would not reach this point, so mine is with deep regret that we’ve reached this point,” he added.

Trevor Davis, the leader of the breakaway group, has cited concerns about the organisation’s management and the lack of elections as reasons for the split.

Meanwhile, Mr Adderley has accused Mr Davis’ faction of attempting to sabotage the group through public attacks, asserting that his group complies with all Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence requirements.

Mr Christie said disputes of this kind are not uncommon or surprising, noting that some groups have advocated for rotating leadership as a solution.

“I imagine both groups are able to understand that today, young people will agitate for, you know, a greater level of participation and involvement in the running of the groups they belong to, and that is what has happened here,” he said.

Mr Christie said he does not favour any particular faction, noting that he has family members involved on both sides.

Artists

He said his presence at past Junkanoo practices organised by Mr Davis was intended to foster unity because he believed breaking the group into two segments “didn’t make any sense.”

“What I do know is that the brass section, which is really an extraordinary part of the Junkanoo grouping, a great majority of them have joined Trevor Davis’ segment,” he said.

“When you have over 100 members of a brass section

join one segment, it’s a great promise that that group will be a viable group.”

He also referenced recent developments triggered by the feud, noting that Mr Davis’ faction had received recognition for the name and the lease for certain premises previously occupied by Mr Adderley’s group.

The Tribune understands that a summons was recently served to Mr Adderley’s group, informing it that it no longer holds

union raises concerns on inﬂux of entertainers entering the country

from page one

the money. Once they get that, they don’t check on anything,” said Leonardo Lincs Scavella, UABU’s secretary general. He added: “Entertainment is being used for illegal activities, and I suspect that some people in immigration don’t care, which is why this has been festering for so long.”

UABU president Anita Tynes said the union has been meeting with immigration and labour ofﬁcials over the past year to address the issue.

However, she noted that outdated policies are preventing effective regulation of the music and entertainment industry.

Ms Tynes also called on Labour Minister Pia Glover-Rolle to halt the certiﬁcation of the BMEU’s recent election, claiming the election was “unconstitutional.” She alleged that the BMEU’s current selfnominated and unopposed executives violated the BMEU Constitution and the Industrial Relations Act.

“There were no appointed committees for elections or nominations,” Ms Tynes said. “They were forced by the registrar to hold the election, and now they’re trying to push through certiﬁcation without following proper procedures.”

Ms Tynes further criticised the BMEU for allegedly failing to protect the rights of Bahamian entertainers and mishandling its pension fund.

“They have been poor

custodians of the pension fund designed for musicians in this country, refusing to answer critical questions regarding unauthorised loans to at least two custodians without the consent of pensioners,” she said. The UABU is now pushing to be recognised as the legitimate union

representing Bahamian musicians and entertainers, claiming 99 per cent of its membership are former BMEU members.

Mr Delaney, the registrar of trade unions, declined to comment yesterday, and BMEU executives could not be reached for a comment up to press time.

the lease to the property

housing the

“The lease has not been renewed for the last 14

years, and in our quest for transparency and accountability, we thought we would do the right thing by seeking the legal

documents that would allow us, the Valley Boys, to partake in this process,” Mr Davis told reporters Tuesday night.

Valley Boys’ shack on Claridge Road.

FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie (centre) in full costume with the Valley Boys in the 2013 Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade.

MoE and BTC inaugural programme helps families ‘bridge the digital divide’

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TWO mothers have expressed relief at being able to ensure their children will have internet access for the academic year after graduating from BTC’s JUMP programme, which aims to provide 5,000 households with affordable internet access and digital skills.

Crystal Ambrister, 36, and Shekera Lightbourne, 38, completed the JUMP programme, which was ofﬁcially launched yesterday at Breezes.

In collaboration with BTC and the Ministry of Education, the programme seeks to bridge the digital divide by offering affordable internet, free Dell laptops, and digital training to 5,000 households in its ﬁrst year. Qualifying families will receive subsidised internet connectivity, with BTC and the government covering part of the monthly subscription fee while customers pay a reduced rate.

Ms Ambrister and Ms Lightbourne learned about the programme through their children, who brought home information about it from their schools.

Ms Lightbourne, a single mother, said she initially found the offer hard to believe. She added that the programme has made internet access more affordable, and she no longer fears losing connectivity due to non-payment.

The JUMP programme has already impacted 12 families. They completed an eight-week training course that included Microsoft tools, using online services, and helping parents monitor their children’s progress through the Ministry of Education’s systems.

Ms Ambrister said the programme has signiﬁcantly improved her digital skills.

“Now, I feel like I can help my son, who’s starting high school, and my daughter as well,” she said. “There are things we didn’t learn in school, especially with computers.”

Minister of Education

Glenys Hanna Martin stressed that education is increasingly moving into the digital age. She pointed out that many students had to attend classes online during the pandemic, which was a challenge for families who couldn’t afford internet access. The minister said the JUMP programme would equip all families with the

tools necessary to support their children’s education.

Brittany Johnson, a BTC associate, highlighted the importance of the partnership between BTC and the

Ministry of Education.

“It takes a village to raise a child, so basically, the partnership between BTC and the Ministry of Education, we join together to

ensure that everyone that needs our service, or just needs anything in general, that we are able to properly help,” Ms Johnson said.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ABOUT 30,000 pounds of marine debris and litter were removed from the southern coastline of Grand Bahama last year, according to a Bahamas tourism ofﬁcial, who announced plans for this year’s International Coastal Clean-up.

The annual clean-up, led by the Ministry of Tourism, is part of a global initiative by Ocean Conservancy and is observed on 21 September in over 100 countries.

“Last year, we did an extraordinary job,” said Jermaine Johnson, coordinator with Bahamas Tourism Investment and Aviation and manager of the Sustainable Tourism Development Department.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday at the Ministry of Tourism ofﬁces in Freeport, Mr Johnson said their goal this year is to clean ten to 12 beaches between 8am and 10am, with help from volunteers from schools, civic clubs, and other organisations.

The ministry is partnering with Litter Free Bahamas, the Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee, and Earthcare for the event. Mr Johnson stressed that maintaining clean

coastlines is crucial for the island’s tourism.

“We want this year to be greater than last year; we aim to remove as much garbage as possible from our oceans and coastlines,” he added.

“Last year, we removed over 30,000 pounds of garbage, and we are looking to exceed that this year.”

Those interested in participating are encouraged to contact the Ministry of Tourism.

Gail Woon, founder of Earthcare and a zone captain for the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) since 1988, explained that volunteers collect marine debris and document the types of garbage found, such as cans, plastic bottles, and motorboat refuse.

This data is sent to the Ocean Conservancy and compiled into an annual global report. She said Grand Bahama has contributed to this report since 1988, providing valuable insights into the types and amounts of debris found on its beaches.

Marilyn Hall, of Litter Free Bahamas, said their group focuses on cleaning the coastline from Xanadu to Pinder’s Point.

Cherish Russell, of the Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee (KGBCC), noted that indiscriminate dumping remains a serious problem

on the island.

“There’s been little improvement, but not much. We’re seeing garbage pop up in places we’ve never seen before, and when we clean up, people are dumping again right behind us,” she said.

Ms Russell said the KGBCC continues to support the Ministry of Tourism and its ICC initiative to keep beaches and the island clean.

Police Sergeant Nathalie Knowles from the Urban Renewal Department and Inspector Calvin Harris warned that police would be enforcing litter laws.

“Anyone found littering or dumping trash will be prosecuted,” Sergeant Knowles said. “If you’re seen or reported dumping illegally or throwing litter from your vehicle, we will pull you over.”

Violators could face ﬁnes ranging from $100 to $500.

She added, “We encourage all residents to do their part to keep the Bahamas clean. It’s everybody’s responsibility. If you see someone throwing garbage out their windows, please report it to the police.”

Ms Woon reiterated that the data collected from the clean-ups provides important information on the state of marine debris in Grand Bahama, contributing to global efforts to protect the oceans.

She added that 45 more families have joined the programme, and it will expand to the Family Islands in the coming months.

MINISTER of Education Glenys Hanna Martin and BTC representatives along with graduates of a joint programme with BT and MoE helping families bridge the digital divide.

Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

Call for public to build domestic violence shelter

from page one

“As people often say, it takes a village,” she said. “Bahamian people, those abroad, anyone with a stake in this country, let’s stop waiting on the government.

I am asking you to put your money where your mouth is.”

FOAM has opened donation accounts for public contributions at JBR, Kelly’s, and Nassau Block Company.

Ms Gibson emphasised that she can no longer wait for the government to deliver on its promise.

She said her organisation is ready to move forward with the shelter to provide victims with the support they need. She said neither the Free National Movement nor the Progressive Liberal Party had shown urgency in addressing the issue.

In June, Minister of Social Services Myles Laroda said the government expected to buy a building for the shelter by the end of the budget year, which concluded in June. He added during the budget debate in the House of Assembly that another shelter would be operated in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security and the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s domestic violence unit.

Attempts to obtain an update from the minister have been unsuccessful.

Union criticises govt for not complying with Supreme Court ruling on contractual workers

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Customs and Immigration Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) is again accusing the Davis administration of not complying with a 2021 Supreme Court ruling that found the government’s practice of appointing immigration ofﬁcers on a contractual basis illegal.

BCIAWU president Deron Brooks claimed the administration breached the industrial agreement and the law by appointing William Pratt as director of immigration again, even though he is past retirement age.

Mr Pratt, 66, was brought back to head the department after the early retirement of Keturah Ferguson, 62.

The union has ﬁled a trade dispute contesting his appointment. Although the Davis administration said a replacement for Mr Pratt would be found, ofﬁcials have not indicated when he will be replaced. In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Brooks

reiterated that the union had successfully challenged previous administrations’ practice of contractually appointing immigration ofﬁcers. He cited Article 108 of the Constitution, which places the power to appoint such ofﬁcers with the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Public Service Commission.

The union contends that bypassing this process is unconstitutional.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell responded yesterday, saying the government’s lawyers disagree with the union’s interpretation of the 2021 ruling.

“I had discussions with the union, and I am afraid the government’s lawyers do not agree that that’s what that says,” said Mr Mitchell, a former immigration minister. “So, there is a legal disagreement on it. I’ve spoken to the head of the union, who is in Freeport. When I saw it myself, I had long discussions with them.” He insisted that Mr Pratt’s appointment is legal.

Mr Brooks criticised the government’s practice of

re-engaging retired ofﬁcers on contract, arguing it undermines morale and succession planning within the departments.

“It is also the understanding of the union that the Bahamas Customs Department may be considering re-engaging retired ofﬁcers,” he said. “The mandatory retirement age in the civil service is 65 years.”

Mr Brooks believes the government should promote from within the departments to ﬁll vacancies in top management positions.

“The argument or rationale for contractual appointments that ofﬁcers in the superintendent rank, who have over 34 years of service, are not yet ready, or that they are not getting along, or due to COVID-19, does not justify anything,” he said.

He stressed the need for a proper succession plan, noting that “as it stands now the employer does not advise the union when vacancies exist in either department, so persons are made aware and have the opportunity to ﬁll vacancies in upper management”.

Te public is hereby advised that Tradewinds Bahamas Holdings Ltd. is proposing to carry out a project on High Cay (of San Salvador). Te public is invited to participate in a public consultation meeting to be held on the 25th of September 2024 by the project proponent to hear and discuss matters relating to the proposed project. Te consultation meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Idell Jones Hall, St. Augustine Church, Cockburn Town, San Salvador.

A general description of the project is as follows:

Te High Cay project involves the construction an eco-friendly resort, consisting of a main house, three (3) villas and associated amenities.

Te project Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is available to view using the link

Te general public and interested parties are invited to submit written comments to the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection at cec@depp.gov.bs and to the Developer’s Environmentalist of Record at info@sevconsulting.com with respect to the proposed project. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/11stf5mmfzeqt928dnkj2/AGDnSrg TTIBFmFYuelZMBmY?rlkey=u394swtym9q8f9d7358uygo38&st=82 4sgja5&dl=0

KHANDI Gibson wants the public to join her in building a shelter for domestic violence victims, saying the government has had long enough to fulﬁl its promise to do so.

The Tribune Limited

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Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

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US considers creation of UN peacekeeping operation for Haiti to ﬁght against gangs

THE US is mulling a UN peacekeeping operation in Haiti as one way to secure funding and stafﬁng for a Kenya-led mission deployed to quell gang violence in the Caribbean country, a top US diplomat said Wednesday.

Brian A. Nichols, US assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs, spoke hours after The Miami Herald reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden is considering the possibility of a traditional UN peacekeeping operation given the limited funding and equipment available to the current mission.

“A (peacekeeping operation) is one of the ways we could accomplish that,” Nichols told reporters. “But we are looking at multiple ways.”

The UN Security Council would ultimately have to vote on a peacekeeping mission. But experts have said it’s unlikely it would support one, and note many Haitians would likely balk at it given the introduction of cholera and sexual abuse cases that occurred when UN troops were last in Haiti.

When asked about a possible peacekeeping mission, a UN spokesman said only that, “It would be a decision of the Security Council.”

Nichols noted that the current UNbacked mission to Haiti depends on voluntary contributions, with the US and Canada providing the bulk of the funding so far.

Some 400 Kenyan police are currently in Haiti, but the mission also calls for the deployment of police and soldiers from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica for a total of 2,500 personnel. They would be deployed in phases that would cost roughly $600 million a year. Currently, the UN has $85 million in pledges for the mission, out of which $68 million has been received.

Contributions to the UN fund for the mission, however, have been limited, and Haitians complain that they have not seen a decrease in gang violence since the ﬁrst contingency of Kenyans arrived in late June.

“We need the rest of the international community to step forward with much more signiﬁcant ﬁnancial contributions so that the force can continue to operate and that additional nations can deploy their units as part of the (mission),” Nichols said.

He spoke a day before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit Haiti on Thursday and the neighboring Dominican Republic afterward. Blinken is expected to meet with Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille and a transitional presidential council and push for the appointment of a provisional electoral council so Haiti can hold long-awaited elections.

“The prime minister is rightly concerned about the future, but I think we

have come quite a long way since the beginning of the year,” Nichols said.

Haiti held its last presidential election in November 2016, with gang violence and political upheaval preventing any elections since then.

Former President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021, and gang violence surged in the political vacuum that followed. In February, gangs launched coordinated attacks targeting key government infrastructure to prevent the return of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was in Kenya to talk about the upcoming mission.

Gangs raided more than two dozen police stations, opened ﬁre on the main international airport, forcing it to close for nearly three months, and stormed Haiti’s two biggest prisons, releasing thousands of inmates.

Henry, unable to return to Haiti, resigned in April. A transitional presidential council was later created, and it appointed Conille as prime minister.

“We’ve come a long way since those very dark moments,” Nichols said, noting that Haiti’s police and military recently launched its ﬁrst joint operation with the Kenyans, “going after gangs and their leaders in a way that hasn’t happened in years.”

But gangs still control 80% of the capital of Port-au-Prince, and their leaders continue to order attacks into surrounding areas. From January to May, more than 3,200 people were killed, with violence leaving more than half a million people homeless in recent years.

Efforts to move forward politically also have stalled, and Haiti’s transitional council now ﬁnds itself embroiled in a high-proﬁle corruption scandal. Three of its nine members have been accused of demanding more than $750,000 from the director of the government-owned National Bank of Credit to secure his job. The director has since resigned, and the three council members have denied accusations that the government is investigating.

“The Haitian people deserve transparency and good governance, and the international community, which provides good assistance, also needs to see that,” Nichols said.

After visiting Haiti, Blinken is expected to meet with Dominican President Luis Abinader, who has barred Haitians from ﬂying into the country and is building a fence along a border that both nations share on the island of Hispaniola.

Nichols said the U.S. hopes to see more normal relations between the two countries, “but obviously those are sovereign decisions.”

By DÁNICA COTO Associated Press

Gladstone roundabout needs to go

PLPs need to sing from same sheet

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT IS three years now since the iconic PLP was swept into high ofﬁce following the fateful general elections of 2021, one year before they were constitutionally due by former Prime Minister, Dr Hubert A Minnis (FNM-Killarney) Upon returning to ofﬁce, the PLP and it’s newly minted Prime Minister, Philip “Brave” Davis, KC (PLP-Cat Island) found that there was a lot of reconstruction work necessary, especially as it related to the national economy; infrastructure; health care and delivery services; penal reforms and, of course, the necessity of motivating a decidedly “depressed and stressed out” people.

The delivery on all of the above is well underway, even if we continue to have challenges and unexpected set backs. I submit that due to the fact that a large majority of ministers who were, initially, appointed to cabinet, with little or no prior experience in matters within the portfolios assigned to them, that there may have been some “bumps” along the road to recovery and reconstructions. It is the absolute privilege of any Prime Minister to select all and sundry of his/her ministerial colleagues.

At this critical juncture, the PM and his kitchen advisors would have had ample time to observe the performance or lack thereof of all of the ministers who would have been appointed with great expectations and fanfare a few years ago. I have my views as to who should either be removed outright or shufﬂed into different and less strenuous positions but it is not for me to publicly advise the illustrious Prime Minister on this. I will say, however, that the reelection success of the Davis administration will hinge on how the electorate judges individual cabinet ministers and the rest of the elected Members of Parliament. The late great and deeply lamented Sir Lynden Oscar

Pindling, the template for all Prime Minsters since his era, was the consummate political operator and felt or displayed no compunction or public remorse in having to discipline; upbraid or utterly shufﬂing his assorted cabinets when and if necessary for the survival of the party and overall good of the nation.

The PLP, if it has not already started, must move, post haste with getting battle ready. The Davis administration must be reelected for at least another consecutive term in ofﬁce if it is to successfully establish the constitutional and national progressive changes that must come about if we, The Bahamian people, are to go to the next level in our evolution. This constant and debilitating ﬁve year change in governance has been and is one of the greatest retardants in the development and implementation of the much talked about National Development Plan. In getting battle ready, the party should consider the formulation of the development and implementation of a National Health Care Plan. Many Bahamians, especially the older ones and those whose income literally dried up during the back to back hurricanes and the arrival of COVID-19. Many insurance contracts lapsed or were cashed in where possible. Today as the population ages and more children are coming onboard the costs of health care for the average Bahamian, even for those with private insurance is too high. Private insurance is always important but where a Bahamian has none the state Must step in to bring national relief.

Our infrastructure here in New Providence continues to be a monumental challenge. There are too many government owned buildings just

sitting there while successive administrations have been spending an inordinate amount of rent for second class buildings. For instance, we own the former BTC Building on John F Kennedy Drive. Why can’t we relocated both the Passport Ofﬁces and the Immigration Department in that long abandoned complex, rent free? The proposed new hospital, even though I do not like the proposed location, must get underway in the ﬁrst quarter of 2025. The PMH still has many more years of useful life But it is strained and outdated.

We have the National Youth Guard and this form of National Youth Service must be expanded, big time, to assist in the rescuing and rehabilitation of our young people, especially the ones who would have slipped through the cracks due to drugs; lack of education and/or a criminal record. Reforms and diversification of affordable energy sources Must be looked into. I suggest that the enlightened PM co-opt Leslie O Miller, former Minister with responsibility for BPL, as National LNG consultant. Senator Griffin should be elevated to Minister of State within the Department of the Attorney General. McKell Bonaby (PLP-Mount Moriah) should be brought into cabinet as a full Minister. Room at the table may have to be made by shuffling a few individuals, as the PM may see fit. The PLP must get back to its ancient and long established mantra of; wiping away the tears from every eye; clothing the naked; feeding the hungry and, where possible, bringing sight to the blind. All hands must be on deck and we must all (PLPs) sing from the same sheet. With less than two years out from the next scheduled general elections. To God then, in all things,

Photo: John Morley

No principal at several public schools as academic year begins

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL public schools began the new academic year without principals or executive administration, according to Director of Education Dominique McCartney-Russell.

She said every year, the Ministry of Education faces challenges in stafﬁng schools as some educators retire, resign, or pass away. The ministry identiﬁes the vacancies and begins the appointment process. She said while recommendations for positions have

been received, they must be vetted by the Ministry of Public Service before being ﬁnalised.

“We do have a few of our schools that are still needing leadership,” she said on the sideline of an unrelated event. “We are going to make sure that they have leadership in those schools. We do it every year.”

Belinda Wilson, president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT), criticised the Ministry of Education’s lack of preparedness to ensure that all public schools had principals in place at the start of the academic year. Schools such

as Uriah McPhee, Columbus Primary, Ragged Island Comprehensive, and Central Eleuthera High School are reportedly without principals.

Mrs Wilson said several senior educators who were promoted to vice principals or principals were still unsure of their assigned schools. She said the director of education informed her that a list of retirees and promoted individuals had been received late. Mrs Wilson expressed frustration with the ministry’s delays.

“Obviously, there’s a deep-rooted problem within

Ferguson dismisses criticism of unionists signing pre-general election MOU with PLP

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

TRADE Union Congress (TUC) presi-

dent Obie Ferguson dismissed criticism from trade unionists who disapproved of him signing a pre-general election memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the then-opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), saying the PLP administration has had some success complying with the MOU.

“At least they were able to say they got 27-28 industrial agreements completed,” he said. “That’s progress, but parts of the MOU have not been complied with.

“We can’t say everything has been sorted out, but we agreed that every trade union leader would be included in the pension plan.”

He criticised those working with the prime minister, suggesting that although Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis gives direction, “the people who work with him are the ones who don’t care enough.”

“It’s true they’ve done work that’s acceptable to us because we’re part of it,” he said. “But what we anticipated — a more inclusive arrangement on all issues affecting workers — has not been adhered to consistently.”

In July, Bahamas Union of Teachers

(BUT) president Belinda Wilson criticised union leaders for signing the MOU, accusing them of selling out their members “for a bowl of porridge” and questioning if it was worth it.

The controversial 2021 signing resurfaced that month after Bahamas Electrical Workers Union president Kyle Wilson claimed that by excluding Bahamas Power and Light’s unions from discussions on BPL reforms, the Davis administration violated the agreement Mr Davis signed as opposition leader.

Mr Davis signed the MOU on behalf of the PLP, along with the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress (CBTUC).

the ministry and we have to really think of competence,’ Mrs Wilson said on a radio show.

She added that the ministry lacks the right personnel to ensure schools are properly staffed and questioned how schools can function without principals.

Mrs McCartney-Russell noted that the time required to appoint education officers varies based on paperwork or vetting issues. She said filling leadership positions takes longer due to the “domino effect” — when one person is promoted, their previous position must also be filled.

She added that ofﬁcials expect to ﬁll school vacancies by next week. She also noted that the Ministry of Education recruited 46 Cuban teachers for special education, Spanish, technical and vocational training, and other subjects. These teachers have been deployed to New Providence and the Family Islands.

Mrs McCartney-Russell said that previous Cuban hires had faced accent barriers rather than language issues. She said Cuban teachers participate in an immersion programme to help them adapt to Bahamian society, culture, dialect, and the geography of their assigned island.

Mrs Wilson added that a BUT executive member was involved in the recruitment process for the current cohort of Cuban teachers, and their English proﬁciency is considered acceptable.

In September 2023, concerns were raised that some newly hired Cuban teachers could not speak English. At the time, Mrs Wilson told The Tribune that teachers in Abaco, Grand Bahama, and New Providence had complained about language barriers.

Trial for principal accused of assaulting teacher starts, lawyer submits no-case

from page one

This incident reportedly led to a teacher walkout in protest against the principal the following day.

Ian Cargill, the defendant’s attorney, argued in his closing submissions that the complainant was standing in the doorway of her classroom as Ms Daxon attempted to leave when the alleged assault occurred.

While Mr Cargill acknowledged that the evidence suggested his client hit the complainant with the door as she left, he countered by arguing that Ms Sweeting blocking the door amounted to false imprisonment.

Mr Cargill said the defendant accidentally hit the complainant and that there was no malicious intent. He also said his client maintained her innocence and cooperated with the police.

He said: “If you’re standing in the doorway and someone is trying

to open it, what do you expect to happen?”

Mr Cargill also argued that the complainant’s testimony was shaky and undermined her credibility.

He said the complainant admitted there was hostility on that day and suggested she had a personal grievance against the defendant. He concluded that when there are contradictions in witness testimony, the matter must be resolved in favour of the defendant.

Mr Cargill moved to have the charge dismissed, arguing the prosecution’s case was unreliable.

Prosecutor Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom responded that intent was irrelevant if the assault occurred and maintained that the door did make contact with the complainant.

Sergeant Pyfrom claimed the defendant admitted to having a conflict with the complainant. He also argued that the complainant had the right

to defend herself and that the evidence supported the occurrence of the assault.

Mr Cargill countered with an analogy, saying that if the chief magistrate ordered Magistrate Serville to move, he would have to comply as a subordinate. He argued that Ms Daxon had the right to move the complainant from the classroom. He further claimed that the complainant jumped in front of the door to continue the argument and that as Ms Daxon tried to leave, Ms Sweeting said, “don’t touch me.” He insisted that at no point did his client make physical contact with her.

Sergeant Pyfrom rebutted that even if the defendant had the right to order the complainant to move as her superior, the situation should have been handled with decency and respect.

Magistrate Serville will deliver his decision on the no-case submission on 16 October.

TUC PRESIDENT OBIE FERGUSON

Pervasive and paralysing mentality about development

A FRIEND recalls visiting Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, for the tenth anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, which overthrew the muchhated Anastasio Somoza Debayle, whose family ruled the country from 1936 to 1979.

Navigating the city proved immensely difﬁcult because there were few to no street signs, partly a legacy of the 1972 earthquake that devastated the downtown and surrounding areas, which now has a population of approximately over one million.

After visiting the city, the musician Bono, of U2, wrote a song entitled, “Where the streets have no name”. The haphazard city plan is another legacy of the earthquake.

The Somoza Dynasty kept a stranglehold on the nation. The liberation from the dictatorship was brief. Daniel Ortega, who led the revolution against the Dynasty, became a brutal dictator like many others throughout history who once stylised themselves as democrats.

Development requires a certain mindset. While it also requires competence and good managers, development begins with a vision and an ambition about what a country can and should be. Nicaragua, like other countries, is locked in a cycle of underdevelopment and political paralysis.

Leaders who embody the mindset, the vision, and the ambition to modernise or transform a society are pivotal. Competent leaders who lack these qualities may realise some goals. But they are not transformative.

The French demographer, anthropologist and historian Alfred Sauvy, enjoys credit for the term Third World, which was coined during the Cold War. The term applied to countries, many of them former colonies, that were not ideologically of the Soviet socialist bloc or the Western capitalist bloc. It was originally thought of as a political rather than an economic designation. As most of these countries were not industrialised and economically poorer they were pejoratively deemed to be part of a lower tier of undeveloped nations.

Today, “Third World” has been replaced with appellations such as Global South, developing countries or least developed countries.

The Bahamas works and feels like an admixture of a developing and least developing country. In terms of services, public and private, and infrastructure there are some things that work well. And, there is much that is

‘Development requires a certain mindset. While it also requires competence and good managers, development begins with a vision and an ambition about what a country can and should be.’

maddeningly frustrating and highly dysfunctional.

Though New Providence has a modern international airport, many of the airports in the Family Islands are terribly undeveloped. We drive many modern cars and SUVs on major thoroughfares that are well-paved with adequate signage but typically have to turn onto pot-holed roads or two-lane roads that long ago needed to become four-lane highways.

The reliability of basic utilities throughout the country, including electricity, water, and telecommunications has diminished dramatically.

We have among the ﬁnest tourism properties in the region alongside urban ghettos with entrenched poverty and all manner of social dysfunction. Even our main downtown

How is it in the 21st century that the Road Traffc Department is incapable of printing licence plates in a timely manner?

is rundown, ﬁlthy, and unappealing.

Still, The Bahamas enjoys extraordinary advantages including our proximity to the United States and an archipelago teeming with opportunities. Over the decades, we have made social, economic and infrastructural progress in myriad areas. Nevertheless, 50 years after independence, something vital is missing. Much has atrophied. We are regressing. Various standards have been breeched and are now overrun with tidal waves of slackness, decrepitude, and rank and corrosive cronyism.

Our mentality and ambition for development have stymied dramatically. We lack leaders with a greater desire for change or a deeper sense of what we could be as a nation. Many of the basic features of a more developed country are lacking.

During previous decades, leaders often spoke of The Bahamas moving to First World status economically. Today, this is more pretension than aspiration! We talk a good game in fancy speeches with clichéd and frilly language.

But few of our leaders and many of our people lack the depth of desire

and the ambition to move beyond our developmental lethargy and morass. The necessity of street signage is in instructive.

There are basic amenities in a developed country such as street signs and the numbering of homes and businesses.

During the 1970s and 80s, while a number of the main streets in New Providence had signage, there was no systematic program of numbering buildings and signs for many side roads on the island. Family Islands likewise were devoid of proper road trafﬁc signage of all sorts.

One cannot develop a country devoid of basic services and order. While there has been considerable development on our most populous island, it has been uneven. Moreover, we have failed miserably, dramatically, and consistently to maintain basic infrastructure.

For a relatively brief, though pivotal period, Hubert Ingraham showed the country a better way. He began with the basics. He launched an ambitious programme to ensure that structures were numbered and there was proper road signage.

Ingraham was impressed with the ambitious and multidecade road planning and building programme in British Columbia in Canada that continued beyond various government administrations.

When travelling the Caribbean and other regions, he played close attention to the proper functioning and maintenance of roadworks, verges, and public parks and areas.

Many weekends, he famously toured New Providence. Back in office on Monday morning, he issued instructions to public officers to repair government buildings, to clean cemeteries and parks, to remove debris, to fix what was broken.

Yes, he was a highly

competent manager, acting as a combination of prime minister and mayor. However as or more importantly, he had a vision, an ambition, a mindset of a more developed and advanced country. Policy linked to values and political ingenuity and will were essential, qualities he embodied. He ﬁxed much that was broken. He also instituted and built man new things. As has been told repeatedly, Ingraham signiﬁcantly developed Abaco. This is in stark contrast as to how underdeveloped three PLP prime ministers left their constituencies, either purposefully or because of indifference. Some leaders left their constituencies to deteriorate, doing little to improve the conditions of the area. They gave handouts, and talked about compassion for the poor, while leaving the residents of their constituencies in dire shape.

In three terms in ofﬁce, Ingraham burnished his its progressive vision and agenda in areas such as health care, women’s rights, poverty alleviation, social services and infrastructural development. He provided long-suffering Family Island communities with basic amenities.

The lessons of Hubert Ingraham are clear. Sadly, today, there is clearly less ambition in the political directorate to undertake an era of transformation, much less a period of reform and modernisation.

Many in the elite are indifferent to the needs of the poor and the working and middle class, suffering from the poor quality of basic services.

During the major roadworks on New Providence undertaken by Ingraham, there is the story told of an executive whose route to work involved travel from the Western end of the island to Paradise Island.

There is an attitude of indifference among many of the elite who receive their health care overseas, who live in gated enclaves, who lack ambition beyond their personal interests or needs, who no longer are truly moved by the needs of the poor beyond handouts and solely transactional politics and clientilism.

While many happily enjoy the amenities of developed countries, they do not have the mindset or the abiding desire to ensure Bahamians increasingly enjoy similar services or amenities. They lack greater ambition for the people beyond platitudes. How is it in the 21st century that the Road Trafﬁc Department is incapable of printing licence plates in a timely manner? The mindset and indifference behind this failure is extraordinary.

Now, apply this mindset to the tremendous need for broader initiatives to stem youth violence and crime. Many are blind to the greater possibilities for development and the creation of 360-degree approach to our social challenges.

A more developed Bahamas that also addresses our complex of social challenges will require akin to life-saving surgery and ongoing therapy. Bandages and tourniquets are insufﬁcient.

But we must openly and thoroughly diagnose the challenges and have a greater ambition beyond the proverbial Third World mindset that is pervasive and paralysing, especially among our political class.

Told of the disruption in many areas Over-theHill and on other parts of the island he remarked, “I don’t care about them areas as long as my route is clear.” This captures some of the indifference on our crime-plagued capital island that in signiﬁcant ways is now a Tale of Two Islands.

American hostage’s death, Netanyahu’s stubborn stance - and diminished hope

THERE were many brilliant orators on the stage in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention a couple of weeks ago. No one outside the immediate Donald Trump reelection campaign has attempted to deny that. There were Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michele Obama, Oprah Winfrey, numerous Democratic rising stars – and several Republican speakers including January 6 commission member and former six-term Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger, who brought down the house with a sharp ﬁrsthand critique of Trump.

Of the many Republican apostates who stood at the DNC podium to renounce and denounce the former president, Kinzinger is likely the early favorite to claim the GOP cabinet position promised recently in a CNN interview by Democratic nominee and current election betting favorite Kamala Harris.

But even in that cavalcade of star speakers, a couple stood out at the convention, and they are now in the news again for the worst possible reason.

In the context of threatened and actual protests outside the main United Center Arena, some immediately thought the appearance of Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin might be meant to allow the many Democrats

STATESIDE

with

uncomfortable with the Biden-Harris policy on Israel, Hamas and Gaza to vent some steam. But as soon as this desperate, determined couple began to speak, such skepticism vanished.

These were the devastated parents of an American taken hostage by Hamas in the aftermath of its October 7 attack across the Gazan border on Israel. Their son Hersh, 23, had been a hostage for over ten months when his parents spoke in Chicago.

Then at the beginning of this week, the parents received word that Hersh had been shot and killed over the weekend in Gaza.

His parents had elevated Hersh’s plight to headline status with their relentless pursuit of his release.

They had spoken at the United Nations in New York; at International Red Cross headquarters in Geneva; at Doha, Qatar, where crisis mediation and hostage return efforts have been centered; in Jerusalem, where Hersh was born,

and of course repeatedly at the White House and elsewhere in Washington. They had appeared on the cover of Time magazine.

US President Joe Biden said when news broke of Hersh’s death: “I am devastated and outraged. His parents have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable.” When he was initially captured, Hersh’s left forearm had been blown off in an explosion. Only a stump remained in the few images of him as a hostage.

“Jon and Rachel, against the senseless hatred, and unthinkable brutality of Hamas terror, pure barbaric evil, you have taught the world about human dignity,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said. “As a human being, as a father, and as the President of the State of Israel, I want to say how sorry I am. How sorry I am that we didn’t protect Hersh on that dark day. How sorry I am that we failed to bring him home.” In Chicago, Hersh’s

parents had been greeted with a thunderous, lengthy and obviously heartfelt standing ovation. “Bring the hostages home!” rang out in the huge crowd. Goldberg was visibly moved, overcome with the accumulated emotional weight of so many months of diminishingly hopeful uncertainty about her son. Polin comforted her. The couple was quiet and still for a short while, then began to speak. Their remarks, as few others, brought the raucous crowd to respectful silence.

Goldberg had often spoken of “our planet of no sleep, our planet of despair, our planet of tears”. She did again on this night.

But despite his parents’ indefatigability and persistence, Hersh would die in Gaza. Four other Americans remain hostages of Hamas.

And perhaps most discouragingly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday reiterated his obdurate refusal to negotiate a cease-ﬁre

and hostage release until his so far unacceptable terms are met by Hamas.

Israel’s form of government is a parliamentary democracy. Netanyahu’s position rests on the unassailable view that the goal of Hamas and other Iranallied and supported militant groups is essentially the extinction of Israel from its present borders. He asks how it makes sense to concede to opponents’ existential threat to Israel. Unless and until popular demands within and without Israel compel Netanyahu to accept some compromise or he is forced from ofﬁce by a coalition of opponents, it is likely that despite the efforts of the US, virtually all of Europe and other nations, the present crisis will endure.

Caribbean climate resilience and the need for more global participation

IT seems that in The Bahamas we are rarely without some kind of well-meaning advice from impressively credentialed foreign experts, consultants or staff at respected international institutions.

But when there is a genuine emergency, like for instance in the aftermath of a hurricane like Andrew in 1992 or Dorian in 2019, we do receive gratifying and urgently needed assistance from abroad. Often, this comes from the US, Britain or Canada, but other nations and organisations are also very helpful.

Advice from outsiders is not our province alone.

Every nation receives it, whether solicited or welcome, or not. For instance, our colossal neighbor just to the west gets all sorts of pointed advice these days on just about every subject you can imagine, from how to solve the discord and division in American politics, to the urgent need to authorise Ukraine’s use of advanced military systems to strike far inside Russia, or the necessity to disavow and discard the resilient US allegiance to Israel and its methods to ensure its survival.

So much noise in the marketplace? Maybe. The Caribbean nations, including The Bahamas, were the subject and hopefully beneﬁciary last month of a colloquium held in Barbados on a subject of considerable current import.

The subject, broadly, was climate resilience, an issue that is likely to be in the forefront of issues we face for the foreseeable future.

According to literature provided by the colloquium’s organisers, Washington’s prestigious Atlantic Council, Hurricane Beryl’s landfall in the Eastern Caribbean earlier this year reinforced the importance of working with international partners to fortify climate resilience.

On August 15, 2024, the Atlantic Council’s Caribbean Initiative traveled to Barbados to host government, multilateral, and private sector stakeholders to discuss best practices to increase access to climate ﬁnance for governments and the private sector. The discussion, “Caribbean climate resilience: Navigating global support for local action”, centered on mobilising global ﬁnancial resources to support the region’s climate defenses, including aligning with the goals of the US-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 and other international

mechanisms.

Featured speakers included a key member of Barbados’ Prime Minister’s Office; the local US Ambassador; the managing director, CIBC First Caribbean; the subregional coordinator for the Caribbean, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and the High Commissioner for Canada in Barbados. Also attending were the European Union’s ambassador to Barbados and officials of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office and the Caribbean Development Bank.

Here’s part of the Atlantic Council’s summary report: “The speakers underscored that private capital is needed to bolster climate resilience. It was noted that private ﬁnance should complement public funds. Special notice was given to the Caribbean Development Bank’s efforts to innovate ﬁnancial instruments; American support for partnerships between American and Caribbean businesses, and Britain’s and Canada’s commitment to collaborative climate action.

Speakers argued for more collaboration between regional and international actors, and highlighted the challenges of donor coordination, emphasizing the importance of revising policy design to drive policy change.

Speakers highlighted the attractiveness of ﬁnancial products like green and resilience bonds for private investment, and the importance of investing in climate-smart agriculture to ensure food security.

The EU Ambassador summarised thus: “The global shift is happening in better understanding the vulnerabilities of these islands, but we can only assist in addressing those vulnerabilities if the drive comes from here (Caribbean).”

Cynics might wonder how much actionable insight lies behind these generalities. But underneath what might look like so much blather is the prospect of real, tangible assistance in times of real need.

And by the way, convening such a meeting in August in Barbados was doubtless at least partly motivated by an aversion of the organisers and participants to looking selﬁsh or insincere if they held such a meeting in February when temperatures back home in Europe, the American northeast or Canada can make our region especially tempting.

Charlie Harper

THIS undated photo shows Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza. On Sunday the Hostages Families Forum announced the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin while in Hamas captivity.

Photo: The Hostages Families Forum/AP

Three GB students get college help from Grand Bahama Masonic Scholarship Fund

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporer dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

STUDENTS in Grand Bahama are receiving a helping hand from the Freemasons.

Three male students in Grand Bahama – Donald Laing Jr, Ricardo Simmons Jr, and William Smith - were recently presented with funds to support their college journey.

The funds were made available through the Grand Bahamas Masonic Scholarship Fund, a collaboration between the English and Scottish lodges in Grand Bahama. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has also partnered with them.

Mr Laing will attend Virginia Union University; while Mr Simmons and Mr Smith will head off to Colorado State University, and Central State University in Ohio, respectively.

Melvin Cooper said the foundation was established after he and

his fellow Freemasons realised some male scholarship recipients lacked the funds necessary for student visas, airfare, and essential dormitory supplies.

“Three years ago, I met a young man from Eight Mile Rock High School who had a full scholarship to go to Virginia State University however his mother did not have the money to pay for his ticket to go off to school.”

Mr Cooper said he called up several friends and they were able to raise some money for the teen, who is now in his junior year at college.

“So, I saw that there was a need in the community, and so our organisation formed the GB Masonic Scholarship Foundation,” he added.

“When we look at what is happening in the community today, we are losing so many young men to violent crime, and we cannot afford to lose any of our young men. Our goal is to fill in that gap and get them to school,” Mr Cooper said.

Man charged with disorderly conduct claims he was beaten by police

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

A MAN pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges of disorderly behaviour, using obscene language and resisting arrest.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville arraigned Rayvon Morrison on the charges.

The incident allegedly happened downtown on August 29. Morrison, who was granted bail at $800, represented himself in court. His case was adjourned to October 21.

On social media, Morrison alleged that he was taken to a police station

downtown and beaten by a sergeant while ﬁve other “rookie ofﬁcers” watched.

He claimed he was called a “faggot”, slapped, kicked and punched while his hands were cuffed. He said he suffered a broken molar tooth, a broken right foot, a bruised sternum, a black eye and nerve damage to his left hand.

He claimed he spent almost $2,000 getting x-rays and blood work done, among other things.

He said he was supposed to perform at a Lil Dark concert on Saturday, but his doctor advised him against doing so because he could not walk with his leg in a cast.

MELVIN Cooper presents funds to Donald Lanig Jr, who will be attending Virginia Union University. Also seen are Andrew Roberts, treasurer and trustee. and Ramardo Braynen, Tabin Jose, and Nat Symonette.

MELVIN Cooper presents funds to Ricardo Simmons Jr, who will be attending Colorado State University.

MELVIN Cooper presents funds to William Smith, who will attend Central State University in Ohio.

Man accused of attempting to procure teen boy for sex acts

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of attempting to procure a minor for sexual acts last year.

Magistrate Kendra Kelly arraigned Tamar Tinker, 36, on charges of procuration. Tinker allegedly

attempted to procure a 15-year-old boy for unlawful sexual intercourse on 15 November 2023 in New Providence.

The defendant was informed that his case would be transferred to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Mark Penn, representing the defendant, stated that his client was a suitable candidate for bail and would appear for his next court date.

Tinker’s bail was set at $9,000 with one or two sureties. He must sign in at the Wulff Road Police Station every Friday by 6pm. The VBI is set to be served on December 4. Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom was the prosecutor.

Three charged wi T h s T ealing woman’s car

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THREE men were remanded in custody yesterday for allegedly stealing a woman’s car at gunpoint in a business parking lot at Gibb’s Corner last week.

Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr arraigned Bruno Brown, 19, Travis Wallace, 20, and a 16-yearold male defendant, whose name is being withheld

as a minor, on charges of armed robbery.

The juvenile was arraigned in the presence of his guardian.

The trio, while armed with a handgun, allegedly stole a 2008 black Nissan March belonging to Nicoyette Ferguson from a parking lot at Gibb’s Corner and West Avenue at 11.30pm on August 29.

Police reportedly apprehended the suspects and recovered the vehicle on North Street shortly.

The accused were informed that their case would be transferred to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). The teenage defendant was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) adolescent unit, while the two other defendants were remanded to BDCS.

The VBIs for the trio are set to be served on December 2.

Shooter kills 4 at a Georgia high school and a 14-year-old student is in custody, ofﬁcials say

GEORGIA Associated Press

A 14-YEAR-OLD student opened fire at a Georgia high school and killed four people on Wednesday, authorities said, sending students scrambling for shelter in their classrooms — and eventually to the football stadium — as officers swarmed the campus and parents raced to find out if their children were safe. The dead were identified as two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, about an hour’s drive from Atlanta. At least nine other people

were taken to hospitals with injuries.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said two school resource ofﬁcers encountered the shooter within minutes after a report of shots ﬁred went out. The suspect, a student at the school, immediately

surrendered and was taken into custody. He is being charged as an adult with murder.

Authorities were still looking into how the suspect obtained the gun used in the shooting and got it into the school.

The investigation was still “very active,” Hosey said, with lots of interviews and crime scene work yet to be done.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith choked up as he began to speak during the news conference. He said he was born and raised in the community and his kids are in the school system.

“My heart hurts for these kids. My heart hurts for our community,” he said. “But I want to make it very clear that hate will not prevail in this county. I want that to be very clear and known. Love will prevail over what happened today.”

Superintendent Dallas LeDuff said county schools will be closed for the rest of the week as they cooperate with the investigation, but grief counselling will be available.

The school shooting was just the latest among dozens across the US in recent years, including especially deadly ones in Newtown, Connecticut, Parkland, Florida, and Uvalde, Texas. The classroom killings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to active shooter drills in classrooms. But they have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.

Jacob King, a sophomore football player, said he had dozed off in his world history class after a morning practice when he heard about 10 gunshots.

King said he didn’t believe the shooting was real until he heard an ofﬁcer yelling at someone to put down their gun. King said when his class was led out, he saw ofﬁcers shielding what appeared to be an injured student.

Before Wednesday’s shooting, there had been 29 mass killings in the US so far this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. At least 127 people have died in those killings, which are deﬁned as incidents in which four or more people die within a 24-hour period, not including the killer — the same deﬁnition used by the FBI.

Last year ended with 217 deaths from 42 mass killings in the US, making 2023 one of the deadliest years on record for such shootings in the country.

Ashley Enoh was at home Wednesday morning when she got a text from her brother, who’s a senior at Apalachee High:

“Just so you know, I love you,” he texted her.

Sophomore Kaylee Abner was in geometry class when she heard gunshots. She and her classmates ducked behind their teacher’s desk, and then the teacher began ﬂipping the desk in an attempt to barricade the classroom door, Abner said. A classmate beside her was praying and she held his hand while the students waited for police.

Layla Ferrell, a junior, was in a health class when the words “hard lockdown” appeared on a screen in the classroom and lights began ﬂashing. Ferrell said she and her frightened classmates piled desks and chairs in front of the door to create a barricade.

Helicopter video from WSB-TV showed dozens of law enforcement and emergency vehicles surrounding the school in Barrow County, about 50 miles (80 kilometres) northeast of Atlanta.

With the main road blocked to the school, Clark parked and ran with other parents. Parents were then directed to the football ﬁeld. Amid the chaos, Clark found Ethan sitting on the bleachers.

Clark said her son was writing an essay in class when he ﬁrst heard the gunshots. Her son then worked with his classmates to barricade the door and hide.

“I’m so proud of him for doing that,” she said. “He was so brave.”

Students had only started the school year a little over a month ago.

“It makes me scared to send him back,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Trafﬁc going to the school was backed up for more than a mile as parents tried to get to their children there.

“It’s just outrageous that every day, in our country, in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive,” Vice President Kamala Harris said during a campaign stop in New Hampshire.

In a message posted to social media, former President Donald Trump said: “These cherished children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster.”

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement:

“This is a day every parent dreads, and Georgians everywhere will hug their children tighter this evening because of this painful event.”

The FBI’s Atlanta ofﬁce said its agents were at the school “coordinating with and supporting local law enforcement.”

Apalachee High School has about 1,900 students, according to records from Georgia education ofﬁcials. It became Barrow County’s second largest public high school when it opened in 2000, according to the Barrow County School System. It’s named after the Apalachee River on the southern edge of Barrow County.

The shooting had reverberations in Atlanta, where patrols of schools in that city were beefed up, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.

In Winder, Abner said that when she goes home Wednesday night, she hopes to avoid thinking about those terrifying moments in her geometry class.

“I’ll probably not think about it, even though it happened,” she said. “Just think happy thoughts, don’t think about it anymore.”

Sophomore Shantal Sanvee, who was in a classroom near the gunshots, said “I saw, like, a whole lot of blood. And it was just, it was just horrible.”

“I don’t think I want to be here for like a long time now,” she added.

As an ofﬁcer led the students towards the football stadium, freshman Michelle Moncada was in tears. People who she knew had been shot.

“I was just really, really nervous,” Moncada said.

The stadium was ﬁlled with tear-stricken students wondering whether their friends were okay. She saw one of her friends on the ﬂoor. A bullet had grazed him.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Moncada said.

When Erin Clark, 42, received a text from her son Ethan, a senior at the high school, that there was an active shooter, she rushed from her job at the Amazon warehouse to the school. The two texted “I love you,” and Clark said she prayed for her son as she drove to the high school.

NINTH grader Jacob Fokuo describes the shooting at Apalachee High School, yesterday in Winder, Ga. Photo: Mike Stewart/AP

SPORTS

SECTION E

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

Bahamas draws 3-3 against USVI

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter

The Bahamas got off to a promising start in the opening match of the CONCACAF Nations League group stage, but their early momentum halted, leading to a 3-3 draw against the US Virgin Islands at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in Christiansted, US Virgin Islands.

The contest was the ﬁrst of two matches to be played by the “Junkanoo Boyz” in Group A of League C during the September window.

Assistant coach Kevin Davies spoke about what went wrong for Team Bahamas after opening the game on a high note.

“I believe that we succumbed to their pressure and we didn’t stick to our game plan so as they started to pressure I think we panicked a little bit.

“I think for a majority of the game we controlled the possessions and controlled the play but they started to pressure us a little bit and we just couldn’t ﬁnish the game out,” he said.

The Bahamas got on the scoreboard quickly against the home team.

Team captain and veteran player Lesly St Fleur was right on target with a right-footed penalty kick

CONCACAF Nations League

in the second minute of the contest. It took 25 minutes for the US Virgin Islands team to score a goal but Naqwan Henry made it happen. Henry shot the ball from

the centre of the penalty box and sent it to the bottom left corner of the net to level the score 1-1.

The Bahamas’ Quinton Carey made a “heads up” assist to Peter Julmis

at the 37th minute of the game. Julmis broke the tie on the scoreboard with a header that sent the ball to the bottom left corner and gave the visiting team a 2-1 lead to end the ﬁrst half.

In the second half, Brandon Adderley launched a right-footed shot past the US Virgin Islands’ goalkeeper at the 58th minute

Jonquel and New York host Seattle tonight

By The Associated Press

Seattle Storm (20-13, 8-6 Western Conference) at New York Liberty (27-6, 15-3 Eastern Conference) New York; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New York Liberty hosts the Seattle Storm after Breanna Stewart scored 32 points in the New York Liberty’s 98-85 victory against the Seattle Storm. The Liberty have gone 14-2 at home. New York is second in the Eastern

By TENAJH SWEETING

FORMER Bahamian

baseball player Ethan Bain has steadily moved through the ranks in Major League Baseball (MLB) and is currently serving in the capacity of baseball operations analyst for the Chicago White Sox front ofﬁce.

Outside of his duties with the White Sox, Bain is usually occupying his time by investing into LDK Performance, a programme geared towards developing and empowering Bahamian baseball players.

Bain along with former MLB pro player Antoan Richardson have spearheaded the programme with the aim of providing the youth with more access and opportunities at home.

“A lot of the work I do is making sure that we accomplish the things that we want to accomplish. I work a lot on the operations side and help with building relationships with people in Nassau to make sure that we could give access to our Bahamian youth and Bahamian athletes.

“We are trying to provide more opportunities and access to the kids in The Bahamas so we don’t have to leave the country anymore to get opportunities, the opportunities can come to us in The Bahamas. I spend a lot of time, effort and energy doing everything I need to do to make that happen,” he said.

Bain has worked with the White Sox organisation since 2022 and has utilised his position to create opportunities for the youth back at home.

Conference in rebounding averaging 36.6 rebounds. Jonquel Jones leads the Liberty with 9.4 boards. The Storm have gone 8-8 away from home. Seattle is third in the Western Conference with 20.4 assists per game led by Skylar Diggins-Smith averaging 6.4. New York averages 85.9 points, 7.1 more per game than the 78.8 Seattle allows. Seattle averages 5.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 fewer made shot on average than the 6.8 per game New York allows. The teams square

BODYBUILDING

NOVICE SHOW THE Bahamas Bodybuilding

Wellness and Fitness Federation is scheduled to hold its Novice and National Bodybuilding Competition at the University of the Bahamas on Saturday, September 7. 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.

TRACK

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

SEE PAGE 19

off for the third time this season. The Liberty won 98-85 in the last meeting on August 31. Stewart led the Liberty with 32 points, and Diggins-Smith led the Storm with 26 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Stewart is shooting 45.9% and averaging 20.5 points for the Liberty.

Nneka Ogwumike is averaging 17.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals for the Storm.

LAST 10 GAMES: Liberty: 8-2, averaging 85.2 points, 38.8 rebounds,

TENAJH SWEETING

THE University of The Bahamas (UB) Athletics Department is always looking for ways to improve and bolster their programme with the addition of gifted student-athletes each year.

The 2024-25 academic year and sporting season is now in full swing and expectations are high for the various Mingoes teams.

Kimberley Rolle, the director of athletics, said she is expecting the new crop of freshman student-athletes to make signiﬁcant contributions to the various sports teams.

“We are very excited about this year. We have quite a bit of outstanding recruits and freshmen coming in. I think they will signiﬁcantly impact our programmes, in particular our

22.0 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the ﬁeld. Their opponents have averaged 74.2 points per game.

Storm: 5-5, averaging 80.8 points, 31.6 rebounds, 19.4 assists, 9.4 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the ﬁeld. Their opponents have averaged 81.5 points.

INJURIES: Liberty: None listed.

Storm: MacKenzie Holmes: out for season (knee).

men’s soccer, track and ﬁeld and cross country teams. It is a very good cohort of freshmen coming in so we expect great things from that group.

“We expect the other teams to fare well. We have seen a resurgence with golf and we expect those teams to travel in the spring. The team has improved and we have gotten a couple of recruits in where we could be respectable when we play internationally,” she said.

The UB Athletics programme currently has under

The same goes for Richardson, the New York Mets’ ﬁrst base coach who has played in the majors from 2011 to 2014.

100 athletes that compete across nine disciplines. The coaching staff is composed of two full-time coaches along with up to 10 coaches who are employed part-time.

According to Rolle, one of the main goals is to invest more into the women’s athletic programmes at UB.

“I think over the next two years, we want to be intentional with our women’s programme. We want to see the brand for our women’s teams, particularly with competition, to improve.

“We expect in the upcoming academic year to hire at least one full-time coach because we have seen what having a full-time coach on staff does for a team,” she said.

Ideally, the athletics department is looking forward to making new additions to the coaching staff of SEE PAGE 19

FROM PAGE 15

the women’s softball and volleyball teams in the near future. As far as the recruitment efforts, Rolle is very pleased with how the team managed to bring new student-athletes onboard. She said primarily coaches travelLed to different tournaments both locally and on the Family Islands to observe athletes in competitive environments.

“In the past year, we did some deliberate recruiting. Our teams went speciﬁcally to tournaments on the island so they were able to see players play competitively with their teams and were able to sit and talk with them. We found that to be very effective last recruitment season and we will endorse that this year.

“Our coaches have been very aggressive last fall and in the spring. We have really honed in on those student athletes who had the 2.5 GPA in the high schools, not that we ignored others, but persons who had that GPA were able to take the placement exam and get early acceptance,” she said.

Rolle is pleased with the strides the Mingoes programme is making but believes that additional funding and more full-time coaches can really help UB Athletics to excel even further.

and interested persons can register online at redlineathletics242@gmail.com

UNIVERSITY OF THE BAHAMAS CROSS COUNTRY

THE University of the Bahamas is scheduled to 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 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 under9, under-11 and under-13 divisions will compete in a 2 1/2 mile run, while those in the under-15, under-17, under-20 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

KIMBERLEY ROLLE, director of UB Athletics.

“To be competitive in collegiate sports you need the backing of funding and there is no way around it. We have seen where our budget has improved incrementally year after year and we expect that to continue. I think coaching is huge and that is the reason why we’re making the push to hire full-time coaches. We believe additional funding and improved and deliberate coaching will all go well for our teams,” she said.

UB is gearing up to host the 2024 Cross Country Invitational on September 28 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium. The event is slated to begin at 7am and will feature competitors from under-9 to the open category. Athletes will compete in 1k, 2k and 3k races in hopes of being crowned winners of their respective divisions.

under-15, under-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60 and 61-and-over.

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 to Saturday, September 26-27 at the CI Gibson Gymnasium and the cycling event will be held on Saturday, October 6. And the track meet, to be held in memory of the late Renee “Sunshine” CurryDavis, 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

ETHAN BAIN SERVING AS BASEBALL OPERATIONS ANALYST IN CHICAGO WHITE SOX FRONT OFFICE

FROM PAGE 15

According to the vice president of LDK Performance, relationship building and networking plays an integral role in helping to bring new opportunities to the youth at home.

“We try to bring those opportunities to Nassau and a lot of that is building relationships with people over here so that we could let them know that these opportunities are in The Bahamas. It is a lot of relationship building, a lot of making connections so that we could bring these connections back home to The Bahamas,” he said.

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) is scheduled to 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

LDK Performance has certainly made their mark in the Bahamian baseball community so far. The programme has hosted a showcase tryout and virtual coaches clinic in January and collaborated with the Batter’s Box to host a youth baseball camp from July to August this summer. Bain said it is hard to miss out on some of the events at home due to his time spent in the MLB. However, he is grateful to those that step up and continue to carry out the goals of LDK Performance even in his absence. “It is tough for me personally because you work so hard and

you want to be able to be there and participate in what’s going on but it is also rewarding to know it is not just about me. It is about the organisation and the people in The Bahamas. There are a lot of really valuable people on our team that make these things happen. I appreciate them a lot and it is a lot of hard work that I appreciate them for,” he said. The plan for the former baseball player is to return home once the season is done to get some reps in with the players and continue to foster the necessary relationships to keep the programme aﬂoat.

CONCACAF

to propel The Bahamas to a commanding 3-1 advantage. However, the tides shifted in favour of the home team after that point.

Rakeem Joseph got an assist from teammate Jimson St Louis to score the US Virgin Islands’ second goal of the evening at the 76th minute.

Gabriel Catone-Highﬁeld then scored the equaliser just 10 minutes later to help the US Virgin Islands recover for a draw.

The “Junkanoo Boyz” are up next against Barbados on Saturday.

Coach Davies said the key to bouncing back for the team will be maintaining the same play from the ﬁrst half of yesterday’s game.

“We just need to refocus. We controlled the game in my opinion and had the majority of the possessions and we showed them that we could play. I believe if we play like we played today in the ﬁrst half, in the next game we can come out with a better result,” he said.

The Bahamas and the US Virgin Islands have identical records in the League C, Group A standings. Both teams have one point with a 0-1-0 win/draw/loss record.

The “Junkanoo Boyz” are slated to face Barbados on Saturday at 3pm (EST).

ANTOAN Richardson and Ethan Bain, right.